Richardsons Norfolk Broads Cruiser

I had an Insurance Survey to do today on this timber cruiser.... I think built around the 1940's by Richardsons. She is a one of the Crusader Class. Richardsons began as a boatyard in the late 1930s based at Oulton Broad, Suffolk. They built their first cruiser in 1948, for letting in 1949. Between 1949 and 1957 they built more timber craft, (see pictures below) , before moving to larger premises in their current location at Stalham, where they continued to build more craft today.

Todays boat at Brooms after having undergone planking works after sinking...

The perfect hoist at Brooms Boats for lifting old wooden girls....

Just some of the old Richardsons fleet...

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

Seaward 23 Motor Cruiser

I Surveyed this sturdy little seagoing boat today in Horning on the Northern Broads…. Popular with the sailing fraternity and filled with character, the Seaward 23 Motor Cruiser is a sturdy, seagoing craft with traditional styling and accommodation for up to four persons. With a large deep cockpit area and open backed wheelhouse this vessel is an ideal family cruiser or picnic boat. Like its bigger cousins of the Nelson range, this vessel has undergone both tank testing at Westland Aerospace and testing for stability by the Dept. of Transport. This may be unusual for a craft of this size but comforting to know when you are out in adverse weather conditions. More recently the Seaward 23 has undergone stability testing with Lloyd's Register for compliance with the new Recreational Craft Directive. The standard cockpit arrangement is compliant with the regulations for use in wind speeds up to force 6 and wave height up to 2 meters.

This little Seaward has a reputation for exceptional seakeeping qualities and is used by owners typically for cross channel cruising. It was with cross channel cruising in mind that this specification was developed to include the option of twin shaft drive diesels, with twin fuel tanks and twin battery systems. The deep 3/4 length keel with contra-rotating propellers and twin rudders make the Seaward 23 a joy to manoeuvre. Stepping ashore from cockpit to pontoon is made easy with the wide side decks and plenty of hand holds, an important feature for those who do their boating short handed. 

There are various Yanmar inboard engine options to choose from on the Seaward 23 - from a single 75 hp diesel giving 11 knots, through to this version..twin 75 hp diesels giving 24 knots.

Broom Crown

Todays assignment was at Brooms Boats. Broom was founded in 1898 by Charles J Broom at first building individual sailing vessels for the local gentry to sail on the wide open spaces of the Norfolk Broads. Over the course of the next 100 years Broom have gone from strength-to-strength, offering innovation and quality hand craftsmanship. They specialise in Aft Cabin Cruisers, manufactured to the very highest standard.

Successor to the successful Continental, the Broom Crown was based on the same hull, but had a restyled superstructure and a significant change to the layout.

Twin v-berths in the forward cabin remained, but the aft cabin enjoyed a centreline double, whilst the settee in the saloon continued to provide an extra double berth. All boats continued to feature interior and exterior helms and sliding doors on both sides of the saloon giving access to the side decks.

This example has the side mounted 185HP Perkins diesels. Later Crowns replaced the longstanding Perkins engines with 148hp Volva Penta TAMD40As or 158hp TAMD40Bs.

Things to check during inspections: Water test window seals, often causing damage internally to bulkheads & woodwork. Exhaust leaks at 'thru transom' outlet. Stainless steel fuel tanks often replaced the old mild steel orginals...

Common on the older models...  To stop windows leaking you may have use a non-hardening caulking so that the caulking can move with the expansion. To deal with this problem, you may have to remove the frames, rebed them and refasten them less tightly than they were previously installed.

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

Broom 35 Sedan

I had a trip out to St Olaves today to Survey this Broom at Anglia Yacht Brokers. AYB's are situated where the River Waveney meets the New Cut. St Olaves Marina is a family owned run concern, which has been developed from nothing over the years. They have now completed the second marina basin, offering floating pontoon berths with water and electricity. Their pontoons have been designed to offer varying sized berths so they can cater for all types of craft. St Olaves Marina is based on a 12 acre site, so they can supply all year round storage ashore.

Based on the same hull as the 35 European, this boat has an entirely different deck and superstructure. The boat has an aft cockpit, which was enlarged on the later models.

Two forward cabins provide twin v-berths and a side-accessed double, whilst another double can be made from the convertible settee in the wheelhouse/saloon. With so much space taken by the cockpit, there is only room for a single bathroom alongside the galley. There is an interior helm in the wheelhouse/saloon.

Most boats were fitted with twin 145hp turbo-charged Perkins 6.354 diesel engines. Later boats had 150hp range 4 turbo Perkins, giving a maximum speed of 21 knots. This one was from the hire fleet, and for inland waters and just has a single 72hp Perky through shaft.

 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

 

Build Period:	1977 - 1984
Number Built:	50
Previous Model:	?
Successor Model:	?
Market Value:	£45,000 - 60,000

Introduction To The Norfolk Broads