Commodore and Broadway at the London Boat Show

[Broads01]

I thought I'd post my thoughts on Commodore and Broadway having seen them in detail on the Richardsons stand at the London Boat show:

Broadway:

This boat is low! I spent a while on the boat during the day and kept hearing comments from people about the headroom inside. I could see why - I'm 6 foot 0 and the ceiling felt lower than on older craft like the Bountys. The staff explained the boat was deliberately built low with bridges in mind and at 6 foot 7 clearance I'd say they did a great job. I found the cabins on the small side. The rear cabin has a conventional double across the stern as there's insufficient space for an island bed. The central cabin felt particularly cramped and storage seemed limited. I liked the saloon much more and the helmsman's position seems perched high by forward drive standards. The well at the front is spacious and the cushions are a nice touch.

Commodore

Wow! This boat is something special. The luxury forward cabin with its island bed is as per Broadsman but unlike Broadsman the rear cabin has an island berth as well. The rear cabin has a big rear window which I liked, just as well as there's no rear door so stern on access is via the rear steps and saloon entrance. The top deck is gorgeous with its reclining sun beds and fixed dining table, not to mention double padded helmsman's seat. The saloon is spacious and luxurious as you'd expect although the interior helm view didn't seem great.

The boat has one major flaw for me - the galley is ridiculously small for a 6-8 berth boat. It would be small for a 2 berth boat and not one you'd want to attempt cooking in for a crew of that size.

Overall, I think I'd have Broadsman over Commodore because of the back door and galley issues. Its close though because that Commodore top deck is so fabulous!

[Matt]

I think it fair to say that on boat boats the size of the saloon has been sacrificed for larger bedrooms and additional shower. The complete opposite to Thunder but the trouble is that I have so got used to the big saloon and I don't want to go back!

[BroadScot]

On 10/01/2016 at 9:05 PM, Broads01 said:

I thought I'd post my thoughts on Commodore and Broadway having seen them in detail on the Richardsons stand at the London Boat show:

Broadway:

This boat is low! I spent a while on the boat during the day and kept hearing comments from people about the headroom inside. I could see why - I'm 6 foot 0 and the ceiling felt lower than on older craft like the Bountys. The staff explained the boat was deliberately built low with bridges in mind and at 6 foot 7 clearance I'd say they did a great job. I found the cabins on the small side. The rear cabin has a conventional double across the stern as there's insufficient space for an island bed. The central cabin felt particularly cramped and storage seemed limited. I liked the saloon much more and the helmsman's position seems perched high by forward drive standards. The well at the front is spacious and the cushions are a nice touch.

Commodore

Wow! This boat is something special. The luxury forward cabin with its island bed is as per Broadsman but unlike Broadsman the rear cabin has an island berth as well. The rear cabin has a big rear window which I liked, just as well as there's no rear door so stern on access is via the rear steps and saloon entrance. The top deck is gorgeous with its reclining sun beds and fixed dining table, not to mention double padded helmsman's seat. The saloon is spacious and luxurious as you'd expect although the interior helm view didn't seem great.

The boat has one major flaw for me - the galley is ridiculously small for a 6-8 berth boat. It would be small for a 2 berth boat and not one you'd want to attempt cooking in for a crew of that size.

Overall, I think I'd have Broadsman over Commodore because of the back door and galley issues. Its close though because that Commodore top deck is so fabulous!

Simon, your summing up of Broadway, is spot on, storage in the middle cabin was/is very limited and not easy for an eleven day break. The  boat does have pluses, but will leave that to future hirers to find.

Iain

[LondonRascal]

The boats, are undoubtedly very nice - but I did find for their 45ft length, to be very small inside with the need to pass through small feeling doorways and narrow passages.

After this thread began, I looked at my video review of Brinks Rhapsody - a boat of the same width, and a foot shorter and as we know a rather older design compared to that of Richardson's.  I'd forgotten how spacious the boat was and how (in my opinion) classy and luxurious it looked.

