Dan

I think this is the one, taken in April... it had moved a bit nearer the shed last month but otherwise the same - has she been moved back to next year maybe? Dan

Not just on my Broads holidays Clive

... and some as it was last October

Whatho Everyone Planning our non boating break (always a traumatic experience for me) reminded me of our last non boaty break last year and a thread I started on it on a quieter, now defunct forum and I thought I would post it here too, to see how everyone got to be into boats, and where their story started.... I got into boats when I was eight when we went to the canal and I have just been bonkers about boats ever since. The inland motor cruisers, which it's fair to say are now my real passion came two years later when I was ten and it's these pictures I was scanning in last year after a trip back, at the age off 33 to where my inland motor cruiser fixations began as a 10 year old! So, my Dad fancied boating in Scotland and we tried to book a Seamaster 30 on Loch Lomond but it was fully booked. I remember being sat round the phone with my parents (oh how holiday reversations have changed hey) and being quite distraught... at least my Sister's were not around at the time to suggest a week in the Algarve or something! Anyhow, Hoseasons suggested the rather more expensive Lomond Heather instead and after a bit of discussion my parents got it booked up. I remember the morning of the trip as my Dad and I had to go and pick up our Escort from Gordon Ford (it spent a lot of time there, possibly connected to my Mum's driving lessons in it around a similar time!) and this meant we were quite late leaving and the journey from Cheshire seemed like aaaages when I was ten. Anyhow about five hours later I remember zooming along the road, knowing we were nearly there and being very excited, and then seeing a break in the trees and the boat there tied up at the jetty, with no other boats around and the water was sparkling away. The Inverneg Inn was owned by the same people and we checked in here and were directed to our boat, the instructions to take place the following day due to our late arrival. We drove under the road and parked nearby, the boat looked a bit scruffy and less snazzy/impressive than the brochure picture, and the interior was ok, but not as plush as expected... brown lino with a massive burn mark, brown laminates and brown vinyl upholstery. Anyhow, the weather was quite good all week, with just a few odd exceptions, and I remember being out on the Loch one day in very choppy conditions and one of my Sister's really hating that trip! The Loch is only about 20 miles long I think so there wasn't too many places to go or moor, so we'd often just venture out for the day and then return in the evening for a decent mooring and to the Inverbeg Inn for another meal. I bet they did a roaring trade from the boats in this way!? Now, after Le Boat were unable to honour my booking for the Thames last October, due to strong river flow the two of us ended up booked off work with nowhere to go. We decided to go to Edinburgh for a couple of days, and I ended up googling The Inverbeg Inn. It seemed to have a good name for food and had been upgraded/changed owners a few years ago (having left the ownership we experienced in 1993), so we decided to have a third night there. It had changed massively and been extended quite majorly but there was still a strange feeling of deja vue as I entered. We ventured down the slope and under the road which felt really quite weird, it all came flooding back. The jetty that was once quite long was now very short, and the creek to the right of it where I always remember the blue Bounty 27' "Lomond Crusader" class craft being moored had been filled in. The impressive owners house which was brand new when we were there in 1989 was now being used as an annexe to the hotel and looked less grand. Good it was still being used but a bit of a waste in a way I thought. It was nice to return, though a little bit sad also - as I would rather it still as it was with all the associated buzz of a little hirefleet going on.... but not difficult to remember & picture it how it was, and after 23 years nice to return to where it all began. To me, someone interested in hotels & holiday companies and boats it was the place that had it all. A hotel/inn, a holiday hirefleet and a nice owners house with big windows to see the boats.... at least some aspects still remain Dan P.S Six years after this and after several more boating holidays we booked a holiday on the Broads! Some piccies from 1989....

Hmmm.... whatever is that Brian?! Dan

It looks very similar on paper and in the few build photos to Royall Satin that they built 20 years ago. Does anyone know much on what the updates/differences will be? Good to see a totally new boat from them again Dan

Whoopsie.. here's the piccie

Yes - you can see out of the windows when you are sat down - in this piccie of my Mum, who is not very tall you get an impression of the level they work at Dan

Hi Neil Glad you liked the piccies. I don't recall any berths tapering though? Are you meaning the twin or double cabin? I wonder if it is an illusion from the photo you have seen? The twin/double cabin in the middle is not claustrophobic by any standards I wouldn't say... infact this is probably the most spacious 4-6 berth I've been on. This twin/double cabin on a Broadsman/Carousel would have saloon seating over hanging the foot of the bed but not so on this design, which only affords a feeling of even more space on Broadlander by comparison. Dan

Might you be ordering the first private one John, with a blue hull? Dan

Hi Siddy There is a radiator in the rear & side cabin and a large one in the galley, then the option of warm air heating forward as well with a powerful speed for clearing the screen or giving the temperature a bit of a quick boost Enjoy! Dan

Final ones

Some more...

