Seamaster 8m

I had a Survey to carry out about 5 minutes from home today. The perfect Monday job!

They are popular Cruisers on the Broads these Seamaster 8m’s. This one was for sale at Sutton Boat Yard just near Stalham on the Northern Broads. A good one comes in around 15K.

If you want your boat pulling out quickly... give the guys at Sutton Staithe a shout... excellent for the smaller craft

The Seamaster 8 metre was first built in 1970, last built in 1980. Builders Seamaster Ltd turned out 115 boats of this model, one of their extensive range of 20 to 30ft Cruisers.

Breaking with convention, the boat has its main living area, with galley and dinette, and the aft cabin. The dinette can be converted into a double berth (that much is conventional), and then there are two separate single berths in the forward cabin, ahead of the toilet compartment and a large wardrobe. In between the cabin, the helm position is a amidships cockpit, open but with a canopy that can gives shelter or with the side panels in place, can enclose the area completely.

The shallow to medium vee hull has a long, shallow keel, making the boat suitable for inland or coastal cruising. The single versions should really be just used inland.

Powered by single or twin BMC, Ford or Perkins. This one had the Perky 4108 Taxi engine about 40HP. The boat is capable of about 12 knots with a Ford 50HP.

Surveyors comments: Ideal Norfolk Broads Boat and excellent value for all the room you get. It will be very difficult to find one without some sort of osmosis blistering on the bottom. Unless the blisters are widely spread or large and numerous, no remedial action is usually necessary.

Its often worth testing the window seals with a hose pipe. On the older models the window sealant has probably hardened. 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.

Thinking of Buying a Boat and Need Help? Call Insight Marine Surveys Ltd. 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

Princess 33 Mk II

Wow… its been so busy the last few weeks ive hardly had time to keep up with the BLOG. Well here we go… Surveyed this British Classic a few days ago at Brundall. The Broker was Norfolk Yacht Agency and it was a Pre-purchase Survey.

Designed by John Bennet, Marine Projects Princess 33 was in production from 1975 to 1987; nearly 500 were built.

The standard layout has six berths-two vee berths in a forward cabin, a convertible dinette/double in the lower saloon, and a settee which converts into a double in the wheelhouse-cum deck saloon.

The most interesting feature about the 33 was the choice offered to purchasers of deep-vee or Y shaped hulls. The latter, with flatter sections aft and a long shallow keel, was intended for displacement and semi-displacement speeds.

Various types and sizes of engines were fitted. Probably the most popular option was a pair of 80HP Ford inboard diesels, giving a top speed of 13 Knots. The deep vee version was for full planing performance. With two 130HP Ford diesels the boat should reach 17 to 18 knots. Some deep vee versions have a flying bridge like this one I surveyed.

The Y shaped hull was phased out on the arrival of a Mk II version (like this one) in 198, which had a modified superstructure with an extra settee which could be used as a seventh berth, plus a standard fly bridge.

Surveyors comments:  Good solid British build. Good value.

They are old boats now, so It is inevitable that at some stage there will be gel chipping, scratches or damage to the gel coat. It is advisable to have them sealed and rectified as soon as possible. Quite apart from possible severe damage, which has gone through the gel coat and entered into the glass fibre laminate, small gel coat repairs can easily be attended by yourself i.e. scathes, chips, broken corners, etc. To effect the repairs its obviously necessary for the surfaces to be dry and at a reasonable temperature of, say, not less than 45 F. 

Buying Your First Boat

Fairline Phantom 46

Today’s assignment was to Survey this Phantom for pre-purchase. Burton Waters of Ipswich were the Yacht Brokers.

With three separate cabins, two bathrooms, a saloon with all the mod cons, and the scope to fit a lot of water toys, the Fairline Phantom 46 is among the best-selling of all Fairline boats, it has been conceived as the ultimate family cruiser.

On top of this good design is the wow! factor achieved through complex curves in the mouldings, stylish deck fittings, a heck of a lot of polished stainless, split-level saloon windows, and a big overhanging flight deck.

Im always impressed with the hulls on the Fairlines. They are built from solid handlaid unidirectional and woven glass rovings, with transverse and longitudinal stringers, and a deck that is joint bolted. The hull, which has a moderate 18° of deadrise at the keel, runs all the way back under the boarding platform. This way, the platform is an integral part of the boat, allowing you to carry a RIB or jetski on the tail. The pasarelle has been rmoved on this one but usually has a 250kg lifting capacity. Designed by Bernard Olesinski, the underwater shape delivers a beautiful natural trim angle. The hull rises almost horizontally onto the plane. A lot of lift is generated by the reverse chines and pronounced strakes. But displaced water is kept low.

Engine access is through a hatch in the cockpit and another in the saloon floor, making for no-fuss routine checks and maintenance. For bigger jobs, the mechanic might detach the settee in the saloon. As it is, air, oil and water filters fall nicely to hand.

Overall, the three cabins and two heads in this 47-footer don't compromise on space. In fact, every bed is big enough for even a big bloke to gain plenty of sleep - which is an essential ingredient for a happy marriage!

With two big twin Volvos, the Phantom 46 idles at six knots, planes at 12kt, and puts in a heavy-weather cruise of 16.6kt at 1800rpm.

Surveyors comments: Designed by Bernard Olesinski… what can I say!

There is only one berth in the crew quarters, so expect the kids to fight for it!
 Thinking of Buying a Boat and Need Help? Call Insight Marine Surveys Ltd. 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

 

Westward 38

I was in Brundall on the South Broads today Surveying this Westward 38 Broads River Cruiser for pre-purchase.

The Westward range of motor cruisers were produced by John Williams marine (not to be confused with John Williams Boats of Stalham) on the Ellough Industrial Estate in Beccles.

They launched at the end of the 1970’s with the 38ft Sedan mould which was soon followed by her 31ft sister which was similar in most essential layout and superstructure respects though the hull shape was slightly different. Towards the end of the 1980‘s a centre cockpit version was derived ( like this example) from the 38ft hull though this was only produced for a couple of years.

Characteristics include an ‘island’ double bed in the forward cabin and sliding aft patio door on the sedan moulds as well as sleek lines....