Advice information and experiences please

[Guest flanaguff]

I am getting increasingly frustrated at year after year being unable to get through Potter Heigham bridge, for the last 2 years have hired Royall Diamond an excellent boat ine every respect but its not been possibble to get it through! very frustrating to watch other craft go through. So the 64000 dollar question has anyone

1Used this boat yard

2. hired this craft

3. any idea of its TRUE airdraft

The shortlist is

1.Beam of Light Class Herbert Woods

2.Shining Light class Herbert Woods

3.Royall Ambassodor /Continental obviously aware of this yard!

4.Connisseur Emperor C45 Connisseur Craft.

5.Silver Illusion Silver Line Marine

6.Alpa Phantom Alpha Craft

All experiences information gratefully received particularly and any other suggestions gratefully received party consists of 4 adults 2 children normally have dinghy with outboard however just dinghy would be acceptable,

[Dan]

Hi Flanaguff

Unfortunately I think the problem is that the type of boat you're hiring is a tight fit for Potter so quite regularly can't go through. In reality I think you have to look to quite a different boat type to have a high chance of getting through - something like a Bounty 27, and they go through because as well as being low they are also narrower and a different shape. Sadly these type of boats, or Safari's etc etc do not seem to fit your party profile and I cannot think of any narrower beam 6 berths at the minute, I guess that means there aren't many of them! Alternatively you may have to hire a very different boat style, such as a traditional cruiser from Martham which again then work better for similar reasons to the Bounty 27 but is far less luxurious than your recent choosings.

I would look to Whispering Reeeds Canada Goose - a nice boat inside, despite the dubious colour scheme and John and his Mum give superb service and well turned out boats so no problem there. Of course again being a 12ft beam she is the hardest to get through of the fleet, but being north of the bridge the company are used to working around/with the bridge problem and your chance of cruoising above Potter is much increased... though again if water levels are high you may start or end your cruise the other side of the bridge, but surely your best chance.

I think the problem with your suggested shortlist is all the boats are very similar to one another & to Royall Diamond in height, width and dimensions so I cant see any of them being much better. This said it's possible the Connoisseur may be as they are designed with Wroxham bridge very much in mind, but of course this is nothing of a restriction compared to the dimensions of Potter', so hopefully someone may know the aiurdraught/chances on those.

All the best

Dan

[Pete]

Something those of you who want to get under Potter Heigham may want to try: rather than hire a boat for the whole week, hire a larger boat for 5 days, and then spend another two days on a smaller weekend boat. Whether or not Herbert Woods (or other boatyards based near PH) would be co-operative in facilitating this is a different matter, but surely it's a good compromise? You get the space of a larger boat for the majority of the week, and the ability to get under Potter Heigham at the same time.

[VetChugger]

Out of all those mentioned I would think "Shining Light" would have the better chance but this is never guaranteed! I'm surprised "Royall Diamond" failed unless levels were above average. That being one of the lower air draft boats.

Why not get a "Juliette" or "Silver Jubilee" from Martham?? They have ways of getting them under........

Trevor

http://www.normanboats.co.uk

[Guest flanaguff]

Thanks for that everyone, i like the look of shining light, but dont about the boat yard.Canada Goose is a fine boat ive been on it when it was moored next to me some years ago, however the sleeping arrangments dont suit us!now if it were 42 ft long with another cabin! perhaps they might be adding one to their fleet?? Connisseur 45 footer looks at the moment the most likely but its got that blasted hood to wind up and down, still obviously we have to compromise, will be they still be hiring next year?? oh i forgot Diamond needs 6ft 9in Connisseur 6ft 7in and last year that made all the difference we sat watching a Connisseur pass through while we had no chance just 2 ins damn.

[Guest flanaguff]

OK decided to take the bull by the horns and spoke to the pilot at PH and

Royal Continental 6 10

Beam of Light 6 11

Shining Light 6 9

Connisseur 6 7

Alpha Phantom 6 11

Was advised of a craft at richardsons Concerto 6 4 will look in brochure on that one

And something called a Mediterannean any one any info on that one ?????????????????

So anyone hired a Connisseur,the Concerto, or a Meditarenean and got any advice on these Craft please??????????????

[Dan]

Concerto is only a 4 berth, and they have five in the class.

There is no current hireboat called Mediteranean. It is a term sometimes used to refer to a Bounty 44 - like Ultimate Gem for examlple so that could be what they mean. The last hireboat called Mediteranean was retired at least 7 or 8 years ago from Horning Pleasurecraft and was an Aquafibre 44.

Bearing in mind all the above the advice sounds a bit irratic to me!

All the best

Dan

[Guest]

Cue music:

Magnus: Name?

Contestant: Daniel Horner.

Magnus: Age?

Contestant: Not telling.

Magnus: And your specialist subject?

Contestant: Hireboats of the Norfolk Broads.

Magnus: And your time starts now....

I remain in awe of your encyclopaedic knowledge of Broads hirefleets Dan!

[Dan]

Lol! Sounds like a fun challenge!

Definately nearing an age I need to keep quiet on too!

I'll get my coat, I mean anorak!

Dan

[Guest flanaguff]

Thanks Dan had a look at Concerto not suitable, as for Mediteranean couldnt find it either so perhaps its been retired??

So has anyone any experience of Connisseur 45 footers ????????????????????????

[VetChugger]

Only that if you work for the NHS and have an NHS email address you can get a full 25% discount on all 2008 hires. Not that there is much of 2008 left!

Trevor

www.normanboats.co.uk

[Guest flanaguff]

No-one had any experience of this company then?????????????

[Dan]

I booked one of the 45 footers in France, then the company decided to bring the boat back to the Broads (a bit ironic I guess) so we had to change to a Continentale (only available abroad).

The company is well respected and we found the French operation very professional. The boats in the UK always look slightly better turned out than those abroad (possibly due to the French locks increasing the number of scuffs & bruises) so I'm sure you'll be very happy.

I like the style and layouts very much, I'd probably hire them in the UK if they weren't priced at the very top of the market.... almost that bit too ambitious in my mind, but undoubtedly good boats

Dan