Dan

Great stuff, though not convinced the front is quite such a flowing shape as the artists impression Look forward to seeing the different stages of development... must be exciting times for you all, as well as eager customers keen to get their hands on the finished product! Dan

Do you mean they are extending their hirefleet or just spending money on some of the existing craft Brian? I see they have Comet listed as new for 2010, so hopefully it will appear for next season (was listed as new for 2009 in this years brochure). There's not too many new boats for next year, so if Alpha are doing further additions that would be good to see Dan

Yup! In the Hoseasons 2010 brochure, as discussed they are the same. Looks like the website has just not been updated fully yet, I know most of the new boats or additions were not listed on Hoseasons a couple of days ago, so maybe these will catch up soon All the best Dan

Arthur, Good to hear you were impressed and have booked again! I had Rhapsody as you know and really loved it. A great layout, and a comfy home I thought... and as discussed - now even more brilliant in value terms. I am supposedly holding off booking any holidays for next year, but we shall have to see how long that lasts! Dan

Hi Jonny I know what you mean, it can be difficult choosing an ideal boat without viewing them. Boat singles (and doubles) can sometimes be a bit small or have a tight cabin. I guess if they put 8-10 berths in the layout instead of 6 this is likely to make at least some cabins to be tight to fit it all in. I found Broads Serenade was one of very few boats that could have four doubles left made up, with only one cabin being relatively small so you could always have a look at this one if that is the sort of boat/price your after one time. Dan

Not in 2010 they're not. On the disabled access front it's good that some boats are being built with this in mind, as it would be a great shame if someone with a disability was totally excluded from a boating holiday. However the sheer diversity & range of disability combined with the restrictions of a boat and its design restrictions would make taking this into account on a regular basis for all new builds an absolutely (and costly) nightmare I should think. I can understand if you were making a new building then creating access good for all is a much more sensible and feasable request, but I hope no-one is seriously suggesting this must extend to all new hireboats. All the best Dan

Hi Clive I take your point, and group pricing undoubtedly has many strengths. Reducing the off peak weeks accross the board is also brilliant, and something I will no doubt take advantage of! The only reason I dont like the group pricing if not by standard is I can no longer say you get what you pay for with the same conviction (Amber Gem is not Rhapsody for example). There is some amazing value in the fleet, and in a time of increased demand improving value and not being greedy with the increases in the peak weeks is good stuff. Dan

Wowsers! That really does look superb now!

Hi Everyone My 2010 Hoseasons brochure arrived today, and wondered what everyones thoughts were. Overall, quite a nice brochure, with plenty of clear photos. A few things struck me... Le Boat: Bit of a mess of an arrangement for them I thought! The pictures of Caprice & Cirrus pretty awful. There are no pictures for Capri or Tamaris classes. Looking at the price they're asking for those classes compared to their competitors I cant see why you would book one, especially without a photo. Three out of ten layouts are wrong. Capri shows one open plan cabin with two singles. It actually has one forward fixed double cabin, bathroom and then an L shaped single/settee with galley opposite. The layout for Cirrus 2 is of a Tamaris class (nothing like a Cirrus so totally useless), and the Caprice layout is of a boat from a totally different company & country! Again nothing like the layout of Caprice. The layouts of Cirrus 2 and Caprice should have been obviously wrong, so I can only think they dont check things or have a team made up of people that dont know about boats - not overly reassuring. I've commented on their prices before, but how they support charging, in some cases 50% more than a competitor with the same style (and standard) is beyond me, and disappointing of Hoseasons for entertaining it. Ferry Marina: Most prices slightly increased, with some decreased. There's the odd anomally like a week on Crystal Emblem is more in full season than big sister Ruby Emblem, though a short break is cheaper.. so they appear to have messed about with some prices but maybe not checked against the rest of the fleet for consistency when completed! Three new boats for them. The layout of Diamond Emblem implies those in the twin cabin have to use the bathroom adjoining the double cabin with no shut off/privacy - so hopefully this will not translate exactly into build. A few new additions also seem to have cropped up from elsewhere. Richardsons: Off peak weeks seem to have gone down, quite dramatically in some cases, with the highest bracket increasing slightly. They also appear to have group priced boats, so a Bounty 37 looks much the same price whichever layout you pick. This has the strength of ease and increased value for some boats, and the disadvantage of reduced value of the older fitouts of this style and reduced fairness. For example, 37ft Rhapsody is now incredibly cheap and a great bet against say San Sebastian if the layout suits you. However, San Sebastian is now an old fitout priced the same as a new (re)fitout. Not so keen on this. To my mind its reduced the fairness of you get what you pay for which I always liked about the fleet. On the plus side it has created some bargains for those who know which boats have had more updating. It also means two people could hire 37ft Bounty 37 "Rhapsody" for much less than the same standard of fitout to Bounty 30 30ft "Symphony". So not really fair - but some good bargains if you can figure out the flip side to it successfully. Good to see the refitted "Calypso" - seems good value too for its size/standard. Well, there's a few of my observations... what's everyone else think? All the best Dan

Hi David Glad you had a good time! Two people on a 'Harmony... cant tell you how jealous I am! Dan

Whatho Folks! Recently got hold of the new 2010 Blakes brochure and thought it would be interesting to see what everyone thought. It looks quite an improvement, with many of the grainy, old pictures replaced with recent, digital ones that are much larger and clearer. There's also a mass of interior pictures for the large fleets, but the smaller fleets dont seem to be as well represented on that for some reason. As ever, it seems quite catalogue like in its layout - it doesn't seem like much design has gone into the layout (3 boats per page in a list type format etc), but there are some nice larger shots of the area inbetween etc, and overall it's much better, quite good really and now gives you, in most cases enough informayion & confidence to make a selection. Good to see Blakes stepping up their effort I thought. I was suprised that given the success of the 2009 season that there seemed a shortage of brand new boats for 2010. Interestingly Barnes Brinkcraft appear to have bought a batch of 29ft dual steer Connoisseur FB models, have upgraded them slightly and are running them as "Brinks Jazz class" Also good to see DRL Marine featured, after just being on the website this year due to forming their fleet after the brochure had been done. Interestingly, the European fleets seem to have disappeared - so I guess that must be a seperate brochure now? What does everyone else make of theirs? Dan

