andyg

Spot on..

The reality is we are all giving up loads of information, data, about our daily movements spending habits etc etc and most are totally oblivious to it. So carrying an I'd card is the least of our worries, I would be more then happy to carrying an I'd card. As an ex member of the armed forces I'm use to it. With today's technology I'm sure a smart I'd card on your phone isn't beyond doable. I'm pretty sure the police use some sort of PDA system so checking I'd cards isn't a problem. The vast majority of ppl use fb, amazon, YouTube etc etc. So no argument their about data being shared as the for mentioned are already doing it. Lastly and more importantly it would save the police thousands of hours trying to identify those who refuse to give their personal details.

Don't get me wrong, I hope it is bursting at the seems, but that's not why I visit the broads. If I wanted mayhem and chaos I'd make my way to Blackpool or Benidorm. Il take the mudweight option and enjoy the peace and quiet and watch the world go by. You enjoy the maddness, cheers.

If I was up on the broads this year, I'd be giving Wroxham a miss. It's going to be rammed from the start, It's looking more like overseas holidays are going to be shelved until July at the earliest. It will be interesting to see if there is a hike in dayboat prices inline with what we've seen with some cruisers.

5 minute sail through boat wash, I'm surprised our Eastern European friends haven't already thought of that one 😉 problem solved.

Exactly why we didn't bother, them rubbish rubber sucker pads as feet. We use to bet on how long it would take for the aerial to fall off the roof and make our parents jump. It never failed to ammuse us, don't think my father shared our enjoyment lol...

I think it may be Andrew who has the hickups Mr Nog 😉

I guess I go back to the early 70s as a young teenager on the broads. We never bothered with the TV it seemed more agro then it was worth. My sisters and I would go off exploring, climbing trees etc, the annual climb of Ranworth Church was always a highlight. Am I right in thinking you had to hire the TVs back then. Oh and we never got bored that I remember.

Never take much notice of reviews, I think you always have to look at the bigger picture. They have a huge amount of repeat customers and a fleet that books very well year in year out. That in its self speaks volumes and far outweighs the odd bad review. Everyone has the odd bad day at work it happens, doesn't make it right but that's life.

I personally can't see any reason why a yard offering a good range of quality boats and good service couldn't succeed on the southen broads. Both silverline and brooms do very well. Dont forget up until a few years ago brooms had been out of the hire market for quite some years, just look and see how their fleet has grown. I think I'm right in saying Swan craft didn't close because of a lack of custom but a change in direction at the yard, away from the hire market. Alpha craft just seem to loose direction, but we're still a popular hire yard. I think the WRC attempt at hiring boats was half hearted and they were overpriced for what was on offer tbf. Just needs someone with a mountain of money to burn and nerves of steel to get it going....

I'm probably talking out of hand here, but I really don't get all the fuss about crossing Breydon and the reams of horror stories. Yes the tides flow fast, there's a couple of low bridges but that's it. If it's not blowing Gail force winds etc etc I really can't see a problem. Are ppl not able to excersise common sense nowdays, you have all the information you need on board in terms of tides, bridge heights places to stop before reaching the point of no return so to speak. Crossing Breydon on a nice day is fantastic experience, its even fun when it's a bit choppy, water spraying up over the bow, closest il get to helming a boat at sea. The water skiers could be a pain in the bum sometimes but nothing to get upset about. There are some nice places to visit on the southern network,Beccles and Loddon my personal favourites. Oh and the stench of farmers spreading their muck and the wonderful pong you get when passing Cantley 😒. Theirs a stretch of river just past Cantley heading towards Brundall, that even on a barmy Summers day it always seem to have a force ten wind blowing. Anyone else ever noticed it, or is it just me.

Total refits are very rare now, I think that might be down to modern materials. Lots of fibreglass used for bed, seating bases vanity units in the showers etc etc. When you think about a total refit the only difference in building a new boat is the saving made on the boat moulds. The labour and fixtures and fitting cost would be the same. Lots easier to build well in the first place and refresh as time goes on. Look at all the bathtubs richardson's still run, lots of refreshing done over the years. We hired two of the finesse class a few years back it still had the original dark laminated wood appearance it had when launched back in the 80s but updated showers, galley, soft furnishings. That said supreme had a major refit and again done very well it also let's incredibly well fully booked most seasons.

Yep that's exactly my thoughts, more somthing you would do to a live aboard boat then hire boat.

I've hired concerto as well, another really good refit, rhapsody was done to the same standard. I'm sure I remember Clive saying they did spend quite a lot on them, but they had been sitting about at Stalham for some time beforehand.

I'm with you on that, think them stripes would give me a headache. We hired viscount from richardson's a couple years after that had a total refit and for me they done a cracking job on that. But fair play to ferry for investing. I noticed all the plastic sheeting on her in one of the pictures, I wonder if she was sprayed instead of being hand painted.

I think the last one of these to get a total refit was one of silverlines, silver illusion. Ferry have been investing heavily in their fleet, good to see.

I like the dual steer design, this one whitout doubt offers one of the better upper seating areas available on the broads. That said I just don't like the look of her something just doesn't seem right to my eye. The broadsman is by far the best of richardsons new boats. But at 3k it just isn't vaule for money in my opinion.

I don't use one I learnt my lesson years ago. I would end up owning a garage full of junk lol...im a worrier when it come to debt, so il steer clear of them.

Wow.. 3k for the broads, has there been a change at the top at richardson's? This is the 2nd time in a few weeks their pricing has been mentioned on the forum. They have always been known for great value,like I said on the previous post I've noticed quite a hike in prices at their Hemsby site. I've no doubt this will be a bumper year but I can see things returning to normal in 2022 as the vaccine rolls out across the world. I don't use a credit card my wife has one, we are hearing stories from family and friends of accountants being close credit limits being frozen etc etc so as we start to see the personal financial impact of the pandemic I doubt these prices are sustainable.

Hard to imagine they would weld it shut. Might as well build a damm. Like grendel has said there would be a huge uproar, effectively making the rivers above the bridge about as much use as hickling for many many boats. Just can't ever see it happening.

I get the cost saving aspect for network rail, but surely the BA would vigorously fight this as it would destroy business in the Brundall area, that cater for the larger boats up there.

Don't understand the logic in welding reedham bridge closed, it's a rural branch line and the bridge is used daily during the season, by river traffic from Brundall. Totally understand why you'd want to shut carrow road though.

Indeed I do, I'm partial to a cheese roll and mug of tea in Osbornes before we start the very short but enjoyable pub crawl 😉

I think the artificial turf in the front well look just dandy. 👌

I walk pass the yard all the time on the way to old leigh, I've never seen an old broads cruiser in there. Guess the wife's right I need a trip to spec savers. But totally agree totally unsuitable for the estuary.