Eve makes dad's Broads holiday dream come true

The winner of the Broads Authority’s Enjoy the Broads competition is enabling her father to live his dream.

Ron Burke, 63, went out on a day boat on the Broads during a caravan holiday to Norfolk 20 years ago and has wanted to return for a boating holiday ever since.

“I loved it,” he said. “I thought it was absolutely beautiful.”

So when his daughter, Eve Burke, won five days aboard a luxury motor cruiser in the online competition which attracted nearly 3,500 entries, fairy godmother Eve made his dream come true.

Eve, who is eight months pregnant, and has a two year old toddler, has decided not to take up her place but her partner, Stephen Milne, and sister’s husband, Paul Redhead, have accompanied Ron. Eve, who is still working as a teaching assistant, is even taking on Paul’s child-minding duties to enable him to go!

“I was looking on the Enjoy the Broads website to find a boating holiday for Dad and I entered the competition,” she said. “It has worked out perfectly. Dad had to retire early so it’s a nice treat for him. This is the ideal holiday for all three of them.”

The year old 44 ft environmentally friendly cruiser, Fair Majesty, which has a Green Boat Mark, is being provided by Norfolk Broads Direct of Wroxham.

Ron, from Worcester Park in Surrey, said: “I’m very excited. I have been looking at the boats on the Broads for years and years and it has always been my ambition to come back. I have never stayed a night on a boat before so this is a dream come true.

“I love fishing so to go out on one of the broads, with no rush, and stop where we like is magic. Although we’ll be three men in a boat I’m quite a good cook so eating on board isn’t a problem. It will be another thing that I have ticked off in life.”

Thinking of buying a boat?

Japonica Yacht

I was instructed to Survey this old 1950’s Broads Yacht yesterday. The owner had already bought the boat and needed a Condition Report for insurance.

Martham Boats have the perfect hoist for lifting out wooden boats... safe, quick and easy..

With accommodation for 4, the Japonica is ideal for mixed parties. They have 4 single berths, two burner cooker with grill and oven and a separate toilet with wash basin.

Surveyors comments:

Good old boats the Japonica's, fine on a reach and running, but not to clever when beating, they don't point particularly high. To get the best out of the them, make sure the jib luff is nice and tight and the mainsail setting well. Don't oversheet, ease the mainsheet, gaffers like to be sailed full and bye.

　

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Norfolk Gypsy

I had a trip up to Neil Thompson’s Boat Yard near Holt today.
They are a family run boat building company situated close to Blakeney harbour on the North Norfolk coast. They specialise in the building, repairing and brokering of fibreglass traditional dayboats, yachts, workboats and steel barges.

They are well known in the Norfolk Boaty world and a bit like Sheerline and Haines they pride themselves on high standards, quality workmanship, sturdy construction and a friendly service. They offer specialised servicing and restoration for all boats in the Norfolk Range.

The boat I Surveyed today was a 1994 Norfolk Gypsy. It was designed in 1989 by Andrew Wolstenholme who is a well known Norfolk based designer of small yachts and dayboats. The Norfolk Gypsy looks like a new design but is based on a combination of traditional yacht designs.

The laminate thickness of the hull is considerably more than expected for this size boat. They use a combination of chopped strand matt and woven rovings which are all hand-laid. Certain key areas of the hull are additionally strengthened by the use of core matt which provides immense strength without adding to the weight of the boat.

Neils main boatshed.. preping older models ready for sale.

Surveyor comments:
I put my moisture meter over the hull this morning, and basically as far as im concerned these boats just don’t get any osmosis blisters! Without becoming too technical about this point, they use the best gelcoat and resins available for hull construction, regardless of expense. They use an Isophthalic resin which is entirely compatible with the Isophthalic gelcoat they use. Combined with this resin they use ‘powder-bound’ matt (not ‘emulsionbound’ as most boatbuilders use) which breaks down more easily and prevents of small air bubbles in the laminate. All their hulls are ‘hand laid’ throughout as opposed to ‘spray-laid’. Added to all this, they mould thier hulls with clear gelcoat from the waterline downwards. Clear gelcoat is considered to be the very best protection against osmosis because the introduction of a colour pigment in the gelcoat can sometimes increase the danger of osmosis. Finally they apply the International Paint ‘Gelshield’ Epoxy Paint System to the underwater section of the hull at an additional cost if required.

Sealine F34

I had a trip up to Lincoln today and Burton Waters Yacht Sales to Survey this 2008 Sealine F34 Motor Yacht for Pre Purchase.

In my opinion there are several reasons for buying a Sealine cruiser over, say, a Princess or Fairline, including value for money, though not at the expense of loosing quality.

As a Surveyor and being out on a number of sea trials over the last few months, looking at the competition, the Sealine was less noisy and choppy at sea - a sentiment echoed by others.

They Survey really well…. especially this F34 model. Great access through to the bow thruster, seacocks, water tanks amidships. Tons of space forward of the fuels tanks and gaining good access through to the sewage and hot water tanks. The Websato warm air heater stands alone and is very accessible. Then back to the huge engine bay with ample room to check all the necessaries.

Osmosis! Forget it…. Its unheard of on a later Sealine hull!

Plenty of Sealine Cruisers up for sale at Burton Waters. According to the Brokers they have had a very good season..

 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