Motorboat Owner Magazine January 2020 by Digital Marine Media Ltd

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Motorboat JANUARY 2020

Owner Affordable practical boating

BOAT TEST

XO 270 Cabin Destination Guide Seamaster 813 l Spectro Oil Analysis kits l Broom 425 ‘My Boat’

LOWESTOFT

Welcome to the January issue. It

From the Editor

Motorboat Owner Digital Marine Media Ltd Suite 6 Philpot House, Station Road, Rayleigh, Essex SS6 7HH t: 01268 922991

editorial@motorboatowner.co.uk

still feels odd that we are entering a new year and we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have a London Boat Show to look forward to. Fortunately, Boot DĂźsseldorf is available to take up the slack and, if the number of press releases we have received are anything to go by, it looks like it should be another great show with lots of new boats and products on display. If flying overseas seems a bit too much effort to ogle new

Editor, Neale Byart 01268 922992 neale@motorboatowner.co.uk Associate Editor, Claire Frew 01268 922993 claire@motorboatowner.co.uk

January 2020

welcome aboard

©JClaxton/Broads Authority

Oulton Broad provides the perfect insight into boating on the Broads. See our guide to Lowestoft on page 18

fibreglass, there are many regional shows happening right here at home throughout the year, with dates being announced regularly. Take a look at our diary dates list on page 12 and keep an eye on it over the next few months as new shows and dates are released. While we are currently slap bang in the middle of winter, with the days at their shortest and temperatures their

lowest, it can be hard to sum up excitement about the forthcoming season. Personally, I think it’s one of the best times of the year, not just because I enjoy a spot of winter boating, but because it is great to start making plans for the summer with the full knowledge that you still have plenty of time to schedule your maintenance and upgrades before the clocks go forward. I’ve spent a couple of days locked in my workshop progressing our project boat mechanicals, and am pleased to declare that 2020 will be the year that the hull gets wet. Yes, there is still much to do with the rest of the boat, but as soon as the engine is running I am going to be taking it for a sea trial before phase two of the project, everything else! Whether your boating plans for this year mean you are going to spend most of it upside down in a bilge, or standing at the helm with the wind in your hair, I wish you all fair winds and calm seas in 2020.

Sub Editor, Pam Born Production Editor, John Frew

Subscriptions: 01268 922991 subscriptions@motorboatowner.co.uk

Advertising: 01268 922994 Brokerage, classified & display Advertising Manager, John Steward advertising@motorboatowner.co.uk

Contributors: Alex Smith, Simon Everett, Paul Killick, David Broad Cover photo: XO 270 Cabin on test off Pwllheli by Claire Frew

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

E 52 S EVOLUZIONE

DISCOVER THE NEXT GENERATION OF CRANCHI YACHTS AT THE DÃ&#x153;SSELDORF BOAT SHOW A celebration of the larger Cranchi models, Boot 2020 sees the launch of the new flagship Cranchi 78 Settantotto, plus the elegant M 44 HT, the stylish E 52 S Evoluzione and the beautiful 60 ST. Come to the show and experience the Cranchi charm for yourself.

01933 551606 | cranchi@tingdene.net

See us at Boot 2020 - Hall 6 Stand A21

CONTENTS JANUARY 2020

REGULARS

7 Motorboat Owner

PROJECT BOAT

Then, with clamped the U joints holding in a vice and type scalethe gear, use spring pretensions to measure the

NEWS page 6 INBOX page 16 CUTTING EDGE page 32 Q&A page 46 TESTED page 60

Gradually tighte centre bolt until n the bearing the between box will spin with pull on 0.55 and 1.1lb origin al beari s of ngs

Once prete nsion shims that were is set, any during disassembremoved be reins ly shou talled ld 12

A thin layer then appli of sealant is surface ed to the matin on the g upper unit

Vixen PROJECT Fairline 13

was the best part of Speedi-Sleeve itself with a bit of I had the washer finished up last month £20 and, by the time end of the Volvo take it, plus additional a dilemma. The top machined down to ready to be put was added due to 290A drive was almost work after the sleeve too wide, being Movi size I discovered that what ng on as the, the nearest available back together when to the beari expensive washer that was as top cover, it was getting almost matinangnew I thought was a simple the two rust was, in fact, tag for surfaone. nigh on, £60 price thoro gthe showing some surface and ces were rescue to for the main input Luckily, Google came ughly the running surface cleaned came with a hefty part is produced I found out that this shaft seal. This washer at the possibility of suppliers Sierra Marine. aftermarket by price tag, so I looked 72 to it to create this company Frustratingly, although installing a Speedi-Sleeve surface. of very useful running supply a vast range a new, smooth, seal that the was plan this January 2020 The problem with

The beari be reins ng box can then talled onto drive uppe The four r unit. the require then be retaining bolts This may gentle tightened can to tight tappi required to the tolerances ng due the 290A torque, 35nm for drive

A new sealing included ring, gasket in the top end kit month, bought last was fitted

Again, the work manual shop calls for sealant some to was appli be used, whic ed to the h top cover

70 Janua

ry 2020

page 64 Project Boat

Fairline Vixen

plus Volvo Penta 290 rebuild and stripping trim rams

p64 PRACTICAL

©JClaxton/Broads Authority

page 60 Tested

Project Boat: Volvo 290 drive rebuild

Spectro Oil Analysis kit page 70 Hooked

Fishing for Cod

p18

p60 LOWESTOFT Destination Guide

p??

BOAT TEST

p72

Seamaster 813

CLASSIC CRUISER GUIDE Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

XO 270 Cabin

NEWS Hireboat code consultation Broads Authority/JBass

A new consultation could see changes and safety improvements made to hire fleet boats and operations across the UK inland waterways network. In December, the marine organisations, British Marine and the Association of Inland Navigation Authorities (AINA) have launched a consultation on proposed changes to the existing 2008 code. Known as the ‘Hire Boat Code’, it takes into consideration modern advances in design, construction and operation, ensuring the licensing framework is fit for the future. It includes changes to the responsibilities for hire boat operators, hirers and hire boat licensing authorities of sailing boats over 6m LOA and powered boats of all lengths, as well as amendments to key technical standards. For some hire boat operators, this may incur significant one-off cost implications. The existing Code is voluntary, however the revised code is intended to be adopted as mandatory. The consultation closing date is the 9th March 2020 and it is available to view online at aina.org.uk/hireboatcodeconsultation.

South Coast Boat Show to expand Returning for a second year, the South Coast Boat Show has welcomed a headline sponsor the marine electronics company, Raymarine, and will be expanding for 2020. Due to be held at Southampton’s MDL Ocean Village Marina over the weekend of 15-17 May, the show will have additional berths for new boats and a new marine exhibition area ashore, showcasing services such as insurers and finance companies. As well as new products, its headline sponsor, Raymarine, intends to showcase its new DockSense assisted docking system on the marina. 6

January 2020

If you any have news from your region, please email us at

editorial@motorboatowner.co.uk

Sealine C390 V NEW BOAT The German boat builder, Sealine, has unveiled a new outboard-powered version of its C390, making it the largest outboard V model in the series. The two-to-three cabin 40ft coupe sportscruiser will be fitted with twin duoprop outboards up to 350hp, giving a top speed of up to 32 knots. The new engine configuration also provides a spacious under-cockpit lazerette area for storage in what was the engine bay. Prices are expected to start at €249,950 excluding engines and VAT.

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Premier Marinas ISO certification

The South coast marina operator, Premier Marinas, has been awarded ISO 45001:2018 certification, an internationally recognised standard for running effective occupational health and safety management systems. A 12-month review of its health and safety management system was conducted for this, with audits of the Swanwick head office and all marinas to ensure uniformity of working practices. Premier operates nine UK marinas and this award follows Premier’s ISO 14001:2015 Environmental Certification in 2018. Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

SUPPLY AND INSTALLATION OF VETUS BOW AND STERN THRUSTERS J C Marine Services specialize in the supply and installation of Vetus Bow and Stern Thrusters, with a lifetime warranty on GRP work, three years manufacturer’s warranty on all Vetus parts We have also designed and manufactured our own external stern box, ideal for twin stern drive vessels.

Bow & Stern Thruster Installation Specialist Price List 2019 Approx size *25kgf Bow / Stern Thruster supplied & fitted £2750 / 18 ft - 28 ft *55kgf Bow / Stern Thruster supplied & fitted £3250 / 28 ft - 41 ft *75kgf Bow / Stern Thruster supplied & fitted £3750 / 34 ft - 51 ft *95kgf Bow / Stern Thruster supplied & fitted £4250 / 39 ft - 59 ft Installation includes Thruster, tunnel/pod, looms, control, battery, battery box, fuse and fuse holder, Isolator switch & battery recharge kit Nationwide service available Thrust-It Remotes Compatible with: Vetus – SidePower – Craftsman £125 plus £5 p&p : DĂƌŝŶĞ ^ĞƌǀŝĐĞƐ hŶŝƚ Ϯϵ :ƵďŝůĞĞ ŶĚ >ĂǁĨŽƌĚ͕ ƐƐĞǆ Kϭ ϭhZ :ŽŶ ϬϳϴϱϰϬϬϵϵϴϬ ŝŶĨŽΛũĐŵĂƌŝŶĞƐĞƌǀŝĐĞ͘ĐŽ͘ƵŬ ǁǁǁ͘ũĐŵĂƌŝŶĞƐĞƌǀŝĐĞ͘ĐŽ͘ƵŬ

NEWS Saga Boats 60th anniversary The Norwegian boat builder, Saga Boats, will celebrate its 60th anniversary in 2020 and celebrations will coincide with the launch of its new 385 model at the Boot Dusseldorf show this January. Sagaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s story began in 1960 when the Drageseth family built their first boat in a little town on the north west coast of Norway, north of Bergen, called Selje. Their boat known as Joller, followed traditional, local boat lines. Such was its success, from 1967, brothers Asbjorn Saga 20 1967, top and the Saga and Wald Drageseth were building their first production models, the Saga 20 and Sagaling 30. 700 launched in 1976 bottom Focusing on practical, semi-planing hull forms with keel-protected transmission and sterngear, Saga soon became a wellestablished Scandinavian builder and a succession of Saga models followed, including a new flagship 35 model in 1978. Then in 1991 its successful Saga 26 was introduced which remained a best seller worldwide for many years. Today, Saga is still run by the same family, with father and son, Idar and Solve, now running a modern state-of-the-art factory facility which is one of the major local employers in Selje. New for 2020, the 385 model is a hardtop wheelhouse cruiser offering 6 berths, with a clever mid cabin with a double and single berth, and a bow cabin with a double island berth. Power is provided by a single Volvo Penta D6-435 shaftdrive diesel. You can see the 385 model, as pictured below, on the Saga Boats stand D22 in Hall 4 at Boot Dusseldorf (18th-26th January).

January 2020

SagaMBYFeb20-FINAL.pdf

23/11/2019

16:21

NEWS Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge Thirty five rowing teams are currently making their way across the Atlantic for the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge. Over 100 rowers from around the world departed San Sebastian in the Canary Islands on the 12th of December, bound for Antiqua, on the 3000mile journey across the Atlantic, which is sponsored for the 6th time by Talisker Whisky. The challenge fleet, which includes 13 UK boats, is currently half way across the Atlantic and rowers blogs tell of ‘sea sickness, sore bottoms but overall exhilaration’.

Thames winter lock closures Environment Agency (EA) has announced its list of locks that will be closed as part of its winter investment programme. Each year the EA carries out a programme of works on the River Thames between October and Easter and the listed locks will be closed from the first date listed and re-open on the day after the final date. Locks due to be closed are Hambleden Lock 4th Nov-28th Feb, Shifford Lock 18th Nov-31st Jan, Sandford Lock 22nd Nov-31st Jan 2020, Whitchurch Lock 9th Dec-31st Jan, Rushey Lock 14th Jan-14th Feb, Boulter’s Lock 2nd-31st Mar and Caversham Lock 2nd-31 Mar. The River Thames is currently flowing fast due to heavy rainfall during November and December, with flooding in some areas. 10

January 2020

If you any have news from your region, please email us at

editorial@motorboatowner.co.uk

Pearl 62 NEW BOAT The British-based motorboat manufacturer, Pearl Yachts, will be unveiling its new 62 model at the Boot Düsseldorf boat show in Germany this January. Designed by Bill Dixon with interiors by Kelly Hoppen MBE, the new base flybridge model measures 18.6 metres and offers nine berths, with four cabins and a crew cabin. Its features include a self contained full beam master mid cabin suite, a spacious flybridge with a hardtop and a split level saloon area with a galley set aft. MBO understand that it has already sold to a UK buyer and will be presented to its new owner at the show.

Fairline Targa 58 GTB NEW BOAT Fairline Yachts, is bringing beach-club style to its new Targa 58 GTB hardtop sportscruiser. Designed in conjunction ??? Italian superyacht designer, with Alberto Mancini, the 58 GTB features a unique, superyacht ‘beach club’ bathing platform area with retractable aft quarters. This area also serves as storage for a Williams 345 jet rib and Seadoo Spark jet ski. The three-cabin 58 GTB will be priced from £1,100,000 excluding taxes and will be available with five different engine options, including Volvo, MAN and Caterpillar, with power outputs ranging from 1800 to 2600hp giving an estimated top speed of 36 knots.

