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gojocruise |
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Newbie
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Joined: Jul 2020
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Hi, Just booked our first ever Broads holiday for October this year for 4 adults and 2 children (16yr & 6 yr) so I'm researching anything and everything. We will be sailing from Stalham for 1 week. Any must do's or recommendations would be appreciated.
Second question, I'm looking at taking my 3 grandchildren next year for a weekend trip on the Broads - what type of boat would you recommend ? They would be 2.5 year, 2 year and 1.5years old There would be 5 Adults onboard also. Thank you
Kind Regards, Jo
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ruby |
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Hi Jo
My top tips would be.
1. Don't overplan your itinerary. Much of the pleasure of a Broads holiday is lost if you rush about trying to get to a predetermined destination .
2. When manouvering a boat do everything slowly and remember Broads cruisers don't steer in reverse.
3. Fill up with water at every opportunity you get. You will be amazed at how quickly you use it .
On your second question I am not sure I would take that group make up on a boat particularly if you are inexperienced. My suggestion would be to wait for this holiday and then superimpose three toddlers on your experience and consider how you would have coped and what changes you would want for the bigger boat
Have a great time
Graham
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Helmsman1946 |
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Totally agree with ruby.
One key point is to make sure young children are each being looked by an adult especially when mooring up as depending on the boat different doors may be open at different times.
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Coot_Too |
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With small children we chose a centre cockpit boat with a sliding roof, the family can be all together and a safe place for the children with room to play. Our rules were that the children were inside the boat at all times when moving. Only proviso to sliding top, if out of season, that cabin can get very cold at night, as I learnt one icy March, trying to sooth a 9 week old with a cold.
We love the Broads
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Forresters |
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My top tip is to use the life jackets, particularly children at all times or most certainly when above deck.
With regard to planning, as a newbie I found the itinerary planning to be part of the fun before the holiday began. What I learned and as said by others is you will not stick to your plans and most certainly don't be a slave to them.
Although you pick up and return to Stalham you must not rule out exploring some of the places on the upper River Ant. We all have a tendency to move away from the locations we pick up our boat.
It is your holiday so do as you wish there is no right or wrong way about it. We had two weekend trips before going for a week. That first week long trip we went to every extremity of the system and had a wonderful time. One of the few occasions we have been able to go through Potter Heigham bridge which is now very rare to do.
Having been back many times and now lucky enough to own our own boat we have since discovered many beautiful and tranquil locations we passed on our way to somewhere else.
In October the system is quieter and mooring places are more available. However shorter daylight hours mean that you have less time to get elsewhere if your first choice isn't available as you can't travel after sunset on a hire boat
The pace of life down there
suits us
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Jul-14-2020 @ 7:10 PM
