Motorboat Owner July 2020 by Digital Marine Media Ltd

FREE DIGITAL MAGAZINE

Motorboat JULY 2020

USED BOATS

£50k Flybridges

Owner Affordable practical boating

BOAT TEST

Saxdor 200 Sport PRACTICAL

Dealing with diesel in a water tank CRUISING

Mayland 16 l E-Tec spark plug indexing l Used £50k Flybridges

Maxum to Gozo

Welcome to the July issue.

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

And welcome back to boating. While the lockdown meant day boating with members of your household has been permissable for a few weeks, we are on the verge of being allowed out overnight. Most marinas seem to be gearing up to accept visitors from July 4th, but personally I will just be happy to anchor out for the night somewhere peaceful and secluded. Whether that is possible in the rush

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

April 2020

welcome aboard

Boating is back. A post lockdown trip out to Ray Sand, off the River Crouch entrance, on a very settled day

to use our boats we will have to wait and see. As we enter a ‘new normal’ I suspect things will be a little different to what we were used to. Marina facilities may be limited, hand gel will no doubt be found in every marina reception, and masks will probably be worn in communal areas, but cast your lines off and all that can be forgotten, at least for a while, as out on the water things will seem very much like

the old normal, and I can’t wait. While Covid19 has curtailed our personal plans, it has had a huge impact on the industry. The Saxdor that is in this issue was the first boat we have tested this year, which considering the longest day is already behind us, is astonishing. Shows and events have been cancelled or postponed, and boating businesses have been closed, or trying their hardest to keep operating under very strange conditions. A big question mark is hanging over the UKs premier boating extravaganza. We were promised an answer about the plans for Southampton Boat Show on the 1st of July, and indeed delayed publication for this reason, but it appears that the jury is still out. Rumours are flying around that the show will not go ahead, at least not in a form that we would recognize. I hope they are wrong, and we are keeping our fingers crossed, but we will update you as soon as we know. In the meantime enjoy your boating, stay safe and stay alert.

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: Andy Barker, Simon Everett, John Hall

Cover photo: The Saxdor 200 Sport on test off Southampton by Claire Frew Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

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CONTENTS JULY 2020

NEWS page 6 INBOX page 20 CUTTING EDGE page 36 Q&A page 50 TESTED page 68

p32

Diesel in water tank

PRACTIC

PRACTICAL

REGULARS

would be the tank back in the morning will the . By now I’m beginnin to clear boat have the tank g to be replato be taken to panic, What apart for ced? will insuranc it cost? And Who can do taken e? The rest of am I covered it? up on fresh watewith filling the evening was vario r As prom and weighing us bottles with ised, up morning the optio Pete arriv ns. ed the Unfortun with a 35-li next tre power ately we didn tank and a pum supp and cam ly close by ’t have a 12 volt p. powered e back with so he went off a car battery. work and up, the little Onc pum tank was within a coup p started e empty. le of hour to In my s the Motorbo calling arou nd, Dave Streeat Owner put Neale Byar t Company t, Manager me in touch of with at the in Lym Berthon that he ingto A cockt deal on a boat t with this n, mentioni Boat spirit ail of washing and hot exact prob ng up liqui their prev many year water was used d, methylate s ago duri lem ious d remembe to treat organised ng one speed the tank than we and reass red the vesse cruises. Daveof in Port had ente l smouth flush out ured me that all these year waiting around red it, arriving s for 11:30. you knew without perm it was possible later Chris His usua us. anent was what to l role offered damage, to diese do. l, not diese is to remo to take Furtherm if to carr Jazzbo ve wate needed l y in if I was ore, he r from to find from water, advice out the work whole and we a way unable I realised myself. syste of m as, unfo cleaning possible With this pump that a out was in other partwithout repla fix might just the “on” rtunately, the my diesel cing the be went in water s of the position tank and Another pumped and had domestic when name hurry to get wateout me was I was the phon around the subsequently the Chri in athat was suggtider system. system. fuel pontoon. been Curtto miss the ested Company snot spur of mentionee again, one Back on in again, to A couple of years ago, ontothe of Chri in Port is of the held and back d a prod to mee Fresh had Cleanfor head for a weuth, Dies berthsmo uct calle s’s contacts t the thenext Wate retain to set and we16:30 el and to the moment, we decided in Jazzbo, our d BioM they had r Tank Clea agreed It was around a planso far.mor agic . We depaning in Port time there long weekend in Guernsey and were put the follo product heard prom ner, of whic on the wing mor smouth early rtedday h ising repo the end of the was early the towards andand Sealine S38. We arrived the harbour up, I was tanks that designed the Alde ning to in fit infilling I was to clean rts. The and, rneyas with the mor pontoon on the waiting pontoon primarily had been pollu tide fuel Race. ning out tide Marina. Once the It was the manager. Tony,sky ted with water we cam to, clear actually in the moto a fanta chatting just outside Victoria and called up to Kitty, e out two fuel, stic r hom the same in. of thelater I smo oth or e reco minute sea secto A had risen we cruised 36 Race aton her phone, product mmende and r. It was I decided it was We calle d to me in that Tony had A couple of days later, who was usually texting a much faster July 2020 we slipped out to the Donna. d Bio Mag Guernsey. time to refuel and ic and She was very help spoke to 34 ful and put

ADVICE

you do if tank!’ What would ‘You’re filling the wrong with diesel? John Hall did tank fixed it you filled the water and here is how he just that on his Sealine

July

2020

page 26 Back to boating

Lockdown photos page 68 Tested

Rokk Wireless Edge

PRACTICAL

Advice: Diesel in water tank

p56

page 70 Project Boat

Mayland 16 revisited page 78 Hooked

Float fishing

p70

CRUISING ‘Emerald Dreams’ Maxum to Gozo BOAT TEST

p82 £50k Flybridge Cruiser

SECOND LOOK - USED BOATS Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

p38

Saxdor 200 Sport

NEWS Southampton Boat Show 2020

With the ongoing situation regarding the Covid-19 pandemic, boat show organiser, British Marine, has yet to release its decision regarding the annual UK boating extravaganza that is the Southampton Boat Show, which is just over two months away. Last years show showcased over 600 marine brands, numerous new boats and products and welcomed over 103,000 visitors. Marking its 52nd year, this year’s show is due to take place on Southampton’s waterfront Mayflower Park between 11th-20th September. News of the 10-day show was due to be released on the 1st July, a date which Motorboat Owner delayed releasing its July issue for. MBO Editor and SBS exhibitor, Neale Byart, said “It is a fantastic show and we hope to bring you the latest information as soon as we can”.

‘Label your kit’ urges Coastguard With watersports, such as stand up paddleboarding, becoming popular as lockdown eases, the HM Coastguard is urging boaters and watergoers to label their kit before hitting water this summer. The reason, should they become separated from it, and it turns up somewhere, the Coastguard can get in contact. In recent weeks Coastguard Rescue Teams have found numerous items such as kayaks and canoes drifting out to sea or along the shoreline, including a buoyancy aid floating in the Solent. Such items did not have their owners’ contact details on them nor been reported as missing, so the Coastguard can never be completely sure if someone is safe or in the worst case, in trouble at sea, placing a strain on resources during the busy summer period. To help out, free ‘Water Sports Outdoor Labels’ are available to order online via the MCA website.

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July 2020

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

editorial@motorboatowner.co.uk

New dates for British Motoryacht Show The host of this year’s British Motoryacht Show, Premier Marinas, have announced that it will run later this summer, from Saturday 1st to Sunday 9th August. Originally due to take place on the 11th-14th June, the hosts are putting ‘all the necessary precautions in place to ensure the safety of visitors, complying with the current Covid-19 regulations’ and to manage visitor numbers. Entry is free but strictly by appointment only. The event will showcase three British brands, Fairline, Princess and Sunseeker, but also overseas brands such as Axopar, Bavaria, Bayliner, Beneteau, Greenline, Jeanneau and Prestige. Highlights this year include the new Fairline F//Line 33, the Princess V50 and R35, and the new Sunseeker Predator 74 pictured. For details visit britishmotoryachtshow.com

Windboats administration UK boat builder, Windboats Marine entered administration in April ‘due to a general downturn in orders and the untimely impact of the COVID-19 pandemic’. The Norfolk-based company operates as a boatyard and boatbuilder, building Gunfleet cruising yachts and the Hardy range of motorboats. 2020 marked the centenary year for the builder. It was established in 1920 when it produced, what is described as, ‘one of the finest fleets of hire boats on the Norfolk Broads’, later known as ‘Windboats’. After building vessels for World War II, the yard and business changed hands twice before moving into GRP yacht production, and a 30-year relationship with Oyster Marine was established. In 2013, Windboats acquired the Norfolk motorboat builder, Hardy Marine, with its 32-62ft range of models, with a partnership later created with British yacht brand, Gunfleet Marine. Ensors Chartered Accountants were appointed Joint Administrators and were actively looking for a buyer for the business. Contacting Ensors in late June, Motorboat Owner was told that the administrators were waiting to hear back from the insolvency practitioner. Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

NEWS Port Dinorwic revamp Port Dinorwic Marina on the coast of North Wales is to receive a major facilities upgrade. Owned by The Marine Group, the grade II listed 180-berth marina on the Menai Strait will receive a complete refresh of its hardware by marina construction company, Inland and Coastal Marina Systems (ICMS). Phase 1 is due to start in August and sustainability is key for the marina owners. Some of the existing infrastructure will be adapted and, where this isn’t feasible, ICMS will replace walkways and finger pontoons completely with glass-reinforced concrete decked pontoons which have non-slip and non-rot properties. Christopher OdlingSmee, Director of The Marine & Property Group, explained “We are investing in several areas at Port Dinorwic Marina, including the installation of club standard washrooms, upgraded food and beverage outlets and common areas with the aim of ensuring our berth holders and visitors enjoy a first-class experience for many years to come.” The marina is spread over two areas, with an outer and locked, inner basin. It also offers swinging moorings, as well as launching and storage facilities. See Destination Guide May 2018

Thames Valley & London Boat Show 2021 After circulating revised August dates, the organisers of the Thames Valley and London Boat Show have announced ‘with great sadness and reluctance’ that the free-entry show will be deferred to 2021 due to the ‘uncertainty and nervousness’ surrounding Covid-19. The three-day show was due to be held again at Penton Hook Marina and was set to host 20 brands, including Sealine, Jeanneau, Fairline, Cranchi, Glastron, Bayliner, Alfastreet and Orkney, with food, entertainment and other marine company stalls ashore. 8

July 2020

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NEWS Saxdor 320 GTO NEW BOAT Following on from the new 200 Sport, the 320 GTO is the next step for Finnish builder Saxdor Yachts, with more new models to be announced in the coming months. This 10-metre T-topped sportster has a fully walkaround deck area with opening side terraces and adaptable seating, while down below its cabin provides a double berth and a toilet compartment. Capable of speeds up to 50 knots, it will be fitted with a choice of single or twin Mercury outboards 300-600hp. Prices from its UK dealer, Ideal Boat, start at £98,600.

DIARY DATES British Motor Yacht Show 1st-9th August

Cannes Yachting Festival 8th-13th September Southampton Boat Show 11th-20th September

Devon Autumn Boat Jumble 12th September Solent Boat Jumble 4th October Kent Boat Jumble 11th October Suffolk Boat Jumble 18th October METS Marine Trade Show 17-19th November Boot & Fun Berlin 18th-22nd November Click any of the above for more info

MDL Marinas introduce small boat berth scheme MDL Marinas has launched ‘Simply Berthing’, a new berthing package aimed at smaller boats under 9.9m and available across its 18 UK marinas. Example price for a 9-metre boat at Port Hamble is £5,625, (Annual Freedom Berthing is £6,818).

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

July 2020

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

editorial@motorboatowner.co.uk

British Marine’s ‘Summer on the Water’ campaign As the Covid-19 lockdown eases on the 4th July and record numbers get ready to take to the water, the UK marine trade association, British Marine, has launched a ‘Summer on the Water’ campaign with a view to kick starting the marine industry and inspiring more people to take to the water responsibly this summer. With more people choosing to staycation in the UK, the association has created a new ‘Summer on the Water’ website providing information on activities, courses, boat buying, moorings and charter holidays. It is also encouraging boaters and watergoers to share their experiences on social media using the hashtag #SummerOnTheWater

Teddington Lock restrictions Between the 1st-31st July, Teddington Lock on the River Thames will be offering daytime assisted passage 7am-9pm (closed at night), and ‘one tidal transit every 24 hours’ for boats wishing to use the lock as a gateway on or off the non-tidal Thames. Available transit times can be found on the EA website. River licences are not available at the lock but by telephoning 0330 159 1983. Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

NEWS Shearwater 19 NEW BOAT

The new Shearwater 19 is a classically-styled 6-metre all-aluminium boat that has been designed to be strong, lightweight and sustainable. It was built by bespoke East Sussex builder, Seacott Marine, initially as a one-off purchase/ prototype and features a Gucci-inspired colour scheme. It is suitable for use on inland waterways and lakes, or as a marina or estuary runabout with seating for five people plus a sunpad area. Power is provided by a 135hp Mercruiser 3.0 TKS shaftdrive petrol engine giving a top speed of 30 knots. The Shearwater 19 is priced at £81,540 and Seacott is also considering producing an electric version.

Swanwick drystack extension Premier’s Swanwick Marina on the River Hamble has received planning approval to extend its drystack. An investment of £100,000 will see drystack capacity increase from 80 to 112 spaces and it will provide storage for boats up to 11 metres. Graham Bristowe, Swanwick’s General Manager said “We’re excited about the expansion and investment. The steel frame is currently being built and from next month groundworks will commence, with the project due to be completed by the beginning of August.”

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July 2020

Sargo behaves in waves like a refined sports car. Splendidly. And still making a lot of sense.

– SOLID, SAFE AND SPORTY – SOLID, SAFE AND SPORTY ”The unique SARGO hull is built to last and perform. Its robust structure is extremely strong and the construction is nothing less than heavy-duty. ”The unique SARGO hull is built to last The outcome is the unmistakably quiet and perform. Its robust structure is and smooth SARGO extremely strong andride.” the construction is nothing less than heavy-duty. David Sarin, Head of Production, Sarins Båtar Ltd. The outcome is the unmistakably quiet Sargo is precisely that kind of sport utility vessel, boasting and smooth SARGO ride.” exhilarating handling and ride characteristics even in rough

seas. Some Sargo skippers talk about its smooth ride and good even at Sarins higherBåtar speeds. Davidresponsiveness Sarin, Head of Production, Ltd. We simply call it tough sportiness. All Sargo models between 25-36 ft. live up to this while still making a lot of sense. Sargo is a true multi-purpose vessel

suited to many kinds of uses. The interior is both stylish and practical, following the great Scandinavian design tradition. Sargo is a premium boat built in Finland, a new brand based on a great tradition since 1967. Rain or shine, you’ll be fine. With a big smile on your face.

