Take to the water

The Broads is a great place to take to the water for the first time in a variety of boats whether an open canoe, a sailing dinghy or a motor or sailing holiday cruiser, with details of the different options available below. But before setting off on your first voyage, there are a few things you need to know and think about. Please take care of yourself, your passengers, others on the waterways, the wildlife and the fragile world of the Broads.

Safety

• Always wear a buoyancy aid or life-jacket when on the water.
• For your safety never swim in the rivers or broads.
• Make sure you have suitable clothing and footwear, and check out the weather forecast so you are fully prepared.
• Always let someone know where you are going and when you have returned.
• Boats can be unstable so take care when stepping into or out of your boat.
• You must be able to take control of your boat and operate it in a way which avoids injury to people, wildlife, the environment or property, and you must show reasonable consideration for others.
• Children under 8 years must not drive a motor boat. Children of 8 to 14 years may only drive a motor boat in some circumstances - please check the Navigation Byelaws for details.
• You must moor safely and follow regulations displayed at moorings. You must not disturb others by running your boat engine at moorings.
• You must not fish from a motor or sailing boat which is under way.
• Your boat must not give off smoke or fumes.
• You must not use weapons, e.g. air guns.

If you are involved in an incident where people are injured or there is damage to boats or property you must stop your boat and supply contact details to anyone involved. In serious cases you must also supply details to the Broads Authority via Broads Radio Control tel 01603 756056. Broads Authority navigation rangers enforce the byelaws and provide help and information to boaters. More information can be found at Boating Safety Tips page and in the Waterways Code leaflets, available from Broads information centres.

Licences

• All boats must have an annual or short visit licence and must have any Boat Safety Scheme certificate relevant to the boat.

Speed limits

• You must not go over the speed limits, and remember, if your boat is going with the tide your speed will be faster than indicated. As a guide, 4 mph is a fast walking pace. There are exemptions for water skiing, coaching boats or boatyard testing - please check the speed limit byelaws for details.

Canoeing

Whilst you can hire a canoe from a number of canoe hire centres around the Broads, we recommend you go on a simple beginner’s course that will give you the paddling basics and help make your first trip more enjoyable. So pop into one of the Broads information centres, or contact the British Canoe Union at http://www.bcu.org.uk/ for details of training courses and centres local to you. To get you started, please check the Canoeing Code of Conduct leaflet, which offers simple tips and information to make your trip safe and enjoyable and read the safety information supplied on the British Canoe Union's website.

Rowing

Taking to the water in a rowing dinghy is a simple way of starting your boating life, and rowing boats can be hired from a number of locations around the Broads. To get you started, please check the Rowing Code of Conduct leaflet, which offers simple tips and information to make your trip safe and more enjoyable.

Sailing and Windsurfing

Sailing is a peaceful and relaxing way to enjoy the Broads, and if you have never sailed before, we suggest going on a trip with a qualified skipper either on a traditional Norfolk wherry or other sailing craft.
The next step could be doing a sailing course recognised by the Royal Yacht Association, which will teach you to handle your boat in a safe and responsible manner, and give you an idea of the most suitable type of sailing boat for you. To get you started, please check the Sailing Code of Conduct leaflet, which offers simple tips and information to make your trip safe and enjoyable. An alternative to sailing is windsurfing, with the two main centres being at Hickling Broad and Oulton Broad. Once again a good first step could be doing a Royal Yacht Association recognised course.

Motor Boating

If you prefer your boating to be as easy as possible, then try motor boating, with a first start being hiring a day boat at numerous locations around the Broads. If you are thinking of then getting your own motor boat, a good first step is an approved Royal Yacht Association course. To get you started, please check the Day boat Cruising Code of Conduct leaflet, which offers simple tips and information to make your trip safe and enjoyable.

This information has been designed and published by the Broads Authority, this is just a copy.

 

How Time Flys!

Time for another Boat Safety Examination on Brookwind.... its been four years! It seems like only yesterday I was testing her. Picture shows her in Richardsons sheds at Stalham.

