Past Norfolk Broads Hirefleets
Here’s a look back to remember some of yesterday’s names & the last season they ran a holiday hirefleet. Some are still in business or ran on longer but minus the holiday hirefleet. Acle Ferry Boats of Acle: First & Last 1998 AD Truman of Oulton Broad: 1995 Alan Johnson Boats of Acle: 1992 Albatross Marine of St Olaves: 1987 Alexander Cruisers of Brundall: 2006 Clifford E. Allen Ltd of Coltishall: 1974 Alpha Craft of Brundall: 2015 Anchorcraft of Acle: 2003 Aquamarine Cruisers of Loddon: First & last 1988. Arrow Boats of Beccles: 1991 Aston Boats, Loddon base: 1999 Aston Boats of Beccles: 2008 Babik Boats of Wroxham: 1989 Beaver Fleet of St Olaves: 1985 Bees Boats of Brundall: 2004 Bell Boats of Brundall: 1987, fleet became Brundall Marine Services for 1988 B.B Cruisers of Brundall: 1994 Belaugh Boats of Belaugh: Name changed to Moonfleet Marine for 2003, amalgamating with River-Craft’s base at Stalham and most boats. Bernard Press of Wroxham: 1987 Blue Line of Horning: First year 1983, taking over from Toucan Afloat with F.B Wilds. Last year 1987. Became Horning Pleasurecraft for 1988 R & C Bondon of South Walsham: Became R & J Russell for 1988 Bounty Boats of Brundall: 1989 Breydon Marine of Burgh Castle: 1987 Brister Craft of Wroxham: 2003 Broadland Boat Company of Acle. 2019 Broadland Riverine Boatcraft, Loddon: 2005 Broads Holidays of Stalham: Appeared for 1992 as a division of the Richardsons base & fleet. Last year 1998 - boats amalgamated back under the Richardsons name from 1999 Broadwater Boats of Womack Water, Ludham: First year 2000, last around 2003. Broadsway Cruisers of Oulton Broad: 1987 Broom Boats: Still going, last year with hirefleet 2004. Hirefleet re-started 2013. Brundall Marine Services of Brundall: 1991 Buccaneer Boats of Brundall: 1997 Castle Craft of St. Olaves: 2005 Chumley & Hawke of Horning: 1991 Classic Leisure Cruisers of Thorpe: 1995 Compass Craft of Horning: 1995 Connoisseur of Wroxham: 2008. Rebranded as Le Boat for 2009 to amalgamate the fleets owned by the parent company. The Wroxham hirefleet base was moved to Horning, June 2009 Corig Cruisers of Thorpe: 1984 Crown Cruisers of St Olaves: 1988. Moved to Somerleyton: for 1989 Diamond Cruisers of Horning: First year 1996, last 1997 Ernest Collins of Woxham: 1991 F.B Wilds of Horning: Sold to the Guiness Group and run as Toucan Afloat with F.B Wilds during the early ‘80s. Sold to Blue Line for 1983. Fencraft of Brundall: 2005 Ferry Boatyard of Horning: 2002. Ferry Marina, under new owners started a few years later. Fineway Cruisers: 2004. Just Fine Sorello continued for a little while longer. Dayboats sold to Richardsons for 2015 Freedom Boating Holidays of Horning (later Thorpe): 2020 Freshwater Cruisers of Brundall: First 1995, last year 1999 Gale Cruisers of Loddon: 1997 George Smith & Sons of Wroxham: Approx 2015 Go Boating of Wroxham: First 2005, Last 2008 - Bought by Barnes Brinkcraft during the early 2008 season. Greenway Marine of Loddon: Late ‘90s Ludham Marine of Womack Staithe: c.1996 Hampton Boats of Oulton Broad: Approx 2002 Harbour Cruisers of Brundall: 2002 H.E.Hipperson of Beccles: 2006 Hearts Cruisers of Thorpe: 2002 Highcraft of Thorpe St. Andrew: 2008 Horizon Craft of Acle: Amalgamated into Richardsons Stalham for 2017 Jack Powles of Wroxham: 1991 Johnson Yacht Station of St. Olaves: 1990 Kingfisher Cruisers of Thorpe: Changed hands during 2004 and fleet moved to Marina Keys Great Yarmouth. Fleet became Line Azzurro for 2005, closed mid 2005 season! Kingline Cruisers of Horning: 2001 Le Boat