Sargo Boats UK Limited - Hamble Point Marina, Hamble, Southampton, Hampshire, SO31 4JD Sargo Boats UK Limited - Hamble Point Marina, Hamble, Southampton Hampshire, SO31 4JD Tel: +44(0)2380 453 245 Email: info@sargoboats.co.uk Website: www.sargoboats.co.uk

Tel: +44(0)2380 453 245 Email: info@sargoboats.co.uk www.sargoboats.co.uk Sarins Båtar Ltd., 67900 Kokkola, Finland, info@sargoboats.fi, www.sargoboats.fi

NEWS New marina berths at Stornoway Later this summer, visiting and resident boaters at Stornoway Harbour will be able to use 75 new marina berths in its Newton Basin. Increasing capacity for leisure craft from 80 to 155, the new pontoon facilities, which have been designed and built by Inland and Coastal Marina Systems (ICMS), will be protected by a ‘state-of-the-art breakwater’. As a result of high demand for berths in Stornoway, the marina was extended in 2014. In the latest 2020 development, as part of Stornoway Port Authority’s 2017 Masterplan, ICMS is installing a new leisure marina walkway and finger pontoons. The Outer Hebrides is a key boating destination for visitors, and Stornoway is an important link in the chain of safe havens stretching from the Butt of Lewis to the Isle of Barra. The marina’s situation on the Isle of Lewis makes access to the mainland and construction plant challenging. Brian Curley, Inland and Coastal Senior Project Manager explains “Being in the Hebrides has its logistical issues when it comes to installation, but we always find a solution. Assembling the pontoons offsite really helps timewise and reduces the amount of specialist machinery needed in-situ. This exciting project will also incorporate a new slipway and boat hoist, enabling the marina to offer boatyard services to visitors and port users. We are delighted to be involved in such a prominent project in Scotland, which will be enjoyed by locals, sailors from abroad and the wider community long into the future.”

The GRP mini-mesh decked pontoons, with anti-slip properties, will provide the much-needed additional marina berths at Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis 14

July 2020

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

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Yacht Havens ‘Safe Boating’ Covid-19 campaign While boating was permitted in a limited capacity during the Coronavirus pandemic, the marina group, Yacht Havens was promoting its Safe Boating campaign, offering boaters specific, local advice for each of its marinas, with ‘simple tips for boaters to be safe on the water’. Yacht Havens is responsible for nine marinas, dry stacks and boatyards around the UK and the Netherlands, including Fambridge in Essex and Largs in Scotland.

‘Staycation’ fees for Guernsey boaters With a visitor shortfall due to Covid-19, Guernsey Harbours is offering its resident boat owners discounted overnight stays at St Peter Port’s visitor marina, Victoria Marina, during this summer season. Nicknamed the ‘staycation offer’, local boaters will be charged £10 per night for a maximum stay of two nights. Booking is essential via an online form.

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

Pictured, Fambridge Yacht Haven and ‘Safe Boating’ notice

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NEWS Rinker, Striker and Larson cease production The parent company and builders of US boat brands, Rinker, Striper and Larson FX, Polaris Inc, has announced that it will not be producing the three boat brands, at its Syracuse, Indiana plant from June, in order ‘to focus its marine investments and growth efforts on its flagship boating brands’. The boat brand Rinker was founded in the 1930s, while its stable mate Larson dates back to 1913. Polaris purchased the Larson FX and Striper brands in 2019 and the Rinker brand as part of an acquisition in 2018. Bob Mack, president of Global Adjacent Markets and Boats, and senior vice president of Corporate Development & Strategy, said “Considering market dynamics and the continued uncertainty around the sustained impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, we have decided not to move forward with investing the necessary resources to maintain and grow Rinker, Striper and Larson FX, and will discontinue production of those brands.” Bob Mack continued “We deeply regret the impact this will have on our employees, boat dealers, sales representatives, suppliers and, of course, our Rinker, Striper and Larson FX customers.” Polaris will continue to produce its Bennington, Godfrey, and Hurricane boat brands at its two bases in Elkhart, Indiana, and will continue to provide customer service and parts support for Rinker, Larson FX and Striper boats, and will honor the warranties of boats purchased from Polaris.

Joint plea for safety equipment checks The RYA has backed safety equipment supplier, Crewsaver, by urging boaters to carefully check safety equipment before returning to the water, post lockdown. Both insist that boaters need to carry out ‘rigorous’ equipment checks following an easing of Coronavirus lockdown rules. Matthew Bridge, Commercial Director of Crewsaver, said “Our message is do get out on the water but be safe and keep to the government guidelines to protect the emergency services. Lifejackets, flares, fire extinguishers, first aid supplies, and liferafts, in particular, should be thoroughly checked before putting to sea to ensure they are damage-free and equipment is still in date.” You can find more advice on the RYA Safe Boating hub.

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July 2020

NEWS Evinrude E-TEC production discontinued

The manufacturers of the Evinrude outboard range, BRP, have announced that it is discontinuing the production of its E-TEC G1 and E-TEC G2 outboard models due to the impact of Covid-19. For 75-year-old BRP, marine is just one arm of its production, with ranges including snowmobiles and motorbikes. On the marine side it produces SeaDoo watercraft, Alumacraft, Manitou and Savage boat ranges, as well as Rotax marine propulsion systems. With its immediate discontinuation of the Evinrude outboard engine ranges, the company ‘will now focus on next generation propulsion systems’ and the expansion of its presence in the pontoon and aluminum fishing boat markets. The decision will impact 650 employees. Its US facility in Sturtevant, Wisconsin will be re-purposed for new projects and the company has entered into an agreement with fellow US outboard producer, Mercury Marine (Mercury Racing 450R pictured below), to power its boat packages. José Boisjoli, President and CEO of BRP, explained “Our outboard engines business has been greatly impacted by Covid-19, obliging us to discontinue production of our outboard motors immediately. This business segment had already been facing some challenges and the impact from the current context has forced our hand. We will concentrate our efforts on new and innovative technologies and on the development of our boat companies, where we continue to see a lot of potential to transform the on-water experience for consumers. We will continue to supply customers and our dealer network service parts and will honour our manufacturer limited warranties.”

July 2020

INBOX

Vixen query

Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been following your Fairline Vixen restoration with interest, as I have owned the same boat for a few years too. I wondered if you could point me in the direction of the raw water strainer. My engine, a Volvo Penta AQ140A, is getting hot after an hour or so of use, so I thought first port of call would be the raw water strainer. I had been looking around the engine compartment, but am thinking in the cabin under the seats, in the main hull, may be more logical. Do you know where I can source a Fairline Vixen manual? Michael Hope Editor comments: The raw water strainer for the AQ140 is built into the heat exchanger on the front of the engine. Boats with sterndrives do not normally have a seacock and through-hull fitting, as cooling water is drawn through the leg. I have, however, seen sterndrive boats that have been modified to take cooling water through a through-hull fitting, so if you wanted to change, it may be possible. I have emailed you a couple of documents, including an ownerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s manual regarding the AQ140. I hope these will be useful in terms of your engine and drive. These, and many others can be downloaded from the Volvo Penta website. You can see the raw water strainer on the diagram on page 5 of the manual, and is located just below the number 13 on the second photograph on the first page of the product bulletin. As for a manual for the boat itself, I am not aware that one exists. If it did, it would probably be of limited use anyway, as each Vixen will be quite different depending When you remove the cap (part 22), there upon options and subsequent should be a strainer (part 19) beneath it. This changes and upgrades. should pull out to allow you to clean it

July 2020

email:

editorial@motorboatowner.co.uk

BACK

TIME

1990s brochure pages for racing pedigree, Hartlebury-based boat builder, Shakespeare

Use your ‘noodle’ On our Sealine F37 we don’t tend to use the inbuilt clamshell storage, but choose to roll and clip the aft cockpit screens up instead. However, rolling up a wide aft section of canvas on my own can be a struggle, but I have discovered a quick and easy way to start things off, by using a £2.49 child’s swimming ‘noodle’ from Decathlon. John Editor comments: Thank you for writing in, that is a great tip and will surely keep these large, unwieldy sections of canopy in better condition, avoiding pinches and fold marks. Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

INBOX

Need a boost

I always enjoy the magazine, and on Saturday something happened to make me want to contribute. My Botnia Targa 30 has twin 200hp Volvo AD41s. We pulled onto Southampton Water and opened the throttles for the first time since last summer. One engine was fine, the other wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t rev over 2000rpm. The engine looked OK, it wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t overheating and had good oil pressure, so I immediately assumed that it was fuel starvation filters or hoses. Both engines draw from the same tank, but each engine has very good separate pre-filters, which were changed last summer. I thought about it for a bit and then thought about the turbo. I took the air filter off and sure enough the turbo wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t spinning. I switched it off and gently used my fingers to turn the impeller, which was slightly resistant but turned immediately. The engine was back to normal. A turbo boost gauge would have told me straight away, as seen in the March and April issues. Thank you very much team. Nick Leston Editor comments: A timely reminder that, after an extended lay up, turbos can seize. If your turbo equipped engine is down on power, this is a simple check.

Covid-19: Marina fees refund

With the cost of Solent boating being quite great, and the moorings being the biggest part of this expense, it was with great surprise and pleasure that I learned our marina was offering a percentage refund of our moorings for April this year, as we were not allowed to go to, or use, our boats. It was nice to see them caring for their customers. Well done to our marina team, keep up the good work. Chris Dawson Editor comments: Thank you for writing in. It is excellent feedback, and great to hear that the industry is working with the boating community during these difficult times.

July 2020

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editorial@motorboatowner.co.uk

Doing the Danube

I read your January edition with great interest, and consequently have enjoyed reading all the digital magazines which you have published. We are currently stuck in lockdown in France on our boat, a Fairline Turbo 36, as we were due to transit to Spain, but are unable to leave until restrictions are lifted and your magazines are the only thing that has given us some sanity. We are very keen to cruise the Danube and MBO contributors, Peter and Gill Pitcher, say they have been to the Black Sea via the Danube. I would be very interested to speak to someone who has done this route as I want to go from Spain to the Black Sea and go up the Danube, which is against the flow, from the Black Sea to the North Sea. I wondered whether you would be able to pass our email address onto the Pitchers. Your help and assistance would be much appreciated and keep up the good work with the magazines, they are brilliant. Elaine & Howard Clews Associate Editor comments: Thank you for writing in to us, it sounds like you are on a fantastic adventure. I hope that the restrictions are lifted soon and that you are able to continue your journey. I have passed your details onto Peter Pitcher, however I understand from him that he has not done the Danube. He has forwarded you notes on the Rhine and Mitteland to Baltic, which he hopes will be of use. If there is anyone else that might be able to help Elaine and Howard please do feel free to contact us. Upon further conversations with Elaine, MBO has learned that they have been boating for over 30 years and have constantly moved moorings to ‘keep the cruising fresh and interesting’. Admitting they had very little experience in the beginning, they bought unloved and ‘non-running’ boats, including two Princess 32s and a Princess 37, from destinations such as Jersey, the River Thames and St Malo, and did them up whilst cruising extensively. They have now explored most of the British Isles and its inland waterway system, the Irish Sea, Welsh coast, west coast of Scotland and French coast, before moving through the French inland waterway system down to the Med. It is an enviable achievement and I’m sure you will join us in wishing them all the best for the next leg. Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

INBOX Scam boat sales website

As Editor of Motorboat Owner you might already be aware of this but we recently uncovered a fake website advertising boats they do not own, or have access to. It advertises random boats with pictures taken from the internet and put together as listings. I, and others around Europe, have fallen victim to this scam and I would like to make sure that your readers don’t become the next victims. The site has been reported to Action Fraud UK multiple times as well as An Garda Siochana in Ireland, Met Police and especially HSBC, as for every transaction this gang use a unique HSBC account. The site was taken down temporarily, but reappeared yesterday morning. It is a very sophisticated setup, going under the name of Island Boats and using the details of an existing company of the same name. Sylvester Hiemstra Editor comments: Sorry to hear about your experience. Unfortunately, these kind of websites are becoming more common. We have mentioned them before in the mag, but your email is a timely reminder. I note that this particular website appears to have been taken down, at least here in England, although I understand it is still visible from other parts of the UK and Ireland. I guess they are taking advantage of the lockdown and social distancing to convince people to part with money without any actual contact? I don’t know about this particular one, but these websites often use boats that are for sale, or have been for sale recently, somewhere else. They sometimes use boats that have clearly not been photographed in the country they claim to be. Often the prices are below market value, and they always deliver some elaborate explanation as to why viewing the boat is not possible. During discussions with them, they usually offer a convincing, if entirely meaningless, ‘guarantee’ that your money will be safe. Thank you for bringing it to our attention. We have come up with a checklist to help readers avoid falling for such scams. Unfortunately that doesn’t help you, but hopefully bringing your experience to their attention may help others avoid being scammed in the same way.

