KevinB

Thanks Clive, no worries, I was just curious of Fleetline’s pricing for July

No problem Clive The website was fine and booking process was very straightforward, no issues at all. When do you think the new fleetline will be finished and online?

Been waiting on this going live Just booked Dreamway for 11 nights next July , was tempted to book Tideway again but like to try different style

He was at Neatishead on Wednesday late afternoon, he walked down past the boats ringing his bell and letting people know what he had, he seemed quite a character! My wife went up for look, lovely cheesecakes and pies but unfortunately all were quite large and we had plans to eat out our remaining 2 nights so didn’t buy anything. If you are on Instagram at all..look up “Fryersstyle” he has a page on there with his contact details

Know the feeling! Yes that would have been us, headed up the Ant yesterday, we were lucky enough to get a mooring at Neatishead

Possibly stopped at all except Beccles , didn’t make it there this year unfortunately , are you Snowbird?

I’m hoping to get round to doing one again this year, it takes up a fair bit of time but also nice to look back on. Currently aboard Tideway from HPC, our last day tomo

We are currently moored at WRC, first visit since 2021, very saddened to see the changes. I knew it had been sold but didn’t realise until I turned up the basin was now no entry and full of boats for sale. We always made a point of stopping here as the kids loved the pool and always made friends with kids from the campsite. Sad to see no tents and none of the live aboards here, the shop is also gone and now just a small part of the pub. Appears to be only another 2 visitor boats here, have seen a few people viewing boats for sale though, despite the weather!

Lovely pics again David

I’ve admired the standard of Silverline’s boats for years, particularly the hull exteriors , always immaculate, being a bit OCD ..it bugs me greatly to see grubby hulls! Hopefully now they have moved to Stalham there will be a bit more flexibility in bookings…I tried to book with Silverline a few years ago for 11 nights and got quite an abrupt reply back which sadly put me off ever booking with them

I spotted this earlier on a fishing website, bit of a restoration project…wondered if it used to be on the broads? https://www.findafishingboat.com/bourne-35/ad-125452

I agree about the pricing, I’ve spent a lot of time the last few months deciding what to do next Summer, unfortunately had to rule of a few yards I’d used numerous times in the past due to pricing , can’t see us ever using NBD again sadly, not a fan of the “all inclusive” price

Enjoyed reading your holiday tale and pics Jean ,glad you got good service from Ferry Marina, I was very close to booking a boat with them for next July but have now booked with Horning Pleasurecraft never started from Horning before so will be a nice change.

No probs, hope it works for you 😎 Amazing how it takes off heavy rust marks, sometimes needs 2 or 3 applications but it’s good stuff

Have you tried Y10 gel? It might not work on a burn if it’s too deep into the gel but worth a try, it’s great stuff for removing rust marks and waterline staining , I use it a lot on my boat

Lovely pictures David, always enjoy your photos

Thanks Simon, I’ll send you a message sometime, many thanks

Very pleased to read your write up Simon, we just booked with Caley Cruisers for next July a few weeks ago! We have never hired here before either but I have always fancied it and we were staying in a hotel in Inverness for 4 nights last month and it got me thinking. Sad not to be going to the Broads next year but the prices and how busy it was this year were deciding factors in giving it a miss next year, only a 2.5 hour drive from home too. Caley Cruisers had limited availability for next July as I’d left it a bit late but we ended up booking an Eriskay class ( Haines 32 I think ) for 11 nights, I was torn between it and a Balmoral class (Broom 38) , it was a far better boat and in a different class but it was the same price for 7 nights as the Eriskay was for 11 and with the kids the Eriskay is probably a bit safer. I’m just a bit worried it will be a bit cramped for 4 but too late to change my mind now as the Balmoral has now been booked up 😂 I’d be interested to speak to you at some point for a bit more info 👍🏻

Lovely write up Jean, we saw her on the river a few times in July when she was still Mamma Mia and thought it was a lovely boat for 2. We hired Fair Viscount in 2017 ( a last minute booking and it was definitely too small for 4! 😂 ) I had the same issue with visibility , wasn’t a big deal but just a pity there wasn’t small windows there

Lovely boat 😎

When we were there in July one of the guys in the yard mentioned they were getting rid of 30 boats this winter, including all the Ideal 45’s. He said they were aiming for an entirely Elite fleet, going to price a lot of their long term existing customers out of the market that’s for sure…but going by the bookings for their new boats at the moment it must make business sense

Thanks Jean, glad you enjoyed it, took a bit longer than expected as busy with work just now and been too tired to concentrate in the evenings 😂 Yes prices have taken a huge jump ..Louise is saying the same about trying something different next year but I’m not so keen 😂 Enjoy your break in October , sure it will go ahead ok then Thanks, glad you enjoyed it 👍🏻 I can’t believe the jump in prices ..Monaco is over £1000 more than what I paid this year 😕 it was rolled over from last year right enough but still taken a huge hike

