Broom Boats

What Broom Boats does

Broom Boats is a 125-year-old marine business headquartered in Brundall, Norfolk, operating on the Norfolk Broads from the same riverside site where Charles John Broom first built sailing cruisers in 1898. The company runs four interlocking lines of business: (1) luxury motor cruiser holidays across an 11-model fleet plus electric day boat hire; (2) a full marine services workshop handling maintenance, repair, winterisation, gelcoat work, restoration, electric propulsion conversions and retrofit upgrades such as Seakeeper gyro stabilisation for third-party boat owners; (3) private moorings at the Brundall marina; and (4) a brokerage division (Broom Boat Sales) launched December 2024 covering pre-owned Broom vessels and other prestigious brands.

Revenue mechanics combine recurring hire and mooring subscriptions with project-based marine services (quote-based pricing) and transaction-fee brokerage. Distribution is direct-to-consumer through the company website, phone and email, supplemented by a Hoseasons marketplace listing. Underlying technology rests on traditional boat building craftsmanship combined with modern marine engineering — Volvo Penta engines as standard, Fischer Panda generators, Seakeeper certified retrofits, electrostatic fogging disinfection (CleanAboard), and full/hybrid electric propulsion conversions — rather than software or data platforms.

In August 2024 Broom was acquired by Clive and Victoria Richardson, owners of Horning Pleasurecraft, which operates Horning Marina and Cove Marina, effectively extending the company's footprint across the Norfolk Broads. Broom continues to trade under its existing name with Antony Howell as Managing Director and a team of approximately 11-50 employees spanning sales, engineering, boat building, valeting and apprenticeships. Customer segments are consumer-led: holiday makers (families, couples, groups), private boat owners, marina customers and day trippers, with no identified enterprise or institutional clients.

Name

Broom Boats

Legal name

Broom Boats

Website

https://www.broomboats.com/

Company type

Private

Founded year

1898

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Broom Boats is a 125-year-old Norfolk Broads marine operator offering luxury motor cruiser holidays, private moorings, marine maintenance and repair services, electric propulsion conversions, and a newly launched pre-owned boat brokerage division serving consumer holiday-makers and private boat owners in the UK.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Boat Hire and Marine Services

NAICS

Marinas (71393), Ship Building and Repairing (336611), Boat Dealers (441222)

SIC

Ship & Boat Building & Repairing (3730), Services-Auto Rental & Leasing (No Drivers) (7510), Services-Equipment Rental & Leasing, Nec (7359)

akta.pro primary industry

Bareboat Yacht Charters (Self-Skippered) (THAEAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Day Cruiser, Bowrider & Runabout Manufacturing (IMAJAEAI), Boat & Marine Leasing (FSAKANAH)

Keywords

• Boat hire
• Marine services
• Boat restoration
• Private moorings
• Boat brokerage

Headquarters

HQ city

Brundall

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Personnel, Operations

Revenue model

1. Boating Holidays: Luxury motor cruiser hire on the Norfolk Broads. Customers rent fully-equipped holiday cruisers for various durations. The fleet includes models like Bolero, Skipper, Cadet, Captain, Skyway, Commodore, Explorer, Clean Sweep, Navigator, Commander, and Admiral. Both short breaks and week-long holidays available.
2. Marine Services: Comprehensive boat repair, servicing, restoration, winterisation, and maintenance for all makes of modern and traditional boats. Services include electric conversions, gelcoat repairs, upgrades, Volvo Penta parts and service, Seakeeper installation, and bespoke modifications.
3. Private Moorings: Private boat moorings at the Brundall marina in the heart of the Southern Norfolk Broads with on-site discounts and access to full marina services
4. Boat Sales/Brokerage: Broom Boat Sales is a new brokerage division launched in 2024, specialising in pre-owned Broom boats and extending to include boats from other prestigious manufacturers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Broom Boats hires out luxury motor cruisers for holidays on the Norfolk Broads, rents private moorings at its Brundall marina, and provides comprehensive boat maintenance, repair, restoration, and winterisation services for owners. It has a fleet of 11+ cruiser models (2- to 8-berth), electric day boats for hire, certified servicing for Volvo Penta, Seakeeper, and Fischer Panda systems, electric propulsion conversions, and the new Broom Boat Sales brokerage division.

Product overview

Broom Boats operates as a traditional boat yard and holiday service company offering a portfolio of interconnected products and services for the Norfolk Broads. The core offerings include luxury motor cruiser holidays (with 11+ boat models ranging from 2-person to 8-person capacity), electric day boat hire, private moorings, marine services (maintenance, repair, restoration, winterisation, electric conversions, upgrades), and a new boat sales/brokerage division launched December 2024. Supporting services include bike hire, fuel/pump-out facilities, safety training videos, and the CleanAboard deep-cleaning system. The company recently began building its first new boat since 2019 (Broom Admiral) and offers electric propulsion conversions for inland waterways craft.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CleanAboard: Broom CleanAboard is an improved deep-cleaning process for the hire fleet that ensures an even cleaner and safer stay on board luxury cruisers.

