Captain

Indeed looks like one of the 6 Golden Lights built mid/late 60s atleast 3 of which remain on the Broads I believe. Neil

The Bourne 35 looks like a Woods Glistening Stream/light lately Heart class. The Bounty 37 possibly Woods also due to the roof lights Soaring light ex Corsair cruisers maybe Neil

Andyg, Believe the Hampton sedan came first however only by a matter of months, the first of 2/3 built for hire was launched in I believe 1980 whereas the Bounty 27 traveller may not have appeared until 1981 although may well have been built in 1980. However the larger Bounty 34 traveller did appear in 1978 I believe possibly on the Thames first. Neil

Vaughan your boating/Broads knowledge is infinitely superior to mine however that particular yard I have soft spot for as it was my first taste of the Broads when I was 3. As you say the Wroxham yard histories are long and complicated something I would love to learn about whenever I get the chance. Neil

I believe Jim Prior the Conservative MP for Waveney/Lowestoft owned Aston Boats however not sure exactly when and for how long, I wonder if that's why they had blue hulls? With regards to Moore's I don't wish to doubt Vaughan's history of the company however I was under the impression that the Trafford family didn't buy the company until 1974/5 My first boating holiday was in that year on Glenmore 2 R430 when the yard was still independent, the last classic Moore's boat being Craigmore introduced in that year which is now owned by a senior member of the other forum. In 1975 they joined Blakes under the new owners as Mr Moore was proudly independent he of course continued as a dinghy manufacturers up near the station for several years. In 1975 they also introduced the first new fangled all GRP boat a yellow Hampton Safari Lochmore. Glenmore and Baltimore were the first GRP hulled Moore's craft there were 3 Glenmores and 7 Baltimore's built between 1964 and 1969 using the first of the Rip Martin 35 hulls laterly Bourne 35, the original order were with Moore's and Woods who built 6 Glistening Streams for Southgates around 1964/5 to a similar appearance laterly merged with the Glistening light class Neil

Wow that's potentially up to 30 boats on top of the 40-50 sold in the last couple of years or around 30% of the fleet in a relatively short space of time with the fleet likely to drop to just over 200 boats. Interesting to see all the Ideal 45s going (Ludham bridge probably doesn't help) and all the Aquafibre 42s including the more recent San Bernardette leaving no Ideal 45s for hire on the Broads and only a handful of A/F 42s of the later varieties remaining at Barnes and Pacific. Richardsons alone must have taken off 10-15% of the Broads hire fleet with only a handful of second hand replacements in short space of time. I wonder what the long term plan is as I initially thought the reductions were due to a restructure after the sad loss of Mr Richardson senior. I hope the plan involves continued investment in the hire fleet and not redirected away to land based activities both of which are seeing a high demand this year and future bookings I believe are looking good for next season. Neil

Can I just clarify some earlier comments on Sealord. As far as I know 3 of the Aquafibre 40 Saxons were built as suggested. The initial pair were actually Great Gems in 1980 presumably by Richardsons/Brooms for Richardsons. Sealord a Broom build followed in 1981 with a different centre cockpit arrangement designed to mimic the classic Admiral class. Neil

Andy, I hired Princess last year and she is a good boat. Spirit was brought in to replace here ironically an older design of boat however a newer build and a newer version built by Crown at Somerleyton for France with the bigger saloon window. Looked on Princess many years ago and she has had many changes internally since, John Williams of Stalham fitted her out (1986) in the style of a 70s narrow boat. I think he started in the narrowboat world however I maybe wrong, it didn't really suit Princess which was covered in wood panels really dark and depressing interior. Richard replaced the headlinings amongst other things such as the galley and engine. I have to admit probably does need a another refresh now though. Confusingly the new boat effectively replaces Moonlight/Dawn even though they were sold some time ago Neil

I wonder how the process works with Hoseasons. Surely Silverline or the yard in question provides them with the basic details and plan. It can't be that difficult and I am certainly not blaming the yard. I haven't gone into detail here however pressumably this is a sister boat to Solitaire so a picture of Solitaire and awaiting plan or plan subject to modification as they used to state is all that is needed after all who in the name of sanity manages to find a picture of a large narrowboat when there is an excellent photo of Solitaire on the database? Presumably Silverline would have a few choice words Neil

