Alpha 29 Sportsbridge

Today’s assignment was to Survey for pre-purchase this unusual looking Broads Cruiser. The Alpha 29 Sportsbridge, I think about 20 were built and are available in a number of versions with different windows, either above or below the deck line. Usually outfitted as a two/four berth with two double cabins below the cockpit and a large saloon in the bows.

The vessel also benefits from a hinged arch allowing passage under all the low bridges.

Alphcraft from Brundall on the South Broads certainly built the superstructure, but according to a close friend of mine the hulls were shipped in from Colvic ( Colvic Sunquest 29). Any more info on this would be appreciated

 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

Horsey Mere Open Regatta

Horsey Mere Open Regatta will be held on the weekend 11th and 12th of May. We are not sure when the last open regatta was held on Horsey Broad....maybe 80 odd years ago! Any information would be helpful at steventruss1@aol.com

The Regatta will comprise of 5 allcomer races(1 discard). Entry fee is £20 per boat, this will cover race entry and overnight mooring fee and hopefully a keg of ale.

The regatta is intended to be of a similar ilk as HBVOR or the MBA passage race.

 

Consultancy Opportunities - Trees Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas

Consultancy Opportunities

Trees, Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas

The Broads Authority is looking for consultant(s) to assist with the determining of applications made to the Planning Service and to provide pre-application advice, management advice and guidelines relating to Tree preservation orders and consideration of applications for work to trees on private land and works relating to historic buildings and affecting conservation areas.
Consultants are invited to apply for further information on the scope of the works and tendering process by emailing:

planning@broads-authority.gov.uk

Next Weeks Surveys and Blogging...

Well its nearly March and the boating season is around the corner. Works still coming in considering its still so cold out there! I must admit though its not like the last few years, id already be turning work away this time of year, so I think this long recession is slowly catching up with all of us. I went around quite a few boatyards yesterday and some of the work they would usually be doing this time of year (servicing, painting, varnishing) is just not happening. The smaller boat sales are also slow indicating that the normal guy in the street is keeping hold of what money he has. Big boats are selling as normal.....It will be interesting to see how things pan out later this year….

Featured Surveys for the BLOG next week will be:


　

                              
                                 This Shetland 27 2008 at Norfolk Yacht Agency Horning.

                                           This Sealine 328 and Alpha 29 in Brundall.

　

 

This little Westerly Pageant 23 Yacht at Neil Thompson’s Yard in Gladford, North Norfolk.

An Ocean 42 called Calib at Lowestoft Boat Sales at Haven Marina.

　

　

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

Dawncraft Illusive 37

 

I had a day at Johns Yard at Wayford Bridge Marina yesterday. This lady is the largest of the Dawncraft marques, and was used in several of the hire fleets for a few year, but was not popular because it could not navigate a number of the Broadland bridges. There are still a few around in private ownership. The white one at the bottom of this page is ‘Illusive Dawn’ and belongs to my Surveyor friend Garry Holmes and is the twin engine version… up for sale at around 40K. Speak to John at Wayford Brideg anyone interested, its on his Brokerage.

This one today has the 90HP Ford diesel......

Not sure how true, but I did hear a story about two that were built by Dawncraft and fitted out by John Clabburn. These were ordered by the Pakistani Navy and shipped out on a container ship. Unfortunately the crane gave way in the dock and both boats were destroyed and written off.

Production years were 1977-80.

Dimensions:
Length: 37ft ( 11.28m)
Beam: 11ft 6ins ( 3.51m) 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

Humber Rib

I had to Survey this Rib for the local Police Station last week. (Broads Beat).

When you research Ribs its amazing how many hull designs and types are available - medium-vee, stepped, deep-vee and even catamaran. This one has a genuine deep-vee hull and was built by the well known Humber Yard and aims to combine the benefits of performance and sea-keeping in one neat package. A deep-vee hull is well suited to owners seeking a stand-alone craft that can handle short-distance excursions along with longer, coastal or even offshore journeying.

Surveyors comments

The rubber buoyancy tubes should be checked for major repairs, patches and repair work.A check for previous repairs to the tube attachment and collar should be made, usually spotted by glue stains. Particularly check at the seam at the bow, along each underside of the hull, the transom seams and the joining of the stern tube cones. The Rib would usually have a minimum of five independent air chambers. Its difficult to check the condition of the baffles (the divisions between the air chambers) due to restrictions. If the tubes are low on pressure, I suggest you do a test and deflate one tube at a time and inflate the other to a normal working pressure, 1.5 to 3.0 psi. Press your ear against the tube you should be able to hear any leakage of air from one chamber to another.

