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Discussion Topic: Advice on our choice of boat
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HELP WITH BOAT CHOICE - please.|
HELP WITH BOAT CHOICE - please.|
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Keswick |
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Learning The Ropes
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Joined: Aug 2006
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Hiya,
We are a boating family (sea and canal) but have never been to visit the broads.
We are always worried we will end up with an old knacker and so have chosen these boats for 6 of us (4 adult, 2 children):
Richardsons Cruisers of Stalham
Bolero (new 2005) or
Broads Harmony (new 2006).
We have seen it advertised in Hoseasons, but do they have their own website to make direct bookings?
Any advice on how to get the best deal?
TIA
:) Kes
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roya |
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Mudplug Juggler
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Hi Mate.
If you trawlback through the Hire Boat threads most of your questions will be answered.
At the top of our Home page is a Hoseasons link.
Quite a few of the boat yards will let you book direct now.
Also look under Hire Boat info at the bottom of the page.
For my money you will not go wrong with
Royalls
Bridgecraft
Moonfleet
Summercraft
IM sure a good look round the site (it will take ages ) will help.
roya
A Day without a smile is a wasted day
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DanHorner |
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Hi Kes
Richardsons is part of a company that own one other yard and a few other holiday camps and if booking direct is through the New Horizon Holidays banner for this organisation.
They do have a, fairly primitive, website www.newhorizonhols.com and are very friendly and helpful if you do speak to them directly, although do not seem to keen to do discounts unless very much at the last minute, and understandably more so on their older classes than their new flagships which are very nice, although personally I prefer Harmony to Bolero both are on a similar fitout.
There is a section on this forum, if you click on the 'hireboat info' button at the bottom of the main page you can go to each boats relevant page where there are internal and external shots for both craft that I have taken whilst on holiday on other New Horizon craft!
Have a good time
Dan
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Keswick |
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Learning The Ropes
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Thnaks lads. Hoseasons should use you for their brochure pictures! They sell the Bolero and Harmony better than their literature. 
They both look great, perhaps better than we need really but it worries me to book a non dated boat. Our Caldedonian canal raft, in 1992, was appauling.
We are also going off season for weather (Easter) so a quality boat with room is useful. (As we found on our narrowboat trip in 2005 when we were luckily upgraded from a 2+2 to a 4 berth for free.) This time the outlaws are joining us so we need an element of private space and will book for 6 full time beds. A fore for them, and an aft for us four, makes sense.
Off to read up on everything now.......I could be a while
Is hiring a cruiser that doesn't navigate the three dodgy bridges a real drawback to the areas we can visit from Stalham?
This message was edited by Keswick on Aug-1-06 @ 8:44 PM
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Jonzo |
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Just out of interest, can I ask what boat you had on the Caledonian Canal?
In answer to your question re the bridges - I would say that given this is your first time then no it won't be an issue. There is a great deal to see on the rest of the Broads anyway so while Coltishall and Geldeston are very pleasant, you won't be short of nice places to visit.
Potter Heigham Bridge is a struggle for most boats these days so you could always moor up and get a dayboat up to Horsey and Hickling etc.
This message was edited by Jonzo on Aug-1-06 @ 9:58 PM
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Keswick |
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Learning The Ropes
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We hired a Brodie. On top of everything being old and battered, the front berth was wet even though it was June.
It was serviceable in terms of its engine, and all safety equipment was onboard.
I had to look it up to remind me of the name and they are still rented! Hopefully they have been refitted since then.
This message was edited by Keswick on Aug-1-06 @ 10:12 PM
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JamesLons |
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Great thanks for that I'm hiring a boat from caley cruisers a week on friday not this boat but same yard itbetter be in better shape than yours other wise there's not a chance my mother will be going on it.
james
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rojomo |
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Hi Kes,
You could also look at...
Moores (Hoseaons) Wroxham
GoBoating (Independent) Wroxham
Challenger (Independent) Brundall
In my opinion, having a boat that will not go under the low bridges is a real restriction. Some of the best parts of the Broads are the upper reaches of the Bure, Ant, Thurne and Waveney.
Regards
John
Quick, how many blasts was it for "I am manouvering with difficulty" !!!
This message was edited by rojomo on Aug-1-06 @ 10:32 PM
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Keswick |
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Learning The Ropes
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James: Caley had some lovely boats in 1992, and I expect they still do. That was probably part of the disappointment. Turning up and seeing the quality craft and then ending up leaving all the gin palaces in the yard and motoring off (on honeymoon) on our allocation!
What it taught us though, is to be careful on choice, and you get what you pay for (we were very young then and, I guess, it was a lesson we had to learn).
Thank you all for your guidance. We have taken note of everyone but have gone for the Broads Harmony having secured a price, and boat, that I am satisfied with. If we want to go under the breathe-in bridges, I think we will take a shufty at other craft when we are cruising so we can then decide for the future.
We sold our yacht when the children came along so it will be fun to get back on the water.
I'm now in planning mode, so won't be going anywhere! I have a lot to read up on first. Including getting passports to leave Cornwall, and join you in England. 
This message was edited by Keswick on Aug-2-06 @ 11:16 AM
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