Should we take our boat for a trip to the Norfolk Broads?

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Falling Star

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Just thinking. We have been on the Broads several times with hire boats but never taken our own one.

We would come up from Burnham-on-Crouch in our Merry Fisher 805 and enter at Lowestoft.

Anyone done this recently? Apart from the risk of being rammed by hire boat owners, what else should we be aware of?

All tips and advice welcome.
 
Sounds a great thing to do. We used to moor at Acle. Absolutely love the Broads. You will need a visitors license, and probably declare that your poop will not go over the side.
 
LittleSister said:
You don't need a Boat Safety Certificate if you're on a visitor's licence. The downside is visitor's licences are disproportionately expensive and time limited.
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Yes, the Boat Safety Certificate is apparently not required if you stay less than 28 days, although an Insurance Declaration must be made.

Looks like £41.10 for a week's licence on my size boat. Could be worse I guess.
 
Not too many hire boats on the southern rivers but a lot busier on the northern rivers. Need to watch them as many can't handle their boat but wouldn't be a reason not to go for me.

A night at the Royal Norfolk & Suffolk Yacht Club in Lowestoft is worthwhile. Lovely old building and very good food.
 
Falling Star said:
Just thinking. We have been on the Broads several times with hire boats but never taken our own one.

We would come up from Burnham-on-Crouch in our Merry Fisher 805 and enter at Lowestoft.

Anyone done this recently? Apart from the risk of being rammed by hire boat owners, what else should we be aware of?

All tips and advice welcome.
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We kept our similar sized boat there for a while and to be quite honest I was glad to be rid of the stress and insurance claims, both when moored. There's far more to see and more chalanging ditch crawling a lot closer to you to be quite frank. All that said if you do plan to go then lots of useful local advice can be had here. http://www.the-norfolk-broads.co.uk/
 
We are taking our boat again this summer.

Taking two weeks out to get from Lincoln the the Broads, have a week on the Broads and then get back to Lincoln again.

We did the trip in 2011 in our own boat and whilst it isnt the same as being on a hire boat and doing the trip we still thoroughly enjoyed it despite a few very near misses!!
 
Like yourself - we started with hire boats, but have now done three trips from the Thames to the Broads and enjoyed every one. You need to watch the hire boats, but we've had no problems and may be back again this year.
Getting the timings right for the bridges and Mutford lock can be a bit of a gamble - but patience wins in the end.
If your air draft is low and you can time arrival at Great Yarmouth for just before low water you can avoid this hassle and get straight onto the Broads.
Royal Norfolk and Suffolk is a good jumping off point, and handy if waiting for weather improvement for the homeward trip.
 
I miss my leisurely cruises on the Broads, and while coastal work is exciting, I found a hire boat on the Broads my most relaxing holidays. I would love to take my boat there, however it's a bit far from Plymouth and too expensive to transport!
 
Be aware to the speed limits vary between 4 -6 mph (yes mph) so be prepared for a lot of 'chugging'.

Wash is more often picked up on than pure speed.
 
pks1702 said:
Be aware to the speed limits vary between 4 -6 mph (yes mph) so be prepared for a lot of 'chugging'.

Wash is more often picked up on than pure speed.
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True.

Last time we went we were flagged down by every officer on the river despite travelling slowly it was the wash they didnt approve of. Not always a lot you can do about it though!!
 
CX54WEK said:
True.

Last time we went we were flagged down by every officer on the river despite travelling slowly it was the wash they didnt approve of. Not always a lot you can do about it though!!
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In my experience it is the hire craft that are most guilty of creating wash. The typical tattoed captain tends to have 2 speeds. Full throttle and crash!!!
 
Sounds like a plan. We loved having our boat on the Broads, despite the hire craft. The only down side was the 3 hour commute each way, and the threat to my license on the A14
 
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