Broads01 Posted July 3, 2021 Share Posted July 3, 2021 I spotted this on eBay and although I didn't visit the Broads in 1995 I have no recollection at all of "Norfolk Broads Holidays" at Acle. I visited in 1993 and 1997 and I'm 95% sure these boats weren't around for either. Can anybody shed any light as to who these guys were? https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/284354158584 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyg Posted July 4, 2021 Share Posted July 4, 2021 I don't remember them either I'd hazard a guess it was something to do with richardsons. I see in the brochure they mention free transport to the station,didn't horizon craft offer that as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeilB Posted July 4, 2021 Share Posted July 4, 2021 Sorry, no idea either! I wonder if they operated from the old Alan Johnson yard opposite the Bridge Inn? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Posted July 4, 2021 Share Posted July 4, 2021 Thats a blast from the past. I am not sure what is more interesting seeing that yard or how much these old brochures (in my eyes relatively new) are going for as l have a cupboard full somewhere and some only lasted for a season. I don't know much about this one without finding it which would be difficult as I am on Pacific Sunshine at the moment. I do however remember it operated out of Alan Johnson boats yard, nothing to do with Richardsons that was Diamond at Horning, they may have been known as Coral craft briefly and I vaguely remember they may have gone from Acle Dyke (Easticks) and even Brundall at one point. They had an assortment of about 10 boats including some ex Harvey Eastwood 34s and Anchor craft Falcon 26s. The yard may been leased from Len Funnel at the time who operated Alan Johnsons in the late 80s and early 90s and briefly as Acle Ferry boats (may have been brochure only) when this yard ceased. Neil 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyg Posted July 4, 2021 Share Posted July 4, 2021 Alan Johnsons, they were a nice fleet of boats. Do we know why they ceased hiring,Easticks didn't they have that bounty 37 bathtub with a patio type area at the stern. The good old days when there were hire fleets on just about every river bank. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mouldy Posted July 4, 2021 Share Posted July 4, 2021 29 minutes ago, andyg said: . . . . . . . . . . . . .The good old days when there were hire fleets on just about every river bank. I always have a chuckle when I see comments on various Norfolk Broads groups Faceache, complaining about the increasing number of hire boats on the rivers. They obviously weren’t there during the seventies and eighties when there were hire fleets based all over the network. 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyg Posted July 4, 2021 Share Posted July 4, 2021 30 minutes ago, Mouldy said: I always have a chuckle when I see comments on various Norfolk Broads groups Faceache, complaining about the increasing number of hire boats on the rivers. They obviously weren’t there during the seventies and eighties when there were hire fleets based all over the network. Indeed, it's a shame so many yards have disappeared. Another thing I miss are boatyards individual colour schemes. Aston boats,Castle craft and my personal favourite summercraft. Its so boring having all white boats with a few stickers added. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trambo Posted July 4, 2021 Share Posted July 4, 2021 26 minutes ago, andyg said: Alan Johnsons, they were a nice fleet of boats. Do we know why they ceased hiring,Easticks didn't they have that bounty 37 bathtub with a patio type area at the stern. The good old days when there were hire fleets on just about every river bank. Easticks last season was 1994. The Bounty 37s with the patio area were the Petit Magnum class which started life with the Ferry Boatyard Horning as Ferry Cavalier in the 70s and ended their hire career at VIP Harvey Eastwood Brundall. Alan Johnsons last season was 1992 and Acle Ferry Boats 1999. Both Easticks and Alan Johnson provided much lost mooring space and in the case of Easticks a reasonable walk to Acle village. Fred 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C.Ricko Posted July 4, 2021 Share Posted July 4, 2021 It was Darren Lewis of DRL fame. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mouldy Posted July 4, 2021 Share Posted July 4, 2021 32 minutes ago, andyg said: . . . . . . . . . . . . its so boring having all white boats with a few stickers added. But it makes them so much easier to sell when the time comes. Summercraft sold off most of their fleet a couple of years ago and they’re still on the rivers and wearing the same colour scheme. Obviously it could be painted over, but as can be seen with the amateurish effort to cover the orange stripes on the ex Royalls craft, with limited success. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyg Posted July 4, 2021 Share Posted July 4, 2021 17 minutes ago, Mouldy said: But it makes them so much easier to sell when the time comes. Summercraft sold off most of their fleet a couple of years ago and they’re still on the rivers and wearing the same colour scheme. Obviously it could be painted over, but as can be seen with the amateurish effort to cover the orange stripes on the ex Royalls craft, with limited success. Yes I've seen a couple of the repainted royalls boats, you can still see the orange under the white on the roofs. I guess painting out such a bright colour properly isn't easy or cheap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gancanny Posted July 4, 2021 Share Posted July 4, 2021 this is an ex royall bathtub 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
