Fairline Mirage 29

Today’s assignment was to inspect this Fairline Mirage 29 for Pre-purchase at Norfolk Yacht Agency in Brundall on the South Broads.

In an 11-year production run, from 1975 to 1986, Fairline Boats produced 528 Fairline Mirage 29’s. The boat was designed by John Bennet.

These boats always Survey well. The hulls are moulded to a high standard. They come with quite a few different engine packages, single petrol, twin, or diesel. They were also made as an aft cabin as well as aft cockpit, a late, aft cabin version commands a premium price in the UK.

 

 

There is accommodation for five-two in a forward cabin and three in the saloon, which has a dinette convertible into a double berth and a settee-cum single berth.

The helm position is in a wheelhouse open to a small aft cockpit, which has a settee that can be pulled out to form a sunbed. The hull is medium vee with a shallow 3/4 length keel.

The most popular of a large range of Volvo engine options -single or twin. Also they offered a pair of 140HP petrol engines, giving 26 to 29 knots.

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

 

Grand Banks 42 classic

Sealine 310 Ambassador

I had a day at St Olaves and Anglia Yacht Brokers yesterday Surveying this Sealine Sports Cruiser.
They are a family run business and can advise on purchasing, selling, using, maintaining and part exchanging your boat. They are situated on the Norfolk Broads, close to the coast, just South of Gt Yarmouth on the A143, so finding them is easy. They are based on a huge site with a large and varied selection of boats on display for sale.

The hulls always Survey well. I'm yet to see one with any osmotic defects. Good ones don’t hang around with the Brokers very long.

The natural curved styling of the 310 presents a sports cruiser of performance. The eye catching design and powerful twin engines are just two of the features of these sort after craft.

The interior has a generous amount of space for a 4 + 2 berth accommodation. The large cockpit and triple helm seat are typical sporty.

 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

Grand Banks 42 trip

Ripplecraft Broadland Cruiser

I was looking forward to this morning. An Insurance Survey and Valuation and a visit to Belaugh Boats. A yard well known for their quality workmanship. There’s only a handful of yards left on the Broads with this type of experience when it comes to renovating classic wooden boats. They have big plans for the years ahead with a new team... watch this space!
This was the boat in question today.... just take a look.

In the1950s and 60s, Ripplecraft produced a fleet of very distinctive craft. Most were centre cockpit with a raised bow. There are still several around on the Norfolk Broads as private craft. ‘Broadland Lapwing’ is one of these vessels and is now almost at the end of a very expensive and substantial refitting programme which has been ongoing for the past eight years. There has been full assistance from Belaugh Boats who have un-doubtably employed some very good craftsmen over the years, who have reconstructed the vessel as something of a prestigious Motor Boat.
Simply stunning. You wont miss her out on the river.... and if you get a chance step on-board and check out the quality. Must be one of the best. Here is what she looked like before!

Haines Bure 36

It was nice to have a morning in Horning on this reasonably new boat today. This Haines Bure 36 Broads River Cruiser was being sold through Norfolk Yacht Agency.

Built on the Alpha craft hull. This model is very similar to the 34ft version, but with the addition of a bathing platform across the transom adding to the length. Well known local builder Haines Marine from Catfield fitted this one out. They obviously employ some very skilled craftsman as this one was fitted out as a kind of prestigious luxury liner with just two berths.

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


 

 

Restoration of the Grand Banks Classic 42

Wow.. how time fly's.. it only seems like yesterday when I was building my Harley in the front room. 

http://loboybobberbuild2010.blogspot.co.uk/

I'm going to BLOG the restoration of my Grand Banks this winter. Not everyone's 'cup of tea' I know, but when I was looking at buying one of these old girls any information I could find on the 'net' really helped when it came to detail.

Im not going to rip her to bits because generally for her age she's in good shape. I'm hoping not to touch the bottom or the decks which are the largest area's, and I believe sound and watertight! 'Teak decks watertight' I hear you say! Yep.. a miracle I know lol. I guess the old owner maintained these well... the boat was in Scotland for years, and I guess with the weather up there she had to hold out.

Ill be concentrating on the top more than anything else, plywood construction generally, some of which is rotten, around windows, parts of the coachroofs, upper deck etc. You can soon spot these defects by simply tapping with your knuckles around any vulnerable areas.  Im going to run some teak deck across the upper deck too, as this areas a little bland.

Inside im having the saloon upholstery refurbished. Ill turn some of the cushions around, relay the piping and have new foam fitted. They all look good in this pic but when you get close there's lots of old repairs and damage.

I guess some curtains or blinds as well but other than that the inside is totally original and im going to leave well alone.

The engine rooms fab! My favourite space... must get that from my Navy days when id spend months on end in the engine and boiler rooms. The engines proved themselves on the trip from Inverness. They are pretty dam perfect.. so apart from winterising not much else. I'm tempted on getting the rocker boxes chromed but we will see.

The fuel tanks will need descaling and ive got some rust killer... I will then repaint them with something anti corrosive! Im guessing in a few years time I might be replacing one of them!

