Norfolk Broads Boating

[Tighnamara]

Have a boat booked for a week on the Broads in August, four adults.

Visited a long time ago (30 years) and expect it to be a lot busier...................

Will be starting at Stalham and looking to start on a basic plan, not wanting to be too specific and we will be open to changing as we want on the trip.

Any tips / recommendations for routes, pubs, overnight mooring, areas to visit etc would be great.

.......and must not do's ....................

Edited by Tighnamara on Thursday 10th July 11:59

[Road2Ruin]

Don't crash.

[Chainsaw Rebuild]

When I went, we found out half way through you can moor overnight in the middle of a broad (the lake bits). just keep far enough away from other boats that you cant swing into them.

Its fun - feel like "wild mooring"!
Also its free.

[123DWA]

Make sure its not a diesel boat! We did it last summer and it was the biggest mistake we made. Once the engine got to about 1500-2000rpm (which was comfortable cruising speed) we couldn't hear what each other were saying without shouting which got a bit tiresome

[scot_aln]

123DWA said:

Make sure its not a diesel boat! We did it last summer and it was the biggest mistake we made. Once the engine got to about 1500-2000rpm (which was comfortable cruising speed) we couldn't hear what each other were saying without shouting which got a bit tiresome

Aren't they pretty much all diesel? Does depend where the engine is relative to the steering though.

[forest07]

123DWA said:

Make sure its not a diesel boat! We did it last summer and it was the biggest mistake we made. Once the engine got to about 1500-2000rpm (which was comfortable cruising speed) we couldn't hear what each other were saying without shouting which got a bit tiresome

There are no petrol hire boats and there is no petrol sold at any boatyards.
The transmission can make some boats noises than others but we’ve never had an issue. 1200 rpm is the normal cruising speed not 2000rpm.

[MattyD803]

123DWA said:

Make sure its not a diesel boat! We did it last summer and it was the biggest mistake we made. Once the engine got to about 1500-2000rpm (which was comfortable cruising speed) we couldn't hear what each other were saying without shouting which got a bit tiresome

Yes - this can be an issue, but as mentioned else where, nearly all broads cruisers are diesels. The key is choosing a boat where the engine is not directly below the driving position. The longer/flatter style models tend to have the engine right at the back (or at least under the bed in the rear most cabin), whilst you drive from the front - hence glide along blissfully unaware an engine is even running.

If in doubt about this, call up a couple of boatyards direct and they will advise on models etc.

[alangla]

scot_aln said:

Aren't they pretty much all diesel? Does depend where the engine is relative to the steering though.

When I went to the Broads last year there were a fair number of battery powered day boats. Obviously not that useful for a longer period of sailing but they seemed perfect for a short sail given the way they were moving along silently. Needless to say I’d hired a diesel and it was bloody noisy!

[Peeping Turtle]

Re the noise, as others have pointed out, all hire boats are Diesel, however there are 2 types of crat, general river boats, and broad specific boats.

The river boats tend to have the helm at the back, and under your feet are the engines hence the noise, where as broad boats have the steering (and lounge area) at the front of the boat so as far away from the engine as possible giving a quieter experience.

The other benefit form a broads specific boat they will get under most, if not all, bridges (that can be very very low, especially as you approach them!

[Tighnamara]

Wasn’t expecting a discussion on diesel , good to be made aware but already committed as mate had booked the boat.

This is the one :

https://www.richardsonsboatingholidays.co.uk/all-b...

[MattyD803]

Tighnamara said:

Wasn t expecting a discussion on diesel , good to be made aware but already committed as mate had booked the boat.

This is the one :

https://www.richardsonsboatingholidays.co.uk/all-b...

That style of boat will have the engine located in the middle, directly beneath the driving & seating area, which is itself is sat on a raised platform over the engine. However, that's quite a modern model, so i'd suspect it won t be too loud really, especially with the roof down.

