Dan

Good heavens SmellyLoo... calm down dear.... A few of my pictures are used by hirefleets, mostly out of their desperation/lack of anything any better, normally because the fleet is newly set up or the boat is a recent addition that they have nothing to use - so use mine as a stop gap, some are Broadland fleets some are not. I have never asked for anything in return, though if the people using them had not been polite in their requests I would of course not helped them out - it's up to the individual. From my point of view I have an absoloute mass of photos at home of boats that until recently were of no use to anyone but of interest to me. If the odd one can help someone out then it makes it a bit worthwhile from my point of view than them just sitting there not being utilised. Of course you can have a different outlook and think it a liberty to ask for them for free, but as has been said if that's your thoughts why not just not send any, rather than critscing, as some people WILL be happy to use them, as am I for one. Clive... the biggest problem trying to snap them on the rivers is the fenders which aren't 100% ideal for your brochures and also that the people on them, not expecting their photo to be snapped are rarely doing the ideal pose! If I ever branch out into trying to take a nice photo rather than a record of the boat I'll let you know, but dont hold your breath! Occasionally, by pure accident the two come together through luck... if you've managed to find a spare ten hours to browse the usb pen with them on that is all the digital ones I think.... though theres probably only the odd decent one in amongst them, if youve filed it or lost it and ever need any/them again just shout up Dan

Sadly I'm always too busy snapping the boats to catch the wildlife! Dan

Thanks Jonzo! I think you'll be a happy man, as there's bound to be a few of the AF32 dual steers you rather like! If the boats are mainly from Ireland the possibles are is fairly few, I guess the Birchwood's etc would just about fit though are still a bit too tall for Ludham perhaps. If some are coming from France the potential gets even more exciting! All the best Dan

Those are very tall but more importantly quite wide boats Jonny, around 13ft 6 if I remember right. I seem to remember the max width allowed on the Broads in general terms is nearer 12ft, or am I mistaken in thinking that? It's their mass of wider boats that's got me so interested in which will be coming! Dan

Hi Everyone I hear the Le Boat craft destined for their new base at Horning have reached Norfolk now & are being worked on at Somerleyton. Has anyone heard/seen which boat types they are? Great news to see the Norfolk hire industry expanding a bit further, I guess due to the attraction of UK holidays through the recession, and through the added value of a weak pound to those booking from overseas? All the best Dan

Must admit I love a good thread on Hearts Cruisers! you've got me banged to rights! You're right about them not being "proper" Hearts boats... but as I loved Ferryline and their base also holds some special memories for me I was glad to see Natasha appear briefly in Norfolk! Also, it was the only one I could find to do a before & after shot! Back to thinking of others that live on... I;m hoping some more re-appear in the Richardsons fleet after a tidy up, but I guess the majority are already in other hands now... could the forum not club together to snap up the last few! Dan

Good one!! Here's a couple of piccies of boats then and now, well kind of anyway!

Hi Simon I loved Hearts too.. it was always our first stop after a 5+ hour journey (depending on who was driving!!) from home so it was great to feel you'd finally arrived, see the boats, and we normally arrived when the boats were ready and lined up to go out, and the sun was normally shining. With the green there, and the overhanging trees etc it always seemed a tranquil, ideallic setting (though I know operationally it was not without its complications!). We'd then do a relatively short drive to where we were starting from, normally Stalham... all very excited and ready to get out boating! Sadly my Dad thought many of the names were a bit cringe-worthy, and a bit basic so we never hired from them, though I'm sure if they'd kept going we would as I was working on him, and in the last few years the boats seemed a bit better, and they were very good value... sadly they disappeared around the time I started paying & going without my parents every time! Anyway.. get back on topic Daniel... a few that spring to mind are 965F "Natasha" & 961F "Christina" (also ex Ferryline) which was totally refitted into Star Gem 6 and then 961F became Olivewood and now with Ferry Marina. Pacific also have a couple... D717 - Ace of Hearts now Pacific Sunlight and for sale, and M713 now Pacific Shadow. I think you've set me off now Simon.. I'm going to be sat here all afternoon thinking of Hearts boats! I can see me digging the scanner out! When I was at Richardsons in November it was interesting to see a Brave Heart and a Sweetheart in the wet shed ready for a bit of love and a new owner... if funds weren't so tight I'd definately have not been able to resist! Dan

