About us

We are a small family run business specialising in providing boating holidays on the Norfolk Broads. Our fleet of hire craft are comfortable and safe with most suitable for pets. In 2009 we celebrated our 50th anniversary.

See Our boats

Read about the places we like on the Norfolk Broads

Established by Jim in 1959

Topcraft Cruisers was started by Jim Toplis when he left the RAF as a young man of 26 in October 1959.

His first cruiser was a 1931 timber boat that was actually built here on Oulton Broad. Christened ‘Fleetwing’, it was fitted with a Morris Hotchkiss petrol engine and in the galley water had to be hand pumped to the sink – how things have changed!

Topcraft’s first season of 1960 was so successful that a new GRP hull was immediately purchased, and Jim set about fitting it out as a 2-berth cruiser at the bottom of his parent's garden. Another 2-berth followed soon after, and by 1964 the fleet had already reached 5 strong – the rest as they say is history.

Continuing the traditions

In 2009 Jim's eldest son, Simon, took over the family business. He has already set about building on Topcraft's amazing heritage and intends to continue providing family holidays at a reasonable price for another 50 years.

Operating from the boatyard on the north shore of Oulton Broad that Jim purchased in 1976, Topcraft have a reputation for innovation and high standards. Our fleet have been constantly upgraded and improved over each of the last 50 years.

All of our boats were built to exacting specifications and have smooth modern Japanese diesel engines and warm air central heating. We were the first company to provide 240V electric power as standard across the entire fleet. Topcraft also offer the only boats with safe covered walkways for children and pets. Likewise, no other boats are so light or airy as the Topliner classes that Jim designed himself and were built by Topcraft.

Our philosophy

We're passionate about the Norfolk Broads and making sure you have the best holiday possible. It's an honour for us that you would choose to unwind on one of our craft and we will do everything we can to make it a holiday that you will treasure.

Our trademark at Topcraft is the personal touch, we have been delivering outstanding customer care for the last 50 years. This experience means we know exactly how to make your holiday an enjoyable one.

The way we do business is a reflection of Jim – we offer old-fashioned service with honesty and personality. We are all driven by Jim’s hard work and desire to offer the best fleet of holiday cruisers on the Norfolk Broads.

Environmental responsibility

The Broads are a member of the National Parks family, and so it is impossible to not be aware of the environment when cruising through Broadland. At Topcraft, we are working hard to minimize the impact of your holiday on both the local and global environments.

We fit efficient modern diesel engines to all of our craft. We designed and built some of the first equipment for emptying toilet tanks that had such an effect on cleaning our rivers in the 1970s. We provide information on the most ecological and economic way to use our craft during your stay and will calculate your carbon offset for you at the end of your holiday.

We are proud to offer a low-impact, enjoyable British holiday. A true alternative to jetting off to far flung places.