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.
 

Reedling Yacht

I was back at Coxes today. This was an Insurance Survey on this lovely old Yacht. Built by the famous Moores & Sons back in 1939, one of a class of five....i thought she had great charm and character. She is up for sale and her details can be found on Topsail Yacht Brokers

This is 'Gimlet', one of my favourite Half Deckers on the Broads. Built by the Famous Ernest Woods back in 1932. I once owned her sister ship Mandi.... beautifull lines, wish id kept mine!

Here is me on 'Mandi' a few years back.... same hull, just mine had the cuddy rather than the full cabin.

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

Broads Cruiser Supreme 37

I spent the day at Eric Bishops Yard ‘Coxes’ in Barton Turf today, just 5 minutes from home. The vessel was a Loynes built ‘Supreme Serenity’ Broads Cruiser designed by Arnott Fowler back in 1965. Style: sliding canopy with stern well access and constructed from wood.

Loynes is one of the oldest boatyards on the Broads and although now incorporated into 'Faircraft-Loynes', it is still one of the most important yards in operation.

 

She is a product of the era of the tall sided majestic looking wooden Broadland Motor Cruisers designed specifically for inland water ways use.

Back in the day

Another job for the winter months...

Another little beauty being restored at Erics Yard.

Eric has a vast array of Half Deckers moored in the dyke.... totally unique to the Broads

Surveyors comments:

Ventilation has a two-fold importance in wooden boats: removal of air saturated with moisture vapour, and introduction of unsaturated (dry) air to permit drying of moist woodwork. It is not easy to ensure that dry air circulates over all the woodwork in a boat. Whilst air may be circulated into a particular compartment it may not circulate through out the whole area unless points of entry and departure are correctly sited. Small areas are often partially or completely enclosed so that air circulation is impeded. These are the so called “dead-air” spaces in which pockets of stagnant moist air are trapped. Often by drilling a few well sited auger holes sufficient ventilation can be provided in what might otherwise be a small dead -air space.