andyg

Boom boom 👍

I bet that made a good home for someone, Lots of space inside. It had a very odd shaped bow as well I seem to remember

I didn't realise it was that long. You learn something new every day 🤪

I remember a boat called enchantress, huge great thing that was god that's going back to the 80s. Do they have a current 48ft boat 🤔

That good to hear they have had a change of heart. It certainly wasn't the case when suncharm was new. 👌

I notice barns have posted pictures of a new 46ft hull they are in the process of laying up on their FB page. It's for their next new class of boat to be added to the hire fleet. Sure looks big ! I'm wondering if it's a re working of another old alpha craft mold. Any thoughts ??

I think you have a very good point regards to maintenance, I've hired a flat alpha early season from Moore's go boating operation in wroxham. It was about 13 or more years ago. It was a particularly cold April and the drafts around the split canopy where dreadful. We had towels pillow cases and all sorts trying to stop the drafts. I understand you need an air flow but I think the Khyber pass would of been warmer in winter then that saloon. I've also hired suncharm 2 from Clive's yard a few times and the saloon heating on that's not great either ( I've seen other ppl complain ) even when it was new. I'm aware they had problems with the system originally fitted to suncharm and think it was changed.

I don't think it's unreasonable to expect home comforts whilst on holiday. I remember early and late season boating holidays as a child on boats such as silver jubilee, kingsway, Queensway as quite cold and damp affairs to be quite honest. We live in different times and hirers expectations are so different. I find folk that I've spoken to having a sailing holiday on the broads are a totally different breed and much more akin to inclement weather and are looking for a totally different experience. I wouldn't consider a holiday where I felt cold or damp all the time that's not fun in my book. I think the yards are going in the right direction with their new boats and have clearly got the customer experience at the forefront of their thinking. So winter crusing should be a much better experience as we move forward. Of course you will need to pay a premium for such boats, but hey you only get what you pay for.

I know all the platinum fleet and some of the refitted boat at Richardson's are equipped with shore power hook up. But they don't allow it I believe. I do remember talking to Paul about it some time ago and I think it's to prevent damage. Hirer's moving off whilst still plugged in etc. I would imagine any of the new builds, swan fleet would be fine in winter with shore power. Maybe something Clive would re consider if November hiring is going to become the norm.

How odd, I've just tried again. 7 nights from the 17th November first boat that comes up is sparkling horizon followed by a few of the ex swan craft fleet etc etc. I'm using my Samsung galaxy phone. If it's a glitch they need to sort it as could potentially loose a booking or two.

I've just done a search using the home page booking form and it works fine.

I think Richardson's aren't the only yard offering boats in November. Way to cold for me but I can see the appeal of quite rivers and winter can be a pretty time of year. I'm sure it won't be there entire fleet as some boats really aren't suitable for winter crusing. Good luck to them if they can make it work, I would love to hire a commodore or commander and sit up top in the crisp winter sunshine.

It's the second one of the class, so it will be identical in layout I would assume. I actually think they work well as a four Beth. They are just a modem take on boats like melody from Richardson's. I do agree tho 6 ppl on board an all enclosed boat is a bit much for me as well, even with the aft well. Not sure a two berth sedan of that size would be financially viable, the weekly tariff would have to be quite high.

I have to say that looks much better then the other two versions.

Good to see the mold for HW second gleaming light has been moved into the shed after sitting on the yard for quite some time now. It's showing as available to book from march 2021. A significant investment for 2021 which is encouraging to see.

Yes that's the one, one of there most popular boats I believe also they had three gala girls that always seem to do very well. Good to see them sticking around. Many happy memories of Gainsborough girl as a child. I believe gus at the new Inn has owned the old Gainsborough girl for quite a few years now or did !!

Excellent news, I'm surprised they didn't keep the little Hampton boat ( sorry can't think of her name ) was always popular. I've hired one of the gardenia girl it's a cracking boat, but quite dated inside. Im sure I read somewhere that gala girl was having a bit of a Refurb let's hope the same applies to this one. Personally a trip on the rivers wouldn't be the same without seeing one of summer craft boats. I actually like there colour scheme and for me some of the best kept boats of any hire fleet.

Oh goody my favourite subject, LF boat design's. Personally I have to say it looks very well fitted out and nice and cosy,Sadly for me that's where that ends. That is one strange looking boat and I bet that would handle as well as a Sherman Tank in water in a gusty bit of wind. Surely I'm not the only one who thinks the whole thing just doesn't look right. In fact in today's world of alcohol consumption I'd say that rear platform is an accident waiting to happen. It seems way to high out of the water for such a small craft. Brinks have an old sedan type boat ( can't think of its name ) that looks similarly to high. Sorry another ugly duckling for me... Oh btw before anyone moans about my take on this boat, I've put my money where my mouth is and I've hired silent emblem for next year 😏 ( I'd was very impressed with the internal fit out ) my current favourite hire boats is Monaco I went aboard her the day after she had come back from the boat show and was very impressed. Silent emblem is better to my mind.

I've noticed hoeseason are using a live pricing program now. Prompting you to book now before the prices changes. There is absolutely no reason for the price to increase and I doubt very much it will go down. I don't use them and book direct with the yard I use. It's one of the big yards and the minute they start doing the same as I'm sure they will, will be the time I stop hiring. More crap imported methods of doing business from the good old USA.

Corsica is up for sale at Richardson's, only a few years ago it went through a major refit. I'm sure it was one of the old Thames fleet and would defo be worth a look. That said for some reason I don't think it ever hired very well since being put back into service.

Good luck with the new venture Clive, look forward to seeing what you guys are up to. Is it safe to assume hire fleet building will stop for now untill the dust settles from this bloody covid nightmare. Also will you finish the sedan that was in the shed for next year ??

That's sad to hear Clive but totally understandable in the current climate, who knows what next year will bring. The broadsman is a fantastic boat and in my opinion is by far the best moden center cockpit boat built on the broads in years.They done a great job putting that together, it was getting a bit boring with all the old alpha moulds being churned out. Sorry to say this but Len funnels boat designer has produced some shockers to be fair, think he must of been wearing his nans glasses whilst drawing them up. Good luck with the future projects.

Hi Clive, has that really been 11 years since you started the new build program. Blimey

Hi all we were thinking of hiring Richardson new sedan boat for June next year. Sadly it has dissapeard off there website, I'm assuming this project has been scrapped as it was showing for hire just a couple of weeks ago. As far as I was aware it was in build originally due for launching about now. Shame as we like this style of boat and was looking forward to seeing her afloat before we booked. I guess another victim of COVID. I assume she would of been left up for hire if she was still going ahead for 2021.

If you book direct with the yard do hoseason still take a booking fee ??