Thinking about buying or insuring a boat in Preveza Greece??

Monday 31 October 2011

Ocean 37 Motor Cruiser


Ocean 37 plan
I was back at Norfolk Yacht Agency in Brundall today Surveying this Ocean 37. Based on the same hull as the Broom 37 Continental this boat has a significantly different superstructure and changes in the interior layout. Outside, the decks run all round the boat at one level.

Inside, the forward cabin is larger, made possible by moving the galley, now 'corridor' in format, to one side of the saloon towards the stern. The layout of the aft cabin varies between two single berths each side or one double berth accessed from one side. In contrast to the Continental and Crowns, there are no side doors between the saloon and the side decks.

Aquafibre built 157 Ocean 37's between 1973 and 1983.

Most boats were fitted with twin 145hp turbo-charged Perkins 6.354 diesels like this example. Some were fitted with 175hp Perkins, giving a slightly higher top speed of 19Knots.






 Surveyors comments:

VENTILATION:

The responsibility for the safety of anybody onboard your boat lies
with the owner or skipper. I advise strongly that boats have enough fixed ventilation to feed all the appliances on board that use LPG, or other carbon-based fuels. Inadequate ventilation will starve the burners of vital oxygen resulting in poor burning and that can produce highly toxic carbon monoxide.

The ventilation requirements then need to be split equally between: high level (ideally cabin roof) and as low as practicable.Low level venting can be achieved by letting in cold air from vents in doors and/or bulkheads, or by means of ducting from a higher level.
The input rating for your appliances can normally be found on the manufacturer's plate on the appliance and/or in the operating instructions.

Carlton Colville boat owner speaks of Beccles blaze ordeal - News - Norwich Evening News

Thursday 27 October 2011

Good Time To Buy a Boat!


Any boat owner who has decided to sell will be keen to close the deal and avoid having to pay the costs of another winter's storage and maintenance which depending on the size of an unsold boat can cost thousands a year. As winter approaches, buying a used boat in the autumn ends boat expenses for the seller and is very desirable.

More boats come onto the market during spring and autumn seasons than any other time of the year. Selection and room for price negotiation when buying a used boat will be at a peak during this time of the year. Some owners will have decided to upgraded for a newer or larger model or decided that because they have been too busy to use their boat they need to sell it.

If you are looking to buy a boat soon, you will have the benefit of the winter months to check the boat, do any upgrades, maintenance so that your boat will be ready for the new season. Winter storage charges are not peak rates so will be competitive compared.

Depending upon the type of boat for sale that you would like to buy next, do take advantage of a professional Yacht Broker. There are many to choose from on the Norfolk Broads.


Thinking of Buying a Boat and Need Help? I will assist you to make an informed decision. Contact me for a detailed and comprehensive report at: steventruss1@aol.com

Sealine 240 Sports Cruiser

Had a trip out to Brundall today on the South Broads. The Sealine 240 is another example of Sealine's wonderful use of space relative to the overall length. This model manages a very large cockpit and interior with all the luxuries normally associated with much bigger boats.The accommodation on the 240 is second to none for its class. She offers a large galley area incorporating a fridge freezer and full washing up facilities! The forward area of the saloon features a large u shaped seating area that in the evenings creates a large double berth. The aft cabin again features a large double berth. Located between the two sleeping areas is the toilet and shower area. This features a full toilet and hot and cold shower.

A lot of boat for your money... they Survey well, and are a surprisingly popular weekender for the Norfolk Broads


220HP 4.3 Litre GXI Petrol Power Plant... a Diesel boat will cost you £1000's more


New arrival at Norfolk Yacht Agency … the biggest Princess I have ever seen on the Broads… The magnificent and beautiful Princess V58.…. Potter Heigham Bridge!! No chance!
Surveyors comments

The regular verification that the LPG system on your boat is leak-free is important. The use of suitable proprietary bubble testers is strongly recommended, as it allows boaters to easily, routinely and safely test for gas leaks.



Thinking of Buying a Boat and Need Help? I will assist you to make an informed decision. Contact me for a detailed and comprehensive report at: steventruss1@aol.com




Dauntless 23 Yacht

I Surveyed this lovely old Dauntless Yacht today for Insurance. I haven’t seen one of theses little yachts for years. There were plenty of them down on the River Medway in Kent where I lived years ago… I always use to see one anchored off my boatshed in Upnor. It always caught my eye. I have seen very few on the Broads.

A pocket cruiser designed in 1960, clinker built in Mahogany, ideal little estuary day Yacht.

