A beginners guide to driving a day hire boat on the norfolk broads.


The first time driving a day hire boat can feel a bit daunting, but you will quickly get the hang of it with some instruction from one of our experienced boat operatives.

Here is our step by step guide to driving a day boat on the Norfolk broads

Before you get on your day boat

  • Put on your life jacket before getting on your boat.

  • Wear suitable non-slip foot wear.

Ready to drive you boat

  • To start the engine - turn the key.

  • A crew member unties the lines from the moorings on the waters edge and puts them securely in the boat. (Failure to do this can result in the rope getting caught around the propeller of your boat and the boat breaking down).

    Setting off

  • Push the boat away from the bank in the direction you wish to leave.

  • Gently push the throttle forward, when moving forward gently turn the boat in the direction that you want to travel. 

    Speed limits 

  • The speed limits on the Norfolk broads are between 3 and 6 mph. Keeping to the speed limit reduces the wake (wave of water) coming off the back of your boat, this prevents bank erosion, damage to moored boats, protects nesting birds and prevents flooding when the river levels are high.

     Driving

  • Drive on the right hand side of the river unless in the upper reaches of the Thurne, when it is best to stick to the middle unless someone is coming the other way.

  • Push the throttle forward to go forward backward to reverse. Neutral is in the middle and stops all power to the boat, however your boat will keep gliding though the water slowing down gradually, even when no power is coming from the engine.

  • If you want to slow down pull the throttle back into reverse, if you are going to fast put more reverse on, if you are going to hit something put a lot of reverse on, boats don’t have brakes!

Mooring your boat. 

  • Slowly glide into the mooring space, keeping the engine on, have a zacrew-members (ideally one at the front and one at the back off the boat) with the mooring ropes, ready to step off the boat (wearing a lift jacket) as you come a long-side move the throttle into reverse and give a short burst on the throttle to slow the boat to bring the boat to a standstill. The crew-members secure the boat before other people get off the boat.

  • Reversing back into a mooring can be a bit tricky, and is best left to the experts however, the best way to go about it is to line the boat up and then reverse straight back into your mooring.

  • In narrow moorings such as Horsey dyke it will be necessary to turn your boat with the mooring ropes instead of using the engine and steering wheel. 

Potter Heigham day boat hire

Potter Heigham is 20 minuets motor from Martham Ferry, going under the bridge is quite exciting, always use the bridge pilot who drives you safely though.

Trouble shooting 

  • If your boat slows down and looses power, it is possibly because you have weed around the propeller. Reversing the boat backwards and then forwards a couple of times should be enough to get you going properly. If in any doubt please ring Martham Ferry Boat Yard on 01493 748291 and they can advise you.

Man-over-board

  • If someone should fall in the river -shout man over board to alert near by vessels. DO NOT REVERSE BACK as the propeller is at the back of the boat. Motor forwards a few yards before executing a 180 degree turn so that the person in the water is being approached from the from of the boat.

Fun boating terms 

  • Bow - the front of the boat

  • Stern - the back of the boat

  • Port - the left hand side while facing forward in the boat

  • Starboard - the right hand side while facing forward in the boat.

  • Mooring - suitable places to get off your boat.

  • Casting off - untying the ropes from the mooring post on shore. 

Let the adventure begin!