Electrics, ill be calling in a few mates to help me on this one. I guess another battery, generator charging, a new trickle charger etc. Ill probably have two banks of deep cycle batteries, each with at least the necessary cold-cranking amps to start the engines. These two banks can then be alternated for domestics use. This provides greater overall capacity and versatility. I want to live on this old girl next summer so I want lots of power, and no embarrassing moments when I turn the ignition keys!!

 

Somehow she has a BSS certificate for use on inland waters. Handy... because I need this on the Broads. Looking around the fuel and gas systems though I just scratch my head!... this MOT for boats was definitely bought in the pub! Its valid for 2 more years so that will give me time to sort out the following!! Fuel pipes, fuel filters, tank drains, fuel tank vents, gas locker construction... the list goes on...!!

 

After this lot its just colour schemes. I'm going for black and charcoal for covers and dodgers. I will oil all the Teak. Black antifoul with a boot stripe in green.. same as on my Rebel. (looks good with varnish). Then the top will be as all Grand Banks... WHITE.

 

O yea...Jonathon Greenwood boat builder extraordinaire is building me a classic pram dingy to go on the aft coachroof. Yum!

 

 

 

 

 

 

DIY Electrics!

Interesting Survey this morning…. An owner who has obviously carried out lots of his own electrical work. Even with the Boat Safety Scheme in place it cant stop owners carrying out their own works during the 4 year test period. It does make you wonder whether the boats on inland waters should be BSS tested annually! Maybe the rules they have now with houses should be mirrored for boats. I think I am right in saying that some one with experience of electrical wiring can do the wiring in a house, but it has to be fully tested and passed by a qualified electrician, who can give you a certificate.

Saying that I guess no Sparks in his right mind would sign off work done by others he didn’t know. Scary stuff….

 

There's an inverter under that lot somewhere

Nicely secured warm air diesel heater.... wired direct!

Warm air heater exhaust... these baby's get red hot...

Interesting....

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

 

Over £4,000 donated by visitors to the Broads

Barn owls, cyclists, and visitors to Carlton and Oulton Marshes in Suffolk are set to benefit from the inspirational Love the Broads visitor giving scheme which has just celebrated its first anniversary.

Over £4,000 donated by visitors is being given to projects which will benefit wildlife and the visitor experience in the Broads.
•    £2,000 will fund 20 new barn owl boxes which will help to increase the barn owl population of the Broads.
•    £750 is being given to the  Broads Bike Hire Association to improve cycle route signage in the quiet lanes of the northern Broads linking in with www.thebroadsbybike.org.uk
•    Waveney River Centre is giving £1,500 to Suffolk Wildlife Trust from its donations to improve access on an all-weather circular footpath around the Carlton and Oulton  Marshes nature reserve.

The projects were chosen from a shortlist of 5 by an independent panel.

Love the Broads has seen a rapid increase in the number of businesses involved in the scheme over the past year with 38 businesses now signed up.  
They can choose to raise funds by adding a voluntary donation of £1 on every booking, whether for a boat, accommodation or cycle hire, add a small surcharge on the purchase price of merchandise and collect money by selling Love the Broads badges.
Three of the companies - Norfolk Broads Direct, Richardson’s and Maycraft - are putting stickers on all of their cruisers and day hire boats encouraging visitors to donate by text or online.


A survey of Broads’ visitors suggested that 71% of them would be prepared to donate a small amount to help conservation.

Chris Haycock, of the Broads Bike Hire Association, said “We are delighted to receive a small grant from Love the Broads to enable us to erect cycle route signage which will help visitors who are exploring the area using the Broads by Bike booklet.  The generosity of our visitors is greatly valued.”
Christine Luxton of Suffolk Wildlife Trust said: “Our grant from Love the Broads is great news for local people and visitors, enabling us to improve the popular all-weather path at Carlton Marshes nature reserve.  The funding has been made possible by visitors’ donations at Waveney River Centre and we are delighted to have their support.”
Nick Barne, Chairman of the Norfolk & Suffolk Broads Charitable Trust said “With the wonderful help of our tourism businesses, the Trust is very pleased to have the opportunity to be able to provide a small grant to some excellent projects which will benefit conservation, tourism and local communities.   If every visitor donated just £1, we would raise over £7m a year to help the Broads”.
Love the Broads scheme was set up by the Norfolk & Suffolk Broads Charitable Trust and the Broads Authority with the aim of raising money for projects which protect, preserve and enhance the Broads and which will have a positive impact on local communities and visitors. 

The project has received money from the European Regional Development fund through the STEP project which promotes sustainable tourism in estuary parks and is also supported by a grant from the Norfolk Coast and Broads Rural Development Programme which is funded by Defra and the EU.

Follow us on Twitter: @LovetheBroads         Facebook: www.facebook.com/lovethebroads
For information on Love the Broads, to donate to this exciting initiative or for business sign up go to:
www.lovethebroads.org.uk

Horsey Regatta 2013