Norfolk Yacht Agency - News and events

Southampton Boat Show

See us on Berths: M004 and M005: 10th to 19th September 2010.

Two boats will be exhibited at Southampton Boat Show this year, following last year’s successful show. The Haines 400 will be on display for the first time at an International Boat Show along with the latest twin engine Haines 35 Offshore model which has proved a real success for the company in 2010. We look forward to seeing you at the Show. The 35 will be exhibited for the first time with a stylish walnut finish.

HAINES 400 Officially Launched

The new 400 was officially launched at Coldham Hall , on the river Yare on 24th July 2010. Haines and Agents Norfolk Yacht Agency welcomed more than 150 guests on a warm sunny afternoon to celebrate the completion of Haines latest flagship offshore cruiser.
The occasion went with a swing, with jazz band, champagne and canapés making it a lovely summer afternoon of entertainment at the newly refurbished and reopened restaurant at Coldham Hall. Hosts Natalie and George Linder and their staff were on hand to make sure the guests enjoyed the occasion.

The new 400 looked stunning in the sunshine and guests made appointments to view throughout the afternoon. Several of Haines Owners Club members along with Haines staff also enjoyed the launch party. Successful trials having previously taken place earlier in the week, offshore at Lowestoft (see pictures on the website.)

The new 400 on display, fitted with twin Volvo 330 hp diesels gives speeds of up to 30 knots has performed well at sea . Further trials and tests are taking place in August, prior to the first International Launch at Southampton Boat Show on the 10th September on Berth M005. With boating media testing taking place in August. Designed by Justin Haines this new model has a proven hull along with contemporary styled interior and superstructure, giving it superb credentials for 21st century offshore cruising. A semi displacement inland and coastal model, fitted with a single engine of choice is also available.

Appointments to view can be made by telephoning Norfolk Yacht Agency on 01603 713434

Enquiries for viewing or trials to james@nya.co.uk or 01603 713434.

Update on bridges (12 July 2010)

Reedham, Somerleyton and Oulton Broad Swing Bridges

Fully operational

Trowse Swing Bridge

Not operational

Trowse Swing Bridge is still undergoing mechanical testing after extensive repair to the control mechanism and must remain closed until further notice.

For any questions about the railway, or help with problems caused by the railway, please contact the National Helpline. This helpline is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. 0845711 41 41

Underwater obstruction on River Bure downstream of St Benet’s - UPDATE

Following extensive survey work by BA Navigation Rangers dragging the river with chains, grappling hooks and latterly with the Environment Agency Fisheries Officers using advanced surveying equipment, all known underwater obstructions from St Benet’s through to Thurne Mouth adjacent to the North bank have been identified and removed by both BA River Works Team and BESL.
All hazard marker buoys and channel marker buoys have now also been removed from this area.
Following a report an additional hazard was identified and removed from the point at Thurne mouth on the South Bank.
Whilst it is believed that all identified underwater obstructions have been removed please notify Broads Control on 01603 756056 if any further incidents occur.
Would hire boat operators and clubs please update their customers and members via their safety briefings regarding this issue.

Cantley Staithe – 2nd phase of work by Broads Authority

This Partnership project led by Cantley Parish council is now into its second phase.
The Broads Authority will be undertaking and helping to manage the following work prior to opening the staithe:

Grass seeding
Planting work
Construction and installation of new seating and picnic tables
Construction and installation of seating areas
Installation of new signage
Surfacing work to existing track to the Reed cutters and new access ramp to slipway
Painting work to pontoon piles and dolphins
Installation of the pontoons
Dredging work to mooring and slipway area

The site will be open for public use once these works have been completed and the grass is established.
Should you wish to contact anyone in relation to
these site operations please telephone
Lesley Marsden Broads Authority 07971156092

Navigation Restriction due to Dredging Haddiscoe Cut 2010

Note that dredging operations will restrict passage along the Haddiscoe Cut between the hours of 0700 hours and 1700 hours (local time) daily from Monday 14 June 2010 until Friday 16 July 2010, excluding weekends. During each period of operation, delays of up to one hour may be expected. Before attempting to pass, Mariners must await clear instructions from the dredging crew and exercise great care whilst proceeding past the works. Signage will be in place to warn of delays.

DREDGING in River Bure

During the period 1st April 2010 through till July 2010 dredging will take place on the River Bure from Acle Bridge in the direction of Horning. This will be to remove shoals from bends in the river. Dredged material will be placed on a set-back area on Upton Marshes near the Tall Mill Drainage Mill. Masters are urged to be vigilant in this area.

