Landamores Broads Cruiser

I was down in Brundall today on the South Broads inspecting this Landamores Elanco 37 Classic Broads Cruiser. Built in 1962, the Elanco 37 was, at that time, the largest hire cruiser one could rent on the Norfolk Broads. 'Snow Goose' is famous here on the Broads as she is one of very few surviving examples. She has a pair of modern diesel engines fitted. Also a generator has been installed that ensures that you are completely self sufficient when away form your home berth and shore power hook-up. All of the above means that she lends herself very well to being used as a liveaboard boat.

Surveyors comments on Surveying wooden boats generally:

Concealed areas within a hull are always a problem but, most wood vessels are constructed in such a way that enough access is available to make a fair assessment. It is usually possible to pull up floors (such as screwed in place plywood panels and the like) and remove enough paneling that one can get a fairly good glimpse of the bottom and lower sides. Carrying an electric screw gun is a must in order to do this quickly and effectively.

Three important tools are a slim but heavy gauge pry bar - of the sort used for pulling nails - a heavy hammer and a large standard blade screwdriver. Check the joints between planks and frames visually, looking for gaps or any sign that the plank is not tight against the frame. Then use the screw driver to test the wood for softness on both plank and frame near the mating surface. If the frame is cracked or the wood is soft, one doesn't have to go any further. Soft wood and cracked frames are dangerous conditions that mandate repair.

Broom 33

I was back at Brooms today... the weather was gorgeous for this time of year, really hot. The Broom 33 was intended to strengthen Broom's presence in the seagoing medium-size cruiser market and bridged the gap between their well-reputed river boats and their larger sea-going models. It represented a popular entry level boat in the Fast Offshore Range, although it has since been discontinued for a larger model.

The interior layout could be offered with or without an interior helm, the latter option providing a more spacious saloon. The aft cabin makes the best use of space by fitting the double bed diagonally, and still retains separate shower and WC cabins.

The standard engines for the Broom 33 were twin 100HP Volvo TMD31Bs but as these only gave a top speed of 12 knots the 33 was more typically fitted like this example with the more powerful 180HP or 200HP Volvo TAMD41/A/Bs for offshore cruising.

The Old and the New...saw this nice collection of old boats in the sheds... some of them built by Brooms... and then thier latest flagship the 455 back from the Southampton  Boatshow..

The Navigator Class

Rare Broom Robb

Raisena.. owned by Mr. Broom and raced every year... for the last 79!!

Shadow 26 Motor Cruiser

Todays assigment was at Horning on this this cruiser that was a radical design in its day offering a wide beam for her length together with a large perspex sliding door to the cabin. The open plan cabin is famed for comfortable seating which folds down into berthing. 2 versions of the boat were made. The offshore version had 2 larger petrol engines on outdrives and ths river boat version featured a modification to the hull to allow the installation of a shaft driven single  diesel engine. There was also an option of hard top or a full canopy version.

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

Broads Green Boat Show promotes groundbreaking initiative for hire boats

Boat owners interested in a ground-breaking green initiative for hire boats  will be able to view the first boat in the country to receive green certification at the Broads Green Boat Show on Sunday 25th September 10am-4pm.

Norfolk Broads Direct’s diesel electric hybrid cruiser, ‘Fair Princess’, which is leading the way nationally with the Green Tourism Business Scheme’s new Green Boat Mark, will be exhibited on moorings at Salhouse Broad alongside the GTBS stand.

Stuart Brain, the senior grading assessor for the East of England, will be giving advice on the new initiative which was launched between the GTBS, Broads Authority and Broads Tourism earlier this year. It is available to any hire boat which belongs to a boatyard with GTBS grading and is awarded for hull design, method of propulsion and green information for guests.

The public will have the opportunity to get out on the water in a wide range of craft, from canoes, rowing boats and pedal boats to electric and sailing boats and will be able to watch boating demonstrations. One or two boats may even be for sale.

They will be able to arrive in style by electric water taxi from Granary Staithe Hoveton for a return trip for £7 which includes admission to the show and a 30 minute silent boat trip down the River Bure.

There will be plenty to interest children with the Nutmeg Puppet show ‘Apple Pip’ highlighting environmentally friendly issues at noon and BeWILDerwood’s boggling treasure trail round the broad.

Children will even be able to design and build their own “green boats” from recycled materials and then race them.

There will be a variety of stands promoting green boating including fuel cells, solar panels and wind turbines. A smoothie maker will be operated by pedal-power among the locally sourced refreshments. The Norfolk Broads Concert Band will provide the entertainment.
19/09/11

Discounts are offered if you arrive by public transport, bike, green boat or foot. Moorings and car parking are provided, for which there is a small charge.

