Capri - A Richardson Re-Fit
Richardson's have had Hampton Safaris in their hire fleet from the early 1980s. It appears likely that the first examples were fitted out by them. All their early Safaris had the name "Petite Gem" with numbers, going as high as "Petite Gem 7". These numbers changed from season to season, as boats were renumbered to fill gaps as some were sold off and others acquired, often from other yards. Capri is the one remaining Safari in Richardson's fleet. The Boats of the Norfolk Broads database suggests Capri entered Richardson's fleet in 1988 when they acquired a number of craft previously operated by Horning Pleasurecraft.
Horning Pleasurecraft is recorded as acquiring "Capri" (Q753) and "Capri 2" (Q754) in 1988. The Q registration letter indicates that they were new to the Broads in that year. The The history of both boats before then is not recorded but it seems likely that both boats were built at the same time and were acquired from another yard, most likely from one of those operating Safaris in their hire fleet on the Thames. Interestingly, Capri 2 is indicated in the database as being built in 1970, while Capri has no build date recorded. One is left wondering the basis for the build date entry. However, examination of Capri does suggest that she is a very early boat and a 1970 build date for both boats is highly likely.
The photographs seen on this page are a mix of those found on the Richardson's Boating Holidays web site in the first half of 2026 and those kindly supplied by their Marina Manager. The layout diagram is based on that found on Richardson's site but has been edited. The original did not correctly indicate the swing of the aft cabin and toilet doors, the tapering galley, the arrangement of the fittings within the toilet compartment and the saloon was shown with the L-shaped dinette of a four berth boat with a round stool for the helmsman's seat.
One surprise about the boat, is that it has no shelf below the windscreen. A photograph of Fitzwater, a late MkI built by Hampton Boats Ltd, shows the shelf well. Elda, a MkI boat fitted out by R & C Bondon, also has the shelf but with an additional large pod, which is similar Capri's, holding not just the instruments but the wheel and engine control too. Also compare the shelf on Leda, a MkII boat that includes the angled instrument area within the shelf. Capri's sizeable pod, and lack of shelf, only goes to support the build date given in the database for Capri's sister ship suggesting that Capri, too, is a very early MkI boat, the oldest yet recorded on this site.
External Views
©2026 Richardsons
Capri, as she appeared on Richardson's Boating Holidays web site in early 2026. One indication that Capri was not originally fitted out by Richardson is the single rubbing strake reaching from the stern to just short of the Richardson logo at the bow. The Safaris that Richardson fitted out as "Petite Gem"s all had a further strake that ran from the stern for about a metre along the side of the hull.
©2026 Richardsons
Another image from the web site showing the sliding canopy closed. Of interest is the blanked out pane in the window amidship. It provides a solution to the hazard of curtaining a window over the cooker.
The Aft Cabin
©2026 Richardsons
Upon entering the boat from the aft door you see the 4ft wide double berth to starboard. Through the open door ahead you notice that there is a flat floor all the way forward, without the 4" step that Alec Hampton had in his suggested fit-out for the Safari25. The solid looking coffee table in the saloon hides the engine. It is unfortunate there is no view available of the clothes and other storage available in the cabin on the port side.
The Galley
©2026 Richardsons
Stepping through the door from the aft cabin you reach the galley. This is laid out in the conventional manner for a Safari, with a two burner cooker with grill and oven under, beyond which is a sink and drainer with storage under. As noted above, the stainless steel panel behind the cooker provides a safety feature not seen in most fit-outs, perhaps one that recent regulations require. As normally a curtain will hang within inches of the hob.
The Toilet and Shower
The Saloon
©2026 Richardsons
Moving forward again we reach the saloon. Capri is unusual in not having a half height bulkhead that creates a backrest for an L-shaped sofa. Instead the engine cover is left as a useful coffee table. Under the windscreen is stowage space for a folding dining table. Perhaps unique, within a Safari, is a built-up helmsman's seat with a cupboard under it.
©2026 Richardsons
As remarked in the introduction, another possibly unique feature of Capri's saloon is the lack of the shelf that normally run across the boat within the curve of the windscreen. Taken together with the binnacle housing the instruments and wheel, a feature seen in all other MkI boats encountered so far, leads us to a conclusion that this is probably a very early MkI boat.
©2026 Richardsons
Here we see some features that would not have been part of the original inventory. Flat screen TVs were not available when Capri was commissioned and neither was installing a car radio the norm. We can also see that the steel behind the cooker extends onto the ceiling.
©2026 Richardsons
In this more recent picture we clearly see the tapering galley. It's a feature that has not been seen on any other safari, although other builders are known to have created separate cubicles for the toilet and shower. While some fit-outs have a full height bulkhead and door to separate the galley from the saloon, others as here, dispense with a bulkhead completely, although most tend to upholster the top of the engine housing.
Summary
Capri is a very interesting example of the marque. Richardson's clearly intend to keep her in their fleet a while longer as, in 2026, her interior was being refreshed, with beige upholstery replacing the red seen on this page. What is not currently known whether the fit-out we see here was modelled on their "Petite Gem" boats or was a like-for-like of the fit-out found when they acquired Capri from Horning Pleasurecraft.
As a final aside, only one other yard, Maycraft Cruisers of Potter Heigham, is still known to have Hampton Safaris in its hire fleet and that yard had two available in 2026.