That does look good, and an entertaining read. I hope they keep it going. I guess their regular customers (and I'm sure they have many) will really love that and enjoy keeping up to date. A nice addition to an already good site with a nice feel to it. Dan

Reading between the lines, do I detect you think Clive should fit GPS Andy??!!! All the best Dan

I'm not sure Julz was asking for an antique table old boy... has no-one got something a bit better Dan

Fair Commodore is slightly easier to get off/on, so if that's important that may sway you. Commodore also has a slightly lower height, so might pass under Ludham Bridge at more times as another consideration. Both are nice boats of similar standard though... so a tough choice! All the best Dan

Great stuff Clive! Good to see a new design launch, and has been said, designed for the Broads combining sleek lines with good air draft. I think the 35ft is especially appealing as many centre sliding cockpits of late seem to have been towards the full length end, and centre sliding canopy models are great holiday boats for the Broads. I was hoping they might sneak in for the 2010 season, but can appreciate that'd be a tall order when developing from scratch. Will she be made available to your most loyal hirers for a couple of trips to test her out in 2010?! With some closures and cut backs in local production over the last couple of years it's great to see a new team setting up and skilled jobs created Dan P.S Orange vinyl for the Calypso.... you know it makes sense

Rio is unbelievable value. Internally it is fairly basic, and the odd thing might be a bit more basic than the majority of their boats that are similar but bearing in mind the difference in price I think it is still very good value & good for the price. It still has warm air heating etc and all thing things you need to enjoy a great holiday. For two people on a three week hire it will probably be quite a spacious, ideal home! Have a fantastic time Dan

Good lord! It's mutilation!! I have one night off and this is what happens Actually I'm quite relieved... I couldn't quite picture what this alteration would look like and wasn't sure if it might look a bit un-natural! The fact the well has been re-sunk etc means it looks to have worked well. I think I might have to inspect it myself next month Here's a before shot, the door wasn't the best design and was awkward to open & close, potentially lethal if windy and not bumping your head as you went out was also an acquired art I seem to remember: I can live with the binning of the Perkins, but I was a bit more concerned by the interior as unless I am mistaken it does not look to be being refitted to its original style. I have attatched a photo for your boat fitters to mirror Clive as it looks like they are to be going a bit off the rails All the best Dan

That's right Simon. The new additions are different as they have often come from what was previously Crown Blue Line in the case of the Cirrus class, and Emerald Star in the case of Tamaris, & Capri & Caprice (although Conneisseur did also run Caprice's in France etc). The once Emerald Star Capri's were fitted by Brooms and are very nice, as are the more familar Norfolk Admiral's & Emperor's which Connoisseur built to a good standard in the early nineties, still a good standard today though I'm not sure they are still top luxury status. The Norfolk fleet is overpriced to my mind, a pity because they are quite nice boats as has been stated. I always hire with them abroad (so farhave tried out a Consul, Continentale, a Mountain Star and have a Cirrus booked) as they seem the best option to me there, but in the UK they do not currently represent good enough value compared to others to get my business at the moment All the best Dan

Hi Hullaballo The answer is yes, but not all of the time. As 'Diplomat is quite tall she will only go under at certain times, depending on the tides which will affect & vary the clearance you get at each bridge. Ask the yard on your handover and I'm sure they'll give you sound advice, but it's possible she may need to pass under at a time fairly close to low water at Ludham. When you do approach check the bridge height indicator a little before the bridge, compare to the height marked on a plate near your helm position and if it looks to close or you're unsure then turn around, but dont leave it to do too close to the bridge which can get busy, and is tighter with other boats moored etc! Enjoy your trip Dan

Hi Everyone My 2010 Le Boat brochure arrived today - top marks on the early arrival! A few changes for 2010 The Wroxham base has been replaced with Horning, though this has actually happened recently... but I guess its kind of new for 2010! Good to see that the Cirrus class joins the Norfolk fleet - a really nice dual steer 2/4 berth, a little high but hopefully will go under Ludham. There's some early booking discounts depending on the boat grade... though even so I dont think I shall be tempted by their Norfolk fleet. Their 32ft Aquafibre dual steer "Tamaris" peaks at £1430 a week. The same boat design at Richardsons peaks at £947. That's over 50% extra for the same style boat! I'm not convinced the standard is far different either! This is all assuming Richardsons 2010 prices aren't increasing by 50% of course. I cant see Le Boat off peak craft letting too well at that kind of pricing structure! Otherwise a nicely put together brochure on the whole. I think I'm going to book a month off work now to read it! Has anyone else recieved there's and any thoughts? Dan

Ah yes me too. I remember us kids all stood in the doorway waiting to see if it was going to start as my Dad tried to encourage it out of the garage! Nine times out of ten he would flood it or it wouldn't play and we'd all be back in the house and have to wait ten minutes then try again. Happy days! An impressive looking boat Clive. Have you any photos of the Horizon factory in production?! Dan

and the final one... 860D.. once Lady of Hearts 2, now Rio from Richardsons (their credit crunch busting bargain boat!)

Another Horizon 35. M713 - once Shimmering Heart (briefly)... now Pacific Shadow

Here's H814 as Lady of Hearts 1 in 2001 and recently, in 2009 as Tranquil Freedom