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Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

NEWS Hybrid power for Seaward The Isle of Wight boat builder, Seaward, is now offering its 29 model with hybrid power. A multi-mode hybrid system has been developed for the boat in conjunction with British engineers, Hybrid Marine, which will power the boat alongside Yanmar diesel engines to help reduce noise and emissions, and use less fuel. Three modes see the boat operating in an electric ‘battery only’ mode, or driven by a generator or, for cruising distances, diesel power with a pair of Yanmar 4LVs providing a top speed of approximately 25 knots and a range of up to 200 miles.

DIARY DATES Boot Düsseldorf 18th-26th January Vene Båt Helsinki 7th-16th February North Essex Boat Jumble 29th March Horning Boat Show 2nd May Thames Valley & London Boat Show 8th-10th May Brundall Boat Show 16th May South Coast Boat Show 15th-17th May All Wales Boat & Leisure Show 29th-30th May Poole Harbour Boat Show 12th-18th June Click any of the above for more info

Princess apprenticeships British boat builder, Princess Yachts, has more than doubled its apprentice intake and has confirmed its partnership with South Devon College. The company will move its training facility to the college’s Marine Academy on the banks of the River Dart. Princess state that the rise from 20 to 42 trainees reflects a strong 24 months and an expansion of the business, which is considered to be one of Britain’s biggest and best builder of luxury yachts.

0800 310 2100

Marine Electronics in stock for immediate dispatch.

Chargers - Inverters - Galvanic Isolators - Fuses Fuse holders - Crossover switches - Cable Sets - Batteries

sales@mdsbattery.co.uk

January 2020

NEWS Windboats celebrates 100 years 2020 marks the centenary year for the UK boat builder and producers of Hardy boats, Windboats. The company was established in 1920 by Graham Bunn, a master craftsman and boat designer, and the yard went on to produce what is described as ‘one of the finest fleets of hire boats on the Norfolk Broads’’, which later became known as the ‘Windboats’. After producing a series of vessels for World War II, in 1945 the yard was the purchased by Donald Hagenbach, who diversified the business into building aluminium boats in 1957 and ferro cement construction. The business changed hands for a third time in 1974, purchased by Windboats’ own Production Director and Naval Architect, Trevor James. The company then moved into GRP yacht production in 1983, and a 30-year relationship with prestigious Oyster Marine was established. In 2013, when Oyster moved its production in-house, Windboats acquired the Norfolk motorboat builder, Hardy Marine, with its 32-62ft range of models. Trevor’s son Oliver James joined the company in 1999 and became Managing Director in 2010. Four years later his father sadly passed away and today Oliver continues to head up the company, with a partnership created with British yacht brand, Gunfleet Marine. 2020 marks the 46th year of James family ownership and the company plans to roll out a range of hybrid options for the Hardy model range. Sure enough, in December, the company unveiled a new Hardy 36AD (aft deck) model that will be powered by hybrid diesel electric. The aft cabin model will be fitted with a single 250hp engine as standard or twin 220hp engines, both with the option to go hybrid diesel electric. Top, the early years of transporting to the sea and left, the new Hardy 36AD 14

January 2020

INBOX

Time to varnish

It’s that time of year again when we are all looking at varnish repairs. I have looked at your website but cannot find anything about varnish in your report index at all which surprises me as I would have thought you might have looked at some over the years. If you do have such reports could you please direct me accordingly or, if not, perhaps it might be a good time to ask readers what they think of two-pack varnishes or other ‘best’ varnishes which they have tried. Keep up the good work. Graham Archard Editor comments: Looking after wood has been on my radar as a subject to cover, but a lack of wood to maintain has been a bit of an obstacle. What I can pass on though, is a recommendation from a friend with lots of wood on his boat. Le Tonkinois, sold by Brian at boat shows, is said to be a great product.

Magazine article download

I would like to congratulate you on the excellent article on the Broom 345, which was published in the November issue. I own one these aft cabin cruisers and wondered whether it was possible to obtain a copy of this article for me to keep on file as, understandably, it is not available to be downloaded individually. Thank you Howard Fitzpatrick Editor comments: Thank you for your email and for your lovely comments. You can download the full November issue as a PDF by logging into the MBO website and visiting the back issues section. If you have an iPad, we recommend downloading and saving issues, which are fairly small file sizes (usually round 12mb), into the iBooks application.

January 2020

email:

editorial@motorboatowner.co.uk

BACK

TIME

You may have heard of the Shetland 4+2? Well this is the 20ft 2+2 from the 1980s. It was described by Shetland at the time in its brochure as the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Commodore of our fleetâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

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Guernsey Lowestoft The coastal port of Lowestoft is not only a valuable east coast bolthole, it is described as the best all-tides entry, and the gateway into, the Broads National Park

n the northernmost corner of the Suffolk coast lies a town that is steeped in maritime history, and a two-mile long harbour that provides an essential and preferred gateway to the Broads National Park, Lowestoft. Lowestoft began life as a small farming village that later developed into a fishing

port during the Middle Ages, with herring as its trade. By the 19th century, a rail link to nearby Norwich and beyond saw Lowestoft established as a seaside resort. Harbour developments also brought new wealth to the town through its fishing industry, rivalling that of nearby Great Yarmouth. Inland, the River

January 2020

Destination ©JClaxton/Broads Authority

THE WASH

LOWESTOFT

Wells-next-the-Sea

NORTH SEA

King’s Lynn

Great Yarmouth

Lowestoft

Sonning Windsor

London

ENGLISH CHANNEL DBroad

Waveney, Oulton Broad and Lowestoft inner harbour were linked to provide a necessary route for trade to Norwich. However, with a navy base established at the port, Lowestoft was very much a target during the two world wars, and it is thought to have been the most heavily bombed town in the UK during World War II. With the fishing and ship building industries diminishing by the 1960s, Lowestoft became a base for service vessels, and a source of employment for

the locals, in the lucrative North Sea oil business and, more recently, the wind farms established along this coast. Today, for leisure boaters, Lowestoft is often a preferred option for entering the Broads over nearby Great Yarmouth, but it is also a very useful bolthole for sea passages along this, often quite barren, coast. Visitors can overnight in a marina basin overlooked by Lowestoft’s striking 130 year-old yacht club, the Royal Norfolk & Suffolk Yacht Club, with the bustling

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

East coast boating bolthole. The RN&SYC is a welcoming stopping-off point for coastal passages

town and beach promenade closeby, or proceed on into Lowestoftâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Inner Harbour, also known as Lake Lothing, which offers a leisure marina and a myriad of interesting boatyards. Two nautical miles west of the Lowestoft entrance lies Mutford Lock, which provides entry to the Broads and approximately 120 miles of navigable inland waterways. Immediately the other side of the lock lies a broad and a town that share the same name. Oulton Broad provides the perfect insight into boating on the Broads. In contrast to the more commercial Lowestoft, and

boatyard-studded Lake Lothing, Oulton Broad is a pretty and family friendly boating haven offering ample visitor moorings and plenty of amenities closeby. Suffolk County Council is currently awaiting a decision on a third road crossing over Lake Lothing, between the existing Bascule Bridge and Mutford Lock Bridge, with a view to it being built and opened by 2022. The new multi-million pound lifting bridge is proposed to be higher than the existing Bascule Bridge, so a number of boats will still be able to pass underneath without the need to lift.

Approaches

A new bridge across Lake Lothing is proposed which has an estimated build date of 2022

When navigating the Norfolk and Suffolk coastline it is essential to have the latest up-to date charts and software onboard, as its sandbanks can shift. There are now also wind farms on banks where channels used to be. The website, East Coast Pilot, from the writers of the Imray pilot book of the

January 2020

Destination

LOWESTOFT

Distances

Approximate distances in nautical miles from Lowestoft: • Great Yarmouth 8 miles • Southwold 12 miles • River Deben entrance 33 miles • Harwich 40 miles • Wells next-the-sea 56 miles • Ijmuiden 103 miles Mutford Lock links Lowestoft to the Broads

same name, is also an excellent reference for news and harbour notices in the area. The entrance fairway is dredged to 4.7m, but be aware of shoaling and drying areas to the south. Lowestoft is sheltered by the Scrobie Sands and Cockle sandbanks. However, be wary in wind against tide situations in the entrance. In easterlies and strong south easterlies, the entrance can be uncomfortable, especially on an ebb tide. Strong tidal currents run across the entrance, going south 6 hrs before HW Dover and north at HW Dover. Your first point of approach from the south and east are the Newcome Sand and South Holm Buoys, which mark the Stanford Channel that leads between two off-lying sandbanks. For passages from the north and Great Yarmouth, use the Corton Road channel inside of Holm Sand. As Lowestoft is a fairly busy port for pilot boats, fishing and wind farm vessels and large container ships, leisure boaters entering need to be aware of such commercial shipping departing or entering the harbour. Boats entering are required to radio ‘Lowestoft Port Control’ on VHF Channel 14 (01502 572286) once

Weather

• RN&SYC weather station • Met Office Shipping Forecast Thames • Met Office Inshore Waters Gibraltar Point to North Foreland • Wind Guru forecast Lowestoft • East Coast Pilot weather links • BBC Forecast Wash to Harwich • North Sea buoy actuals

Charts & Pilot Books

• Imray 2000 Suffolk & Essex Coasts - Lowestoft to River Crouch chart folio • Imray East Coast Pilot - Great Yarmouth to Ramgsate • Admiralty Chart 1535 Lowestoft and Approaches • Imray C28 East Coast - Harwich to Wells-next-the-Sea chart • Fernhurst East Coast Rivers Cruising Companion • Admiralty SC5614 East Coast Orford Ness To Whitby folio • Reeds Eastern Almanac

Webcams & AIS

• RN&SYC Webcam • Lowerstoft AIS (KM Electronics)

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

©RN&SYC

The entrance to the Royal Norfolk and Suffolk Yacht Club marina is south off the main fairway

within a nautical mile of the harbour, and will need to obey the traffic light signals on South Pier. If these show red, entry is prohibited. The entrance is identified by its two white light towers marking its two outer entrance piers. Once through the entrance the speed limit is 4 knots. South west in the outer harbour is the Royal Norfolk and Suffolk Yacht Club (VHF ch 80) marina basin, where visitor berthing is available, subject to space. Due to the possibility of being turned away, if full, an

arrival timed at least 20 minutes prior to a Bascule bridge opening is advisable, in case you need to venture further into the harbour for a mooring. Lowestoft’s Bascule Bridge provides access to the boatyards in Lake Lothing and Lowestoft Haven Marina, Oulton Broad Yacht Station and the Broads. The bridge opens for small craft at set times 0300, 0500, 0700, 0945, 1115, 1430, 1600, 1900, 2100, 2400 Monday to Friday, with an extra lift at 1800 at weekends and

not to be used for navigation

LOWESTOFT APPROACHES

BASCULE BRIDGE

ENTRANCE

Proposed Third Crossing Oulton Broad North Mutford Carlton Lock Rail Bridge

OULTON BROAD

Yacht Station Oulton Broad South

Lowestoft Marina

Lowestoft Cruising Club

Lowestoft Town Centre

LAKE Lowestoft Haven Marina

LOTH IN

DOC

Bascule Bridge

Waiting Pontoon

HAMILTON DOCK

WAVENEY DOCK

TRAWL DOCK

RN&SYC Broadlands Marina

Entry to Lowestoft Harbour is all tides, with its Bascule Lifting Bridge operating a published times 22

January 2020

Destination

LOWESTOFT

Marine supplies

Visitors pass through swing bridge, Carlton Railway Bridge, to gain access to the Broads

bank holidays. It is also possible, through prior contact with Port Control, to share a bridge lift with incoming commercial traffic. Leisure boats need to contact Port Control at least 20 minutes before a scheduled bridge lift and, once logged, may be directed to wait in the Bridge Channel, or on the waiting pontoon in the east end of the Trawl Dock, which is the dock immediately north of the bridge approaches. The Waveney and Hamilton docks, to the north, are reserved for commercial and fishing vessels. With the necessary clearance, small craft can pass beneath the bridge (approx. 2.2m at mean high water springs) but are still required to call Port Control. Once through the bridge, moving further west, you will pass through Lowestoftâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s commercial docks, which are concentrated to starboard. This section is called Lake Lothing and has numerous boatyards and industrial buildings. After the channel bears round to the south west, approximately 1.5nm from the outer harbour, there is Lowestoft Haven Marina to port, with the Lowestoft Cruising Club opposite. What follows is a myriad of boatyards and moorings each side, many of which are overlooked by industrial high-rise sheds and buildings. Rotting hulks of herring trawlers provide

Jeckells Chandlery (01502 565007) at Oulton Broad provides most boating essentials, as well as boat covers and upholstery. Used chandlery, Boat Bits and Pieces at Lowestoft Marina is a useful boating treasure trove. There are several electronics specialists at Lowestoft including KM Electronics/ YachtBits.com (01502 569079) and in Battery Green Road is Charity & Taylor (01502 573943) and SIRM UK Marine (01502 572365). Marine supplier ASAP Supplies (01502 716993) main branch at Beccles is a useful contact for deliveries in the area. In Lowestoft, Jackson Marine (01502 539772) deals with restorations, repairs and coatings supplies. Marine Tech (01603 270058) is a local outboard specialist and trailer supplier. Norfolk Marine Chandlers Ltd (01603 783150) is at Wroxham. French Marine Motors (01603 722079) provide numerous engine spares and engineering services. North Gate Marine (01502 390367) at Somerleyton are Volvo Penta specialists and Broom Boat Marine Services (01603 711811) at Brundall offer various engineering services. The RN&SYC has pumpout facilities on its fuel berth. Lowestoft Haven Marina is equipped with a 70-tonne hoist and offers hard standing, it also supplies gas cylinders. The Harbour Master at Oulton Yacht Station (01502 574946) offers towing/tug services, which may be useful for Broads breakdowns.

