Dan

Hi Yvonne Yes, you climb up onto the top and then there's some steep, possibly ladder type if I remember rightly, down into the saloon... sorry, but again not too doggy friendly unless you do a lot of lifting them about (we tend to with our ageing springer) All the best Dan

Personally if Faircraft Loynes have the same style of boat for the money I'd go for that. I looked inside a Brinks Melody & Harmony in October and it was all OK, but in my opinion was not maintained or turned out to quite the same standard and needing to run an engine to make a brew (i am a northerner!) is infuriating madness to my mind - so Faircraft definately win on those grounds! It is a shame that doggies are banned from the best of the Richardsons fleet. I've had to book elsewhere sometimes too... but I can understand no exception being made as someone with an allergy may have booked that boat and needs to be safe in the knowledge no pets have been aboard recently. All the same though, I hope some of the Melody, Concerto or Rhapsody's get the ban lifted at some point... I see Sensation has this year which would have been perfect for family holidays for us Dan

Hi Ali Broads Sunrise does have small radiators onboard just like you have in a house, ran from a boiler tucked neatly away. Whilst these should see you pretty comfortable I'd still advise you pack on the side of caution... hot water bottles are often quite good just incase you do fall unlucky with some cold weather and for the time you wont have the heating on. Running them near all the time would take it's toll... not least on the amount of fuel you would pay as the diesel runs the heating too. Enjoy your hols Dan

Hi Steve The Castlemoron base closed at the end of 2006... I think my Dad had been up into my old room and was browsing a very old brochure, trust him to pick the one base they've closed! Dan

Hi Steve Thanks for all the pictures, it looks truly superb! I've wanted to try the Lot for some time, my Dad picked the Castlemoron base when I raised the French suggestion, but of course as he was on an old brochure that was hard to make happen in 2009! Luckilly he liked the idea of Douelle just as much, so that did it. Your pictures have made me certain that the odd brochure picture that looks beautiful are typical of the area, not just to be found in one or two spots - which to be honest is something we've found before. Thanks for all the charts, once my Dad's back on his feet I shall be forwarding them on for him to swot up on his navigating! Dan

Hi Mark Thanks - I'm glad you found some interest & enjoyment in it, and thanks for saying. Enjoy your hols... i'm sure you will, the new Richardsons 44 footers are very nice, I've booked one for a few weeks before Dan

Robbie - Click on the link to this thread where it's fully explained & to what extent you can 'backdate' it - to when it was introduced basically last year, and assuming you book direct of course viewtopic.php?f=14&t=4343 Dan

Useful info.. we're out on Broads Serenade slightly before, so I shall pass the info onto the girlies... I normally just tell them it's a boat so the hairdryers & straighteners won't work... which creates a bit of a strop but saves space in the car, and my hair dries pretty quickly! Dan P.S The friendly man in the lifejacket hut tends to have suitable hairdryers that aren't too powerful for the 240v system if yours isn't suitable

Hi Clive Interesting stuff! The wet shed's an interesting one too, quite a rarety I guess, the new quayheading looks good and I guess will make the shed much more useable and created more moorings that can be let out. I keep thinking of the few Elysian's and the Safari's that you had in there last time I was over... looked great little projects to tinker on with and keep my stress levels up and my bank balance in the red!! Must be strong! As well asbeing interesting to see some of the behind the scenes shots I think it must be interesting to see that although you have the largest fleet you also have the best facilities and are well set up to look after them all. Not only can you work the Stalham fleet through you're sheds but there's enough space for Acle's boats too! Dan

Well! What a liberty! Must dash.. need to stalk a few local boatyards on the way home Dan

Rio certainly does take good value to a different level. What I find odd is that in terms of standard/style it's much the same as Majorca and even has an identical layout but is a lot cheaper than her. Majorca itself was previously the best value. I've just checked five dates for availability and Rio was booked on all of those that I checked so it''s unbelievable pricing doesnt look to have gone un-noticed or been badly recieved! What I guess is harder to know is whether these bookings would have normally gone to Majorca/Dream Gem/Bounty 37's etc that you run that were previously amongst the best value in Hoseasons... basically are they extra bookings, or just transferring focus from other boats that would have been chosen. All the best Dan

Hi Geoff This reminds me of when I got in a similar pickle several years ago with one of Richardsons "San Francisco's" (shh.. dont tell Clive!) We'd been forced to moor somewhere a bit more tidal than we'd have liked and tried to allow as much slack as we could but it wasn't enough and I was woken in the night to blind panic that the boat was at a funny angle. After a few minutes of trying to convince it was just the vodka effect and to get back into bed I had to face the music. Sadly there was no other boat around for as far as the eye could see. There was just me, in my boxers pushing and swearing with all my might! It did the trick and back level into the water she fell. A bit if ingenious thinking with the ropes was needed as they were a bit too short... then it was back to bed! All good fun I suppose, and no damage done Dan

Hia Possibly their doing I guess. A couple of hirefleets use the odd picture or two of mine.. I'm happy for them to do so free of charge, but of course good manners and courtesy, like asking first go a long way with me! Still... nice they clearly thought it a good photo! Dan

Hi Everyone I'm delighted to hear of a few additions to some small hirefleets. However, in checking the Maffett Cruisers website I was slightly less impressed that they have 'nicked' one of my photos of Horning from this page of my website http://www.dhorner.horning.org.uk/page40.html for their header (behind the Maffett Crruisers logo/heading) Might have been nice to have asked first, particularly given the statement on the home page "All photographs on site are by myself, with some additions from my family. Please contact me if you wish to reproduce the images" :x Dan