July 2020

email:

editorial@motorboatowner.co.uk

BEWARE! SCAM BOAT SALES WEBSITES Motorboat Owner boat buying checklist

1. If the deal seems too good to be true, it very likely is 2. Study the website and adverts carefully. Boats claiming to be in the British Isles, but with photos that include palm trees and overseas registration numbers on the hull should ring alarm bells 2. Never part with money until you have actually seen the boat and satisfied yourself that the boat and seller are genuine. Any excuse by the ‘vendor’ to avoid you seeing the boat is a reason to walk away very quickly 3. Never agree to view a smaller boat in a random location, such as a car park or lay-by. Always insist on viewing at the premises/address of the person/company selling it 4. Unless you are certain of the boat’s providence, always buy through an established and recognised boat brokerage business ie one that you know personally, or comes with a well known history. Fake brokerage businesses do not advertise in magazines, so this would be a good starting point if you are new to the hobby. 5. Despite any reassurances you may be given about protection for your money, there is actually almost none. Once you have paid a random stranger using any method, the chances of you getting that money back is very remote. The fraudsters are often quite convincing about protection offered by Paypal and the like, but read the small print. Paypal does not offer protection on boat sales. 6. Look into the company. If the boat is being sold online by a company, due diligence should include looking up details of how long the website has been registered for and in what country. This information can be found here https://whois.domaintools.com, In the case of the company in the email we received, the website was only set up in April this year and is registered in Poland, despite claiming 29 years service and based in Middlesex. You could also look up the company on the Companies House website. These fraudulant websites often find a dormant company and rip off its details to appear more genuine. Again, the company name in the email received is based on a genuine UK registered company, but a quick check shows that it is not in the boat sales business. Search for the company name online, if anyone else has been ripped off, there may be some digital evidence of this. 7. Above all, if in any doubt, walk away. There will always be another boat to buy and a genuine seller should do whatever is required to satisfy a buyer of the authenticity of the deal. Listen to your head and not your heart. Don’t be afraid to miss a once-in-a-lifetime deal, as there is a very good chance that the reason it’s such a good deal is that it is not genuine. Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

BACK TO BOATING YOUR favourite post-lockdown photos

Beached at East Head CHICHESTER HARBOUR

Dan Pastor Jeanneau Cap Camarat 5.5 WA

Future boater RIVER AVON Phil Atkins Sealine S23

Full throttle fisher TORBAY, DEVON

Chris and Caroline Blackshaw Jeanneau Merry Fisher 855 26

July 2020

Graham Togwell Jeanneau Merry Fisher 725

LOCKDOWN PHOTOS

Clyde calm SCOTLAND

Back on the Broads

Michael Whitaker Sheerline 1020

Saxdor splash ABERSOCH

Neville Williams & Family Saxdor 200 Sport

Taking time out on the Thames MEDMENHAM

Graham Gleave Broom 29

“A bit of real boating. We only discovered Newtown Creek, Totland Bay and Colwell Bay due to lockdown.... The hamper from The Hut was an amazing treat”

Hamper heaven at ‘The Hut’ COLWELL BAY, SOLENT Tony Lucas & Family Sealine C48

Life’s a beach at Mudeford

“Meanwhile, I spent a lot of time on the boat in this position”

CHRISTCHURCH HARBOUR

Jason Hazell Quicksilver 645 Cruiser

Pets on board NEWTOWN CREEK

Nick Leston Botnia Targa 30

LOCKDOWN PHOTOS

Solent social distancing

Fermain footnote GUERNSEY

Richard Poat

HURST CASTLE

Mike Griffiths Jeanneau Prestige 38S

Taking a vantage READING, THAMES Kat Young Sealine F37

Lead astray during lockdown

BERLIN, GERMANY

Markus MÃ¼ller Sealine F33

Set free at Swansea PWLL DU BAY, WALES

Harry Jefferies, Robin Vaughan and Family Jeanneau Cap Camarat 7.5CC

River return PENTON HOOK, THAMES Mark Hammond & Family Sealine SC42

LOCKDOWN PHOTOS

Fermain footnote

FERMAIN BAY, GUERNSEY

Richard Poat

Southampton Sunset SOLENT Sven Boulton Bayliner 2556

More photos?

Please send your favourites to us at editorial@motorboatowner.co.uk

PRACTICAL

ADVICE

Diesel in water tank

‘You’re filling the wrong tank!’ What would you do if you filled the water tank with diesel? John Hall did just that on his Sealine and here is how he fixed it A

couple of years ago, on the spur of the moment, we decided to head for a long weekend in Guernsey in Jazzbo, our Sealine S38. We arrived early and were put on the waiting pontoon in the harbour just outside Victoria Marina. Once the tide had risen we cruised in. A couple of days later, I decided it was time to refuel and we slipped out to the

fuel pontoon. I was in a hurry to get out and back in again, not to miss the tide and to retain the berth we had held for the time there so far. It was around 16:30 and towards the end of the day on the fuel pontoon and, as I was filling up, I was chatting to Tony, the manager. A minute or two later I called up to Kitty, who was usually texting on her phone,

July 2020

Eau de diesel. 109 litres of diesel deemed the sinks and shower unusable. John and Kitty resorted to buying bottled water, and filling and carrying fresh water aboard in portable receptacles

to ask what the fuel gauge was showing. Her reply was “it’s not moving” to which I responded “you’re looking at the wrong gauge” and with that she replied “no, you’re filling the wrong tank!”. At that precise moment, diesel bubbled up from the filler pipe of my water tank. The expletive that followed indicated my shock and absolute dismay. How on earth could I have made such a mistake? Tony quietly called down to me that he would have to charge me for the 109 litres that I had just pumped in to my water tank. We switched to filling the correct tanks. I called up to Tony to see if he could find me someone to help me out, somehow. He replied that it was late in the day, so I asked him again, this time more strongly. He went off and came back with a name, Peter MacGill of Waste Oil Recycling, together with a phone number

on a piece of paper. I went up to the office to pay and Tony mentioned a product that motor home owners used when they filled their water tanks with fuel. To be honest, I didn’t take much notice as my mind was too occupied by the seriousness of the problem. We returned to our berth in the marina and I called Pete. He offered to be with me in the hour. Meanwhile, I had to find out where the tank was. After several calls I got through to Danny Buckingham at C-Line Marine Services in Swanwick. The tank was in the aft cabin behind a panel and the sender on the top would unscrew anti-clockwise. The panel turned out to be a bookcase set in the wall which, once removed, revealed the tank. Pete arrived and reviewed the situation. We had around 276 litres of water and diesel in the tank, 109 being diesel. He

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

PRACTICAL

would be back in the morning to clear the tank. By now I’m beginning to panic, will the boat have to be taken apart for the tank to be replaced? Who can do it? What will it cost? And am I covered on insurance? The rest of the evening was taken up with filling various bottles with fresh water and weighing up the options. As promised, Pete arrived the next morning with a 35-litre tank and a pump. Unfortunately we didn’t have a 12 volt power supply close by so he went off and came back with a car battery. Once powered up, the little pump started to work and within a couple of hours the tank was empty. In my calling around, Neale Byart of Motorboat Owner put me in touch with Dave Street, Manager at the Berthon Boat Company in Lymington, mentioning that he dealt with this exact problem on a boat many years ago during one of their previous organised cruises. Dave remembered the vessel all these years later and reassured me that it was possible to flush out without permanent damage, if you knew what to do. Furthermore, he offered to take Jazzbo in if I was unable to carry out the work myself. With this advice I realised that a fix might just be possible without replacing the tank and other parts of the domestic water system. Another name that was suggested to me was Chris Curtis of the Clean Diesel Company in Portsmouth, and we agreed to meet the next morning in Portsmouth to set a plan. We departed early the following morning to fit in with the tide and the Alderney Race. It was a fantastic morning, clear sky and smooth sea and we came out of the Race at a much faster

A cocktail of washing up liquid, methylated spirit and hot water was used to treat the tank

speed than we had entered it, arriving in Portsmouth around 11:30. Chris was waiting for us. His usual role is to remove water from diesel, not diesel from water, and we needed to find a way of cleaning out my whole system as, unfortunately, the water pump was in the “on” position when the diesel went in and had subsequently been pumped around the system. Back on the phone again, one of Chris’s contacts mentioned a product called BioMagic Fresh Water Tank Cleaner, of which they had heard promising reports. The product was designed to clean out water tanks that had been polluted with fuel, primarily in the motor home sector. It was actually the same product that Tony had recommended to me in Guernsey. We called Bio Magic and spoke to Donna. She was very helpful and put

July 2020

some containers in the post to us, to be delivered the following morning. The initial instructions being to flush out with a mix of washing up liquid and methylated spirits. We set off, bought the washing up liquid and meths and poured them in to the tank, followed by some warm water to start the process off, with cold water to follow. To help it along, we rocked the boat side to side from the pontoon. The next day, we flushed the soap and meths out and were surprised that there was already very little evidence of diesel. We then refilled the tank with BioMagic and left it for another 24 hours. When flushed out again it seemed to be completely clear of diesel, and we reckoned that we had solved the problem. Just to be sure, and also because I couldn’t believe it had been so easy, I ordered more BioMagic and repeated the process myself once more. At this point I was confident that the issue had been dealt with. A few days later, we joined the Motorboat Owner cruise to the West Country and while in our first marina stop, I went to wash my hands, in diesel. I then realised we had made a fundamental mistake and had not flushed through every outlet, mainly using the one on the bathing platform for ease. Furthermore, when I had flushed through using the mixer taps I had them set to the midway point, rather than flushing the hot and cold through separately, as advised by BioMagic. Over the next couple of days I repeated the whole process, starting again with meths and washing up liquid followed by BioMagic, this time through all outlets, both hot and cold, until I was satisfied that it was clean enough. By the

BioMagic Fresh Water Tank Cleaner is available from www.biomagicuk.com for £30 per litre, which is enough to treat up to 150 litres twice

time we had reached Salcombe I had taken a shower and was proudly showing off my clean hair. We were finally all clear. So what did I learn? If it happens to you, firstly, don’t panic. Turn your water pump off and don’t run any taps to limit the spread of the diesel through the system. Get the tank emptied and then flush through with meths and washing up liquid to start you off. Buy some BioMagic Fresh Water Tank Cleaner and follow the instructions closely. Do this and you should be back in action shortly. If you are not confident in doing any of this yourself, don’t worry. You can always call upon the services of the professionals, such as Peter Macgill, Dave Street and Chris Curtis, without whom our dilemma could have been a disaster. MBO

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

CUTTING Simrad

Simrad’s NSS range of multi-function displays have received a makeover, the results of which are the NSSEVO3S. Available in 9, 12 and 16-inch models, the EVO3S come with SolarMAX IPS displays to provide clear views in all conditions, built in high-performance, 1kW CHIRP echo sounder functionality, fast and simple networking capabilities, wireless connectivity to smartphones or tablets and iMX8 integrated processor for superior performance. They come with built in GPS and support chart, autopilot, sonar and radar functionality, including support for HALO dome and open array antennas. Price from £2,250 www.simrad-yachting.com

Calypso

If you want some wind speed and direction information at the helm, but don’t want the hassle of running wires up to your arch or light mast, the portable wireless Calypso anemometer might be just the thing. It comes with a built in solar panel and a battery that provides up to 30 days operation without any sunlight. The information is displayed on a smartphone using an app, with data being passed using Bluetooth. Price £499.95 www.r-p-r.co.uk

Dometic

Dometic’s excellent CFX range of portable coolers/freezers have had a makeover. The CFX3 range comprises six models, from 36 litres up to 99 litres, with a mid range 53-litre model coming with a fast freeze capability to deliver the first ever cooler with an integrated ice making compartment. Like the previous range, CFX3 are splashproof and now all models come with improved connectivity, using Bluetooth, to allow control via an app on your phone or tablet. Price from £749 www.dometic.com

July 2020

the latest boating gear and technology

Henri Lloyd

West System

Price £385 www.henrilloyd.com

Price £29.95 www.westresins.co.uk

Henri Lloyd’s Sea Jacket has been inspired by the company’s long heritage of producing quality foul weather gear. It is fully waterproof and water repellent, while also maintaining breathable properties. It comes with two pockets and under arm air vents and is available in white, navy and orange and sizes S to XXL.

West System has improved and updated its 105-K GRP boat repair kit. The kit, containing 250g of West System epoxy resin, 50g of hardener, two metres of glass tape and all the ancillaries and consumables you would need to mix and apply, is perfect for repairing small cracks, holes and other minor damage. Instructions are included, of course, but for added confidence, West System also offers courses where you will learn to construct and repair using West products.

Propspeed Foulfree

Propspeed, the specialist antifoul company, has produced a new product specifically for transducers. Foulfree has been specifically designed for the job and is certified by transducer giant Airmar. The biocide free product creates a slippery surface that prevents marine growth attaching to your transducer for a minimum of 12 months, often up to 2 years, meaning your sonar will continue to deliver peak performance and your speed log should remain operational. One 15ml tube offers 1ft2 coverage. Price £50 www.oceanmax.com

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

Saxdor 200 Sport

July 2020

BOAT TEST

Length (LOA): 5.94m / 19ft 6in Beam: 2.29m / 7ft 6in Displacement: 780 kg (ex engine) Fuel capacity: 110 litres Engine options: Single outboard 100-175hp Test engine: 1 x 100hp and 1 x 150hp RCD category: C Price from £22,158 Price as tested 100hp £25,000 Price as tested 150hp £34,900

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

hat do you get if you cross a PWC with a RIB and a sportsboat? I don’t know either, but if I was a betting man I would say the answer might be something along the lines of the new Saxdor 200 Sport. I know it’s not jet drive, and I know it doesn’t have a rubber tube around the outside, in fact it looks pretty much all sportsboat on initial inspection, but get behind the wheel and take it out onto the water and the 200 Sport seems to encapsulate features from all three. So what is Saxdor? It’s a brand from Finland and if you think it has some design elements you have seen elsewhere you could be right. The name behind the brand is Sakari Mattila, a founding partner and original designer of Axopar, and a history with other Nordic boat marques such as Aquador, Paragon and

July 2020

XO. At the launch, back in March, Saxdor were introduced as a new era in affordable boating and, if their first offering is anything to go by, they may just have succeeded. The 20ft Saxdor 200 Sport is the first of three planned hulls, the others being 32ft and 40ft, spawning between them eight models to be launched over the next two years. The 200 is available in two versions, the Sport, as tested, and the Pro Sport that offers a few extra features and upgrades as standard. The options list is reasonably short and simple, with just a few items to ponder over, which we’ll talk through as we go through the boats features. Engine Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

“Futuristic, fun, fast and on the water from £22k, what’s not to like?” options are all single Mercury outboards and range from 100hp to 175hp. There are two layout options on the 200. The one we tested here is the three seat ‘scooter’ style layout, with three in a row jockey seats. The other option is a four seat version with twin bucket seats at the helm, each

with a lifting bolster, and a twin bench seat behind. Both versions have an open transom, which makes getting onboard from the stern pretty easy. If you want to board over the side, there is a large flat surface on the gunwale, almost the full cockpit length, that can be topped with non-slip deck material. This makes boarding the boat more akin to a RIB, where you step on the tube before stepping down into the cockpit. The cockpit sole from the helm aft is equipped with soft non-slip decking as standard, with the Pro-sport

also coming with it on the forward deck. Cockpit storage is mostly taken care of by the under seat voids, one large central locker on the three seat model and two lockers on the four seat version. There is also a locker in the gunwale on each side aft, both of which are self-draining and large enough to swallow up fenders and ropes. The port one comes with a plug in the bottom to allow it to also be used as an ice chest, fish locker or baitwell. At the helm there is a multi-section storage bag below the steering wheel for bits and bobs that you might need easy access to

There is good, accessible storage for a small boat, even without the huge bow locker-cum-cabin 42

July 2020

while underway. There is also a hatch in the deck sole aft that provides access to the boat’s battery, fuel filter etc, and could also be used for additional storage, if needed. If that is not enough space to store your stuff, don’t worry. We haven’t even mentioned this boat’s main storage feature yet. In front of the helm, the whole front deck lifts to reveal what can best be described as a cavernous locker that is large enough to take just about anything you could possibly need for a days fun on the water, be that fishing gear, wakeboards, skis, or inflatable donuts. The top of this hatch can be fitted with sunpad cushions and, in a clever twist, the locker below offers exactly the same footprint, to allow those cushions to be stored down here, out of the way when not needed. With the cushions in place inside the locker, you could well be thinking, ‘that looks a bit like a cabin’. If you are, you are not alone. The designers have had the same thought Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

and have created a tent option. With the hatch open, and the cushions in place, the tent fixes around the opening and provides a double berth of over 6ft in length. With this option you also get a glazed panel in the hatch lid to provide additional light, a 12-volt outlet and some lighting. There may even be the possibility for some kind of toilet facility, although that has not made it onto the options list yet. Options that are currently available include a targa arch, with T-top or soft top, a sunshade roof for the foredeck, a watersports tower aft and a 36-litre cooler, which you can only have with the four seat layout. At the helm there are no traditional engine instruments, and the standard boat just comes with Mercury Vessel View Mobile to allow you to display instruments on a suitable mobile device. Alternatively, from the options list, you can have a 9-inch Simrad display that provides all the usual navigational or fish finding options,

plus all of your engine instruments using Mercuryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Vessel View Link. If you prefer, you can opt for twin Simrad Go9s to allow dedicated instrument and navigational displays. Even with twin displays, the helm console still has plenty of space for additional kit, whether thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s one of the optional Fusion entertainment packages or a VHF radio. In front of the helm a tall windscreen can be slid up or down depending upon your preference for wind in the hair or full protection.

