Calypso 28 Broads Cruiser

I spent the morning at Woods Dyke in Horning today Surveying this Calypso 28.... strange as this is where she was probably built 25 years ago!

Just me and Roger the crane driver today.... and the crane was playing up!!

Where it all began.....
Frank Wilds, a builder by trade had moved with his family from Coventry to Norfolk where he established a small boatyard on Woods Dyke in Horning. This was also the family home - with everyone originally living and sleeping in a caravan and the boatyard buildings whilst a bungalow was built at the site. The fleet originally consisted of traditional, wooden motor cruisers, some of which the company built themselves at Horning.

Frank Wilds had a vision of a low maintenance, single level motor cruiser with modern day comforts, ideal for holidays and designed with families and all age groups in mind.

Launched in 1973 the Calypso had a narrower, 10ft 9in beam than her larger sisters. Other differences included the unique cabin structure with quite a different appearance and angled aft and forward cabin slopes. At the rear was a sliding transom door and forward were steps up out onto a higher than normal forward well.

The cabin top was a 70s turquoise colour and versions were built as 2/3 berths, although some operators ran 2/4 berth with the forward settee or dinette converting to a single or double berth.

At the London Boat Show 1973

Click here for the Calypso brochure

Frances 26 Yacht

Todays assignment was Surveying this little Yacht at Haven Marina in Lowestoft.

The Frances 26 is, without doubt, a modern classic. With her beautiful traditional double-ended design, and her long keel and modest draft, she is everything that a small cruiser should be! The original "Frances" was designed by the American designer Chuck Paine for his own use and was the start of a long and successful line of Frances, Morris and Victoria yachts that now grace seas and ports around the world. Designed to cruise in and around the Caribbean, and to safely survive a gale at sea, the Frances is an easily handled, capable small cruiser with a well deserved reputation. This example is a trunk cabin version with standing headroom throughout the majority of the cabin, and with her toilet and chart table, she is better appointed than many much larger cruising yachts.

Lowestoft Haven Marina is a twin site 5 anchor rated marina situated in Lowestoft on the East Coast of East Anglia with easy access to the open sea and the Suffolk and Norfolk Broads.

Largest ever fen survey reveals importance of managing the Broads

The largest fen survey ever to have been undertaken in the UK has reinforced the importance of the Broads as a haven for rare wildlife and the need to protect and manage it carefully in the future. A total of 450 types of plants were recorded, some of which are unique to the Broads. This has prompted a rewrite of national plant classification to take account of Broadland’s newly found distinctiveness. The survey also unveiled 850 species of invertebrate, a remarkable number considering only certain groups were targeted. The vegetation survey covered 8,000 sample points within 1750 hectares across the five Broads river valleys. This is the nation’s biggest area of lowland fen or ‘wetland’. It was undertaken over three years by environmental consultants and managed by the Broads Authority. It was co-funded by the Broads Authority and Natural England with a contribution from Essex and Suffolk Water. The survey revealed that some of the most species rich fen had been restored and managed by the Broads Authority, Natural England, Norfolk Wildlife Trust and the RSPB. The richest areas were found in turf ponds, where shallow open water areas had been dug in open fen. These ponds were once dug for peat fuel but now these new cuttings provide home to the rarest species and remain wetter for longer in periods of drought. The work of the Authority, partners and reed cutters has been vital to keep the fens free of scrub. In areas where scrub has not been cut back the rare plant species and insects have been lost or changed.  The Ant Valley was found to be the richest area for both plants and invertebrates. The presence or absence of certain plants indicated that some fens are possibly becoming more saline and some areas being taken over by reed are losing rare wetland plants.
Sue Stephenson, the Environment Officer who managed the project at the Broads Authority, said: “This has been a colossal piece of work, which has been incredibly exciting and challenging to work on and which has provided an important picture of the condition of fens in the Broads. There is a lot of information to come out of it which will steer the management of the Broads for years to come, particularly in the light of climate change. The results prove our management efforts have been effective but more is still needed.” The survey also assessed how cutting vegetation would affect the mobility of invertebrates. Andrea Kelly, Senior Ecologist, said “The Broads fens contain unique invertebrate communities of aquatic and terrestrial beetles, spiders, two winged flies and hoppers that you wouldn’t normally notice.  We need to know more about the importance of annual fluctuations and seasonal variations in hydrology and tolerance of these species to change.” “The fen survey demonstrates that conservation management in the fens is essential to stop them becoming woodland and to retain their biodiversity. Worryingly, it shows that some areas are being neglected and incursions of saline water are an increasing risk. Further investment is required as well as a need to understand the options for improving water quality.” The Broads Authority is working with its partners to press for funding for more fen management, improving the water environment, connecting wetlands to improve wildlife chances to adapt to future change, and identifying how to adapt the fens and wetlands to rapid climate change.

Broads Cruiser For Sale

I came across this Motor Cruiser on my travels yesterday. She’s apparently an old Herbert Woods ‘Highlight Class’ Broads Cruiser. The hull has been rebuilt in what appears to be Teak! ( very durable). The inside requires refitting. A Perkins P3 diesel provides the propulsion.
Contact the owner Mr. Len Harvey on 01603 898837 he’s ready to let her go, and is open to any reasonable offers around £2500. ….or drop him an email at jharvey111@aol.com

This is what she probably looked like

She has got some rot in the hog, which reflects in the asking price

Great winter project!

Thinking of Buying a Boat and Need Help? I will assist you to make an informed decision. Contact me for a detailed and comprehensive report at: steventruss1@aol.com

Aquafibre 31 Sedan in Horning

Today’s assignment was at Horning on this Aquafibre Motor Cruiser.

Sedan models are a kind of cross between the dual steer and aft-cockpit models. The superstructure is usually quite high, with a large saloon opening out onto the aft cockpit area through patio doors. The helm position is in the saloon, and there is usually ample seating in the aft cockpit. In some cases, there is a flybridge on top of the saloon roof, giving excellent visibility but very high airdaft.



Launched in the mid '90's, a sleek sedan style cruiser found in smaller numbers on hire and is very successful with private owners, often featuring high quality interiors.

 Aquafibre History

Aquafibre was founded at Neatishead, Norfolk in the 1960's by a consortium of local boat-builders. The majority shareholders were Robert Richardson and John Linford, who had 30% equity each. The remainder was divided between Martin Broom (Broom Boats - 15%), Vicktor Bell (Bell Boats - 10%), David Millbank (Jenners of Thorpe 10%) and Dawncraft of Wroxham (5%). Dawncraft soon sold their share to David Millbank. John Linford was tragically killed in a light aircraft crash and his share was sold to Martin Broom. Robert Richardson felt that he was the main customer of the business and so sold his share to Martin Broom around 1975 to embark on his own operation. It is not known (by us, at least) what the current shareholding is, however Aquafibre is often identified as being Broom's 'sister' company and almost all of their boats have been moulded at Wendover Road. Aquafibre also provide mould development and consultancy services for many other major boatbuilders as well as producing their extensive range of models from the current Rackheath facility. Sadly, in May 2009 the vast Wendover Road site at Rackheath closed its doors for the very last time. Production of sister company Broom's mouldings moved entirely to their Brundall site, with key Aquafibre customer Haines doing the same for their models built at Catfield.

Thinking of Buying a Boat and Need Help? I will assist you to make an informed decision. Contact me for a detailed and comprehensive report at:


steventruss1@aol.com