Motorboat Owner ÂŠ Digital Marine Media Ltd

a window into Lowestoftâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s maritime past but, in contrast, Lake Lothing is home to the International Boatbuilding Training College and a trust responsible for restored resident, MTB 102. At the western end of Lake Lothing, Mutford Lock connects Lowestoft Inner Harbour to Oulton Broad, which leads on to the southern Broads. The lock is operated daily, during specific working hours and subject to tide, and a transit or day return is ÂŁ13. Prior to Mutford Lock is Carlton Railway Bridge (a swing bridge) and Mutford Road Bridge (a lifting bridge), which are both immediately before the lock. Those wanting to go through Mutford Lock are advised to prearrange a transit at least 24 hours before, by calling the lock on 01502 531778 or the Oulton Broad Yacht Station 01502 574946 (VHF channel 73). For lock transits, the Oulton Broad Harbour Master, Yacht Station and lock team are responsible for opening the lock and the two lifting bridges, the road and pedestrian bridge, whilst coordinating with Carlton ???????????

Railway Bridge operators. Working hours are 8am-5pm April to October and 8-12am November to March. The friendly team, which includes Senior Harbour Master, Paul Rice, are also happy to advise on timings from seaward and also outbound passages from the Broads. A red flag displayed on Carlton Bridge indicates that it is manned and will open on request. Once through Carlton Railway Bridge, there is a useful lock waiting pontoon on the port side, and those arriving out of working hours can overnight here if necessary, although it is worth noting that it is not connected to shore. The road bridge has a clearance of 2.16 metres at mean high water springs (approximately 2.4 metres on the Lowestoft tide gauge), while the rail bridge has a clearance of 4.57m at MHWS. Mutford Lock is 22 metres long and 6.5 metres wide, and has a minimum depth 2 metres. There is a depth gauge outside the lock. It is recommended that boats with drafts exceeding 1.7 metres should seek advice from Mutford Lock staff and consider the Oulton Broad tide, which is approximately three hours after HW ???????????????????????????????????????????????????? ???????

January 2020

Destination

LOWESTOFT

Food supplies

There’s a useful waiting pontoon on the east side of Mutford Lock, upsteam of Carlton Rail Bridge

Lowestoft with a mean range of 0.7 metres. The lock fee includes 24-hour Broads toll access, and those wishing to stay longer will need a short visit toll from the Broads Authority, which is available from the team at the Oulton Broad Yacht Station.

Trailboating

The RN&SYC (01502 566726) has a very narrow, steep concrete slipway within its gated compound that is used as part of a ‘Ribster’ membership scheme, but this may also be available to short term visitors upon prior arrangement. Tidal access is 1½ hrs either side of HW and there are two floating pontoons either side at the bottom, convenient for boarding and loading. There is a slipway for launching and recovering small boats and trailer parking facilities at Oulton Broad Yacht Station (01502 574946). Broadlands Marina (01502 440238) also has a slipway and charges £16 for car or trailer parking, and £15 per day for launch and recovery. There are also several slipways at the various boatyards on Lake Lothing.

Where to moor

If you are looking for an overnight stay, and are not necessarily looking to enter the Broads, then the first and easiest

For those at the RN&SYC there is a large Asda supermarket 0.4 mile (9-minute walk), a M&S food hall in the shopping street London Road North and an Iceland further up in the Britten Centre (0.3 mile). For those moored at Oulton Broad Yacht Station there is a convenient Spar/Post Office (3-minute walk) in Bridge Road and a Tesco Express (15-minute walk) in Beccles Road, both have cashpoints. For those at Lowestoft Haven Marina there is a small convenience store on the corner of School Rd/Victoria Road.

Transport

Lowestoft station is close to the Bascule Bridge in Station Square and this end of the line station offers Greater Anglia services to Norwich and Ipswich, which offer connections into London. First Group bus routes operate from Lowestoft’s main bus station, which is in Gordon Road at the back of the Britten Centre shopping precinct. Details and timetables are available via the First Group website.

There is a narrow concrete slipway at the RN&SYC accessible 1½ +/- high water

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

option is to contact the Royal Norfolk and Suffolk Yacht Club (RN&SYC). The yacht club welcomes visiting boats, and its 60-berth marina is tucked conveniently just inside the entrance on the south side. The marina is partially enclosed by breakwaters beside Lowestoft’s South Pier and beach, with its entrance leading immediately off the main fairway. Inbound boats are required to seek permission to enter the port on VHF 14, and then will need to confirm their arrival at the yacht club, calling ‘Royal Norfolk and Suffolk Yacht Club’ on VHF channel 80 for instructions. As it is not possible to book berths, and the yacht club is a popular muster point for rallies, visitors are advised to check berth availability in advance by contacting the reception on 01502 566726 (asking for Club Bosun, Stuart Brown or Club Manager, Simon Cadle). The yacht club charges £3.05 per metre for overnight stays. It has a diesel berth in the top northeast corner, the pontoons are equipped with shorepower and water, and there is free WiFi available. Visiting boats are normally berthed on the north side of the basin, on the alongside pontoon ‘A’ running parallel with the ‘Tug Arm’ breakwater. Here, there is space for

The RN&SYC marina is popular with rally fleets, and can be busy during the summer months

at least 6-8 boats of up to 15 metres. The club also has various rafting up positions, with another 4 or 5 berths available on the Regatta Quay if it is not being used for racing, and resident berths may also be allocated on an adhoc basis. The striking white clubhouse with its distinctive domed roof, dates back to the 19th century and proudly overlooks the marina basin. Inside, a large round conservatory-like Sun Lounge room on its east side provides marina and sea views, and leads off to a convenient bar and restaurant. 24-hour toilet and shower facilities, and laundry room (using club tokens), are tucked around on the north side of the building. The clubhouse is within easy walking distance of Lowestoft’s high street shops,

Lowestoft Haven Marina at Lake Lothing

January 2020

Destination

LOWESTOFT

Where to fill up

The Lowestoft Cruising Club at Lake Lothing

bus station and train station, which offers frequent services to Oulton Broad, Norwich and Ipswich, with connections into London. The yacht club also offers overnight accommodation with several period style rooms available. Entry to the marina basin is all states of tide. However, some caution may be needed over low water on particularly large spring tides, as it can get shallow on the starboard side of the entrance due to silting from storms. Dredging is done bi-annually but calling on VHF is advisable on such occasions as the club can advise on current conditions. Note, when departing, visitors need to call Port Control on 14 and obey the traffic signals inside the marina entrance. The next option for visitors making their way in from seaward is the 125-berth Lowestoft Haven Marina. Located beyond Lowestoft’s Bascule Bridge on the south side of Lake Lothing, the marina offers shorepower, water, a diesel-only fuel berth, hoist and hardstanding facilities, and has a popular restaurant on site. The marina allocates visitor berthing on an adhoc basis, charging £2.54 per metre per night, and can be contacted on VHF channel 80, or on 01502 580300. The marina building offers facilities, a restaurant, a fitness studio on the ground floor with

The RN&SYC (VHF 80 or 01502 566726) has a diesel fuel berth in the northwest corner of the marina, which is open during working hours. Lowestoft Haven Marina (VHF 80 or 01502 580300) also has a diesel fuel berth located on the hammerhead of A pontoon which is available during office working hours. The nearest waterside fuel supplier with both petrol and diesel is Waveney River Centre (01502 677343), which is on the broads and approximately a 45-minute passage from Oulton Broad. For petrol in cans at Oulton Broad, there is an Esso in Bridge Road (0.7 mile) and a Shell garage (0.5 mile) in Normanston Drive, at RN&SYC there is an Asda fuel station 0.4 mile.

Further afield

Lowestoft is the ideal springboard for passages east across the North Sea to Ijmuiden (103 miles) and the Dutch coast. Great Yarmouth lies just 8nm north of Lowestoft and provides another gateway to the northern Broads, with routes between possible inside of the sandbanks (known as Corton Road). There are short stay tidal moorings at Town Hall Quay at Great Yarmouth, but with the large tidal ranges it is best to book a Haven Bridge lift to proceed directly into the Broads. Southwold lies 12 miles south and is a popular traditional boating haven with visitor berthing.

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

ÂŠOBYachtStation

the marina reception on the first floor. An ongoing refit will soon see revitalised toilet and shower facilities with a family room and an entrance lobby area with seating and a dedicated weather display screen. For those departing seaward, the marina advises a minimum passage time of 25 minutes at the 4-knot speed limit to the Bascule Bridge. Bus services operate along the main road, Victoria Road, into Lowestoft town centre (an 18-minute ride on bus 101). The shops and restaurants in Oulton Broad North and South are also a 20-minute walk from here. Immediately north of the Haven Marina lies the pontoons of Lowestoft Cruising Club. The club offers sailing and motorboat membership and can accommodate up to four visitors by arrangement, through its website and moorings officer. It has a clubhouse and, again, this has good walkable access to Oulton Broad (10-minute walk). For those looking to stay in the area longer, there are various friendly

Oulton Yacht Station has space for up to 80 boats

boatyards within Lake Lothing that may be able to accommodate visiting boats for longer stays, including Lowestoft Marina which is just west of the swing bridge. Oulton Broad and its convenient Yacht Station is a lovely spot for visitors. It can accommodate numerous visitors on its long outer alongside pontoon, with smaller boats accommodated stern-to on the inside of this pontoon. Here on the south side of the broad, the picturesque waterfront has an Edwardian park with ponds and a watersports centre, while a charming village offers independent

January 2020

J.Claxton/Broads Authority

Destination

LOWESTOFT

Pubs a plenty. The Commordore and Wherry Hotel overlook the picturesque Oulton Broad

shops, a chandlery, restaurants and pubs. Further shops and restaurants can be found on the north side of Mutford Lock. A harbour office, laundry and toilet and shower facilities are housed in the pretty thatched buildings ashore. Oulton Broad South train station is just a short walk away and offers a 6-minute connection to Lowestoft centre, with its beach and shops. For 24 hours, boats moored stern-to are charged £9.50, or £13 with shorepower. Alongside moorings for those up to 45ft are £15, or £18.50 with shorepower, and over 45ft are £20, or £24 with shorepower. Extra charges include £2 for showers and £2 for water top ups. There are also visitor buoys available that are £6 for 24 hours. Be aware that the yacht station can get very busy during the summer months, particularly during Oulton Week which is held in late August, and the Gala weekend over the August bank holiday. It is also popular with rally groups, therefore advanced booking is strongly recommended. Rafting on the outer pontoon is to be expected at busy times. Nearby Broadlands Marina (01502 440238), operated by Tingdene Marinas, also welcomes visitors to Oulton Broad and overnight charges are £10 for stern-to

moorings and £15 for alongside.

Where to eat and drink

The Royal Norfolk and Suffolk Yacht Club welcomes visiting boaters to its Silver Bar, which opens daily with food available between 12-2pm and 6:30-9pm. The yacht club also serves breakfast Friday-Sunday between 8:30-11:30am. Lowestoft’s London Road, High Street, South Pier and south promenade also have their fair share of restaurants to suit all tastes. A great value breakfast can be enjoyed at The Joseph Conrad Wetherspoon pub, opposite Lowestoft Station and open from 8am daily. For those overnighting at Lowestoft Haven Marina, the steak and seafood restaurant, The Third Crossing (01502 583596) is recommended by local residents and boaters alike. At Oulton Broad, the modern waterfront restaurant and watering hole, The Commodore (01502 508231), comes highly recommended and offers moorings for patrons. The Wherry Hotel also commands a great position, and its Castle Carvery restaurant (01502 516845) offers breakfasts, lunches and dinners with stern-to moorings available for patrons.

