Norfolk Broads Boating Holidays for First Time Boaters, Barnes Brinkcraft, Wroxham
Start date
Flexible +/- 3 days
Duration
No. of Guests

Norfolk Broads Boating Holidays for First Time Boaters

Start date
Flexible +/- 3 days
Duration
No. of Guests
pets welcome
pets welcome
life jackets supplied
life jackets supplied
Bedding provided
Bedding provided

Norfolk Broads Boating Holidays for First Time Boaters

Are You Thinking of Hiring a Boat For The First Time? Is It the Right Holiday For You?

We’re a little biased here, but this holiday is the best. It’s a relaxing holiday, with a little bit of escape and adventure thrown in.  Skills to learn, knowledge to gain and some amazing views to capture.

Exploring this beautiful national park by boat is the best way to experience the Norfolk Broads and get up close to its amazing wildlife.  Did you know that the Norfolk Broads is home to more than a quarter of Britain’s rarest wildlife – more than any other national park

If you haven’t hired boats out before, we would recommend learning on the Northern Rivers the Bure and Ant. This is because they have hardly any tide. You have one less thing to think about when mooring up (parking) for the first time

 

Driving a boat is pretty straightforward, especially on the Norfolk Broads. You travel slowly (between 3 and 6 mph). Plus we provide face to face tuition and videos

There are no locks to navigate on the Norfolk Broads & you can turn your boat around almost everywhere, which makes both navigation and boat handling easy.

Choosing a Norfolk Broads Boat

To make the best of your first boating holiday choose a boat that suits

Boats are a little like caravans. They have everything you need for a week away, packed into a small space. Choose the right one and everyone has their little bit of home from home
Look at the boat layout carefully. If your kids are like ours, they are happy to share a room, but would prefer single beds to sharing a double! And Granny may well appreciate a cabin with an en-suite bathroom

The boats shown below all have bow thrusters. They are little engines on the bow (front) of the boat that make mooring (parking) just a little bit easier. That said, we are very happy to let all our boats out to first-timers you can see them here

If you need help making a choice, please give us a ring or read this guide to choosing the perfect boat.  we are only too happy to help

What to bring with you on your first boating holiday?

We’d recommend casual comfortable clothes, that layer up. A hat in Spring and Autumn keeps the chill off. Flat shoes with a good grip like trainers work well. A waterproof top is also advisable. Whilst Norfolk has the lowest rainfall of the entire country – we still get a bit of the wet stuff
On top of your usual toiletries don’t forget the sunscreen and glasses (water reflects). Plus some insect repellant spray

Experienced boaters bring squashy bags that will fit in the cupboards and draws. Or they unpack and put their cases back in their cars.

We’d suggest bringing enough food for a day or two. You can pick up supplies from Roys supermarket, just up the road from the boatyard. There are  lots of shops and cafe’s and restaurants  you can visit on the way

We do hire out sailing and rowing dinghies plus paddle-boards for customers. but would recommend you get the hang of boating first. There are several places where you can hire canoes and sup boards on the Norfolk Broads. Alternatively, bring your own, just remember a strap to attach it to the boat. The Broads Authority have a short video about using them safely

What happens when you arrive a the boatyard in Wroxham?

Before you arrive at the boatyard we’ll send you a welcome email. It contains a link to videos showing how to handle your boat safely. plus an electronic version of your boat handbook and some other useful advice

We ask you to arrive at the boatyard between 2 and 4 pm. (We’ve tried all sorts of ways of making it a more specific time, but this is the best we can do so far).

The boat will be ready for you to use, with the fuel and water tanks filled up. The toilet tanks emptied and the boat cleaned inside and out.

Once you arrive at the yard we will show you to the boat, so you can unpack and get comfortable. One of you will pop into reception to drop off your car keys and pick up lifejackets and a welcome pack. The pack contains info about the broads, a map and enough to make a cuppa. We will then give you a boat trial run (demo) with one of your engineers. This is your chance to experience manoeuvring the boat yourself. Please ask as many questions as you need.

Don’t worry if you have forgotten things during your trial run. you can watch the boat handling videos here.  Read the manual aboard your boat, or give us a ring

Note, we have limited space in the yard for parking. To get all the cars parked in the yard our staff take your car keys and park them up, in a similar way to a valet service. The cars are then returned to you at the end of your holiday.  They are not taken off-site.