Underway We had quite a unique opportunity to test two versions of the same boat on our test day. Equipment levels were very similar, the only difference being that one was fitted with the entry level 100hp motor, while the other had a 150hp on the transom. Starting with the 150 equipped boat it was clear that it was eager to perform. A little twitch on the throttle and it wanted to get up and go. It was like an excitable puppy on a lead. Once clear

The screen adjusts for varying degrees of weather protection, the lights and cleats pop out too 44

July 2020

of any speed restriction, I was able to let it off the leash and boy was it fun. The acceleration was brisk, getting onto the plane in three seconds, hitting 20 knots just 1 second later and reaching 30 knots in 7 seconds overall. There is an unusual, barely discernible, quirkiness to the boat’s handling. I can’t put my finger on what it was, possibly a result of its twinstepped hull, or maybe a result of that vertical bow slicing through the chop, but whatever it was it was soon forgotten as I put the boat through its paces. Saxdor’s Finnish website uses the word ‘scooter’ quite a bit when talking about the 200, and in many ways I can see where they are coming from. It gives you the fun and excitement of a PWC, it can also give you the same wet feet if you stop too quickly or go too fast in reverse, but offers the driving experience of a sportsboat or RIB. It’s actually quite hard to pigeon Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

The bow locker offers great storage or, with the tent option, converts into a two-berth cabin

hole it. You can throw it around safe in the knowledge that if you push it too fast and too tight into a turn it just appears to bring everything back under control with a little bit of prop ventilation, before it has a chance to slip out or hook, but also without loosing so much speed that it feels like you have been reprimanded. The hull is as soft riding as you will find, not just on a 20 foot boat, but also many boats considerably larger. Nothing on our test day seemed to faze it. Of course it will have its limit, but we didn’t manage to find it with the conditions presented to us and, I suspect when you do reach it, you would really prefer to be back on shore anyway.

The driving position is comfortable, and the sliding windscreen offers great protection when raised, and surprisingly good protection even when lowered. Yes occasionally a little bit of spray reaches you, more so with the screen down, but we found the faster you go, the dryer the ride, which is a great excuse for keeping that throttle working. The ‘scooter’ style seating is more comfortable than you might think and, despite the backrests being quite low, they provide excellent support just where you need it, on your lower back. The slightly raised and angled footrest is perfectly designed to allow you to plant your feet flat for maximum grip,

July 2020

“The 100hp will deliver decent performance, but the hull is good for more ”

PERFORMANCE

100HP

As tested 40% fuel, 1 crew, Force 3

RPM

700 (idle) 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000 4500 5000 5500

Knots

LPH

GPH

MPG

2.1 3.4 4.6 5.5 6.9 11.1 15.4 19.9 22.9 26.2 30.1

1.4 2.3 3.5 5.3 8.2 10.2 13.6 18.1 22.1 26.4 32.6

0.31 0.51 0.77 1.17 1.80 2.24 2.99 3.98 4.86 5.81 7.17

6.8 6.7 6.0 4.7 3.8 4.9 5.2 5.0 4.7 4.5 4.2

PERFORMANCE

Range (nm)

165 162 145 113 92 118 126 121 113 109 101

150HP

As tested 95% fuel, 1 crew, Force 3

RPM

700 (idle) 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000 4500 5000 5500 6000

while pushing against them for security. If you prefer to stand, the 200 also offers a very comfortable helming position in this regard, with the wheel and throttle still seemingly perfectly placed despite having no adjustment. The steering is light and precise, and the shift and throttle is cable operated, which I prefer on small fast boats as it offers a more ‘connected’ feel and easier, more positive, control when it gets a bit bouncy. Stepping from the 150hp powered boat into the model with 100hp, I found much the same experience. Acceleration was still good, albeit a little slower at 4 seconds to plane, 6 seconds to 20 knots and 9 seconds Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

Knots

LPH

GPH

MPG

2.7 4.2 6.0 7.2 11.6 17.7 21.4 26.1 29.2 33.1 35.6 39.0

1.7 3.1 5.0 8.2 11.3 14.4 17.2 24.0 30.6 36.4 42.8 54.8

0.37 0.68 1.10 1.80 2.49 3.17 3.78 5.28 6.73 8.01 9.41 12.1

7.3 6.2 5.5 4.0 4.6 5.6 5.7 4.9 4.3 4.1 3.8 3.2

Range (nm)

177 150 133 97 111 135 138 118 104 99 92 77

to 25 knots, but the eagerness to get going, the fun of driving it and the way it handles were all very comparable. In both cases you could happily push the throttle all the way forward and keep going straight into the chop, and any passing wake, flat out. It’s just that on the 100hp version you are going around 9 knots slower. With either engine, the 200 seems to require very little trim, with just a touch in normal operation and maybe a little touch more when in a following sea to ensure you keep that vertical prow from carving through the back of the waves. At slow speeds the 200 tracks nice and straight, and at close quarters, it handles easily and

predictably too. I have rarely felt so confident in such a small boat, at quite fast speeds, in what was sometimes quite choppy conditions. We had a Force 3-4 in Southampton Water, which in itself was throwing up that usual short, sharp Solent chop. Added to this we encountered some quite large rolling wake from big vessels transiting the River Test, one such event happening during my full throttle test run, and, once I had a feel for the boat I never needed to back off the throttle. For a sub 20 footer, that is capable of speeds approaching 40 knots, that is borderline astonishing. Many ‘entry-level’ boats come with a sort of sensibility about them, which is often the very thing that makes them so great for beginners. They may even be considered boring by the more experienced. The Saxdor 200 doesn’t have that. It is mad, huge fun and fast, but still somehow manages to combine this with safe and sensible ride and handling, which makes it a brilliant boat for the first timer. The fact that it would also make a

The Saxdor 200 Sport offers the fun of a PWC with the practicalities of a RIB or sportsboat

great fun second boat, or weekend toy, for the more experienced, just reinforces what a fantastic job the designer and builder has done. If there is one criticism I could make, it is that the boat is so good that it cries out for the larger engine. The hull deserves the power to match its capability and, as such, the entry level 100hp motor feels a bit mild. Of course 30 knots in a 20 footer is still plenty of fun, it’s just that it does it with such ease that you may well find yourself using all 100 horses almost all of the time. The 115hp could possibly be a sweet spot in the line-up, offering 30 knots where

July 2020

needed, with just a little in reserve for when you want to push it beyond. Conclusion Starting with the 200, may turn out to be a masterstroke by Saxdor. The price is truly affordable and the performance is simply sublime. Trading up within a brand is one of the most common ways buyers of new boats venture into larger boat ownership, and I simply cannot see how any 200 owner that finds they have a bit of extra cash would not automatically consider one of the larger models. We haven’t driven them yet, quite simply because they don’t exist at this time, but if a company can get so

Options. Targa arch, T-top and watersports pole

much right in a 20 footer, things are looking very bright indeed for the next two models. I only have to look at the rendition of the 320GTO on the website and, having driven the 200, I want one already.

ENQUIRIES: Ideal Boat Sales Ltd Tel: 01759 703013 www.idealboat.com YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

Bayliner Element CC6

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Husky R5

LOA: 6.01m  Beam: 2.22m Displacement: 907kg (ex eng) Enquiries: Bates Wharf 01932 571141 www.bateswharf.co.uk

LOA: 5.94m  Beam: 2.44m Displacement: 1,429kg Enquiries: Farndon Marina  01636 705483 www.farndonmarina.co.uk

LOA: 5.3m  Beam: 2.00m  Displacement: 535kg (ex eng) Enquiries: Ideal Boat 01758 703013 www.idealboat.com

An entry level centreconsole boat that is both fun and practical, as well as affordable. There are 5 and 7 metre versions too.

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With 350hp in a boat that weighs just 1429kg, this purpose built wakeboard boat dishes up all the fun you could want.

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The Husky R5 brings a slice of the Finnish aluminium hulled boat market to entry level boat buyers in the UK.

PRICE from £28,688

Rodman 1090 Evolution

Q&A

Your Questions Answered

Zipwake trim system

Q I was wondering if you have done

any reports on Zipwake tab trims, or the new trim system 1S 600- 1050 from Volvo Penta, in your magazine?

A Unfortunately we havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t covered

either of these products, but I do have some experience of interceptor-based trim tabs that may help, having installed the previous Volvo Penta Trim system on both of my previous boats, and using Zipwake tabs on numerous boat tests. Firstly, let me say that the principle and operation of these types of system are brilliant. Response times are much quicker than the old style, hydraulically-operated plates, meaning their auto function is fantastic and, according to the manufacturers, they offer reduced drag and therefore increased efficiency. The old style Volvo Boat Trim System has, in my opinion, proved to be somewhat unreliable. My third tab unit change is looming and I have heard similar from other owners. The new Volvo offering, called Interceptor System, is actually produced by Humphree, a Volvo-owned company that specializes in these types of systems, so I have high hopes that they will be more durable than their previous offering. Beyond using them on test boats, and very much liking what I have seen, I have heard no negative reviews regarding the Zipwake system. In fact I am currently toying with the idea of replacing the faulty system I have with one. If I do, you can expect to see a full write up of the process, with a follow up review shortly after. The Volvo Penta Interceptor system is produced by Humphree

July 2020

If you have a question, email us at

editorial@motorboatowner.co.uk

OMC drive prop shaft seal leak

Q I have a Bayliner with an OMC

Cobra drive. With the boat out of the water for an extended period during lockdown I noticed a weep of oil coming from the prop shaft seal. When I drained the oil I found it was quite badly contaminated with water. What’s the procedure for changing the prop shaft seal on one of these drives?

A The principle of a propshaft seal change on an OMC Cobra drive is fairly

simple, but in practice not always straightforward. Behind the prop are a couple of retaining tabs that, once unbolted, allow the whole propshaft assembly to be withdrawn from the lower unit. You can then dismantle it on a workbench and replace the inner and outer seal quite easily. In practice, if the assembly has not been removed for a long time, it can be very tricky to shift. Even a 10ton hydraulic puller, together with added heat, didn’t manage to budge one that I know of. In this situation you can ‘cheat’ by pulling the seals off over the propshaft, and inserting new ones, all without removing the propshaft and assembly from the lower unit. Picking the old seals out can be done with a selftapping screw having drilled a small hole in the metal back plate first. You will need a drift of the right diameter and long enough to go over the propshaft to put the new seals back in.

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Q&A

Your Questions Answered

Freshwater flushing engine

Q After many years of sailing I have moved over to

motorboats and last year purchased a 2010 Beneteau Antares 8S with a Nanni 200hp diesel engine with 250 hours, which I normally keep on a swinging mooring in Falmouth. Last summer was spent motoring around the local area, and I enjoyed the experience. All was straightforward and good mechanically until after haul-out. When I attempted to run freshwater through the engine, I discovered that the seacock has a grating over it which makes it difficult to get a decent fresh water flow. So looking to introduce the freshwater through the strainer (as I have usually done before) I found freshwater splashing all over the place instead of running through the engine as expected. I found the raw water system flow is from seacock direct to raw water pump, then to the raw water strainer, and then into the engine heat exchanger. As it was all neatly fitted and does look original, I hadnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t noticed the arrangement. Every marine engine I have had experience on up until now had the raw water fed from the seacock to the strainer, then to the pump and into the engine. The only protection that the raw water pump has from foreign object damage is the grating over the seacock entry, and since the hose runs from the seacock to the pump at the bottom of the engine, it remains below the waterline throughout. Am I correct in thinking that I should re-route the raw water system, or is this commonplace on a motorboat and I should learn to live with it? I am just surprised to find the raw water routed in this manner.

A It is not unusual at all for the raw water to pass through the pump before the strainer, particularly on sterndrive boats where the drive pick-up screen acts as a strainer itself. On a shaft driven vessel like yours it is more common to find the strainer coming first, often even integrated onto the seacock. Having said that, the grill over the through hull fitting will do a good job of keeping larger items out of your pump, the rubber impeller of which is very resilient to smaller debris. One big advantage of a cooling system with the strainer after the pump is that, should you suffer a failed impeller, you will find all the broken bits inside your strainer, which can then be easily removed, rather than inside your heat exchanger. To fresh water flush your engine, the easiest way will probably be to shut off the seacock, remove the hose from it and place it in a bucket of fresh water. You could also do this if you want to add antifreeze in the winter. 52

July 2020

If you have a question, email us at

editorial@motorboatowner.co.uk

Engine room fire extinguisher

Q I have an automatic fire extinguisher in the engine room of my sportsboat, as required by my insurance company. It comprises a stand-alone cylinder of FM200. Will this damage the engine if it goes off while the engine is running?

A I don’t believe that FM200 would cause any problems to a running engine.

In fact one of the issues of this gas is that it doesn’t reduce oxygen levels by anywhere near enough to stop the engine. This means that your engine will continue to run and act as a huge extractor fan, limiting the FM200’s ability to put out the fire. A typical 3-litre engine, running at 3000rpm, will suck up around 4m3 of air every minute, so you want to make sure that you don’t scrimp on the size of the extinguisher fitted. Ideally, a system that shuts the engine down upon activation, with an override at the helm, would be preferable.

Mosquito screens

Q I have a Sealine F37 based

inland and last year we were being eaten by mosquitos at night in the summer heat. Is there a company that offer adaptable fly screens, or manufacture bespoke versions for my boat’s various-sized portholes?

A You are in luck. When new,

Sealine offered mosquito screens for all portholes on the F37, and these are now available in the UK through Seabridge Marine and BritBoatParts.

