Broads01

Does the ranger ever ask you to move from your favourite spot?

Hi Chris, I'm a regular solo hirer. As has been said, it's all down to boatyard policy and it tends to be either a yes (with suitable experience such as yourself) or a definite no. It still niggles me that Richardsons stopped solo hiring and yet they're perfectly happy to hire to anybody else, somehow having two novice adults being safer than having one experienced one. Yes boatyards: Barnes Bridgecraft Ferry Marina Marthams Pacific Summercraft (I think) No boatyards: Richardsons Herbert Woods NBD Brooms (I think although you could ask).

I have a happy memory, Vaughan, of that sunny afternoon in 2018 when you kindly invited Mel and myself to join you and Susie outside your hired cottage near Wroxham Bridge. I met Jill and Peter for the first time. We'd arrived that day in a Richardsons hire boat and what makes me smile is that Jill must have been a sharp business woman. "Have you thought about hiring from Barnes Brinkcraft?" she asked me very politely with her Norfolk accent. She evidently wasn't one to miss a business opportunity! I don't remember the conversation after that but she must have influenced because I hired from Barnes the two years following.

I've just read the sad news that Jill Thwaites has passed away. It was announced on Barnes Facebook page and website. I only met Jill once (she and a husband were a guest of Vaughan) and she came across as a warm, friendly and energetic lady. I'd like to her acknowledge the significant impact she had on the Broads hire industry. My condolences to her family. https://www.barnesbrinkcraft.co.uk/jill-thwaites-tallowin-founder-of-barnes-brinkcraft-1992-to-2023/

Which is the "true left bank"?

Hello Bucket and welcome. Like you I started my Broads hiring in 1981 as a 10 year old with my parents. I'm still well and truly in the hiring game but may be tempted in to a syndicate one day. Which syndicate are you owning with?

I forgot about Fleetline. It looks very impressive in the photos, a kind of Broadsman mark 2 and I mean that as a compliment. Re Broadway 7, have Richardsons started building again or has it been sat in a shed for a while?

I thought it would be good to start a thread on hire fleet changes for this year, I.e. New builds, retirements, transfers and improvements. There's a few I'm aware of: Silverline stopping hiring and their boats transferring to Richardsons. Barnes Brinkcraft adding Brinks Prelude 2. Bridgecraft have given Trent Bridge a bow thruster. No doubt there are other changes as I don't tend to keep track of fleets I'm not interested in hiring from (of which there are a few!)

Yes I guess it does make a difference, not so much whether you'll be able to pass through but how many options you have on the day in question. I'm hiring early April this year and intending going south. When we return north, low water is around 6pm I think so we'll have to either go through a bit early or spend the night at the Yacht Station.

What month are you looking at? Most of the season there's a low water comfortably in daylight so the date wouldn't matter.

I'm not a legal expert but I'm struggling to see how any charge for mooring is legal unless it's being levied by the land owner. It may be the legalities behind the ownership of Ranworth Staithe and Reedham Quay are complex but I doubt the B.A. owns the land in either case. It feels like being charged for parking in a free car park by a contractor who's been employed for works on the car park.

Nice photo, 2013 being the last time I was able to pass through the bridge in a hire boat (Bright Horizon 1). Of the 11 boats I've hired since with an air draft theoretically low enough, none have actually been low enough.

I remember mooring there numerous times Malcom and indeed it was very popular. I visited Reedham Ferry last year and found the food ordinary to say the least. That pontoon is a sad sight nowadays. The location of the pub is lovely and somehow I enjoy the sound of the ferry close by. I hope it doesn't turn into another "pub I miss". I have a memory of that mooring which will always stay with me. We were on Jamaica from Richardsons in 2012 and my younger daughter was 12 at the time. Jamaica had a side entrance in the saloon and my daughter exited through it so enthusiastically her momentum took her across the pontoon and in to the reeds and shallow water beyond. She was thankfully unhurt but it was certainly a memorable moment.

Er, I started this thread to discuss pubs you miss and there's been some really good posts on that. I recall there was a recent thread about the White Heron - please can the mods shift the content over.

Agreed. Also, my understanding is the land at Salhouse is privately owned but Ranworth is a public staithe. The Quay at Reedham I would have thought was local authority owned so how a charge is fair there bewilders me somewhat.

I've never been to Boulters but I've seen their narrow entrance many times on Russell's and Dave's videos, usually with moored boats there making it even harder. It must be tricky even in good conditions. If it was me I'd be tempted to go to Southgate's instead but I don't doubt their fuel prices are higher.

Spot on.

Ooh, not good news. I note the increase in hire vessel fees and introduction of mooring fees at Ranworth and Reedham. The ranger at Ranworth isn't really necessary in my view given tides aren't an issue there. Last time I was there he didn't seem to do a lot.

Cheques, I remember those (I started my career working in bank branches).Would anyone selling their boat (or anything else valuable) actually accept a cheque?

Ooh, if only they allowed pets I'd be tempted. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/195538485216?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=DG9rPWVlRTi&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=4b-5bJkbQHi&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

Great photo. Let us out Mum!

That's another new one on me. Was the building demolished? https://www.norfolkpubs.co.uk/norfolkh/hoveton/hovetth.htm

Having looked up where this was I had no idea there was a pub so close to the Yacht Station.

After squeezing through the bridge I stopped for about 45 minutes. A ranger came over and when I said it was just a short stop he didn't charge me. I don't know if that was just good luck and it might be different another time.

I was almost caught out going north at slack water in October and needing 8 foot 3. It was very, very tight and how I wished I'd been there an hour earlier.