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

Princess 330

I carried out a Pre-purchase inspection on this Classic TSMY yesterday in Horrning on the Northern Broads.
The Princess 330 is a quality flybridge motor yacht designed by Bernard Oleninski and built by Marine Projects.
 

With their muscular deep V hulls, clean flowing lines and fine proportions, Princess yachts are the epitome of great design

CHECK OUT THE LATEST MODELS AT: http://www.princessyachts.com/

 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

Green Boat Show is Broads festival finale

The 8th Broads Green Boat and Tourism Show will form the finale of the Broads Outdoors Festival on Sunday 19th May and exhibitors are invited to sign up for the big day.

The show at Salhouse Broad is the only boat show in the UK that promotes low impact and sustainable boating and tourism. It aims to showcase emerging technologies and promote those businesses which are making an effort to ‘green up’.

A major attraction of the show is the opportunity to get out on the water in the wide variety of environmentally friendly boats on show. There will be free boat trips available on electric boats such as the Broads Authority’s Liana and Charles Collier as well as free canoeing tasters and skippered sailing on a traditional Hunter yacht.

Exhibitors include the Electric Boat Association, The Little Blue Boat, star of a new children’s book about the Broads, Broadland District Council Energy Bus, Fairhaven Gardens, Burnt Fen Alpacas, Powercell, the Broads Canoe Hire Association, Broadland Cycle Hire, The Broads Authority, Nancy Oldfield Trust, Hunter’s Fleet, Broads Spirituality and the Wherry Yacht Charitable Charter Trust.

Anyone wishing to take a stand at the show, on or off the water, should visit www.greenboatandtourismshow.co.uk and complete the booking form for exhibitors. Alternatively contact Tobi Baker by email: tbaker@salhousebroad.org.uk or by calling 01603 722775 or 07795 145475.

Follow the show on twitter (@greenboatshow) and Facebook (The Broads Green Boat & Tourism Show).

Westerly Nomad Yacht

Yesterdays assignment was a visit to Coxes Boatyard at Barton Turf- on the Northern Broads to Survey this little Yacht for Insurance purposes.

Westerly built their very first yacht in 1963; she was the Westerly 22. In 1966 they produced a different upper moulding that extended the cabin forwards, and renamed her ‘Nomad’. The extra internal volume provided enough space for the hull to be divided into two cabins, the forward one with two berths and the main cabin with two inward facing settee berths. Her galley at the forward end of the main cabin had a stove to port and a basin to starboard. She had a separate head and a proper hanging locker. Instead of keeping her gunter rig, she was given a taller mast for a Bermudan mainsail. Her hydrofoil twin keels, plus a substantial skeg forward of her spade rudder, made her suitable for taking the ground at half-tide moorings. I think I'm right in saying buyers of new boats had the option of equipping their yacht with an inboard diesel engine or an outboard, mounted in a well sited in the cockpit.

Coxes Boatyard is going through a substantial re -modernising programme this year.

They undertake all types of repairs, including engine and mechanical repairs, hull and decking repairs (wood and GRP), rigging, interior fittings and upholstery, glazing and electrics.

If you would like to talk with them contact Eric Bishop the Manager.

Wooden Boats
They have a wealth of experience in repairing and maintaining vintage sailing cruisers and classic wooden motor cruisers. In fact, their workshops still have their original soil floors, essential to ensure the correct moisture level so that the timbers of the boat do not dry out whilst under repair.You can be sure that your boat will be in safe hands and that the work undertaken will be to the highest standard, using only the best materials and traditional methods.

GRP and Modern Designs
You'll be pleased to know that they also have a great deal of experience working with modern boat designs. They are also experienced in working with electric and solar-powered boats, luxury power boats, and large cruisers. Whether the work is a cosmetic GRP repair, routine engine maintenance, or even just a change of upholstery, they have the expertise and experience to deliver a great service.

Routine Maintenance
They also undertake the full routine maintenance of your boat. Whether it's a full pre-season service, anti-foul and polishing, or end of season winterisation.

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 

Nauticat Ketch Mk II

I had an interesting day at Haven Marina in Lowestoft on Friday Surveying this Nauticat 33 Ketch for Pre-purchase. It was noted that part of the skeg had broken off once she was lifted out of the water for inspection. It appears that she went aground briefly on a sand bank at some stage last year. A repair plan and some costs were quickly put together at Haven Marina so the sale of the boat could move forwards.

Another Nauticatt 33 was in the sheds at Maritime Support Ltd at Haven, so an exact mould will be taken from this skeg (see image below). This will then be scarffed into place and secured with steel straps (housed in), and ‘thu bolted’ and fiberglass encapsulated. The rudder will also be removed and the rudder gland checked and repacked.

 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