Hunter Horizon 273

I was really impressed with this small Yacht I surveyed today. A modern small cruiser from British Hunter, with fractional rig and self-tacking jib for easy handling. She has accommodation for up to 5, including a small double berth aft.

Between 1988 and 1995, about 200 were built, with minor differences and name changes, from Hunter 27 to 272 and 273. The boat Surveyed is a Horizon 273 twin keel, built by Hunters in 1994. Some boats were built as a 'sailaway kit', and completed and launched by the first owners. Hunter 'sailaway kits' had all structural work completed by the factory - as the name implies the boats supplied in this fashion were ready to sail. Owner completion was restricted to fitting internal trim and fittings, and we generally find very little difference between 'factory finished' and 'home finished' British Hunters.

Surveyors comments: Regularly check the rigging for tensioning and the lock nuts or pins for safetying. The first inspection should be performed after a few days at sea in various weathers. Secure, lubricate and check the bottle screws for tensioning: if the rigging is loose, the chain plate friction may generate wear. Never lubricate bottle screws with silicon grease: use tallow, graphite grease or other. Change all shrouds or stays exhibiting kinks, severed wires or other defects. Regularly check the chain plates and stays for condition. 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

Connoisseur 37

I had a visit to Woods Dyke Boat Yard in Horning today on the Northern Broads to Survey this Connoisseur 37 River Cruiser. The acting Broker was Norfolk Yacht Agency.

Since the early 1990s, Porter & Haylett have been known as Connoisseur Cruisers, named after their most successful classes. In 2009, the company took the name of the parent company Le Boat and moved their base to the old Wilds yard in Horning.
 
The Connoisseur 37 was first produced in 1979, followed in the early 1980s, by the longer 42ft version. The second pairing was produced during 1992 (for the 45ft version) and 1993 (for the 40ft).

In 2007 Connoisseur come together with Crown Blue Line and Emerald Star to become Le Boat with over 1100 boats across Europe.

Ferry Marine now operate the crain at Woods Dyke.

 

Ive Surveyed a number of these cruisers over the years. They have a good reputation for being well built out of good quality materials. A few blisters on the bottom (osmosis) is not uncommon and usually in significant, the hull mould is thick…. well above the standards of thickness on hulls built these days.

Check deck fittings are all secure and not allowing any rain water to enter the vessel. If any deck fittings have been leaking check the bulkheads for any degrading.

Some window leaks are not uncommon 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.

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

Hampton Safari

I had trip to Norfolk Yacht Agency today to Survey yet another Hampton Safari.
This years boat sales on the Broads has been remarkable considering the state of the economy. Strangely I feel that the recession has had a part to play in this significant increase in business. For years we have been told how bad things are and how much worse they are going to get, but with the ridiculously low interest rates on savings it doesn't surprise me that boat sales have been on the increase.

When we travel abroad our pound buys us so much less than ever before and as a result, many of us are looking at ways of getting back that "feel good" factor by buying the boat we have dreamed of, feeling secure that in these current economic times a boat can often be an investment opportunity! There’s almost a ‘Life’s to Short’ attitude with many of my clients, and many of the older generation are left wondering why they should leave their savings in a bank account doing very little!

Speaking to many of my customers…. they word is they are no longer being put off by the "doom and gloom" brigade…. It could be a very good 2013!



Jet washing off all the marine life!

Norfolk Yacht Agency have just installed a new electric hoist in the workshops...cable of lifting up to ten tons, other facilities include a joinery machine shop and engineering workshop and they are able to carry out all types of work from routine maintenance to full renovation and fit-out projects.

Please type in Hampton in the search box and check out all the boats I have Surveyed over the last 2 years, and lots of comments on what to look for when buying.

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

 

Help protect Trinity Broads against non- native shrimp

Trinity Broads users are being urged to check, clean and dry their boats and fishing equipment before they enter the water to help protect the broads from the invasive killer shrimp.

Dikerogammarus villosus is an aggressive hunter, feeding on damselflies, small fish, water boatmen and native freshwater shrimp. It was first found in Barton Broad in March and since then has been discovered in the River Ant at Wayford Bridge and downstream in the Bure. Recently a few shrimps have been found in Wroxham Broad, believed to have been transferred by human activity.

Will Burchnall, the Broads Authority’s new Wetland Biosecurity Officer, appointed to help stop the spread of the shrimp, says it is vital the shrimp is kept out of the Trinities because of their high conservation value.

“Because the Trinities are isolated from the Broads system it is possible to protect them from the advances of this new predator but only if everyone is acutely aware of the danger it presents and takes every precaution not to transfer it from other waterways,” he said.

Will’s message is for everyone using other waterways to routinely check their equipment, such as boats, footwear, clothing, ropes, fishing tackle and nets that have been in contact with the water. They should wash the equipment, return any organisms to the water from which they came, and dry out the equipment for at least 48 hours as the shrimps can survive for several days in damp conditions. The shrimps can also be killed by immersing clothing, ropes and nets in hot water (at least 40º C) for 15 minutes.

Anglers are asked not to use keep nets as shrimps tend to gather in them—a practice backed by Norwich and District Anglers Association. If fishermen insist on using keep nets they are asked to use nets dedicated solely to the Trinity Broads and wash and dry them thoroughly afterwards.

Will plans to visit sailing, rowing and angling clubs across the Broads to give advice on how to identify the shrimp and stop it spreading.

The shrimp, which can grow to 3 cms, is larger than native freshwater species and can be identified by its tiger stripes and horns on its tail. It originates from the Black and Caspian Seas in Eastern Europe and has spread across most of Western Europe over the last ten years. It does not pose a threat to people or their pets.

Please note that the image is of an angler's waders after an hour fishing in Grafham Water, not at Trinity Broads.

If anyone identifies the shrimp in the Trinity Broads they should report it at https://secure.fera.defra.gov.uk/nonnativespecies/home/index.cfm or contact Will Burchnall Tel: 01603 756003 or 07788438121 email: will.burchnall@broads-authority.gov.uk

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