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

Places to see and visit

Lowestoft main pedestrianised shopping street, London Road, features several high street brands, such as M&S and Wilko, and is sure to satisfy the shopping fiend. Walking further north into High Street reveals a more bohemian-style old Lowestoft, with ageing buildings, quirky stores and the Triangle Market Square. Further north you will also discover the 16-metre-high Lowestoft Lighthouse, built in 1874, and the interesting Lowestoft Maritime Museum set in the pretty gardens of Sparrows Nest Park, once home to an ex navy base, HMS Europa. Both are roughly a 25-minute walk from the port entrance. For families, the amusements, gift shops, fresh donut stalls and food at South Pier will be very hard to resist. Equally Lowestoft’s close-by sandy beach is ideal for those sunny summer days or evening strolls. On rainy days in port, the Marina Theatre dates back to the 1870s and hosts many live acts, shows and films. Also, on the south side of the harbour entrance, the East Coast Cinema shows the latest movies. Two miles south of Lowestoft lies Africa Alive, a safari-style animal park featuring African birds, mammals and reptiles, as well as pets and farmyard livestock. Day tickets are £13.55 for adults and £9.95 for children aged 3-15. Another popular local theme park attraction is Pleasurewood Hills, with its numerous rides and animal

Shopping time. Britten Centre off Lowestoft’s London Road has plenty of big names

attractions it is ideal for thrillseekers and families. Tickets are available online and priced at £20-£22. Bus routes to both attractions are available from the main Lowestoft bus station. For those overnighting at Oulton Broad there is the nearby Lowestoft Museum to discover. Housed inside a 17th century home set in the beautiful Nicholas Everitt Park, the free-entry museum charts the history of the area with diverse collections including 18th-century Lowestoft Porcelain, fossils, navy artefacts and items relating to World War I and II. Staffed by volunteers, it is open every afternoon from 1pm-4pm from April until the end of October. Also closeby, the Oulton Broad Watersports Centre is sure to be a hit with families, and those wanting to try their hand at a bit of dinghy sailing. You can find more places to see and things to do in Lowestoft on the Discover Lowestoft website. MBO

January 2020

CUTTING Vetus

Vetus has launched a new contemporary range of hatches and port lights. The FGHF series of hatches feature flush-mounted handles, stays and hinges, to provide a completely flat ‘on-deck’ surface. They come with 12mm dark smoke acrylic, and the larger models have an exterior socket to allow them to be opened from the outside. The PL range of port lights are ultra-slim and ultra-modern. They come with a powder coated aluminium frame and dark-smoke tinted acrylic and can be fitted to hull thickness of between 2mm and 20mm. Prices from PL series £315 FGHF series £326 www.vetus.com/en

Digital Yacht

Seacosense, from Digital Yacht, is an environmental monitoring system for leisure and commercial vessels. It incorporates special sensors that are housed in a standard cooling water strainer and monitor such parameters as salinity, PH, temperature, water clarity and dissolved oxygen levels. It also comes with an open data platform to allow 3rd party sensors to be integrated for specialist monitoring. Seacosense connects to the NMEA2000 network to display data on compatible displays and logged data can be uploaded to the cloud for use by the wider environmental community. Price £540 digitalyacht.eu.com

Lignia Yacht

Lignia Yacht is a sustainable, real wood alternative to teak. Using specially treated softwood, the company produce wood that can be used on decks, as well as other applications, and that has the look, feel and durability of real teak. It is made from trees that are, on average, 22 years old. This compares to Burmese teak trees that are typically 50-100+. The wood, a species of pine, is responsibly sourced from managed plantations and processed at Lignia’s plant in Wales. It is harder than teak, weighs no more and is easily coated. Its lifespan is said to be circa 60 years in terms of rot and fungal decay. Price £POA www.lignia.com

January 2020

the latest boating gear and technology

Dometic

OLAS Guardian

Price £TBC www.dometic.com

www.exposurelights.com

The Smart Trim Tab System from Dometic is claimed to be the next generation of smart tabs offering new levels of precision control and technical advantages such as user programmability. As well as being a standalone tab system, it can also be linked to other Dometic branded technology, such as their steering, joystick and shift/throttle controls for a fully integrated experience. The CAN based tabs can also be connected to the boat’s control system to allow precise control in applications such as wakeboard or surf boats allowing the helm to create the perfect wake.

OLAS Guardian is a new wireless engine kill switch that acts as a ‘virtual kill cord’ and stops the engine within two seconds of a person going overboard. Up to 15 crew members can be monitored, with each wearing a small transmitter. Once the transmitter is submerged, or goes beyond a preset distance, the system cuts the engine, triggers an 85dB alarm and, if connected, activates an alarm on your mobile phone too. OLAS automatically connects all working transmitters in range and can be paused if someone needs to enter the water. It can also be programmed to send an SMS with time and location of the incident for solo boaters. Price from £229

ACR Electronics

Lifebuoy lights, as supplied with the average horseshoe lifebuoy, are notoriously unreliable. They also rely on large alkaline batteries and are not very bright when lit. If you boat regularly at night, an upgrade of your light is well worth considering. ACR Electronics has just launched a new highintensity LED light that is said to be visible over 360° for up to two miles. The SM-3 is compact and lightweight, activates automatically and will strobe for over 24 hours on two, user-replaceable, AA batteries. Price £85 www.acrartex.com Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

XO 270 Cabin

January 2020

BOAT TEST

Length (LOA): 8.6m / 28ft 3in Beam: 2.59m / 8ft 6in Displacement: 2,900kg Fuel capacity: 315/450 litres (inboard/outboard) Water capacity: 45 litres RCD category: C10 Engines as tested: 2 x Yamaha F200 Other engine options: 1 x 250-300hp outboard, 2 x 150-250hp outboard, 1 x Volvo or Mercruiser diesel inboard 300-370hp Price from £129,000 Price as tested £178,236

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

he XO 270 is a boat with many identities. There is the Cabin model, another called ‘Front Cabin’, versions with inboard or outboard power, single or twin, and then the options of ‘Rider’, ‘Touring’ or ‘Utility’ packages to determine basic equipment levels, and that is before you even start on the optional extras. The particular boat we are testing is a 270 cabin with twin outboards, notably Yamaha F200. I am still not entirely sure which of the three equipment packages our test boat had, as the mix of these and a few optional extras does somewhat blur the lines, but the exclusion of the galley

unit leads me to believe we are onboard the extensively equipped ‘Rider’ model. As the name suggests, this version is, perhaps, slightly more geared to family day-boating, rather than the more cruiser orientated ‘Touring’ or commuter/workboat equipped ‘Utility’. Of course, if you want the most ‘cruiser’ you can fit into the 270’s aluminium hull, you might find the ‘Front Cabin’ version even

January 2020

“A fast, Finnish aluminiumhulled sportster that is a real head turner”

more suitable. The ‘Cabin’ in this boat’s title refers to the wheelhouse and, as you will see, although it does have some basic overnight accommodation, the ‘Front Cabin’ forgoes the open bow deck to provide a proper two-berth cuddy that will make overnighting just that little bit more comfy. While there may be some differences in the front of the boat between the two models, at the stern, depending upon engine choices, and in the bits in between, depending upon equipment package, there are many aspects of the various 270 models that will be identical or very similar. The aft cockpit, the wheelhouse Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

and of course, the driving experience and hull dynamics will change little between models, so if after reading this you like the sound of the 270, there will almost certainly be a configuration that will take it into ‘the perfect boat’ classification for you. On that basis, let’s take a closer look at what’s on offer. At the stern of the boat, at least on the twin outboard version that we tested, the engines are flanked by a pair of bathing platforms. The port side one has a fixed bathing ladder, while on our test boat the starboard platform housed a stern anchor, probably not an option likely to be taken up in great numbers in UK waters. The

platforms are compact, but allow easy access onto the boat from either side when moored alongside. Easy access is aided by a pair of cockpit transom gates, one on each side, to allow progression into the boat from either side. In between the transom gates there is dedicated storage for four fenders outboard, and a twoperson transom seat inboard. Elsewhere in the cockpit there are fold up bench seats on both port and starboard sides and a centrally mounted table that allows all six seated persons access to it, and creates a surprisingly sociable al fresco area. In the cockpit sole there are a pair of hatches, with gas struts to keep them open when in use. These allow access to lockers below where you will find the boatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s batteries in the port side locker and optional water

tank in the starboard. Moving forward on this boat is best achieved via the wheelhouse. There are two very slender side decks, with grabrails running the length of the wheelhouse top, but with little more than toe room available, I would see this as a secondary, and rarely used, choice. If required, there are conveniently placed steps moulded into the forward corners of the cockpit, as well as a pair of sturdy vertical grabrails, to help with your ascension to deck level. Entrance to the wheelhouse is via a single sliding door. Inside, the cabin is light and spacious, thanks to the all round glass and over 6ft of headroom. The layout in here will depend on which one of the equipment packages you go for, and perhaps the biggest question you have to

January 2020

“Its wheelhouse provides a dry, warm and comfortable environment” ask yourself is: “do I want a galley?”. If the answer to that is yes, then the Touring package provides one with a hob and sink on the starboard side just inside the cockpit door. If your only requirement is for somewhere to keep your beer and sandwiches cold, then you’ll be pleased to know that all three packages provide a, circa 45l, refrigerator as standard. On this Rider version, the galley unit is replaced by a two-person bench seat with open storage below, making it a great option for those that want to accommodate lots of people in the dry, warmth and comfort of the wheelhouse when underway. Opposite there is a dinette with U-shaped seating created by flipping the backrest of the navigator’s seat forward. With the leaves of the table folded out, Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

there is plenty of space for the whole family to sit and eat. Alternatively, when underway, it provides seating for up to three, with two forward facing seats on the aft bench. With the forward seat backrest flipped aft, you get a good sized, two-person co-pilot position with a conveniently placed grabrail and access to a couple of cup holders on the moulding in front. This moulding initially looks bereft of features normally found here such as a glove box, chart locker or bits and bobs tray. The reason for this becomes clear when you spot a door handle mid way down and flip it open to reveal a far better use. Inside this console there is a toilet compartment. Yes, it is quite small and no there isn’t a sink or shower, but a basic facility like this is so

This clever cabin, hidden below the console, is a compact but very useful feature

important for improving onboard family comfort that these details can easily be overlooked. Sitting inside with the door shut there is plenty of light available from the overhead glass panels that it never feels claustrophobic, despite its compact dimensions.

Access to the cabin can also be achieved from the bow, useful if using the space for storage

Opposite, on the starboard side, is the helm position. The fully adjustable helm seat, with shock absorbing suspension on our test boat, is mounted on top of a moulding that contains the boatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fridge. The bucket style supportive seat swivels to face the dinette, adding a further seat for socialising, and has a lifting bolster to allow comfortable helming whether seated or standing. The helm console is well laid out and, although compact, has room for a decent size multi-function display as well as engine instruments and bowthruster and trim tab controls. The steering wheel is adjustable to provide the perfect position whether standing, leaning or seated. At your feet, a fold down flap provides a raised plinth so that the skipper can poke their head out of the opening roof above

January 2020

“Its safe and securefeeling bow area has boarding, seating and storage capabilities” for close quarters maneuvering or crew communication. A matching opening roof can also be found above the navigator’s position. Along the length of the wheelhouse, on both sides, are grab rails that make moving around when underway an easy and safe option. A small central companionway leads forward from the helm to take you out through a large swinging door into the bow area. Before you get to the door though, a small opening in the helm console, covered by a curtain, provides access to what you might expect to be storage but is, in fact, a small cabin. This Another great family friendly feature is the toilet compartment below the co-pilot’s console is a cosy space that is ideal for one but Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

PERFORMANCE As tested 50% fuel 0% water 3 crew Force 4

RPM

could, with an infill in place, be suitable for double occupancy, at a push. This cabin, together with a convertible dinette, does mean that the 270 Cabin is suitable for occasional overnighting, so you could still get to keep the open bow even if you do want to spend the odd night onboard. Out in the bow you have good deep bulwarks topped with a small rail to provide a secure and safe environment. There is seating along the starboard side and across the bow, while the port side remains free and uncluttered. A moulded step in the port aft corner allows for easy boarding over the port side or a simple step up onto the small side deck. A break in the raised bow rails provides access

600 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000 4500 5000 5500

Knots

LPH

GPH

MPG

4.4 6.2 8.7 10.5 13.1 21.0 28.8 31.4 36.4 40.8 45.7

4.0 7.4 14.1 25.1 37.2 39.8 54.5 75.0 103.6 154.6 173.2

0.88 1.63 3.11 5.53 8.19 8.75 12.0 16.5 22.8 34.0 38.1

5.0 3.8 2.8 1.9 1.6 2.4 2.4 1.9 1.6 1.2 1.2

Range (nm)

495 376 277 188 158 237 237 188 158 119 119

over the bow together with good hand holds to ease your way. The anchor locker lid is teak laid and lifts on a gas strut to reveal a usefully sized locker below. Beneath the bow seating there are storage spaces, with the forward seat and fore most port side seat combining to form one large self-draining locker. The aft

January 2020

Engine options include single or twin outboards, or a single diesel sterndrive up to 500hp in total

“The 270 delivers a driving experience as close to perfect as it gets” port side seat locker is actually part of the under helm cabin, so before you fill this up with boating paraphernalia you really need to decide whether you will be staying onboard. Underway With twin 200hp Yamaha outboards on the transom, the 270 is a sprightly boat. Dump the throttles and the boat is up on the plane in around 3 seconds and above that the speed increased so quickly I had trouble defining exactly when we hit different benchmarks, suffice to say it was PDQ. The power just kept coming all the way up to the top speed, which was just shy of 46 knots on the day. We had pretty choppy conditions and I feel that Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

on a better day we may well have seen a knot or so more with some more precise trimming. To give you some idea of how other options perform, a single 300hp is said to be good for around 38 knots, while the single diesel installations should deliver speeds in the low 40’s. With the largest horsepower option, twin 250hp outboards, the 270 should be knocking on the door of 50 knots, maybe a touch over. The front cabin version adds around 100kg to the boat’s weight, so expect a very slight reduction in speeds for this model with the same engines. The driving experience is about as close to perfect as it gets. It handles like a sports car and, with the door and windows closed, it is surprisingly quiet and refined.

