Food and Beer launch Broads Authority’s 25th anniversary

A must have guide for any Broads visitor wanting a fine dining experience or simply fish and chips was launched at the Fur and Feather pub at Woodbastwick on Tuesday 8^th April at 11.30am. And to coincide with the eating out experience, Woodforde’s brewery launched a speciality beer, Flagondry, to celebrate the Broads Authority’s 25^th anniversary.

Eating Out in the Broads, sponsored by the Broads’ largest operator, Richardson’s Boating Holidays of Stalham, guides the visitor to the best eateries the Broads has to offer. It features traditional pubs, speciality seafood restaurants and cosy riverside tea rooms which all serve local ingredients and have been quality checked by independent assessors and awarded either gold, silver or bronze. The guide indicates the price range and whether there is a mooring nearby. The brochure also includes other places to eat which have not been assessed as well as bike and canoe hire outlets, boat trips, visitor centres, yacht stations and a very handy map.

Greg Munford, Chief Executive of Richardsons, said: “The experience every Richardson’s customer has on holiday is heavily dependent, not only on ourselves, but on the quality and range of other attractions and importantly restaurants and eateries. “When the opportunity arose to sponsor the Eating Out guide we jumped at it! This is a great publication produced by the Broads Authority which helps anyone holidaying or visiting the Broads to choose where to go when they fancy a meal on shore or even a takeaway fish and chips!  We hope the wide distribution of this guide will promote the establishments included and reward those who have committed to the grading. We want people to enjoy the Broads by experiencing the magic that both the Broads and its tourism businesses have to offer.”

The Fur and Feather Inn at Woodbastwick is one of the eateries featuring in the guide and offers the new Woodforde’s beer, Flagondry - brewed exclusively to celebrate the Broads Authority’s 25^th anniversary.
Flagondry, which is inspired by the dragonflies that are commonly seen in the Broads, is a golden, zesty ale using Norfolk’s finest ingredients including Maris Otter and honey.

Woodforde’s managing director, Rupert Farquharson said: “Our brewery is close to Salhouse, considered the heart of the Norfolk Broads, so we are delighted to brew this beer to mark a special occasion.

“The pubs around the Broads play a key role in our region’s tourism industry and we hope visitors to this beautiful part of the world will enjoy a refreshing pint of Flagondry - a true taste of Norfolk.”

Alpha 35

Today’s assignment was at Barnes of Brinkcraft in Wroxham Surveying this Alphacraft 35. Yet a further extension of the 29' with a longer aft cabin normally outfitted as a four/five berth. The main body of the boat can either be on one level like the 32' or with a normal raised cockpit area.  They have a small bath up front which always appeals, and a ‘Fold back’ often electrically operated roof allows open air living and access to the majority of the inland water ways.

They tend to Survey well, and are popular cruisers on the Norfolk Broads because of their layout. Ideal for family’s with granny in tow!

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

Princess 33 Mk I

I had the morning at Ferry Marina in Horning today surveying this Princess Motor Cruiser. Designed by John Bennett, Marine Projects Princess 33 was in production from 1975 to 1987; nearly 500 were built. 

The most interesting feature about the 33 was the choice offered to purchasers of deep-vee or Y shaped hulls. The latter, with flatter sections aft and a long shallow keel, was intended for displacement and semi-displacement speeds.

Various types and sizes of engines were fitted. Probably the most popular option was a pair of 80HP Ford inboard diesels, giving a top speed of 13 Knots. The deep vee version was for full planing performance. With two 130HP Ford diesels the boat should reach 17 to 18 knots. 

The standard layout has six berths-two vee berths in a forward cabin, a convertible dinette/double in the lower saloon, and a settee which converts into a double in the wheelhouse-cum deck saloon.Some deep vee versions have a flying bridge.

The Y shaped hull was phased out on the arrival of a Mk II version in 198, which had a modified superstructure with an extra settee which could be used as a seventh berth, plus a standard fly bridge. This is the Mark I version without an upper helm.

Surveyors comments:  Good solid British build. Good value. 

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

Overnight mooring charge at Reedham Quay is dropped

The Broads Authority has responded to the concerns of Reedham businesses and has dropped plans to charge a nominal fee for overnight moorings at Reedham Quay.

The Authority and Broadland District Council which owns the quay, were planning to introduce a £3 charge for mooring overnight at Reedham Quay to help pay for ranger services under the terms of a new lease. Mooring during the day would have remained free.

Local businesses were concerned the fee would deter boaters mooring overnight there. At a recent Broads Authority Parish Forum in the village members and officers listened to the views of residents and in the light of this decided not to go ahead with the proposals.

John Packman, Chief Executive of the Broads Authority said, “We are very conscious of how important tourism in the Broads is to the local economy and that the hire boat industry is in a fragile state. The meeting in Reedham was the second of our Parish Forums and provided an excellent opportunity to engage with local people. The financial contribution from the proposed mooring fees to the cost of providing a ranger at this site would have been relatively modest and having heard the views of local residents the Authority has decided to retain the existing arrangements at the quay.”

A ranger has been employed at Reedham Quay for 30 years to safeguard boaters mooring at a particularly tidal stretch of river close to the railway swing bridge.

A ranger is now on duty for the summer season to welcome boaters, help them moor, and assist with information at the quay.

Broom 425

Today’s assignment was at Norfolk Boat Sales in Brundall Surveying this Broom Motor Cruiser for Pre- Purchase. The 425 combines the best of the 415 and 42CL providing a boat capable of both fast offshore and inland cruising. The design incorporates the dual aft steps from the cockpit, which proved popular on the 365 and 450, as well as modernistic frameless windows. Teak decking on the bathing platform and transom steps is provided as standard.

The design of the Broom 425 incorporates many new features that have been recently developed across the range, plus new ideas created by Naval architect, Andrew Wolstenholme and Brooms in-house design team. The exterior has the  concept in styling and incorporates steps both sides of the transom which have proved to be so successful on the Broom 450 and Broom 365. The design makes use of frameless windows and the latest techniques of bonding the windows to the superstructure.

The hull and superstructure were manufactured just next to my office at Bells Marina by Brooms associate company Aquafibre. The mouldings are of excellent quality and are produced using hand laid chopped strand mat and woven rovings in Lloyds approved isopthalic gel coat and resin, over double brushed isopthalic gel coat all but eliminating the risk of osmosis. Substantial transverse and longitudinal stringers are Incorporated throughout the hull for strength. The hull and deck joint is both riveted and bonded. 

In common with other recent models, the 425 favours Volvo's D series engines and can be supplied with a single 370hp D6 giving a top speed of 18 knots, or more usually like this example with twin engines ranging from 225hp to 440hp. These were the 370's...