The show is organised by Salhouse Broad and Broadland Cycle Hire with support from The Broads Authority.

Broom 36

It was another Survey day at Brooms today. Its been a busy month in Brundall, probably my busiest ever! If you're in the market to buy a boat and you have the means, now may be the absolute best time to get a deal – possibly the best buyer's market in a generation. With sales knocked flat by the economy and many dealers flush with inventory that is expensive to maintain, serious buyers can expect both a substantial price break and a handful of perks if they are willing to put their money down.

The Broom 36 was part of the fast offshore range with a planing hull but without a keel, making it a fast boat for offshore passages but less suitable for inland cruising.

The interior layout makes the most of the limited space with an offset double berth in the aft cabin as well as separate shower and WC cabins. The deck saloon has to double up as the dining area, with steps down to the galley, forward heads and guest V-berth.

Most boats were fitted with twin Volvo's, typically 220HP. This boat had my prefered option the Perkins Sabre M255TI 225HP.

Surveyors comments:

The grease cups for the rudder tubes should be tightened down a couple of turns before each long trip, and the stuffing boxes checked every 100 hrs running. The rudder gland packing is 5/16” x 5/16” Sq. The grease cups for the rudders on nearly all the Broom models are situated below the aft berth. Keep grease cups full of light machine grease.

The propeller shaft glands should be checked every two weeks for leaks. These are situated aft along the propeller shaft behind the drive couplings. These glands are adjustable to stop water coming in, to adjust the glands turn the thin lock nut about 2 turns, then turn the large nut onto the thin nut, then lock it off. The glands should never be over tightened but should be tight enough so as to allow a drip of water to issue from the glands every 60 seconds approximately. If the glands are adjusted to tight this will cause heat and is liable to damage the gland packing.
 

Broom 10/70 Motor Yacht

Todays job was at Brooms Boats in Brundall Surveying this Broom 10/70. This is the second time I have inspected this boat, the last time was over four years ago....

The successor to the Broom European and similarly intended for the continental market, the 10/70 had a solid keel which kept it in a straight line even at a crawling pace, making it ideal for the inland waterways.

Inside the layout is similar to the European, with the galley forward to starboard. The sliding doors from the saloon to the side decks have been deleted allowing for a U-shaped sofa. In the master cabin the twin berths were replaced by a centreline double.

Most boats were fitted with twin Volvo's, ranging from 105HP to 220HP, although a typical configuration was twin Volvo TMD41A (150HP each). Offshore, boat trim was improved by fixed or adjustable trim tabs.


Surveyors comments:

I find the 10/70 to be everything Ive come to expect from a Broom. Well built, well thought out, and an excellent finish, and attractive in a restrained way. Designed for trouble free boating, it does not allow its sensible approach to be compromised by the whims of fashion. It is not the fastest 35 you can buy, nor does it ram in a greater number of berths, but you will be hard put to fault it, and its low air draught means that you will be able to visit the parts that other boats cannot reach…

Hampton Safari Mk II

Today’s assignment was at Anne Whelptons Yard at Upton Dyke near Acle, Norfolk, 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 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

Sealine S28

Had a trip out to Brundall today on the South Broads. The Sealine S28 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 boatsThe accommodation on the S28 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…..

 

Surveyors comment:

After Inspecting dozens of these boats over the years they tend to go through Survey very well. This model was a 1998, this was the year when the RCD was brought in, so its important to check all the boats paperwork with the Yacht Broker prior to purchase.

What is the RCD

The Recreational Craft Directive (RCD) is a trade directive that became law on the 16th June 1996. A two-year introductory period was allowed for and therefore new craft placed on the market after the 16th June 1998 have to comply with the mandatory requirements of the Directive.

NEED HELP! MY CONSULTATION & INSPECTION PACKAGE OFFERED

· To inspect the craft for Essential Safety Requirements (ESR's) and Boat Safety Scheme standards.
· Issue Boat Safety Certificate.
· Supply Declaration (Certificate) of Conformity.
· Advise on Hull Identification Number (HIN) compilation and location.
· HIN registration with RYA or BMF where applicable.
· CE plate supplied and advised marking.
· Consultation and conformity assessment during fitout.
· Compilation of Boat Manual (excluding technical drawings & diagrams).
· Compilation of Technical Construction File (TCF)

Autumn Passage Regatta

Had another fantastic Regatta at Hickling Broad with lots of old friends and lots of old boats...

Charlie and Churchie

Chic... lovely Edwardian Half Decker

Me at the Helm!

Perfect evening.....

Getting ready for the 2 hour race down to Potter...

Ross in one of his many hats!

On our way back....