Not only is engine noise minimal, but also hull noise is almost non-existent, which for an aluminium-hulled boat is quite something. The steering is perfectly balanced, light and precise with enough feedback to allow you to really feel what is going on. The conditions on our test day meant we could tackle some reasonably sized waves and swell in the bay off Pwllheli, and again the 270 impressed. The hull was soft riding, there was no evidence of slamming, and when we threw it into a tight turn the grip was endless and the sports car became a go-cart. The suspension seat fitted to our test boat was not really required and the co-pilot’s seat was an enjoyable place to be when underway. Helming was comfortable, whether standing, leaning or seated, with everything adjustable to make it just so and ensure that all the important bits are within easy reach. Yes, like other wheelhouse boats there is the odd blind spot when turning hard and fast, but with everything else so perfect it is easy to forgive this and accept that it is a price you

A galley is situated here on the Touring model

pay for having that warm and dry place from which to enjoy your boating. Conclusion The huge array of choices when it comes to picking the right 270 for you is both a positive and a negative. It’s great that the boat can be specified in an almost semicustom way, but the choices may seem a bit overwhelming. Luckily, I get the feeling that there is enough flexibility in the ordering process that it really doesn’t have to be too hard to end up with the perfect boat. Just choose whether you want

January 2020

the front cabin or an open bow, decide if inboard or outboard is your preferred engine type, or equally if you want petrol or diesel propulsion, and tick the option package that meets all or the majority of your needs. If there are a few other features you want, that don’t come automatically with your option package, I’m sure a chat with your dealer and a look through the options list will be fruitful. We have only tested one of the many variants, so it’s hard for us to direct you down a specific route. What we can say though is that the basic hull and structure across all the types will be the same and with hand on heart we can say that, whatever 270 you end up with, the quality of build will not disappoint, the

A great boat to drive and, with so many options, there is almost certainly a perfect 270 for you

driving experience will be excellent and the sea keeping will be fantastic. In short, it’s the perfect compact ‘go anywhere at anytime’ boat. It’s over to you now to narrow down the options.

ENQUIRIES: Ideal Boat 01758 703013 www.idealboat.com YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

Axopar 28 Cabin

XO 270 Front Cabin

Targa 27.2

LOA: 8.75m Beam: 2.95m Displacement: 1,940kg ex eng Enquiries: Offshore Powerboats Tel: 01590 677955 offshorepowerboats.co.uk

LOA: 8.6m Beam: 2.59m Displacement: 2,250kg ex eng Enquiries: Ideal Boat 01758 703013 www.idealboat.com

LOA: 9.19m Beam: 3.1m Displacement: 4,220kg Enquiries: Wessex Marine 01202 700702 www.wessexmarine.co.uk

The GRP Axopar 28 cabin has many similar features to the XO and even has an optional cabin, although this time in the aft cockpit.

PRICE from £80,196

If regular overnighting is important to you, then this version, together with the ‘Touring’ package, is well worth a look.

PRICE from £165,864

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

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Slightly more traditional, with a bit more emphasis on accommodation, the Targa 27.2 dishes up an equally competent package.

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Targa 30.1

Q&A

Your Questions Answered

VAT: Bringing a non-EU boat to UK

Q I am looking at a boat to buy that is currently based in

Guernsey. The owner, a local, bought the boat second-hand in the UK about five years ago and says that it is therefore VAT paid. He has a copy of the original sales invoice showing VAT. Could I bring this boat back to the UK without paying VAT?

A With VAT there are lots of little nuances but my understanding of the

situation is that VAT will be payable upon import if you purchase this boat. Any sale made outside of the EU, which Guernsey is, will mean a loss of the boatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s VAT paid status. It has also been out of the EU for longer than three years, which is another way for a boat to lose its VAT paid status. Before you go ahead with this purchase you should really get some expert tax advice, or accept that VAT will have to be paid and allow for that in your negotiation. Do not be tempted to just buy the boat and bring it back as it is highly likely that you will, in effect, be smuggling.

Q I have a raw water-cooled Volvo 5.7 litre V8

????????

Calorifier with V8 engine

engines in my Bayliner and I want to add a calorifier tank to provide hot water. I know this is possible with an engine equipped with a heat exchanger and fresh water cooling, but can it be done with a raw water-cooled engine and if so, where do I tap into the cooling system?

A Yes it can be done. On the example I was onboard recently, the pipe work

was connected to a spare outlet on the engineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s water pump with the second hose fitted to a spare port on the rear of the inlet manifold. Not all V8 engines are the same, with ancillaries such as manifolds and water pumps having many different designs. If yours do not offer these ports, you may need to speak to your local engine dealer for advice on suitable points to tap into. The engine block, cylinder head and thermostat housing are all possible places to find a suitable connector. 46

January 2020

If you have a question, email us at

editorial@motorboatowner.co.uk

JFrew

AD41 temperatures

Q I have a Fairline Targa with

twin Volvo AD41 engines. When underway, one engine seems to run at 95°C while the other sits at 85°C. I don’t get any alarms and the temperatures never vary. What is the correct running temperature of these engines and why would one of them be different?

A Somewhere in the region of 81-85°C would be the right temperatures for

your engines to run at. The AD41 thermostat is set at 81°C but a few degrees warmer on older engines is acceptable and fairly normal. 95°C, on the other hand, is not an ideal temperature, but before getting too worried, try checking the accuracy of the senders/gauges. You could swap from one engine to the other or double check using a digital thermometer with the engines running. If one engine really is running hotter, it could be down to a number of reasons. Most likely is a partial blockage in the cooling system. This could be down to debris, such as bits of an old impeller, or simply a build up of calcium in the heat exchanger, oil cooler or intercooler. It could also be a failing thermostat, worn impeller or impeller housing, or even delamination of a cooling water rubber hose. It may take a bit of detective work, but if your engine really is running at 95°C then it will definitely be worth doing.

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Q&A

Your Questions Answered

Normandy and Brittany ports

Q I am in the early stages of planning a trip from the Solent down to the

Channel Islands for next summer. I would also like to take in a few ports on the adjacent French Normandy/Brittany coasts. What places would you recommend?

A If you fancy heading east from the islands, Carteret is a lovely little town with good beaches and nice walks. Going south, you really shouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t miss St Malo. The old walled town is a bit of a tourist trap, but is a must-see on this coastline. It is worth locking through and mooring in Port Vauban, rather than the easier-toaccess Bas Sablons marina, as you are then right under the town wall, rather than having a long walk. Other nice ports on this bit of coast are Binic and Paimpol both, like Carteret, very tidal and requiring good planning for entry. St Cast is an all-tides port, if you need somewhere with easy 24 hour access, but is also a lovely place to visit in its own right.

Carteret

Binic

Port Vauban, St Malo

St Cast

January 2020

www.f innmaster.f i

EXPERIENCE FINNMASTER BOATS AT DUSSELDORF BOAT SHOW Step aboard and explore Finnmaster on 17-26th January at DÃ¼sseldorf Boat Show. Following Finnmaster models will be on display: P8, P7W, P6, T8, T7, T6 & R6 and Husky aluminium boats: R7 and R6.

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Q&A

Your Questions Answered

Water intake problems

Q On my last trip out, my starboard engine

shredded an impeller and overheated. I think we sucked something up the water intake and it is clear now. The problem is that I have replaced the impeller twice and both times it too has shredded within minutes. We definitely have a free flow of cooling water, as I have checked by opening the seacock with the intake pipe disconnected and a gush of water through the seacock. Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s going on?

A A couple of possibilities spring to mind. The first is an air lock. After changing the impeller, ensure that the raw water filter is full, the raw water Q ?????? pump too if possible, and try giving any pipework a squeeze to shift any air that

may be trapped. Also make sure that the impeller is well lubricated to protect it for the short time it is working before it can suck water up and clear any air. Another possibility, and one that I have personally witnessed, is that part of the first failed impeller is stuck in the pipework before the raw water pump. When you replace the impeller and start up the engine it gets sucked up into the new impeller and damages it. It then drops back down into the pipe awaiting its next victim. A thorough inspection of the pipework between seacock and pump should find this or any other issue, such as delamination of the pipe itself.

????????????????????????????? ???????????????????????

January 2020

Peter Pitcher Broom 425

Jersey-based Peter Pitcher, and his wife Gill discovered the joys of family boating during the eighties, but it was a hobby that would develop and see them travelling great distances in the 30 years that followed. Peter recounts their boating odyssey to reach their current Broom 425

ur life in boats started with a little red inflatable. Gill and I were blessed with four children, all of whom were very sporty and, in the early years, excellent swimmers. Our

second son, Roy, took to long distance sea swimming during the 80s, so we purchased a Zodiac, with a 20hp outboard and with this we followed and supported him, as well as playing guard boat to other

January 2020

long distance swimmers. We would also often go off camping as a family with the red inflatable strapped to our Peugeot 504 estate’s roof. However, the youngsters soon found out there was enough power to water ski behind it, and our boating developed from there. Soon after we purchased a 17ft speedboat, a Picton 170 GTS, named Exocet, which was largely used for water skiing. However with Jersey being so close to the coast of France, on a nice calm day we would nip over at 40 knots, a pleasant Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

MY BOAT

‘The last present to ourselves’, a new Broom 425 customised to our specification

half hour, for breakfast, lunch or dinner. We had now well and truly got the boating bug and our next purchase was a 22ft Sunbird 218 called Sidewinder, which offered a cuddy cabin enabling us to spend odd nights onboard. With this we made various trips to the other Channel Islands and adjacent coast of France. In the years that followed I found myself in the position to take a positive step backwards from running my own business, and this had given me more time to spend on the water, and most

importantly as a family. With the desire for PICTON 170 GTS â&#x20AC;&#x153;We would nip a little more family comfort, in September from Jersey to France at 40 1990 we visited the Southampton Boat knots for lunch or dinnerâ&#x20AC;? Show. This turned out to be a rather expensive day out. At the show we looked boats. However, we quickly settled on at many boats, and because we had done power, as at 20 knots France was only two a few summer sailing charter holidays in hours from Jersey, whereas when sailing Greece and Turkey, this included sailing

January 2020

MY BOAT

it was a good 6 hours plus. As a young family we were aware that the youngsters did not want to spend all day on the water and, like us, wanted to explore our adjacent coastline and enjoy the French gastronomic delights. So, our criteria was a 20-knot plus family-size motorboat that we could step aboard after school and work on a Friday afternoon, spend the weekend in France before returning home on Sunday or early Monday morning in time to be back at our desks. Amongst the boats we viewed at the show was a rather lovely Broom, which unfortunately was out of our budget. We did, however, fall for a great value Birchwood TS37, and purchased one for delivery the following spring. We were really taken with the Birchwood’s aft cabin layout, offering two separate ensuite cabins, a dinette that could be turned into another double and, when family and their friends joined us, two berths in the saloon, giving us eight berths in all. Usually the family or friends would be accommodated in the bow, with us in the stern and separated by the saloon in the middle, it would give us the comfort and privacy we really wanted. Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

“Trailboating family fun. Its cuddy cabin enabled us to spend odd nights onboard” SUNBIRD 218

In June 1991 we took delivery of the Birchwood, which we named Seawolf, following the tradition of using the names of naval missiles (our oldest son is an officer in the Royal Navy) and five exciting years followed. We collected our brand new boat from Southampton and, as we were new to big boats, we had arranged with Birchwood a weeks training on and around the Solent with an experienced instructor, which we found essential. Prior to purchasing the Birchwood, Gill had also insisted that we prepare ourselves fully. I had attended a RYA Competent Crew and Day Skippers course, as well as a VHF course. In the years that followed, I went on and passed my Coastal Skipper and Yacht Master Offshore certificate. Gill successfully completed an ICC course, we did a sea survival course together and I did a one day Know your Diesel Engine course. For three years running we also participated in several cruises in company

“Getting training was high on our list of priorities” BIRCHWOOD TS37

organised by former motorboat magazine, Motor Boats Monthly, visiting Paris, exploring the Dutch inland waterways and travelling along the English south coast to the Scillies. We also have many happy memories exploring local waters, including deploying the drying legs to ground safely for a spot of low water fishing at the stunning Minquies. The Birchwood was a great choice, but what with the kids flying the nest and us having a little more leisure time on our

hands we decided we wanted a little bit more comfort. We were also still rather fond of the Broom range so, in January 1995, we took delivery of a brand new Broom 41 at the London Boat Show at Earls Court. The important ‘benefit’ of the Broom is the covered helm position, driving up high with good all round visibility, protected from the weather and no need to use up valuable inside space for a second helm position. I could not fault the whole operation, the co-operation and

“We could not fault the Broom Boats operation” BROOM 41

January 2020

MY BOAT

helpfulness of Martin Broom, Paul Pardon and the others at Broom Boats. We travelled extensively on the 41, also called Seawolf, from Jersey and started spending extended summer trips onboard. For this reason, once again, we started thinking about having a little more liveaboard comfort and space. After lengthy conversations with Paul Pardon at Broom Boats, we became the proud owners of the first production 450 Offshore. Again we were involved in the design process, and had a lot of the features incorporated at our request. We