Products and services

• Norfolk Broads Boating Holidays Luxury motor cruiser hire for exploring Britain's largest protected wetlands. Fleet includes models such as Bolero, Skipper, Cadet, Captain, Skyway, Commodore, Explorer, Clean Sweep, Navigator, Commander, and Admiral with capacities from 2 to 8 berths. Includes full induction, trial runs, safety videos, and captain's manual; suitable for families, couples, and groups without a boating licence.
• Electric Day Boat Hire Fully electric day boats available from Brundall for half-day or full-day hire, providing tranquil, emissions-free cruising on the Southern Norfolk Broads. Targeted at day-trippers, couples, and small groups seeking an eco-friendly boating experience.
• Marine Services (Maintenance, Repair, Restoration, Winterisation, Upgrades) Comprehensive boat repair, servicing, and restoration for all makes of modern and traditional boats, completed by experienced craftspeople and engineers. Services include routine maintenance, winterisation, gelcoat repairs, upgrades (extended platforms, bow thrusters, Seakeeper stabilisation), electric/hybrid propulsion conversions, and bespoke modifications such as Blue Fin underwater LED lighting and Wilks fendering/decking.
• Private Moorings Safe and secure private boat moorings with on-site discounts, located in the heart of the Southern Norfolk Broads and Brundall village community. Includes access to the full range of on-site services including fuel, pump-out, and marine maintenance.
• Broom Boat Sales (Brokerage) Boat brokerage division launched December 2024, specialising in pre-owned Broom boats and extending its offering to include top-quality boats from other prestigious manufacturers. Managed by Tiffany Howie, who brings prior senior broker experience from Sunseeker London Group.

Quantifiable outcome

• Seakeeper can eliminate up to 95% of boat roll
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Horning PleasurecraftflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 December 2024Acquisition by Clive and Victoria Richardson, owners of Horning Pleasurecraft. Horning Pleasurecraft operates Horning Marina on the River Bure and Cove Marina adjacent to Broom's Brundall site. The acquisition brings together two iconic Norfolk boating brands, enabling expanded services and resources. Broom Boats continues operating under its existing name under new ownership.
• Broads Beat (Norfolk Constabulary)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing sponsorship of the only inland waterways police in the UK. Broom provides maintenance services to keep Broads Beat patrol boats in top condition. The team patrols all 7 rivers connecting 63 broads in the Norfolk Broads National Park. Natural England notes this is the longest-running police and public sponsorship scheme in the UK.
• HoseasonscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHoseasons is a leading UK boating holiday marketplace where Broom Boats lists its holiday cruisers for booking. Customers can search for Broom holidays via Hoseasons platform alongside other Norfolk Broads boat hire options.
• Fischer Panda UKcoreTechnology or IntegrationBroom Marine Services appointed as Fischer Panda Approved Service and Installation Centre. The partnership enables Broom to service and install Fischer Panda generators and related marine power systems, receiving regular product updates and training.
• SeakeepercoreTechnology or IntegrationBroom Marine Services is a Seakeeper Certified Service and Installation Centre, authorised to retrofit and service Seakeeper gyro stabilisation systems into customer boats. Broom completed first UK retrofit of Seakeeper 5 system.
• Volvo PentacoreTechnology or IntegrationBroom Marine Services is a Volvo Penta Authorised Service Dealer, accredited for engine installations, commissioning, servicing and repairs across Volvo Penta's marine leisure range. Broom builds boats with Volvo Penta engines as standard.
• International Boatbuilding Training CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLewis Philips, newly appointed specialist heritage boat builder, worked with this award-winning institution, bringing expertise in classic boat restoration and heritage craft preservation to Broom.
• Natural EnglandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBroom works with Natural England trail wardens for wildlife information and conservation guidance. The company has partnered with individuals and groups to reduce impact on wildlife and supports the Love the Broads scheme.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Herbert Woods: Long-established Norfolk Broads boat hire, marina and boat sales operator based in Potter Heigham. Directly comparable to Broom across hire fleet, moorings, brokerage and marine services within the same Broads geography.
• Barnes Brinkcraft: Norfolk Broads family-run boat hire and brokerage operator with a large fleet across the northern and southern Broads. Closest direct competitor to Broom's holiday hire and brokerage offering.
• Bridge Boats: Norfolk Broads boat hire and brokerage operator with hire cruiser and day boat offerings. Competes directly with Broom for luxury motor cruiser holiday bookings on the same waterways.
• Norfolk Broads Direct: Independent Broads boat hire specialist with a large modern fleet and a brokerage arm. Overlaps with Broom on holiday hire, day boat hire and pre-owned boat sales.
• Blakes Boating: Norfolk Broads boat hire operator offering cruisers and day boats from multiple departure points. Direct competitor in the same Broads holiday hire market as Broom.

Broad incumbents

• Hoseasons: UK's largest self-catering and boating holiday marketplace; lists Broom and competitors side-by-side. Acts as both channel partner and indirect competitor setting price/quality benchmarks for Broads holidays.
• Sunseeker International: Major UK luxury motor yacht builder. Relevant comparator for Broom's re-launched boat building ambitions and the heritage of British luxury motor cruiser construction, though at far larger scale.
• Princess Yachts: Plymouth-based luxury motor yacht manufacturer. Comparable to Broom's motor cruiser heritage and boat-build capability, but operating at significantly greater scale across global markets.

Emerging players

• MDL Marinas: UK marina operator with a network of coastal and inland berthing locations. Relevant comparator for Broom's private moorings and Brundall marina business, though MDL's network is coastal-weighted.

Regional players

• Fox Boat Hire: Norfolk Broads boat hire operator with cruiser and day boat hire. Smaller competitor focused on a narrower portion of the Broads but competes for the same domestic holiday maker segment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/broomboats
• Instagraminstagram.com/broomboatinghols
• Xx.com/broomboats

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Broom Boats