Graham47

Welcome to the forum, Topcat. I had seen the second separate posting where you referred to Richardson’s loyalty scheme which entitled you to a £300.00 discount. Like yourself I have been coming on the broads since the mid 60’s and it is always good to get a bonus of some description, be it cash, free fuel or whatever. We hired from Ernest Collins and Alpha craft for several years booking 4 weeks per year (2 x 2 weeks) and we always got a discount. Currently I use ferry Marina which is all inclusive and saves a few pounds. I hired swan roamer when it belonged to Swancraft. It is a lovely spacious and comfortable boat and we couldn’t fault it in any way. I hope you enjoy it as much as we did and that going forward we can both enjoy the broads for as long as possible.

We hired Bure Banks mid March, off the beaten track and very private. A very nice modernised property, very clean, warm and comfortable but devoid of any homely touches. Very bright lights in the lounge - the overall ambiance would be improved by lamps. Bure Croft & Bure Banks are adjacent detached properties with dykes to the front and rear of the properties. Parking is to the rear of the property. When we were there, two boats were moored in the dyke to the rear of the properties, but I wouldn’t consider them to be obtrusive. I believe one was a Broom and the other was an older type bathtub front steering cruiser which between them took up about 50% of the available mooring space, leaving room to fish from the other 50% at that time. The front garden is accessed through patio doors from the dining area. The garden is completely private with decking, garden furniture and a Bar B Q and bordering the front dyke. From the main river the dyke is indentified as private so I doubt that many boats would enter it other than summer craft boats on turn round days. I am sure you will enjoy your stay at Bure Banks as much as we enjoyed ours. Graham.

We have hired swan roamer twice. It is a really nice, spacious and comfortable boat. I hope you enjoy it as much as we have.

I don’t see the comments about banks accessability, being any different in an emergency ,whether you are a swimmer, an angler falling in, or someone falling from a boat.

As mentioned they will be using the same hull that was used by Ferry Marina with their Zircon addition which was a 2 + 1. The length being 11.97mtr. They are now building Tranquil Emblem which is a 4 + 2. There is no length mentioned In the build spec only that photos are of similar boats. I hope they will be proportionately longer.

The above was another hire boat from Aston Boats. Originally Aston Mars.

Aston Leo brings back memories. We were the first people to hire it when first built, from Aston Boats in Loddon. It was a really nice boat. It was handy being the first hirers as we had been invited to a Wedding in Beccles and we were able to pick the boat up mid morning and arrived in good time for the wedding.

I was under the impression from previous information that the NYA were going to develop the moorings to suit their boat brokerage business and that a third party would would be sought to use the buildings for other suitable uses. I am not sure from information available so far that there will be an active boat hire business operating from the yard.

I agree with VerChugger. I hired boats from Langford Snr for 4 week’s a year for almost 20 years with new boats being added almost every year. He was quite a character who as well as having a passion for boat building had a passion for renovating Jaguar cars. I am glad that NYA are naming their new venture after him and that in the future people may ask Who was Langford?