We've hired the older version of that 'style' of boat years ago and cruising with the roof up (due to weather) was quite noisy, but like I say, things have moved on,

All things said and done, it's not like you drive all day long anyway, and that type of boat is lovely for alfresco dinner on an evening. Pro's and con's to all these things.

Edited by MattyD803 on Friday 11th July 14:31

[MarkJS]

Don’t try to avoid hitting a sailboat coming straight at you whilst it’s tacking up the river. This manoeuvre can result in your prop getting tangled in the riverbank matting. If this happens, you could be stranded in an area with no mobile phone signal which will result in the Ranger attending which then leads to getting a diver to travel to you location and get under the boat to cut you vessel free. This could take around 5 hours depending on where you are along with much annoyance and embarrassment.

[bigpriest]

Don't expect every pub to be next door to where you moor, sometimes it's quite a trek to get there

Before you set off, work out where you can get to a proper flushing toilet. The relief is better than the holiday.

[MattyD803]

bigpriest said:

Don't expect every pub to be next door to where you moor, sometimes it's quite a trek to get there

Before you set off, work out where you can get to a proper flushing toilet. The relief is better than the holiday.

We haven’t had hired broads cruiser for a good 15 years now, but the last few boats we have hired up there have all had proper flushing toilets, like you have in your home. Two of those even had a corner bath! I can only imagine those pump flush toilets are a thing of the past? Hopefully?

Edited by MattyD803 on Friday 11th July 20:58

[bigpriest]

MattyD803 said:

bigpriest said:

Don't expect every pub to be next door to where you moor, sometimes it's quite a trek to get there

Before you set off, work out where you can get to a proper flushing toilet. The relief is better than the holiday.

We haven t had hired broads cruiser for a good 15 years now, but the last few boats we have hired up there have all had proper flushing toilets, like you have in your home. Two of those even had a corner bath! I can only imagine those pump flush toilets are a thing of the past? Hopefully?

Edited by MattyD803 on Friday 11th July 20:58

I've seen the flushing ones, they still make me nervous. I think they also have 'tank nearly full' alarms to save you that awkward coversation that you have a full crapper with no way to flush it.

[ChrisNic]

Tighnamara said:

Have a boat booked for a week on the Broads in August, four adults.

Visited a long time ago (30 years) and expect it to be a lot busier...................

Will be starting at Stalham and looking to start on a basic plan, not wanting to be too specific and we will be open to changing as we want on the trip.

Any tips / recommendations for routes, pubs, overnight mooring, areas to visit etc would be great.

.......and must not do's ....................

Edited by Tighnamara on Thursday 10th July 11:59

We have had a few holidays on the Broads in recent years and have always started at Stalham.

A few places we enjoy stopping at overnight

How Hill
Potter Heigham
Stokesby
Reedham
Ramworth

Do go across Breydon Water

Mooring at Wrexham is limited so you risk spending a lot of time going up there to have to turn around again.

[ferret50]

ChrisNic said:

Mooring at Wrexham is limited so you risk spending a lot of time going up there to have to turn around again.

You will struggle to get to Wrexham via the Broads network!

[ChrisNic]

Tighnamara said:

Have a boat booked for a week on the Broads in August, four adults.

Visited a long time ago (30 years) and expect it to be a lot busier...................

Will be starting at Stalham and looking to start on a basic plan, not wanting to be too specific and we will be open to changing as we want on the trip.

Any tips / recommendations for routes, pubs, overnight mooring, areas to visit etc would be great.

.......and must not do's ....................

Edited by Tighnamara on Thursday 10th July 11:59

We have had a few holidays on the Broads in recent years and have always started at Stalham.

A few places we enjoy stopping at overnight

How Hill
Potter Heigham
Stokesby
Reedham
Ramworth

Do go across Breydon Water

Mooring at Wrexham is limited so you risk spending a lot of time going up there to have to turn around again.

[ChrisNic]

ferret50 said:

You will struggle to get to Wrexham via the Broads network!

Just a bit of a walk from the bank that’s all 🤣

Wroxham may also be a challenge to moor at.