Just back from a great week on Broadlander's maiden voyage. Was really impressed with the boat. I think it will be a bit love or hate and not one for those who do not like forward steer single level craft, though they would still find things within it they liked I'm sure. Fitout was of good quality and nice finish. New, deeper laminates and also making up more of the fitout with less fibreglass moulded areas than on the new centre cockpits from Richardsons, which added to the luxurious, warmer feel. A great boat for those who love single levels, great to have a new design with a forward well again, and with the comfiest, shaped seating and upholstered backrests too! A great, shapely hull also give impressive handling, better than any, less shapely Bounty or Alpha/Wilds hull too. The fact the gunwhales are not level and slope gently upwards towards the bow also offers ease of getting on/off when moored side on as you can walk along to whatever level matches the bank! Useful for my Mum who has problems with her knees but easier for everyone really! Few suprises like the blinds to the rearmost windows - I wasn't keen when I first saw them but soon warmed to them and nicely co-ordinated fabrics and curtains forward show someone has a good eye for detail and that thought & care has been put in throughout the development, construction and finishing stages! Dan

I am not happy, not happy at all. You are getting more Broadland holidays than me. That's it, this is war now Dan

38' sounds good. The 45 foots are great, but they are pretty massive.... 38' should be a good size for still having a good amount of space and layout options open but a nice size to handle and find mooring spots for, plus not quite such a rip off to licence. Dan

Hi Jonny Remember that Melody was stripped back & fully refitted and San Remo has not been. The two classes are quite different in that respect, but also some people may require boats that pets have not been present on due to allergies etc Dan

Working OK on Internet Explorer over here... certainly useable anyway, just different... but I guess it is natural given it is change that can bring on fear/alarm/indifference... Why not give it a while before giving up and announcing your abandon though, surely?? Dan

Well done Jonzo

A 29ft baby flybridge at the price of Petite Gem, available for 2014????!

Ahhhhhwwww.... can it not be knocked together for next season!

Looks rather irrestible The biggest pain with one central door through the flybridge is loading & unloading at the start/end of your holiday. Dont forget to underprice it for year one, whilst it establishes itself and we all hire it Dan

Hi Simon I think many must like the 42' as most that were built are still on hire over thirty years later? I like both the 35' & 42' fotr the fact they handle better than your average bathtub as well. I like the look but admit I do not like the layout of the 42' for the reasons you state, but I would think many (perhaps less boat mad types) hire them for their value, sheer mass of space & sociable saloon & the right number of doubles/bathrooms even if they are not where you or I expect them to be I think the layout Emerald Gem had was as effective & well designed as the 35' with the two en-suite cabins you mention, although the saloon was perhaps just a little compromised in space so I guess it all only just fit in!? Dan

Wont everyone just leave it later and later to book - what would be the reason not to if you wanted a boat from this company? Just the kind of thing I hate - the offers should be strongest to encourage early booking and reward the most loyal customers... a very short term strategy which though I can see is sometimes essential if the economics are not adding up all it does in the long term is get you less & less bookings as everyone leaves it later or decamps to another operator after feeling a bit ripped off, when you finally do stop doing the late deals after seeing your booking charts emptier & emptier at the same point in time each year you also need a new customer base as those you have built up expect this kind of thing and probably ending up having to scale things down until the better model is built back up again... in my opinion anyway Dan

Hi Robin Look forward to watching more and hearing your review - nice idea to look at the budget angle. I too booked one of their cheapest 37ft bathtubs for this season because at the price (at band A) it seemed madness not to! I also had a dream where I pictured myself on an orange bathtub! This may all sound a little odd, until you remember I am a rather strange chap! I went for a subdued orange in the Gold Gem variety as the Amber's are VERY orange! I think you are right, they are good value, infact pound for pound probably better value than their new stuff, but that is fun that is also compulsory for the holidays where budget allows it! Look forward to the rest of the tale/review Dan