[It's a sign.]

This made me laugh.....any others?

[Bolero]

Thanks for the info guys, perhaps just some blankets and cushions to lay on then (still tempting fate with the weather).

First time on a dual steer boat, very much looking forward to it.

[Bridge Pilots]

Many thanks for all the info folks.

[Bridge Pilots]

Thanks Howard.

[Bridge Pilots]

Just been perusing the Barnes Brinkcraft webcam, a few boats going under the bridge. We are hoping to go under at low tide in a few weeks which is 08.30ish. Do the pilots work this early?

[solo cruise, feb/march]

I'm planning a solo cruise at the beginning of next year, February of March time. I know Freedom boats hire this early in the season, anyone know of any other yards that do the same? I'd prefer to be on the Northern Broads as it'll only be for the weekend.

[Long serving boats]

Freedom boats have a couple of old Aston's. Rambling Freedom and Song of Freedom. I was on the former last year and London Rascal blogged the latter recently. Both still look good

[Carnage at Wroxham (1998)]

Thought I'd share this with you.......

In 1998 six of us hired Aston Jupiter from Aston's Beccles yard. At the front of the boat was a Hoseasons flag which was according to the boatyard the same height as the canopy when full retracted.

So we are approaching Wroxham bridge (before pilots were compulsory) with the canopy fully back, the flag goes under nicely........and........crash. The top of the canopy hits the bridge and gets knocked off completely!!!!! Thankfully the dinghy we are towing is tied with two ropes creating a triangle shape with the stern of the boat. This is where the canopy lands!!!!!

A local boatyard fishes the canopy out of The Bure and places it as well as possible back in place. Obviously Aston Boats get in touch and we agree to return the boat a day early to get in repaired. Now about that flag that was supposed to be the same height as the canopy.......it was at a slight angle and therefore no good. Amazingly the boatyard saw the funny side and still refunded our security deposit, they deemed the incident accidental.

I hired another two Aston Boats after that so they obviously didn't bear a grudge

[Repeat hires]

Aston Norwich was my favourite Jim in that Class at Loddon.

 

Iain

don't remember Aston Norwich but I always hired from the Beccles yard. Aston Jupiter, Aston Thames and Aston Concorde were ones I had.

[Repeat hires]

Hi Iain,

I've hired Aston Concorde too, nice little boat. I believe Freedom boats have the same design in Song of Freedom.

[Repeat hires]

Good afternoon all,

I used Aston Boats very fairly frequently until they ceased to exist, never the same boat twice though. More recently it's been Richardsons simply because of value for money and choice. These include,

Broadland Lass, Broadland Breeze, Major Gem, Voyager, Broadland Mercury, and Ibiza. Ibiza I've hired two years in succession, we have a lads weekend every Oct and it's perfect for that.

[favourite hire boat]

I'll merge it if you want, Jim? Entirely up to you...................

 

I'll move it to Hire Boat Discussion anyway

fine with me. Thanks.

[favourite hire boat]

Apologies for for starting a similar thread to another, maybe one of the mods can move it if need be.

[favourite hire boat]

Simple enough thread. What's the best boat you or your family has hired? Mine is Admiral 6, we went on her in 1986, I was 10.

[So advice please from all you curry heads out there]

...........so the thread about curry has achieved 'hot' status.

[Too much flow, can't keep up]

Iain,

I'm a guard not a driver, so less stressful and more time to browse the forum

[Up the creek without the proverbial!]

Actually it's not as far-fetched as it seems.  When we were first married we lived in Burnham-on-Crouch and commuted to London.  On Friday evenings in summer the trains were packed with saily-types, down for the weekend and you'd be surprised at the assorted luggage they brought with them.

I'm a train guard.......nothing surprises me anymore!!!

[Too much flow, can't keep up]

Hornby or Triang?

 

Iain.

Iain,

even better.......proper trains, well almost proper. Diesel things!!!

[Up the creek without the proverbial!]

Just had a phone call to say my 'dearest' has forgotten to take oars for our dinghy and he 'supposes' I wouldn't fancy bringing them on the train

The thought of someone getting on a train with an oar under each arm has tickled me!!!

[Too much flow, can't keep up]

My work is trains trains trains, so I check in daily to read about boats boats boats. And for me more activity means longer spent on here which means I don't have to watch tv soaps with the wife!

AND THIS IS MY 50TH POST!!!!!

[Owning a boat, annual costs.]

Freedom,

ha ha I don't ALWAYS hire with Richos. I hired Rambling Freedom last year and thought it was spot on!!!

When I'm on a short break however, I stay up north!!!

[Owning a boat, annual costs.]

I have thought about a syndicate and haven't ruled out the idea completely. I just love the idea of owning my own even if it means being poor(er).

[Owning a boat, annual costs.]

Hi guys,

many many thanks for all the information, facts and figures you've all provided. Very helpful indeed!!

[NBN Calendar?]

I'd be interested too. Beats the Charlie and Lola calendar the wife always buys!!!

[Owning a boat, annual costs.]

cheaper to hire (from us) and you don't spend the week cleaning dead leaves and green off your boat!

 

perhaps if you moor with us and we do the maintenance then that is ok. :

ha ha, don't panic it won't be for a while yet, just putting the feelers out. I always hire from you anyway, Ibiza in a few weeks, Bolero next August