Dan

Good one Jill! I see there's a Light Heart (Ocean 30) from Hearts there too! I've had to dig out some more Hearts Comparisons of them then and now... First here's R733, once Light Heart 3 it's now been totally refitted into San Pedro from Richardsons..

It's funny how everyone seems to have a DIFFERENT fleet they associate with always being the speed offenders! Could the associations be to do with fleet size maybe.. or do we all just like to hold a grudge against a different fleet?! Any psychologists in the house? Dan

Here ya go Jonny Majestic Gem 2 in 2006

Hey! How did you know?! Will look them out when I get back All the best Dan

Simon How about the venue being one of the boatyards.. maybe even Richardsons I always find there's lots to photograph there Dan

Exciting news Clive Good to hear that by the sound of it the first of the new boats will be ready to hire for next years peak season? Nice to see some new boats being designed with low air drafts in addition to the mass of new designs that have been quite tall All the best Dan P.S I picked up some smart curtain material off ebay!

Whatho Geoff Great news you were impressed, because as you know I am out on one of her sisters later in the year. I too was attracted by her good value, and also that the Safari25 is a bit of a tardis inside, a testament to they're great design & use of space. Roll on October! Dan

Hi Andy That looks really smart... good to see a cracking Ocean 30 looking as good today as when they were first launched I think! Really great boats Dan

Hi Jonny I've never painted a GRP cruiser, so was going to sit quietly... but then I guess there are similarities to the narrowboats I painted and how I did my own. As with many things you get what you pay for. I'd strongly advise against using household paint (do you remember the Line Azzurro fleet??! ). I think the harsh reality is that's not going to look good, and going to look even worse before long. I used International Toplac - nice to work with, and stays looking good well, you definately wouldnt get such a nice finish with cheaper paints, though cheaper International paints (they used to call their standard finish Interlux Super I think) will still be OK. Theres probably some quite decent marine paints that are cheaper, but unfortunately I dont have much experience of them, maybe others will. At the end of the day I took the view with International if it was good enough to go to sea with it was going to be pretty good and last quite well for inland waters. I used to roller it on with a foam roller and brush it out as I went, and undercoated first and agree you want quite a cool day, definately not a burning hot sunny day. Happy painting Dan

Hi Old Bill I think the Quiet Lights (there's 3 of them) were built between 1993 & 1995, so not old boats but not exactly new now either. I personally find Herbert Woods a bit inconsistent.. some boats theyve got in good condition inside & out, a fair few others always look a bit grubby and poorly/irraticly updated as the years have past, or with poor standard or choice of furnishings etc. I guess they are OK, but add in they are far from cheap or what i consider good value and those are the reasons why I've never used them. All the best Dan

Sadly this is not always the case, with some sense attached I guess as ultimately discounting massive amounts if boats are unhired does destroy hire fees and can damage an industry, tends to only be done out of real desperation, and can be a rocky path to ruin. I know a lot of companies will not discount, however there are some that will, so if you have a spare half hour then nothing ventured nothing gained, they can only say no - and a lot of them will! Blakes and Hoseasons act as an agent for the fleets, and will take a cut of the hire fee from the operator whether you book with the agent or directly with the hirefleet, though the cut is naturally a little smaller. If you are booking very close to when you want to go then out of season the odd fleet have occasionally done us a bit of a deal, but as boating holidays are significantly up this year if you were wanting to go in peak or popular weeks then a bargain, or any availability may be a bit harder to find than it was. Have you found anything cheaper from the advice so far? All the best Dan

Why not go for the 4 nights then - problem solved! At the end of the day looking at things from the other side, if the price was cheaper for the weekend then the midweek days would not let and the concept would be unfeasable, though I agree it can be frustrating if you want to go for a shorter period. George Smiths at Wroxham do hire by the day, and for short periods as do Freedom at Horning www.freedomboatingholidays.co.uk who have a wider range of berth sizes than George Smith's (who just do up to 4 berth). Cant think of any others though. All the best Dan

Hi Jonny Some nice sunset's there... Sounds like another fantastic holiday, definately did well with the weather compared to some of the surrounding weeks! Dan

Hi Jonny Yes, I would expect a longer, 6/8 berth will appear for next season. We did Ok on the sunburn front.. very sensible with caking on Factor 15! Dan

Nah! We moored on the riverside in front of it Dan

Ya cheeky monkey! Whatever it was it was very nice anyway! I fink I'll have some more of that sun next time I go boating please! Dan