Before you leave the yard, please do a quick check to ensure you have all the crucial things you need onboard. inc the bedding

Where should I go on my first boating holiday on the Norfolk Broads?

There are so many options, to help you we’ve listed a selection of itineraries here. You may also find this website helpful

Planning your first night aboard your Norfolk Broads Hire Boat

It can be quite a bit to take in on your first night, so we’d strongly suggest you didn’t aim to travel very far to start with.
If your boat will fit under Wroxham Bridge pop through and test your boat handling skills and moor up. Our favourite moorings are the side on moorings just outside the village. There is a pathway back to the village. Making it easy to pop back for any further supplies or visit one of the pubs or restaurants.

Or, travel towards Horning and you will discover Wroxham Broad. Just drop an anchor (note this is a really lovely spot – but there is no access to the village from here)

Perhaps, choose our favourite first-night mooring. Salhouse Broad – see our suggested 3-day itinerary to get an idea of what’s available there

Looking after my boat during the holiday?

The boats are pretty straightforward to maintain nowadays.

We’d recommend filling the boat up with fresh water every day. Many moorings have a water supply. and you’ll get a map showing you where those moorings are. For drinking water, we recommend you use bottled or boiled water. We top up our bottles from the tap, not the water hose which is often thrown on the floor.

The boat should have enough fuel on board for at least a weeks holiday. Some boats will have a fuel gauge on board, others will have a dipstick. In the unlikely event, you need fuel, you can find a boatyard to supply you using the map provided. Your boat runs on Diesel

It’s never an exact science to gauge when your boat will need the toilet tank pumped out. We recommend every 3 days, but your nose will tell you if you need to do it sooner!
the link above or the map on board will show you where you can do that

Bridges and Braydon Water

If your boat will pass under the bridges at Potter Heigham or Wroxham you will need to use a pilot. They will get the boat safely under the bridge for you. (We provide you with a pilot at Wroxham – just give us a ring and we’ll send someone over to help)

For other bridges, you may have to lower your windows (and your own head) to get through safely. Please see instructions in the handbook or watch this video

Braydon water is just outside Gt Yarmouth, and has a strong tide. Please contact the Great Yarmouth Yacht Station on Tel 01493 842794 / 07766 398238 and they will advise you how and when to cross safely.  This must be done at slack tide.

If you do have a problem, please ring the boatyard. We have a team of engineers who can help, and if necessary come out to your boat to fix problems.

Returning your hire boat to the boatyard

Please return your boat to the yard at 9 am in the morning.
On your return, we will check how much fuel you use (by refilling the tank) and refund any of your fuel deposit due. If you are in a hurry to get away, just make sure we have your card details and we’ll sort it out for you later in the day.

How much will a boating holiday cost?

The cost of hiring a boat varies widely, depending on the time of year you hire a boat and the type of boat you hire

We have luxury boating holidays , mid range boating holidays and budget no frills boating holidays in our fleet, priced as you would expect

  • Hire charge – this is the cost of the hire boat
  • Damage waiver – this is a non-refundable payment to cover any damage or loss to the boat, its equipment or a third party.
  • Fuel deposit – this covers the amount of fuel we expect you to use whilst on your holiday. If you have used less we will refund the difference. On rare occasions, it costs more and we will charge you accordingly
  • Security deposit – All single-sex parties or groups aged 25 or under, pay a refundable security deposit of £500. Payable on arrival at the boatyard and refunded on return provided there is no damage

First time booking your boating holiday

If you’d like to discuss your choice of boat with us, please give us a ring, we are here to help

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Luxury Boat Hire Norfolk Broads Holiday Boats From Barnes Brinkcraft
Elite Fleet

PRELUDE

Sleeps 8 + 2

Brinks Prelude a New Norfolk Broads Boat Built by Barnes Brinkcraft for friends and family to enjoy...

from £232.00
per night
The price excludes fuel deposit and damage waiver
duet_main
Mid Range

DUET

Sleeps 2+1

A light and airy cruiser with good accommodation for two people....

from £65.00
per night
The price excludes fuel deposit and damage waiver
royall_satin_main
Mid Range

ROYALL SATIN

Sleeps 2+1

A very comfortable and spacious boat for couples, very easy to handle....

from £96.00
per night
The price excludes fuel deposit and damage waiver
royall_velvet_2_main
Mid Range

ROYALL VELVET 2

Sleeps 2+1

An extremely comfortable 2 berth cruiser with a 'walkaround' double berth.  ...

