Freeman 23

A nice short trip today.... 2 miles from home!

The Freeman 23 developed from the Freeman 22 Mk1 and 22 Mk2, with slightly squarer lines, particularily around the fore cabin. Noteably there is no step in the deck, of the extra foot - 3" went into the toilet compartment allowing the loo to be mounted bow to stern. The remaining 9" went into the cockpit area for summer cruising.

Another sunny day at Sutton Staithe near Stalham

Turning the boat around for lifting out

The boats were fitted with a number of engine options from new. This model could of been fitted with one of the following engines depending on the original order.

Example Engines

WaterMota Sea Wolf Crossflow (Standard) with J-Type Gearbox, Perkins 4.108......... this one had the Watermotor petrol inboard.

Just next door... one of my local pubs Sutton Staithe Hotel

Pegasus 700 Yacht

I was at Barton Turf, not far from home, Surveying this Pagasus Yacht today...... They have always been a popular yacht on the Broads.. they have a small club of them over at Upnor which include the later model the 800. Built from1977 to the early 1990s by Rydgeway Marine, and later by Pegasus Yachts, the Pegasus was designed by Gordon Harris. Rydgeway's boat names mostly started with a P - ie Pandora, Pirate, Prospect, Prelude and the Pegasus 700, 800 and 1100 models.

The Pegasus 800 hull was offered with choices of wing keel, fin keel, twin bilge keels or centreboard, and a number of options were offered for the interior. The rig has a narrow high aspect main, and a large overlapping genoa.

They are a moderately fast boat for their size. Nominally six berth, they are in fact much more practical for two to four. With six foot headroom, they have a surprising spacious and comfortable saloon. Many of the centreboard versions like this example of these boats were used on the Norfolk Broads, but they are also capable coastal cruisers.

Eric the yard owner 'lifting her' out for inspection

Unusual power plant in this yacht.... a small 2 cylinder Volvo petrol engine .. it use to be a pull start!

Thurne Regatta 2011

Shetland 4+2 Motor Boat

I was at Barnes of Brinkcraft in Wroxham today inspecting this Shetland Cruiser.

One of the most popular Family Cruisers ever built!

Here is some History.........

Shetland Boats was founded in 1968, starting at Threestokes Marina in London with a simple phone call. It soon grew and required more space and dedication so Shetland set up full production between two sites at Burnham on Crouch and Southminster; and this was then the start of the Shetland boats.

After rapidly outgrowing the two locations a new site was purchased in Stanton, Suffolk. Once settled in Stanton, Shetland grew ever more and was manufacturing and delivering up to 12 boats a day, up to 60 in one week.

Following an end to production in Stanton and change of ownership, Shetland moved to Redgrave in Norfolk. It continued to produce boats of a similar type but began to introduce new models such as the Shetland Sovereign and the Saker.

They also began to produce boats under a license agreement from a leading boat manufacture in Australia; known as Signature.

In 1992 Shetland then undertook a move to Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk and there returned to manufacture the smaller models in the range.

Then on 4th October 1997 the company saw a fresh start and Shetland once again relocated back to Stanton. With this move came James Reinman, the new Managing Director at the ripe age of 25.

In the years prior to owning Shetland Boats James grew and acquired his boating knowledge by becoming a young apprentice and working on the factory floor.

With this James learnt his invaluable knowledge of boat building.

After 5 years in Stanton, Shetland relocated just a short distance away in the village of Pakenham, where it has now secured its own 5 acre site.

With this increased space and the ability to store more boats Shetland successfully builds its largest model to date, the luxury Shetland 27. This was a change of direction for Shetland Boats from the days of large volume small boats.

Shetland’s main objective in 1968 was to produce safe and reliable family performance cruisers at no nonsense prices, this is still the objective today and Shetland stands by this belief. Shetland family cruisers have had a consistent appeal to thousands who enjoy life afloat as the only acceptable family pastime providing a rewarding alternative to pressures of daily work life.

Over the last 40 years few boat companies have been able to maintain the confidence of the boat buying public with the same success as Shetland Boats and with a Shetland in the family, the coasts and waterways of the UK and Europe are waiting to welcome you. With a Shetland you're only a trailer trip away.

 

One of the new hire boats at Barnes of Brinkcraft... just out of the mould

Thinking of Buying a Boat and Need Help? I will assist you to make an informed decision. Contact me for a detailed and comprehensive report at: steventruss1@aol.com

Falcon Capriole 1020

I surveyed this Falcon Cruiser today, its basically a mirror image of the Sheerline Capriole. Falcon Sportsboats started building boats in the early 1980s based in Brimbelow Road, Hoveton (Wroxham), moving to Griffin Lane Thorpe around 1991, where they continued to produce craft through the 1990s. A number of the designs are now produced by other builders, including Sheerline and Quayline.

Lifted out for inspection at Brundall.

The Falcon 1020 is one of the last in the Falcon Cruisers line, custom-built, six berth cruiser. The three cabins - owner's stateroom, saloon/dinette providing double berth with galley and guest cabin aft. A electrically-powered retracting windscreen and removable canopy mean that she has a low air draft for navigating the inland water ways. A spacious aft cockpit with helm and double helm seat has ample space. The forward stateroom features a central double berth with storage beneath and wardrobes to port and starboard. The aft cabin offers a twin or double berth layout.