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

“We like to think a lot of the 450’s features have Pitcher ideas behind them” BROOM 450

had looked at the 44 which was on offer but turned it down as it seemed dated and did not meet all of our requirements. During discussions, Paul invited us to list our ideas and, as a good boat builder, listened to his clients, us. We like to think many of the useful features of the excellent 450 had ‘Pitcher ideas behind them’. The Broom 450, again called Seawolf,

was a superb sea boat and allowed us to expand our horizons further still, especially as we now planned to spend our whole summers onboard. During the next nine years we travelled extensively with the 450 OS with no major problems. During which time we had a few rough journey’s too, around the Pointe de Raz, the Alderney Race, up the English Channel and up to Copenhagen, and it performed brilliantly. After 30 years of boating, we were now getting older and looking to do other things. Being tossed about in the

Bay of Biscay was not for us, we could, however, see the huge potential of the inland waterway systems of Europe. This would need a low air draft of less than 3.5 metres to go under the bridges. Realising that a planing hull as the 450 was not the best boat to do this on, we entered into discussions with Paul Pardon and Martin Broom once again. This resulted in what we refer to as ‘the last present to ourselves’, a new 425 customised to our specification. As a model, the 425 gave us the liveaboard aft cabin layout we adored, wide walkaround decks, a shallow draught (only

January 2020

MY BOAT

Family time aboard Seawolf, left. Peter and Gill have visited Elsinore and Copenhagen, above

“Customised to our specification, we refer to the 425 as ‘the last present to ourselves’” BROOM 425

1.06m), an air draught with mast down of 3.35m needed for inland cruising and, being semi displacement, it still provided us with a cruising speed of 20 knots for coastal cruising. In customising the boat, we asked Broom to add a hydraulic arch, generator, freezer, second fridge, washing machine, extra port holes in the bow cabin and shower, a solid stairwell providing storage and a third bunk-bedded cabin for the grandchildren in lieu of the standard dinette. Other features we added included a shore power socket on the bow and a bow ladder, as we frequently moor bow in, as this provides better views from the aft cockpit and less noise from the pontoon when sleeping in the aft cabin. Broom also agreed to raise the seating in the saloon by 6 inches to provide better all-round visibility and, finally, a few other small personal alterations and additions to personalise ‘our’ boat. Ultimately we knew Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

what we wanted, and Broom delivered it. Looking back it was the Birchwood that introduced us to the joys of aft cabins and fed our appetite for distance cruising. We have now travelled extensively, doing the whole west coast of France to Bordeaux, the south east coast of England from the Scillies to Great Yarmouth, the north coast of France, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Denmark, east coast of Norway, Sweden, the Rhine to Switzerland, twice more to Paris, the Mitteland Canal to Berlin and on through Poland to the Baltic, the Telemark Canal in Norway, the Gota Canal in Sweden and the inland waterways of Holland. Most recently, in 2019 we made our way back to our indoor berth in Elberg, Holland for the winter after exploring Norway and adjacent countries. In 2020 we plan to take a break from long distance travel and, Brexit permitting, explore the rivers and canals of the south of Holland and the north of Belgium. Then return to the excellent facilities of Elburg Yachting for Seawolf to winter in a heated indoor shed. MBO

tested Spectro Oil Analysis Kit

PRICE

£64.95

pump additional £39.95

Changing your engine’s oil on a regular basis is undoubtedly the best thing you can do to ensure its longevity. Unfortunately, it tells you very little about what is actually happening to all the important Motorboat bits inside. Big ships and Owner superyachts take things a step “Some further and have their oil analysed regularly to check for inexpensive abnormalities and monitor wear patterns. Oil analysis can peace of mind” tell you all sorts of things about the health of your engine, Value 3/5 for example it will detect high levels of lead or copper, which Usability 5/5 may indicate excessive bearing wear. Other examples are Performance 5/5 high levels of iron, which may indicate wear in the engine’s cylinders, or high levels of silicon which could, among other things, indicate high levels of atmospheric contamination and point to poor intake air filtration. It could also advise if your oil is being diluted by fuel, an indication of a possible issue with items such as lift pump diaphragm or leaky injectors. Oil analysis on large vessels is also used to determine the lifespan of the oil itself and whether a change is needed, or whether you can carry on using the oil. Arguably, on small boats like ours, where the oil quantities make an oil change quite cheap, this is unlikely to be a feature we would take advantage of, but if you take your sample at your regular oil change interval you can use this data to determine if your oil changes are regular enough, or even if you can stretch them a bit further. Oil analysis has, until recently, typically been quite costly and difficult to justify for the leisure boat owner. However, at this year’s Southampton Boat Show we met with a representative from a company that had launched the Spectro Oil Analysis kit that was being distributed through The kit costs £65. An additional pump is available priced at £39.95 Force 4 chandlery. The kit comprises two parts. 60

January 2020

All tests in Motorboat Owner are carried out by real boaters in real life situations

Oil is easily and cleanly extracted after a run through the dipstick or oil drain tube using the pump

First there is the oil-sampling pump. This is a one-off purchase and allows you to cleanly and easily extract oil from your engine to be tested. The second part is the sample kit itself. This contains a small container for the oil, a length of tube and some paperwork. Using the tube and pump, you extract oil when the engine has been running, and within 30 minutes of shutting down. Done right, the pump itself does not come into contact with the oil and remains clean. The sample is then put into the cardboard cylinder, the oil sample form is completed with information about the oil being analysed, such as its specification and hours used (65 in this instance), the engine it was taken from, including total engine hours, and then sent to Spectro Jet Care using a pre-paid postage label. You should then get your results back within a few days by email. The pump is very clever and uses a vacuum to extract oil without it becoming contaminated itself. Unfortunately, before removing the sample bottle from the pump I put it down and it fell over, meaning I had to give the pump a The next stage was to send the oil sample off using its pre-paid postage stamp thorough clean before it could be used again. Motorboat Owner ÂŠ Digital Marine Media Ltd

tested With care, this should not happen. Removing the oil was easy by simply poking the pipe down the dipstick tube or oil extraction tube and giving the pump a dozen or so strokes. With the bottle sealed, the label is completed and the more complete the information provided the more accurate and useful the results should be. And the whole lot is put in the post, free of charge. I posted mine on the 11th of December and my results were in my inbox on the 16th. The results are quite comprehensive and many of the lines may mean little to most of us. There is, however, a box on the top of each of the two pages that, on mine, is green and simply says “Normal”, which provides a quick and easy clean bill of health or otherwise. If any of the many possible And the results are in. We received a PDF containments were showing as seriously high, of the results which had a table of statistics a little research is sure to help narrow down what is likely to be the problem. Digging a little deeper, the ‘comments’ section points to one area of minor concern on our test. We had a slightly high level of silicon, but still within acceptable parameters. The comments also state that “The oil is suitable for further use” so again, a sign that all is well. One comment that left me a bit confused was a request for a sample of fresh oil to determine baseline parameters. Obviously there was no opportunity to send this along with the used sample, so I can only assume this would be done as an additional test at full cost, perhaps once only if you tend to stick with the same oil, for you to use as a reference. The initial purchase price of a kit includes the pump, although you could probably do without it, making the first test a reasonable £105. Subsequent tests can be carried out for the cost of the sample kit only. When you consider the value of your boat’s engines, and the importance of ensuring they are in the best of health, this is not a great price to pay. A decent record of oil changes, and a paper trail of oil analysis, is also going to be a useful benefit when the time comes to sell your boat. What potential purchaser is not going to love seeing a laboratory sheet declaring the engines healthy? Enquiries: Force 4 www.force4.co.uk 62

January 2020

Motorboat Owner

PROJECT BOAT

PROJECT Fairline Vixen

finished up last month with a bit of a dilemma. The top end of the Volvo 290A drive was almost ready to be put back together when I discovered that what I thought was a simple washer that was showing some surface rust was, in fact, the running surface for the main input shaft seal. This washer came with a hefty price tag, so I looked at the possibility of installing a Speedi-Sleeve to it to create a new, smooth, seal running surface. The problem with this plan was that the

Speedi-Sleeve itself was the best part of ÂŁ20 and, by the time I had the washer machined down to take it, plus additional work after the sleeve was added due to the nearest available size being too wide, it was getting almost as expensive as the, nigh on, ÂŁ60 price tag for a new one. Luckily, Google came to the rescue and I found out that this part is produced by aftermarket suppliers Sierra Marine. Frustratingly, although this company supply a vast range of very useful

January 2020

aftermarket parts for many common marine engines and drives, I could not find a supplier in the UK. This resulted in me ordering one from the United States which, even with shipping, came in at around half the price of the OEM equivalent sourced in the UK. Without

the shipping it would have been around £17. Even better was that it only took four days to arrive at my door. With the new part in hand, the top end of the drive ovehaul could be completed, including the important aspect of pretensioning the bearings.

Rebuilding Volvo 290A drive top end - Part 2 HOW TO IN 18 STEPS

New v’s old. The outer edge of the washer acts as the running surface for the input shaft seal 4

With a bit of O ring friendly grease, a new O ring is installed into the washer 5

The bearing box, assembled Using thread lock, the last month, can now be slid tapered washer and bolt onto the input shaft is now reinstalled into the gear

The washer is installed onto the input shaft with the O ring facing the U joints 6

To set the pretension of the bearings you need to wrap some string around the housing

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

Then, with the U joints clamped in a vice and holding the gear, use spring type scales to measure the pretension

Gradually tighten the centre bolt until the bearing box will spin with between 0.55 and 1.1lbs of pull on original bearings

Once pretension is set, any shims that were removed during disassembly should be reinstalled

A thin layer of sealant is then applied to the mating surface on the upper unit

The bearing box can then be reinstalled onto the drive upper unit. This may require gentle tapping due to tight tolerances

The four retaining bolts can then be tightened to the required torque, 35nm for the 290A drive

Moving on to the top bearing cover, the two mating surfaces were thoroughly cleaned

A new sealing ring, included in the top end gasket kit bought last month, was fitted

Again, the workshop manual calls for some sealant to be used, which was applied to the top cover

January 2020

Reinstall the top cover, making sure any shims are still in place, and tighten the bolts to 15nm

One of the bolts is a special hollow type and requires an O-ring. Again, this is supplied in the topend gasket kit

Lastly, the driveâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s oil level dipstick can be replaced, with a new O-ring of course

Stripping Volvo 290A trim rams With the top end rebuilt and back on the drive, all that remains is to check the oil level is correct, top up if necessary, and I am going to call the drive finished. To be honest, it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t look a whole lot different to when it came into the workshop, but with all new seals on both top and bottom ends, and some fresh oil protecting the innards, mechanically it is as good as it is going to get. I have decided not to spend time cleaning it up and painting it at this stage. When the time comes, I will reinstall it, make sure everything is running OK and, if so, give it a cosmetic once over the next time I remove it. I still have the prop to sort, and that will be looked at this

month. The one removed is quite badly damaged but I think will be repairable, which will be a much cheaper option than replacement. Hopefully I can update on that in the next issue. With the drive ready to go back on the boat, there is one thing getting in the way. Late last summer I removed both of the hydraulic trim rams. There was no evidence of leaks from these, but the state of the seals that could be seen, and the stiffness of the shafts in the cylinders, led me to believe that an overhaul would be a good decision. Since removing them, they have sat in the corner of my workshop and, now that they were holding up progress, it was time to turn my attention to them.