Andy, The smaller sedans at Beaver Fleet were the New Generation class I believe they built about 25 for the Broads between 1972 and 1974 most however were moved to the French Beaver Fleet operation which may well have added even more. I think the French Beaver Fleet were separated from the Broads operation once they were taken over by Rank ( although it may be more complicated) laterly reunited under the Crown Cruisers company when they operated the Ripple craft/Beaver/Crown operations on the Broads. Some came back to the Broads and Thames Richardsons yards as Roving Gem and Gay Lady classes about 7/8 I believe. Neil

Affordable foreign travel won't have helped however I think specific to the Thames local property prices would be the greatest hit. Riverside housing or hotels etc would be be far more profitable than boating for the land owners. Throw in higher labour costs business rates and the expensive river license making the boats costly to hire creates the perfect storm. Back in the 70s and 80s there were several hundred cruisers probably almost as many as the Broads now including Herbert Woods, Richardsons and at Penton Hook Marina a fleet of Powles boats Neil

Interesting definitely ex Thames not Royals as it was reregistered on arrival on the Broads, similar colour scheme, probably dates from about 1980 if it's a Turks boat as it was an early Bounty 28, I will have to investigate further to confirm when possible. I don't believe there were too many on the Thames. Richardsons bought the fleets of Maid boats so a rename is possible or I could be completely wrong about which Maid it was! Neil

Brilliant photos, I am definitely encouraged to give that area ago again in the future. To keep it on a Broads theme your boat is still on hire as Coral Horizon in a similar colour scheme all be it refurbished as a 2 berth only at Stalham. Caversham boat services are also worth a look based on an island with 70s and 80s built boat they are many ways similar to Hearts cruisers in the 90s unfortunately without the prices. They have an ex Brister Yare Moonlight Aquafibre Pearl 38 and a Greenway Bourne 35. An old fashioned fleet however they have invested in the latest electric toilets. Neil

I have been with Kris Cruisers, Caversham boat services Le Boat and Oxfordshire narrowboats on the Thames. As you say Kris Cruisers are the best just a shame they don't have a base nearer Oxford as well. Just leaves Anglo Welsh, Cotswold boat hire and Bygone boating to try! May give Bygone boating a try as being based in Benson at the old Richardsons base I can do the Lechlade end which is very similar to the Broads with a touch of the Cotswolds thrown in. They have an interesting fleet including Broads boats, a Johnson's Anglia could be a possibility for next year.Also believe they have a Bourne 35 and a 1960s Herbert Woods Silver Light set to join the fleet in the next year or two along with existing Freeman and Bates boats. Kris Cruisers ofcourse is predominantly Broads related too with a mixture of Haines, Greenway and Moore's built craft some of which have returned to the Broads in recent years including an Alpha 32 acquired by Clive, a Diamond 43 and an ex Fineway Bounty 37 Neil

I have loads of these brochures at home, I must be worth a fortune ha ha. This was the last year Rank were in charge, as Richardsons bought the yard back shortly after, not sure what happened with Bushnell's although Richardsons appeared to move some more of the Stalham boats to the Thames for a short period before moving them back possibly because they were still in Hoseasons at the time and the Stalham yard was a mess at this stage with various boat graveyard's 8 year old boats with scattered interiors and doors left open,a sad sight before the restoration began. I also note this was the last brochure with a number of woodies still on hire. By 1984 they were down to 4 Broads ventures. I can't see the mention of caravan's although Freshfields used to market caravan parks. New Horizon as Richardsons was rebranded operated out of Benson Riverside park as one of three thames yards acquired after Bushnell's ceased, they had some caravan's and possibly still do although they maybe lodges now Neil

I have hired sunshine and Gala Girl 2 both are good boats. If you can't get Sunshine Clearway would get my vote, she is slightly bigger, has a bow thruster although loses the electric mudweight and was fitted out by Greenway Marine to a good standard and looked after by Kris Cruisers on the Thames where she operated last and I imagine updated by Clive since as suggested. Gala Girl was fitted out by Brister originally as Yare Sunrise in 1996 and maintained to high standard since however I don't think they have updated her although I vaguely remember reading about a possible refit so I might be wrong. When I hired her she still had a gas fridge for example. As an aside the Hoseasons external pic of Clearway is actually a Swan Alpha 35 not the Alpha 32 Clearway however they are very similar ofcourse, being an Alpha 32 I think she's unique for this type of Alpha usually 29/31/34/35. Ofcourse Pacific have an Alpha 31 now if you want to go from Loddon. Neil