On further web perusal I see that Pacific Sunlight is for sale, so looks like the Alpha will replace her in the fleet, though maybe they are running both this season http://www.broadlandboatsales.com/ Dan

Hi Simon From memory Le Boat have some smaller ones which looked reasonable to me in terms of value when I looked at it earlier in the year. If you can fall on them doing a strong offer as well they should be good value, though I'm not syre they're the best presented fleet on the waterway, but are generally quite ok. Still, the rumour is their UK holiday bases are doing very well this year, so I guess the best offers they're running might be elsewhere Dan

Hi Steve I think it is the Doudogne, but could be wrong as Geography & French spelling are not my strongest points! I seem to remember calculating it was just under two hours drive from Bergarac Airport. All the best Dan

Wowsers.. I dont often look in the photography posts as I am not very talented at photography, but really enjoyed this post - what beautiful shots! Spectacular. Think I will have to spend more time browsing this section Dan

Interesting points chaps... had never thought of those strengths! I take it all back... and might even give one a go again one time! Dan

Hi Jonny Yeah they're are a few... from Silverline too, and the odd 35 footer but I'm suprised Alpha Craft never put the bedrooms fore and aft and the saloon in the middle of them with the canopy over like just a couple of other operators did with 35footers. Theyre's no perfect boat I guess though, and they are still very nice and good broads boats, and they do have some seating around the helm at least Dan

Indeed.. a Fen Encounter in previous life. I quite like the design too, but the fact the saloon is not where the canopy tends to put me off them, shame as otherwise they do tick most boxes! Dan

Great tale, glad you had a good trip and birthday! The boat looks very smart too... though never seen a Summercraft looking anything other than first class! Cant wait 'til it's my turn for holiday!! All the best Dan

Whatho Everyone Good to see Pacific have added another boat, Pacific Dawn (Alpha 35) to their line up. www.pacificcruisers.co.uk I did notice it for sale and thought it looked a good price... nice to see it returning onto hire with a good fleet Dan

Hia... Well the fleet looks nicely painted up in a smart livery.... i've booked one for later in the year with them, and on the negative side Calm Emblem is, like most of the fleet more expensive than a comparable boat with another operator... which I was not overly impressed with them or Hoseasons by, but assuming availabilty is forcing you there it looked quite a neat little boat when I saw it last All the best Dan

This might be a useful read too... http://www.supergluecorp.com/removingsuperglue.html

Hi Barry There are tar & glue removers, but if its like a superglue type thing thats gone solid it can be very tough. Other adhesives can sometimes be lifted so definately worth trying a few solvent removers first, it may just soften it enough to make it easier, the chisels are definately a last resort! Dan

I used a hammer, chisel and a power sander one time! Messy but effective, assuming more carpet is going back on again when smooth and if nothing else will shift it. The glues do seem to vary in whether you have a chance or not... so fingers crossed it will come off Dan

Hi Mark Great tale & photos - glad you enjoyed it and are already planning your next trip! Dan

Hi Mark Enjoying reading about your trip.... sounds like you enjoyed the boat. It's one (of the many) I've got my eye on for a future hire!! Dan

They seem to like doing that (I've seen Bounty 40's & Alpha 35's the same), not sure why, unless it's easier to slide/less prone to breaking? I guess they dont have the height issues of the Broads, but like you say... why change it? Dan

Hmmm... they weren't!! It's a '70's AF42 that had a '90s makeover/design change! Maybe all the staff has changed since and they forgot?!! The Condor's are a similar thing.. built and ran as an Alpha 42 like Royall Ambassador to start with, then late 90s or around then had the central section stuck on to make a permanent sundeck/flybridge on the roof Dan