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

Q&A

Your Questions Answered

V8 starting issues

Q The starter motor on my Volvo V8 is temperamental.

Sometimes it will start the engine first time, and other times it will just click, as if I have a dead battery. The battery always shows good voltage and is only a few months old. When it clicks, I can usually manage to start the engine by keep trying until one time it will engage and fire up as normal. Do I need a new starter motor, or could this be something else?

A It could be something as simple as a loose connection, or partially broken

wire. Start by checking all the wiring and all the connections going to the starter motor and solenoid. Disconnect the battery, undo all connections and give them a thorough clean and inspection. Pay particular attention to any crimped or soldered joints. If you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t find anything, the fault could be internal. If it is, a new starter will fix the problem. Alternatively, look up a local auto electrician in your area, as many of these offer a rebuild service for starters and alternators, which usually works out cheaper than a new unit.

Oil for transducer

Q My boat has a NASA depth sounder with a transducer that sits loosely in a tube that is glassed into the hull in the engine room. I understand this should have some oil in it, mine is dry, what oil should I use?

A If yours is dry, the first thing to check is that the tube is bonded to the hull

in such a way that the oil cannot run out. Once that is confirmed, or repaired if there is a leak, you have a choice of what to use. Put simply, you can use almost any liquid that wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t react with the materials in the transducer, tube and hull. Caster oil was always recommended as an easy to obtain transducer fluid, and you wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t go wrong if you stick to this, but I have heard of people using all sorts, including baby oil, engine oil, sunflower oil, olive oil and even plain old sea water. It is important that, as well as being compatible with the materials it comes into contact with, the fluid should not freeze when the weather is cold. For this reason propylene glycol antifreeze is another good choice if any of the above oils are not to hand. 54

July 2020

Emerald Dreams Finding themselves in the lucky position to take early retirement and live part time in Gozo, in the Maltese islands, new boater, Andy Barker recalls how buying and transporting a boat to their ‘place in the sun’ wasn’t all plain sailing, but sealed their ‘Emerald Dreams’

Main photo by Kayleigh Barker 56

July 2020

CRUISING

Maxum to Gozo

Motorboat Owner Â© Digital Marine Media Ltd

ndy and his wife Jen’s love affair with the Maltese island of Gozo began with a family holiday over fifteen years ago. Their holiday aim had been to visit ‘somewhere a little bit different’. Andy explained “We knew Malta was a well-established holiday destination, but research showed that Gozo was less ‘touristy’ and was a quiet and less developed island.” Their research proved to be correct and, after spending many subsequent summer holidays there, the couple developed a real connection with the island. Soon they started hatching a plan that would enable them to spend even more time there. A plan that would allow them to retire from work in the summer of 2019, with a view to spending half their time in the UK and the other half over in their ‘second’ home, Gozo. “Part of the scheme was to buy a boat and to take it with us” Andy said. “Up to this point I had never owned a boat but, having spent so much time in and around the water whilst in Gozo, it just felt that it would be a sin not to take advantage of the natural playground around us. I suppose this desire all started when we decided one year to rent a small speed boat from a local hirer in Xlendi, a quaint little resort in Gozo. We hired a boat for the day and had a fantastic adventure going around the island, stopping for a swim, exploring small coves and bays and just getting a totally different perspective of the island.” The couple were sold. “We then hired a boat every year since,” Andy said “so when the grand plan started to get firmed up we decided to build into the financials the expense of a boat purchase, along with the associated running costs of course.” Andy set a budget at around the £35k mark, but

was looking to spend less if possible. In the summer of 2017 the hunt for a boat commenced. Originally the couple went looking for a new small ‘sporty’ dayboat, or a small cuddy if they could stretch to it, perhaps as a package with a trailer. After researching and looking into the pro’s and con’s of buying in Malta, over buying in the UK and then shipping it, the couple decided to buy in the UK and built the cost of moving the boat to Gozo into their plans. Andy explains “The main reasons for this decision were that prices in Malta are relatively inflated due to the high demand and low stock, boats in the UK were more likely to be maintained to a higher standard and, with the boat

July 2020

initially in the UK, it would give me a better chance to get acquainted with it and undertake appropriate training and licensing before it headed off to the Med.” Their boat search ended on Lake Windermere where they found a 2007 Maxum 2700SE sportscruiser called Tiny Dancer, fitted with a 320hp Mercruiser Magnum 6.2-litre petrol sterndrive engine. The couple described the boat ‘in reasonable condition with only 150 hours on the clock’. Andy admits “Once I had viewed the Maxum it was clear in my mind that the styling was more ‘modern’ and value for money was exceptional. I could imagine myself cruising around Malta and Gozo in a bit of style. It was a

bigger boat than I initially had planned to buy, but my heart overruled my head, and you do, of course, only live once. That’s my excuse anyway”. Following ‘some hard bargaining and the completion of the obligatory survey’, a deal was done. In July 2017 Tiny Dancer became the next part of their retirement puzzle to fall into place. Andy explained “The boat was bought with the knowledge that some work would be required to the outdrive, a new canopy was needed and that some potential osmosis issues would need investigating. It had been on the lake since new and had Main photo, Gozo’s Ramla Bay, where Andy and Jen now anchor ‘Emerald Dreams’ frequently

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

A perfect introduction to boating. The boat was kept for a season at Windermere Marina so Andy could get some boating experience in the relatively protected environment of Lake Windermere

spent a vast majority of its life in the water, meaning some inevitable corrosion on the metal parts below the water. My plan was to use it during the summer, get the boat taken out of the water for the winter to get a total overhaul completed.” Being based on the North Yorkshire coast, at Saltburn, the couple had spent a lot of their spare time in the Lake District and thought it would be the ideal place to have the boat initially, to build experience in a relatively protected environment, as well as save on hotel costs in the short term. “Another justification I used to get something bigger” Andy added. “So, having invested in a few of hours of tuition with an RYA instructor, we started to use the boat out on Lake Windermere during the late summer of 2017. Having only ever experienced a 16ft dayboat, of course it was very different to handling a 29ft cruiser, so there was a very sharp learning curve, in particular when manoeuvring around a very tight marina. I have to thank our ‘neighbours’ for all the help they provided in the early days and the patience they showed when I was trying to get back into my berth. Those days were fun, but also stressful.” Andy

confesses “I remember my tutor saying that the more you use the boat, the more confident you will become. Sure enough that proved to be the case, and being in such a tight marina berth ensured I learnt much about manoeuvring my boat in a very short time.” When the end of the season came, Andy explained that it was time to start ‘getting the wallet out to ensure the boat was in good shape for its forthcoming Mediterranean adventure’. The boat was lifted out of the water for the first time in six years and some substantial work was carried out over the winter. Works included the installation of a new sterndrive, a full engine service, a hull treatment and the installation of an electric windlass. Andy admits this meant ‘an empty wallet’ but significantly increased his confidence in both the condition and mechanical soundness of the boat. During this time the boat was also renamed Emerald Dreams, owing to the fact his wife, Jen, is Irish and their dreams were coming true. The couple spent the following 2018 summer season cruising extensively on Lake Windermere, and Andy admits that

July 2020

his confidence grew whilst obtaining necessary certificates, such as his ICC and VHF radio licence, “qualifications to ensure that I was legal when cruising around Malta and Gozo” Andy said. That year their annual trip over to Gozo marked their last short term visit before ‘jumping off the hamster wheel’ and was

an opportunity for some final serious research and planning, whilst enjoying the usual Gozitan experiences. It included visits to Mgarr Marina, which is the only real commercial marina on Gozo, a number of estate agents and calls to the shipping agents in Valletta port in Malta, all of which gave the couple a clearer

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

With Brexit pending and a false start on transport, South West Boat Transport came to the rescue

picture on costs, timescales and potential challenges. “Luckily no major surprises appeared, in fact a pleasant surprise was that it would be cheaper to moor the boat in Gozo, than it was to berth at Windermere Marina” Andy said. A concrete plan emerged. Emerald Dreams would be shipped to Gozo in April 2019 and Andy and his wife, would retire from work in May and join the boat in the beautiful Mediterranean seas in early June. With the boat winterised in Windermere in late October a number of tasks were carried out, such as exploring insurance options, registering the boat on the Small Ships Register and, most importantly, identifying the transport outfit that would be trusted with moving the boat from Windermere to Valletta. “The insurance and boat registration were the easy ones. Exploring capability, experience and prices for the boat transport tested my patience and powers of interpretation to the maximum. There was also the impending dark cloud of Brexit on 31st March 2019 to consider, at least in some transport companies view”

Andy explained. Unfortunately things did not go as smoothly as anticipated on the boat transportation front. After receiving numerous quotes, which ‘varied widely’, lots of research and discussions with potential providers, Andy said that he ‘settled on a balance between capability, experience and price’. “I discovered that sometimes people are not as honest as you would hope. It was naive of me I suppose” he said. In the end the couple enlisted the services of one boat transportation company and were quoted for a pick up from Windermere, transport through Europe, which included the channel crossing and ferries from Italy to Malta, and delivery of the boat to a handling agent in Valletta. “The provider I chose advised me that they moved boats from the UK to Malta several times a year. The dates were agreed and a payment of half the fee, up front, was made in January to secure the agreed ferry slots, with the balance due on delivery. The boat would be delivered before the potential Brexit date to avoid any issues with goods

July 2020

movement, should there be a no deal situation. At least that was the plan.” “As the first key date the 23rd March neared for pick up from Windermere, the boat was woken from its winter slumber and readied for the pick-up. The marina was geared up to lift the boat, change the anodes in readiness for its new life in saltwater and to load it onto the trailer when it arrived. Over in Gozo, the marina manager was geared up to meet the boat in Valletta, supervise the lift into the harbour and to take the boat over to Gozo to her new home. However, a week before the pick-up was due I had heard nothing from the transport company so I made the call to check all was in order.

And, you guessed it, there was an issue. Apparently, due to Brexit, there were some ‘authorisations’ that they were waiting for from the Department of Transport and, therefore, the pick-up would be delayed. The agreed ferry slots had been cancelled and some alternatives would need to be secured. I learnt sometime after the move that this was never the case, I had been fobbed off and not for the last time.” “To cut a long story short, it transpired that this transport company had never been capable of moving my boat with its own equipment, they had gambled on getting a cheaper price with a subcontractor to cream off some easy profit from the deal. Unfortunately this tactic

The Maxum was delivered to Valletta Port where it was craned in and then delivered by sea to Gozo Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

Emerald Dreams happily installed at Gozo’s marina, Mgarr, on the south-eastern side of the island

backfired and I am led to believe there was a significant loss on the transaction in the end. Karma perhaps?” “Of course the delays, which ended up eventually being over two months, resulted in some additional costs being incurred for me, such as extra, unplanned berthing fees at Windermere Marina, the need to secure a berth in Gozo due to the popularity of the marina, which remained empty for a month, along with some cancelled flights to Malta to meet the boat. There were at least four further agreed deadlines that were missed and eventually I had to threaten action.” “Eventually the movement was subcontracted to South West Boat Transport who were very efficient and were in constant contact with me, and this

included having direct access to the driver who had responsibility for delivering my boat. I spoke to the driver every day and he kept me informed of progress and I was able to liaise between him and the agents in Valletta. So, very early on the 30th of May Emerald Dreams rolled off the ferry in Valletta to be met by a local sailing company, who would take the boat over to Gozo as I had been unable to get there in time for the boat to be unloaded. The boat was then moved to a marina in Valletta, checked for any issues from transport and inspected mechanically. With the final leg of the journey taking place the following day, I arranged to meet the boat in Gozo.” “It was a massive relief to see our boat cruise into Mgarr Harbour and get moored in its new marina berth. It had

July 2020

Blue water cruising. They cruise around the islands, frequenting anchorages such as San Blas Bay

been a very stressful experience and taught me that you can never take the information you are provided with for granted. However, all’s well that ends well, as they say, and we now had our boat with us in our home in the sun.” Whilst sat on the terrace at their longterm rental in Gozo, Andy reflected on his first season. “After using the boat throughout the summer of 2019, all I can say is that it was worth all that stress. It

makes you realise that the warm climate allows you to get so much more use and enjoyment from what is a very big investment. We have spent many a day anchored off various little bays and coves, enjoying a leisurely lunch, swimming off the boat in the beautiful Mediterranean waters, cruising round the islands and just appreciating the freedom Emerald Dreams provides us.” Andy admits that he would probably have preferred a diesel

Andy has now mastered the art of Med mooring and enjoys it Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

engine, but has found the petrol boat very versatile and great for the type of activity they use the boat for. “We have no issues getting to a good cruising speed out at sea and it climbs onto the plane with ease. We also knew that a petrol pump was located at the marina in Gozo, so refueling is no issue” he said. “I have also built up so much more experience and feel more confident in handling the boat, which I would never have got in the freshwater of the UK. In particular, the art of anchoring and mastering the Med mooring, techniques that I initially had concerns

about, but now actually enjoy.” “Our biggest issue was discovered the first time we anchored in a bay called San Blas for a swim. Upon deploying the bathing ladder, located underneath the swim platform, we jumped into the inviting water for a snorkel around the rocks that surrounded the bay. After an enjoyable swim we headed back to the boat and only then discovered that the ladder was very short and it proved physically challenging to get out of the water. Of course, we had never used the ladder on Lake Windermere. So, once

July 2020

moored back in Mgarr we called a local chandlery store who managed to source a longer and sturdier ladder for us. They also provided us the contact details of a recommended boat fitter. The brand new ladder was installed within days.” For the winter of 2019/20, Andy used his local contacts to find somewhere to store Emerald Dreams during the offseason. He found a site that would keep it maintained and prepare it for their second season in the sun. “Overall, we are finding ownership costs in Gozo cheaper than in the UK, as my initial research had

indicated. From servicing to berthing, all the costs are lower” he said. Of course, 2020 has brought its own challenges, but with Malta due to open up in July, Andy already has some flights booked and is hoping to make up for any time lost. “So, would I do it again? Yes, but with some additional checks. If it wasn’t for the delays caused through choosing the wrong transport supplier then it would have been a pretty smooth process, but the boat is in Gozo, we are having a ball and life is great, so that must mean it is a happy ending. Our ‘Emerald Dreams’ did come true.” MBO

