“Thev condition of the boat (Quartet 1)was not up to the expected standard and had many issues. We selected what we thought from the photos was a modern high quality boat but we found it had significant damage and in particular the canopy right hand front corner was broken off and the canopy and screen frame did not meet properly maning we had issues every time we tried to get the canopy closed. The damage was temporarily repaired when we complainedas there was a gap where raiwater could enter and pour over the hob. This broke away later and we had to use duct tape to cover the gap. Every time it took 3 people to get the canopy to fully close. I was amazed that there was no mechanical winch system as on boats I hired 40 years ago.
The make up lounge bed collapsed under our grandson on first use as the securing bolt housing was broken.
The lounge lighting only worked intermittently (apparently conducted through the canopy track).
The oil pressure guage fell out of the dash.
The rev counter sometimes did not work.
The waste tank guage didn't work and when we paid for a pump out we were told that there wasn't much in there.
The shower tray flooded when first used as we hadn't been told about the need to use the drain pump.
When we had to travel in the rain we realised there was only one wiper on the left and the second on the centre screen was missing (completely removed and not replaced). This made it very difficult to see clearly the right hand bank and was potentially dangerous. Other Quartet boats we saw had the full complement of two.
A 2 ring hob wasn't adequate to cook for 4 people and if we had been 6 it would have been a nightmare.
Some of the sheets/duvet covers were threadbare with holes and rips.
Fortunately the weather was largely good and we tried to forget the boat issues and enjoy the Broads.
Sorry, you were nice people but the quality of the boat was disappointing.”
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience twice, and we’re so sorry your special family weekend celebrating your son’s birthday started off on such a disappointing note. We try our very best to have boats ready on time and to make the handover a smooth and enjoyable part of the holiday, so we’re really sorry the phone call didn’t connect and that your trial run felt rushed – this is something we’ll address with the team, as it’s such an important part of the experience.
We’re glad to hear you found Serenade 1 clean, well-equipped, and easy to handle, though we apologise again for the smelly bathrooms and the issue with the bedroom lights. For others, please do let us know during your holiday so we are able to remedy this as soon as possible
Your comments about the reception you received in our office are concerning, and we’re sorry if you felt unwelcome. Most of the time our office team are praised for being friendly and helpful, so we’ll take this feedback on board to make sure we consistently provide that same warm welcome to every customer.
Hi Catherine,
Thank you for your feedback! We’re glad to hear you enjoyed the electric boat. We're sorry to learn that you faced challenges with the picnic and reversing, as well as the issue with turning the gas on. Your insights are really helpful, and we’ll certainly look into these matters to improve the experience for future guests.
We hope to see you again!
Warm wishes,
Team Barnes Brinkcraft
“Ok experience overall. Initial handover less than great, received the phone call to say our boat was available at 16.21, we were in the boatyard within 5 minutes, but then repeatedly reminded that closing time was 17.00. It's not reasonable to expect guests to arrive at the boatyard, load a boat, do the paperwork, do the life jackets and do the on-the-water familiarisation in 34 minutes. Whilst appreciating that someone will be last boat out of the yard, handover is the starting point for a holiday, it gives a first impression, and i think a customer reasonably deserves an hour to complete the process.”
Thank you for your feedback. You make a very fair point – the handover is the true start of your holiday, and it should never feel rushed. We’re sorry that your experience was compressed into such a short timeframe; that’s not how we want guests to begin their time on the water. While there will always be a “last boat out,” you’re absolutely right that it’s important we allow proper time for loading, paperwork, safety checks, and the all-important familiarisation run. We’ll be reviewing our processes to ensure future handovers feel more relaxed and welcoming. We do appreciate you sharing this, as it helps us improve.
