Advice Needed!

[JamieMetro]

Morning all,

I wish my first post here was under better circumstances but we've just found out that the boat we were due to hire next month was sunk earlier this week (the Sapphire Light).

We were due to travel 14/9 for a week and Herbert Woods have nothing to offer as a replacement. They have suggested a different boat yard in Horning but they are asking for an extra £700 for boats that are no larger (and in one case quite a bit smaller) than what we originally booked.

Has anyone had any experience like this before? Did the boat yard get you sorted and cover the cost or are we just going to have to suck it up and pay the extra?

Does anyone have any suggestions on decent boat yards that tend to offer out at cheaper prices? We've been coming to the broads for 15 years now and the price has definitely been creeping up year on year.

Thanks in advance for any advice and suggestions.

Jamie

[Hylander]

I do find that most odd that HW have nothing to offer as a replacement, they have always got boats in the yard.   Was it a specific type of boat you were after.    I dont suppose you are the only customers in this predicament.   Not good to hear at all.   May be someone on here will be able to help you,  I do hope so.  

[JamieMetro]

Hylander, thanks for taking the time to reply. I've checked their website and can't see anything available that week which is a shame but does agree to what they're saying.

We're three men in our mid 30s so chose this boat on the basis that we'd each get a double bed! In the past though we've dealt with singles or pull outs so we're not overly precious about it!

We tend to spend a lot of our time on the boat so a decent sized living space is probably the biggest draw. And a table for cards/games etc.

[CambridgeCabby]

Sorry to hear of your predicament , have you approached HW in regard of the extra cost for an alternative boat hire ? 
Thankfully sinkings such as what occurred to Sapphire Light 2 are very rare but not unheard of .

I believe Ferry Marina at Horning have craft of the size you are seeking as do Richardsons , Ferry Marina do tend to offer substantial discounts for boats that are not on hire at short notice 

[SwanR]

Richardson’s have just 3 boats coming up on a search for that week. A wide range of prices so if any of them are what you want I would grab one quickly. 

September is very popular being just outside the school holidays but often decent weather and daylight hours. Also a lot of boats are Monday and Friday start days even for a 7 day hire so if you can be flexible on that you may find more availability. Good luck!

[SwanR]

Just to add that Barnes Brinkcraft seem to have more available and again a range of older and newer boats so a spread of prices. 

[JamieMetro]

4 minutes ago, SwanR said:

Richardson’s have just 3 boats coming up on a search for that week. A wide range of prices so if any of them are what you want I would grab one quickly. 

September is very popular being just outside the school holidays but often decent weather and daylight hours. Also a lot of boats are Monday and Friday start days even for a 7 day hire so if you can be flexible on that you may find more availability. Good luck!

Thanks Swan. I had a look on Richardson's and couldn't see anything that matches what we were looking for. If you don't mind could you let me know the names of the ones you found so I can investigate?

[JamieMetro]

9 minutes ago, CambridgeCabby said:

Sorry to hear of your predicament , have you approached HW in regard of the extra cost for an alternative boat hire ? 
Thankfully sinkings such as what occurred to Sapphire Light 2 are very rare but not unheard of .

I believe Ferry Marina at Horning have craft of the size you are seeking as do Richardsons , Ferry Marina do tend to offer substantial discounts for boats that are not on hire at short notice 

Cabby - I've emailed HW back and I'm awaiting their response to see if they can help out with the cost of the other boats. (I'm currently out of the country so trying to sort it all from patchy WiFi!)

I couldn't see much on Richardson's but Ferry Marina looks promising, thanks for the heads up.

[grendel]

Also worth considering an old fashioned wooden boat from Marthams, a bit more basic, but decent enough, plus the added advantage of starting from the other side of potter Heigham, always worth a bit of an explore.

[NeilB]

Norfolk Broads Direct are showing a handful of 6 berth boats available, will be more expensive than Woods but you'll notice the difference!

[kpnut]

I think what SwanR might have found at Richardsons was Diamond Gem, Broads Harmony and Monaco P.

That's what came up for me when I put in 14th Sept for 7 nights, for 3 people.

