Join the party in National Parks Week

Nature lovers all over the country will be out celebrating our most beautiful countryside in National Parks Week from 29 July to 5 August. And what better way to celebrate than by getting outside and having a picnic?

The Broads will be launching National Parks Week with a Picnic in the Park on Sunday 29 July between 11.00am and 4.00pm in one of the jewels in the Broads’ crown - How Hill National Nature Reserve.

People are invited to picnic on a grassy hill with spectacular views over the snaking River Ant, Turf Fen Mill and Reedham Water. There will be fun activities for all the family such as dyke dipping for mini-beasts, boat trips on the Electric Eel through the secret dykes behind the river, walks to Buttle Marsh which is being used to re-colonise the bittern, and through the woods and fens of the nature reserve.

Conservation and outdoor organisations will be there with a wide variety of stalls with opportunities to learn more about wildlife - the good species and the bad - and angling. Children can get involved in a range of crafts, crush their own fruit juice by pedal power, have their faces painted and take part in a marsh tools quiz. A gun punt, used by wildfowlers, will be on display.

There will also be the chance to venture into tiny Toad Hole Cottage, a Victorian marshman’s house which is fitted out as it might have been over 100 years ago.

Parts of the site are suitable for wheelchair users. Toilets are available but none are fully accessible. Dogs are welcome on leads except on the nature trail.

Directions: From Ludham, on the A1062, follow the signs to How Hill. Parking is on the car park at the top of the field at How Hill. To book the Electric Eel and for more information ring 01692 678763.

Hunters Half Decker for sale on the Norfolk Broads

Please click this link to see my boat details. £4000 or nearest offer..
http://steve-insightmarinesurveyor.blogspot.co.uk/search?q=hunter

Broom 50

I was back at Brooms Boats yesterday in Brundall on the Norfolk Broads Surveying this Broom 50. The Broom 50 is an aft cabin motor yacht of majestic proportions, incorporating Broom's unrivalled experience in building aft cabin offshore cruisers with the maximum of comfort and interior accommodation. The strong, sea kindly hull, is based on the proven designs of Naval Architect John Bennett. It is one of the reasons for Broom's reputation for boats with excellent handling qualities and confident performance in adverse weather conditions.

Broom have been designing and building aft cabin boats for generations. The 50, with its sheer size and beam, has allowed them to create a really spacious, comfortable craft which provides superior accommodation throughout the boat.
Surveyors comments: John Bennett designed this powerboat. The mouldings are of excellent quality and are produced using hand laid chopped strand mat and woven rovings in Lloyds approved isopthalic gel coat and resin, over double brushed isophthalic gel coat all but eliminating the risk of osmosis. Substantial transverse and longitudinal stringers are incorporated throughout the hull for strength. The hull and deck joint is both riveted and bonded.

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

Broom 30 Motor Cruiser

I was back at Brooms today Surveying this Broom 30 Motor Cruiser for Pre-purchase. This was the last 30 built by Brooms and had a bigger 82HP engine.
Sharing the same round-bilged GRP hull as the Ocean 30, designed by Mr R.M. "Rip" Martins who was a naval architect, the Broom 30 is distinguished by its midships wheelhouse saloon, with sliding doors on both sides. The superstructure and interior were designed by Mr Martin Broom and four pre-1968 boats had a mahogany superstructure and teak-laid deck, after which time the construction was all GRP. Wooden uprights in the forward windscreen and wooden wheelhouse door frames were also phased out in later models.

Surveyors comment: The boats usually go through Survey well. A little osmosis is normal. Window leaks aren’t unusual on older models. Most people are surprised by the spaciousness of the interior, which provides four single berths in two cabins, a wheelhouse/saloon with a convertible settee and sunroof, two bathrooms and a 'corridor' galley. Some boats like this example have had a helm position retro-fitted to the aft cabin roof, behind the wheelhouse/saloon, increasing air draught to 9ft.

The 'Skipper' variant of the Broom 30 was produced with a soft-top and hinge-down windscreen and sides to the wheelhouse/saloon to give an air draught suitable for the Upper Thames, the Broads and other cruising grounds with low bridges. On these models, the wheelhouse is smaller, with a larger saloon and galley aft.

Engines are mostly Perkins 4-cylinder diesels ranging from 35 to 70hp in either single or twin configurations. This one was fitted with the largest engine a Perkins 4.236 82HP specifically ordered by the first owner so the vessel could be used along the coast.

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

Broom Skipper

Today’s assignment was to Survey this Broom Skipper at Norfolk Yacht Agency in Horning. They normally have more than 80 boats for sale on both their sites, the other being in Brundall. NYA are quite unique as all their new boats are sold under manufacturer's warranty and their company-owned stock boats are offered with a range of warranties.

This 'Skipper' variant of the Broom 30 was produced with a soft-top and hinge-down windscreen and sides to the wheelhouse/saloon to give an air draught suitable for the Upper Thames, the Broads and other cruising grounds with low bridges. On these models, the wheelhouse is smaller, with a larger saloon and galley aft.

Engines are mostly Perkins 4-cylinder diesels ranging from 35 to 70hp in either single or twin configurations. This one had the 4107 (Taxi) engine installed.

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