Day Hire Terms & Conditions

Self drive day/picnic launches and canoes are offered by Herbert Woods LLP (The Company) whose registered office is Broads Haven, Bridge Road, Potter Heigham, Norfolk, NR29 5JF.

All boats offered for hire by The Company are licensed by the Broads Authority and operated in accordance with the said authorities Code of Practice for Day Boat Hire Procedures 2005.

Boats are only hired to members of the public over 18 years old. Persons under the age of 16 Years Old must be accompanied by two adults, however at the managers discretion.  Groups of children under the age of 10 must be accompanied by at least two adults. We do not accept lone sailors.

Bookings can be made in advance up until 1 day prior to hire date. Bookings cannot be made online on the day.

Boats are hired to members of the public (The Hirer) which expression includes all members of the part hiring the boat in question and The Company reserves the right not to hire a boat to any person whom it considers is unsuitable to operate the type of boat in question, upon the following terms:-

(a) No liability to The Hirer is accepted by The Company for loss or damage to The Hirers belongings.

(b) No liability to The Hirer is accepted by The Company for injury or death of The Hirer during the course of the hire or during embarkation or disembarkation and hirers use pontoons, quays and other landings on the river entirely at their own risk.

The Company will:-

(1) Instruct the Hirer how to operate the safety and other equipment on board the boat and instruct The Hirer how to operate the motor but The Hirer uses the same at their own risk.

(2) Ensure that the boat and its equipment are in a functional state during the hire and that there is sufficient fuel for the hire but to a maximum of one day only.

(3) Make available life jackets or buoyancy aids for all members of the party but shall not be held liable to a Hirer who does not wear the same.

(4) Take advanced bookings only on the conditions that no refunds will be made unless the contract is cancelled by The Company in the event of high winds, bad river conditions or if the boat is unavailable due to breakdown. Rain alone is an insufficient reason for The Company to make a refund.

(5) Reserve the right to charge a £200 damage deposit in addition to the hire charge, this will be refunded on your return, provided that the boat is left in clean condition and without damage or loss of equipment.

The Hirer will:-

(1) Use the boat in the manner which is consistent with the rules of navigation and shall at all times take into consideration other users of the river whether in boats or not.

(2) Ensure that buoyancy aids will be worn by every member of the party, have been show how to fit them correctly and advised how to use them. Aware that we will be charged for any life jackets that are lost, damaged or inflated. We undertake to report any life jackets that have been inflated as failure to do so may endanger somebody’s life.

(3) Not use the boat after dusk (No hire boats are licensed or insured for use after dusk).

(4) Be responsible for extra hire fees if the boat is late in being vacate for any reason except if such lateness is caused by failure of the motor or of equipment in the boat in which case The Hirer shall be entitled to a full refund of their hire fees in the proportion affected by such failure but no further compensation unless The Company has failed to take reasonable care.

(5) Take care to ensure that all members of the party conduct themselves in a manner which is consistent with the rules of navigation, safety on board the vessel, and all matters which are reasonable to expect from The Hirer of a private self drive boat, and not permit persons under the age of 18 to drive the motor boat.

(6) Be liable to The Company for all damage to the boat, its contents and equipment caused by The Hirer’s unreasonable behaviour, or misuse of the vessel.

(7) Return the boat after hire in the same state and condition as it was when it was hired and if The Company is obliged to clean or tidy the boat as a result of failure of The Hirer to comply with the Terms and Conditions the The Hirer shall pay The Company a reasonable fee for such extra work.

Cancellations:-

All bookings made for Day Hire are non-refundable and no monies will be refunded if cancelled. If you wish to cancel your booking you must notify HW immediately by telephone, email or by post.

No compensation will be paid by HW where cancellation or material change arises from:

  • Unusual or unforseeable circumstances beyond HW’s control such as war, threat of war, riot, civil strife, industrial dispute, terrorist activity, natural or nuclear disaster, fire or adverse weather conditions including strong winds or flooding of waterways.

HW may cancel your hire at its absolute discretion and HW will inform you as soon as reasonably possible and you will be offered either;

(1) A full refund of any monies you have paid

(2) A transfer to another date during that period

Complaints:-

On arrival you (the Lead Hirer) will be required to complete and sign a Boat Handover Certificate, by signing this document, you are agreeing to accept the boat in its existing condition. If for any reason you are unhappy with your boat on arrival you should notify HW immediately so that remedial action, if appropriate, can be taken. You should not sign the boat handover certificate until you are satisfied that the problem has been rectified.

If a breakdown, malfunction or problem of any kind occurs you must report it to HW immediately so that repairs can be made to enable you to resume your cruise. You must not wait to report it until you return at the end of your day. If HW is informed they will take steps to rectify the problem as quickly as is practical in the circumstances.

Apart from these obligations, HW shall not be liable in any respect for any indirect or consequential loss or damage, whether financial or otherwise, suffered as a result of such a problem. No compensation will be paid for loss of time as a result of a breakdown, malfunction or problem of any kind.

If you remain dissatisfied, any complaint must be made in writing to us giving full details within 30 days of the day you hired.

Hirers are instructed that boating can be dangerous and that while The Company has taken all reasonable care in the preparation of the vessel and in the provision of safety equipment The Hirer is responsible for both their own safety, the safety of third parties around them and of the safe return of the vessel. Hirers will be liable to pay The Company for any loss or damage however caused.

Telematics

A Telematics device may be fitted to your cruiser, information from this will only be accessed in case of breakdowns or emergencies and may be used for mileage disputes, speeding or area alerts for your safety.

Parking Liability

Vehicles parked within the Herbert Woods premises are at the owner’s risk. Herbert Woods shall not be liable for any damage, theft, or loss to vehicles or their contents. Owners are advised to take necessary precautions, including locking their vehicles and not leaving valuables in plain sight. By parking on our property, you acknowledge and accept these terms.

SMS and Mobile Communication

a. Provision of Contact Information: In order to streamline your check-in process and keep you informed about your rental service updates throughout your stay, we encourage you to provide us with your mobile phone number when booking a boat or cottage or day experience. This will allow us to communicate with you efficiently regarding important information about your rental.

b. Purpose of SMS Communication: We utilise your mobile phone number exclusively for sending text messages (SMS) related to the readiness and service updates of the boat or cottage, day experience that you have booked. We may also use this number to contact you for urgent matters throughout your holiday. This includes, but is not limited to, updates on your rental property, changes in local regulations that could affect your stay, or necessary maintenance or repair visits.

c. No Marketing Communication: Please be aware that the mobile number you provide for these services will not be used for any marketing, promotional, or advertisement communications from our side. Your contact information will be handled with utmost care and discretion, and will strictly be used to facilitate better service and communication related to your booking.

d. Privacy of Information: We commit to protecting your privacy and ensuring the confidentiality of your personal information. Any personal data, including your mobile phone number, collected during the booking process will be stored securely and used in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. For more details, please refer to our Privacy Policy.

e. Your Consent: By providing us with your mobile phone number, you agree to receive text messages related to the services we provide. You may opt-out of this service at any time, but please note that opting out might affect the effectiveness of our communication and the overall experience of your stay.

 

This was last updated 11th September 2023