Sea Ray Sundancer Sports Cruiser

On Friday I Surveyed another Sea Ray Sports Cruiser. This one the Sundancer 1997 model at Norfolk Boat Sales in Wroxham for Pre-Purchase.

Like all Sundancers, the look of the Sea Ray 330 is based on a design theme established for the company’s express cruisers in the early ’90s. The lines are flowing and smooth, avoiding the overly round or bulbous look of some express cruisers of the era. Sea Ray had a hit and stuck to it faithfully.

Just back from our test run across Wroxham Broad.This feels like a sport boat. It turns very well at speed, heeling over noticeably but hanging on through a tight turn.

This boat came from the States without its original Mercruiser petrol engines and the owner had these two 200HP Nanni diesels fitted giving up to 30 Knots in power.

The buyers of this boat said one of the features that drew them to the 330 was the layout of the cockpit and it’s easy to see why when stepping aboard. Not only are the fore and aft facing seats great for entertaining, but the aft facing seat also has storage in the back and base. The battery switches are tucked away in here as well, making them more accessible than in the engine compartment.

Surveyors comments: If you search online for an ‘express cruiser” it’s more than likely a picture or a boat-for-sale listing of a Sea Ray Sundancer is going to pop up due to their popularity, longevity and high build numbers.

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 to take on responsibility for Breydon Water

The Broads Authority and Great Yarmouth Port Company have reached agreement on the transfer of responsibility for navigation in Breydon Water and the Lower Bure.

Breydon Water and the lower parts of the River Bure are within the Broads Authority’s boundary. However, when the Authority was established in 1989, responsibility for the navigation for this area stayed with the Great Yarmouth Port Authority which now delegates most of its day to day responsibilities to the Great Yarmouth Port Company.

Breydon Water and the Lower Bure are vital connections between the northern part of the Broads and the rivers Yare and Waveney, which are also within the Broads Authority’s boundary, and for some long time the present management arrangements have been regarded as an anomaly. Informal agreement between the Broads Authority and the Great Yarmouth Port Authority was reached on the transfer in 2005 and provision was made in the Broads Authority’s Private Bill which was submitted to Parliament in November 2006.

The legislation received Royal Assent in June 2009 and the Broads Authority Act requires the agreement of the Great Yarmouth Port Authority, the setting of a date for the change and its advertisement for the new arrangements to be brought into effect. Now, following written confirmation of the approval of the Great Yarmouth Port Company the date of 1st June 2012 has been set for the transfer and the necessary advertisements have been placed in the London Gazette and the Eastern Daily Press.

Breydon Water is the trickiest part of the Broads to cross – particularly for novice hirers on holiday. A single navigation authority for the whole of the Broads will provide a consistent approach. Under the current arrangements the Broads Authority already provides a launch with two Rangers to patrol the area in the boating season funded entirely by the Authority. One option being considered is to make this a year-round operation.

Broads Authority Chairman Stephen Johnson said, “We are very pleased that we have been able to reach agreement with the Great Yarmouth Port Authority and the Port Company on the transfer of this responsibility. We are also delighted to have received the unanimous support of the Navigation Committee for this important change. Breydon Water joins the northern and southern parts of the Broads where we look after the navigation and it will enable us to provide a single service for the whole area. There will be some additional costs but we have carried out a detailed survey of the area and have a good understanding of what those will be and responsibilities that will transfer.”

The prime aim of the 2009 Broads Authority Act was to improve safety on the Broads and the transfer of the Breydon Water area and lower reaches of the River Bure is the last major element of this legislation to be implemented.
03/05/12

Countdown to the biggest ever Broads Outdoors Festival

It’s the countdown to the biggest ever Broads Outdoors Festival which is being launched on Saturday May 5th at Whitlingham Country Park, on the outskirts of Norwich, with a lively day of music, activities and family fun.

At 11 am renowned naturalist and author Richard Mabey will fire the opening shots by starting a race between the EDP’s Broads Correspondent, Stephen Pullinger, dressed as Billy Bluelight, and the Tri-Anglia Triathlon runners against the Wherry White Moth in a revival of the historic races between Billy Bluelight and wherries in the 1920s. White Moth will be welcomed back by an escort of boats and canoes and will be on public view for the rest of the day.

Billy’s great-great nephew, Andy Cullum, now a Broads Authority ranger, will attend the event.

During the day, from 10am to 4.30 pm there will be opportunities to try six different water sports on the Great Broad as well as Nordic Walking, archery, wall climbing and guided walks. Nutmeg Puppets will be performing from 2.30 -3.15pm.Food and crafts produced in Norfolk will be on sale and there will be a chance to get up close to the alpacas from Burnt Fen. Groups Tamalin, specialising in music, song and dance from West Africa, and Hard Rain, will provide entertainment throughout the day.

