Dan

I'd have said the fleck pattern stuff (upholstery) is fairly timeless in its design and still looks nice, maybe the curtains aren't the most modern or tasteful design, but do lighten the interior. Most of the newer curtains seem to be a more modern one colour design Dan

OK, that bit wasn't true... must remember to use emoticon next time! Dan

Ah yes. This was however just before the big centre cockpit boat tore round the corner & into it's rear canopy Dan

Hi Neil Yeah, the Cirrus' are really nice, well designed compact boats. Their aren't particularly high sided either, quite impressive for a dual steer though I they are still too high for Wroxham and Potter. Le Boat seem to have gone mad on the pricing of the boats they brought back last year & this (Tamaris, Capri, Caprice & Cirrus) so much so I cannot see them having a good occupancy rate on those other than in peak season when demand is probably always too high to supply and they should let. However, when I was doing an availability check on Hoseasons a month or two ago for an off peak break Tamaris (the only one on the list I searched at the time) had a hefty discount showing and was then within about £30 of the Richardsons equivalent. I'm no fan of price high & then do a massive discount so people think they have got a bargain mentalities, but this said if this kind of thing is their style and you wanted one of those types of craft ever then I think it would be worth diving on Hoseasons & searching Horning availablity - may just be priced more in line with what is fair & sensible when you look further I did take the photos myself, and did indeed have my anorak on at the time! All the best Dan

...and finally, Richardsons have added four Ideal 45s "Challenger" (fitted at Crown Cruisers), seven Connoisseur 37ss "Madeira", five Connoisseur 42s "Fairway", "Prelude" & "Tidecrest" (I think!), two Alpha 35s, two Aquafibre 32 dual steers "Trinidad", there may be a few more I've forgot. Edit: yep - I forgot the two Bounty 40s "Jamaica" (fitted at Crown Cruisers). Richardsons seemed to be really going to town on making them their own and improving the interiors, always exciting! For me, being so interested in the hire industry it's great to see extra craft needed to meet demand, and some extra choice available, especially as it doesn't seem long back the hire industry was struggling and numbers were dwindling slightly each year. Hopefully some of these extra, new customers will become regular broads addicts and will help towards a good future for all Dan

Good to see Le Boat have brought some of their dual steer 2/4 berth "Cirrus" class over, in addition to a good number of 29ft Sedans & 32ft 4/6 berths for last season. I really like the Cirrus class, though I'm rather disgusted by the price they are charging compared to similar standard/size craft... but anyway, nice, neat little boats:

Hi Everyone I was pleased last week to see a fair number of returnees... boats built in Norfolk in the 80's & 90's that have been brought to the Broads for the 2010 season from France or Europe by Le Boat, Barnes Brinkcraft & Richardsons. Here's a few piccies.. first up Barnes Brinkcraft seem to have around five 29ft 2/3 berth "Brinks Duet" class (built by Brooms) that came back last season, five 29ft 2/4 berth "Brinks Jazz" class (Built by Connoisseur) & two 29ft 2/4 berth "Brinks Comet" (fitted by Crown Cruisers)...

How very dare you! I just thought Perrance must have been very drunk! Dan

Here you go Simon: https://www.netcomsecure.com/waveney/fe ... 07&thumb=0 Hopefully the layout has not been translated exactly into build without a dividing door/partition so that those using the front convertable double can use the aft toilet without disturbing the privacy of those in the aft cabin - could be embarassing Dan

Hi Everyone Whilst on my first trip out of the season I noticed Mr Funnell's latest creation tied up at Horning. Interesting to see a few alterations from their smaller sisters that hit the water last year. More style appears to have gone into the side windows, and the forward windows have square edges with black trim inbetween - more like the artists impression from last years brochure that was not translated through into build. I thought these were great improvements, and whilst still not my favourite design it all seemed to tie together better and look less obscure to my mind.... The folding side windscreens to the upper helm are interesting - could be good in less perfect weather, so lets hope hirers remember to drop them down at the bridges they do go under! Exciting to see further new craft being built, and in different lengths etc to last year All the best Dan

Hi Donny Enjoying the tale, a shame you didn't get under Wroxham bridge - I always enjoy the stretch through there, and the sense of achievement of getting it under with the canopy still attached - though I suppose these days that fun rests with the pilot! Have you got any pictures of the boat for us boat anoraks, and what did you think of her? All the best Dan

Looks nice that, for the photos, been looking forward to seeing the overall look. The side profile looks a bit bare, I guess there are some name plates or advertising to go between windows? It does look really smart... a shame I am not hiring this year! Dan

Goodness.... I'd sit with the fire extinguisher close on hand just to be safe Geoff!

