LondonGuy Posted September 10, 2020 Share Posted September 10, 2020 Hi, Virgin Boater here. Is there a good book that features all the stuff that I need to know about my first broads cruise? I know that they give me something on arrival at the baotyard, but that's a bit late! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smoggy Posted September 10, 2020 Share Posted September 10, 2020 Yes, good beer guide... What sort of info are you after? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheesey69 Posted September 10, 2020 Share Posted September 10, 2020 Personally I'd use the maps they give you and a good sense of adventure! I loved the feeling of wonder and apprehension as I approached a new area and itβs one you canβt get back again.Β just go with itπ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YnysMon Posted September 10, 2020 Share Posted September 10, 2020 Iβve not yet come across a book that is better than onlineΒ sources that are available. Thereβs a wealth of infoΒ available on various sites.Β For guidance on boat handling and crossingΒ Breydon this site is very good:https://www.mynorfolkbroadsboating.co.uk/ When you arrive at the Broads pick up a copy of the free βBroadcasterβ, which is in newspaper format. The centre pages containΒ a lot of good advice, including tide tables, average bridge heights and so on.Β Β Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Velo500 Posted September 10, 2020 Share Posted September 10, 2020 Nicholsons guide to the Norfolk Broads plenty of information on Towns, Villages, Pubs, moorings maps and boatyards have been hiring regularly since 1996 and still find the lastest edition helpful. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smoggy Posted September 10, 2020 Share Posted September 10, 2020 If you like pubs the best info at the moment is on covid systems, most riverside pubs are pretty good but there are a few to dodge, depends on your age and health. All the guides are pre covid so food/drink times and availability are not to be relied on as are services offered. Β Β Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Posted September 11, 2020 Share Posted September 11, 2020 As above, don't over prepare, there are I think some YouTube guides that could give you a head start on basic boat handling and your hire yard will give you a handover instruction and a map. Pack a tin opener, corkscrew and torch and cast off, relax and enjoy every minute. Then book your next trip straight away because you will be hooked π (These days a smartphone is a great addition to your crew, try an App called Aweigh... It has just about all you need in one place.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MauriceMynah Posted September 11, 2020 Share Posted September 11, 2020 Perhaps I might make a suggestion here. Rather than try to work out an itinerary, to get a feel for what is reasonable for you, purchase the leisure 40Β Ordnance survey map and print of a copy of the distance between broads spots, both in miles and time. (I hope someone here will provide a link) Then mosey through the multitude of photos on this site to get an idea of the sorts of places you like. When my parents were hiring boats we use to decide in the morning where we would lunch, and at lunch time where we would go for the night. For my mother the greatest joy was the actual cruising, so waking up somewhereΒ and planning on a 4 or 5 hour cruise would be quite common. Equally there might be a cruise from Wroxham to Salhouse for example, and stay there for both lunch and the night making theΒ days cruise about half an hour. If pubs are your thing, go through Norfolk Nog's and Jayfire's holiday tales but if it is temperance and solitude you seek then read mine! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SwanR Posted September 11, 2020 Share Posted September 11, 2020 I remember my first Broads holiday with time spent studying a map and trying to work out a route especially as we had young children with us at the time. It didnβt work. Some places were full so we carried on to other moorings. Some places we liked and went back to. And the children enjoyed the simple things like standing at the helm or feeding the ducks.Β These days because we have been back many times over the last few years we know where our favourite moorings are. And the only plan we make is ensuring we end up close enough to the boatyard on the final night for returning the boat the next morning.Β 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LondonGuy Posted September 22, 2020 Author Share Posted September 22, 2020 On 11/09/2020 at 00:07, Velo500 said: Nicholsons guide to the Norfolk Broads plenty of information on Towns, Villages, Pubs, moorings maps and boatyards have been hiring regularly since 1996 and still find the lastest edition helpful. Β£281 on Amazon, used! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CambridgeCabby Posted September 22, 2020 Share Posted September 22, 2020 Have you got a Kindle ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CambridgeCabby Posted September 22, 2020 Share Posted September 22, 2020 Found paper copy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JennyMorgan Posted September 22, 2020 Share Posted September 22, 2020 A must have guide to Broads boating! https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/The-Art-of-Coarse-Sailing-Green-Michael-1962-May-Second-Impression/123927142462?hash=item1cdaa2203e:g:zNMAAOSwYu9dlcuw 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CambridgeCabby Posted September 22, 2020 Share Posted September 22, 2020 Is a compilation of these two I thinkΒ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dwhitty Posted September 23, 2020 Share Posted September 23, 2020 On 11/09/2020 at 07:55, MauriceMynah said: Perhaps I might make a suggestion here. Rather than try to work out an itinerary, to get a feel for what is reasonable for you, purchase the leisure 40Β Ordnance survey map and print of a copy of the distance between broads spots, both in miles and time. (I hope someone here will provide a link) Then mosey through the multitude of photos on this site to get an idea of the sorts of places you like. When my parents were hiring boats we use to decide in the morning where we would lunch, and at lunch time where we would go for the night. For my mother the greatest joy was the actual cruising, so waking up somewhereΒ and planning on a 4 or 5 hour cruise would be quite common. Equally there might be a cruise from Wroxham to Salhouse for example, and stay there for both lunch and the night making theΒ days cruise about half an hour. If pubs are your thing, go through Norfolk Nog's and Jayfire's holiday tales but if it is temperance and solitude you seek then read mine! I use this distance calculator a lotΒ https://www.norfolkbroadsboathire.biz/distancecalculator.asp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LondonGuy Posted September 28, 2020 Author Share Posted September 28, 2020 Great help, thanks everyone. I think I will by the book AND use the online resources. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HEM Posted September 29, 2020 Share Posted September 29, 2020 When the weather is c**p & you need to take your mind off things try:Β Prisoners Property and Prostitutes by Tom Ratcliffe https://www.amazon.co.uk/Prisoners-Property-Prostitutes-things-begining-ebook/dp/B086C9KZDH/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=prisoners+property&qid=1601365076&sr=8-1 Seems to be out-of-print but available for Kindle. I read the book several years ago whilst on holiday on Ibiza (good weather) & my wife wondered why I kept bursting out with helpless laughter.Β The nameΒ of the author is a pseudonym - turns out I vaguely knew the guy (his brother was a class-mate of my brother - we were all at Stockport Grammar School). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hylander Posted September 29, 2020 Share Posted September 29, 2020 On 11/09/2020 at 06:20, Ray said: As above, don't over prepare, there are I think some YouTube guides that could give you a head start on basic boat handling and your hire yard will give you a handover instruction and a map. Pack a tin opener, corkscrew and torch and cast off, relax and enjoy every minute. Then book your next trip straight away because you will be hooked π (These days a smartphone is a great addition to your crew, try an App called Aweigh... It has just about all you need in one place.) Dont forget matches and a sharp knife and a cheapo frypan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeilB Posted October 7, 2020 Share Posted October 7, 2020 This is a pretty good read, very funny and at times very sad. Β https://www.amazon.co.uk/This-Going-Hurt-Secret-Diaries/dp/1509858636/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=this+is+going+to+hurt&qid=1602089881&quartzVehicle=842-813&replacementKeywords=this+going+to+hurt&sprefix=this+&sr=8-1 Β Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LizG Posted October 7, 2020 Share Posted October 7, 2020 On 22/09/2020 at 22:41, JennyMorgan said: A must have guide to Broads boating! https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/The-Art-of-Coarse-Sailing-Green-Michael-1962-May-Second-Impression/123927142462?hash=item1cdaa2203e:g:zNMAAOSwYu9dlcuw And 'Let's be BroadΒ Based' 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorfolkNog Posted October 7, 2020 Share Posted October 7, 2020 45 minutes ago, w-album said: And 'Let's be BroadΒ Based' Cracking book indeed!Β 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorfolkNog Posted October 7, 2020 Share Posted October 7, 2020 ......all old hat of course but the bit about mooring with the wind blowing off the bank is just as relevant today!Β Β 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheQ Posted October 8, 2020 Share Posted October 8, 2020 if you have children, or if you haven't but haven't read them The Coot clubΒ The Big Six Β both by Arthur Ransome, fictional based on the broads, some places are accurately described others are slightly disguised.. you can play spotΒ the place while cruising around... Β Just watch out for the hullaballoos.. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveO Posted October 8, 2020 Share Posted October 8, 2020 We have started to borrow eBooks from our local library. Fantastic selection of books and periodicals and free to library members. Use an app called Libby to search and download and it also functions as a capable eReader. Runs on laptops, iPad/other tablet and even your phone.Β I didn't think I would get used to not having a physical book but now I prefer it.Β Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grendel Posted October 8, 2020 Share Posted October 8, 2020 1 hour ago, TheQ said: if you have children, or if you haven't but haven't read them The Coot clubΒ The Big Six Β both by Arthur Ransome, fictional based on the broads, some places are accurately described others are slightly disguised.. you can play spotΒ the place while cruising around... Β Just watch out for the hullaballoos.. if you do get moored up at Horning Staithe (a central location in the books) a visit to the post office just opposite will also find a great place to find books by and about Arthur Ransome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.