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

Thursday 28 June 2012

Freedom 30 Ketch

I had a day in Lowestoft yesterday Surveying this ‘Cat Ketch’ at the International Boatbuilding College via Boatshed Yacht Brokers.
Both the hull and decks are built of fiberglass composites with balsa wood core and the masts are built of a carbon fiber composite.


A chief advantage of free-standing rigs is that there are no rigging shrouds to clutter up side decks and a secondary advantage is that there are no chain plates to maintain or worry about leaking.



For those of you who feel that sailing is just too complicated and that you’ll never be able to master all its intricacies, here is an alternative to conventional stayed rigs that offers old salts and new sailing enthusiasts alike ease of handling, solid construction and performance that is likely to surprise more than a few.

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

Tuesday 26 June 2012

Stuffing box!

On yesterdays Survey I came across this Stuffing Box.




(a stuffing box, or packing gland, is used around a propeller shaft at the point it exits a boats hull underwater. It is the most common method for preventing water from entering the hull while still allowig the propeller shaft to turn.)

It looked like they had been leaking for years and were in a very poor condition.

Removing the packing from one of these deep awkwardly placed stuffing boxes should be done with a special tool… so employ a professional, screw drivers and other substitutes may not remove the last few turns of packing.



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

Friday 22 June 2012

Seamaster 30

I had a visit to Boulters Marine in Horning yesterday to Survey this Seamaster 30 Motor Boat. Its worth remembering they offer a unique comprehensive breakdown and recovery service so you can feel confident to travel that much further knowing that there always just around the corner, batteries low! Engine overheating!

Membership benefits include:
24hr Service
Fully Qualified Marine Engineers
Purpose Built Tug (takes you to the location you specify)
Well stocked van
Up to 6 breakdowns or recoveries under the same policy. (further breakdowns will result in an hourly rate being charged.)
No claims bonus after one year
Reduced rates on engine servicing
Special discounts on selected services
Prompt and reliable service
Peace of Mind


The Boulter boys operating thier unique lifting platform


I dread laying under here in the winter... but it works!


Seamaster.. A famous name in motorboat building in the 1960’s and 70’s, launched the Seamaster 30
at the 1970 London Boat Show, and produced 410 of the model up to 1981.

The boats sleep six, with two berths in a forward cabin, two in the saloon and two in the aft cabin. Helm position is in an open backed wheelhouse amidships.

Standard engine installation is a pair of 50HP Thornycroft diesels, but several others including Perkins like in this example. Top speeds of about 12 to 13 knots.

Surveyors comments: The hull and superstructure were used by other companies also.. If you want an original example.. check that the serial number is embossed on a Seamaster plaque at the helm position.

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


Sunday 17 June 2012

Good angling practice to be promoted at Whitlingham


Angling opens to the public at Whitlingham Country Park on Saturday after a successful first year trial.

A management agreement between the Broads Authority, Whitlingham Charitable Trust, Norwich and District Pike Club and the Broads Angling Strategy Group involves anglers complying with a code of conduct on the River Yare. It has proved so successful that angling will now be promoted as one of the many activities available to the increasing number of visitors at the country park.

Volunteer angling wardens from Norwich and District Pike Club and Norfolk Anglers Conservation Association, supported by Norfolk Police, will patrol the river bank throughout the fishing season to promote good angling practice and give advice to anglers to help them fish in a safe and responsible way.

The 750 metre stretch of river bank can be reached at the far end of Whitlingham Country Park where there is a pay and display car park.

Martin Shaw, Chairman of Whitlingham Charitable Trust which manages the country park, said: “We are keen to promote responsible fishing which fits in well with our overall vision for quiet public recreation and enjoyment of the special natural environment at Whitlingham.

“We are especially grateful for the help offered by Norwich and District Pike Club and Norfolk Anglers Conservation Association to look after the river bank. I would ask all anglers using the bank to take on board any advice offered by them to help the Trust maintain the long history of public access to this stretch of river which is important for fishing.”

Stephen Roberts, Chairman of the Norwich and District Pike Club, said: “We are working hard with our partners to help preserve public access to the very special fishing on offer in our broads and rivers. I would ask all anglers to help protect the riverbank environment and fish in a responsible manner to help us promote and improve angling opportunities at Whitlingham Country Park, both now and in the future.”

