Hippersons Boatyard

How do you fix circular blinds on floating accommodation? This was one of the winter maintenance challenges. The new pod has lovely circular windows and we wanted to keep them on show. After much research and experimentation, we made our own. Two circles of material, slightly larger than the space for seams, a piece of wadding and black out material cut to size, join together sewing on the reverse. Turn through and then sew the opening closed. A small amount of quilting to secure the wadding, the circular blind is complete. We tried hooks and bungies to attach but it looked awful, so after much discussion between Simon and I, we decided to use small magnets. I made little pockets for the magents and attached to the blind, Simon screwed magnets to the circular window sill, and the result has been very pleasing.

There has been a lot of anti fouling going on in the yard recently, all of our dayboats have been antifouled ready for the season, and a number of our customers have had their boats done. A questions I once asked:
WHAT IS ANTIFOUL? Antifouling is the process of protecting your hull from marine growth by applying a protective paint layer to the bottom of your boat. WHY SHOULD I ANTIFOUL?... If your boat lives afloat then the riverwater and marine particles can build-up on the underside of your hull. This growth of marine algae can significantly affect the performance of your hull and your fuel efficiency. Heavy levels of growth on the hull can slow boats down and could increase fuel consumption by over 30%. HOW OFTEN SHOULD I ANTIFOUL? The frequency of antifouling depends on the usage and storage of your boat. Boats that live afloat or that are used regularly should be checked every year to assess whether it needs reapplying. Boats that live ashore and have been washed down may only need antifouling every other year. The team at Hippersons can assess your hull and give you their professional opinion once your boat is on hardstanding.
See More

Enjoying Easter? Thinking about a short break? Want to stay some where different? Still availability in our New Floating not boating Secret Water pod. If you want a short staycation in something that is different, CoolStays site can tell you more, just follow this link. https://www.coolstays.com/property/secret -water/20384… Friday to Monday, and Monday to Friday breaks. Book directly with us here https://www.hippersons.co.uk/glamping

Why do we give Eggs at Easter? The egg, an ancient symbol of new life, has been associated with pagan festivals celebrating spring. From a Christian perspective, Easter eggs are said to represent Jesus' emergence from the tomb and resurrection. In many cultures around the world, the egg is a symbol of new life, fertility and rebirth. For thousands of years, Iranians and others have decorated eggs on Nowruz, the Iranian New Year that falls on the spring equinox.The first choco...late Easter eggs were made in Europe in the early 19th Century with France and Germany taking the lead in this new artistic confectionery. A type of eating chocolate had been invented a few years earlier but it could not be successfully moulded. In our boatyard we can see the eggs and new life, earlier in March we were lucky enough to see two kingfishers and think they may have a nest nearby; the swans are around and we hope they have another successful nest this year. Enjoy the season that marks the start of the weather where going out on a boat is a grand idea. The photo is last years cygnet in case you are wondering ⚓️
See More

Maundy Thursday activities at the yard, we took the JP3 out of 'Misterton'. I believe this was the second engine she had, installed in 1986 after the first one broke. We took the opportunity to load the new gearbox in, but I've got several weeks worth of de-greasing to do before we can lift the 'new' engine in......
Thanks to Daniel from Harleston Engineering Limited for the expert Hiab skills. :)

The weather is gorgeous for Easter. And all our dayboats are booked until Tuesday. Online booking is open for the rest of the season so plenty of time to get out on the Waveney yet. Mummy and Daddy swan were letting their eggs see the sun today, only a couple of weeks till the cygnets come. ⚓️

Wondering what to do for the Eater weekend in the Waveney valley? Day boats are available to hire for a relaxing time with family and friends over the Easter break, you can now book online in advance on our website, click here to take you to it. https://www.hippersons.co.uk

Fancy a last minute weekend Easter weekend break afloat? We have some last minute availability on the houseboats, and the weather looks perfect for Floating not boating. Click. Here to follow the booking link to Hoseasons https://www.hippersons.co.uk/houseboats#/ new-page-3 couple of photos of Coot Club and Swallows to whet your appetite ⚓️

