Rebel Chieftain

Anyone who has a day off this week and would like to take my Rebel back from Hickling Broad to Horning Yacht Club for me (½ day sail - 2 man job). Please drop me a mail…. Just not going to have the time during the next few days…

 

Princess 37

I was working down at Norfolk Yacht Agency today Surveying this Classic Cruiser for a pre-purchase sale. Marine Projects built over 350 Princess 37’s from 1973 to 1981. She was one of many Princess designed by John Bennett.

The boat sleeps five in three separate cabins, including the wheelhouse/ saloon, which has a dinette-cum double berth. Like the Princess 33, the boat was unusual in being available with a choice of hulls- Y shaped or deep-vee, the former with flattish aft sections and a long shallow keel, designed for displacement and semi displacement speeds…. this one designed for high speed.

The Y hull boats were commonly fitted with 2 x 120hp Ford Mermaid inboard diesels, driving the boat up to 16 knots. The deep - vee models were fitted with a variety of twin inboards. A pair of 180hp Ford Mermaids, giving a top speed of 18 to 20 knots was the most popular option on the earlier boats. Many later ones have more powerful engines such as 235hp Volvos which could drive the boat up to 22 knots. This one was ‘top of the range’ with 300hp Mermaids…. top speed 28 knots!!

Leading Lady Herbert Woods

I had the pleasure of Surveying one of the old Yachts built by Herbert Woods yesterday. Herbert Woods is one of the oldest boatyards still operating on the Broads, and has a long legacy of classic designs. As a testament to their build-quality, a number of the 1930s wooden craft are still around today.

 

Wood carvel construction. Built in the late 1930s by Herbert Woods as one of a class of 6 for his hire fleet

 

 

 

 

Bermuda 34

I had the morning at Wayford bridge marina Surveying this Bermuda 34 broads cruiser.
 

Such was the success of the Caribbean that after three years service a much needed smaller sister mould was launched for the 1969 season. With one less bedroom the 34ft Bermuda class was otherwise very similar to her big sister, in both appearance and layout, with all the popular features including: Aft mounted engine for quiet cruising. Spacious saloon with double bed that could remain made up and simply folded upwards out of the way during the daytime.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Surveyors comments: These boats were built with a double gelcoat which is great news when it comes to the dreaded osmosis. Underneath the bottom of any blister will show a smooth, glossy appearance with no evidence of a glass fibre or fibre pattern showing. Basically the outer gelcoat acts as a barrier layer, this absorbs the water pressure leaving the second layer usually pristine and like new. it’s a shame not more builders followed this procedure….

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grand Banks trip

The trip from Inverness to Norfolk is now just over 2 weeks away.... lets hope this fine weather keeps...Ive been busy getting basic stores and some safety equipment together. Ive managed to borrow a lot of stuff, so a big thanks to all. Most important being a ‘fuel scrubber’ to cleanse the fuel tanks. Home made gadget with a large independent filter.

O yes…. Plus ive just ordered 3 more Imray charts… might be handy to know where were going!