of Horning: 2013 Le Boat of Somerleyton: First & last year 2012 Line Azzurro of Great Yarmouth: First and last year: 2005. Closed mid season after buying the fleet of Kingfisher Cruisers the year before & moving them to Marina Keys at Great Yarmouth. L L Cruisers of Wroxham: 1987 Maiden Craft of Thorpe St. Andrew: : 1998 Martham Ferry Mixer Marine of Stalham: 1988. Moved from Hoseasons to Blakes and became Broads Edge Marina for 1989 season only Moonfleet Marine of Stalham: Fleet amalgamated into-Richardsons of Stalham fleet 2017 Moores of Wroxham: Hirefleet moved from “The Peninsula” site to opposite Barnes Brinkcraft for 2007. Sold to Barnes Brinkcraft during the early 2008 season, boats run under their name from 2009. Newson Boats of Oulton Broad: 1990 Norfolk Broads Holidays of Acle: First year 1995, last 1996 Pearson Marine of Reedham: 2000 Pennant Holidays: Closed during 1992 when owners, the Mowat Group went bust. Planet Craft of Wroxham: Fleet sold 1991-92 to Richardsons/New Horizon Group Princess Cruisers of Loddon: 2005 Priory Craft of St Olaves: 1988 Quayside Club / Boatline of Wroxham (2008) & Stalham (2009). Last year 2009 R&J Russell of South Walsham: 2004 Ripplecraft of Somerleyton: 1988 Rivercraft from Stalham Yacht Services of Stalham: Last year 2002. Amalgamated & became Moonfleet Marine from 2003. Royall & Son of Wroxham: Bought by Barnes Brinkcraft in 2017 Sabena Marine of Wroxham: 2007. Sanderson Marine Craft of Reedham: 2021 Silverline Marine of Brundall: 2022 Stalham Pleasurecraft of Stalham: Appeared for 1991 as a division of the Richardsons base & fleet. Last year 1998 - boats amalgamated back under the Richardsons name from 1999 Sutton Staithe Boatyard: 2002. Returned to hiring holiday craft: 2026 Swancraft of Brundall: 2015 Topcraft Cruisers of Oulton Broad: 2011 Turners Boatyard of Horning: 1983 Tuncraft of Sutton Staithe: Became Sutton Staithe Boatyard for 1988 V.I.P Harvey Eastwood: 2001 Walklin Cruisers of Loddon: Approx 1987 Whispering Reeds of Hickling: 2011 Willow Cruisers of Brundall: 2000 Womack Cruisers of Ludham: 1984 Woods Dyke Boatyard of Horning: First 1996, last 2007. Zodiac Cruisers of Wroxham: Approx 1985/86
Past River Thames Hirefleets:
Some may still be in business or ran on longer but minus the holiday hirefleet
Ambrose Marine of Hampton Court: 1991. Boats put into T.W.Allen’s hirefleet from 1992
Anglo Welsh, Oxford (Eynsham) base: 2024
Aquamarine of Staines: c1996
Benson Cruisers of Benson: Last year 1989 Bought by Maid Boats for 1990
Benson Pleasurecraft of Benson: First year 1992, last year 1998. Later to become the Swancraft base
Bridge Boats of Reading: 2008 or 2009. Most craft transferred to Caversham Boat Services fleet
Bushnells of Maidenhead: Last year 1987
Chertsey Meads Marine of Chertsey: 2006
Connoisseur Cruisers of Staines: 1986 & 1987 only
Euro-Cruisers Large multi-based operator. Last year around 1983
Ferryline Cruisers of Thames Ditton: First year 1992, last year 2002
Kingcraft of Datchet then Abingdon: 1999 Approx
Maid Boats (Multi-Based Thames operator): Last year 1991. Sold to New Horizon/Richardsons group. Their bases became Maidline Cruisers (Wallingford), Ferryline Cruisers (Thames Ditton), Benson Pleasurecraft (Benson) for 1992
Peter Naylor Marine: 1993
Red Line Cruisers of Abingdon then Eynsham: 2001
Rockingham Leisure of Penton Hook Marina (Chertsey): 2010
Salter Bros of Reading & Oxford: 1989
T.J Turk & Son of Chertsey & Kingston: 1988
T.W.Allen & Son of Hampton Court: c.1996
Waterline of Maidenhead: 1989. Also had a base at Runneymede for 1987 only.
