Why We Swapped Our Narrowboat for a PLASTIC Boat!

This past week we have been on holiday in Norfolk. We decided to take the opportunity to visit the Norfolk Broads and hire a boat for the day to explore.
We are now day-boaters!
This video was filmed on 30th March 2023
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► FAQ
Q• Why are you uploading cruising videos and renovation videos at the same time.
A• As of October 2021 we have finished our journey to visit every waterway on the connected system but we still have a back lock of videos to edit. For this reason we are uploading a cruising video each week till we finish the journey. In November 2021 we started a project to renovate our Narrowboat and as there was a lot of interest in is filming this we decided to alternate the renovations with the old cruising videos. We also aim to get one renovation video up each week until the cruising videos are finished.
Q• Why do you speed up some of the footage in your videos?
A• We don't, we film it as time-lapse footage. We do not have the battery capacity or data storage to film in real time as our cruises can last up to 7 or 8 hours. We use to the time-lapse footage to help tell the story of movement rather than showcase the scenery. We limit the amount of time-lapse shots we use in each vlog.
Q• Why are your video's so behind?
A• We would love to release all our video's in the same week that we film them but that isn't possible for us. Jo only really has the capacity to edit two video's per week and as we make a video for each cruise that we do and we some times cruise 3 or 4 or 5 times a week we inevitably get behind. We fit in the vlogs around our lives not the other way round.

[@PaddyWV]

"Good Morning Madam, Sir, Welcome to the Broads. Have you been to a boat before?" "DO YOU KNOW WHO WE ARE!!" 🤣🤣👍

[@MinimalList]

haha!

[@playhooky]

Thanks so much for the beautiful boat ride! And as always I also love the music you use!

[@johnnyc3298]

I really enjoyed this cruise I hope you guys do another boat hire day or weekend somewhere else like Scotland or Wales 👍❤️🇬🇧🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@joanneiler2415]

Awesome video as always enjoy them nice little boat. I like preservance though. Stay safe you and George! 💖💖💖💖💖💖💖😍😍😍😍😍

[@Acapulc941]

Well that was new and unexpected. I did feel sorry for George, who was obviously stressed on this different boat. Michael, your haircut suits you well. As for the mommy boat and daddy boat, your sense of humor reminds me so much of my beloved, bearded brother. Be well, all 3 of you. Leigh

[@Fercough]

The Broads are stunning. Two incredible weeks afloat in October in years past. Wildlife. Peace. Beauty. Thanks for the film.

[@jwuertz7101]

It seemed a bit like the motor boats we've got in the USA, steering wise. My uncle had one and as a toddler I'd fall asleep on my mom's lap to the motion and motor noise. Thanks for a neat peek into other boating on other waterways.

[@junco477]

Great stuff. Thanks.

[@ynys_mon6928]

Lovely to see you on the Broads at last! Shame you didn’t have better weather though. If you fancy seeing what it’s like on a bigger cruiser on the Norfolk Broads let us know. We have a share on a syndicate boat based at Horning. George would have to put up with a collie and a (rather large) husky x (that we rescued from a river bank last year). We fell in love with the Broads about 9 years ago when we hired a sailing boat from Hunter’s Yard. They have a ‘heritage’ fleet dating from the 1930s. If you like the Arthur Ransome books set on the Broads, they are the authentic experience. The Eastwood Whelpton boats that you saw are also an excellent boat yard. Both Hunter’s Yard and Eastwood Whelpton offer training. Hunter’s Yard also do some sort ‘taster’ sailing trips.

[@narrowboateverafter]

Ah lovely part of the land. Had a few broads holidays.

[@MinimalList]

Agreed. We want to go back in the sunshine!

[@ScholarGypsyOx]

Very nice - it's over 40 years since I hired a boat on this bit of river. I'd like to try a sailing holiday. The NE section was my favourite, north of Potter Heigham bridge.

[@eekee6034]

The sound clearly indicates this was recorded on an alien planet. I'm on to you. ;) But seriously, it's nice to see you having adventures and you always present them in such a fun way! :)

[@MinimalList]

Yep. Like we said, we wern't planning to make a video so didn't take our sound recorder.