The end seals had seen better days Motorboat Owner ÂŠ Digital Marine Media Ltd

HOW TO IN 9 STEPS

The first thing to do was to remove all of the hydraulic lines using a special ring spanner 4

With the unit disassembled, the piston was clamped in wood, to protect it, and unscrewed from the shaft 7

Then the main seal could be gently coaxed out from its groove deep within the end cap

With the pipe work removed, and the ram carefully clamped in a vice, the ends were undone using a pipe wrench 5

With the piston removed, the shaft could then be pulled through and out of the end cap

In one case this required the use of a little heat. The O-rings are being replaced anyway so any damage to these is acceptable 6

The â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;scraperâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; seal could then be picked out of the end, being careful not to damage the soft aluminium housing

With the ram broken down into its constituent parts, it will now be cleaned up and some new seals and O-rings sourced

As is the way whenever I have two of anything, the second ram has been left largely intact as a reference

January 2020

Next month I am planning to look into Spend so far Motorboat getting the prop repaired, cleaning and rebuilding the trim rams and then, PROJECT BOAT hopefully getting them fitted back onto This month’s spend the boat followed by the drive itself. If Input shaft washer £31.43 I have any time left, I will get back into Balance from last month £1,612.78 the engine bay and start putting the final ancillaries back onto the engine. I still Total to date: £1,644.21 have a bit of painting and refurbing to do on these, but the pile of parts in my workshop is getting ever smaller. I may only get one or two days a month to work on the project, but I genuinely feel that I may only be two or three months away from turning the key. MBO Owner

75 back issues

available to download and save as PDFs to read at

www.motorboatowner.co.uk

PRACTICAL ADVICE

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Owner Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd Affordable practical boating

Hooked Simon Everett is fishing for Cod

ritainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s favourite fish for supper is, perhaps, one of the most popular target species for the angler. Cod are a staple offering in fish and chip shops across the Nation, but a fish caught fresh tastes completely different to even the most carefully transported fillet, which is why they are so sought after. Cod can be caught throughout the winter around the majority of our coast, but the south and east coasts produce the majority, with the Bristol Channel, from around Minehead and Penarth westwards, also giving a good return. You donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to go far out, with shore anglers catching their fair share of this winter delight, and the larger estuaries, the likes of the Mersey, Humber, Thames, Orwell, Tamar, Tyne and Wear can provide great fishing when the weather precludes getting out on the open sea. In the muddy water of an estuary, bait fishing is the best approach and cod have a mouth like a bucket, so your bait needs to be big. One of the most popular cocktails to bait the 6/0 hooks with, and I use the plural advisedly because we tend to use

Cod bait, Pennel rigged squid with crab

two hooks in tandem, known as a Pennel rig, is a massive bait of squid stuffed with black lugworm and wrapped with plenty of bait elastic to retain the flavoursome juices longer. The tide will wash the scent from your bait downstream and the cod, hopefully, will follow this scent, like a hound on the trail, to your baited hook. This is where the old adage of big bait, big fish comes from. I have seen regular cod anglers using a bait a foot long and weighing about a pound. A cod of no more than 4lbs will have no problem devouring such an offering, it probably wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even touch the sides if a double figure fish swallowed it. To hold such a big bait hard on the seabed requires borrowing a bit of anchoring technique from the seamanship manual, to avoid having to use overly heavy weights the sensible thing to do is employ weights with grip wires and enough bow in the line to allow the tide to pull the wires into the substrate, just like letting out enough rode on your anchor warp. If it is too short, your anchor drags, and when trying to ledger your bait the same principles apply. Consequently strong rods and reels need to be used that can cope with the strain and hold enough line to still leave a decent amount on the spool. The most popular rod is in the 20lb class range, matched to a medium sized multiplier. Although modern fixed spool reels are man enough for the job,

January 2020

Cod bait, lugworm and scallops. Hooked with a lure. Simon with a cod from Mersey

you would need to go for something in the 6000 size to balance with the rod and load it with 30lb line as a minimum. Most people use braid for the mainline, rather than monofilament, as it is thinner for the strength and cuts through the tide more easily, allowing lighter weights to be used successfully. It gives greater feedback for bite detection, but a 20-foot length of monofilament, or fluorocarbon, is often used as a shock and abrasion absorber, in addition to the hook length. In open clear water, such as on offshore wrecks or certain reefs, lures are often used to catch cod and other members of the cod family. Cod are pretty catholic in their tastes and pretty voracious predators, they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just scavenge food from the seabed and working lures close to the bottom while drifting is another effective way to catch them. This is much like fishing for pollack, but instead of reeling the lure up to midwater, the lure is lifted and lowered so it swims up and down close to the bottom, if you feel the weight bumping the bottom occasionally you know you are in the right part of the water column. A cod bite can usually be recognised by a steady thumping and head shaking, rather than the power dive of a pollack. The dour thump, thump, thump is a sure sign of a cod, but they will need playing with the drag rather than

simply cranking them in. Think of a cod as a rugby front row forward to the pollackâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s centre three-quarter, they use their shoulders and muscle against you, whereas a pollack will try to use surprise speed, both are capable of finding any weakness in your preparation: hooks need to be sharp, knots correctly and neatly tied, rod, reel and line strength balanced and the drag set according to the whole scenario, tight enough to set the hook against, but with the ability to give line when the rod bends to nearly a quarter arc. The days following a storm passing through, stirring up the bottom, is prime cod catching conditions, there may still be wave action dumping on the shore, disturbing food items in the seabed that the cod will gorge themselves on.

Lugworm, left and pennel-rigged mackerel fillet

Motorboat Owner ÂŠ Digital Marine Media Ltd

CLASSIC CRUISERS

a complete guide to the best boats on the used market

Seamaster 813

nland waterways and rivers are a great place to start boating and offer, arguably, boating in its simplest form. Whether you are a couple or a family, a budget of around £10k should deliver a classic, archetypal inland cruiser to cherish and get you out on the water. With its brochure slogan, ‘the perfect choice for today’s cruising family’, this month Motorboat Owner celebrates and investigates the 27ft Seamaster 813. Seamaster shares a similar history to its British stable mate, Freeman, with Seamaster founder, Dick Sparrow, starting

out building caravans before turning to fibreglass cruisers in the mid 50s. However, when the Essex-based company changed hands due to Dick’s ill health in 1961, it was its new owner Carl Brunning and Director Pat Noyes that lead the company into what is described by owners as its ‘Golden Years’ of boat production. Over the next 20 years a new era of cabin cruiser designs were developed, including the stalwart 27 (1965-1974) and the aft cabin models, the 30 and 8 metre. By the mid 1970’s Seamaster had expanded, and was looking to replace its existing 27 with

January 2020

©ValWyattMarine

Built 1972-1981 (400 approx) Prices then £4,115 (1973) Prices now £7,950-£19,950 Length 26ft 8in / 8.13m Beam 9ft 1in / 2.77m Air Draught windscreen 2.22m screens down 6ft 3in / 1.91m Draught 2ft 3in / 0.68m Fuel 12-40 gallons/50-182 litres Water 22 gallons / 100 litres Displacement 2250kg approx

a newer, more modern design. With its model name representative of its length in metres, the 813, designed by John Welch, was introduced in 1972. It sported the squarer window line seen on its sister model, the 30, and the characteristic Seamaster front coachroof eyebrow had disappeared. Described as a ‘modern interpretation of the 27’, the 813 delivered the expected four berths, but was also quite unconventional in its layout. A key new feature of the boat was its full beam toilet and shower compartment dividing the two sleeping areas. Admittedly, ‘of

era’ Freemans shared this layout format with the toilet between sleeping areas, but having a shower was a real boon on a boat of this size. The 813 also has a rather distinctive square and flared bow hull shape, which cleverly delivered more space on and below decks. With production costs rocketing, the company looked to outsource completion and finishing works to other companies, and as a result some versions were fitted out by Aird Marine of Windsor and Aardvark Marine of Canvey Island, while some were also sold for DIY home

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

completion. Comparing the 813 to its predecessor, Seamaster Owners Club Technical Advisor, Paul Killick, said ‘the 27 is heavier and fitted out with a varnished mahogany plywood finish and solid wood frames, which made them very labour intensive and costly to produce’. He went on to describe the 813, saying its ‘GRP layup was sprayed into the moulds rather than hand applied by roller’ and its interior was given a ‘light-coloured teak-faced plywood interior, bringing a lighter and airier appearance, to appeal to the modern buyers of the time, but was, of course, cheaper to source and helped make the 813 product more competitive in the marketplace.’ In the wake of the recession in the early 80s Seamaster was forced to cease

trading. The 813 remained in production until Seamaster closed its doors in 1981, by which time it is thought that around 400 were built. However all was not lost, Bounty Boats and also Aird Marine, completed a few more versions in the 80s, with a few layout modifications. Then, under the leadership of Pat Noyes, in 1984 the company, New Seamaster Ltd, produced another version, known as the 813 Zonda. Again only a few of these were built. The moulds were then sold on again to Viking Mouldings, a builder that established itself at the old Seamaster premises at Great Dunmow, and the 813’s hull is now the basis for its wide-beam cockpit cruiser, the Viking 26. Today, Seamaster has a significant following, upheld by the growing

January 2020

The galley may be basically appointed but offers everything for inland exploration and overnighting

Seamaster Owners Club, which currently has 44 â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;813â&#x20AC;&#x2122; owners in its membership.

ventilation with a sliding pane. Two lifting sections of the deep galley melamine worktop reveal a small sunken metal sink at the forward end and a two burner hob with full gas oven/grill below it aft. A fridge is mounted between these two,

Interior An offset two-part companionway door leads down into the cabin saloon area via a fairly steep single step. An advantage of this particular model is its headroom, which is an impressive 6ft throughout. The saloon living area feels welcoming, wide and secure. On the starboard side, at the foot of the companionway, is a full height storage unit, its top locker provides barlike slotted bottle storage, while below is a decent sized hanging locker. Beyond, the rectangular-shaped galley unit extends along the starboard side, with chunky side windows providing a great There is useful storage under the dinette seating, with drawers in the end of the forward seat base view out and offering plenty of light and Motorboat Owner ÂŠ Digital Marine Media Ltd

with potential for accommodating a taller modern, 80-litre fridge, such as the Waeco model seen on the 1979 example viewed. Galley storage can be found in two useful open lockers that utilise space under the sidedecks, a locker under the oven and a large cupboard under the sink. On the port side a deep and raised dinette area can seat four people very comfortably. Its table may well have a twosize folding top which is versatile for social and dining occasions. The dinette converts into a double berth, using the table top and backrest cushions as infills, measuring a lengthy 6ft 2in long by 3ft 6in wide. There are storage areas in the seat bases, with a bank of drawers often incorporated into the forward base. Above the aft seat is a glass front locker, again with slotted storage for glassware. Moving forward from the saloon area

is the full beam and enclosed toilet and shower compartment. Concealed from the saloon by a space-saving sliding door, a wash-basin unit with a shower mixer tap and storage is mounted on the starboard side, while on the port side a throne-like chemical toilet sits on a raised plinth. A recessed floor moulding and floor drain provide the necessary facilities for showering, however a shower curtain will ensure water does no damage the surrounding laminate wood or Formicacoated surfaces. The shower also being directly in the thoroughfare means passage to and from the forward cabin is restricted when someone is showering. A conventional door leads through into the forward V-berth cabin. Here the two berths offer plenty of seated headroom and extend under the large forward windows and foredeck, each measuring

January 2020

1979 £14,995 (featured) Single BMC 1.8 diesel Val Wyatt Marine 01189 403211 www.valwyattmarine.co.uk

A full beam toilet and shower compartment is a key feature with a shower tray in the companionway

6ft long by a rather narrow 2ft wide. The left forward window pane lifts out providing an escape route if necessary. Examine the window seals and nearby wood and cushion surfaces for leaks, these may well have been resealed. The V berth converts into a double, using a wooden insert and cushion infill, measuring 5ft 11in in the centre and swallowing up the dressing area. As the fit out was, in many instances, undertaken by other yards or DIY completed, no two 813s is likely to be the same. For example teak was used extensively in Aird versions, which is rather attractive, but the company also reverted back to the older 27 layout with some versions. General checks must include looking for signs of leaks, damp and timber discolouration throughout the cabin interior, being sure to lift and slide back curtains to inspect around the window frames.

1981 £8,500 Single Wortham Blake petrol Norfolk Yacht Agency 01603 713434 www.nya.co.uk

1974 £19,950 Single BMC 1.8 diesel shaftdrive Boat Showrooms 01628 569888 www.boatshowrooms.com

1979 £12,950 Single Volvo AQ140A petrol Hutchins Marine 01344 360707 www.hutchins-marine.com

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

Cockpit & helm The 813â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cockpit is rather spacious, at 8ft 10in, offering plenty of room to move about and usually covered by a full-height canopy. It is equipped with a bench seat running across the transom, capable of seating four people, and under this is a generous storage area extending under the transom backrest with a partitioned-off two-cylinder gas storage area to starboard. Moving forward, two identical bracketed helm seats provide a view over the cabin roof and through the wraparound

Simple helm console with bowthruster joystick. Note the build plate displayed on console

windscreen. The helm console, which is on the port side, has a simple onepanel angled dash featuring engine dials, switches, steering wheel and throttle(s). The cockpit canopy and framework drops easily, and cleverly stows aft behind the seat backrest. There is quite a bit of canopy on this boat, so ensure that it is in good condition or factor in replacement cost when making an offer. A folding windscreen provides the necessary low air draft for bridges such as Potter Heigham on the Broads and Osney Bridge on the Thames. For this, the forward screen folds forward onto the cabin roof, and the side screens hinge outwards. An open-backed wheelshelter was available as an option, which sees a higher windscreen capped with a small forward hardtop providing full standing headroom and protection from the elements. It is an excellent feature, perhaps for estuary work on faster, twin engine models where air draft is less important.