Mr. Jones has owned her for over 30 years. A Graham Bun Classic Broads Motor Cruiser, built in the 30's.  Teak on Oak construction, 'only the best were built from Burmese Teak'.  She is a product of the era of the tall sided majestic looking wooden Broadland Motor Cruisers designed specifically for inland water ways. A BEAUTY!

Nicked this pic of Horning.org. Brookwind out where she belongs....

Dawnstar is also moored in Richardson sheds. I surveyed her about a year ago. A Jack Powles Classic.

Jack Powles design again, but built for seawork.... up for sale this beauty.... a steal at 18K (open to offers). Contact:

Richardsons Stalham

Survey at Weyford Bridge Marina

I was instructed to carry out a Pre-Purchase Survey and a Boat Safety Examination on a Seamaster 8m today. A good strong twin screw Motor Cruiser.... a nice example.

John the yard owner and Gary the yacht broker.. happy boys

Gary showed me this........ 7K for an Elysian 27... BARGAIN! If your interested check out the link opposite>>

John the yard owners collecting a serious GRAVE YARD!!

And some more!

This is an aluminium narrow boat I surveyed a few weeks ago, she sold....... and is now in Johns shed having the bottom touched up with new epoxy paint

Dont know much about this one... great job for someone who likes working with wood!

This is also in Johns shed at Weyford... I have surveyed this twice in the past, more planking to do and a coat of paint. Gorgeous Gentlemans Yacht, lots of character and two new engines.

Brooms build boats again

Broom Boats Ltd, Britain's longest established boat-building firm, is to start building its power cruisers again after a major re-organisation. It is only five months after it changed hands under difficult financial circumstances. The news, which should reassure many boat owners and those in the Norfolk Broads boat construction business, follows actions by new investors who took the company over in July and have since carried out a major financial re-organisation.

 

Boat-builder C.J.Broom Ltd., the subsidiary company of 112-year-old Broom Boats Ltd., of Brundall, Norfolk, went into voluntary liquidation two months ago with major debts and redundancies.

Today investor Mark Garner, now managing director, said: "I am pleased to say we have completed a total business review and re-organisation. We also have a new dealer network which has provided us with sales worth £1.5 - £2.5 million, sufficient for us to re-employ some of our past talented boat-building craftsmen.

"As a result we have been able to appoint a new and inspired management team, confirm total staff of 74 to both build boats and run marina services as one company, Broom Boats Ltd."

The new sales are for up to seven new cruisers being built in the next 12 months and work has already started. The Broom marina and boat service and repair business which always operated under the Broom Boats Ltd banner did not lose money in its own right and is largely un-affected.

Mr Garner also announced a new major investor and director to aid development. He is entrepreneur Tony Chancellor of Norfolk.

In future, prospective owners will buy only from dealers, not direct from Broom. The new dealer network includes two new firms. One is Norfolk Yacht Agency, a sales organisation which moves around 300 new and used boats a year and which has already brought in an order worth more than £650,000 - for a Broom 450, twin engined luxury cruiser capable of 30 knots.

James Fraser, who owns NYA, said: "We hope our representation of Broom here in East Anglia but also among our many contacts elsewhere should help their growth."

Broom have also appointed a new Thames region dealer, Thames Boat Sales of Bray, run by Dominic Smulders. He and the other existing dealers, in Ireland, Holland and Germany, also Newark, have confirmed or have pending, subject to finance, sales worth up to a further £2 million which should keep the reduced building force busy for a year.

A new Broom 395 is already in build at the yard along with a 450.
For further information, contact:
Mark Garner,
Managing Director, Broom Boats Ltd.
01603 712334 or 0790 185 8791.
or E-mail : mgarner@broomboats.com

Prepurchase Survey / Doral 330

I was back down at Ferry Marine in Horning today carrying out a Survey on a 2004 Doral Elegante (American Sports Cruiser).

'Speedo' (Mark) down to de-winterise the boat at Norfolk Yacht Agency

Everythings up and running...........back in Len Funnels sheds ready for the haul out

Stylish looking boat

There are so many yards on the Broads building hire craft.... heres another one at Ferry Marines, ready for fit out