Oldest Boat On The Broads

[LondonGuy]

Hi Team, a while back I asked what the oldest boat was on the broads.

I was really thinking of motor boats for hire.

Anyway, I found this YouTube video:

 

[Chelsea14Ian]

Saw her a couple of times last month.

[CambridgeCabby]

Now I believe in private hands 

[CambridgeCabby]

[BroadAmbition]

Wonder what the oldest 'Broads' are on boats? 

Griff

[Tyna]

36 minutes ago, Chelsea14Ian said:

Saw her a couple of times last month.

She is still moored at Herbert Woods.

[Broads01]

Herbert Woods made quite a thing of it, spent a lot on restoration and used the boat as a marketing tool. It was even on the front cover if their brochure if I recall correctly. Hire prices were equivalent to a modern luxury boat but it was only available to hirers with experience. I'm guessing it didn't let well though.

[LizG]

My understanding is that despite experienced hirers she suffered a lot of damage so they just did skippered trips....

[JennyMorgan]

The Maria, built in the 1820's, is still about. Reckon she the second oldest Broads survivor:

[JennyMorgan]

The oldest Broads boat being here:

https://watermillsandmarshes.org.uk/chet-boat/

[vanessan]

3 minutes ago, JennyMorgan said:

The oldest Broads boat being here:

https://watermillsandmarshes.org.uk/chet-boat/

Does it have shore power? 

[JennyMorgan]

5 minutes ago, vanessan said:

Does it have shore power? 

Very sensibly the owners managed without. She was also capable of passing under Potter Heigham Bridge thus was a proper Broads boat.

[CambridgeCabby]

33 minutes ago, JennyMorgan said:

The oldest Broads boat being here:

https://watermillsandmarshes.org.uk/chet-boat/

Ah , but the OP stated motorboat for hire as opposed to flappy or oar propelled .

I guess one of Marthams would now be the winner , unless you count one of Hunters offerings with the electric outboard now supplied on some 

 

[ChrisB]

The Hunter boats are, I believe powered by what Torqueedo refer to as a "Pod" motor and what the rest of us would know as a "Sail Drive" so are a form of inboard.

[JanetAnne]

My best guess regarding the oldest motor cruiser still in hire would be Martham's Jayne. Their remaining Janet is about 1951 closely followed by Tumblehome a year later but Jayne predates them both.

There are a number of ex hire broads cruisers still around that were built in the 1920's and 1930's of which Spark is obviously one but records are a bit vague to be precise as to which is the oldest survivor.

 

[trambo]

57 minutes ago, JanetAnne said:

My best guess regarding the oldest motor cruiser still in hire would be Martham's Jayne. Their remaining Janet is about 1951 closely followed by Tumblehome a year later but Jayne predates them both.

There are a number of ex hire broads cruisers still around that were built in the 1920's and 1930's of which Spark is obviously one but records are a bit vague to be precise as to which is the oldest survivor.

 

Jayne is relatively modern dating to the late 1960s early 1970s  I think you are confusing her with the similar but shorter Jane class that were built in 1952 and 1953. 

Fred

[webntweb]

Don't know which hire boat is the oldest but I think I hired it once.

[Gracie]

16 minutes ago, webntweb said:

Don't know which hire boat is the oldest but I think I hired it once.

Oh me too, I remember the first boat I holidayed on with my parents was a wreck compared to others in the boat yard but I loved her to bits, she's still going strong now too  x

[MauriceMynah]

I understand Jenny Morgan hired it when it was new, as soon as he worked out his pension would let him afford it.

[LondonGuy]

16 hours ago, CambridgeCabby said:

Now I believe in private hands 

Interesting!

Obviously the demand for nostalgia or a supply of careful skippers was not as expected.

[LizG]

The good ship Water Rail which can occasionally be borrowed was built in 1933 by Herbert Woods!  I think the oldest cruisers but not available for hire are the Jack Powles Star/Foams and several of Herbert Woods' - nearly all built in the 1920/1930s.