from £85.00
per night
The price excludes fuel deposit and damage waiver
royall_velvet_3_main
Mid Range

ROYALL VELVET 3

Sleeps 2+1

The single level design interior makes this a great boat for anyone with mobility problems....

from £85.00
per night
The price excludes fuel deposit and damage waiver
royall_swan_main
Mid Range

ROYALL SWAN

Sleeps 2+1

A very spacious and comfortable boat, ideal for couples. ...

from £102.00
per night
The price excludes fuel deposit and damage waiver
sonnet_main
Mid Range

SONNET

Sleeps 2+2

 A modern single level cruiser that will pass under all Broads bridges at low tide....

from £91.00
per night
The price excludes fuel deposit and damage waiver
belmore_main
Mid Range

BELMORE

Sleeps 2+2

A practical boat for 'all seasons' boating fitted with a bow thruster for easy manoeurvering....

from £81.00
per night
The price excludes fuel deposit and damage waiver
encore-plus-holiday-boat
Elite Fleet

ENCORE-PLUS

Sleeps 2+2

NEW 2020 and 2021 -  This boat is designed to get to parts of the Norfolk Broads that other boats c...

from £112.00
per night
The price excludes fuel deposit and damage waiver
Brinks Encore Norfolk Broads Boat Hire
Elite Fleet

ENCORE

Sleeps 2+2

This boat was built in 2017 season - A classic design single level cruiser with a modern interior. ...

from £100.00
per night
The price excludes fuel deposit and damage waiver
omega_main
Mid Range

OMEGA

Sleeps 2+2

A very spacious and comfortable cruiser, perfect for all seasons....

from £86.00
per night
The price excludes fuel deposit and damage waiver
jazz_main
No Frills

JAZZ

Sleeps 2+2

Ideal for couple or small family, perfect for first time boaters...

from £59.00
per night
The price excludes fuel deposit and damage waiver
regal_star_main
Mid Range

REGAL STAR

Sleeps 2+2

A stylish comfortable and easy to handle cruiser....

from £75.00
per night
The price excludes fuel deposit and damage waiver
belmore_tc_main
Mid Range

BELMORE TC

Sleeps 3

A practical boat for 'all seasons' boating fitted with a bow thruster for easy manoeurvering....

from £75.00
per night
The price excludes fuel deposit and damage waiver
blenheim_main
Mid Range

BLENHEIM

Sleeps 4

A very spacious cruiser for up to 4 people, wide side decks and easy access at the bow and stern....

from £102.00
per night
The price excludes fuel deposit and damage waiver
rapide_main
No Frills

RAPIDE

Sleeps 4

A dual steer cruiser with a spacious outside deck area to enjoy the sunshine....

from £89.00
per night
The price excludes fuel deposit and damage waiver
Brinks Tempo - Luxury Hire Boat Norfolk Broads
Elite Fleet

TEMPO

Sleeps 4+2

New. Boats built from 2019 to 2022  A seriously comfortable boat with excellent electronics make th...

from £146.00
per night
The price excludes fuel deposit and damage waiver
serenade_main
Elite Fleet

SERENADE

Sleeps 4+2

The super modern low-line design, light and airy interior and flexible bed layout makes this boat a ...

from £135.00
per night
The price excludes fuel deposit and damage waiver
concerto_main
Mid Range

CONCERTO

Sleeps 4+2

Dual steering positions and comfortable accommodation for up to 6 people....

from £129.00
per night
The price excludes fuel deposit and damage waiver
quartet_main
Mid Range

QUARTET

Sleeps 4+2

Cruise in comfort and style, great accommodation for 2 couples....

from £123.00
per night
The price excludes fuel deposit and damage waiver
royall_commander_main
Mid Range

ROYALL COMMANDER

Sleeps 5+1

A perfect cruiser for families with the large raised centre cockpit saloon. ...

from £107.00
per night
The price excludes fuel deposit and damage waiver
phantom_main
No Frills

PHANTOM

Sleeps 6

A dual steer cruiser with a spacious outside deck area to enjoy the sunshine....

from £93.00
per night
The price excludes fuel deposit and damage waiver
rhapsody_main
Elite Fleet

RHAPSODY

Sleeps 6+2

Our first electric hybrid cruisers, built new in 2014,2015 & 2016...

from £169.00
per night
The price excludes fuel deposit and damage waiver
merrymore_main
No Frills

