Frequently Asked Questions

We’ve provided lots of information people find helpful when holidaying on the Norfolk Broads below, If you have a specific question about your booking please contact us. If you have a general question about boating holidays and the Norfolk Broads please contact sara@barnesbrinkcraft.com for further information

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Please find instructions here.

No, you don’t need to have any experience or special licences to hire a Broads Cruiser. On arrival, we will give you a full demonstration of how to use, drive and moor the boat. You will also receive videos of how to handle a boat before you arrive.

We provide a manual (electronically and in hard copy onboard) to help you enjoy your holiday.

Our experienced crew will be happy to answer your questions before you leave the yard.

We would recommend at least one member of your crew have good mobility for moving about the deck and mooring.

On arrival at the boatyard, find yourself a temporary parking space outside reception.

A member of our team will direct you to your boat, getting your car as near as possible to the boat so you can unpack

Once you are ready, make your way back to reception with your car keys and paperwork for check-in.

We’ll book you in for your trial run at that point. We customise your tuition to suit your needs.

If the boat is not quite ready, we’ll take your mobile telephone number and contact you as soon as you can go onboard.

Boats will usually be available between 2 and 4 pm. We need them back at 9 am on your day of departure.

Some will be available earlier, but we can’t guarantee which boats will be ready early.

Each boat is

Pumped out (sewage removed from toilet tanks)

Filled up with fuel and water

Serviced by both the engineers and boat builders

Cleaned inside and out

Inspected by our head cleaner

We’re never quite sure what we will find when the boats return, which is why we don’t give you an exact pick-up time.

Yes, please give us a ring to let us know, and we’ll let you know where your boat is so you can go onboard when you arrive. We usually move the boat to just outside reception, so it’s easy to find.

In the morning, we will go through the check-in and trial run with you.

For safety reasons, you must not take the boat out of the yard until you have had a trial run.

Yes, by 9 am please, ready for our staff to get on board and sort her out for the next customers.

Yes, every member of your party gets a life jacket to use whilst aboard.

We even have life jackets for your dogs There is a deposit on dog lifejackets of £10 which is refundable on return.

Yes, you do. You can pick up supplies from Roys Supermarket and Department Store on arrival. The shops are a 5 min walk from the yard. This blog provides a handy guide to pubs and shops accessible by boat whilst on holiday.

Please note that not all boats have fridges with ice boxes on board, and none have freezers.

Bed linen (sheets, pillows, duvets and covers) will be on board when you arrive

Please fill in the arrival form before you arrive so we know how many single and double duvets you need

Towels are only provided on the Elite Fleet boats.

All boats will have a hob and an oven or microwave. For full boat details, please check the website or give us a ring

All boats have a fridge on board. They are sometimes smaller than domestic-sized fridges. Please bear this in mind when shopping for supplies! Some fridges will not have ice boxes.

Every boat will have a toilet and shower on board. The toilets are different from your domestic ones, but they are flushable (not a portaloo).

The shower gets hot water from a freshwater tank on board. The freshwater tank is small and will need topping up regularly (we recommend every day).

Quite a lot of moorings have bathroom facilities, and you may want to take advantage of these too.

We recommend a pump out every 2 to 4 days. Boatyards will charge for this.
The sewage tank will be empty when you collect your boat The rate it fills up will depend entirely on how much it is used. You may find it helpful to use shore-based facilities where available.

You will leave the boatyard with a full water tank. We recommend you top up the tank on a daily basis to ensure you have enough for showers etc. The tap water is safe to drink if boiled.

You will leave the boatyard with a full tank of fuel (tank sizes vary). With normal cruising, this should last for well over a week’s holiday.

Fuel usage increases if you use heaters, generators or speed. It is also affected by driving against the tide and wind.

Most people returning to the yard receive a refund on their fuel deposit. In colder weeks, you will use more fuel to keep the boat warm.

Yes, all boats have onboard heating.

All our boats have 240v power, so you can charge your phone and use a hairdryer
But, the power is limited, Which means you may not be able to use a kettle and a hairdryer at the same time

Yes, all boats are fitted with at least one 12v (car charger) and 240v socket (home socket). Elite Fleet boats have 240v sockets in each cabin.

A trip to Horning can take an hour and fifteen minutes or a day or two if you stop off and enjoy yourself on the way.

Please look at our itinerary page for advice on distances and itineraries.

Yes. There is a rise and fall throughout the broads. It’s small at the boatyard (usually less than 20 cm).

The tide and currents get stronger the closer you get to Great Yarmouth and the southern rivers.

Please take care at Great Yarmouth and ask the staff at the Yacht Station for advice. Tel 01493 842794.

There are no locks on the navigable bits of the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads, and you can turn a boat around almost everywhere, making finding your way around the broads both easy and hassle-free vs some canal trips.

You can, provided you visit during the fishing season and have a “trout, coarse fish and eel licence”, which can be purchased online here or from your nearest post office. The closed season is between March 15th and June 15th.

You can check if a boat will pass under a bridge by checking our website, app or skippers handbook.

If your boat goes under Wroxham or Potter Heigham bridge, you will need a pilot to drive the boat for you. At Wroxham, give us a ring, and we will send one of our team to help (at no charge). At Potter Heigham, you’ll find the pilot just by the bridge. (small charge)

Watch this video here to learn how to navigate bridges safely

If we have (or are predicted ) high tides, it may prevent boats from passing under a bridge

Please look at our itinerary to see suggested 7-day routes to help you plan your holiday.