[@eekee6034]

@@MinimalList "Yep"? You did record it on an alien planet? Just messing around. 😂

[@neillambton4065]

Yes, those yachts are available to hire from Eastwood Whelpton, at Upton.

[@MinimalList]

They do look like a lot of fun!

[@KatelynsAdventures707]

Was talking to a couple on holiday down under from England. They live near Cambridge, and told me when I come over next I had to go on the Broads. I told them about you and your NB trip. Now I understand they are two different places. Good experience for you guys, and you know what to do next time. I enjoyed watching. 💜💜🙋‍♀️🙋‍♀️

[@Boating_David]

Oh that was a lovely video I've hired boats on the Broads before so some great memories of places you visited. It's a funny feeling being at the front and back steering though lol

[@marjoriejohnson6535]

I miss the Minimalist and your commentary on the canals. I hope you had fun. Hope to see you. Again in the canals...

[@tonycamplin8607]

Quite different but very nice. Back in prehistoric times, (1956 to 1962) I used to holiday regularly on the Broads, my how they've changed! There are so many boats nowadays but the biggest change is in the water quality, back then it was crystal clear. Poor George!

[@paulroberts5677]

It was the Broads, one October half term 57 years ago where I fell in love with living on boats. I believe one can no longer live full time on the Broads. However, if I can find the right boat, the canals may be a place where I fulfil my dream. Thanks for this video folks. I appreciate it.xx

[@Rivaboyz1987]

Continues cruisers can live aboard on the broads all year round or unless you have a designated mooring that states you can aboard most keys and marinas on the boards don’t allow you to live aboard only moor your boat there.

[@paulroberts5677]

@@Rivaboyz1987 That's good. How do the rules compare with the canals please?

[@mrp1925]

An interesting vlog and so glad you enjoyed your time in Norfolk and especially on The Broads. If you really want to experience the Broads at their best you can’t go wrong with hiring a traditional Broads yacht from Hunter’s Yard at Ludham (about a mile by road from the bridge,but about 5 miles and two other rivers by water). As you approached the bridge one of their yachts was moored to your right, presumably lowering the mast to go under the bridge. The fleet was built in the 1930s/1940s and sail so well in the lightest of airs. Hunter’s give tuition to non sailers but are so simple to sail you would soon pick it up. I have no commercial interest in the yard, just a very happy repeat customer and part of a sailing group, originally from Surrey, that have sailed on The Broads every year since 1951. Strongly recommended you try one of their boats if you return to Norfolk in the future. Kind regards. huntersyard.co.uk

[@sueg1530]

I expected some different boats but not yachts! Thank you for an enjoyable trip and you guys are hilarious 😂

[@rhodaborrocks1654]

I've never been on the canals and never will do seeing as I no longer live in England, but I've had some lovely holidays on the Norfolk Broads on hired cruisers. If you do decide to go there for a holiday, in my opinion it's best to go out of season, it gets very busy otherwise, and expensive too, and try to go for at least a week to have time to look around. Thank you for this video though, brought back some happy memories. All the best from South Africa.

[@mattriley6283]

Good video guys, it's interesting to see the broads and how the boats handle... me and the Mrs are in the process of rebuilding a 1970 fiberglass boat that spent most of it's days on the broads before it was left to ruin, The waterways sure are alot wider than the canals we have here in the north west, Have a good one.

[@MinimalList]

Oh goodness. Good luck with the re-build. Sounds like a huge project.

[@normanboyes4983]

My aim over the next couple of years is to hire one of the small traditional sailing boats on the Broads (in warmer weather) - bit pricey so I have to save my beer coupons.😉👍

[@DanAtkinsonUK]

Next time you hit the broads check out the museum of the broads. They have a steam boat (in the summer). We enjoyed it a few years back (probably longer ago than I think!). Very different to the canals isn’t it.

[@chriswest1996]

Beeston Bump is a kame (or a pair of kames). A hole in the ice had stuff fall down it and it makes a conical mound called a kame.