MERRYMORE

Sleeps 6+2

A good all-round family boat with easy access via the aft deck....

from £97.00
per night
The price excludes fuel deposit and damage waiver
rexmore_main
No Frills

REXMORE

Sleeps 6+2

A great boat with very flexible accommodation, with one cabin converting into either 2 single berth...

from £111.00
per night
The price excludes fuel deposit and damage waiver
royall_ambassador_main
No Frills

ROYALL AMBASSADOR

Sleeps 6+2

A spacious cruiser with good accommodation in 3 cabins - central raised steering position. ...

from £130.00
per night
The price excludes fuel deposit and damage waiver
melody_main
Mid Range

MELODY

Sleeps 7

A stylish modern cruiser with dual steering positions and outside seating area.  Making it an ideal...

from £144.00
per night
The price excludes fuel deposit and damage waiver
Budget Cheap Norfolk Broads Boats For Holiday Hire
No Frills

CORSAIR

Sleeps 7

A dual steer cruiser with a spacious outside deck area to enjoy the sunshine....

from £94.00
per night
The price excludes fuel deposit and damage waiver
romany_1_main
Mid Range

ROMANY 1

Sleeps 7+2

Sliding wheelhouse roof gives great visibility.  Super boat for families. It even has a small boat ...

from £108.00
per night
The price excludes fuel deposit and damage waiver
Luxury Norfolk Broads Boating Holidays
Mid Range

LULLABY

Sleeps 8

A stylish and comfortable cruiser with dual steering positions and outside seating area....

from £185.00
per night
The price excludes fuel deposit and damage waiver
harmony_main
Mid Range

HARMONY

Sleeps 8

Cruise in comfort and style, 4 double berths in 4 cabins...

from £154.00
per night
The price excludes fuel deposit and damage waiver
supermore_main
Mid Range

SUPERMORE

Sleeps 8

Dual steering positions and very flexible accommodation for up 8 people....

from £165.00
per night
The price excludes fuel deposit and damage waiver
concorde_main
No Frills

CONCORDE

Sleeps 8

A dual steer cruiser with a spacious outside deck area to enjoy the sunshine....

from £107.00
per night
The price excludes fuel deposit and damage waiver
ultima_2_main
No Frills

ULTIMA 2

Sleeps 8+3

A large & spacious cruiser, with lots of single berths.  ideal for two families or groups of friend...

from £132.00
per night
The price excludes fuel deposit and damage waiver
emperor_main
No Frills

EMPEROR

Sleeps 8+4

A great cruiser for large parties or friends sharing, with accommodation for up to 12 people. **...

from £171.00
per night
The price excludes fuel deposit and damage waiver
ultima_1_main
No Frills

ULTIMA 1

Sleeps 8+4

A modern, large & spacious Cruiser, ideal for two families or groups of friends sharing....

from £132.00
per night
The price excludes fuel deposit and damage waiver
romany_2_main
Mid Range

ROMANY 2

Sleeps 9

Brinks Romany 2 is a super boat for families with the steering position in the open plan saloon....

from £123.00
per night
The price excludes fuel deposit and damage waiver
symphony_main
No Frills

SYMPHONY

Sleeps 10

An older style but comfortable cruiser with plenty of room for large groups or families....

from £117.00
per night
The price excludes fuel deposit and damage waiver

Last minute availability and offers!

Frequently Asked Questions

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.

Norfolk Broads Boating Holidays

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"Second time we have hired a holiday cottage , We have been hiring boats from this yard since 1975 and have never had a problem. Even had one of their boats for our honeymoon in 1977! Lovely accomodation, very clean and spacious. Staff were lovely and helpful. We had a great week and despite the cold weather the house was warm and very comfortable . We would recommend a visit to Horsey Gap to see the seals if visiting in the winter. Will definitely be back."
- Jennie
"Second time I've stayed here in January. Both times has been with groups of 8 to 9 people, once with a large dog. It is a great venue, the staff are friendly, the residences are spotless, the welcome gift has been greatly appreciated and the fact there is a day boat as well has left us with fantastic memories."
- Charlie Tonkiss (TonkaToys)
"Third time using Barnes Brinkcraft ,as usual they bent over backwards to overcome a personal Problem that we encountered with the boat (Serenade 6). The boat was very comfortable,like all holidays things are never 100% perfect ,would we return definitely. Thanks you Barnes Brinkcraft."
- Andrew Moloney
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- Kasham Bassa
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