Broads01

Makes you wonder how the boat got there in the first place as from the photo it looks as if the tide never got that high. Did Richardsons used to fit wheels to the botoom of their boats?

I feel all priveleged now, being the first to get one, especially as Hoseasons always leave me til last!

The Richardsons 2010 brochure landed on my doormat today. The style & content is very similar to previous versions, with one key difference. Stalham boats & Acle boats are now split into two sections rather than being combined and Acle boats are labelled just that 'Richardsons Acle Boats. This is consistent with the Richardsons branding that appeared on the Acle boats themselves last season. The Horizon Craft name is mentioned once on the boatyard descriptions page, but the Richardsons brand dominates. I'm not a marketing expert so opinions on a postcard please!

I've always had a soft spot for those 39 foot Astons. They have an imposing presence on the water somehow and I'm pleased they still live on. Aston Thames itself has become Pearl Emblem at Ferry Marina - it's name still seems strange having been Aston Thames for the best part of 40 years.

A big improvement on the previous website that's for sure. The interior photos sell the boats well and makes me feel I could be tempted to hire from them. A year or two ago that was a lot of very negative feedback on the 'other forum' particularly and I wouldn't have touched Barnes with a barge pole. I liked Brinks Jazz from when I first saw it in the 2010 Blakes brochure. It's an unusual (for the Broads) design and very good value I think. My only concern with the design is as helmsman using the outdoor position I would feel detached from my loved one(s) if they chose to remain inside (which my children tend to do).

Great stories James, thanks. Actually the only time I ever did hire from Hearts we had no problems with the boat at all, but that may have been more from luck than judgement. There was something special about them being on an island though & I remember very well the experience of being ferried across to our boat on arrival. Happy days.

Received mine today. Very much agree with the comments above, a vastly improved brochure. What a difference it makes to have a straightforward layout - 2 boats per page with external photo, internal photos, layout, prices & description all organised logically. Hoseasons take note! If I was being pernickety, I'd say many of the internal photos are far too small but I'm pleased overall to see more of them. I believe all these things do make a difference to bookings.

Hi Neil. Yes I saw Jay from the outside when we were at Loddon in August, looked very smart. I knew the interior was being done up but in the ned I decided it was too much of an unknown to book & I've opted to pay more at Summercraft instead. My Dad was very happy with Merlin. I think it does depend on your expectations because he didn't need much space being on his own but even he admitted it is a very small boat by modern standards. You can't argue with the price though, especially when fuel is included.

Finally, finally received my brochure! I know each year's brochure very often isn't very different to the year before, but this time round you could play 'spot the difference since 2009' on many pages. Always nice to see photos of last year's new boats, notably the Emblem fleet this time round. One or two new photos of non-new boats but it would be good to have more. Prices haven't changed much in the main and one or two have dropped, e.g. Grenada Girl from Summercraft. Le Boat are generally overpriced for what they're offering.

Thanks for the offer Dan. You don't need to go to the trouble, I'm sure I'll get mine from the proper channels soon. I've put in an online request although I don't normally have to having holidayed with them twice this year!

Can't believe I'm still waiting for my brochure and there's none in Travel Agents either. Any suggestions for how to get my hands on one would be appreciated!

Great pics Clive. Being a technical numpty I've no idea what goes into constructing a boat so I'm finding this quite an education.

Has anyone had a look inside Jay from Maffett Cruisers? My Dad hired Merlin from Maffett this year & was very impressed with the service he received. He asked to look aboard Jay at the time but couldn't because some work was being done on the interior.

No, it's not you, I've always struggled with the Blakes site, before & after it was redesigned. Bizarre that it seems such a simple thing to get right but Blakes haven't yet managed it.

Aargh! Why do I always have to wait longer than everyone else to get my brochure!? I haven't got mine yet, even though I've been with Hoseasons twice this year. I agree with Dan on the group pricing issue, sorry Clive. If I was a new customer with little idea what to expect and I'd booked San Sebastian (which I accept is good value) , I'd be a bit miffed to look aboard Rhapsody. By equal measure, knowing the boats as I do (though nothing like as well as Dan), I would never book San Sebastian where previously I might have been tempted.

Royalls have set up a new blog with plenty of photos & musings about running the boatyard. I really like it & I've left a comment on there saying so. If you like it too then I'd recommend you also comment so Royalls keep it going! http://royallsboatyard.blogspot.com/

Fascinating stuff, Clive thanks for that. Next time I see Clear Horizon 1 I'll look at it in an entirely different way! I've always thought the layout on the 42s is a bit strange with both cabins in the middle & both washrooms at the stern. I assume the washrooms are effectively converted cabins from the 35 foot or maybe I'm wrong?

This is going to sound like a quiz question but it's one I don't know the answer to. In what year was the last Richardsons designed & built hire craft launched? (Just wondering what the gap between that & these latest boats will be)

The new designs look great Clive. It's great to see after all these years that centre cockpit boats are still being built because they're so right for the Broads. Even though I love dual steers as well, to be building these with the aim of a 6 ft 6 air draft is spot on. I'll be very interested to read how things progress over the next few months.

Agree with what's been said. Diplomat is a lovely boat. I remember reading a thread on the other forum where someone had just managed to squeeze it under Ludham but it would be very tight. You could probably forget St Olaves most of the time as well. It would be Commodore every time for me & don't overlook some lovely equivalent boats like Swan Rapier.

Fascinating thread. I'm sure the new front well arrangement will be an improvement. Thanks for posting the pictures Clive & it would be great to see some more as the work progresses. Presumably you think the extra money you spend on modifying the front will be worth it in terms of future bookings?

Hi Mr T. Hired Silver Mirage back in 2004 & it was excellent. It's brilliant value for money (especially if there's only 2 adults aboard) because for some reason they price it as a 2-5 berth when it's actually a perfectly good 4-5. Either Swancraft boat would also be excellent as Swancraft have a very good reputation.

Great stuff Geoff. Thanks for the internal photos which are always really useful. Petite Gem is on my 'boats to go on on my own if my children don't want to come' list so that's really handy!

I'd forgotten about Penton Hook Dan, thanks for reminding me. I hope Le Boat don't introduce their Europe & Thames-style charging structure to the Broads. If you get an availability quote on their website you'll see what I mean. I checked for the 2-4 berth Consort for Spring Bank Holiday week on the Thames next year. £772 as a basic is reasonable by Thames standards, but they load on a £69 damage waiver, a £60 'cleaning charge' (what the heck's that?) and a 4 euro per hour fuel charge. The fuel system is the one that gets me because it's so easy for them to charge for more fuel than you've actually used because what they charge has got nothing to do with what's left in the tank. Rant over, Caprice would be an interesting choice. Gorgeous looking boats & the prices in Ireland are half reasonable. Trouble is it would have to be offered with the caveat 'Will not pass under any Broads bridge whatsoever'!

Does anybody know if Le Boat are increasing their Thames fleet as well? The overall Thames choice (Le Boat & otherwise) is tiny compared to years ago & I'm sure there's money to be made for Le Boat there too.