Ahh that could well be it Perry! Mind you, if so what on earth was all that rain I got on the narrowboat in May???! I forgot to add that after a few days at home I decided lasting until next season before I could come back was totally unrealistic! A few clicks and Richardsons great value in the form of a little Safari25 (Petite Gem 2) proved too much for a boy to resist! Expensive this boating addiction isn't it! Dan

Thanks folks Just added a couple of pictures to my last few posts Dan

Once back on the boat we set back to Horning. Sun showing no sign of letting up, and we think how lucky we've been with the weather - couldnt have got it better I dont think! We've decided that rather than another night in Horning to get up at the crack of dawn and hand the keys back first thing in the morning we'll head back later today. So taking in as much of the scene as possible is the name of the game on the trip back to Horning! Afterall, I'm not supposed to be returning for another holiday until 2010 We seem to get back quicker, despite our best efforts to plod along and we moor stern on back at the base. The friendly chap who did our showround appears and takes the boat off for the diesel filling. We chat over the great weather and how much we've enjoyed the holiday. Then he looks at me and says "Well, you obviously didn't go far". We tell him and he looks suprised, though I explain we've been just chilling out and not racing our way round and he agrees with us over how much fuel this saves. Must admit we probably have taken it much slower this time, and enjoyed it all the more I think, but the large amount of fuel deposit back is an added bonus! Sadly then after throwing everything in the car we start the four and a half hour treck back up north, the air-con on full blast! A great holiday, weve enjoyed spending much more time together than normally allows, totally chilled out and having the four days midweek rather than the three day weekend has also made it seem noticeably longer - and for the same cost - bargain! My other half has very much enjoyed the boat and it's accomoation and sundeck! I've been impressed with the company, and their staff, and admittedly the boat has been very comfortable and spacious for the two of us. The external helm has also been great with all the sun and great weather, and given us great visibility over the reeds. Sadly though, the exterior of the boat was not for me. I warmed slightly to the side view from the back, but I could not warm to the front view, especially full on. Infact, it sent a shudder down my spine each time I saw it! It seems the most important aspects of the design have concentrated on the living space - and its worked well. Sadly though this seems to have been at the expense of the exterior. As hard as I try I really cant convince myself a better job couldn't have been done of the front view. Maybe even a forward door/well would have been better looking if they really couldnt come up with a better solution than lots of small windows curving around the front corners with pillars between? A shame.. and sadly it will stop me hiring another, but I think if you can live with the exterior (and beauty is in the eye of the beholder afterall) or if you are less into boats and more into the accommodation comfort then it's design benefits will probably see them very popular. The boatyard and staff come highly recomended though, and their new 37ft Sedan that was just completed when we left looked much better looking outside to me.... good to see investment, friendly & knowledgeable staff and a new venture making a go of it.... All the best Dan

