Broads01

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.

The page says it will have a full refit so I'm sure it'll be lovely when it's finished. It's expensive yes at around £2300 per week in peak season but broadly in line with other luxury 4 berths I would say. I do agree it's an unfortunate choice of photo of a 44 foot boat.

My recollection is that mooring is only a few years old, am I right? If so I'm surprised it needs work already.

I met Geoff and Steve just after the meet 2 years ago. They're friendly chaps and the Corsican is indeed a lovely looking boat.

Thank you, Malcom, for another enjoyable tale and photos.

I'm afraid not Neil. I'm up 17 May for the meet and last week in September.

Thanks Neil. It's always worth checking I guess. My late father hired Merlin from Maffetts (solo) and had an energetic week covering almost the whole Broads. I was sorry when Maffetts finished because I always fancied hiring from them. I'm planning a return visit to Pacific though, possibly next year (I checked with them recently and they do hire solo with experience).

Hi Neil. Really? That's not a restriction I've heard about. In my experience solo hiring it's always been a case of either it's not permitted (Richardsons, Herbert Woods, the b...., er, rather annoying people) or you can cruise everywhere (Barnes, Freedom, aka the enlightened ones). Which boatyards did you have in mind?

No need to apologise Neil, that's interesting stuff for hire boat geeks like me. I hadn't realised the 38s pre-dated the 42s, I always thought they were built around the same time. I'd also forgotten the later design (Pacific Imperial etc) was related to the earlier one.

Broadland Breeze is 35 foot x 10 foot 6 and a Bourne 35 I think? Ibiza is an Aquafibre 38 like Major Gem. Ibiza is 12 foot wide too so should feel spacious.

I'm pretty sure the brochure has the size wrong and it's 38 foot.

I remember the old Acle Bridge. Was it eventually deemed so unsafe they had to build a new one?

When we had Canada Goose from Whispering Reeds in 2009 there were about 10 people recruited to get us through.

Richardsons have at least 4 I believe as there are 2 Major Gems and Ibiza also. There are plenty of the 42 foot version about also so it's certainly an enduring design.

The middle photo is interesting, by the bridge pilot sign. Presumably that's on the upstream side? Is that the hotel ahead of the boat where the people are?

I'll go with that.

Location could be a tough one. Coltishall Lock?

I hired Bittern from Whispering Reeds for 4 hours in 2016, absolutely brilliant.

There was a period of abnormally low water last year when there were a few boats passing through but that was very much the exception. No boats pass under "all" bridges now effectively, more like "all except one".

I wasn't expecting the price to go that high. It makes the £31 I paid a couple of weeks ago for my Blakes 1975 brochure seem like a real bargain.

Here's a Hoseasons 1971 brochure on eBay. It seems like every other boat started from Oulton Broad in those days! Where exactly was Reedcraft at Reedham? https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F183699969406

Great tale David. I remember the Riverside Stores at Brundall very well. It was there until the 1990s I think. Where was your top photo taken?