'Betsie Jane' back in the day

Betsie Jane....a twin screw Gentleman’s Motor Yacht, built by Saunders Shipyard Ltd, in 1938. LOA: 38’6” Beam: 9’6” Draft: 2’ 6”.

Betsie Jane... I surveyed this beauty during her rebuild... super job, well done...

Chris Craft 28 Catalina

I Surveyed this American Classic today. The Chris Craft 28 Catalina. A boat which once housed V8 petrol engines… now has two smaller diesels fitted and is quite suitable for the inland waters of the Broads.

Located in Sarasota, Florida, Chris-Craft has a rich heritage and an intriguing recent history. Founded over a century ago, the company earned a reputation for building quality, high-end products that last. The heyday of the firm was between the 1920s and the 1950s, when Chris-Craft became famous for its powerboats with beautiful mahogany hulls. The craftsmanship of the company is evident by the fact that antique Chris-Craft boats are available and valuable still today.

The latest chapter in the firm’s history began in 2000 when it was purchased by Stephen Julius. The company had fallen on hard times; its employees had lost their jobs and the factory sat idle. Julius cautiously began rebuilding both the product line and the firm’s reputation.

Since that time, the company has rebuilt the line around three categories of boat: Consoles, Cruisers and Runabouts. It has maintained its reputation for high-end quality craftsmanship, great designs and quality materials that include generous use of woods such as teak, oak, mahogany, maple and cherry.

 

1941 Classic

Chris Craft Riviera 31

Its a shame they have a 4mph speed limit on the Broads!! The Cobra was a single seat speedster with a shark's dorsal fin and Corvette automotive style windscreen. A marriage of fiberglass and mahogany, she marked the beginning of the end for wooden Chris-Crafts. Produced for one year only 108 were built, about half of those were 18 footers, the others 21 foot. Power was supplied by a 158-hp six or if you purchased the 21 foot model you could chose a 200-hp Chrysler Hemi or 285-hp Cadillac V-8.This artwork is based on a Cobra owned by Terry Fiest's, it was the second 18 footer produced by Chris-Craft.

Broads Motor Cruiser

I had a return trip to Martham today on the Northern Broads. This visit was the second of three to see ‘Summer Wine. She is timber constructed Motor Cruiser built by Kings in Horning back in the 50's. She was found in a run down condition, but her structure is remarkably good in general, and it is considered that she is well worthy of refitting. She has not been built to the highest standards, and employs simple materials-yet she has proved over the years to be persistently durable.

As she was last year

Built from Iroko hardwood... a very durable timber.. new stem and chine planks fitted

New bulkheads going in

A new engine will be installed...nearly all the frames (ribs) have been replaced...

Summer Wine‘, formerly named Ferry Buccaneer 3 is a timber Broads River Cruiser, constructed to a design relevant to the 1950's, she is of hard chine timber construction with a shallow tapering keel, flat transom stern, and a curved stem. She is a product of the era of the tall sided majestic looking wooden Broadland Motor Cruisers designed specifically for hire on the inland water ways.

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Sheerline 1070 Centre Cockpit

Today I Surveyed this Sheerline Motor Cruiser at Barnes of Brinkcraft in Wroxham. The Sheerline 1070 Centre Cockpit offers spacious luxury. The high specification is designed to satisfy the most discerning of boating enthusiasts. The all GRP hull and superstructure with the versatility of the sliding wheelhouse roof, allows open-air living whilst retaining indoor comfort for an extended cruising season. The interior layout permits 4/6 berth accommodation with a double berth master cabin and associated toilet and shower forward. The galley/dinette area is fitted with a second toilet and shower compartment. Access is either through the rear cockpit well or by steps to the side deck from the central wheelhouse saloon with its comfortable L-shaped settee. The winch-assisted wheelhouse saloon roof slides on to the aft cabin roof and together with fold-down screens gives a very low air draft for extended river cruising.

Surveyors comments:

On ex hire boats its common to see areas of stress cracks within the fibreglass around the gunwales and on some of the deck stanchions. Such cracks are often caused by light impact, or through limited fatigue of the gel coat, but do not usually effect the structural integrity of the adjacent structure. Where there are no indications of serious degrading no immediate action is considered necessary.