Too true! Dan

Sadly I am out with a Lady on the Thames Have fun everyone Dan

Apolagies for the delay in the next installment.. I got distracted for a few days by a few lorry loads of **** that my Sister talked me into helping them move into their new home! On with the tale... Day 4. I wake up to the sound of engines and boats cruising past. It seems that, as ever I have managed to sleep on longer and after a lot of shouting I manage to get some hard earmed attention and my coco pops and brew are soon delivered to me in bed! I'm never to enthusiastic at jumping out of bed, but today the not knowing which boats are passing, and the feeling that I'm missing something is quite present! I decide the best approach is to shout up "what boat's that", followed by "what boat's that" and then as Horning appears to be a bit like Piccadilly Circus the steady procession of boats passing "which one's that". After a few minutes it appears that only I like playing this game and I get a few things thrown at me followed by a few obscenities! I decide at this point maybe it is time to get up, and soon I'm removing the front screen covers so I can see what's going on. The kettle's put on and I'm starting to come round by brew two, and I sit snapping a few of the boats passing. The weather's already warming up and it looks set to be another cracking day. After a while we decide to get going and off we set towards Wroxham. We've decided as we cant fit under the bridge (boooo!) that we'll just head there and back today. I'm as excited as ever as I know they'll be lots of boats and boatyards to keep me quiet! We pass through the village, and past the pub, everywhere looking busy and alive, and the sun shining down only adds to the really picturesque scene. On we go to Wroxham.. a nice, sedate cruise, a bit of entertainment added by the usual race of dayboats that seem to have left common sense behind and are doing all manner of silly things, and one of the Gold Gem's overtaking us rather slowly and almost pushing one of the Wroxham trip boats into the reeds only to trundle along infront of us at the same sped! Oh well, I guess they got to Wroxham 15 seconds before us! With our boat not fitting under the bridges Wroxham mooring spots are a bit more limited. Either Faircraft Loynes basin or Barmes Brinkcraft seem favourite. As we approach Barnes Brinkcraft their main hire basin looks a bit full, as does the river side moorings, but we manage to squeeze into a spot just infront of the sail loft. I get off to tie her up and immediately make a bit of a prat of myself by tripping over their very low/short mooring posts! I manage to keep on my feet and have to laugh at myself! One of the Brink of Joy's soon appears with the crew looking a little concerned as to where to moor. They spy a spot near us but their crew look a bit panicked, and I ask if they'd like me take a rope. They're grateful as only one member of the party is able to jump about with the ropes, and steer, so I go off to get the back rope and immediately trip over another of the very low mooring posts! Feeling a little more embarassed I manage to avoid diving into the water or through their open sliding canopy and we have a bit of a laugh over my continued stupidity and I try and engage brain to remember these little posts! Anyway, it's decided I'll go off on my own to look over all the boats, as it's scorching by now, and wandering around in scorching heat looking at boats only seems appealing to me it seems! I have a look round Barnes Brinkcraft's two mooring pools and all boats look in reasonable condition. I decide not to look at the boats for sale as I know they have a Westward 38 for sale that I'm rather keen on and know that my willpower is not strong enough to resist! After a look round the visitor moorings and Faircraft Loynes base I wander down the lane to see what's going on at Le Boat's Connoisseur base. There's a couple of boats from Ireland on trailers awaiting work and I decide I'll wander over their bridge and into the base to see what other boats are being worked on. Out of courtesy I call into their reception to check having a look is OK. The girl on the desk is busy grinning to herself and texting on her phone, but after she's finished that she manages to speak to me. I ask if it's OK to have a look at their hireboats they've got in which seems to throw her. She looks me up and down quite indiscretely and gives me a funny look. I'm sensing she's not as impressed by my shorts and holiday attire and is deciding whether I've just been let out of the local loony bin or not! Everyone's on their lunch at the minute so there's no-one to show you around I get. That's no problem I'm happy to look on my own I say, oh, err, you cant do that I'm afraid, someone would have to show you. Great I think... well, can I not even just have a look round the outside I ask, reluctantly she agrees and bids me farewell and I leave with the impression she couldnt care less in helping me try and book a holiday on one of their boats. I do tend to book one of their boats every other year abroad and I wish I wasnt giving them any of my money for a second or two, but I remind myself how good the staff have been at the bases I've previously hired from and venture off to look at their boats. One of the 32ft dual steer's has come from Belturbet in Ireland and is being worked on, with replaced windscreens by the look of it, ready for transferring to the new Horning base when complete. A few other ex Ireland boats look in varying states of readyness and after a quick wander I decide I best head back to the boat before a search party is sent out! More later, and some pictures when I get home! Dan

Good heavens Clive... we were hungry!! Maybe thats what the pull was.... I hope your not doing them up to sell Clive... I shall miss having a nosey at them, and as you say, it's got my name on it! Dan