The launch heralds two weeks of outdoors fun with 100 events demonstrating all the Broads has to offer. It culminates in the Broads Green Boat and Tourism Show on May 20th at Salhouse Broad.

On Thursday May 3rd and Friday May 4th a preview of what is on offer will be held outside the Forum in Norwich City Centre from 9am to 5pm. There will be displays including Tarka, the world’s oldest operating canoe at 150 years old, boats, a windsurfing simulator, bushcraft demos, angling and pond dipping demos, a mountain bike-mobility scooter, and a Broads Authority 4X4 and RIB. A human sized dragonfly, ladybird, kingfisher and butterfly will be handing out free festival programmes.

The public have the chance to get in the festival spirit by travelling in Edwardian style aboard the wherry White Moth both before and after the festival. They are invited to book paid passages from Wroxham to Upton on Wednesday May 2nd, Upton to Cantley on Thursday May 3rd, Cantley to Whitlingham on Friday May 4th, and from Whitlingham back to Reedham on Sunday May 6th, Reedham to Yarmouth on Monday May 7th, Yarmouth to Ranworth on Tuesday May 8th and Ranworth to Wroxham on Wednesday May 9th.

To make a booking get in touch with Pauline Simpson, Charter Manager for Wherry Yacht Charter on 01692 630674. Income from the sailings is vital for the future of the wherries supported by Wherry Yacht Charter Charitable Trust.

For all festival events visit www.outdoorsfestival.co.uk

Regal 3560 American Sports Cruiser

I Surveyed this attractive Regal American Sports Cruiser today down at Brundall on the South Broads. Norfolk Yacht Agency owned the boat.

First impressions was she was highly styled, with an impressive bow, a radically raked stem, and a swept-back radar arch. Moreover, the detailing in the cockpit looked crisp.

Cat B boat for trips upto 500 miles off the coast.... this is no ordinary Sports Cruiser!

For engineroom access, the whole back deck lifts electrically, but in contrast to most boats the opening faces aft. This offers the advantage of keeping greasy mechanics, parts, and tools out of the cockpit! The aft opening hatch makes the engines more accessible, and the engine room is spacious and offers above-average access to all equipment.



On the 3560 all of the bed inserts have dedicated storage. In the main saloon, the settee seat lifts to reveal a permanently mounted extension. At bedtime, the whole thing hinges out in one piece with legs that fold down for support. In the morning, lift up the seat and flip it back under.

COCKPIT The bow is accessed through a hinged centre windshield panel, with steps moulded in next to the helm to make it an easy climb up to the windshield. To the left of the helm, the semi-circular settee offers plenty of storage beneath, including custom chocks for the dining table when it is not in use. This storage area can also be accessed from the cockpit. On the starboard side just aft of the helm, the wet bar features a sink with built in BBQ, Isotherm refrigerator, concealed tip-out bin, and a storage locker fitted with shelves and fiddles to organise items inside.

Clean gas automatic engineroom fire fighting..

The machinery spaces impressed me with an electronic lifting hatch, there is a convenient, aluminium-diamond-plate walkway between the engines, with steps on the aft end. Up forward, on either side of the inboard engine bearers, quality cranking batteries are secured in hold-down trays, white-painted floor panels, and the house battery, a big 8D, is contained inside a giant, plastic battery box on the port hand, with an easy-to-remove lid. To offset the weight of the 8D, the optional genset, a 7.3-kW Panda, was installed to starboard, inside a thick soundbox. Also a 60-amp Charles Industries battery charger on the forward firewall and a thorough job of glass-encapsulating the stringers and transversals that strengthen the 3560’s vinylester-resin-permeated hull.

Surveyors comments: I have to agree with the Broker on this one, I thought it was quite simply a stunning boat!!

New Website coming soon!

My new websites almost finished.. just have to get the the visual effects to move!

GRP / Timber Centre Cockpit Cruiser

Yesterdays assignment was at Horning, the boat was owned by Norfolk Yacht Agency and was stock.

I know very little about this marque… apparently she originates from a Spring Craft design, and was a relative of the Bourne 35. I was unsure about this as the transom and aft keel were different to the Bourne family of cruisers… anyway, suggestions or comments on her history would be much appreciated.
Dimensions:
Length: 34ft 6ins ( 10.52m)
Beam: 10ft 6ins ( 3.20m) Design: Type: centre cockpit cruiser
Style: folding canopy 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

Love Your Landscape event at Hickling

The first in a series of free community events designed to raise people’s awareness about the landscape they live in was held by the Broads Authority at Hickling on Saturday 28 April, 12.00-4.00pm.