A holiday aboard a boat on the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads can be as planned or relaxed as you wish.

We would recommend building some time in to chill out and slow down. That way, you have time to catch the best of the Broads National Park when you least expect it

Children over the age of 14 are allowed to drive whilst under the constant supervision of an adult.

We welcome up to 2 pets on all our boats. Some boats are easier than others for larger dogs to get on and off, and we have listed these as pet friendly. We even have dog lifejackets available in reception if required.

You are welcome to sensibly and safely moor, providing there are no signs asking you not to

Each village has a parish staith where mooring is often free, and the Broads Authority provides many more facilities.

There are lots more moorings available in other spots, and these may be chargeable, especially if they provide services.

You can also moor in any Hoseasons boatyard free of charge, provided they have space.

We provide a basic map, and you can buy a really detailed map from reception. Our app is also useful for navigating

Yes, for a refundable deposit of £5.

Why might you need a mallet on a boat? They are useful for knocking in rhond anchors.

What’s a rhond anchor? They are large angled pegs with a hoop at one end. You knock it into the bank you want to moor on, and you can then attach the mooring ropes to the rhond anchor.

It works really well unless it’s pretty windy or the land is too wet to hold the peg! Just like pegging a tent.

We only ask for a security deposit for single-sex parties, and all under 25 mixed parties.

If we charge you a security deposit, we will ask you to check for any bumps and scrapes before you take your holiday. In the same way, you do when taking a hire car

Barnes Brinkcraft provides pots, pans, dishes, plates, crockery, cutlery, mugs, and glasses. Plus knives, bottle openers and spoons for prepping serving and stirring. Small chopping boards, tea towels and pan scrubs are also included. We even add a fruit bowl. We don’t supply champagne flutes (they fall over on boats if you get a bit of boat wash)

Please click here for directions.

Yes, you can bring a max of 2 dogs with you It’s worth remembering some dogs love being on a boat, but not all. We recommend bringing a dog bed with you. We would recommend the Brinklets for dogs as these are the easiest for them to get on and off.

Yes, we do, via the Broadcaster magazine provided with each hire.

Please see our suggested itinerary here.

There is a speed limit between 3 and 5 mph in this part of the Broads National Park. This is designed to protect the wildlife on the banks from wash caused by boats.

Our boats are easy to walk onto from the rear of the boat.

We have parking for circa 20 cars. There is also plenty of FREE car parking behind the railway station, a 5 min walk away.

Please come prepared for the weather. sun hats, sunscreen and bottled water on hot days, and a flask and an extra coat on chiller days Don’t forget your camera Flat shoes with good grip such as trainers are ideal You might want to pack a picnic

This happens rarely, and we have our engineers available to help once you let us know you need it. Ring the yard on 01603 782625 and follow the instructions to get to one of our engineers. Tell them where you are. They will get to you by car if you are accessible; if not, they will travel by boat. Please be patient; the engineer can take a while to get to you. Even if you drift into the bank, you are very, very unlikely to come to harm on the boat

Orson and his team are on hand to run you through the basics of using a boat. It is pretty straightforward once you get the hang of it. You can also watch these helpful videos provided by the Broads Authority here

We only collect security deposits from a few clients, click here for details

Yes you can You will need a licence, which can be purchased here Please note we don’t supply mud weights with the boats

Please check the control panel and make sure that the water switch has been turned on. If you still don’t get water, please ring 01603 782625 and follow the instructions

Please check that the gas canister is turned on fully and try again. If this still does not work contact 01603 782625 and follow the telephone instructions.

You must be 18 years or older to hire a day boat. And whilst you can drive a day boat at any age, you must be closely supervised by someone over the age of 18

Yes, fuel is included in the hire of the day boat

We aim to have properties ready by 4 pm on the day of arrival.

Keys to your property can be picked up from Barnes Brinkcraft’s main reception.

Please let us know if you are arriving late, and we will leave the keys in a safe for you.

The welcome pack contains tea, coffee, biscuits and some useful information about the area and a map of the broads.

Provided you have holidayed with Barnes Brinkcraft in the last four years and booked direct with Barnes Brinkcraft, you should receive a hamper on your next visit. Please phone the office if it hasn’t been listed on your confirmation details.

We provide life jackets in all properties. If you find that you need a different size, please pop into the reception, and we will find you one to fit.

Yes, we do. Please pop into reception with your dog, and we will fit them in a life jacket. We do ask for a deposit of £10 which is refundable on the return of the jacket.

Parking is provided very near to or outside each holiday home. Properties sleeping six or more have two parking spaces provided.

Yes, although you will have to walk across the marina if you are booked into Berwick Swan, Crested Grebe or Graylag Goose cottages.

Yes, all our holiday homes have outdoor tables and chairs.

Yes, 2 x dogs and cats are welcome in all our holiday homes. We do charge an extra cleaning fee.

Yes, just let us know if you need one.

Yes, but not in high season such as Whitsun and the Summer Holidays. During those times we provide a 10% discount on day boat bookings.

It’s a 5-minute walk from the holiday homes on the main boatyard and just a little further walk for people staying in the holiday homes across the river.

Wifi is provided in all our holiday homes. Find the “Barnes Guest” signal and follow the instructions when logging in.

Yes, we add a Christmas tree with lights, a festive hamper, and a wreath on the door.

Yes, there is a large selection within a 5 min walk of our holiday properties, and Norwich has an enviable reputation for shopping and a large selection of excellent eateries.