Hire Yards Of Yesteryear

[Roy]

The how it all started topic got me thinking as a child I’d sit on a bench at the riverside plot we owned in brundall  on a Saturday afternoon watching all the hire boats going out for the week there used to be a constant stream of them making there way down hoborough dyke in brundall.

these are the yards I can remember being there in the late 80s 

alexandra cruisers 

bounty boats 

swan craft 

silver line 

alpha craft 

bees boats 

harbour cruisers 

fen craft 

fresh water cruisers 

willow cruisers 

vip Harvey Eastwood 

its a shame to think that I watched all these yards close through the years with the last one being silverline recently.

can people think of other yards either in brundall or else where on the network 

thanks 

[Broads01]

Happy memories, Roy, I remember all those. Others that come to mind are Wing Line (although I think they'd gone by the late 80s) and Buccaneer Boats. Aren't NYA down that dyke nowadays or have I got that wrong?

If we start talking about other yards outside Brundall it'll be a huge list.

[webntweb]

Brundall Station Boats

[Chelsea14Ian]

7 hours ago, Broads01 said:

Happy memories, Roy, I remember all those. Others that come to mind are Wing Line (although I think they'd gone by the late 80s) and Buccaneer Boats. Aren't NYA down that dyke nowadays or have I got that wrong?

If we start talking about other yards outside Brundall it'll be a huge list.

NYA have about  three moorings in Brundall.Buccaneer are up for sale I think.

[bucket]

Not in Brundall but three operators I have hired from;

Norfolk Marine, based at Womack Water, Caribou in 1981.

Hearts cruisers based at Thorpe, I can't remember the boat name but may have been Queen of Hearts in 2001 or 2002.....A fabulously elegant old cruiser with a folding wheelhouse.

The wonderful Horizon craft at Acle bridge. We hired many of their bath tubs from 2000 until it closed 7 or 8 years ago.

 

[bucket]

Dopey bucket......norfolk Marine should have been Ludham marine......

[petersjoy]

Again not in Brundall but Maidencraft at Thorpe comes to mind, we hired Miss dreamriver back in the late 80's.

[ExSurveyor]

3 hours ago, Chelsea14Ian said:

NYA have about  three moorings in Brundall.Buccaneer are up for sale I think.

I think you might mean three marinas

Buccaneer are not doing dayboats any more but are still doing private moorings.

[Chelsea14Ian]

I thought  they were selling on there day boats.I know they've  retired. 

[ExSurveyor]

24 minutes ago, Chelsea14Ian said:

I thought  they were selling on there day boats.I know they've  retired. 

They are stepping back and the dayboats have gone but they are still advertising moorings.

[Spray]

There was  Pirate Craft in Brundall , very close to Alpha Craft in the 1970's if I remember right.

[vanessan]

The very first time we hired in 1982 was from Brundall, R & D Smith who I think later became Stellarcraft briefly. 
We hired from Anchorcraft at Acle a few times, that was another great yard. It’s only fairly recently the name of Anchorcraft has finally disappeared from above the wetshed there. 

[jeffbroadslover]

We hired from Alan Johnson Boats at Acle ( next to the bridge opposite the pub) 

Have also hired from Brister Craft at Wroxham and Belaugh  Boats.

Porter and Haylett at Wroxham is another I remember and George Smith also at Wroxham

Another was Martham Ferry Boats

Will try to remember a few more

Jwff

[Boatingman]

On the Waveney 

Rowan Craft Geldeston

Poolcraft Beccles

Herbert Freeman Beccles

Cruiser Craft Beccles

Astton Boats Beccles

Hippersons Beccle

Waveney Riiver Centre twice 

 

 

[jeffbroadslover]

A G Ward at Thorpe was where my brother hired from the year before my parent's first hire from Geo Smith which was when I first got the bug

Jeff

[Mouldy]

Most of the yards we hired from have long since disappeared:

F B Wilds   
Porter &Haylett (Connoisseur).  
Gale Cruisers, Chedgrave.  
Russell Marine, South Walsham.  
Brister Craft, Hoveton.  
Royalls, Hoveton

[Wussername]

Empty tables, empty chairs.

I have lived in Norfolk, within the Norfolk Broads all my life. My Great Grandfather, my Grandfather, his sons, my Uncle's, thier sons, my cousins, all had boat yards. All gone. Except one.

Such is the way of life I suppose.

[Aboattime]

Chumley and Hawk in Horning,and King line.

[Turnoar]

They’re not completely gone though Wussername, folk remember the boat names, memories of holidays, photos. I had one up my sleeve last night for a quiz clue just in case where a Krayfish came to pass gleaned an empty response.

[Boatingman]

Oulton Broad

A D Truman

Fowlers

Little Shipa

Hoseasons

Newsons

Knights Creek

Hampton

O Heft

Leo Robinson

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Turnoar]

Topcraft...  sure there were others as well at OB

[OldBerkshireBoy]

BB boats in Brundall (later Freshwater), small family yard with six boats one of which was called Peripin.

[Wussername]

Many of the boat yards were family boat yards. In that respect they were very vunerable. 

To some extent they were similar to Mr Patel's corner shop.

[webntweb]

10 hours ago, OldBerkshireBoy said:

BB boats in Brundall (later Freshwater), small family yard with six boats one of which was called Peripin.

Think Perrapin was a Broom build. Lovely looking boat. Think it was moored under covers downstream from Coldham Pub. Possibly went to the Thames from there.

[jeffbroadslover]

Whispering Reeds at Hickling and didn't Ludham bridge boatyard hire out small cruisers a one time?

Moonfleet marine at Stalham ( eventually incorporated into Richardsons)

Ripplecraft also comes to mind

Maffett Cruisers...

Jeff

Edited July 8, 2023 by jeffbroadslover
another memory