Hi Steve Yes, the boat hire alone is not totally dis-similar to the Broads the week we are going either, it's the air fares and car hire/taxi/train that make the holiday so much more - something that in the current climate & weak pound seems a bit pricier than in the last few years when we've gone before, but there probably are airline bargains to be had if you can fall lucky on dates/deals. I have a feeling that in the higher & full season the price gap widens as you say & the boats are more than a Broads equivalent, but cant be too sure of by how much as I took one look and ruled it out! Thanks for your kind offer... if you won't need the charts again then that would be super, thanks very much All the best Dan

..on a slightly more serious note anyone who is considering boating abroad (hmm am I about to get modded?!!) also into the cost you have to add your transport from the airport of course. Sometimes we have done this by taxi, but this is a fair way from Bergarac to Douelle so I think this time we will either get a train or hire a car, which seems to be from about £150 a week at the minute, though if the pound recovers this cost may cheapen (here's hoping!) Good value, but I guess now looking about double a week on the Broads assuming you have your own car in the UK! Dan

Danny, I'll let you know how my ageing crew get on with the locks... I shall of course be shouting very clear commands to them, from the helm.. so I'm not anticipating any problems! All the best Dan

Ahh yes.. that reminds me of one of Moonfleets boats (Moon Ray or Beam) that sold into private hands and got renamed "Miss Fits". Anyone who has seen the boat or text style will know why I had to double take the first time I saw it, and still smile each time I see her now! Dan

Hi Danny I have to agree, comparing brochure/current prices anyway. I'm not sure if Steve meant it due to possibly getting a last minute "deal" with a much larger discount. I've just paid about £1100 including flights for 3 of us on a 2/4 berth, including £115 of discounts. I think the same week on the Broads would have been £600-700 on a similar standard of boat. With cheap air-fares it could have been much less, but the cheapest flights seem much more than they once were (I reckon it's added about £175 on for the cost of 3 of us compared to what we've paid in the past).. but even then it'd be more than the Broads. Dan

Just booked a week from Douelle for later in the year! Can't wait.. extra Croissants for me please! Dan

Hi Brian I'm sure Richardsons would be a bit biased in their opinions on the brochure The video footage some use now is good, but personally I think a couple of internal pictures taken on a digital camera when the boat is clean & ready to go out I would think is more than enougfh to give potential hirers everything they need to reassure & help their choice. Royall's is a good example of such a site - clear, but non professional pictures of internal & externals... All the best Dan

Hi Everyone Rather than continue to hijack another thread I thought I best start another thread.... the new Richardsons brochure landed a few days ago.. I know often the Hoseasons & Blakes brochures get discussed on the forums, I wondered what everyone thought of the Richardsons one? Here's a few of my thoughts & observations.. Loyalty card - a neat idea, launched in 2008 but good to see it in the brochure. Book 5 holidays direct with them (that ends my Hoseasons vouchers scam!) and get 10% accrued for each holiday then you can have that amount off holiday 6. As far as I know it's the first scheme of it's type on the broads, and a great idea to encourage & reward customer retention - both sides win! I quite like the clean lines - white background, pricing, start days etc all the stuff you want to know by each boat etc. Also good to see a few little changes, like Broads Suncharm is now priced for two instead of three... so that moves up the affordability/must hire chart (pinned to my bedroom wall! ) I see a 'Broads on a budget' icon has appeared by some of the best value. I hope this works well... I think it will, though does have the possible disadvantage of putting some people off as thinking they're the budget boats... which some are, though I notice 10/12 berth Acapulco also features it - divide thecost by 12 and I guess it is good value, but newly refitted and definately not the paupers choice! Thumbing to the Special Offers page I see there's the usual good deals on some craft out of season, and discounts for 2 on a 4 berth, 4 on an 8 berth etc - a nice idea that I may try & take advantage of! On the negative side... on the back I didn't like the supposed £20 wine voucher... had them before & with a minimum spend condition it's not much of a deal, also on the back I read the dinghys as though Acle only have sail, which I guess is incorrect and just unfortunate wording.. meaning rowing dinghies only from Stalham & row or sail from Acle I think). Finally, love the internal pictures, would be good to see more and at one point I seem to remember you could download the brochure from their website. As the brochure is much better than the website this would be a good improvement in my mind Any other thoughts anyone? All the best Dan

Hi Everyone Yup, I agree - Nigel's done it now... that really has concreted my mindset... I think I'll have that image in my head now when I see them! All the same, they seem to book very well, so I guess there is a good market/appeal to lots of couples.. All the best Dan

Here's a couple from 2006... Dan

Hello Jeff I've never hired her but I did have a look inside one (there's four in the class) not so long ago and it did look very comfy, perfect for two I would say, with all areas nicely proportioned. All of the class has been stripped bare & refitted in recent years, so the interiors are of nice, and modern standard and the exterior is also a nice, mainly white colour scheme. I'm sure you'd have a very comfortable holiday, though I've no idea how good the fish finder is... I guess if it's too amazing though it might take all the fun out of it! They would be ideal for us when we go, but I have a thing about armchairs on boats and prefer the settee's... much better for cosy evenings onboard with two of you I always think.... but that is just one (of far too many) of my personal opinions! Go for it... you'd have a great time I'm sure Dan P.S I have some internal photos kicking about somewhere - will try & locate & upload later