I never realised Southgates had one of the 44s as Highland Stream. Woods built about 6 in 74/75 and 1980 must ended up at Hearts as they had 2 Astral Hearts eventually. I also believe the 38 footers were split between Thorpe and Potter initially as Celestial Heart and Adventurer, the French ones were possibly Laventure Neil

That's interesting to see those old Aquafibres, always looked wider than the claimed 12 ft for some reason. I forgot Richardsons had them all be it moved to the Thames, I remember they bought some ex France boats in the 90s including Calypso s and Bermuda also believe they had the Adventuress and Astral Hearts 44 footers from Pennant operating briefly from Stalham (not listed in the brochure) then moved to Thorpe. I don't think they thought much of them either. Neil

I notice that they state the largest fleet of luxury cruisers on the Broads even with Woods, Southgates and Hearts combined I wouldn't have thought they would have been bigger than Richardsons cc 300 boats however perhaps I am missing something. I think they had fleets in France as well including the dual steer Adventurer although they probably didn't appear until the late 70s Neil

I think Silverline is a bit of a marmite yard. I found them rather officious however I have only hired one boat, I have however looked at a number of their boats and found them all to be immaculate externally and pretty good internally too. I am not sure what people are seeing with their older boats as other than Richardsons I don't know any yard that has upgraded or refurbished as many of its older boats. Compared with Woods or Sanderson's they are in different class however personally I didn't get on with the owners I wouldn't tell anyone not to give them a go Neil

Sorry should have said hire cruisers, plenty of yachts I imagine that must be 6ft or lower. Bounty 27s are pretty low although only 1/2 left now Neil

Airdraft is a commonly used term however rarely is it valid or accurate unless it takes into account circumstances. Every hire boat has perhaps three airdrafts what I mean is the measured airdraft, the airdraft needed for Potter/ Wroxham which is as much to with the width and shape of the superstructure as anything else. Then finally the height on the dash quoted by the yard which usually has a few inches tacked on to allow for the arched bridges and to protect their pride and joy worth 5 or 6 figures, oh and that s before you throw in some of bridge gauges which may or may not be accurate. As far as I know and I am sure it varies according to individual boats however an Alpha 29/31 is around 6ft 4 or 5 however needs atleast 6ft 8 for Potter and the boatyard s usually state between 6ft 10 and 7ft 3. I went through Potter on Evening light an Alpha 31 in 2010/1 and Graham the pilot stated it needed 6ft 8. Unfortunately we rarely see 6ft 6 these days. Saying that the Woods 29ft Starlight is probably one of the Lowest hire boats left that isn't a Martham boat Neil

Hi, Hired her in 2007 as Orient Star. She is an Alpha 31 built about 2001 unlike her older sister at Richardsons which is a 29 the difference being the bathing platform type stern. The layout is as per Moon Adventure at Richardsons Neil

Hi According to the Herbert Woods website the next new build will be Ruby Light 2 another Starlight 29 to be available from November 21. At which point they will have 16 in the hire fleet 9 24s and 7 29s Neil

There are loads of Broads/ Broads type boats on the Fens including this Starlight which joined me in a lock in 2019. Must have spotted at least 8 Sancerres in May this year. 1 or 2 wind boats similar to Merrywind also I see 1 for sale. Plenty of Sheer lines of various sizes aft and centre steer. Hordes of very nice Ocean 30 aft or centre steer, Hampton Safari mk 2 and 3. Classic cruisers of Thorpe. A Caribbean or two. Westward 38. Aquafibre 32 dual steer ex Woods originally Colin Facey. A Coral Emblem from Ernest Collins plus other similar ex Moore's boats. I was also surprised to see an Alpha 35 centre cockpit outside Wicken Fen nature reserve on Reach lode and an Horizon 35 round the corner. Plenty of others however I will be here all night. Neil