Broads01

I didn't realise Hoseasons and Bradbeers were boatyard operators as well as agents. I take it then that Topcraft (the final Oulton Broad survivors of course) came later, presumably taking over the premises of one of the others. Although I never hired from anywhere at Oulton Broad, I have lovely memories of mooring at Topcraft in the 2000s.

Good luck with finding someone Andrew. I wish I had more annual leave days left. Maybe some of Griff's group could take it in turns to assist you?

Thanks Peter. I'm always interested to read about history before my time visiting the Broads. I knew there used to be many yards at Oulton Broad but I didn't know there were as many as 18 . It's a wonder there was space to fit them all in. I also didn't know there was a boatyard at Burgh St Peter.

OK so they were around for over 20 years then, longer than I thought. It's hard to imagine a time when there so many boatyards that Hoseasons and Blakes could be choosy. I'll watch these listings with interest and I might be tempted to bid.

There are a couple of lovely looking Bradbeers brochures on eBay at the moment, dating from 1967 and 1968. They look to have a fair bit of colour content and are quite rare I think, I guess they'll probably sell for £30 or £40 each. Am I right in thinking Bradbeers weren't around that long and these brochures may be amongst the last they produced? http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/BRADBEER-NORFOLK-BROADS-HOLIDAYS-BROCHURE-CATALOGUE-LIKE-BLAKES-1967-YACHTS-/152640336307?hash=item238a12b1b3%3Ag%3A9FwAAOSw711Zej11&_trkparms=pageci%3A6dc0fd53-737d-11e7-88dd-74dbd1805a0d%7Cparentrq%3A88affadb15d0ab6b44876273fffa4657%7Ciid%3A1 http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/BRADBEER-NORFOLK-BROADS-HOLIDAYS-BROCHURE-CATALOGUE-LIKE-BLAKES-1967-YACHTS-/152640354216?hash=item238a12f7a8%3Ag%3AEQAAAOSwvVBZej-k&_trkparms=pageci%3A6dc0fd53-737d-11e7-88dd-74dbd1805a0d%7Cparentrq%3A88affadb15d0ab6b44876273fffa4657%7Ciid%3A2

In an ideal world yes but I can't ever remember seeing a space there during the summer, no matter what time of day. I agree with those suggesting Ferry Marina. Alternatively I'm wondering if the New Inn would allow you to book one of their moorings if you were having a drink there (I've never tried it though).

I agree. I enjoy the challenge.

Welcome Glenn and thanks for posting. Your story has parallels to mine (and no doubt to many others) who started out as a child when my parents hired (in the early 80s in my case) and the passion has stayed through adulthood. Like you I handed over the passion to my children (now 22 and 17) who've been coming since they were babies. Yep Horizon were a great yard from whom I hired 4 times and it felt really strange this year to see all their boats mixed in with the Stalham fleet. Last year I hired Soprano and I also really like the low level dual steer design.

I've been reading this discussion with interest. Yep, as a non-sailie 'mobo' type I agree with the advice given, i.e proceed cautiously well to the right, wait your chance and when the time comes give it the beans necessary to proceed behind the sailing boat to get ahead before they tack across. I have a couple of things to point out. Firstly, I must have passed several hundred sailing boats over the years but alas, I can't agree with those who've said most either indicate where to pass or say thank you. It's great when they do but it happens very rarely in my experience. Secondly, I find it's more straight forward to pass a tacking sailor when they're sailing in the same direction as me, much less so when they're coming towards me. On the latter case I sometimes feel like I have some rapid decision making to do (when cruising in the same direction I can hang back for as long as necessary) and I'm all the more grateful for the occasional signal from the skipper as to when I should pass.

Yes indeed, that's what enabled me to check its Broads hire boat origins. It was built by Alpha originally before it went to John Williams and Sutton Staithe Boatyard.

Good luck John. In the nicest possible way I hope Linz doesn't suddenly decide to join the forum now. Salhouse would be a brilliant location to ask the all important question.

