Mediterranean 38ft River Cruiser

Today’s assignment was to carry out a Structural Survey on this Mediterranean 38ft River Cruiser. Back in the 1970's this Mediterranean 38 was the ultimate in relaxed luxury cruising. 

Unfortunately last winter a hose fitted to the shower pump froze and burst and she partially sank. She was lifted the next day, the repair carried out and she was refloated. Her structure was still remarkably good in general, and it is considered that she is well worthy of refitting. 

Surveyors Comments:

 The ideal bilge pump arrangement is a small (400 gph) automatic bilge pump mounted in the sump to dispense with rain and shaft-gland leakage, combined with a high capacity pump (2,500 gph) mounted higher to deal with more serious ingress. Stepping the discharge hose from the small pump down to ½” minimises the backflow from the hose when the pump cycles, maintaining a dryer bilge. The large pump can be wired to a float switch if you prefer, but I think a manual switch makes more sense. An added advantage of this bilge pump configuration is that the high-capacity pump sits high and dry, extending its life indefinitely.

Electric bilge pumps cannot be relied upon in emergencies when electrical power may not be available. Always carry a hand operated pump to cover the worst eventuality.

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

Broads Authority's pioneering plan to extend commercial reed beds

The Broads Authority has announced a pioneering plan to increase the area of Broads reed beds used for commercial cutting in order to address the decline in this ancient industry.

Currently there are just 19 commercial reed cutters on the Broads. Now the Authority is to survey all Broads reed beds with a view to extending the areas cut and bringing neglected beds back into production.

Andrea Kelly, the Authority’s senior ecologist, said: “We know there are almost 2000 hectares of open fen on the Broads and, with the help of landowners, our aim is to extend commercial reed beds from 15% to 25%.

“We all know the government is expecting society to find other ways to pay for conservation management. This plan will help to put land management on a sustainable footing.”

She said landowners, who would still have a duty to manage protected sites had already been very positive about the initiative and were beginning to employ the local cutters to undertake all sorts of wetland work.

The Broads Authority has already trained new reed cutters through a Heritage Lottery funded scheme and addressed the issue of availability of work by providing them with scrub clearance contracts outside the cutting season.  Efforts will also be made to expand the market by looking for opportunities to sell lower-grade reed for thatching outbuildings.

Gary Elliott, 43, a reed cutter for 20 years, has been appointed to carry out the reed bed survey.  He will be contacting about 60 landowners and visiting sites around the Broads to assess the quantity and quality of reed.

He will be checking the viability of sites for expansion, looking at issues such as access and how easy it would be to remove the reed. On reed beds which have partly turned to scrub, he will be estimating how costly it would be to restore them to a commercial quality.

 Mr Elliott said: “We can see a future for living and working on the Broads now whereas before there did not appear to be any future.”

He said while 75% of reed is currently imported from places as far afield as China and the Ukraine, there is “quality assurance” in the case of reed cut locally.

“There is a link between the cutter, thatcher and householder. Sometimes we might be supplying reed to a house in our village so we are not going to be giving them poor quality reed,” he said.

His optimism is shared by Paul Eldridge, 31, and Rowan Nichols, 29, who represent a new breed of reed cutters having entered the industry five years ago on the Broads Authority’s training scheme.

Mr Eldridge said: “Every thatcher we have supplied was previously having to import reed and they are very excited to have English reed again. Their customers are also delighted to find that the reed has been cut locally.”

Broads Reed and Sedge Cutters Association chairman Richard Starling, 60, praised the Broads Authority’s new initiative which he saw as a way of “reconnecting conservation with sustainable management again”.

He said: “At the moment, thatchers have little choice but to use imported reed owing to the limited availability of UK reed. Sadly, traditional and sustainable reed bed management ceased on many sites in favour of rotational cutting and burning.
“Other issues impacting on production include access problems, changing water level regimes, the widening of dykes resulting in excessive areas of spoil and scrub encroachment.”

 “There are several thousand hectares of reed beds throughout the UK but I understand that it is only in the Broads where there is a desire to encourage further commercial participation in reed bed management. If other parts of the country followed the Broads Authority’s lead we would be less reliant on imported reed. “

Broom Commander

I was back down at Bells Marine in Brundall today Surveying this Broom Commander River Boat. I think she is one of only three built by Brooms, very rare, and moulded by Bourne Plastics. Fitted out by Brooms Boats in 1975 and powered by a Perkins 4.108 diesel engine.

Bell Boats Ltd is an established family run business (for over 60 years) and offers a wide range of services for the boat owner permanently or temporarily based in Norfolk.

A very comfortable family river cruiser

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

The acting Yacht Broker today was Jim Cole of Pedro Boats (UK), based in Norfolk, and he specialises in the sale of new and used Pedro Dutch steel motor cruisers from 30 - 44 ft. He has 40 years marine experience, with Jim Cole being the longest established yacht broker in Norfolk. Pedro Boats (UK), are the UK distributor for the complete Pedro range of luxury dutch steel motor boats and are also able to offer pre-owned and brokerage boats.

Freeman 22 Mk II

I had a trip to Potter Heigham today and Patrick Richardsons Yard to Survey this little Motor Cruiser. One of the earliest production GRP motor cruisers! The Freeman 22 was launched in 1957 by John Freeman of Hinckley, Lestershire. They became one of the major motor cruiser builders of the 60’s and 70’s with a reputation for smart boats. In 1964 the 22 was modified to give increased headroom forward with a distinct step in the deck line. This example has the step, and was built in 1969. Over 1500 22’s were built up to 1970, when the boat was superseded by the Freeman 23.

The Freeman Cruiser 22 offered luxury classic cruising for its time. Based on the Freeman Caravans it is the original 'caravan afloat'!

