Sealine 240 Sports Cruiser

Had a trip out to Brundall today on the South Broads. The Sealine 240 is another example of Sealine's wonderful use of space relative to the overall length. This model manages a very large cockpit and interior with all the luxuries normally associated with much bigger boats.The accommodation on the 240 is second to none for its class. She offers a large galley area incorporating a fridge freezer and full washing up facilities! The forward area of the saloon features a large u shaped seating area that in the evenings creates a large double berth. The aft cabin again features a large double berth. Located between the two sleeping areas is the toilet and shower area. This features a full toilet and hot and cold shower.

A lot of boat for your money... they Survey well, and are a surprisingly popular weekender for the Norfolk Broads

220HP 4.3 Litre GXI Petrol Power Plant... a Diesel boat will cost you £1000's more

New arrival at Norfolk Yacht Agency … the biggest Princess I have ever seen on the Broads… The magnificent and beautiful Princess V58.…. Potter Heigham Bridge!! No chance!

Surveyors comments

The regular verification that the LPG system on your boat is leak-free is important. The use of suitable proprietary bubble testers is strongly recommended, as it allows boaters to easily, routinely and safely test for gas leaks.



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

Dauntless 23 Yacht

I Surveyed this lovely old Dauntless Yacht today for Insurance. I haven’t seen one of theses little yachts for years. There were plenty of them down on the River Medway in Kent where I lived years ago… I always use to see one anchored off my boatshed in Upnor. It always caught my eye. I have seen very few on the Broads.

A pocket cruiser designed in 1960, clinker built in Mahogany, ideal little estuary day Yacht.

This one has been through a very expensive refit

New Beta Marine 10HP diesel power plant

HELP! Save a Dauntless

Ive been made aware of Dauntless PAX based in Cumbria. She is to be broken up at the end of 2011 should no-one be interested in her. She is complete with engine, spars, sails etc,but in very poor condition. If anyone is interested, the Dauntless Association can loan a trailer to take her wherever. Should you, or anyone know be interested in her,
please mail the Chairman

The Dauntless Brochure

Cruiser Class Yacht 'Pan'

I had a trip out to Crown Cruisers Yacht Station in Lowestoft today. I Surveyed this Broads Cruiser built by Applegate’s on a Jack Powles hull back in 1932. In the 1930’s, the Applegate’s yard built a series of yachts, all of which were mahogany-planked and bright varnished, giving a distinctive appearance.

Big Yacht with a big rig...

Ideal hoist at Crown Cruisers

'Washing her off', so I can get a close look at the hull planking...

Classic interior in a 1930s style.. very original..

Surveyors comments:

Inaccessible Areas. These are the areas that almost invariably cause the surveyor his greatest problems for he can't get at them to check. Frequently, these are the areas where structural deterioration takes place because neither interior inspection or maintenance is possible.
Outboard and under fuel tanks
Behind large exhaust pipes and mufflers
Under refrigeration and freezers
Under shower pans and stalls
Under lined rope lockers
Behind hulls that have full hull side ceilings There's one thing you'll notice about most of the above listed areas and that is the potential for condensation and lack of air flow in these obscured areas which is highly conducive to causing deterioration of wood and metals. These obscured areas should be viewed with extreme caution. To prove soundness, fasteners or planks sometimes must be pulled.

Hampton Safari Mk II

Today’s assignment was at Beccles on the South Broads, carrying out a Pre-purchase Survey on this little Hampton Safari River Cruiser.

In the 1960's, Alec Hampton's boat hire business 'Hampton Boats' at Oulton Broad consisted of a fleet of traditional mahogany cruisers. Alec then designed the mark one Hampton Safari for production in fibreglass. The length was increased from 22' 6" to 25'6" and the beam from 8' 6" to 9' 6". A plug was made from marine plywood, which was then used to form the female hull moulding. The boats were moulded firstly by Rydgeway Marine of Kessingland, and then by Bob Smith of Lowestoft.

Although a total of 256 Hampton Safaris were produced from 1969 to 1982, most were supplied to other hire-boat yards as bare mouldings for their staff to complete. During the peak years, Hampton Boats ran 14 Safari 25's in it's fleet, but this reduced to just two in the final season of 2002. Sadly, the yard has now ceased trading, and will surely be missed by the large regular clientele, some of which have been regulars for nearly 30 years.(Hamptons themselves only built one Safari for private use, in 1971 called 'Blue Tit' for John Jarrold, who was then the Mayor of Norwich.)

This one was fitted out by John Claburn when he worked for Dawncraft Boats Ltd, and she also went into private owership.

This is the Mark II version with sliding wheelhouse/lounge. They are somewhat difficult to distinguish because individual boatyards completed the Hampton mouldings to their own spec. Mark 1's (usually) didn't have the integral molding for the gas bottle stowage under the afterdeck, or the moulded in mudweight holder on the foredeck. The control panel moulding was different and the keel was smaller

 Surveyors comments:

Check for window leaks on 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.

Some osmosis blistering will be common... but not usually structural. Its good practice to take the vessel out of the water over the winter period and store her in the dry, out of thus reduce the possibility of further osmotically induced gel coat blistering.

On older models, check all floor bearers and lower bulkheads for timber deterioration.......

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

Princess 415

Working Saturdays is becoming a bit of a habit!!

Todays assignment was at Brundall Bay Marina Surveying this lovely Classic Motor Yacht. The Princess 415 is a sleek, high performance flybridge cruiser with excellent accommodation and very good sea keeping abilities ideal for long distance cruising.

Marine Projects of Plymouth built the Princess 415, it superseded the 414, based on the deep vee version of the 37 hull. The 415 makes the perfect upgrade for a boating enthusiast looking to take a step up to a flybridge boat. She boasts lots of space through out with a large cockpit area and room on the flybridge for all to enjoy, plenty of space in the Saloon and a Galley with all the necessitates. Two big cabins with lots of storage, sleeping four people and a convertible Saloon berth for when the extra guests arrive.

2 x 306HP Volvo diesels max speed 25 Knots

Surveyors comments: If you have a hand-held halon fire extinguisher or an installed fixed system in your leisure boat that contains halons 1211, or 1301 you will be affected by EC Regulation 2037/2000 on substances that deplete the ozone layer. According to EC Regulation 2037/2000, halon fire-protection systems and fire extinguishers must have been decommissioned by 31st December 2003, and the halons recovered. It is illegal to use or possess such extinguishers or fire protection systems.