Lesley Marsden, Landscape Officer for the Broads Authority, wants to find out what local people feel and value about the area where they live.

“She said: “Often those of us who are fortunate to live in and around the Broads lose sight of what a special landscape the Broads is. We hope through events such as this we can ignite or re-ignite interest in the wonders of our local landscape.”

Love Your Landscape was a trial event which will help shape ways of gathering information around the Broads. It was held at Hickling Barn in Tate Loke, and included an exhibition of children’s landscape paintings and a prize giving, the results of a photographic workshop and mobile phone photo competition and historic photos of Hickling. People were asked to bring their old photos and memories along and to identify and map special aspects of their landscape.

There was also a children’s activity with a Broads Authority ranger and displays by local organisations.

Searay 240 Sports Cruiser

Today I was inspecting this Searay 240 Sports Cruiser in Horning on the Norfolk Broads. It was a 2001 model with a V8 petrol engine. I was really impressed with this little boat. I have Surveyed four US Sports Cruisers this month. Two Bayliners, a Glastron and a Welcraft and I must say I thought this was the best.

An impressive boat with the looks to match the horse power

Sea Ray is the world's largest manufacturer of superior quality pleasure boats, producing more than 40 models ranging from 17 to 60 feet. No other pleasure boat manufacturer in the world offers such variety. The four families of Sea Ray products include Sport Boats, Sport Cruisers, Sport Yachts and Yachts.

Founded in 1959, Sea Ray was one of the first boat builders to use fiberglass and other high-tech composite materials in the construction of pleasure boats.



5 litre Mercruiser Petrol Engine

Ferry Marine washing her off before Survey

Surveyors comments: I think these are great value. A good 2000 model costs around 23K 

Bounty Buccaneer 37

I had the morning at Summercraft Boatyard in Wroxham Surveying this Bounty 37 for Insurance. 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 Bounty Buccaneer 37.

MK I: This was the first model Bounty produced. It came about through the success of F.B Wilds “Caribbean” model - a similar craft all on one level considered modern and luxurious and a break from tradition at the time. F.B Wilds refusal to sell the moulds for others to make their own was the reason for Bounty Boats going into production with their own interpretation, with improved hull & more angular superstructure. So in 1972 the first four Buccaneers entered service in the Bounty Boats hirefleet. Over the next several years incredibly high numbers were built for other operators. Those manufactured by Bounty Boats were built with a “B” on the rear side vent cover, and those produced by Solar Marine an “S”.

The MK I had single level accommodation, and was usually built to the layout shown. The fold up bed was as on the Caribbean model the design was inspired by, and optimised daytime space but still meant there was no need to continually re-make the bed - just fold it down!

A sliding sunroof over the main saloon increased their appeal, and the ability to enjoy good weather, whilst still be sheltered, comfortable and with the rest of the crew in less favourable weathers.

Another similarity to the Caribbean was the deep sunken forward well. This allowed people to sit out and enjoy the weather, easy access for mooring, and also meant that children and pets could be outside whilst still safely in sight.

MK II: Built with similar layouts to the MK I, the MK II had a full sliding canopy over the saloon, and a fixed forward screen with no access door. The window edges were also squared rather than rounded. Some short, ladder type steps in the saloon make access onto the gunwhales easy when the canopy is open.

MK III:

The combining of the MK I & II meant that MK III had both the full sliding canopy of the MK II and forward access and the front well of the MK I. Many more of these were produced than the MK II, but the MK I is the most popular of the three.

The standard layout plan was different, offered eight berths and had fixed seating forward which converted to a sleeping area at night.

Very similar to the other Buccaneer 37s in internal layout, however, this one lacks the forewell and has a sliding canopy. Usually outfitted as a 4-6 berth with a forward saloon. This one being repainted in white by Summercraft Boatyard.

She also has a new Nanni 50HP diesel engine

Surveyors comments: Im my experience these boats always go through Survey very well. I have inspected dozens of them over the years. The underbody is double gelcoated so osmosis is never a problem. The floors throughout are 18mm plywood so access through to the bilges and inner keel is good… not like their sister ships the Caribbean’s and Bermudas which have the glassed in cored floors. Decks and superstructures are wood cored and are usually strong with no flexing of the structures noted.

Find one with a good engine for 25K to 30K and you will have done well. Excellent examples with new engines can fetch 40K.