DAVIDH

August 23, 2022

This is the boat in question from Buccaneer Boats

August 23, 2022

1 hour ago, Chelsea14Ian said:

There may well be a Watford Bridge pub,but they may not offer a discount to NBN

Watford - Stamford. Perhaps you have other things on your mind Ian? Still I'd have thought football would be the last of them after the drubbing at Mighty Leeds this weekend. :default_party0018:

August 22, 2022

I know that's true Andy. General availability for the next few weeks is predominately only for the more expensive boats now. It shows people are having to count their pennies. I have noticed in past years that the boatyards would rather see a boat stay tied up than let it out at a discount (in most - not all cases). They clearly don't want to alienate their early bookers. I suppose they calculate what they earn from stable pricing as opposed to letting people know the longer they leave it, the lower the price will become. As I said before though. I can't see these prices holding for 2023. At the least I think they will freeze them.

August 22, 2022

On 20/08/2022 at 19:48, andyg said:

They most definitely have David. I paid 1300 quid for broadsman for a long weekend in Sept. The same class boat on the same start date is know 1800 quid..ummm,something I've never known richardsons to do. I'm a regular customer and I'm pretty spot on with prices.

Sorry Andy, missed you're reply. I'm bewildered by this. Can I ask if you booked the £1,300 quid boat out of last season's prices for this year? Just wondering if they increased the cost when they published the new season's rates.

August 19, 2022

1 hour ago, Andrewcook said:

Hi all as to next year's prices Richardson's has put up their prices by Two Hundred Quid

Not sure about that Andrew. I've just checked some prices for boats available in October 22 and 23 and the hire charges are unchanged. Broads Harmony is £1021 on the 7th (2022) and £1021 on the 7th (2023). Carousel is £1267 on the 8th (2022) and £1267 on the 9th (2023) Clear Gem is £451 on the 8th (2022) and £451 on the 9th (2023). It looks the same for the other boatyards that I've seen too. Maybe on one of the years you have hit a bank holiday?

I think the convention is that you can book the following year's boats at this year's prices until the end of October (I believe).

August 19, 2022

2 hours ago, andyg said:

Hi david, as someone who works in the sector can i ask how you see next season unfolding

Many people are already booking for 2023 and paying these rates. If they reduced prices, I guess they would have to reduce theirs too, or it would put off early bookings. I've just seen that only 6 boats remain for hire starting tomorrow on Hoseasons (for 7 nights). September bookings look good too. Someone still has money!

Having said all that, people have been booking closer to their start date, clearly waiting to see what they can afford. We will all be able to afford less next summer with energy rates going through the roof and a level of inflation which will far outstrip salary rises. It's bound to make a difference. My guess (for what it's worth) is that prices will stay the same and not increase for 2023.... but who knows!

August 19, 2022

Just noticed that Broom's White Heron has been reclassified as a 4 berth cruiser. Guess the price was excessive for two people. https://www.hoseasons.co.uk/boat-holidays/white-heron-bh2728

August 19, 2022

I'd have thought, the more people see and watch the "induction" the better.

August 15, 2022

17 hours ago, garryn said:

I've found another old photo of Malanka which must of been taken before 1966 as she always had blue fenders after that while in my grandads custodian

Colourised

August 11, 2022

Oh Ian, youve had enough thrown at you this last year or two (not least concrete bridges). It's that whole bubble of misery you're cast into following a cancer diagnosis that hurts. It affects you and all your family and it doesn't go until that bubble is burst by a successful outcome. No point telling you not to worry. Just do everything the docs tell you, and and on the basis that peace and solitude are healing for the body, get back on the boat as often as possible.

August 7, 2022

2 hours ago, BroadAmbition said:

Yes, see below on how to easily set and remove rhond anchors

Thanks Griff, but it's not the setting and removal of the anchors, it's how to keep the boat alongside while doing it. I only have so many hands and have to let go of the ropes while placing/removing the anchors.

August 7, 2022

The mention of using rhond anchors on a solo cruise reminded me how difficult this is. I knew I would need them if I was to moor on the top end of the dyke at Thurne where there are limited posts, so had them handy. Stepping ashore with two ropes and the anchors was easy enough. It was holding everything in place while trying to dig the rhond anchors into the hard turf that was difficult. Casting off is also not easy as you have to untie the anchored ropes then prise the rhonds out of the ground. Anybody have any tips?

August 6, 2022

Agree with Ray on this. If the wife is able to guide the boat in while you step ashore, bow thrusters will help to get you/keep you alongside.

August 6, 2022

Agree with Simon. Don't forget bow thrusters and if possible a centre cleat. Makes getting ashore much easier.

August 4, 2022

As far as Hoseasons yards are concerned, there's just 4 boats available from this weekend for 7 nights, so most of their hire fleet will be out. I think it was the same last week also. School holiday weeks nearly always sell out. September (apart from the first week) also looks to be selling well. My concern is for the future months and next year. Perhaps the worst of it won't really set in until October's fuel cost rises. Disposable income will really be under pressure then across all business sectors.