Two photos below explain simply.

Richardson's Commodore Saloon

The above is that of Commodore - you will see this has clearly been designed and made to look well fitted and modern, but easy to keep looking that way.  The easy to clean and polish gel coat on the steps as an example.  But while some features are very new (electric sunroof for example, central door locking, Lithium Iron batteries) other elements are very much old school.  The boat runs of 12v, the heating system is warm air driven, the fridge is standard the gas cooker and microwave too.  This means any engineer can attend and sort things be it who has just been on board Clear Gem or Broadsman.  A larger fridge, is nice for those on board but would not warrant a higher hire price, neither would 24v power and inverters and 'wet' based hating systems.  What they may well do is introduce more issues and complexities and have engineers needing more training in their use and generally not be as streamlined for the business over all.

Further with two sets of steps out of the boat has really encroached into the space affording in the saloon, especially the seating and at meal times you will have to put up a 'traditional' folding table.  Of note, is when seated in the saloon most will not be able to see out od the windows because of the design of the sweeping glass and seating height.

Brinks Rhapsody Saloon

Now the above is that of Brinks Rhapsody.  There is no visible gel coat on any part of the interior other than the helm and in the heads. Removing the steps to the upper helm has meant a great deal more seating could be fitted in, a fixed table which is ample for six adults to eat at makes a nice change to a wobbly folding type. Notice too how the seat backs are up to the base of the windows so you can sit and see out.  The galley is very spacious too.  Since the boat (like almost all Barnes Brinkcraft boats) has a 24v power system linked to an inverter, it effectively halves the amps meaning that a domestic fridge is capable of being used on board without a large detrimental effect on amperage draw.

To my mind Rhapsody has a more inviting, spacious and luxurious look and feel - even if thinks like those cupboards on the right of the picture are of the sort you may find in your local B&Q - but they look good, and if something warps or falls off, because they are cheap 'off the shelve' doors and drawers they can be quickly sourced, and fitted and require no specialist skill such as real cabinetry and woodwork.

Rhapsody does whoever cost more than Commodore - but to my mind, Commodore needs a new version with one less cabin and one less heads.  Make it for four people and extend that saloon, keep one of the steps either to helm outside or side deck but both cramp the interior and please, bung a second fridge somewhere for the beer!

 

[Broads01]

You make your point well Robin and although Rhapsody isn't a boat I've been on the saloon photo does look really nice. I think its easy to underestimate the value of a standard stern door, both from a mooring and access perspective. Perhaps it comes down to how much you like island double beds - I think there's be room for a stern door on Commodore if they'd gone for a standard double (like Rhapsody). I do think Commodore does trump Rhapsody on the double cabins but I love island beds! (Climbing over your sleeping partner to use the toilet in the night isn't much fun!)

[Broads01]

A few pictures of Commodore taken on Saturday

[Broads01]

And Broadway

[RobRiley]

How did they get them there?

[BroadScot]

1 hour ago, RobRiley said:

How did they get them there?

By low loaders I would say Rob.

Iain

[JennyMorgan]

Perhaps they turned right at Gt Yarmouth and right again at South End?

[RobRiley]

Fair enough   , I imagined so, but, could they, and how would they fare at sea? I dunno, would they just fall over on the first bit of serious chop?

[JennyMorgan]

Rob, I suspect they chose the low-loader option but Broads boats have traveled down to the Thames by sea. For example Broad Ambition took part in the Royal Jubilee  Parade on the Thames a few years ago. On another occasion a hire boat went to sea, ending up being moored to Southend Pier.  Norfolk wherries have also been to places like Southampton Water, The Fens and also Holland. Famously a number of Broads boats went to Dunkirk during WWII, indeed my father took one across, thankfully he came back otherwise I would not be here now! So long as the weather is kind then I suspect that most Broads cruisers could make the trip.