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

tested Scanstrut Rokk Wireless Edge

PRICE

£167

Many of our boats were built before smart phones were even a thing, and even modern boats are often designed without some phone specific details built in. Like me, you probably dump your Motorboat Owner phone in a random cockpit cubby hole or even leave it lying around on the seating. While “It’s not cheap, but the Edge is a boat design may be dragging its heals, phone manufacturers great bit of kit” like to bring out new features faster than most of us can keep up with. Two of the more recent phone features, both real boons to Value 2/5 boaters, are waterproof capabilities and wireless charging. This Usability 5/5 Performance 5/5 now means that your phone can be used seriously at the helm without concerns for weather damage. To take advantage of both of these features, Scanstrut offer the Rokk Wireless Edge, a waterproof phone mount that not only secures your phone in a suitable position, but charges it at the same time. Mounting the Rokk Edge is simple enough. A single central 6mm hole to feed its power cable through and three 2.5mm holes for securing it to a suitable place at the helm. Its mounting base is only 55mm in diameter, so finding a suitable spot shouldn’t be too difficult. Connecting it electrically just requires a positive and negative through a suitable fused and switched supply, although the supplied lead is only around 40cm long, so some extra wire will almost certainly be needed. The power supply can be between 10 and 30V DC, so the same unit will work on both 12 and 24V boats. The quick release swivel allows a small amount of side to side adjustment, as well as a decent amount of tilt movement, but its main feature is to allow the phone to quickly go from portrait to landscape format which is ideal if you want to use your phone with some navigational software. It only Mounting is easy, thanks to the supplied template. tips to the right though, and with Non-wireless phones can use a separate receiver 68

July 2020

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

an offset mount on the back you must make sure you don’t install the unit too close to any obstruction to the right of it, if you want to take advantage of this. If space is tight at the helm, the swivel does allow the unit to be mounted overhead as an alternative. It swivels to The phone slots in easily with provide portrait or the top and bottom grips sliding landscape viewing outwards simultaneously to take a phone of up to 170mm in length. It grips very firmly, so there is zero chance your phone will bounce out, no matter how rough the going gets. Even smaller smart phones, down to around 120mm in length, are held firmly, meaning the older iPhones such as the 5, 5S and original SE are all suitable candidates. Unfortunately no one makes a wireless receiver for the iPhone 4/4S so if you still have one of these you are out of luck. Sorry to be iPhone specific, but that’s where my experience lies. Samsung, Sony and other smartphone users are equally catered for as long as the dimensions are right and they either have, or can be upgraded to have, wireless charging. The wireless charging works well, and even if your phone is in a protective case, like mine, it still manages to supply a charge, as long as the case is non-metallic and less than 3mm thick. This means that it can be used with phones that aren’t waterproof by putting them in a suitable waterproof case. But what if your phone doesn’t have wireless charging? Well even that obstacle can be overcome. A thin wireless charging receiver can be fitted to the back of the phone, or mounted inside its case, which gives non-wireless charging phones the ability to charge wirelessly. Scanstrut offer their own, for around £13, but I bought a generic one for around £3 and it works really well. As well as the usual ‘bong’ from your phone to indicate that it is charging, the Edge has an LED that goes green to confirm a charge current is flowing as an easy visual reference, which is useful as the ‘bong’ is often lost to engine noise. Whether you use your phone for navigational apps, use it to wirelessly stream music, or simply want to have it close to hand so you never miss that important call while helming, the Rokk Edge is definitely one answer. Even if, like me, you still have an old tech, non-waterproof, non-wireless charging smart phone, the Edge can change the way you use it with the addition of a waterproof case and a wireless receiver. If, however, you are still using your Nokia 3310, I’m afraid you are going to have to continue to use that cubby hole.

Enquiries: Scanstrut www.scanstrut.com/rokk-wireless

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

Motorboat Owner

PROJECT BOAT

PROJECT Mayland 16

he lockdown was a double-edged sword as far as the project boat was concerned. Time to work on it is the one thing that I am usually in very short supply of, but with a couple of months off I suddenly had more time than I knew what to do with. Unfortunately, the boat is based at a boatyard and, although not far from home, the travel restrictions, as well as those imposed by the yard itself, meant I simply wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t able to get to it. What I could do though, was keep myself very busy at home. Of course, there was the extensive list of around the house and garden jobs, but I also had quite a long list of jobs to be doing on the one boat that

I could still access. Our original project boat, Mayland 16 Olive, was sitting on its trailer down the side of my house and I had more than enough to do to keep me busy while we waited for the tide to turn on this horrible virus. To start with there were a couple of quite serious trailer related issues. The first of these was that the winch had literally fallen off. The last time we recovered Olive the welds on the forward end of the winch mounting plate gave way, luckily, just as the bow came to rest in the bow roller otherwise we might have been in serious trouble. The second problem was the original hitch mechanism, the one

July 2020

The old hitch was in a poor state, and seized, so it was removed and a replacement hitch fitted

that was on the trailer way back when we bought it as a rusty lump of metal, had finally seized. This meant that the overrun brakes were inoperative, making it unsafe and illegal to be used on the road. To resolve both of these problems I resorted to my favourite online auction website where I soon had a decent used trailer hitch, a new winch and a small oblong of mild steel in my shopping basket. The used hitch was a quality AL-KO item with a rating of 1600kg and a nose weight rating of 100kg, both considerably more than required for the job, and came in at ÂŁ50 delivered. Some minor modifications to the trailer draw

bar were needed, but once fitted we once again have operational brakes. The winch was a bit more of an in-depth job. To start with, the top of the winch post was quite badly corroded. This goes some way to explaining the failure of the old winch mounting pad. After a bit of grinding, it became obvious that I would have to lose the top couple of inches of post, and even this would still leave me with a few holes, and some thin metal, for a couple more inches on the forward facing edge. After trimming the post and cleaning away the old paint and any loose rust, I started making good by plating over the thin metal on the leading edge. Then,

Winch replacement. By the time we got home from our outing the winch was completely hanging off. Firstly, the corroded top of the winch post was cut off, and its paint and loose rust was removed Motorboat Owner ÂŠ Digital Marine Media Ltd

using the piece of steel purchased earlier, I drilled some holes based on the winch’s mounting pattern and then welded that in place onto the winch post. The whole lot was then given a couple of good coats of straight-to-metal Hammerite, before the winch was bolted into place. With the trailer back to a roadworthy condition, I could turn my attention to the other big job, Olive’s motive power. Quite some time back, I purchased a new outboard to replace the old 20hp twostroke Johnson that was procured to help keep the whole boat as close as possible to its original £1000 budget. Now the budgetary gloves were off and I could install the 2012 30hp Evinrude E-Tec that alone had cost me more than we had spent on the entire boat up to this point. With the 20 removed and the E-Tec clamped on the transom, strengthened a few months ago for this very moment, I could think about rigging it, and this meant quite a bit in the way of upgrades. I started with the fuel system. Previously, I had two 12-litre portable tanks, one on either side. These had a cheap inline filter installed on the fuel line and swapping between tanks meant unplugging one fuel line from the

The forward section was beefed up with some new metal and a new winch mounting plate was welded on. The bare metal was then painted

engine and replacing it with the other. The first job then, was to install a decent transom mounted fuel filter. To this there would be a single line feeding the engine and the supply would come from a single line going back to a valve that would allow me to choose which tank to use at the flick of a lever. I also moved both tanks over to the port side, which not only allowed me to carry out the plumbing more easily, but also removed the fuel tank from the starboard locker that houses the boat’s

Finally, a new winch was bolted in place. There is still some cosmetics to take care of, but the new winch and hitch makes Olive roadworthy again 72

July 2020

The old fuel system consisted of two tanks, pictured left, with cheap in-line filters and each requiring plugging into the engine. A new cannister filter was bolted to the transom, top right and the two tanks are now connected to the fuel filter and engine via a changeover valve, bottom right

The new fuel system now has proper filtration and switchable tanks

Motorboat Owner ÂŠ Digital Marine Media Ltd

The steering was just a case of connecting a new drag link to the existing cable end. The engine was through-bolted to the transom and some security, in the shape of locking bolts, was added

battery. Fuel tanks and batteries in the same compartment is not best practice, and should be avoided if at all possible. The steering was a simple fit, using the same cable that was fitted to the Johnson and the drag link that came with the engine. For throttle and shift the E-Tec came with a nice BRP control box and cables, which were luckily the right length for Olive, so again, this was an easy install, consisting of disconnecting and unbolting the old and fixing on the new. With steering, throttle and gears sorted, it was time to move on to the electricals. In a previous life, this engine had been installed without using an OEM wiring

harness and, as such, had been ‘bodged’ to provide kill cord and push button start capabilities. I had obtained the proper harness and needed to put it back to standard under the hood. This meant dismantling the Deutsch connector that had been butchered and, using some new pins, reconnect the previously cut wires. I could then connect my new harness to the engine, plug it in at the helm control and instantly have key operated starting. This harness also gave me the opportunity to have some helm instrumentation. There isn’t much room on the Mayland 16 ‘helm console’ but I managed to work out that there was just enough to install a

At the helm the old throttle control was removed. The cables were connected to the replacement throttle unit and the new control was installed 74

July 2020

We now have some instrumentation at the helm. There was just about enough room to install a Tacho and a voltage gauge. The finished helm has been topped off with a new steering wheel

tacho with OMCs System Check system built in. Luckily I had one of these lying around the workshop that had come with another OMC outboard and it was plug and play with the E-Tec harness. I also had a generic voltmeter and found that this would work using one of the spare pairs

of wire on the harness, so this was also installed in the dash. I would really like to also install a temperature gauge, but with no separate output, beyond that from the ECU to the System Check lights, this is something that will require a little more investigating.

Motorboat Owner ÂŠ Digital Marine Media Ltd

A previous owner had bodged the outboardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s electrics, but with some new terminals and a crimper I was able to reinstate the original wiring. A battery shut off has now been added

The last job, on the electrical side of things, was to connect up the main power supply to the engine. As the previous outboard wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t an electric start model, I had to run this from scratch. Two chunky cables were passed from the outboard to the battery in the starboard cockpit locker, and before connecting, a master battery switch was installed to allow easy electrical isolation of the engine. Finally it was time to start it up. Having laid idle for a couple of years I was surprised at how quickly the E-Tec jumped into life. Unfortunately, there was no evidence of cooling water from the tell tale so the engine was quickly shut down while I looked into this. Fearing it was

going to be an impeller problem, I started with the simple things and checked the pipework of the telltale. On this engine the telltale water runs through, and cools, various components, including the ECU, so a good flow through it is important, even though a blockage would not affect the engine itself. After removing a connection around the mid way point I was able to blow through in each direction to see if there was indeed a blockage, and narrow down where it was. It turns out that it was blocked, and the blockage was in the battery charge module. A quick poke through with a thin metal rod soon cleared it and, once put back together and fired up, the telltale flow was restored to normal.

Time to start up. A lack of flow from the telltale was traced to a blocked charge module. After a poke through with some wire, the telltale was back to normal 76

July 2020

E-Tec spark plug indexing With the outboard running, I decided to do a few simple checks, one of which was condition of the plugs and the gap size. I also took this opportunity to index the plugs. For an E-Tec outboard to run at its optimum, it is good practice

to ensure that the electrode gap, and therefore the spark, is facing towards the injector. This process, called indexing, is quite simple but worth doing if you want to get the best out of your E-Tec outboard.

HOW TO IN 6 STEPS

Using a permanent marker, mark the position of the electrode gap on the ceramic body 4

If the mark on the ceramic is within the 180Â° arc facing the injector (the large silver item) that plug is indexed

Apply a small amount of grease to the plug gasket and screw the plug in by hand until tight 5

If the mark is outside of the arc, ie facing away from the injector, you can increase the torque to 41 N m (30ft lbs)

Using a torque wrench tighten the plug to the specified torque, 20 N m (15ft lbs) in our case 6

If it is then within the correct arc, it is good to go, but if not, like this one, then that plug cannot be used on that cylinder

Motorboat Owner ÂŠ Digital Marine Media Ltd

Hooked â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Whatever floats your boatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Simon Everett goes float fishing

t is generally agreed whatever you are fishing for, regardless of method, that presentation is a crucial factor in your success rate. The more natural the presentation, the more confidently the fish will take. One of the best ways of presenting a bait totally naturally is by float fishing, drifting it with the current. Many people consider this a method for the upper layers only, but Paul Fennel, who is a strong advocate of float fishing, has developed his own tackling up technique that allows him to fish in various depths, or current flows, without having to unrig everything, he can change weight, float and trace at will and fish from the surface right down to 120 feet, even with a biggish bait for conger. There is a simple pleasure when fishing with a float, you have something to stimulate your visual senses, deciphering the wave action from fish interest comes with practise, the subtle changes in the way the float behaves gives visual clues BAIT: FROZEN SANDEEL

A frozen sandeel presented properly, whipped with bait elastic to hold it in place

to what is going on beneath the surface. With practise these can be interpreted, and extra stimulus imparted, by holding back or letting out line depending on the circumstance. By holding back on the line the bait can be swung up in the current, often inducing a take especially when fishing for pollack. The current lifts the bait naturally, and the interested fish lunges at the bait lest it might escape. When fishing for more sensitive feeders that require more time, such as bream or flatfish, upon noting interest line is let out faster, so the influence of the drift on the bait is lessened, giving that vital moment for the fish to engulf it. This natural drift of the bait is absolutely essential when fishing for very shy biters, such as mullet, and fishing beneath a float is the ideal way to achieve such deception. Fishing a float from afloat is a rarely practised technique but can be very successful, there isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t a species he has caught that Paul cannot target while float fishing. For instance, on one trip to the East coast for cod, the other members of the party scoffed and told him that only a ledgered bait would work in their chocolate brown water, it was all they had ever tried. They stopped scoffing when Paul caught the first fish and continued to outfish them for the rest of the day, despite it being their home water and Paul having never fished there before. In order to allow him to adapt to

July 2020

Float fishing. Fisherman, Paul Fennel casts from the inflatable and his reward, a thornback ray

changing depths and tidal flows whilst on the kayak, Paul has devised a system that utilises quick change attachments, the hook link is nothing new, a link swivel on the end of the main line that traces clip to is a method many anglers use. Float ledgering is a freshwater tactic that Paul borrowed heavily from and simply adapted for use in the sea, even though his method isn’t static ledgering, the lead clips for that method were the obvious answer to being able to change the weight quickly and easily, alternatively a small

clip swivel running between two beads can be used with a length of biro inner tubing slipped on the line to act as an effective boom. Paul reasoned, why go to all those lengths when the problem has been solved perfectly well in a packet, plus in this day and age it helps to keep the tackle shop open. You have to pay a little bit more for the convenience of ready made bits, but that is more than repaid by the ease with which you can rig up, especially in cramped or hampered conditions, such as a small boat.

