UK Marine Surveyor based in Preveza Greece.

Sunday, 2 September 2012

Now online for mobile App users

Insight Marine Surveys Ltd is looking to target new and interactive customers. I am now promoting the business and my services to mobile App users on a local, regional and national scale. This includes a bespoke mobile optimised landing page designed to help give the business its full potential.... just GOOGLE 'Insight Marine Surveys' and keep up to date with my daily assignments, information on local boatyards, local news and answers to frequently asked questions....plus links to organisations and other helpful sites....Try it..

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

Friday, 31 August 2012

Marine Surveyor on the Norfolk Broads.

My services are totally unique in the Surveying world as I guarantee a ‘24 hour delivery’ of a personalised and comprehensive survey in PDF (electronic) format with a bound quality hard copy on request, and i carefully construct a choice of survey options to meet my client's needs.

Thursday, 30 August 2012

Aquafibre 32

I had a trip to Horning on the Northern Broads today to Survey this Motor Cruiser for Pre-Purchase.

The Aquafibre Sapphire 32 was launched in 1983 as the charter version of the popular Broom 32 production model. It is the smaller sister of the Crystal 37, generally configured as a 4+2 berth and can instantly be identified because of the much smaller cabin moulding projecting upwards onto the flybridge area. This model was very popular at home in the Norfolk hirefleets, and a large number were built for Ireland and other markets. It is often considered to have slightly more elegant lines than its larger sister, mainly because of the differences to the aft cabin.

Aquafibre was founded at Neatishead, Norfolk in the 1960's by a consortium of local boat-builders. The majority shareholders were Robert Richardson and John Linford, who had 30% equity each. The remainder was divided between Martin Broom (Broom Boats), Rip Martins (later of Martins Plastics), Vicktor Bell (Bell Boats), David Millbank (Jenners of Thorpe) and Dawncraft of Wroxham. Dawncraft soon sold their share to David Millbank. John Linford was tragically killed in a light aircraft crash and his share was sold to Martin Broom. Rip Martins also sold his share around the same time.

Robert Richardson felt that he was the main customer of the business and so sold his share to Martin Broom around 1975 to embark on his own operation. Aquafibre was often identified as being Broom's 'sister' company and almost all of their boats up until 2009 were moulded at Wendover Road.

Aquafibre also provided mould development and consultancy services for many other major boatbuilders as well as producing their extensive range of models from the Rackheath facility.

Sadly, in May 2009 the vast Wendover Road site at Rackheath closed its doors for the very last time. Production of sister company Broom's mouldings moved entirely to their Brundall site.

As a point of info Haines no longer use any Broom mouldings products.

The staff at Ferry Marine lifting her out. Very professional set up now at Ferry Marine. The guys are always on time and pressure wash the hull as part of the lift.

Surveyors comments:

This hull had the epoxy-copper anti-fouling gel-coat that had been applied from new. Its developed in the mould application during the manufacture. It produces a hard, abrasion and damage resistant surface that repels fouling and is self cleaning. It also has anti OSMOSIS qualities. It has an ultra smooth surface has low friction against water that results in higher speed and reduced fuel consumption when compared to conventional antifouling. Its quite common on Broads built boats…. I see it regularly on some of the later Broom boats.

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

Wednesday, 29 August 2012

Freeman 26

Today I spent the day at Mermaid Boatyard in Brundall on the South Norfolk Broads Surveying this Classic Cruiser for Insurance purposes.
Using the same hull as the Freeman 25, this Freeman 26's superstructure was developed from the Freeman 22 Mk2. Notice the return of the step in the deck and larger cabin windows. The Freeman 26 offers larger accommodation and together with the Freeman 22 Mk2 formed the back bone of what is generally known as the Freeman range.

Over 300 built between 1965 and 1973. They are ideal for the Broads, but most can be found on rivers, though they are cable of making passages in estuarial and sheltered coastal waters in fair weather.

The boats were fitted with a number of engine options from new. This model was fitted with the Perkins 4107 diesel. I have Surveyed some with twin Petrol’s.