Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 439 performance Boat for Survey

Todays Pre-Purchase Marine Survey Assignment was in Cleopatra Marina in Preveza. This lightly used and professionally maintained yacht was a testament to its owners,

The Sun Odyssey 439’s hull is solid, hand-laid fiberglass, while the deck incorporates a balsa core and is fabricated using Jeanneau’s proprietary Prisma injection-molding process. This technique allows Jeanneau to closely monitor the amount of resin going into the fabrication, which results in an excellent strength-to-weight ratio.

A fiberglass grid set into the lower part of the hull helps accommodate rig and keel loads under sail, and supports cabinetry, the cabin sole and other belowdecks structures. The single rudder is fabricated with a composite stock, and 1x19 stainless steel shrouds and a manually adjustable split backstay support the double-spreader deck-stepped mast. Chainplates are inboard, alongside the low cabintrunk.

Yacht Survey in Kalida Athens

Today's Survey assignment was this 'Sellers Marine Survey' on this 5 year old Home Built Aluminium Yacht. She is also up for sale! 

The immersed hull was of welded 8mm aluminium. She had a raked stem, counter transom stern with a deep draft ballasted keel extending aft to form the rudder and skeg. The hull plates were internally stiffened via welded frames spaced at approximately 800mm centres along with various bulkheads welded amidships forward and aft. The superstructure was of a similar construction in 6 and 5mm aluminium. 

Surveyors comments: Notes regarding ‘Home Built Vessels’ and CE exemptions. The Recreational Craft Directive is a European Union directive which sets out minimum technical, safety and environmental standards for boats, personal watercraft, marine engines and components in Europe. It covers boats built between 2.5 and 24m, personal watercraft, engines and a number of components built since 1998. It ensures their suitability for sale and use in Europe. As in this case with, under the above directive she is recognised as a ‘Home Completed Craft’ and therefore is covered by the ‘five year rule’. 

Vessels built prior to July 1998 do not have to adhere to the requirements of the Recreational Craft Directive. To meet the ‘home build exemption’ the boat must have been used exclusively, as a recreation craft, by the builder and not further placed on the market for at least 5 years.  

Drop me an email at steventruss1@aol.com for any more information. 

 

UK Yacht Surveyors and Marine Surveyors operating in Leros. Need an Insurance Survey?

Just a heads up! I am heading back to Leros in the Aegean from April the 16th 2022 carrying out a number of Yacht Surveys.  

If you have found a Yacht in Leros and want help with the purchase do not hesitate to contact me. Maybe you need an Insurance for the new season 2022!

steventruss1@aol.com

Yacht Surveyors Greece and Electric Inspections on Older Yachts!

I always go back to my Boat Safety Scheme Training when it comes to electrics on older Yachts. Cables can overheat if the cabling on your boat is not sufficient to carry the current. To minimise this risk the cables must be capable of carrying the current and be of the right construction and grade. New electrical installations must use multi-stranded conductors, since solid conductors can easily break where there is high vibration or repeated flexing of a cable.

Fuel, water, heat, oils and other chemicals can all cause damage to your cables, reducing the effectiveness of the insulation and increasing the risk of cables overheating - which could cause them to short-circuit, spark and start a fire. Exposed 240V wiring (see image) can also give people on your boat an electric shock. To reduce these risks all cables must be properly insulated and/or sheathed with a resistant material.

To prevent damage caused by vibration, cables must be securely fixed at approximately 300mm (12ins) intervals, or run in a pipe or trunking which is adequately supported. Also, to reduce the chance of damage to the cables, they must be kept away from other heat sources such as exhaust outlets, cookers and stoves.

Cylinder valves, regulators and other components in the lockers can be damaged if boating equipment, such as mooring pins, are thrown in. Damaged gas components could quickly leak, leading to a serious fire or explosion potentially. To minimise the risk of this happening cylinder lockers must have a lid or cover to protect the cylinders, low pressure regulators and associated equipment from mechanical damage. Note: This was from a Survey last week with the gas cylinder stowed next to the winch solenoid..... these things spark!

If you have electrical devices fitted in a compartment containing gas or petrol there's a danger of the flammable gases being ignited by hot components or electrical discharges and causing a fire or an explosion. To minimise the risk of this happening the electrical devices must be ignition-protected to meet BS EN 28846.

Another Yacht from last weeks assignment's. To minimise the risk of damage to cables, and to allow a visual inspection of the installation, main circuits must be installed above bilge water level. Bilge water level can usually be determined by the presence of a 'tidemark', the position of the bilge pump or its inlet, or the level at which the float switch is set. 

Thinking about buying a Yacht in Greece and need Help? Drop me an email today. 

A rapid response – quotations within the same day… often within the hour!

Thinking of buying a Yacht in Greece?

Welcome. I have been Surveying boats since 1995. By 2021 I have completed over 3700 surveys, which includes 100's of types of sail and power boats. With many years of experience representing the interests of both Purchasers and Vendors, the problems which may arise in the process of purchasing a vessel are fully understood. 

Office: +30 2273022036.

WhatsApp: +44 7407705579.

Email: info@yachtsurveysgreece.com  steventruss1@aol.com 

Web: http://www.yachtsurveysgreece.com/

Blog: https://steve-insightmarinesurveyor.blogspot.com/

1998 Beneteau 50 Yacht for Survey in Preveza

Todays Inspection was this Pre-Purchase Survey and Valuation on this 1998 Beneteau 50 Cruiser.

Construction and What to Look For

The inboard mounted chain plates secure to tie rods down below to the hull. Beneteau mass produces these at their Marion, South Carolina factory and balances quality and cost. They use fiberglass liners to stiffen the hull. The hull is solid glass with a balsa cored deck. The hull-deck joint is the quality bulwark style. The mast is keel stepped enclosed below in a wood cover. The keel is external cast iron. For private owners, Beneteau made an owner’s version. This owner’s version has a single head and stateroom forward instead of the port starboard berths with forward heads. This layout is more attractive for cruising with a family – not to mention these version are non-chartered yachts.

History

Benjamin’s grandchildren Annette Beneteau Roux and Andre Beneteau started building fiberglass sailboats. In 1976, Andre Mauric designed 30-footer that kicks off their successful First series. These First series were great, quality offshore-able boats. In 1986, Beneteau opened a factory in Marion, South Carolina to build boats for the USA. Here, Beneteau started to focus more on quantity and the charter trade. In four years, they built 1,000 boats at the SC factory. In 14 years, they produced 3,500 yachts at the factory. One of the most success production-charter yachts they developed was the 50 Beneteau. This prolific Bruce Farr design has been the queen of Mooring’s charter fleet for over decade. Today, Madame Annette Beneteau Roux continues run Beneteau Yachts and focus on charter production.

Thinking of buying a boat in Greece? Need any Help? 

Yacht Surveyors and Consultants operating in Greece, Lefkada, Preveza

 Just a 'heads up' for readers. I will be in Preveza for the whole month of October 2021 carrying out a number of inspections, so please email me if your looking at Yachts in the Ionian islands, Lefkada etc.