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 Norman 20 on the broads

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jud Posted - 30 Oct 2021 : 15:44:08
Hi all, is my N20 suitable for cruising the broads rivers? She's on a trailer so are there many public, or paid for, slipways with somewhere safe to park the car while we're out on the boat?
7   L A T E S T    R E P L I E S    (Newest First)
df Posted - 15 Nov 2021 : 10:55:16
quote:
Originally posted by cliveshep
The Broads are tidal, you can moor pretty much anywhere,


Whoa there Clive!
The broads are tidal, you CAN'T moor pretty much anywhere!
There are lots of places on the northern rivers above stokesby that you can but don't try that approach on the southern rivers even on the upper stretches without local info, there's a much bigger tidal range on the southern rivers and quite a few spots have had bank work done in the form of wire meshed gabions full of rocks that are stepped and will tip you over when the tide drops and do lots of damage.
The southern broads themselves are fine but keep very close to the channel on rockland broad and yes breydon shelves very quickly once out of the channel as many a boat has discovered to it's peril.

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cliveshep Posted - 15 Nov 2021 : 03:54:24
I first cruised the broads on a CB15, 2 of us plus a dog and a cat, cooking in the cockpit, chemical loo in a cupboard, Perkins 6hp outboard, and did both North and Southern broads starting at Coral Craft, Brundall. Later we had a Norman 20 with a 100hp inboard and Enfield sterndrive and did the broads on that - having no problems with bridges except if you get it wrong below Yarmouth Yacht station on the ebb just turned it can hurt because the bridge will remove the screen on a Norman! Wait for the tide to go slack to flood plus an hour or so.

The biggest I took onto those rivers was 42 feet and you did need to be a bit careful with bridges and tides but that was 20 years ago now. Most boatyards no longer have slipways, using a "bigfoot" to launch and recover boats. A trailed Norman would perhaps be best starting from Brundall Bay Marina who still have a slipway and ample parking.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Brundall+Bay+Marina+(Tingdene+Marinas+Ltd)/@52.6171539,1.4406225,56m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x47d9fc7c662921d1:0x8f218761f6e7cfeb!8m2!3d52.6172751!4d1.4405863

On the Northern rivers Richardsons of Stalham on the River Ant had a slip and a big foot, plus being a hire yard also got loads of parking. Worth a call and they might even offer alternative yards if they cannot accommodate you.

There is a slip at Acle on the Bure adjacent to Boat Dyke Acle, not sure if Acle Marina manage it.

Essentially although the Broads afford ample safe cruising as a cruising location I did find that trailed craft are hardly catered for
although if that is still the case who knows. There were a lack of Elsan disposal facilities last time I was there although pump-outs are available for the numerous hire fleets that is an expensive option for a cassette toilet and we had to moor up in an out of the way stretch after dark and "feed the fish". Petrol also is far less available than diesel, often necessitating walking to a local garage to fill up the tanks in which case one of those folding luggage trolleys can be a boon. By the same token and given how thirsty outboards can be a wise man will have a spare tank or a large funnel and a Jerrycan of fuel aboard.

Anchoring is possible at night but use an anchor light, by anchor I mean mud weight as anchors just come up full of glutinous mud. A deck mop and bucket on a lanyard become essentials. The Broads are tidal, you can moor pretty much anywhere, just ram the reeds and hurl your mud weight or anchor (attached to boat of course) into the reeds and lie safely all night. Will be quieter than being a little fry moored under the bow of a bloody great hire-boat handled by drunken students or incompetent hirers. Give all moving hire-boats plenty of room - I used to make a few bob rescuing the silly buggers.

Those broads look lovely - beware - most are quite shallow, some have marked channels - stay in them! Ditto Breydon Water, do not stray outside the channel even in a little Norman. A clue is seeing seagulls paddling not swimming!





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trickyblue Posted - 09 Nov 2021 : 09:14:07
There aren't that many public slipways on the Northern Broads, when I was looking to launch my Norman 20 I drove round seeing what was available. You will of course have to arrange parking for car and trailer which may be a bigger issue.
I found the following slips suitable & available to the public for a fee:

Sutton Staithe Boatyard-Sutton
Phoenix Fleet-Potter Heigham
Wayford Marine-Wayford Bridge
Landamores-Hoveton (Wroxham) This is the one I used







There are loads of side on "wild" moorings on the Northern Broads and with a 20 you can usually sneak into moorings that the big hire cruisers cant.

df Posted - 03 Nov 2021 : 08:36:24
Are you looking to moor it there for a season or just trailer it as and when?

NBAS--The communal colostomy bag of the boating community.
Visit leomagill.co.uk
Tom Morgan Posted - 02 Nov 2021 : 23:56:07
I'm glad to see that you're planning to get back on the water in your 20, Jud! Hope it all goes to plan, and keep in touch, mate.
df Posted - 31 Oct 2021 : 13:20:55
Being a 20 of course you should have the option of getting under all the northern rivers bridges unlike so many of us, from memory the following spots have alongside mooring spots and it's so much easier finding a spot on a smaller boat.
Sutton staithe
stalham staithe
how hill
neatishead
gayes staithe (limited)
barton turf
ludham bridge
thurne dyke
womack water (island moorings)
ranworth (1 only if it's free, and it's popular)
horsey windpump
upton dyke
acle
stokesby
stracey arms (no longer a pub)
hoveton viaduct (after wroxham bridge)
coltishall
horning (busy, pot luck)
No doubt there's others that I can't think of so not as bad up there as I was making it out to be really I guess.
What is the airdraft on your boat?


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df Posted - 30 Oct 2021 : 18:37:13
You'll be fine with a norman 20, probably better on the southern rivers than north as there's more stern on moorings on the north and outboard can be a pain for that but if you can get around it not a problem.
I don't know much about slipways in the northern rivers but south there is a fairly central slipway at the reedcutters at cantley which is free, have a chat with Steve the landlord and he'll probably be fine with parking as long as you use the pub.
During summer months I find the northern rivers stressful within 48 hours of heading that way without the staycation mob so not been near for the last two seasons, southern rivers have been ok but busier than usual, some pubs you can call and book a mooring just in case.
With a 10-15hp motor on a norman 20 breydon water shouldn't pose much problems as long as you pick your timings, you don't want to end up punching the tide too much if you can help it, height wise you'd probably clear the bridges at any time most of the time although the recommended timing is getting to yarmouth at high water + 1.5 hours so you get slack water.

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