Really delighted with the new site we have put Secret Water on to promote her, she is a unique place to come on holiday and CoolStays is an amazing website with lots of cool places to stay. Check out the listing they have done for us https://www.coolstays.com/property/secret -water/20384 Secret Water looks amazing, in only a few days the bookings have taken off. What a great site it is ⚓️

Otter spotting galore at Hippersons this week, dayboat customers and houseboat visitors have all heard and/or seen the otters. They are definitely out and about playing. The elusive otter is one of our top predators, feeding mainly on fish (particularly eels and salmonids), waterbirds, amphibians and crustaceans. Otters have their cubs in underground burrows, known as 'holts'. Excellent and lithe swimmers, the young are in the water by 10 weeks of age. Otters are well suited to a life on the water as they have webbed feet, dense fur to keep them warm, and can close their ears and nose when underwater. They require clean rivers, with an abundant source of food and plenty of vegetation to hide their secluded holts. Here is a picture of one at the back of the wet sheds, a good place for an all you can eat fish buffet at low tide ⚓️

A whole day on an electric day boat, where can I go and what can I do on the river Waveney? Hippersons Boatyard to the Waveney River Centre and the Back gardens of Beccles Leave the boatyard and turn port (left), you will go under the road bridge and then past the sailing club on the starboard side. You are entering into a really beautiful stretch of the river Waveney and keep an eye out for wildlife: herons, king fishers, marsh harriers, otters and barn owls have all been ...seen along this stretch. After approximately half an hour on your port side you will see two magnificent houses with really beautifully landscaped gardens that finish at a purpose built jetty and a boat house that often has a beautiful traditional river cruises moored. A little further along you will come to the Beccles old railway bridge and it is best to steer through on the port side. Continue on your journey and you will see some stunning scenery for the location and pass by lots of famous reeds in the river (remember to keep the boat out of these as you don’t want to get stuck). After approximately one hour and forty five minutes you will see the entrance to the Waveney River Centre, where you can steer in and moor up, remember the river is tidal so leave plenty of rope for the boat to go up or down. At the Waveney river centre you time to have a pub lunch, a cup of coffee, a soft drink and a run around in the play are for the kids. Keep an eye on your watch and then if you leave by two fifteen you will have plenty of time to reverse the trip.
Instead of turning back in the yard continue upstream on the River Waveney, passing under the Beccles low bridge. Immediately you are in what we like to call them Back gardens of Beccles Tour. All the houses have gardens leading down to the rivers edge which have their own distinctive character. Really interesting to see, and the eagle eyed amongst you will notice the remains of where the old railway bridge which used to cross the river. You glide smoothly past the lido and past the Beccles rowing club and then turn around and meander pleasantly back to the old bridge and turn into the yard.
Note if you leave the Waveney River Centre you may have enough time to moor at the quay( opposite our yard) and buy an ice cream before starting the back gardens tour
See More

For our swan lovers, including Joany Tomo, here is mummy swan today, both asleep and awake. She is doing really well and we expect the first cygnets to arrive on the first May bank holiday weekend, which is also a special celebration for Nate ⚓️

A free river festival that brings the river to life for the whole family. There will be the opportunity to be taken on a day boat taster; short canoe and kayak tasters for all the family; historic craft, step aboard the MTB 102 Trust Wherry Maud Trust - Charity No. 1161285.Countess of Light and other historic vessels. Local musicians will be playing from 10-4 each day. A chance for all the family to uncover the history and sample what the River Waveney has to offer. This event will be supported by Visit Waveney Valley as part of the Waveney Valley uncovered event. All donations will be given to local charities supporting the event.

If you follow our page you may have noticed a few posts from Nate, he is trying to be helpful, and he is developing buisness acumen. I think what he wanted to say was, please be eco friendly, at Hippersons we are joining the Beccles Terracycle initiative to really reduce our waste. We also have a couple of spaces on our accommodation if you are still looking for a last minute break for a few days over Easter. Call for details on 01502712166.

