Caribbean

The 39ft Caribbean was the first of the F.B.Wilds GRP fleet.

Launching onto the Norfolk Broads in 1966 this ground breaking new cruiser was to change hire boating forever.

It's 39ft 6 berth accommodation came complete with:
*Aft mounted engine for quiet cruising
*Spacious saloon with double bed that could remain made up and simply folded upwards out of the way during the daytime
*Warm air central heating/power ventilation
*Galley with all facilities including electric fridge
*Spacious, deep forward well with moulded seating allowing for safe, comfortable and sociable cruising for all ages and ease of mooring/access.
* Single floor level throughout, and ability to pass under all Broadland bridges at suitable tides
* Use of free standing furniture where possible - settees & berths and much of the fit-out was built around an aim towards home from home comfort, which was a pioneering concept at the time.

A high number of Caribbean’s were built for the F B Wilds hirefleet, and for other operators. Even in the mid '90s around fifteen of these craft were still running from Horning alone. Only one still remains on hire today, "Hawaii" was re-fitted in the early '90s to include two toilets and amended layout and can be hired from Stalham, all others are in private hands.

The Caribbean is easily recognisable from her Sister’s not only by their window arrangement but by a different rear design. The rear of the cabin side has a ‘fin’ sloping outwards. On her bigger & smaller Sister’s this is not present and is angled off. The rear profile around the door is also different as a result.

Such was the success of the 39ft version in the early '70's a 42ft version was launched.

This was based on the Bahama hull and superstructure, but its square edged windows make it immediately recognasable.

The layout was incredibly similar to the Caribbean, main difference being a fixed double berth cabin and different, more spacious galley arrangement. Around twenty were built making them rarer than the standard Caribbean, and most were for the F B Wilds fleet, but also for the odd other operator. Three were still running with Horning Pleasurecraft in 2004, one remained in 2005 but sadly none live on as hirecraft from 2006.

These interior pictures are of an ex-hire Caribbean Major for sale in 2006. Much of the original fittings are still there, further revealed by a peeling carpet!