It is hoped that introductory angling coaching courses could be run on the riverside at Whitlingham with a special emphasis on tailored events for families and youngsters.

People who are interested in learning more about angling should visit www.norwichpike.com ; www.norfolkanglers.co.uk and the Broads Angling Strategy group’s website www.basgonline.org

Saturday 16 June 2012

Haines 31 motor cruiser

I spent the morning in Brundall Surveying this Haines 31. The owners Norfolk Yacht Agency had just finished prepping the boat and she was to be sold with a Warranty.

Haines Marine are one of the most respected boatbuilding companies on the Norfolk Broads. A family run company based only 5 minutes from my home in Ingham, founded in 1980 by Bob and Mary Haines. They offer a bespoke service for new boats in every respect, trips to their factory to monitor the build, to choose the details of your boat and to follow its progress through the construction.

This older 1999 model was built on the Aquafibre hull. Many of these Aquafibre mouldings do the rounds one way or another and sometimes it's difficult to tell who's version is whos! Sheerline, Haines, Aquafibre plus I think Falcon with a Renaissance also used the hull moulding.





Surveyors comments: Brokerage boats are sold as seen and no warranty is given. However, if you buy one of many stock boats like this example for sale on the Broads, then they come with a warranty and on top of that stock boats are often serviced, antifouled, polished and checked before the handover.

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

Thursday 14 June 2012

Corvette 320 Trawler Yacht

I Surveyed this ‘Little Ship’ today at Brooms Boats in Brundall… not as a great lover of fibre glass boats I was very impressed with the build quality of this classic cruiser.

This was a Trawler Yacht with a difference, the Corvette 32 is British built, has a most unusual hull shape (round bilge sections flanked by shallow vee flats out to the chine) and is fast! The boat was designed by Compton McGill and built initially by Corvette Marine, who produced about 30 between 1974 and 1977, when they went into liquidation. In 1984 the moulds were bought by a new company Corvette Cruisers in Nottingham who redesigned the interior and built another 70, this one included.. a 1988 model.
New construction of the original Corvette 320 has ceased as of 2010. As many owners of the Corvette 320 have shown interest in trading up to a new 340.

Main features of the exterior are the very wide side decks… I felt like I was walking around one of my old Frigates!

Most of the original boats are powered by twin 106hp Volvo diesels. Top speeds of about 18 knots. Corvette cruisers fitted conventional drive engines, most common were 210HP Cummins diesels, however this one had 300HP Volvos which could give top speeds of about 25 knots + .








Surveyors comment:

Ideal for a cruising family with children or a couple with frequent guests, its two-stateroom, two-head accommodation plan provides a level of comfort and privacy found only on much larger boats. And while its traditional, salty good looks may have you thinking "trawler," it will surprise you with its 25+ knot, seakindly performance.

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

Wednesday 13 June 2012

Farrington 25 Broads Cruiser

Today I was at Landamores of Wroxham to Survey and Value this Broads Cruiser for Insurance purposes. The river cruisers of the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads evolved during the late 19th and early 20th centuries to meet the requirements of this unique inland waterways system - light displacement, tall rigs, low freeboard, well proportioned cabin trunks with lifting roofs to give headroom when moored, and masts that lower to allow easy passage under bridges. The sheltered environment has allowed many of the early boats to survive giving the Broads possibly the greatest concentration of traditional boats in the UK.

To meet the rise of interest in these craft new yachts started to appear in the late 1970's and one of these was the first Wolstenholme design to reach the water, the 25ft GRP hulled timber composite river cruiser for Kingsley Farrington launched in 1980 (below). She was followed by the timber epoxy 'Cirrus', the GRP Farrington 30, the cold moulded 'Storm', timber epoxy 31footers for Native Yacht Company, 28ft Bure Classic for Colin Buttifant, the beautiful 'Moonshadow' of 2004, and the recently launched GRP timber composite 26 footer again for Colin Buttifant.

This hull was from Kingsley Farrington and fitted out by the owner who is a qualified Boat Builder



She has a high spec rig with alloy topsail spars

The coachroof being painted

The owner and builder


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


Moon Shadow 3 rivers 2 027.AVI

Monday 11 June 2012

Broom Crown 1979 model

I had a trip out to Haven Marina in Lowestoft today to Survey this Classic Broads Built Boat. Successor to the successful Continental, the Broom Crown was based on the same hull, but had a restyled superstructure and a significant change to the layout.