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it 🙂 Yes your lucky having a syndicate boat , the AF Pearl 38 has always been a favourite of mine, my parents hired Yare Moonlight from Brister craft when I was younger, very nice to handle and great visibility. Hope you get your trip away in September , things are finally starting to look a bit more normal now

Thursday 22nd July The dreaded last day had come..I didn’t have a plan where to head today as long as we were back in Stalham by teatime. We always tend to spend last nights in the yards, having the kids to organise etc, it’s handy to get the suitcases back out the car and pack away most stuff (toys! 😂 ) so it’s not such a rush in the morning. We left Acle after breakfast at 9.45am, canopy down again as it was another nice warm morning and the river was starting to get busier. We passed the Albion under sail near St Benets, always an impressive sight. We turned down to South Walsham for a look, I’ve not been down there for years , what a lovely spot it is, plenty boats at most of the moorings and mud weighed on the broad, we had a slow cruise around then headed back up, before making the turn back up the Ant, we wanted to stop at Ludham bridge a while if we could get a space. Ludham bridge holds a lot of memories for me as as well as boating holidays on the broads, my family spent a lot of caravanning holidays at Ludham bridge caravan park when I was young , long before it was bought over by the caravan club, it was owned by a real old character Mr King, still remember him directing caravans to their spots on his trusty old bike 😂 Lots of memories of walking along the road in the morning to the Bridge stores and standing on the bridge watching the boats. We managed to get a mooring just up from the bridge and moored up at 11.30am, it was very busy and only a couple of spaces. First stop was the shop for an ice cream , it was pretty hot by then 😂 then a wander up to stand on the bridge and watch the boats go through (think that’s compulsory there!) We had a walk along to the caravan site for a look around, it’s changed a lot but still holds a lot of memories of happy childhood holidays and family who are no longer with us. We set off again at 1.30pm, I was hoping to get a spot at How Hill but know it’s always busy so wasn’t overly confident, but we were in luck, there was quite a few free spaces so we got moored up there and had lunch and the kids fed a family of swans. We had a walk up to How Hill at 3.30pm, visiting Toad Hall cottage and had another icecream 😂 before walking up to the house and gardens, we had never visited here before , always bypassed it but it’s a lovely place for a walk around. We set off again at 4.30pm knowing our next stop was to be our last . We took a very slow cruise up the Ant, before mud weighting on Barton Broad a while so the kids could have a shower , it’s a beautiful spot and I sat on the stern and took it in and the sadness at going home tomorrow. The last slow cruise back to the yard filled me with dread, it’s always the worst part of the holiday knowing it’s over and you have to hand the boat back. We moored up at Richardsons at 6.15pm, hoping to get a last meal out we walked up to Stalham. We had eaten at the Swan inn before and it was very good and family friendly, unfortunately it was very busy and would be over an hour wait for a table..disappointed we headed to the chip shop instead, it was also a very long wait, we took it back to the boat , it was very good actually, but I was a bit annoyed at myself for not booking the Swan inn earlier in the day. After tea I took the sad walk over to collect the car..that’s when reality hits..you are going home . I took the car over and suitcases out then launched the kayak and took Ava for one last paddle around, saw Broad Ambition come out the wet shed and go over to the quay to load up. We went down the river a bit and around the marina, then it was time to give the kayak a wash down then deflate it and pack in the car, had a lot of use of it and was really glad I took it with us, definitely take it again. We packed up most of our stuff so we were ready in the morning , it was a lovely night again and I sat out and made the most of it and our last night aboard. Friday 23rd July We packed the rest of our stuff and loaded the car and were off the boat by 8.50am (miracle!) we had to wait a while to get the diesel dipped and paperwork, I got £2.74 back in unused fuel, that wasn’t going to pay for breakfast 😂 We drove to Wroxham again and headed to the Old Mill Cafe for breakfast , we have been here a few times before and it’s always very good, friendly service and good food. We then headed over to Roy’s toys again..as the kids still had some holiday money left , they soon spent it..then one last walk to stand on the bridge then it was time to head back to the car for the long drive home. We left Wroxham at 11.45 am and parked at the house at 1am…journey was a nightmare, traffic jams , crashes and roadworks, I think all my relaxation of the holiday was wiped out within the first hour in the car! 520 miles and 13 hours driving, I only stopped once, apart from the couple of hours in a traffic jam 😬 Monaco was a lovely boat and it was a great holiday, Broads always is! I’m currently looking at boats for next year but availability and prices are crazy..never hired the same boat twice but would hire Monaco again but not at next years price..now over £4000 for 11 nights in July, I could not justify paying that unfortunately, still looking at a few boats but as they are booking up quick I will need to make a decision soon Sorry for all the pics! That’s the last 😂