The boats were fitted with 35HP Ford Watermota petrol engines or 50HP Perkins diesels, with speeds up to 9 or 10 knots.... this one has the petrol engine.

The boat has 4 berths in a layout which is basically open plan but it can be divided into two cabins by opening the hanging locker door out across the boat

Surveyors comments:
The fore decks delaminate and become spongy under foot. This is common on the older ones. Many owners of the older Broads Boats will elect to repair the deck core without removing the deck skin. On smaller areas especially this will be the case. Sometimes, though, the glass skin is just too difficult to remove, or, it's an old boat, like this one, and you just don't want to expend the time and effort. It's possible in these cases to perforate the outer skin with drilled holes, dry the area underneath, and then inject with penetrating epoxy sealer/resin or foam, and then close the holes with epoxy filler.

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
 

Reedham Ferry

I had a trip to Newsons Boat Yard in Lowestoft today. The yard are carrying out the 3 yearly MCA inspection and remedial works on the Reedham Ferry and asked me along to take some ultrasound thickness readings on the steel ballast tanks.

The Reedham Ferry is a vehicular chain ferry which crosses the River Yare in Norfolk. It crosses the river near the village of Reedham, forming the only crossing point between the city of Norwich and Great Yarmouth and saving users a journey of more than 30 miles. The current ferry was built in 1984, was designed and built at Oulton Broad by the late Fred Newson & the present owner. The ferry can carry up to 3 cars at a time and can carry a maximum weight of 12 tonnes. There has been a crossing at Reedham since the early 17th Century. The original ferry was called Norfolk Horse Ferries UNDER STABLE the horse drawn vehicles were the main users of the ferry boat. The Archers came to Reedham Ferry early in 1949 and proud to boast they are still here now after 3 generations. The ferry boat in 1949 was still being hand-wound across the river yare until early 1950 when the ferry became motorised.
 

The steel ballast tanks being measured for thickness

Going back a few years!!

Bounty 27 Motor Cruiser

Today’s Survey was on one of this ex hire boat down at Whispering Reeds Boatyard on Hickling Broad.

Such had been the success of the MK I Bounty Elysian, that in around 1981 a new hull and superstructure was developed and the “New Elysian 27”, also known as the 27 Aft Cockpit (AC) MK II was launched.
Two layouts were offered. The first was a 4 berth, on similar lines to the MK I, though the fridge had been relocated into the cabin. This was built either with a full bulkhead divide between the two cabins as before, or often as an open plan layout with curtain divide. The second layout was purely a 2 berth and had a larger bathroom as you entered the cabin, galley opposite and then a small seating/dining area ahead. Located into the bow was a fixed double, with storage/vanity unit opposite. A hard top version was also produced, known as the Bounty 27 ACH, this had taller windscreens, a fixed roof & glass sides over part of the rear cockpit, and had some success on waterways where the increased height was not too restricting.

Bounty Boats History : Bounty Boats was formed by Mike Brister, and in 1968 was sold to Peter Brown. At the time the company was a small hirefleet of assorted craft, based at Brundall on the Norfolk Broads. In 1972 Bounty Boats went into production with their first model - the Buccaneer 37. At the time the boating scene had been changing quickly due to the rapid developments in fibreglass craft. A few years earlier, in 1966 Frank Wilds had launched his 39ft single level ‘bathtub’ design with great success, but his reluctance to sell them to others led to Bounty Boats, together with Stan Bruckshaw of Solar Marine to design and manufacture their own updated and improved interpretation.

The guys at Whispering Reeds Boatyard hauling her out for her inspection

Surveyors comments:

Have you considered how you would escape in the event of a cabin fire? An alternative to a purpose built hatch is a suitably-sized window, but remember, if the window is not capable of being opened, a safe means to break it must be kept nearby. Always consider your escape routes and plan for the worst, even if you may never need to use them. It's better to be safe than sorry!

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

Fairline Carrera Sports Cruiser

Today’s assignment was at Norfolk Yacht Agency in Horning on the Northern Broads. Very cold this morning, and the basin was full of ice about 1” thick. Tough work for the Brokers this time of year. The Fairline Carrera was designed by John Bennett. Fairline Boats is based at Oundle and has long been a manufacturer of luxury craft. They now concentrate mainly on craft too large for the Broads, but previously Fairline produced a number of popular smaller craft, many of which are still to be found on the Norfolk Broads. Build quality is excellent, and in my experience the hulls on the Fairline boats are nearly always blister free with no signs of osmosis.

200HP Volvo petrol engine in this boat.

Jason from Norfolk Yacht Agency breaking the ice!

Ice broken... now a 'tug' around to the crane...

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

Doral Venezia Sports Cruiser

I had the pleasure of Surveying this sports cruiser today down at Freshwater Cruisers in Brundall on the South Broads. Built in Canada, its an unusual boat to see here on the inland water ways, looking through my files I have only Surveyed two over the last ten years.
 
Doral History: At the end of the 90's, Doral International is now a company doing business in more than 25 countries across the world. Doral is now a major and challenging player in the Sport and Cruiser boat industry.

The Venezia is the only cruiser of its size to offer a 9.4' beam for greater stability.

The Doral Venezia is offered in both single and twin engine configurations, with an option to add a generator. This  boat was equipped with a single Volvo 5.7-litre sterndrive, with 320 horsepower!

An agile sport cruiser with the sleek beauty for which the company has made a name for
itself.

Excellent new hoist at Freshwater Cruisers

The guys at Freshwater Cruisers have pride in their work, and if you want your old boat painting to give it a fresh look, this is the place to go…… gelcoat… paint!  I couldn’t tell… you decide!

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