Past Canal Hirefleets
Some may still be in business or ran on longer but minus the holiday hirefleet
A look back at some of the past canal hirefleets.
Adelaide Marine, Norwood Green, London: 2001
Anglo Welsh - Still a multi-based operator today, who remember’s these bases:
Anglo Welsh, Aynho base: 1994
Anglo Welsh, Bollington base: First year 1989, last year 1993. The Cheshire base was moved to New Mills Marina for 1994
Anglo Welsh, Bristol base: First year around 1996, last year 2003. Operated in Bristol harbour.
Anglo Welsh, Dundas base: 1994
Anglo Welsh, Lower Heyford base: First year around 1997, last year 2001. Boats operated alongside the Oxfordshire Narrowboats fleet for Anglo Welsh.
Anglo Welsh, Market Harborough base: Last year as a base around 1987, though ran as the head office until 1995. Head Office moved to Bristol for 1996.
Anglo Welsh, New Mills base: First year 1994, last year 2006or7. Several of the last years saw this base only operating’one way’ craft to/from Trevor.
Anglo Welsh, North Kilworth base: First year 1992 (Formerley North Kilworth Narrowboats), last year 1999.
Anglo Welsh, Oxford (Eynsham) base: 2024
Anglo Welsh, Welshpool base: Last year around 2003.
Aqua Narrowboats of Barton Marina: 2026
Arlen Hire Boats of Tulketh Brow: Approx 2019
Bettisfield Boats of Bettisfield: Approx 2022
Bijou Line of Penkridge: Last year around 1995.
Black Prince Narrowboats, Multi based hirer, briefly went into recievership in 1987, quickly changed hands and emerged as Black Prince Holidays - still going today
Black Prince, Blisworth base: Last year 1982. Site became Blisworth Tunnel Boats.
Black Prince, Lower Heyford base: From around 1980 to 1988. Became Oxfordshire Narrowboats
Black Prince, Longport Wharf base: Took over from Twinram for 1984, last year also 1984. (Boats kept but moved to other bases)
Black Prince, Napton Marina: First year 1988, last year 1998, with a year out sometime inbetween. Operated for Black Prince alongside the Gordons Pleasure Cruisers (Napton Narrowboats from 1990) fleet. The current Black Prince base at Napton is at Wigrams Turn Marina (first year 2005)
Black Prince, Oxford base: First year 1983, last year 1987. Became Orchard Cruisers.
Black Prince, Silsden base: First year was 1985, last year 2002. Now home to Silsden Boats
Black Prince, Stenson base: Took over from Clayton Line for 1984, last year 1985
Black Prince, Welford base: 1987
Black Prince, Whaley Bridge base: First & Last year 1986.
Black Prince, Whixall base: Once their head office this large marina is now in British Waterways hands. Black Prince’s Llangollen base has been at Chirk since 1991.
Blisworth Tunnel Boats of Blisworth: Changed hands a few times in later years, last year with hirefleet 2006.
Blisworth Tunnel Boats of Shardlow: Offered as another base from 2001, last year around 2003.
Braunston Boats of Braunston: 1997.
Bridgewater Boats of Berkhampstead: 2002
Brinks Boats of Worsley: Moved to Boothestown for 1997, last year 2001.
British Waterways Hirefleet, Nantwich Basin: Rebranded & colours changed for 1992 as Nantwich Canal Centre (which in turn closed at the end of 1993)
Bronte Boats of Hebden Bridge: 2012
Brook Line of Dunhampstead: 2018
Canalboat Holidays, (previously Concoform Marine) of Weedon: Last year 2006. Later site became Grand Union Narrowboats
Canalbreaks of Hillmorton: Approx 2015
Challenger Stealth Hire of Hillmorton then Market Drayton & Brundall: Last year 2007. Challenger went into recievership in early 2008.
Cheshire Boats of Anderton: First year 1992, last year 1993.
Clare Cruisers of Anderton: Last year 1991. Rebranded to Cheshire Boats for 1992, they closed at end of 1993.
Claymoore of Preston Brook: 2018
Club Line Cruisers of Coventry: 2006
Country Crafts of Llangynidr: 2025
Crest Narrowboats of Chirk: 2025
Dartline: Multi based operator: Bases at Bunbury, Tardebigge & Norbury Junction. Last year 1997. Taken over by Anglo Welsh during ‘97, boats changed to Anglo Welsh for 1998
Dyecraft of Scholar Green: Became Heritage Narrow Boats from 1988 after changing hands in 1987.