[@julietfaraj1608]

So interesting! Never even knew this existed!

[@MinimalList]

The Norfolk Broads are no on my to-do list of maps.

[@Fercough]

Watch the bridge heights and the tidal flows.

[@jamesdecross1035]

Yay, welcome to Sunny Norfolk - no, honestly, named for the holiday resort of Hunstanton, or "Sunny Honey". Besides, it's an odd year. March is usually the best weather of the year, in my humble opinion. Not this year!

[@johnworboys6435]

So glad you've finally decided to include the Norfolk Broads to your East Anglian experdition as you will see its an exceptional part of Britains waterways which as a young lad l explored by Sailing dingy for it's entity 😎😎😎

[@BillMSmith]

My first thought was I had missed an April Fools video when I saw the title. It's a shame the boat was so noisy, poor George did look less than thrilled. Hope overall your vacation was a good one.

[@hublanderuk]

Done the Norfolk Broads from different starting positions. The only part we have not done is past Potter Heigham Bridge. Since hardly any boats can fit underneath it. Also I think Michael will like going through Great Yarmouth and Breydon Water with a tide running through. I have seen a video of somebody taking a Narrow boat down the Thames to Ramsgate and Dover and then across the English channel to France. So wonder if somebody may have done the same going into Lowestoft/ Great Yarmouth to access the Norfolk Broads. But then you would need to have good weather for that.

[@brianfraser2495]

There was a collaboration between Cruising the Cut and Minimal List about crossing the Wash in a pair of narrowboats, maybe a couple of years ago.

[@hublanderuk]

@@brianfraser2495 I saw that but to get to the Norfolk Broads you have to get to either Great Yarmouth or Through the Lock in Lowestoft. Otherwise it is put the boat on a lorry and get it put into the rivers.

[@petercurrell9344]

I fad a 70 foot josher for 30 years now have a 18ft trailer sailer to do all the disconnected waterways Falkirk wheel Broads Brecon Welchpool and many more take the boat home in winter.

[@MarcelEling]

Nice boat

[@neillambton4065]

It`s a shame you did`nt hire from Martham Ferry Boatyard, they have a similar though slightly larger boat which is electric, they are so lovely and quiet, and more enjoyable. If you do go back to do the same thing again, i`d recommend them. Have a google and see what i mean. We`ll be on our own boat up there in 3 weeks, i hope the weather improves?.

[@MinimalList]

Thanks for the info. We basically wanted the shortest drive from Sheriningham so I think we would have still opted for Simpsons. Good advice for anyone else looking though! Enjoy your trip!

[@jaapbruijn1300]

Looks very much like the region I grew up in Holland.

[@beverlyberesh8469]

Michael's mind works in mysterious way..."first you'd have to get a mommy narrow boat then a daddy narrow boat"...

[@MinimalList]

Haha. I know! He does keep me entertained! Xx

[@hublanderuk]

Trouble is if you get a Mummy Narrow boat and a Daddy Narrow boat together there will be no place to Moor with all the Narrow Boats. You do realise they breed like Rabbits and there are no Predators to keep the numbers down. 🙂😀

[@PhraktalKaur]

Its mitosis. You fatten up a narrowboat until its a widebeam. Then you give it a quiet weekend on a secluded part of the broads and when you come back, voila, a new pair of narrowboats. :)

[@nickcollins7568]

You will have to return and visit all the navigable stretches of the Broads 🤔

[@davidsedlickas8222]

Done the broads lovely

[@stevealharris6669]

Seen a few Narrowboats on the Broads in the past - Hello from Thetford , Norfolk.

[@MinimalList]

I did wonder if we’d see any. But alas no! Good to know there are some around!

[@Fercough]

Do they come in via Gt. Yarmouth? Thanks.

[@stevealharris6669]

@@Fercough Saw one at Wrotham, while we were staying at a Holiday place right by the bridge (got to be way over 10 years ago) Sure we saw others in the 5 or 6 times we stayed around Wroxham.