This one has been through a very expensive refit



New Beta Marine 10HP diesel power plant

HELP! Save a Dauntless

Ive been made aware of Dauntless PAX based in Cumbria. She is to be broken up at the end of 2011 should no-one be interested in her. She is complete with engine, spars, sails etc,but in very poor condition. If anyone is interested, the Dauntless Association can loan a trailer to take her wherever. Should you, or anyone know be interested in her,
please mail the Chairman








The Dauntless Brochure

Wednesday 26 October 2011

Cruiser Class Yacht 'Pan'

I had a trip out to Crown Cruisers Yacht Station in Lowestoft today. I Surveyed this Broads Cruiser built by Applegate’s on a Jack Powles hull back in 1932. In the 1930’s, the Applegate’s yard built a series of yachts, all of which were mahogany-planked and bright varnished, giving a distinctive appearance.

Big Yacht with a big rig...

Ideal hoist at Crown Cruisers

'Washing her off', so I can get a close look at the hull planking...




Classic interior in a 1930s style.. very original..

Surveyors comments:

Inaccessible Areas. These are the areas that almost invariably cause the surveyor his greatest problems for he can't get at them to check. Frequently, these are the areas where structural deterioration takes place because neither interior inspection or maintenance is possible.
Outboard and under fuel tanks
Behind large exhaust pipes and mufflers
Under refrigeration and freezers
Under shower pans and stalls
Under lined rope lockers
Behind hulls that have full hull side ceilings
There's one thing you'll notice about most of the above listed areas and that is the potential for condensation and lack of air flow in these obscured areas which is highly conducive to causing deterioration of wood and metals. These obscured areas should be viewed with extreme caution. To prove soundness, fasteners or planks sometimes must be pulled.

Tuesday 25 October 2011

Hampton Safari Mk II

Today’s assignment was at Beccles on the South Broads, carrying out a Pre-purchase Survey on this little Hampton Safari River Cruiser.

In the 1960's, Alec Hampton's boat hire business 'Hampton Boats' at Oulton Broad consisted of a fleet of traditional mahogany cruisers. Alec then designed the mark one Hampton Safari for production in fibreglass. The length was increased from 22' 6" to 25'6" and the beam from 8' 6" to 9' 6". A plug was made from marine plywood, which was then used to form the female hull moulding. The boats were moulded firstly by Rydgeway Marine of Kessingland, and then by Bob Smith of Lowestoft.

Although a total of 256 Hampton Safaris were produced from 1969 to 1982, most were supplied to other hire-boat yards as bare mouldings for their staff to complete. During the peak years, Hampton Boats ran 14 Safari 25's in it's fleet, but this reduced to just two in the final season of 2002. Sadly, the yard has now ceased trading, and will surely be missed by the large regular clientele, some of which have been regulars for nearly 30 years.(Hamptons themselves only built one Safari for private use, in 1971 called 'Blue Tit' for John Jarrold, who was then the Mayor of Norwich.)

This one was fitted out by John Claburn when he worked for Dawncraft Boats Ltd, and she also went into private owership.

This is the Mark II version with sliding wheelhouse/lounge. They are somewhat difficult to distinguish because individual boatyards completed the Hampton mouldings to their own spec. Mark 1's (usually) didn't have the integral molding for the gas bottle stowage under the afterdeck, or the moulded in mudweight holder on the foredeck. The control panel moulding was different and the keel was smaller







 Surveyors comments:

Check for window leaks on older models. To stop windows leaking you may have use a non-hardening caulking so that the caulking can move with the expansion. To deal with this problem, you may have to remove the frames, rebed them and refasten them less tightly than they were previously installed.

Some osmosis blistering will be common... but not usually structural. Its good practice to take the vessel out of the water over the winter period and store her in the dry, out of thus reduce the possibility of further osmotically induced gel coat blistering.

On older models, check all floor bearers and lower bulkheads for timber deterioration.......

Thinking of Buying a Boat and Need Help? I will assist you to make an informed decision. Contact me for a detailed and comprehensive report at: steventruss1@aol.com

Saturday 22 October 2011

Princess 415

Working Saturdays is becoming a bit of a habit!!

Todays assignment was at Brundall Bay Marina Surveying this lovely Classic Motor Yacht. The Princess 415 is a sleek, high performance flybridge cruiser with excellent accommodation and very good sea keeping abilities ideal for long distance cruising.

Marine Projects of Plymouth built the Princess 415, it superseded the 414, based on the deep vee version of the 37 hull. The 415 makes the perfect upgrade for a boating enthusiast looking to take a step up to a flybridge boat. She boasts lots of space through out with a large cockpit area and room on the flybridge for all to enjoy, plenty of space in the Saloon and a Galley with all the necessitates. Two big cabins with lots of storage, sleeping four people and a convertible Saloon berth for when the extra guests arrive.







2 x 306HP Volvo diesels max speed 25 Knots



Surveyors comments: If you have a hand-held halon fire extinguisher or an installed fixed system in your leisure boat that contains halons 1211, or 1301 you will be affected by EC Regulation 2037/2000 on substances that deplete the ozone layer. According to EC Regulation 2037/2000, halon fire-protection systems and fire extinguishers must have been decommissioned by 31st December 2003, and the halons recovered. It is illegal to use or possess such extinguishers or fire protection systems.