Eden Narrowboats of Coventry: First year around 2002, last year 2003
Egerton Narrowboats of Worsley then Castlefield: Last year with hirefleet around 1994.
Empress Holidays of Nantwich: Last year 2009.
English County Cruises of Wrenbury: Taken over by Alvechurch Boat Centres in in 1996, appeared as an Alvechurch base for 1997.
Evesham Marina: 2007
Gailey Marine of Gailey: Last year 1998. From 1999 became a Viking Afloat base.
Gordons Pleasure Cruisers of Napton: Changed hands in 1987 and became Napton Narrowboats from 1990.
Grand Waterway Voyages of Coventry then Nuneaton: 2007
Halcyon Boating Holidays of Eynsham: First year 2002, last year 2003. Base became an Anglo Welsh base.
Jannel Cruisers of Burton-on-Trent: Approx 2005.
L&L Cruisers of Chorley: Approx 1999
Maestermyn Cruisers of Whittington: 2016
Middlewich Narrowboats of Middlewich: 2017
Mid Wales Narrowboats of Whittington: 2016
Nantwich Canal Centre of Nantwich: Rebranding of British Waterways hirefleet. First year 1992, last year 1993.
Orchard Cruisers of Oxford: First year 1987, last year 1991.
Peak Forest Cruisers of Macclesfield: Approx 2006
Pennine Cruisers of Skipton: 2024
Portharb Holidays of Pershore: Approx 2015
Reading Marine Co of Aldermaston: Taken over by Alvechurch/ABC in 2010 and transitioned/later replaced by their fleet
Red Line Boats of Goytre Wharf: Taken over by Alvechurch Boat Centres/UK Boat Hire Group during 2007.
Rosewood Narrowboats of Barden Mill: 2010.
Sally Boats of Bradford-on-Avon: Became Sally Narrowboats and taken over by Anglo Welsh in 2024
Saisons of Whilton Marina: Approx 2011
Severn Valley Cruisers of Stourport: Last year with hirefleet late 90s, company continued but went into receivership during early 2008.
Shepley Bridge Marina of Mirfield: 2008.
Silsden Boats of Silsden: 2021, taken over by Anglo Welsh for 2022
Simolda of Nantwich: Changed hands then from 2000 became Empress Holidays.
Snaygill Boats of Skipton: 2023
Sovereign Narrowboats of Banbury: Private looking hirefleet, last year with hirefleet mid-late ‘90s.
Staffordshire Narrowboats of Stone: 2000
Stroudwater Cruisers of Stourport: Approx 2003.
Swan Line of Fradley Junction: 2003 or 2004.
Valley Cruises of Atherstone, then Coventry: 2019
Viking Afloat (Multi-based): Bought out by Alvechurch/ABC, later moved/almagamated into their colours/styles.
Water Travel of Autherley Junction: Last year 2007. Became a Napton Narrowboats hirebase
Welsh Canal Holiday Craft of Llangollen: 1971
Welsh Lady Cruisers of Whittington: 2019
Weltonfield Narrowboats of Daventry: 2005.
Wessex Narrowboats of Hilperton: Taken over and became an Alvechurch Boat Centres base from 2003.
Wharfage Boat Co of Lymm: Approx 1994.
Past Fleets - Other Waterways
Some may still be in business or ran on longer but minus the holiday hirefleet
A look back at some of the past hirefleets.
Abbey Cruisers of Fort Augustus: Circa 1997
Connoisseur of Wroxham & Europe: 2008. Became Le Boat 2009 onwards. This amalgamated them with Crown Blue Line, who the parent company also owned
Crown Blue Line (Multi-based) France & Europe: 2008. Became Le Boat 2009 onwards. This amalgamated them with Connoisseur, who the parent company also owned
Lee Valley Boats of Broxbourne: 2010
Loch Goil Cruisers of Lochgoilhead: 2002
Loch Lomond Cruisers of inverbeg: 1989. Boats sold to Richardsons (Became Water Gem, Swiftway, Modern Gem, Premier Gem & Voyager classes)
Loch Ness Cruisers of Dochgarroch: Circa 1997
York Marine Services of Bishopthorpe (nr York): 2006