August 4, 2022

I think the boatyards have already made up their losses from 2020, due to the rammed seasons from July 2020 and most of last year. Prices also rose last year. Covid could well strike again should a deadlier variant arrive, but I think the real dampener to businesses afloat and ashore, will be the soaring inflation we're suffering at the moment. Forecasts of 15% inflation, the energy cap being increased both in October and in January and a commodity limiting war in the Ukraine are all affecting our discretionary spend. Unemployment will follow. Something has to give.

July 27, 2022

i think booking agencies (of any holiday type) are regarded as a necessary evil by the principles (the boatyards in this case). They would rather not have them and not pay the commissions, but really cannot do without them in general. Yes, Herbert Woods and Ferry Marina survive without them, but Richardsons with all their clout, Barnes Brinkcraft and Norfolk Broads (not only) Direct see the need to continue their association with a booking agency. There will always be a need to connect with the masses who don't know anything about a Norfolk Broads holiday and the first place they will look is on the internet. Try searching for norfolk broads boat hire (the most searched term) and you will see this advert come up first. It's very expensive - costing in excess of £1 per click through to Hoseasons. (perhaps 1 in 100 clicks turn into sales) The bookings made flow through to Hoseasons' partner boatyards. This is where the value of an booking agent comes in.

July 25, 2022

just surprised that yellow boat isn't shaped like a sore thumb!

July 23, 2022

The third an fourth images taken in the mist, are very evocative. If it wasn't for the modern cruiser, I'd have enquired if you have a time machine and went back to the turn of the 1900s

July 18, 2022

2 hours ago, andyg said:

Talking of the future etc, I wonder if hoseason can tell from there data if many 1st time visitors that holidayed during the covid staycation bubble have returned.

They surely will be able to tell that. My own data shows that in comparison to 2020 and 2021, the market is down. You only have to look at what's still available for the school holidays to see that. In the previous two years, these would have been sold out for months. It stands to reason that the windfall of bookings brought by the perceived closure of our borders, has now gone elsewhere (in part). Maybe some people are going for less expensive holidays this year too, with the state of everyone's finances. I saw that the West Country tourist associations were saying ther was still availability, and not to think of the place as full, like last year. My guess is that it will stabalise at what we were all used to before 2020, where the school holidays sell out, though closer to the date, and the shoulder months will still have availability.

July 14, 2022

1 hour ago, MauriceMynah said:

Oh for the reopening of the Pleasure Boat. Has anyone heard anything about it?

There was a pop-up bar behind teh building when I visited, with customers eating and drinking. You can see it on this image:

July 14, 2022

3 hours ago, trambo said:

"He's got her under that bridge."

I've more or less resigned my self to not doing it. Needs lots of planning, which you can't really do until the last minute. I would hire a dayboat I tthink, though the drive around got me to see places I had'nt been to for years. Similar boat last time we were through in 2008 - Gala Girl from Summercraft. Some photos of the time:

West Somerton - only just enough room to swing it (not ours)

The Pleasureboat Inn at Hickling

July 13, 2022

Goosander is now on Flogas too.

July 13, 2022

Not with our Syndicate Simon. It does go to the vote every so often but so far not enough people want it. which makes it unattractive to anyone as it's just 4 hours or so every so often.

July 13, 2022

Saturday 25th June

It was a 7am alarm this morning as there was the small matter of cleaning Goosander from bow to stern, to leave her in the manner I had been greeted with a week ago. If you've readd my previous tales, you will know this is my least favourite part of the whole holiday. Being a sole sailor means there's only one of me to do all the cleaning, which makes it a race to get everything finished for 11am, my disembarkation time. One pet hate of mine is cleaning the large panoramic windows, which are always sparkling and smear free when I first come on board. I always joke that I pray for rain on Saturday morning, to hide my inefficient window cleaning.

I had booked Goosander in at Boulters for a refuel and pump out at 8.30am, so 15 minutes before, I cast off and made my way around, knowing - but looking forward to - these last set of tricky manoevres before I leave Goosander for home. Boulters is awkward in that you have to reverse into the small space they set aside for pump outs. When I got there, a boat was moored almost across the opening, so I had to wait until the staff juggled boats about like the tiles in one of those slide puzzles. Considering the mileage I had done this week, I didn't think £78 for fuel was at all bad. Clearly not rushing anywhere and being fortunate with the tides had made a difference. I also had no pump out to pay for, as my loyalty card was full and indicating a free one was due. I was soon out and making my way back around to Goosanders pad. The cleaning then resumed and I was ready to leave by around 11.10am. Not too late. When I was here last in March, at the time of that warm summer like week, I called at The Rising Sun In Coltishall before setting off for home, so thought I would do that again. So the car and me both waved goodbye to Goosander and we were soon back on the road. I arrived in Coltishall around 11.45am, parked up and claimed a table quite close to the river. It was a warm day and the outdoor tables soon filled. I had the 6oz Rising Sun Burger with maple bacon, caramelised onion and skinny fries. By about 1pm, i was back in the car and the journey home had started. A bit of a wait now until I'm next aboard in November. There was only one image from the day, so I've added some I had missed out from earlier in the week.

My view at Coltishall

Reedham

The New inn at Horning

St Topez - I mean Great Yarmouth beach

Scoby Sands (?) wind farm.

Ludham Bridge

Crossing Breydon

Sutton Broad

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