January 2020

The canvas-covered cockpit is rather spacious, and has lots of under floor storage

MBO understands that several 813s were sold overseas, and one particular late model recently seen in Norway has an interesting higher cockpit coaming, we suspect this was done to comply with local regulations. Paul Killick advises buyers to check for discolouration in the cockpit side panels and in the timber floor bearers around the cockpits sides, as this could indicate leaks or damp. He said leaks from the windscreen tend to run down and over the bridge deck teak ‘D’ section trims, then run down the main bulkhead where they can get into the end grain of the plywood bulkhead on the outboard edges, causing wet rot. He added that this is noticeable from both the cockpit and inside the cabin where, against the bulkhead, there is a locker to starboard. ‘Here one needs to check that the lining material has not become detached, because this could be from end grain bulkhead timber water ingress.’ He also advised to opening the

electrical locker panel below the helm and shine a torch upwards into the outer corners, checking for dampness or growth. On deck Its side decks extend all the way aft and offer a width of between 7-10.5 inches, being at their widest next to the cabin windows and decreasing significantly where the very wide and square cabin front encroaches close to the pulpit. However, all is forgiven once on the foredeck, as this is an excellent and securefeeling space which is enclosed by a sturdy, good-height pulpit rail. Rails on the cabin roof aid movement on deck, but adding a guardrail on the outer edge of the side windscreens would certainly assist cockpit to deck movement. Examine the deck underfoot for spongy areas that could indicate rot. Also inspect for star crazing and blistering in the cabin roof, and for stress cracking along the moulded toe rails, along the window line

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

Moving about on deck is easy with fairly wide open decks and a large enclosed foredeck

and around the chrome deck fittings. The decks may have been painted with nonslip paint, so inspect its condition as this can lift or flake in high wear areas. Be aware that non-slip mats may have been fitted for practicality, but could also mask bad areas of stress cracking. Decks can be restored through sanding back and filling if necessary, followed by several coats of specialist non-slip deck paint. Be on the lookout for areas of painted gelcoat as this could also mask potential problems. Hull and Handling Seamasterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s have a reputation of strong build quality. The 813â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hull incorporates a flared bow with hard chine running from right forward and developing into a medium to shallow vee shape at the transom. It also has a long shallow keel which delivers stability. This may well be fitted with a sacrificial wooden keel shoe, which could rot if not appropriately maintained and protected. The 813 has a coloured gelcoat band running under the gunwale which was available in colours such as navy, red and green. This will need seasonal attention

to keep its lustre. Like on deck, be on the lookout for areas of damage such as stress cracking, blistering and crazing, and painted gelcoat which could mask problems. Technical Advisor Paul told Motorboat Owner that the alloy/rubber rubbing strake extrusion is no longer available, so any extensive damage may require total replacement. Paul also added that history of wintering ashore is a great bonus and clearly shows that a boat has been well cared for and less likely to have gelcoat blistering and high moisture in the underwater sections.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; He also would urge all potential buyers to have a full out-of-water survey. Engines The 813 was available with a number of engine configurations, twin or single, petrol or diesel, shaftdrive or sterndrive. It was available with a 55hp Wortham Blake 1.6-litre crossflow Fisherboy Four petrol engine, offering a top speed of 11 knots, or a 31hp diesel Wortham Blake 1.5-litre Fisherboy, providing 8 knots. Both of these options are essentially marinised Ford engines and were coupled

January 2020

to an Enfield outdrive. They were also available in twin installations. A couple of petrol Volvo sterndrive options were available, namely a 130hp AQ130A mated to a 270 drive or a 140hp AQ140A with a 280 drive. The twin and sterndrive installations were said to offer speeds up to 17-18 knots, but it is thought that these versions are quite rare. A 46hp Thornycroft / BMC 1.8-litre diesel engine, known as the T108, was also available and is common in later boats. You may find some examples have been re-engined. If so, check that the installation has been carried out professionally. One example of reengining was a 1981 example fitted with a 37hp Nanni diesel and another based in Norway fitted with twin Nanni diesels. A series of flush cockpit hatches provide engine access across the various configurations. On the compact single shaftdrive versions the engine is concealed under the hatch sited immediately aft of the cabin door, while a larger inline The 813 hull in a shaftdrive configuration with hatch aft reveals cavernous hull space and its keel and flared bow. Its transom was also moulded to accommodate a sterndrive leg the propshaft. On sterndrive versions, Motorboat Owner ÂŠ Digital Marine Media Ltd

engines are of course mounted further aft and slightly more awkwardly under the transom seat. The hatch under the helmsmanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s feet usually reveals the boatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s calorifier and fuel tank, with space spare to fit a diesel heater. Fuel capacity varied across engine configurations, with a 12-gallon tank fitted to single Ford petrol boats, 27-gallons on single or twin diesels and a 40-gallon tank on Volvo petrol versions. Whichever configuration you choose, you are sure to be amazed by the potential bilge storage space available under the 813â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lengthy cockpit. Taking into account the age of these boats, you are likely to find some difficulty sourcing certain spares for older engines. Ford parts are often available via suppliers such as Lancing Marine and Sheridan Marine, or via the Internet searches on auction websites such as eBay. Certain Volvo parts may be sourced through distributors such as Keypart. The Thamesbased Chertsey Meads Marine is another useful contact, as they specialise in Enfield drives, and stock a range of spares, seals and gaskets. Also bear in mind that parts, such as starter motors, may well cross reference with those used in the automotive market, where the BMC 1.8

This 1981 813 is fitted with a Ford-based Wortham Blake petrol engine and sterndrive

A 46hp Thornycroft / BMC 1.8-litre fitted to 1979 single shaftdrive model

engine was widely used. Older outdrives do need to be properly maintained, so always ensure that servicing has been carried out at regular intervals. Doting owners may well have had the drive overhauled with a complete strip down and recondition. The same can be said for the engines. Always look for records or evidence to indicate that the engine has been serviced regularly. With both petrol and diesel boats, you will need to use your nose and inspect the engine bay carefully. If there is a fuel smell in the engine space, or inside the boat itself, make sure the fuel system, from filler to drip tray, is inspected thoroughly. Also check for water in the bilges and oil leaks. Petrol boats may suffer from starting problems or stalling, this is usually caused by worn carburettors or electrical components. When going for a seatrial we would recommend witnessing the engine starting up from cold to allow you to inspect the exhaust for smoke and listen for any unusual engine noises. So petrol or diesel? Diesel engines will be the most economical. However, safety concerns aside, opting for petrol or diesel

January 2020

may simply come down to budget as, generally petrol boats will be cheaper than their often more desirable diesel counterparts. Running a single petrolpowered boat at low river speeds won’t break the bank, and you should expect to burn approximately a gallon an hour. You will, however, need to consider local riverside availability. Fuelling up from cans is a chore, but a valid alternative as long as it is done in conjunction with some basic safety precautions. Petrol engines are also quieter and less smelly than diesel versions, a valid point to take into consideration with a boat designed for genteel river cruising. For peace of mind new owners should ensure that their petrol powered boat is fitted with a working bilge blower, and use it to clear any fumes from the engine bay every time before starting.

Conclusion Some of these boats are approaching 50 years old now. However, age itself is not necessarily a concern if you look for an example that has been well loved and maintained by its owners, and are prepared to keep on top of maintenance. Do your research and be wary of getting a project that may prove too big and costly to complete. We would always recommend getting a full survey, and also be aware that most insurance companies will require a survey report, less than five years old, before issuing cover to boats of this age. On paper the Seamaster 813 was an affordable and compact cruiser that was fairly basically appointed. Today it is still just that, yet it seems so much more, and will continue to provide hours of fun afloat for years to come.

Before buying any used boat, always employ the services of a IIMS or a YDSA accredited surveyor and, if you have any doubt about the engines, a separate engine survey by a suitably qualified person is recommended.

Family 8m

1971-1980

Prices £11,950-£15,000

Length: 27ft Beam: 10ft 5in A classic four-berth, centre cockpit aft cabin cruiser suitable for a family or couple. Buy one (pictured) £12,995 www.acastermarine.co.uk

1970-1981

Prices £13,000-£27,000

Length: 30ft Beam: 11ft 6in With 450 built, this is another popular six-berth aft cabin with single or twin engines. Buy one (pictured) 1976 £13,950 www.norfolkboatsales.co.uk

820

1979-1981

Prices £11,000-£23,000

Length: 26ft 10in Beam: 10ft 2in 26ft cruiser offering 4 berths, with 100 built and resurrected between 1987 and 1991. Buy one (pictured) 1981 £22,950 www.boatshowrooms.com

New and Used

Boats for Sale 01189 403211

Fairline / Mirage 29

Twin Volvo diesels, 2 double berths, equipped galley, heating

Call our friendly team to arrange an appointment to view any of the used boats for sale below – or visit our website for this month’s complete range www.valwyattmarine.co.uk

Interboat / 19

Doral / 250se

Immaculate day boat, seating for 9, solid teak floor, full winter cover

Striking sports cruiser, new canopies, batteries & anodes

Interboat / 22 Xplorer

Well maintained, teak floor, toilet, sink & fridge, bowthruster

1980 | £17,000 | 29ft | 8.8m

2003 | £26,950 | 25.3ft | 7.7m

2016 | £35,000 | 19ft | 6m

Interboat / Intender 700

Sealine / S34

Intercruiser / 27

Intercruiser / 29

2019 | £49,000 | 23ft | 7m

1999 | £69,500 | 34.5ft | 10.5m

2011 | £79,950 | 27ft | 8.5m

2018 | £199,950 | 29ft | 9m

Luxury day boat with triple back sundeck, Esthec floor, bimini

Spacious sportscruiser, twin Volvo 170hp, 6 berths, bowthruster

Superb weekend cruiser, 2 berths, sprayhood with raised section

FROM

£346,680

400 AFT CABIN

PRICE AS AT JANUARY 1 2019 EX WORKS, INC 20% VAT ST

British built since 1980

2014 | £40,000 | 22ft | 6.8m

Stunning boat, high spec, bow & stern thrusters, Volvo 220hp

FROM

INTENDER 820

£48,570

PRICE AS AT JANUARY 1ST 2019 EX WORKS, INC 20% VAT

Premium Dutch Quality

Classified

2002 Lema Clon

Single Volvo Penta 4.3 DPS 225hp petrol. 23ft sterndrive-powered, hardtop cruiser offering two berths and a seperate toilet compartment. Lying Pwllheli

£10,495

01758 703013 sales@idealboat.com

Motorboat Owner Affordable practical boating

2016 Kruger Delta II

1966 Freeman 26

New F25ELPT Mercury four stroke outboard. Trailer and tonneau cover included. 15ft dayboat ready to drive away immediately and get on the water. Thames

Twin Perkins shaftdrive diesels. Inland cruising classic offering 4 berths. Viewing is highly recommended. Lying Oulton Broad, Lowestoft

£8,995

£15,950

01189 403211 info@valwyattmarine.co.uk

Paul 01603 396607 paul.pardon@tingdene.net

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AMP Oceancraft / Ideal Boat......................................................... Page 31 Chaparral / Ideal Boat...................................................................... Page 13 Dean & Reddyhoff Marinas............................................................. Page 17 Finnmaster / Ideal Boat................................................................... Page 49 Hardy Marine.................................................................................... Page 15 JC Marine Service............................................................................ Page 7 MDS Battery....................................................................................... Page 12 Parker Poland................................................................................... Page 63 Saga Boats / Wessex Marine.......................................................... Page 9 Seabridge Marine............................................................................ Page 51 Tingdene Boat Sales........................................................................ Page 4 Val Wyatt Marine.............................................................................. Page 84 Vetus.................................................................................................. Page 47

Owners Directory i Arvor Boat Owners Club

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Atlanta Boat Owners

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freeman-cruisers.forumotion.co.uk

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mycleopatra.ning.com

www.hainesmarine.co.uk/owners.php

Coronet Cruisers

Hampton Safari Boat Club

freespace.virgin.net/simon.sherlock/index.htm

hamptonsafaribc.webplus.net

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Cranchi Owners Club & Forum cranchiownersclub.com

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January 2020

Owners Club missing? Contact us at

Marex Owners Club

editorial@motorboatowner.co.uk

Sea Ray Owners Club

www.clubsearay.com

www.marexownersclub.co.uk

Sealine Forum

Mariah Owners Club www.mariahownersclub.com

www.sealineforum.co.uk

Maxum Owners Club

Sealine Owners Club

www.maxumownersclub.com

www.sealineowners.com

Microplus Boats

Seamaster Club

www.microplus.dk

www.seamasterclub.org

Monterey Fourm

Seaward Owners Club

forums.montereyboats.com

www.seawardboat.com/club.html

Moonraker Owner’s Club

Shadow Boats - Victoria Shadow Association

www.moonraker.dk/eng_index.htm

www.victoriashadow.co.uk

Nauticus

Shetland Owners Association

www.nauticus.co.uk

www.shetlandowners.co.uk/shetland/

Nelson Boat Owners Club

Star Craft Owners Club

www.nelsonboatownersclub.co.uk

www.bates-starcraft.co.uk

Nimbus Owners Club UK

Storebro Passion

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www.storebropassion.de

Norman Appreciation Society

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www.normanboats.co.uk

sunseekerownersclub.com

Classic Princess facebook group

Viking Owners Club

Click here for Facebook group

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Regal Owners Forum

Warrior Boats Owners Club

www.warriorboatsownersclub.co.uk

www.regalownersforum.com

Relcraft Boaters Group

Advertise with us

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Rinker Owners Club www.rinkerboats.com/owners-club

Rodman Owners Club

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L K what I saw

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Bembridge beauty

Sunset view from the Duver pontoon SPOTTED! by Roger Stevens

A different kind of fishing?

Cheekily-named boat moored at Windsor SPOTTED! by Terry Sharp

Limp Horseshoe

This might not be much good in an emergency SPOTTED! by Norman Gibson

Thames Estuary sunrise

Sunrise whilst rounding the Maplin Sands SPOTTED! by Paul Killick 88

January 2020

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