H.E Hippersons are renting kayaks and bycicles from May and we’ve got a beautiful pod for you to stay on!!!!!!!!!!

The award winning Countess of Light returns to Hippersons Boatyard. She is a real beauty and we can all see the award was a recognition of what trulyPaul Rainbird and Heidi Holden achieved, such an awesome restoration ⚓️🌟💐🎉

There are many ways to explore the tales of the riverbank, and keep an eye out for wildlife. Canoes and kayays are a great way to do this and get really close to nature ⚓️

Happy Holidays at Hippersons Boatyard for Easter this year. Lots of people having fun on the river with rowing, sailing, and electric day boats. A lucky visitor got a short sailing intro from award winning Paul Rainbird. Little Ollie is clearly taken with Beautiful South, and mummy swan is enjoying the company and the food ⚓️

Wonderful afternoon on the Broads. Lovely clean boat, being electric was lovely and peaceful. Good value for boat hire in Beccles.

Very friendly, helpful staff. Had a lovely day.

Very Friendly helpful staff, plenty of room in houseboat for me and three children, peaceful watching boats sail by .

This place is a hidden gem! Perfect for a family getaway.

Just had a lovely hours boat trip here. Staff where very friendly and the trip was brilliant lots of beautiful scenery. Would definatly recommend. �

It's lovely peaceful and it's so calming and it's so nice to chill out and watch the world go by

Have been staying here for about 10+ years on Lucky Venture can't wait to return next month. All the staff are so helpful and happy.

Had a great first day today .will defo come again with the family and dogs.thank you for making us feel so welcome . amanda &Barry.

Had a full day on the broads.. Thoroughly enjoyable. Staff very helpful and informative. Highly recommended.

Had a brilliant time! hired 2 boats for 8 of us. Easy to drive. Stopped at the Wherry arms for lunch. Great fun, we will be back!

First time for our family of 6 today out on self drive boat and was perfect. Helpful pleasant staff, easy to drive boats had a fab time. Highly recommend this company. Many thanks for a fab afternoon.

Fantastic service highly recommended for boat hire

Brilliant day out today. Lovely staff and we would highly recommend! We hope to visit again soon!

As we are staying in Beccles we wanted to hire a boat for a few hours and we found this amazing place where we hired a lovely boat and the staff were very polite and really helpful. I would definitely recommend that people visit.

Had a nice stay here. The house boat is a little dated but is spotless clean and has everything I needed on board. Staff and owners were friendly and helpful.

Wonderful afternoon on the Broads. Lovely clean boat, being electric was lovely and peaceful. Good value for boat hire in Beccles.

Very friendly, helpful staff. Had a lovely day.

Very Friendly helpful staff, plenty of room in houseboat for me and three children, peaceful watching boats sail by .

This place is a hidden gem! Perfect for a family getaway.

Just had a lovely hours boat trip here. Staff where very friendly and the trip was brilliant lots of beautiful scenery. Would definatly recommend. �

It's lovely peaceful and it's so calming and it's so nice to chill out and watch the world go by

Have been staying here for about 10+ years on Lucky Venture can't wait to return next month. All the staff are so helpful and happy.

Had a great first day today .will defo come again with the family and dogs.thank you for making us feel so welcome . amanda &Barry.

Had a full day on the broads.. Thoroughly enjoyable. Staff very helpful and informative. Highly recommended.

Had a brilliant time! hired 2 boats for 8 of us. Easy to drive. Stopped at the Wherry arms for lunch. Great fun, we will be back!

First time for our family of 6 today out on self drive boat and was perfect. Helpful pleasant staff, easy to drive boats had a fab time. Highly recommend this company. Many thanks for a fab afternoon.

Fantastic service highly recommended for boat hire

Brilliant day out today. Lovely staff and we would highly recommend! We hope to visit again soon!

As we are staying in Beccles we wanted to hire a boat for a few hours and we found this amazing place where we hired a lovely boat and the staff were very polite and really helpful. I would definitely recommend that people visit.

Had a nice stay here. The house boat is a little dated but is spotless clean and has everything I needed on board. Staff and owners were friendly and helpful.