Twin v-berths in the forward cabin remained, but the aft cabin enjoyed a centreline double, whilst the settee in the saloon continued to provide an extra double berth. All boats continued to feature interior and exterior helms and sliding doors on both sides of the saloon giving access to the side decks.

This 1979 model had the Perkins engines… later Crowns replaced the longstanding Perkins engines with 148hp Volva Penta TAMD40As or 158hp TAMD40Bs.




Surveyors comments: Unique boat built to last and handle everything you throw at it!







There are changes in the Boat Sales office at Haven Marina for 2012, Bernie Lake and his team at Lowestoft Boat Sales are taking on a joint venture with Norfolk Boat Sales who have recently been appointed dealers for Broom Boats and have also taken over the brokerage operation at the Brundall Boatyard. This move not only gives a larger range of new and used boat available for sale from the Lowestoft office, but is advantageous to customers who are selling their craft as their details will be displayed in 3 prime boating locations, Brundall, Wroxham and Lowestoft, as well as gaining wider exposure via the internet and advertising. The popular Sea Otter range of Aluminium Canal Boats, the traditionally styled Trusty Motor Boats and, of course, the fabulous Broom range, as well as a wide variety of used craft will now be available at all 3 offices, where we will offer a professional yet personal service, and be on hand to offer advice at the outset and guide you effortlessly through the entire sale or purchase process with our ultimate aim - complete peace of mind and customer satisfaction guaranteed.

They offer competitive brokerage rates and flexible storage packages tailored precisely to suit your needs, with an experienced, knowledgeable and friendly sales team on hand six days a week to show you or your prospective clients onboard. So, If you're thinking of purchasing your first boat, selling, upgrading or even down-sizing then why not drop in and view their our impressive display of new and pre-owned sail and power boats.

EMAIL:
lowestoft@norfolkboatsales.co.uk or visit their website at www.norfolkboatsales.co.uk for a no obligation chat to discuss your next move

Sunday 10 June 2012

Princess 414

I had a trip to Anglia Yacht Brokers in St Olaves on Friday. I was instructed to Survey this Princess 414 Motor Yacht.

Marine Projects of Plymouth built the 41, a stretched version of the Princess 37, from 1977 to 1982, when the boat was superseded by this model the 414, based on the deep-vee version of the 37 hull but with a modified superstructure and interior layout. The 414s continued in production up until 1987.. This must have been one of the first models a 1982 boat.

The standard layout is eight berths in four separate cabins. In the 414 the builders offered the option of a three-sided dinette opposite the galley in place of one of the cabins. The standard engine installations are twin 235HP Volvos on shafts giving top speeds of about 24 Knots.

Surveyors comments:
British boat with excellent build quality. The hulls are as tough as nails. Cleats, handrails and the all-important lifeline stanchions are bolted through solid backing plates so there is never a question of strength. Designed by Bernard Olesinski, they have a comfortable, solid and reassuring seaworthiness. I have always looked forward to Surveying them.


Anglia Yacht Brokers have a large selection of popular Cruisers for sale






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

Nearly shooting the bridge at Potter! 3 Rivers Race 2012

Three Rivers Race 2012

The race was postponed this year by 4 hours because of the high winds, but finally got underway at 5pm. Check out my video at Potter Heigham Bridge.. Fun had by all!

The Three Rivers Race is organised by Horning Sailing Club and is normally held on the weekend following the later bank holiday in May, this is usually the first weekend in June each year.

The three rivers from which the race gets its name are the three northern rivers of Broadland, the Bure, Ant and Thurne. The Ant and Thurne are tributaries of the Bure which itself is a tributary of the Yare, the main river in the southern Broads area. The Bure joins the Yare at Great Yarmouth, some ten miles downstream of Stokesby.

As for the race, at first it sounds simple, an out and back course in which you must round four marks and return to the start. It begins to sound trickier when you discover the course is in the order of fifty miles in length, with a start outside the sailing club at Horning and the marks on two different Broads and in two different rivers.









CLICK THIS LINK TO SEE THE VIDEO OF BOATS SHOOTING THE BRIDGES