Glastron GS249

I Surveyed yet another American Sports Cruiser today… I have never seen so many on the Norfolk Broads as this year. The great thing about the Glastron 249 is the price, and i can totally understand why they are proving so popular. Something similar to this 2000 model will cost you only £25K,   that’s with the more economical 150 Volvo diesel, which is much more suitable for use on the Norfolk Broads. They are normally fitted with a petrol 260hp, 5.0L Mercruiser.

For a 24-foot family cruiser. The GS 249 offers ample passenger seating, a foldout sun lounge and Bimini top. Below deck: a spacious galley, V-berth, dinette and aft cabin. The cabin is spacious and comfortable... with all the needed items (stove, ice box & head).

Surveyors comments.
It looks great!, flashy, nicely styled, with colour accents that work.

There’s a "water trap" between the cockpit & cabin in which the drain is well above the floor of the trap. According to the many reviews on the net, this leads to accumulation of dirt and debris.

Marex 280 Holiday

Today’s assignment- This was an unusual boat to see on the Norfolk Broads. This was a Pre-purchase Survey. My Pre-Purchase Surveys give you confidence in what you are buying. They are comprehensive inspections covering structural integrity, safety, condition of machinery and equipment, as well as overall maintenance and cosmetic appearance.

Marex are a Norwegian Company, apparently Marex means King of the Sea. A bit of a claim, but any boat built by the Vikings is good enough for me!

Nice layout this, the after cabin is reasonably spacious, and a cruising couple could sleep in there while leaving the saloon free for living in. I suspect, however, that the most time will be spent in the spacious cockpit - plenty of seating, and the galley upstairs. Not the most secure with the open cockpit, however, i like the idea very much – very sociable, very practical – wife can steer the boat, kids can fish over the side while hubby cooks and washes up, all in the same place – marvellous!

Keith from Brundall Bay Marina jet washing her off prior to the underbody inspection

 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    

 

Twilight Class Cruiser

I Surveyed this lovely old Twilight Class Broads Yacht today down at Southgates in Horning. Built by Herbert Woods in the 1940,s.

Southgates new owners have turned the old shed into a service station, bought in a new hydraulic hoist (big foot) and have lots of room for winter storage. They provide the hire fleet with pump outs, fuel and water....

Ideal work place for wooden boats at Southgates in Horning

Slipping her back into the water

Surveyors comments:
Opening Up
Concealed areas within a hull are always a problem but, most wood vessels are constructed in such a way that enough access is available to make a fair assessment. It is usually possible to pull up floors (such as screwed in place plywood panels and the like) and remove enough paneling that one can get a fairly good glimpse of the bottom and lower sides. Carrying an electric screw gun is a must in order to do this quickly and effectively.

Planks & Frames Three important tools are a slim but heavy gauge pry bar - of the sort used for pulling nails - a heavy hammer and a large standard blade screwdriver. Check the joints between planks and frames visually, looking for gaps or any sign that the plank is not tight against the frame. Then use the screw driver to test the wood for softness on both plank and frame near the mating surface. Soft wood and cracked frames are dangerous conditions that mandate repair.

Try to slip the pry bar under the frame and pry gently. Does the frame move or rock slightly? If so, there is a fastener problem. This should be done at every opportunity along the keel or garboard area. If the frame ends are split or soft, repairs are necessary. If dealing with tall, sawn frames, one can hit the frame with the hammer to see if it is loose.

Certainly its not feasible to go through the entire hull testing all frames and planks in this manner, and fortunately it is not necessary except for the keel area where this needs to be done wherever possible. Further up from the keel, we can limit our physical testing by looking for signs of weepage. Anytime there is evidence of water migrating through seams, corrosion of fasteners has to be suspected. Weepage shows up in various ways, often depending on whether the wood is painted or bare, its age and so on.

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

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

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.

 
 
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

 

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

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.

 

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

Broadland Holiday 1954

Kayla promotes Broads lifejacket campaign

A nine year old girl who won a Broads Authority competition to promote its lifejacket campaign last year is back holidaying on the Broads with her grandparents this week.

Kayla Dyne from South Ockenden, Essex, is on holiday with her grandparents, George and Gloria Dyne, who have been holidaying on the Southern Broads for over 30 years.

For the last six years they have been hiring cruisers from Silverline Marine, run by Colin and Lesley Dye at Brundall.
Kayla entered a competition in the Broads Authority’s Broadcaster visitor magazine to design a badge or sticker carrying an important safety message.

She said: “It’s very important to wear a life jacket. If you don’t and you fall in you can get very hurt.”

The Broads Authority launched its Wear It safety campaign in April to warn boaters to wear life jackets after five people died while boating on the Broads last year. None of them was wearing a life jacket and it is believed that four of them might still be alive if they had been wearing one. Wear It posters are now displayed at boat yards around the Broads and hire boats have all been issued with keyrings displaying the safety message.

Kayla was presented with one of the keyrings, a Wear It wind-up torch and a Broads goody bag as her prize.
Kayla, who has been accompanying her grandparents for three years and is already selecting next year’s boat, says she loves the Broads because it is so “calm” and she loves being outdoors.

She is also a keen fisherwoman and has beaten her granddad in a contest by landing a 16-18lb pike at Coldham Hall, on the River Yare.
Gloria, 65, from Basildon in Essex, said they often came to the southern Broads twice a year.

“We just love it,” she said. “My husband is a driving instructor and he loves slowing down. It’s so peaceful and we love being on the water.”
George, 63, said: “I love the freedom and the friendliness of the people here. This yard is very special.”

Sheerline 740 Forward Steer.

I had a visit to Sheerline Boats at Thorpe in Norwich on Friday. This was one of their early boats they were renovating for a new owner. She was built in 1985. They are quite rare these little forward steer Sheerline 740’s and don’t come on the market that often. It is a superb day cruiser or converts to a most comfortable overnight boat.

The boys at Sheerline busy polishing the hull ready for the hand over.

The forward helm position has twin sliding overhead canopies for all weather cruising and the craft's height and width make the majority of the UK inland waterways available. This boat originally had one roof, but Sheerline have divided into two to give the boat a more modern feel and it represents the twin roof version of their newer models.

The newer model they are producing has two interior layouts - Flair and Finesse. Both have a fully equipped galley and a shower and toilet compartment to provide full comfort facilities. The Flair option could be considered a day boat for up to 12 people, converting to occasional use as an overnight boat with berths for two people - either as two singles or a large double. The Finesse option is a mid-engined craft and overnight accommodation is achieved with a fixed double berth in the aft cabin. The forward saloon has a high quality wrap-around settee that converts to an additional double berth.

Take a look at their website for more details:

http://www.sheerlinemotorcruisers.com/pages/index

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

Hampton Safari Mk III

I surveyed another little Hampton Safari River Cruiser yesterday. I’m always impressed by these little Broads Cruisers and I totally understand why they are so popular… they are the perfect floating caravan and very affordable.

Please search my Blog (box top left) for the Safari History and other various models i have inspected over the years.

Surveyors comment:

Prices vary…. Boat prices have slumped since the recession, but still expect to pay 18K for a beauty. 12K will find you an ex hire needing some TLC.

They always seem to have a few blisters (osmosis) on the bottom, but don’t worry to much. Ive never seen one with blisters that have reached serious proportions that would affect the structural integrity of the boat.... the hulls thick and well built.

Its always worth pulling up all the floor boards and checking all the softwood floor joists for any rot.

Water test the window seals with a hose pipe. They can be expensive to remove and restore.

Walk around the decks, foredeck and coach roofs. They should be solid underfoot.

Mk II versions… check the sliding roof has not cracked in the corners.

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