TACKLE: THE ‘FENNEL’ RIG

A quick change trace system with anti-tangle sleeve. A freshwater sliding float silicone attachment put on anti-tangle boom. The saltwater float has a peg glued in place that the silicone tube grips Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

Hooked continued... The beauty of the Fennel rig is that it can be used for a ledger or paternoster style of trace, with the ability to change any element of it at will. During the day, the ability to adapt to changing conditions, and target different species, takes just a few seconds. The weight and float have to be matched, so the ability to change them without having to derig everything is a real blessing, and allows the angler to react to changing circumstances in a minute or so. The size of the float required is dictated by the amount of lead needed to get down to the fish, that depends on the depth and strength of the current. The slower the tidal flow, or shallower the depth required, the lighter the weight needed. Paul has floats that can accommodate from 8ozs through to a few grams, according to what he is targeting. Mackerel, garfish and bass are often in the upper layers, so lighter weights and subsequently smaller floats can be used. Fishing for species that are deeper requires more weight to get the bait down, and keep it there. A light rod will cope with a wide variety of fishing situations and used with care can handle surprisingly big fish. Changing tactics so as to catch different species is all part of the allure of fishing. This is one method that can be used across a huge range of fishing. Another benefit is that one rod and reel can cover most situations, cutting down on the amount of tackle you need. Simplicity reaps its own rewards. Give it a go and open up a whole new world of fishing, it is great having the visual stimulation too, with that constant expectation of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;any moment nowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;.

Check the depth first and set the float stop for it. A gentle cast to get the float away from the boat

Watch the float as it drifts away at natural speed. The float presents the bait at the same speed as the current, giving a perfectly natural presentation. Bottom photo, Paul watches his float as it drifts over the mark

July 2020

USED BOAT

SECOND LOOK

Four-berth flybridges for £50k

magine this, taking in the breeze perched aloft, with the water rushing past as you blast or parade along. Later, taking in the sun’s rays ‘upstairs’ whilst at anchor in a cosy cove and tucking into a freshly prepared lunch. For £50k this dream could easily become a reality. To many boating in the UK and foreign climates, a flybridge cruiser offers the best of both worlds. Twin helm stations mean you have an exceptional, elevated upper helming position, for experiencing sea vistas and the wind in your hair, as well as better visibilty when manoeuvring at close quarters. Whether you are static 82

or underway, a lower enclosed helm also means that you can retreat to the shelter of a saloon without the need for erecting covers when conditions change. A flybridge immediately conjures up an image of a much larger boat, but this is not always the case. Flybridges come in all shapes and sizes from around 25ft upwards and are powered by a shaftdrive, sterndrive or even outboards. They can also combine with a comfortable aft cabin. Whether you are starting out, or indeed if you are trading up or down, they also needn’t break the bank. This month, setting a budget in the region of a modest £50k, MBO has not

July 2020

only sought out flybridges, large or small, offering at least four berths, we wanted to see just how much and how new or unique a boat you can get for your money. After watching the market carefully over the last couple of months we have spotted UK-built classics such as Princess 415 and 330, Sealine 310/320/330 and several Fairline 40s falling into this affordable category, albeit very briefly before being promptly snapped up. There have also been some newer, overseas built models added to the ‘sold’ mix, such as a nearly new outboard-powered Beneteau Barracuda 9 Fly, a 1999 Botnia Targa 30, a

1992 Carver 320 and a 2003 Rodman 900. Classic boating icons such as early Fairline Turbo 36s are also now beginning to fall within budget and, as you will see, there is a real selection on offer. Before buying any used boat, always employ the services of a YDSA or IIMS accredited surveyor and, if you have any doubt about the engine, getting a separate engine survey is recommended.

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

Fairline Sedan 36

Recently reduced from £49k, this rare to market, Fairline Sedan 36 fits the bill very well. Based on the beamy hull and design of the much-celebrated Turbo 36, this aft cockpit version offers the same comfortable and long distance cruising abilities. It provides a large, ladder-accessed flybridge that seats 5-6 people, a sheltered cockpit and spacious saloon area with a second helm position. Its interior provides 4-6 berths with two separate cabins, a double island berth forward and a twin berth side cabin, with an occasional double in the saloon. The contrasting pastel green and pink décor of this particular 86 version may not be to everyone’s taste, but is in good order and immediately useable. Admittedly it does not have the favoured Volvo Penta 306hp engines, but the 255hps, meaning it should be capable of up to 22 knots and a slightly lower cruising speed of 16-18 knots. Length 11.13m Beam 4.06m Engines Twin Volvo Penta TAMD60C 255hp shaftdrive diesels Broker details: Boatshed Wales 02920 531744 wales.boatshed.com

FOR SALE

£45,000

July 2020

FOR SALE

£49,999

Sea Ray 380 AC

The Sea Ray 380 AC was built between 19881991 and was a rare design foray for the US boat builder. Rarely seen out of native Floridian waters, it provides a very generous hard-topped aft deck, while inside it offers six berths and two cabins, both ensuite doubles, and a saloon settee pulling out into a double berth. Its decks are easy to get around and there is good access to the secure feeling flybridge. Features include a huge fridge freezer and dual throttles, it is also equipped with handy bow and stern thrusters. Fitted with the 306hp Volvo TAMD61A engines, the same as the British-built Fairline Turbo 36, it should offer 26 knots and cruise at around 20 knots. If you look past the dated ‘pinkness’ of the 80s décor and leather upholstery, this 1988 vessel offers a great deal of boat for the money. Length 12.97 Beam 3.99 Engines Twin TAMD61A 306hp shaftdrive diesels Broker details: Network Yacht Brokers Lymington 01590 671381 www.networkyachtbrokers.com Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

FOR SALE

£47,000

£54,950

Fairline Turbo 36

The Turbo 36’s reputation precedes it. Designed by the reputable British boat designer, Bernard Olesinski and built between 1981-1993, this much-loved Fairline has become something of an icon and modern-day classic. Its volumous, high sided, 39ft design sees a raised aft deck providing easy access to its flybridge and conceals a spacious, home-from-home, double ensuite aft cabin below. Its internal 4-7 berth layout offers accommodation at opposite ends of the hull, separated by a spacious saloon and good size galley. An exceptional seakeeper, favoured engines are the later and well-suited 306hp Volvo Penta TAMD61As, with earlier models powered by 165hp, 235hp and 255hp Volvo engines. It is usually these versions with smaller power configurations that are now falling into the £50k bracket and provide a great deal of boat for the money. There is plenty of choice on the market, with models priced from £32k.

£54,950

£47,500

£32,500

Broker details: Boatshed Essex www.essex.boatshed.com Clarke & Carter www.clarkeandcarter.co.uk Why Boats www.whyboats.com Network Yacht Brokers www.networkyachtbrokers.com 86

July 2020

Grand Banks 32

For those partial to classic lines and a bit of wood, this 1976 US designed Grand Banks 32 Sedan may hit the spot. Billed by the broker as one of the last ‘woodies’, this high-quality built trawler has a wooden hull and topsides, where later models have a fibreglass hull. Other features include spacious walkaround teak decks and a four-berth layout with a conservative V-berth forward cabin. A displacement cruiser highly regarded as sturdy, safe and economical to run, it is fitted with a single 135hp Ford Lehman diesel engine giving 9 knots. This particular version, aptly named ‘Little Ship’, seems to have been well maintained, and benefits from what is described as an ‘extensive restoration’ by the current owner, with upgraded tanks, an engine rebuild and renewed upholstery. It will require a reasonable amount of ongoing maintenance, for which a loving owner should reap the rewards. Length 9.73 Beam 3.4m Engine Single Ford Lehman 135hp shaftdrive diesel Broker details: Mark Cameron Yachts 07988 763254 www.mcyachts.co.uk

FOR SALE

£42,500

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

FOR SALE

£49,995

Jeanneau Merry Fisher 925

For those looking at getting afloat with something slightly more modern and compact, the Jeanneau Merry Fisher 925 flybridge may prove acceptable. The 925 is a 31ft entry-level flybridge cruiser-cum-fisher which was built by French mass boat builder, Jeanneau and, while it may be considered basic in its finish and appointments, it has much to offer. As well as having two helm stations, it offers 3-5 berths, with two lower cabin areas offering an offset double bow cabin and a single side pilot berth, while up in the multi-purpose wheelhouse a dinette converts into an occasional double. Fitted with an economical single diesel shaftdrive, MBO found four versions for sale, a 2006 powered by a 225hp D4 (Westwater Yacht Sales), another 2006 with a 260hp D4 (SWUK), a 2005 with a 285hp KAMD300 (BJ Marine), all priced at £49,995, and finally a 2008 with a Yanmar 6BY 260hp at IdealBoat.com for £58,995.

Length 9.76m Beam 3.16m Engine Single Volvo Penta 225-285hp shaftdrive diesel Broker details: Westwater Yacht Sales 01255 672500 www.westwateryachtsales.com, BJ Marine 02920 707331 www.bjmarine.net, SWUK Marine 01803 854242 www.swukmarine.co.uk, Ideal Boat 01758703013 www.idealboat.com 88

July 2020

Beneteau Antares 9 French origin and similar styling to the Merry Fisher 925, the Beneteau Antares Serie 9 is another affordable and modern flybridge-fisher option. This entry-level flybridge is fitted with a single shaftdrive diesel and sleeps 2-4, with an offset double in the bow and a convertible double dinette area in the wheelhouse. Features include deeply-scalloped, walkaround decks. At the time of writing there were two examples for sale, a 2002 version powered by a Volvo KAMD43 230hp priced at £42,500 (MCC Marine), and another 2002 model with a Yanmar 4LH-HTE (DDZ Marine) at £44.995.

£44,995

Length 9.18 Beam 3.10 Engine Single Volvo Penta or Yanmar diesel Broker details: DDZ Marine 01475 686072 www.ddzmarine.co.uk MCC Marine 02380 456116 www.mccmarine.co.uk

FOR SALE

£42,500

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

FOR SALE

ÂŁ54,950

Princess 35 The British-built Princess 35 represents one of the first in the evolution of successful, Olesinski-designed flybridges introduced in the 80s. Built between 1984-1992, this chunky flybridge cruiser is powered by twin shaftdrive diesels, usually 200hp Volvo Penta TAMD41s, has a ladder-accessed flybridge and a spacious aft cockpit. Its six-berth interior layout is fairly standard for a flybridge. It did however have the option of either a lower dinette converting into a double, or bunk bedded side cabin. These two layouts are ideal for a couple or a family respectively. This well maintained 1992 example is the bunk-bedded version and has a very useful transom door. Length 10.9m Beam 3.68m Engines Twin Volvo Penta TAMD41 200hp shaftdrive diesels Broker details: Tingdene Boat Sales Portishead 01275 397277 www.tingdeneboatsales.net 90

July 2020

Colvic Suncruiser 35 Designed by John Bennett of 70s/early 80s Princess fame, the Colvic Suncruiser 35 was an affordably-priced flybridge built during the 80s and early 90s. Its 4-6 berth layout provides two double cabins, including a double island berth in the bow, which was something of a rarity in the 1980s. Its ladder-accessed flybridge has seating for six. The model was available in twin sterndrive or shaftdrive configurations. This 1989 sterndrive version is priced just within the £50k budget and boasts a rather retro interior, including a striking 80s sportscruiserstyle blue and grey vinyl-clad saloon. This particular boat is fitted with diesel heating and a bowthruster. Length 10.6m Beam 3.93m Engines Twin Volvo Penta AD41 sterndrive diesels Broker details: Precious Marine 01473 780286 www.preciousmarine.co.uk

FOR SALE

£47,000

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

FOR SALE

£42,950

Fairline Corniche The Fairline Corniche is another popular Britishbuilt stalwart to grace this flybridge line up. The 31ft, 4-6 berth model was built between 1984-1993 and was available with twin diesel or petrol, stern or shaftdrive, 110-200hp Volvo Penta engine configurations. Mostly diesel, the latter and largest being more desirable for coastal use. The Corniche came with three layouts, with a lower dinette (tri-cabin version), with a side bunk-bedded cabin, or one spacious forward double cabin. MBO found three diesel shaftdrive versions for sale priced £38-42k, a 1988 and 1990 with Volvo 200hps, below, and one with 110hp TAMD30As, pictured above and right. £38,500

£39,500 Length 10.29m Beam 3.53m

Broker details: Norfolk Yacht Agency 01603 713434 www.nya.co.uk, Network Yacht Brokers Plymouth 01752 605 377 www.networkyachtbrokers.com, Newark Marina 01636 704022 www.newark-marina.co.uk

July 2020

Moonraker 36

With its auspicious links to motor car company mogul, Colin Chapman of Lotus, the 70’s derived Moonraker 36 is a retro classic worthy of this line up. This highly regarded 39ft cruiser sleeps 7-8 people and has an easily accessible flybridge, seating five people. Its secure-feeling central wheelhouse normally leads into an open plan living area forward and a separate ensuite double cabin aft. This late 1989 ‘Super’ version, however has many modern refinements, such as external exhaust boxes, a leather and light wood interior, sliding wheelhouse patio door, revised seating with two L-shaped settees in the saloon and a separate bulkhead and door to the forward cabin. Its also fitted with larger 225hp Ford Sabre diesels for faster cruising speeds. Length 11.89m Beam 3.51m Engines: Twin Ford Sabre 225hp shaftdrive diesels Broker details: Val Wyatt Marine 01189 403211 www.valwyattmarine.co.uk

FOR SALE

£40,000

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

FOR SALE

ÂŁ54,950

Oyster Powerline 390 The Powerline 390 was pedrigree sailing brand, Oysterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first forey into the motorboat market. Built in Colchester Essex, it is based on the hull of the Humber 38 and was designed by John Bennett. This beamy, spacious flybridge follows the conventional 40ft two ensuite cabin format, providing a double island berth in the forward cabin, a twin side cabin, and a U-shaped saloon settee that converts into a double berth, making it very comfortable for a family of four. Its commanding trawler-like flybridge has a central scalloped console and supportive helm seats. This 1990 boat is fitted with the top-spec twin 300hp Cummins 6BTA shaftdrive diesels, which should offer 18-24-knot cruising speeds.