webntweb Posted July 4, 2021 Share Posted July 4, 2021 1 hour ago, C.Ricko said: It was Darren Lewis of DRL fame. I think for at least one season the brochure had something like: 'Lewis & Hughes' printed on the front cover 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Broads01 Posted July 4, 2021 Author Share Posted July 4, 2021 Thanks for all the replies, some really interesting information for a hire boat geeky-type like me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Broads01 Posted July 4, 2021 Author Share Posted July 4, 2021 6 hours ago, Captain said: I am on Pacific Sunshine at the moment. I'd be very interested in your thoughts on the boat, Neil. It's been on my "to hire" list ever since Pacific bought it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyg Posted July 4, 2021 Share Posted July 4, 2021 3 hours ago, gancanny said: this is an ex royall bathtub Looks lovely and much better in the grey, very smart. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Posted July 4, 2021 Share Posted July 4, 2021 Hi Broads 01, Second time on Sunshine, nice boat. She is a 1997 Aquafibre 28 Opal built by Hampton boats of Oulton like Imperial hence the distinctive green colour scheme. She is in more or less original spec and was well looked after by her private owner's although she started as Summer Safari in hire. She does have a 240v inverter, shore power connection. A microwave a fairly rare rear view camera a built in hair dryer and Richard has fitted a bow thruster and an extension to make the settee more suitable for sleeping as an alternative berth. Not sure if you have had this type of boat before however she has the usual benefits of a dual slide roof and a large forward cockpit, rear Nanni diesel and handles well for a bath tub. Richard and Fiona give truly excellent personal and friendly service and the prices are competitive too. Not sure if I am letting the cat out of the bag early however they have just acquired an Alpha 31 to complement Sunshine, not sure when she will be available possibly later this season. Ex private although was originally at Russell marine then Moore's Go boating as Orient Star to add to your choice which I hired in 2007 funnily enough. Neil 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Broads01 Posted July 4, 2021 Author Share Posted July 4, 2021 Thanks Neil. Yes I've hired similar boats before and I was aware of the Hampton connection. I would imagine the rear reversing camera is a great asset. I remember Orient Star, I'll look out for that becoming available. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boatingman Posted July 4, 2021 Share Posted July 4, 2021 Hi Captain We had Sunshine for a week in June lovely craft and you are right Richard and Fiona do go the extra mile. We have there New boat booked for next June , cannot wait Ray 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyg Posted July 5, 2021 Share Posted July 5, 2021 7 hours ago, Broads01 said: Thanks Neil. Yes I've hired similar boats before and I was aware of the Hampton connection. I would imagine the rear reversing camera is a great asset. I remember Orient Star, I'll look out for that becoming available. I hired orient star from go boating Simon it was a very nice boat. Good example of this design. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oddfellow Posted July 5, 2021 Share Posted July 5, 2021 I haven't seen one of those for a while. I might actually have one. As Clive correctly says, this was Darren Lewis though any mention of the operator on the brochure itself seems conspicuous by its absence. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
webntweb Posted July 5, 2021 Share Posted July 5, 2021 4 hours ago, FreedomBoatingHols said: I haven't seen one of those for a while. I might actually have one. As Clive correctly says, this was Darren Lewis though any mention of the operator on the brochure itself seems conspicuous by its absence. A year earlier (1994) a very similar brochure, based at Easticks. Norfolk Broads Holidays and Lewis & Hughes on the cover but the name Coral Craft appears inside. Different pennant though. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oddfellow Posted July 5, 2021 Share Posted July 5, 2021 On 04/07/2021 at 10:26, andyg said: Yes I've seen a couple of the repainted royalls boats, you can still see the orange under the white on the roofs. I guess painting out such a bright colour properly isn't easy or cheap. It just takes a bit of effort! Sand back, get a good key, use a good undercoat and use that to obliterate the orange and then a couple of top coats. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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