Hire Boat companies

[Tullz]

Can anyone recommend a good boat company on the Broads?

Would rather go with word of mouth from someone here rather than taking pot luck off the net

Ta very much

[carlt]

It's been a few years since I used them but these were good (acle's a nice start point as well)

 

Horizon Craft, The Bridge, Acle, NR13 3AS. Telephone: (01493) 750283

[NB Willawaw]

I suggest you book with someone like Hoseasons.

There are good and bad independents, but Hoseasons tends to use boatyards that they keep a close vetting on.

 

In saying that, Connoisseur are quite good and build their boats at Wroxham.

 

http://www.connoisseurboating.co.uk

 

I would suggest that you decide whether you want to do the Northern Broads above Breydon or the Southern Broads

below Breydon - each route takes about a week.

Some boats won't go under Potter Heigham bridge, so that journey might be unavailable to you on the higher cruisers.

 

A Norfolk man..

Edited April 9, 2007 by NB Willawaw

[Teadaemon]

I've done the vast majority of my boating on the Broads, and I or my family have hired boats from all of the following:

 

http://www.huntersyard.co.uk

http://www.eastwood-whelpton.co.uk

http://www.marthamboats.co.uk

http://www.norfolk-broads.com

 

Martham Boatbuilding & Development Corporation are the only one above Potter Heigham bridge, and do motor cruisers as well as yachts (they're also the only place I know of still hiring old-style wooden cruisers), all the others I mention only have yachts. Hunter's Yard are based off Womack Dyke, and are well worth a look even if you've no intention of sailing, as they've got a fleet of original 1930s hire yachts, the only ones on the Broads without auxiliary engines. NBYCo are based at Horning and have a good selection of yachts, including some advertised as suitable for beginners. Eastwood Whelpton are located at the end of Upton dyke and are the nearest yard hiring yachts to the southern broads. They're also associated with the Norfolk Broads School of Sailing, run by a lovely couple who really, really know their stuff (we hired a yacht from them when they ran Camelot Craft in Hoveton).

 

Most of my experience is on the northern broads, and some of my favourite places to go are:

 

Gay's Staithe secluded stern-on moorings surrounded by woodland, just off Barton Broad.

Malthouse Broad be there early if you want to moor on the bank, probably one of my favourite places to spend the night mid-broad, swinging on a mudweight.

BA moorings opposite the Ferry Inn at Horning it's possible to walk to the dammed-off Cockshoot Broad and see what the Broads looked like before chemical fertilisers wreaked their havoc.

Hunter's Yard moorings available for visiting yachts only, though there are bankside moorings on Womack Dyke just before the yard, or at Womack Staithe on Womack Water.

South Walsham Broad very secluded, bankside moorings on the dyke or in the boatyard, a really good place to spend an afternoon exploring in a sailing dinghy.

[rojomo]

Hi,

 

More info than you can shake a stick at here.....

 

http://www.the-norfolk-broads.co.uk/

 

Just browse and search, the details are all there.

 

Quote "Martham Boatbuilding & Development Corporation are the only one above Potter Heigham bridge"

 

There is also Whispering Reeds at Hickling that hire Cruisers and have a good independant reputation.

 

John

Edited May 8, 2007 by rojomo

[Teadaemon]

Hi,

 

More info than you can shake a stick at here.....

 

http://www.the-norfolk-broads.co.uk/

 

Just browse and search, the details are all there.

 

Quote "Martham Boatbuilding & Development Corporation are the only one above Potter Heigham bridge"

 

There is also Whispering Reeds at Hickling that hire Cruisers and have a good independant reputation.

 

John

 

However I've never used Whispering Reeds, which is why I didn't mention them, perhaps I should have been a little clearer.

[rojomo]

However I've never used Whispering Reeds, which is why I didn't mention them, perhaps I should have been a little clearer.

 

No sorry, it was me, I misread your post within its context, my humble apologies

 

Regards

 

John

Edited May 9, 2007 by rojomo

[ncpierce]

Hi,

 

Just got back from a week on The Broads with Challenger Stealth Hire. Nothing about it on their website but details are in their brochure, we are taking Spirit of Georgia for a week in June.

 

Boat nice and clean and well equipped. Based at Brundall Gardens on the Southern Broads. We managed all we wanted to see on both sides of Breydon in a week including and interesting crossing of Breydon Water last Tuesday in a strong breeze and choppy 'sea'.

 

Looking forward to getting back to some locks and something to keep us busy in June!