Length 12.06m Beam 4.17m Engines Twin Cummins 6BTA 300hp shaftdrive diesels Broker details: Tingdene Boat Sales Walton 01932 221689 www.tingdeneboatsales.net 94

July 2020

Eagle 32 For those looking for long distance cruising at a slower pace, or dreaming of a potential trip around Britain, a single-engined trawler could be the answer. The Asian-built Eagle 32 is a pint-size trawler with the personality of a ‘little ship’. Wide walkaround teak decks, a sunken aft cockpit, a pilothouse, wood interior and a steady sail mast are just a few of its features. Suitable for a couple with occasional guests, it has a bow cabin offering a V-berth-cum-double while aft is a roomy saloon diner with ample seating and three berths. MBO found two for sale, a 1990 version for £49,950 (TBS Boats) pictured and a 1991 at £59,950 (Howard Ford MS), both fitted with a 135hp Ford Lehman diesel shaftdrive. Length 10.6m Beam 3.93m Engine Single Ford Lehman 135hp shaftdrive diesel Broker details: TBS Boats Penton Hook 01932 570055 www.tbsboats.com, Howard Ford Marine Sales 01394 385577 www.howardfordmarinesales.co.uk

£59,950

FOR SALE

£49,950

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

1995 Fairline Squadron 43 £ 99,950 VAT paid

2010 Ribtec 1050 Cabin Rib Gt2 £ 99,950 VAT paid

2019 Parker 800 Weekend £ 98,292 VAT inc

EB3632

EB3325

PARK800W

Essex Marina, United Kingdom

South Coast

Essex Marina, United Kingdom

1997 Princess V40 £ 89,950 VAT paid

2019 Parker 690 Day Cruiser £ 78,738 VAT paid

1994 Carver 390 £ 77,960 VAT paid

EB3707

ENPA08

EB786

Essex Marina, United Kingdom

BR K

2009 Bayliner 320/335 £ 69,950 VAT paid

ENPA04

EB3677

EB3699

Essex Marina, United Kingdom

1999 Fairline Targa 30 £ 62,950 VAT paid

2008 Bimax Genesi 930 £ 59,950 VAT paid

2005 Chris Craft Corsair 25 £ 54,950 VAT paid

ES3719

EB3647

EB3672

Cala d'Or, Mallorca

Essex Marina, United Kingdom

Essex Marina, United Kingdom E&OE

HQ: 01702 258 885 Poole: 01202 797 777 Cala d'Or: +34 971 643 353

Open 7 days a week. Email: info@boats.co.uk

Essex: 01702 258 885 - essex@boats.co.uk Poole: 01202 797 777 - poole@boats.co.uk

Essex Marina, United Kingdom

2002 Cranchi 39 Endurance £ 69,950 VAT paid

2018 Parker 800 Pilothouse £ 72,950 VAT paid Essex Marina, United Kingdom

Essex Marina, United Kingdom

OF TION C E L A SE

100's

E ABL L I A V TS A A O OF B

New and Used

Boats for Sale 01189 403211

Bayliner / 2655

Great example with 2 double berths, Mercruiser 250hp

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

Fantastic day boat with low hours, solid teak floor, bimini

Moonraker / Super 36

Aft cabin cruiser with twin diesels on shafts, bowthruster

Intercruiser / 28 Cabin

Lovely example, large cockpit and only 102 hours, bowthruster

1996 | £19,500 | 27.8ft | 8.5m

2010 | £26,500 | 19ft | 6m

1989 | £40,000 | 36ft | 11m

Sheerline / 950 Tri Cabin

Creative Marine / Frolic 31

Broom / Ocean 40

Haines / 320

2000 | £79,000 | 31ft | 9.5m

1999 | £79,950 | 31ft | 9.6m

1989 | £85,000 | 40ft | 12.3m

2009 | £110,000 | 32ft | 9.8m

4-6 berths, equipped galley, heating, folding arch & windscreen

Elegant electric launch, new batteries 2019, winter cover

Perfect for extended cruising, fully equipped, bowthruster, generator

FROM

£382,410 400 AFT CABIN

PRICE AS AT 1 APRIL 2020 EX WORKS, INC 20% VAT ST

British built since 1980

2010 | £75,000 | 28ft | 8.5m

Excellent specification, aft cabin, bow & stern thrusters, heating

FROM

INTENDER 820

£49,770

PRICE AS AT 1ST FEBRUARY 2020 EX WORKS, INC 20% VAT

Premium Dutch Quality

Enjoy the life you live www.valwyattmarine.co.uk | 01189 403211 | info@valwyattmarine.co.uk Val Wyatt Marine, Willow Marina, Willow Lane, Wargrave, Berkshire, RG10 8LH

New Boats | Used Craft | Moorings | Maintenance | Coffee Shop

Solent Motor Yachts offers a wide range of power boats for sale Please call if we can assist you in buying or selling a boat Full listings are available on our website

2017 Fairline Targa 48 GT

2012 Fairline Squadron 58

2019 Azimut Magellano 43

2009 Princess 58

£649,950

£645,000

£599,000

£585,000

2016 Sessa C42

2009 Princess V53

2018 Bavaria S40 HT

2005 Cara Marine 18m MY

£389,950

£379,950

£319,950

£274,950

2009 Fairline Targa 44

2016 Bavaria Sport 400 Coupe

2011 Fairline Targa 38

2000 Princess 45

£239,950

£234,950

£179,950

£169,950

2001 Sealine S48

2007 Jeanneau Prestige 36

2001 Fairline Targa 34

2012 Bayliner 335 Cruiser

£144,950

£119,950

£94,950

£79,950

2003 Cranchi Zaffiro 34

2006 Jeanneau Merry Fisher 655

2008 Sessa Dorado 22

1989 Sunseeker Monterey 27

£74,950

£27,500

£19,950

£17,500

Solent Motor Yachts

Scan for website

Hamble River Boat Yard, Bridge Road, Swanwick, Southampton, Hampshire SO31 7EB +44 (0) 1489 886663 +44 (0) 7917 148807 sales@solentmotoryachts.com www.solentmotoryachts.com

OFFSHORE POWERBOATS LTD Exclusive UK, Channel Island & Ireland agents for Nimbus & Paragon Yachts. Approved & Preferred Axopar Boats UK dealer since 2014.

AXOPAR 28 CABIN 2019

AXOPAR 37 CABIN 2019

BRIG 780 EAGLE 2013

NIMBUS 320 COUPE 2005

NIMBUS 365 COUPÉ 2010

NIMBUS 365 COUPÉ 2013

NIMBUS 365 COUPÉ 2015

NIMBUS 4004 CARISMA

NIMBUS 43 NOVA 2010

NIMBUS C9 2019

PARAGON 31 2011

WHITE SHARK 265 2006

£116,950 VAT Paid Lymington

£89,950 VAT Paid Fowey

£229,250 VAT Paid Lymington

£145,000 VAT Paid Lymington

£162,950 VAT Paid Lymington

£184,950 VAT Paid Lymington

£54,000 VAT Paid Lymington

£145,000 VAT Paid Lymington

£48,950 VAT Paid Lymington

£219,950 VAT Paid Lymington

£265,000 VAT Paid Hythe

£48,000 VAT Paid Lymington

Offshore Powerboats Ltd

Lymington Yacht Haven, Kings Saltern Road, Lymington, Hampshire, SO41 3QD +44 (0) 1590 677955 / +44 (0) 7734 144834 / enquiries@offshorepowerboats.co.uk / www.offshorepowerboats.co.uk

Owners Directory i Arvor Boat Owners Club

Dawncraft Owners Club & Forum

www.arvorboatowners.co.uk

www.dawncraftowners.com

Aquastar Owners Club

Dell Quay Ranger website

www.aquastarclub.co.uk

www.dellquayranger.supanet.com

Atlanta Boat Owners

Electric Boat Association

www.atlantaboats.co.uk

www.electric-boat-association.org.uk

Bavaria Owners’ Association

Elysian Boat Owners

www.bavariaowners.co.uk

www.elysianboats.co.uk

Bayliner Owners Club

Fairey Owners Club

www.baylinerownersclub.org

www.faireyownersclub.co.uk

Beneteau Owners’ Association

Fairline Owners Club

www.beneteau-owners-association.org.uk

www.fairlineownersclub.com

Birchwood Classics

Fjord Club

www.birchwoodclassics.com

www.fjordclub.com

Broom Owners Club

Fletcher Owners Group

www.broomowners.com

www.facebook.com/groups/4011883149

Chaparral Boat Owners Forum

Freeman Cruisers Forum

forum.chaparralboats.com

freemanboats.forumer.com

Classic Motor Boat Association

Freeman Owners Club

www.cmba-uk.com

www.freemancruisers.com

Classic Offshore Powerboat Club

Freeman Cruisers

www.classicoffshore.com

freeman-cruisers.forumotion.co.uk

Cleopatra Owners Club

Haines Owners Club

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

Corvette Motorboat Association

Hardy Owners Club

corvettemotorboat.wordpress.com

Cranchi Owners Club & Forum cranchiownersclub.com

100

www.hardy-owner.org.uk

Jeanneau Owners Network

www.jeanneau-owners.com

July 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

www.nimbusowners.co.uk

www.storebropassion.de

Norman Appreciation Society

Sunseeker Owners Club

www.normanboats.co.uk

sunseekerownersclub.com

Classic Princess facebook group

Viking Owners Club

Click here for Facebook group

www.vikingowners.org.uk

Regal Owners Forum

Warrior Boats Owners Club

www.warriorboatsownersclub.co.uk

www.regalownersforum.com

Relcraft Boaters Group

Advertise with us

www.relcraftboatersgroup.co.uk

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

Rodman Owners Club

www.facebook.com/rodmanownersclub

Classified adverts from £25

advertising@

1980 Fairline Mirage 29

£17,000 01189 403211 email address

101

Classified

2002 Cranchi 39 Endurance

Twin Volvo Penta KAD44 sterndrive diesel engines. Spacious 4 berth sportscruiser, with seperate double mid cabin. Simrad electronics, heating, tender garage, TV’s, bowthruster, electric anchor winch, artificial teak. Recent polish

£69,950

01702 258885 sales@boats.co.uk

Seamaster 30

Based on Seamaster 30 hull, 30ft family/fishing cockpit-wheelhouse cruiser. Single reconditioned Perkins 135hp shaftdrive diesel. Autopilot, radar, bowthruster, hydraulic steering, electric anchor winch. Lying Rochford, Essex

£9,000

01702 332040

Motorboat Owner Affordable practical boating

2005 Sealine S25

Single Volvo KAD32 170hp diesel sterndrive engine. Superb family, four-berth, entry-level sportscruiser. Holding tank, Raymarine chartplotter, Eberspacher heating, cockpit teak decking.

£32,950

01189 403211 info@valwyattmarine.co.uk

AGE

01189 403211

2010 Ribtec 1050 Cabin Rib Gt2 £ 99,950 VAT paid

Essex Marina, United Kingdom

EB3325

PARK800W

BRO

STO

KER

AGE

1997 Princess V40 £ 89,950 VAT paid

2019 Parker 690 Day Cruiser £ 78,738 VAT paid

Essex Marina, United Kingdom

AGE

Fantastic day boat with low hours, solid teak floor, bimini

Aft cabin cruiser with twin diesels on shafts, bowthruster

Moonraker / Super 36

Intercruiser / 28 Cabin

2010 | £26,500 | 19ft | 6m

1989 | £40,000 | 36ft | 11m

2010 | £75,000 | 28ft | 8.5m

Interboat / 19

Sheerline / 950 Tri Cabin

BRO

KER

AGE

Creative Marine / Frolic 31

2002 Cranchi 39 Endurance £ 69,950 VAT paid

2009 Bayliner 320/335 £ 69,950 VAT paid

ENPA04

EB3677

EB3699

Essex Marina, United Kingdom

Perfect for extended cruising, fully equipped, bowthruster, generator

Excellent specification, aft cabin, bow & stern thrusters, heating

1989 | £85,000 | 40ft | 12.3m

2009 | £110,000 | 32ft | 9.8m

1999 Fairline Targa 30 £ 62,950 VAT paid

2008 Bimax Genesi 930 £ 59,950 VAT paid Essex Marina, United Kingdom

ES3719

EB3647

102

£49,770

PRICE AS AT 1ST FEBRUARY 2020 EX WORKS, INC 20% VAT

Premium Dutch Quality

2005 Chris Craft Corsair 25 £ 54,950 VAT paid Essex Marina, United Kingdom EB3672

E&OE

Open 7 days a week. Email: info@boats.co.uk

FROM

INTENDER 820

AGE

Cala d'Or, Mallorca

PRICE AS AT 1ST APRIL 2020 EX WORKS, INC 20% VAT

British built since 1980

KER

400 AFT CABIN BRO

BRO

STO

£382,410

Essex Marina, United Kingdom

Haines / 320

Elegant electric launch, new batteries 2019, winter cover

1999 | £79,950 | 31ft | 9.6m

F ON O ECTI A SEL

100's

E ABL AIL S AV OAT OF B

Enjoy the life you live www.valwyattmarine.co.uk | 01189 403211 | info@valwyattmarine.co.uk Val Wyatt Marine, Willow Marina, Willow Lane, Wargrave, Berkshire, RG10 8LH

Essex: 01702 258 885 - essex@boats.co.uk Poole: 01202 797 777 - poole@boats.co.uk

AMP Oceancraft /Ideal Boat............................................................. Boats.co.uk.............................................................................................. JC Marine Services................................................................................. MDS Battery......................................................................................... Offshore Powerboats.......................................................................... Parker Poland...................................................................................... Sargo Boats UK....................................................................................... Seabridge Marine............................................................................... Selva....................................................................................................... Simrad..................................................................................................... Solent Motor Yachts............................................................................... South West Transport.............................................................................. Val Wyatt Marine................................................................................ Vetus.................................................................................................... XO Boats /Ideal Boat.........................................................................

Broom / Ocean 40

4-6 berths, equipped galley, heating, folding arch & windscreen

2000 | £79,000 | 31ft | 9.5m

FROM

2018 Parker 800 Pilothouse £ 72,950 VAT paid Essex Marina, United Kingdom

Lovely example, large cockpit and only 102 hours, bowthruster

EB786

BRO

Bayliner / 2655

Essex Marina, United Kingdom

ENPA08

STO

Great example with 2 double berths, Mercruiser 250hp

1996 | £19,500 | 27.8ft | 8.5m

1994 Carver 390 £ 77,960 VAT paid

Essex Marina, United Kingdom

EB3707

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

2019 Parker 800 Weekend £ 98,292 VAT inc

South Coast

EB3632

HQ: 01702 258 885 Poole: 01202 797 777 Cala d'Or: +34 971 643 353

Boats for Sale

STO

KER

Advertisement Index

New and Used

BRO

1995 Fairline Squadron 43 £ 99,950 VAT paid Essex Marina, United Kingdom

New Boats | Used Craft | Moorings | Maintenance | Coffee Shop

All adverts are clickable

Page 19 Page 96 Page 15 Page 10 Page 99 Page 81 Page 13 Page 55 Page 11 Page 9 Page 98 Page 53 Page 97 Page 51 Page 4

July 2020

L K what I saw

Spotted something weird, wonderful, or interesting on your travels?

send your images to us at

editorial@

motorboatowner.co.uk

Coot cocoon

A cootâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nest between bathing ladder rungs SPOTTED! by Markus MĂźller

In the pink

Pink Moon over Racecourse Marina,Windsor SPOTTED! by Guy Kilbey

Rainy days on Mondays

A sudden downpour at Penton Hook Lock SPOTTED! by Darren Shead, TBS Boats

Swan swaddle

Baby cygnets hitch a ride aboard mother swan SPOTTED! by Richard Snowball, Val Wyatt Marine Motorboat Owner

103

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