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

More videos from RichardsonsBoating (playlist)

Broadsman 2 off to Sheerline.... cant wait to see the fit out and all the goodies...

Birchwood 22

I Surveyed this Birchwood 22 today down at Boulter Marine in Horning on the Northern Broads. The Birchwood 22 is a clever design of an open plan cruiser, offering generous accommodation for her size.

The guys at Boulter Marine have a great old hoist.... the boats can be lifted in minutes...

The Birchwood 22 first came out in 1970 and featured an open plan cabin arrangement for four people. The reasonably sized cockpit has a GRP hardtop fitted. About 100 were built up to 1980.

The hull shape is medium V. Various makes and powers of diesel and petrol outdrives were fitted. The mould was also used for the Birchwood 22 Interceptor.

The first models were called the interceptor range, had a shorter wheelhouse hardtop and were all outdriven.

The 22 version featured a longer hardtop and most models had inboard engines, with conventional shaft drive. The shaft was some what protected by a tunnel moulding in the hull.

Engines in the early Interceptor versions features Volvo 115/130 petrol outdrive engines. Later Birchwood had Wortham Blake petrol shaft drives. This one had the Seawolf 30HP petrol engine fitted.

Surveyors comments: The hull mouldings are thick and solid. Because of the thickness of the hull, some osmosis blistering will be normally seen across the underbody. One common misconception is that blisters seriously weaken and/or damage boat hulls. In years of surveying and examining various hulls with differing types of blistering I have seen very few cases that have resulted in serious structural degradation of a hull where it has weakened to a point where some type of failure was imminent.

Check for window leaks and water damage to internal bulkheads.

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

Ten new angling platforms in the Broads

The Broads Authority and the Environment Agency have installed ten new wooden angling platforms in an important fishing area on the River Waveney in order to improve facilities for anglers.

Access on an existing 150m stretch of reed bed has been improved by the installation of new platforms and a boardwalk. A new bank upstream has also been prioritised for angling to compensate for a restriction on fishing from the adjacent small and busy 24 hour mooring at Worlingham.

Two of the angling platforms close to the car park have a granite path to take wheelchairs and eight provide access over the reeds. The platforms should help to prevent the rond eroding while providing a safe, dry platform for anglers to sit on and be free of disturbance by boats.

The Broads Authority and the Environment Agency worked in partnership with the Broads Angling Strategy Group to plan the platforms which have been installed at a cost of £50,000. The Broads Authority paid for the materials and the Environment Agency paid for the construction.

Mark Casto, chairman of the Broads Angling Strategy Group said: “This is a fantastic resource for local anglers to enjoy because not only is it a good safe place to fish, it’s a really lovely spot. We particularly welcome the creation of two new swims and easy access facilities, which has given all anglers a real alternative when the moorings are busy at Worlingham.”

The fishing platforms are already proving very popular. A young local angler, who has been fishing at Worlingham since he was nine, said: “I am now 26 and this is the best thing that anyone has done for fishing.”