Herbert Woods Delight Class

Now personally, I have a love and passion for classic Broads boats however, the boat offered here is quite simply incredible and by far and away one of the most stunning and impressive restorations I have ever seen.

This boat had a full pre purchase survey on October 21 2021 for the current owner, which was pretty much faultless! That survey is available to the new owner.

This impeccable Herbert Woods Delight class boat must be seen to be fully appreciated. She has been in her previous owners' family and tender care for 19 years prior to me selling her to the current owners last year. The current owner has not used the boat since buying her and will no longer have the opportunity to do so, thus I have the privilege of re-selling her. She is one of just 12 ever made by one of the oldest boat builders on the Broads, Herbert Woods.

She was built between 1930 and 1933. However, the previous family owners believed the actual date to be 1933. So this remarkable vessel has seen her way through WW2 and everything since and was lovingly treated to a full multi-year complete restoration by Colin Buttifant of Swallowtail Boatyard in Ludham, being re-launched in 2005 with a new Nanni diesel engine, back into the loving care of that long term Broadland family.

This boat is not so much presented as exhibited! It is impossible to believe that she was not built last year as she is totally unmarked and impossible to fault.

Her wood gleams with the warmth and an attention to detail that only a professional boat builder can bestow. It must be noted that you just do not find this level of workmanship on boats any more. From small designs in the battery box lid to the whole exterior and every cabinetry panel and even in the heads compartment, this boat just overpowers the viewer with the most excellent example of the boat restorers art.

Make no mistake, you will not find a boat that comes close to the finish of this beautiful vessel and that includes many a new boat just built. The previous family owners had used her regularly on the Broads and always kept her under cover in a wet boatshed. I brought the boat to her current location and did one training trip out on her with the current owner and that is all she has done in that year. She is still moored under cover in a boatshed.

She has had no expense spared to maintain her in her incredible condition and it shows in every place you look. This includes under the floors and the inner hull.

She is quite simply the best and most evocative example I have ever seen of a classic wooden Broads cruiser of this type and size. If you want the best of the best and dream of taking to the river to recapture the bygone heyday of British boating, then this is your opportunity to acquire a genuine stand out vessel of her generation. She does, and will continue to, draw crowds wherever she goes from admiring passers-by as she is a true object of beauty and desire.

The hard details of the boat are as follows,:
The ‘Delights’ were a class of 12 motor cruisers built between 1930 and 1936 by Herbert Woods of Potter Heigham. This is hull XI and was fully restored by a professional boat builder (Colin Buttifant, Swallowtail Boatyard, Norfolk) from 2003-2005 with no expense spared. She has been moored inside a boathouse in Horning, Norfolk ever since, and has been regularly winterised and maintained. She has 3 berths, 2 parallel bunks in the rear cabin, 1 in the forward cabin along with a galley and toilet. Both cabins have heating and the galley is equipped with hot and cold water via a stainless steel sink and gas cooker with oven, grill and 2 rings. Large parts of the boat were rebuilt to original specifications during the 2005 restoration. The works also involved installing brand new elements including a Nanni 3-100 HE diesel engine, replacing the electrics throughout, a pressurised water system, replacement rudder, a Webasto heating system, a Voyager 2000 gas cooker and re-carpeting throughout.
The roof of wheelhouse is retractable.
She was also last antifouled winter 2019.

Mechanical & Electrical
29HP Nanni 3-100HE diesel inboard engine - 2005, last serviced 2017
Plumbing and gas systems all renewed 2005, new par max 2.9 water pressure pump 2016
12V auto bilge pump new 2019
Webasto cabin heating - 2005
Traditional 12V cabin and cockpit lights - 2005
New 90ah platinum starting battery - 2020
New 110ah platinum domestic battery - 2020
Oil and fuel filters replaced 2019

The previous family owners only sold the boat due to bereavement and the current owner bought her with great idea of using her but they never materialised, unfortunately.

So the opportunity to obtain such a rare and quality historic vessel has presented itself.

This is genuinely a once in a lifetime chance to acquire such a stunning vessel and she is sure to sell to the first viewer as there is nothing not to like.

She has a current valid Boat Safety Certificate to 24/03/2025.

These boat details are subject to contract.

Note: Offers on the asking price may be considered.