Day 3 and I'm awake early. I cant get back to sleeps so its Coco Pops in bed, a couple of brews, and slow progress out of grumpyness! Once up the front screen covers are fast removed so I can let the sun in, and the view of the boats! We're in no mad rush, so we chill out at the base for a while, and I drag my other half off to look at my short lists of boats. Sadly this doesnt go down quite as well as hoped. Sadly, it seems I'm on my own in seeing their beauty so we're soon back off to the boat. Off we go back down the river retracing our steps. We get to How Hill and decide to stop again for lunch and stay for a couple of hours taking in the weather, beauty and the boats! We've decided to head for Horning today and late afternoon we get back to our hirebase, and as Horning is a busy spot and we're not mooring particularly early we moor stern on where we started from. I head off for a wander and take a look at the new base for Le Boat. Due to the change in economic circumstances they've brought back a lot of boats from Ireland and some are ready to run from their additional base at the old Caribbean base, some are still being tidied ready for the full season. I've a lot of affection for this base, and its place in modern boating history. See my website on them at http://www.fbwilds.horning.org.uk I'm so pleased to hear that the site will be, in part, a hire centre again, as since the hirefleet stopped at the end of 2004 the site has seemed a bit lost, and a little neglected compared to how it used to be and the business that used to be there. I wander round and it looks like everyones gone home. Some of the boats are all fully branded with the Le Boat markings, and some are clearly being polished up, and their previous Emerald Star stripings etc removed (one of the groups Sister companies). Richardsons who own the site have clearly poured a lot of money and effort into replacing the moorings and its all looking very smart, and with other areas tidied and the Le Boat flags flying the place looks alive, and 'right' again. It warms my heart and puts a smile on my face - even if this makes me a daft old sod! The fleets Caprice catches my eye, as its very tall looking, and I try and work how much taller it is than the more familar Broom Sedan's moored next to her. It doesnt actually look much, but I wonder how practical it makes the likes of Ludham and Acle bridges. After snapping a few pictures I wander back to the lane and look in at the Freedom fleet. Their latest addition, a Bourne 40 seems to be getting a lot of attention with the exterior and interior being tidied ready to go out soon. A couple of the smaller buildings that were looking a bit worse for wear and had sunk into the ground have been recently removed, as I wander back to the boat I think to myself how nice it is to see things being improved, and nice to see some money going back into improving things and building for the future. By the time I get to the boat time is rolling on, so we jump in the car and drive down to the Swan for our evening meal. The first few seconds in the car always get me.. everything seeming so smooth, quiet and fast compared to boating... but totally pants by comparison all the same! The Swan's pretty packed, theres a lot of staff on the bar, but organisation seems a bit lacking even under the circumstances but we manage to get our order in, and find a nice table overlooking the river. The outside of the pubs also busy, and a really ideallic summer holiday scene - the umbrellas up, all the tables packed, everyone looks happy! We enjoy our meal.... the gammon's really tasty and the meal arrives without too much of a wait - good going seeing how busy they are. Back in the car and off to bed, ready for another brilliant day!

Hi Folks Sorry for the wait, was a bit short of time yesterday. On with the tale.. day 2 continues: After a little while at How Hill one of the green Blue horizon's appears and heads to moor behind us. Somehow you can sense that the crew is a bit tense and the boat suddenly heads in towards the bank at fair speed. I'm not sure what it is with the blue horizon's, but it seems that each holiday we have a close encounter with them. The last time one was trying to squeeze a 38ft boat into a 35ft gap next to us! We're sat on the roof enjoying the scene and as the boat nears the bank they slow down to a stop, as Dad wanders along to get off with the rope, only the boats not quite there, and his commands to Mum at the helm seem to be causing a bit of stress and the opposite to happen from what he intended. I'm always a bit wary to offer help, because I know this can offend some peoples pride, and some people would rather be left to it, whilst some are delighted to have a hand. After debating it out, they seemed to be struggling so I wandered down and asked if they wanted me to take the front rope, they were glad to have a bit of assistance and a few minutes later they were tied up. Soon after we decided to set off and comtinued along the Ant. This is one of my favourite rivers, and we cruise along taking it all in, everywhere looking even more spectacular in the great weather. We go round a few twists and turns and past the picturesque houses at Irstead and then soon onto Barton Broad. The Broad' fairly quiet, just a few motor cruisers heading in opposing directions, and a few mudweighting the wrong side of the posts, which always makes me wonder whether they'll be stuck when they want to go. Anyway, on we plod, along a quiet stretch, past the couple of private mooring basins and the Richardsons basins come into view. The majority of boats seem to be out, and the two mooring basins now in view seem pretty empty of their boats, with a few exceptions with some of the bigger 8 & 10 berths. It reminds of the first time we visited, in full season back in 1995 when, as now the few boats dotted about are doing like we are and just mooring for the night, and they look a bit lost in the vast mooring basins which on turnaround are full of the companies large fleet. So that we can not miss any boats coming in and out we moor near the top of the first quay. It's early evening now and the yard is very peaceful and the working day looks to be over. I decide to jump off and have a look round the boats! As ever there seems to be a bit of a magnet effect to the line of ex hire craft they have for sale. They're in varying conditions, some looking quite presentable and many looking a bit forlorn and in need of a clean off and repaint. This all seems quite appealing to me and I have a nosey round them. One of the Aquabell's is open so I have a look in, luckilly my quick reflexes saving me, just, from getting my feet wet as the front cabin seems to have its own duck pond. There's elysians, Discovery 850's, and my favourite of all, a few Aquafibre 42's which need a bit of a tidy, but are amongst my favourite big boats. After a bit more of a wander its back to the boat. Tea onboard tonight and the rest of my hard fought for bottle of wine! Off to bed... and a disturbed nights sleep fighting out, hypothetically, which of the boats to buy!