Broads01

Yep nothing to worry about as long as you use common sense and stick to the well published guidelines. If I'm aboard for a full week a crossing is very much part of the fun. I can understand people preferring north or preferring south but I can never understand why some exclusively stick to one or the other.

You'll really enjoy Swan Rapture but echo what's already been said, not just for that boat but just about anything bigger than a sailing boat. Two years ago I hired a day cruiser from Whispering Reeds at Hickling, doing so the day before we picked up our hire boat. It was a fabulous experience.

I tend to hire at the budget end of the market because I'd rather spend the money I've saved on more time afloat, time being more important than luxury in my eyes. The issue I've always had with Sandersons is their prices don't match well with budget offerings elsewhere, even compared to other small operators like Pacific and Freedom. I appreciate there could be good reason for that but I feel their vest chance of a long term future is to make themselves more competitive in whatever way they can.

Thanks Vaughan. I'm always interested to learn where boatyards were and I had no idea there used to be Percivals and Banham upstream of the New Inn.

I've never been with them and to be honest I've always felt their boats are priced too high relative to the competition but I'd be sorry to see them go. They're part of the Broads furniture and passing through Reedham wouldn't be the same without them.

Is that leather upholstery? The interior looks amazing. If I could afford £2325 for a week peak season this is what I'd be expecting.

I hope Pedro's at Acle continues. I enjoyed my meal there last year.

Waveney Scorpio does indeed look to be ex Fair Regal. It's coming up as £1595 in peak season which is on the steep side for a boat around 25 years old. I'm wondering what's going on at BBC. I remember one of their staff telling me they were building boats at the old Alpha location in Brundall. Is that still going on?

It seems the Reedham Post Office has been converted to a tea room, very English https://www.facebook.com/groups/norfolkbroadsnetwork/permalink/1545861458879847/

I had no idea there used to be a pub at Langley Dyke. At Thurne there is a small shop now which is mostly a gift shop with a smattering of newspapers and provisions as well.

I have happy memories of Emerald also, hiring it in a cold April week in 2006 with my son who was then 11. Yep the heating was rubbish then but I know they improved it later on. I really like the Aquafibre 28, especially the wide doorway in to the bow well which sets it apart from other forward drive designs.

Yes they've had it on their website for a couple of months, ex Hampton hire boat and looks very tempting. It was discussed on here before but I can't find the thread. They've sold Emerald and Moonlight to finance it.

Thanks very much for the write up and photos Jean and your review comments. I'm tempted to try March myself for the first time next year, partly due to your photos and comments about the lack of boats. It would be my first step towards 'winter' boating - I'm not quite ready for a Howard-style full on winter trip yet! I know what you mean about Richos 'Holiday Camp' reception. It's true it does feel impersonal compared to smaller operators but I've always forgiven them that because they run an efficient operation.

Great pictures Roy. Pennants were very much the budget operators in their time especially so with Hearts Cruisers. My one hire with them was my first hire as an adult in 1989. It was a Hampton called Fiesta and cost something like £230 for a week in July.

I think the prices are unchanged from last year so that much is good. At least you get a good walk for your money which is more than you get at Ranworth Island and that's £10 for overnight.

I always thought it's an elegant design, more so than the aft cockpit version for some reason. That sofa/berth doesn't exactly look like the height of luxury though!

That page takes me back Roy, happy memories of booking through Pennants in my youth although I never had a boat from Southgates.

If you look at the pic in the link in my last post, that's a more recent view under private ownership so you'll have to imagine it light blue.

Southgates was never Hoseasons, being Blakes for many years but finishing up as part of the Pennant Holidays group. If it was 1990/1991 it would have been Pennants, who finished in 1992 as I recall. I remember they had a few light blue Elysian 27 four berth centre cockpits and aft cockpits also. They were built in the 1960s and not improved much over the years. Could it have been one of the Crystal Stream class? http://www.broads.org.uk/wiki2018/index.php?title=Boat_Details&BoatId=5755&BoatHistory=9305

Sounds right to me Jean, especially as you could have been the boat's first hirers of the year. Usually when boarding at Richardsons they've had the engine running. I've always bemoaned them doing that as it's me paying for the fuel that's been used before I've even stepped aboard but I can understand why they do that now. Does it have a battery indicator gauge? I seem to recall Swan Roamer has one.

Lovely photos Jean. First time down Lime Kiln Dyke? I love that little stretch, I don't know how you've resisted it before.

So it's SwanR aboard Swan R. Enjoy Jean, I'm looking forward to the rest.

Fair point about Faircraft Loynes Howard although I'd only have a go myself if it was a small boat with a narrow beam. I have video of myself taking an Alpha 32 through in the pre-pilot days and it's scary to watch. If hiring from Barnes I'm told they take their own boats through.

I didn't know the Bridge Pilot doesn't start until the end of March. Given March is probably the most popular month for yards to start their season (February for Herbert Woods) I find that very surprising. Something in the back of my memory says that the pilot service is staffed by guys who also operate the Broads Tours passenger boat services. Given that it's probably to early in the year for passenger boats to be operating, is that why there's no pilots either?

I recall Salhouse has 3 charges being 1 hour, daytime and overnight. I don't think that's unreasonable and it's clearly signposted. It's around £9 for overnight though which seems steep given absence of facilities except a few water taps with heavy, leaking hoses.