But on clicking each individual boat it turns out that -

Diamond Gem would be starting on Tuesday 17th

Broads Harmony would be starting on Monday 16th

Monaco P would be starting Monday 16th.

Hope you find something and get the negotiation sorted to your satisfaction with HW.

An unfortunate situation, especially as your week looks like being one of the busiest on the Broads this year, with very little availability. The Richos lads have been saying all season that September looks busy.

It might be worth trying to delay your trip by a week or so (work leave allowing of course) until it quietens down a bit. The unfortunate sinking would then have worked to your advantage anyway 

 

[YnysMon]

Good luck in finding an alternative. Bear in mind that Ferry’s prices are inclusive of fuel. 

[SwanR]

4 hours ago, kpnut said:

 

I think what SwanR might have found at Richardsons was Diamond Gem, Broads Harmony and Monaco P.

 

Thanks Kate. That was exactly it. 👍

[Hylander]

5 hours ago, NeilB said:

Norfolk Broads Direct are showing a handful of 6 berth boats available, will be more expensive than Woods but you'll notice the difference!

Yes the price!

[SwanR]

Worth remembering which yards are now including fuel and all extras in their prices. How you view the all inclusive price is personal preference. 

[NeilB]

2 hours ago, Hylander said:

Yes the price!

And the lack of water swishing around the saloon….

[Broads01]

I've always thought Ferry Marina prices too high, even taking into account the inclusive pricing. Horning Pleasurecraft are well priced bit unlikely to have anything available I feel. If you want to stick with the same week Barnes Brinkcraft might be the best bet if Richardsons are almost fully booked. If you can be flexible on dates and are willing to holiday in to October, you may be able to get HW to agree to a substantial discount by way of compensation.

I'm pleased to hear bookings are good for September but at the same time not pleased because I'm hiring that week 😀.

[Gracie]

Hi Jamie

A very warm, dry welcome aboard 

Sorry to read of your chosen boat being sunk. I do hope you get sorted. September is a lovely time of year to be on the rivers. Let us know how you get on with another boat choice and your holiday  

Grace x

[NeilB]

8 hours ago, Broads01 said:

I'm pleased to hear bookings are good for September but at the same time not pleased because I'm hiring that week 😀.

When I looked I used Hoseasons, there were only a handful of boats available so I'd say it will be busier than August when there were lots available.  Sorry!

[Captain]

IHi Jamie,

Sorry to hear of your predicament. As you have found out September seems to be the most popular month this year. Ironically July and August had a fair bit of availability as more young families visiting the Broads appear to be giving them the swerve presumably due to the high season prices. The non family or older groups then pile in when the prices go down. 

Anyway if you fancy a Southern River start Pacific Vista is available on 14th September. Not sure what your budget is however she is currently available at cc 1,500 Inc fuel, parking and waiver. She has atleast 3 double berths, 4 loos, Bow thruster and all mod cons. Pacific Cruisers are are a very friendly and helpful yard

All the best Neil 

[JamieMetro]

Afternoon all,

Sorry for the delay between initial posts and now and thank you all for the great suggestions. I've just returned from holiday in Tunisia so I'm now due to spend the rest of the day getting my September broads holiday sorted!

Thanks again

Jamie

[Broads01]

Let us know the outcome, Jamie.

[JamieMetro]

Evening all,

Thanks to everyone's advice I was able to sort the Fair Countess through Norfolk Broads Direct. As we had stayed with them before NFD gave us a 5% loyalty discount even though the code I had was expired.

The price came in a couple hundred pounds above what we originally paid and, despite asking, Herbert Woods were not willing to help with the additional cost so we've had to suffer that ourselves.

Not the end of the world though and we're all glad to actually have something booked! 

Thanks for all your help, glad to be part of the forum now, will definitely make use of some of your knowledge when we travel next month!

Kind regards

Jamie

 

[Broads01]

I hope the boat works out for you, Jamie. Although you've paid more, Fair Countess is around 15 years younger than Sapphire Light so hopefully you'll get some value for the extra money.

[Gracie]

So pleased you have got sorted, Jamie.

She's a lovely boat, have fun 

Grace x