Boat owners asked to act early and be vigilant for petrol system problems

Boaters whose boats have petrol engines need to take more care to avoid of the dangers of petrol vapour as the numbers of incidents on inland waters linked to petrol and petrol engines rose for the second year running from one in 2007 to nine in 2009. Read more (pdf document) [39kb]

Take care with portable petrol engines says BSS

Boaters who use petrol generators and other petrol-engined power tools may need to raise their game to avoid the dangers of petrol vapour and exhaust fumes says the Boat Safety Scheme, as the numbers of incidents on inland waters linked to petrol and petrol engines rose for the second year running from one in 2007 to nine in 2009. Read more (pdf document) [39kb]

Boat Fire

Following a boat fire on the River Yare at Thorpe St Andrew the 45ft sunken vessel now sits 4 to 5 metres into the channel. The wreck is marked with yellow buoys, flashing lights and is isolated by an oil pollution boom. The wreck will be removed by the owner as soon as possible. Please take care whilst navigating in the area and please be vigilant.

Potentially Fatal Issue from Belling, Flavel, Leisure, and New World Cookers

An urgent appeal has been lodged through the Environment Agency for boaters who may be at risk from potentially fatal carbon monoxide poisoning from Belling, Flavel, Leisure and New World cookers. See more about affected appliances here (MS Word doc) [26kb]

Carbon Monoxide Alarms Recall Alert

The Boat Safety Scheme (BSS) is alerting anyone with a battery powered carbon monoxide alarm supplied by Lloytron (model B822) or PowerPlus (model BWK034C/Ref 6167) that some units are being recalled. Find out more about affected alarms here (MS Word doc) [28kb]

Yacht Stations

As is usual each year, the yacht stations at Great Yarmouth and Norwich are now open for the season.

Micromark Fan Alert

Micromark has identified a possible fault with the above fans that, with extensive continuous use, could cause the product to overheat and pose a potential fire risk. Further information about the affected products can be found here (pdf document) [22kb]

Portable Gas Stove Safety Alert

A safety alert has been issued to boaters about portable gas cookers with integral gas canisters following incidents where people have been seriously burnt.
Further information on the portable gas stove safety alert can be found here (MS Word doc) [150kb]

Broads Authority Bill becomes an Act

Safety controls on the Broads designed to help the boating public will be introduced next Spring following the passing of the Broads Authority’s Bill. On Thursday 2nd July it received its Royal Assent when the Queen signed the List of Bills and it became an Act when it was announced in both Houses of Parliament.

Key provisions in the Bill include:
• A licensing scheme for boats hired to the public
• A requirement for boats to have 3rd Party Insurance
• The ability to keep the Boat Safety Scheme (MoT equivalent for boats) in line with the national scheme
• Powers to manage water skiing more effectively on the Broads.

The Private Bill promoted by the Broads Authority proved to be the only way to bring about a comprehensive update to the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads Act which set up the Broads Authority 20 years ago.
In July 2003 a hire boat with ten people onboard capsized and inverted without warning at Horning Hall, with one woman losing her life. The subsequent report by the DTI’s Marine Accident Investigation Branch recommended “the introduction of licensing regimes by inspection of hire craft by competent bodies”.
The Broads Authority has been working closely with the British Marine Federation, the Broads Hire Boat Federation, the Day Boat Association and hire boat operators to agree a set of licensing conditions for implementation in April 2010. It will include testing boats for their stability, attaching plates indicating the maximum number of persons to be carried, comprehensive handover procedures for customers and the requirement to have lifejackets on board.

The new Act requires compulsory third party insurance for most boats using the Broads (small unpowered vessels are exempt) from April 2010 and the Navigation Committee has recommended that this should be for a minimum of £2 million. The costs of this insurance are affordable and many owners will already have it. A simple process will be put in place so that compliance can be demonstrated. Confirmation of the level of insurance required will be made by the Broads Authority in September.
The Boat Safety Scheme, a four yearly boat MOT designed to reduce the risk of fire and explosion, which was fully introduced in April this year, and the Act will allow the arrangements in the Broads to be kept in line with the national scheme.