I think they call them a cigarette charging point lead or similar. It has the small 12v three pin plug at one end and the cigarette charging point at the other like you get in a car. If you give me a bit of notice next time I can post you one if you like that you can post back after hols (but dont let Clive read this thread, diminishing his 'extras' profits!!) You'd then need your own phone charger to plug into that All the best Dan

I dont think so Geoff. Remember to hire one - pay at reception & you collect from the lifeguard hut, and that then plugs in one of 12v power sockets Have a great holiday, I'm more than a bit jealous! Dan

Looks a great trip guys, and the boat looks smart. Glad you enjoyed yourselves, even if you did outbid me on the auction!! : I think the switch over from external to internal helm normally just switches throttle controls... we've played the game of swinging the internal wheel a bit when nipping below & Mummy or one of my mates is steering.... I'm easily amused, but I have had a few giggles with that one myself over the years! Dan

Hi Clive Wow, what a superb craft she looks now. Almost unrecognasable as the same boat you showed me last June when she was stripped out ready for starting on (piccies attached) From what we can see of the outside that has all worked very well and a nice iprovement/modernisation, will be interested to see this new look Calypso on the water Dan

Hi Rusty The budget is a little tight to include everything at the time of year you're going. As Jimbo says Freedom are flexible on start days and any hire length, as are Ludham Bridge Boatyard I think who have the Blue Moon class that might suit. Most other operators do Friday to Monday, Mon to Fri, Saturday to Tuesday, Tues to Sat or a week starting on one of those days. Richardsons Petite, Crown or Little Gem & Broadland Saturn wont be far off budget, but might be a bit over when damage waiver, cancellation insurance & fuel deposit are included (normally you'd probably get some of the fuel deposit back at the end of the trip from the unused fuel). I think if you book direct you can remove the cancellation insurance, and also the optional personal insurance if you do not require/want it. The operators vary a bit what they include in the shown price, so make sure you're comparing like for like when looking round! If you need a link to any of the companies you can find them here: http://www.dhorner.horning.org.uk/page23.html If you need any more help after doing some availability searches just shout up, and have a great holiday! Dan

Ya naughty lot. Surely HORNERS DELIGHT is best?! Clive, can you get your finger out and get it finished in two weeks, so I can christen her by breaking a bottle of lambrini on her bow when I'm over?! Dan

Hi Baz They are a Sheerline 950 CC. They are still made, though I guess in lower numbers these days. Initially they were made at Wroxham by Smiths, who have the Sheerline Day Cruisers, but after Pennant landed them in a mess when they went bumpety bump things changed a little, but still made under the Sheerline name in different hands http://www.sheerlinemotorcruisers.com/p ... re-cockpit All the best Dan

It is a lot - did you have the heating on most of the time? That would explain it a bit more, I would suggest limiting that anyway, especially on such a large boat if sensible fuel is appealing, as well as keeping the revs low on calm waters... trundling along nicely makes a big difference to being mischievous and slightly exceeding the speed limit, or so I have been told All the best Dan

I agree Neil, although I think the ex Connoisseurs (the Admirals & Emperors) are actualy less wrong than some of the others. If you look at the Tamaris, Cirrus, Caprice etc things really get expensive if doing comparisons. I think Le Boat's client base is a bit more international than some competitors, and the euro to £ conversion may make them better value than to a UK resident, this is true of other companies too though of course, so they're still expensive & out of proportion on this basis too. I use them when we go boating abroad, as they seem the most appealing given the choice there, but in the UK although I like them they are just overpriced in my opinion.... Dan

Hi John Yeah... I think a lot of them they've sold are probably just on a natural, oldest in fleet retirement programme type thing. Ireland is down a lot I think the last 18 months or so, and with less people leaving the UK for foreign holidays due to increased expense and recession I suppose French boating holidays may also be hit, but whether the same thing is happening in other countries too (less people venturing abroad) I don't know. Le Boat brought about twenty or more of the 29ft Sedan's back from Ireland last year to Horning, and some others of that class were sent off to France, so it is a big scale down of this class from Ireland, but I would imagine that realistically they must have had far too many of these for some time even in busier times. I guess these are a fair bit newer than their other retirements because on that class alone they must have too many. I like them a lot, so I too am glad to see more of them heading for Norfolk! Piccie attached of one in Ireland in 2007! Dan

Hello Everyone I was pleased to see Barnes Brinkcraft have added to their fleet with some nice looking 2/3 & 2/4 berth craft bought from France & Ireland. Five 29ft 2/3 berth "Brinks Duet", built by Brooms in the mid 90's http://www.barnesbrinkcraft.co.uk/our-boats/detail/39/ Two 29ft 2/4 berth dual steer from the early 90s on an Alpha mould http://www.barnesbrinkcraft.co.uk/our-boats/detail/38/ All the best Dan

Enjoyed seeing the older Maffett Boats like Skylark and the DC30's. I remember them from the brochures but they had gone by I first visited I think in '95. Here's the few I have, I dont have any of Jay I'm afraid. All the best Dan