A Guide to Choosing the Perfect Holiday Boat on the Norfolk Broads
Choosing your perfect holiday cruiser with us couldn’t be easier as we have created segments of our holiday boats based on various customer profiles. We have an extensive selection of cruisers at our boatyard in Hoveton that cater for couples up to large groups of 12 people.
Whatever your party size and needs, we can help you find the perfect cruiser for your Norfolk Broads boating holiday. All our boats are fairly simple to use. However, some have features that make a boating holiday a little bit easier; we will highlight these too.
Don’t miss out on our range of holiday boat hire offers, including loyalty rewards or a 15% discount on the second week of a two-week booking.
Our three top tips for choosing a hire boat on the Norfolk Broads
1) Choose more space rather than less! Making sure you can fit your family and friends on board flexibly and conveniently that meets your needs is a good starting point. Study the layout – has the boat got enough double/single beds/showers, etc., for your needs?
2) Choose a boat with superior battery management systems. Yes, we know, it doesn’t sound exciting! But choose a boat with this; the Broads National Park is your oyster.
If you keep the engine going for just four hours each day as you explore the broads, then you will have enough power in the batteries to support more mod cons with less use of the motor to recharge the batteries. You can keep all these things going (heating, hot water, cooking a meal, and keeping the lights on in perfect silence whilst wild-moored or anchored overnight in the middle of a broad. You also have the luxury of mooring almost anywhere without needing an overnight electric hook-up or leaving the boat motor on.
You’ll be able to hear the bittern boom and see that big, beautiful Norfolk sky at sundown with just the sounds of nature surrounding you. Good for you, good for the planet. (Use our boat search feature filters to find holiday boats with superior battery management systems).
3) Think about the optional extras (available with all our boats). You might like to include a rowing boat, paddleboards, or a sailing dinghy, or even bring your own!
Other essential factors to consider when selecting a holiday boat
Check the sleeping arrangements meet your needs
When it comes down to the sleeping arrangements, we describe our boats as 2+2 or 4+2 etc. The first number shows how many people can sleep in dedicated cabin bedrooms on the boat. The second number indicates the number of people who can sleep in the saloon or lounge area, where somebody must make the beds each evening.
If you were looking for the most convenience, privacy and flexibility, we would always go for dedicated bedroom cabin space. You’re also more likely to have ensuite facilities that are more practical when holidaying as a mixed group where privacy is likely to be more important.
Choose boat layouts and features that meet your needs and planned activities
Think about your experience level with manoeuvring boats and the activities you want to do whilst on the boat (fishing, nature watching, sunbathing, exploring quieter areas under the low bridges etc.). Also consider who’s coming on holiday with you and their level of mobility, as it makes a difference to which boat you should choose.
We’ve designed our website to help you select an appropriate boat for your needs. You can filter further to choose the specific features you want.
Time To Chose Your Perfect Boat
More ways in which find your perfect boat
When looking for the right boat to meet your need we have further search filters these include, holiday boats suitable for wild mooring, with superior battery systems, low-profile holiday boats for exploring further and getting under low bridges.
Some boats have a dual steering position with two positions from which to steer the boat, “up top”, often with the benefit of a sun deck and alfresco dining; they also provide excellent visibility over the reeds. Should the great British weather be less welcoming, you can also move undercover “down below” to drive. These boats will generally reach 85% of the navigable waterways, but they won’t fit under Wroxham or Potter Heigham bridges. Please note that dual steer boats will have onboard steps.
Onboard hire boat luxuries you might appreciate
One of the favourite luxuries is a separate shower and loo – no need to hide the loo roll when taking a shower. Check the boat descriptions and layout diagrams for this feature. If you like a bit of privacy, our newest boats have tinted windows whilst keeping the boat cool on a hot day.
Sliding Canopy Cruisers. Slide the roof back and allow the outside in. Even better, go for one with a split sliding roof to keep the sun in and have a windbreak simultaneously. The smallest of these boats will get you under Potter Heigham Bridge at the right time. You can access Hickling Broad, the beautiful Nature Reserve and Horsey Wind Pump once under the bridges.
Ready to Book!
So, now you know a little more, all you need to do is find your perfect holiday boat and book it!
We hope this guide to choosing your holiday boat has been helpful and we look forward to welcoming you aboard.
Family owned and run Barnes Brinkcraft has been providing boating holidays on the Norfolk Broads for over 50 years. Barnes Brinkcraft is a Quality Accredited Boatyard, reflecting the overall high standard and quality of our boatyard’s service and safety training standards. Visit England and the British Marine Federation assess all boatyards across the country to ensure that high boat safety standards and customer training are met and maintained.