The Act will improve the arrangements for managing water skiing. The Broads Authority has worked closely with the local club, Eastern Rivers Ski Club, and the national organisation British Water Ski to put in place a voluntary system which requires water skiers to have insurance and a Ski Boat Driver qualification. I t will also allow the number of licences to be controlled.
In many parts of Europe a licence for water skiing is mandatory but not in the UK. British Water Ski offer three tiers of award as proof of boat handling skills - the Ski Boat Driver Award (SBDA), the Club Driver Award and the Commercial Driver Assessment (CDA). The SBDA is now recognised as the benchmark standard of driving skills at clubs throughout the UK and is supported by a network of over 100 test centres. The Act will make the requirement of an SBDA and other permit conditions compulsory.
Julian Barnwell, Chairman, Eastern Region- British Water Ski, who has worked for many years to ensure that water skiing continues safely on the Broads, welcomed “with relief” the passing of the Broads Authority Bill.

He said: “It cements the voluntary agreement which has existed for the past three years and we look forward to working very closely with the Broads Authority in the future.
“We have been leading the way on safety and there has been a great relationship between us and the Broads Authority. We are delighted that the changes are now law so we can ensure that water skiing continues in a safe and responsible manner on the Broads.”

Stephen Johnson, Chairman of the Broads Authority said: “I am absolutely delighted that this important updating of our legislation has finally become law.
The support of Ministers in both Houses of Parliament, our local MPs and peers and the national boating organisations has been tremendous. Now we will get on with implementing the provisions with the aim of making the Broads an even safer place to enjoy.”

Mark Wells, Chairman of the Norfolk and Suffolk Boating Association said: “The Broads Bill is now fact; its progress has been tortuous and sometimes fraught, with even simple procedural matters slowing things down at the end. However, there are aspects of what is now an Act which boaters can welcome - safety, the ability to control or curtail more extreme forms of water sport such as wake boarding, and requirement to consult the Navigation Committee on any new policy which could have a significant impact on the use of the navigation.”
“On a number of issues of benefit to navigators we look forward to co-operating with the Authority, while as the body representing private boat owners and toll payers on the Broads, NSBA also will be carefully monitoring just how the BA applies the new legislation,” said NSBA Chairman Mark Wells.

“We’ll be particularly watchful of the extension of Broads Authority safety controls over boating activities on adjacent waters. We are pleased with the strengthening of regulations allowing the Authority to clear obstructive vegetation from riverbanks to permit free passage. We’ll be keeping a close watch on changes to tolls and how the navigation income is spent.
“We look forward to a more positive and productive period of improving the facilities for all users of the broads, especially boaters.”

For More Details please visit http://www.broads-authority.gov.uk/news/press-releases.html

Normal for Norfolk!

As the tail end of what could have been a troublesome season draws near, the Earth is still turning, the phone is still ringing and boats are still selling!

In fact NYA has seen a marked increase in sales of both new and used boats this season.

These are undoubtedly hard times for some industries (indeed the marine industry has suffered it’s share of casualties) however buoyant trading has been the norm at NYA thus far.

In a way it’s not surprising at a time when savings earn little in the bank and the cost of borrowing is at an all time low. Throw into the equation the current, soon to expire VAT concession of 15% and the level of sales becomes even more understandable. More than one client this season has said ‘Why keep it in the bank?’

The year began well with a good turn out for the London and Birmingham boat shows with orders directly resulting.

Our Owner’s Club reception at the Riverfest in Brundall was again well attended. The Champagne and Pimms flowed well into the afternoon. It clearly did the trick yet again; the sale of our display 350 ensued on the day to a member of the Owners Club keen to upgrade. Beware, we’re looking for the hat trick next year!

The recent Southampton Boat Show has to be the high point of the year. Our new twin engined 35 Offshore was bathed in glorious sunshine throughout the show. The boat looked simply stunning. Its dark blue hull, rich oak and sumptuous hide interior were sure to appeal. And they did! Two orders were taken during the show with promises of more to follow. The 35 Offshore is a serious sea boat aimed squarely to compete with the likes of Nimbus and Aquador in the offshore market. Motor Boats Monthly has again taken interest…. Watch this space.

NYA have supplied a total of nineteen Haines so far this season, to a variety of locations through out the UK and Europe. Like Haines our service knows no boundaries.

The demand for new and used boats especially Haines shows no sign of easing up even with winter approaching. If you’re contemplating a change now may be the time to break cover! The year may have been unusual in all manor of ways, but to coin a local phrase, it’s certainly been……. Normal for Norfolk!

Chris Cooper

Norfolk Yacht Agency