Interesting one. I know that stretch of canal in Lancaster a bit as my son is living there. The owner is using the John Williams name Kara Sea which the boat originally had in the 1980s before it transferred to Sutton Staithe boatyard.

Vaughan, I don't think age comes in to it. When I went in I had a horrible moment when I thought the life jacket wasn't going to inflate. Thank God it did, otherwise I'd have been in the sh** and the couple that pulled me out may have struggled. I can recommend the life jackets Richardsons issue - reasonably light, quick to put on as you approach a mooring and light years better than those horrible orange polystyrene things they used to issue.

Richardsons went through a spate of painting boats white 3 or 4 years ago and the Magics were done having previously been yellow. For whatever reason the Bronze Gems amongst others missed this and have kept their 1970s orange. Richardsons are brilliant at updating interiors but I always think their exterior treatment is more haphazard. I'm not convinced plain white looks right either because it's a bit, well, plain.

I couldn't agree more Charlie. I fell in at Gays Staithe on my trip in May (see my Holiday Tale) and my life jacket was vital. It's so easy to under estimate how being fully clothed when in the water makes you feel like you're wearing bricks.

In the current Richardsons fleet San Pedro is an ex Light Heart and built 1967, although you'd never know that from the refitted interior. They also have San Luis with a much older interior (for which they cheekily ask the same hire cost). It's origins aren't as clear because there are several on the boat database and I don't know the registration number. So, Hearts finished in 2002 (boo!) but you can still hire them today. I've no doubt Richardsons also have others.

I remember the red Brave Hearts and Light Hearts very well Fred. The Richardsons budget fleet made even the Stalham fleet look pricey. Back in 2000 I was considering hiring one of the Horizon 35s but ended up picking a Herbert Woods boat instead. On the last day of our trip I saw the Hearts boat and realised I could have hired that for 2 weeks for the same as what I'd paid Herbert Woods for a week and I felt a bit sick. Hire fleets on the south Broads, those were the days.

Thanks Vaughan. I had in mind reversing out of Neatishead from the bottom between two lines of moored boats which I've done several times over the years and always enjoyed. In that situation because you have so little width it's easy to see when you're starting to veer off straight and need a forward correction. I always wondered why I needed several forward corrections and I think you've explained that now.

Spot on Jean, one of the best advantages of a forward steer.

I recently used A Smart Hud following a recommendation from Robin and it worked very well. I'd like to find one that has a decimal place option (e.g so it shows 4.5 mph, not 5 mph).

Thanks Vaughan. I had no idea about this, I only knew that when going astern the boat rarely stays in a straight line but never understood the technical reasons. It explains why sometimes I can complete a stern mooring with no bother at all and other times needs a lot of messing about to put the boat in the right place. How does speed act on the effect? Is it a case of the more throttle, the more the sideways thrust? If so, why does a super slow reverse somewhere like Neatishead Dyke still require multiple corrections?

I'm looking forward to watching this Robin. I'm currently enjoying working my way through Belmore TC from 2 years ago having not watched it all the way through the first time. You captured my daughter and myself on Bright Horizon 2 as you came in to moor at Norwich. It's not the first time I've watched an older blog of yours, your building up a substantial 'body of work'.

Looks good Vaughan. The last afternoon looks a long slog, probably would have to be non-stop to comfortably make Wayford. I'd be tempted just to go as far as Ludham Bridge and get up earlier Saturday morning (as I did last time round).

Noo! If you fancy going North, go for it then spend some time back south and enjoy the contrasts. I love Langley Dyke too. It's a good idea to stay flexible according to what time you get away, what you feel like and where's available.

I wish I could join you guys again. I'm back in August on Tobago 3 but that'll be it for me this year. Vaughan - I have sister ship to yours, Swan Roamer end May next year so I'll be very interested to hear how you get on. I really enjoyed your write up last time. I keep an eye on prices and offers at all the boatyards but like others, Richardsons keep hauling me back, especially with the loyalty scheme. In May I used my loyalty discount (second batch of 6 holidays I've had) which had accrued to £170. The hire charge for 5 nights was £250-£170=£80 plus fuel and damage waiver.