[@thrift154]

F8nally, the truth about where narrowboats come from. Thank you 😅

[@ewanparsons9437]

Shame you had such miserable weather for your visit to the Broads. We live besides a stream that feeds the river Ant. The river is canalised up to beyond North Walsham but it's many years since the waterway has seen anything other than a canoe. Hope you enjoyed your visit to North Norfolk. Take care. EAP

[@23rdFoot]

That's Oregon beach weather, in July.

[@andrewbarnard667]

We nearly hired one of the day boats a few years ago but never did. My wife wasn't keen on the idea. Strange how things change as we now have our own boat.

[@MinimalList]

How funny!

[@tpaulfelder1]

Forward control much like a forklift truck. Mind your stern :-)

[@thomasnoble1816]

Our guest dog Mikey did not like the sound of that engine either. That noted, the boat is very precious- in the original non-Gollum way.

[@terryrigden4860]

Any plans to explore all the broads?

[@MinimalList]

We’d love to. Maybe in an electric boat!

[@jonnyjones5201]

I've been hiring on the broads since I was a kid... it's now become very expensive lack of mooring in peak season now charging for moorings which were free... plus Museum of the broads just opposite simpsons has a steam launch for day trips... P.s if you're gonna go budget go before summer peak season or after... also do not hire from herbert woods or if you're from herbert woods or barnes brinkcraft hire a premium boat... thank me later... the melody class from richardsons is good hired more than once

[@FlipandTheBlueMule]

Born on ... 😂😂😂

[@jamesdecross1035]

Always curious to me that the waterways of the Broads are managed by the Broads Authority, not the Canal & Rivers Trust, as elsewhere.

[@ScholarGypsyOx]

The Environment Agency manage many miles, too.

[@TinWhistleTV]

For a moment I thought from the title it was a permanent swap hehe

[@sandbankbadger7579]

The broads look really nice

[@dianepitt5342]

Stalham. Love the Norfolk broads, but prefer the river Shannon now less congestion.

[@MrOVERANOUT]

Somehow Michael didn't seem enamoured with that tiny boat. It was small and noisy and there seemed little challenge compared to your own boat, Perseverance.

[@markattardo]

Looks like an extensive area to explore at a leisurely pace. Maybe not inside a speaker box with a noisy engine.

[@bignasty5814]

Hi We went on the Broads a few years ago, found them very boring much prefer the canals, had 4 two week holidays over several years loved them all. Thanks for lovely videos.

[@caz-nbgalatea1528]

Bet you noticed the difference in handling that one to the weight of Perseverance! 😜

[@MinimalList]

Yes, very much so. It was very easy to drive though!

[@raymondvandorpe2768]

Was this video filmed in April 2022 or in March 2023?

[@MinimalList]

It was filmed four days ago. Description now updated. Thanks

[@daveleclair9201]

WE D0 what we have to too survive in life.

[@chazzyb8660]

Nice click-bait title. Great vid. Happy days on the Norfolk Broads.

[@MinimalList]

Thanks! I'm usually rubbish at click bait. To be honest this one was all Michael.

[@lefthand4398]

vocal clarity would be nice.

[@MinimalList]

Yep. Like we said, we weren't planning to make a video so didn't take our sound recorder.

[@mdutch]

ÀNd here, from the title, I almost thought this was a belated April's Fool video....

[@MinimalList]

Haha, yes, I should have put it up yesterday. Although I have to admit that April 1st in the Internet stresses me out some what!

[@josephkerley363]

Is there no concern or worry about flooding? This older Bosun cringes seeing everyone motoring about with their fenders hanging out. Oh well ... Beautiful countryside. Your boat wasn't very fast though. I suppose that's due to nature of the waterways and dense population of other craft.

[@bonzomacsplonzo8614]

Argh!!! Yoghurt pot!!!

[@MinimalList]

😬

[@nazdagg2027]

you already have common sense, so 3 lessons ought to get you into a sailboat. travel the world.

[@shanehumberstone5262]

I adore the Norfolk broads I’ve been about ten or so times

[@MinimalList]

I wish we had seen it in better weather. We'll just have to go again.