Bexs

They built a marina on the quay for visitors mooring, rather than the old style rafting up alongside. So it’s just the commercial vessels alongside the quay now, no idea what they tie up to though... think it’s massive (slightly decorative) metal posts from memory... I will have to go and look now!!..

I hope so! But one has become a little accustomed to the creature comforts.

The thing I love about visiting the broads are the destinations. Here at home in Poole Harbour I sailed competitively but never cruised, as I find large expanses of sea, sailing in one direction for hours on end dull. From Poole you can’t ‘pop’ many places for an afternoon or a evening meal. You can go to the Solent or Weymouth easily enough, but they are weekend trips and do require more planning, preparation and the conditions to be in your favour, that cruising on the Broads. It’s why I dream of owning our own boat on the Broads but not here in Poole.

We always used to hire yachts when visiting the broads. But the arrival of our children (2 & 4 year old) and the need for alot of the above and the space on board for children to play, meant we converted to motorboats 4 years ago.

Whoops Classic Gem 2! Too much sun & wine in the garden.. sorry! Sent from the Norfolk Broads Network mobile app

I am not sure we bent any ears, in fact I think we were just having a polite chat about our holiday.... We expressed our surprise at the late night activity. We were however just as much surprised by the response!

I am not sure we bent any ears, in fact I think we were just having a polite chat about our holiday.... We expressed our surprise at the late night activity. We were however just as much surprised by the response!

My 88 year old father has albums full of black and white photos of the all yachts he used to hire in his youth. So much choice!!! Pictures of well known moorings completely full of yachts, double moored and rafted up. Fantastic to look through, a very different time. Some are still in hire today.

One year we watched a Richardson’s Broadsman arrive at Ranworth island moorings at 9.30pm in the last of the evenings light. They left the mooring, and the broad an hour later in the pitch dark... to where, we had no idea!!! We did mention it to the boatyard when we returned our boat (I acknowledge too late for them to do much) but the response we got from the member of staff we told, was rather surprising....“Oh I love to night cruise, do it all the time. Best time to see the rivers”!! Well, that maybe so, but not sure that’s the right attitude when comes to hirers without nav lights...

It would make sense to retired the number so that particular boat can’t be identified... Really enjoyed the vlogs too! I had been missing the captains logs. We start our 11 night break on Broads Gem 2 next Monday and they really peaked my excitement, a week now seems a long time to wait!!!

Welcome!

This is a really good point, syndicates seem to be very good value!!! Unfortunately we are limited to school holidays as of this September, so wouldn’t work for us.

Will be keen to hear all about it, and your thoughts of the boat upon you return. When do you go?

Down here on the south coast the surveyors are generally not qualified enough in mechanics to comment in any detail on the state of a engine, might be different in Norfolk... Marine engineers are normal used to do an engine inspection and sea trial, as well as a surveyor doing the survey.

I am afraid I can’t help with the boat either, but will be keen to see the responses as it’s one I dream of hiring in the future as ‘treat’ also. I think she is the one that you can take dogs on?

Sounds like you had a fabulous time, thank you for sharing it.

Hope you find it of use. The RYA are a brilliant resource.

The RYA used to do a book that covered the legal aspects of buying a boat, but I have just looked on Amazon and it's currently unavailable. But you might be able to source it elsewhere. It would give you some background info on the procedures involved and the paperwork you should expect. Incorrect/incomplete title docs used to be one of the biggest mistakes people made. Admittedly not such an issue on smaller craft though.

Not sure what Hagrid would make of them... Sorry back to the topic of Trixie!

I Learn something everyday!’ Thanks for enlightening me

Just watched the first half, great so far! Question: Are all the conkers on board Trixie a preventative for condensation?

Thanks Alan, good to know. They are part of the charm and fun of it!

Loving the scenic tour of watering holes, oh and the broads of course...

Are there still baths at Oulton Broad? I have hired a power boat the last four years, since having children, but before that when I hired ' rag n sticks', a bath at Oulton was a much needed and appreciated highlight of the week!

Yes, really enjoying this too. Getting me in the mood for our visit to the broads next month.