Motorboat Owner April 2019

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Motorboat APRIL 2019

Owner Affordable practical boating

BOAT TEST

Zodiac Open 5.5 Sealine 230-240-S24 l D-Day 75 l Cruising to Norway

Nimbus C9

Welcome to the April issue. It

From the Editor

contact us

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

editorial@motorboatowner.co.uk

feels like I have spent most of the last month covered in grease, oil and antifoul paint, and nursing bruises and aches that I am sure get worse each year. Yes, it’s annual maintenance time, one of the three occasions when I wish I had a smaller boat. The others are polishing and paying mooring fees. It’s not that our boat is particularly large, but it does just about creep into the category where you have two

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

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April 2019

over Easter and I have every intention of making it. If you haven’t started yours yet, and you have one or more of Volvo’s finest hanging off your transom, we show you how to remove it for servicing in this issue.

2019 is the 75th anniversary of Operation Overlord, the D Day landings and the liberation of Europe by British, American and Canadian troops, aided by units or individuals from France, Poland, The Netherlands, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Norway, Australia, New Zealand and Luxembourg. The Normandy coast offers a great cruising destination and plenty of opportunities to reflect on the sacrifices made so that we can enjoy the freedom we have today. Our guide on page 22 will help you make the most of it. I will end by saying that, whatever happens with Brexit, I hope that the peace, friendship and cooperation we have enjoyed across Europe since those dark days will continue unhindered.

welcome aboard

ZodiacNautic/HocasFocus

of everything. That’s two drives to remove, two lots of bellows to swap, two green lumps demanding attention and of course, twice the cost. Still, there is light at the end of the tunnel, and a day after writing this the outside of the boat should be ready for another year. There is still a little to do in the engine bay, where corroded pulleys are eating belts as fast as I can replace them, but we have a date with the Blackwater

RIB Safari with ten Zodiac Open 5.5s. See the boat test on page 38

Sub Editor, Pam Born Production Editor, John Frew

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

Contributors: Alex Smith, Peter Pitcher, David Bagshaw, Richard Poat Cover photo: Zodiac Open 5.5 off south Brittany by Ronan Gladu/HocusFocus

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

3

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CONTENTS PRACTICAL

REGULARS

Norway Bound Leg 2 page 58 Tested

Precision Antifoul Jake & Nayn’s Naasters

PROJECT

10 11 12

or two, f your boat has a sterndrive, Then, then you benefit usin hanging off the transom ce, improved ring span g an 11mm from increased performanthe ability to dry bolt on ner, loosen You don the the gear ’t need shallow water operation, fixing the shift cabl to clamp economy over your e loos bolt complet remove just out and better fuel U-Joint the Now you ely. Just en it bellows below the The downside, and shaftdrive friends. is clamp enough to flip hose clam can loosen for those benefits, up and the ps that cable release the U join price you have to pay ce.

13 the t bellows fix the complex maintenan increased and more bellows , exhaust ce regime usually and inlet pipe cooling Part of that maintenan In 14 wate s onto removal of the drive. unit the driv r requires complete you how to change e the past we have shown 15 drive removal U joint bellows without I usually follow, that process the 14), (Feb you through and we have also taken The bell in carrying out a full ows the steps involved hose shou and wate 17), so this month YOU WILL NEED r annual service (May back off ld be push Remove you, in depth, just ed show d we’ the TOOLS • Spanners we thought tool water ool drive. The bolts on the hex head • Prop removal hose may drive. The process • Hose clamp t ed (flat how to remove your • Screwdrivers of pers the driv either side of need a • Drift or socket Remove to model, and make head and Phillips) • Hammer uasion e with a bit Hex will vary from model mountin that lock the to retain the split pins r • Allen keys or lever • Receptacle fo for the easiest drive the trim g pins that sockets to make. The award in plac drained oil pins in 16 ram e OMC and their Cobra, place…… fixing • Pliers remove must go to …

COnSumabLeS more than seven nuts ease which requires little 17 .

• Waterproof gr as required a trim bar withdrawn • Service items to be removed and is a re-branded Cobra, LTY RATING 18 The Volvo SX drive of DIFFICU one enough to own so if you are lucky same simple procedure these, you have the owners though, to follow. Many Volvo boats are at the ..... follo and the DIYer, whose wed by achieved by a competent particularly those so pins them of guise, selves.is notthe lives, will have one If theyfit drive, even in duo-prop DIY stage of their stuck for The mou are try a single 270-DP-E era. These fullyistwis heavy as to be a problem them withcare the drives from the designe nting pins are the This be typically serviced ting and replace. d good set person to remove grips on a aDP-D outwards to be removed are the ones that can If the weig drive. of periodic removal is to removethe flat head with without removal, but isn’t supp ht of the driv up, process required end to ease for drives hammer. Wit a slide avoid parts seizing exactly the same them off ed e orte It will be almost 20 still a good idea to or less the steering hout one, turn blocks ben d, place som as bushes and more such range, items yoke DP-E eath to e replace directio before in the 290 and also to n away fully in a proceedi the skeg models. a little more complex from the same for 270 and 280 ng etc. The process is is still easily the pin but April 2019 drive, than the Cobra/SX

I

NEWS page 6 INBOX page 20 CUTTING EDGE page 48 TESTED page 58 Q&A page 80 page 50 Cruising

oval Volvo sterndrive rem

PRACTI CAL

APRIL 2019

ooooo

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2019

p34 PRACTICAL

Volvo sterndrive removal

p22

page 62 Project Boat

Fairline Vixen

p50 CRUISING D-Day 75 - Normandy Guide

p86

p38

Sealine 230/240/S24

CLASSIC CRUISER GUIDE

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

Zodiac Open 5.5

p68

BOAT TESTS

Nimbus C9

5

NEWS TYHA Marina of the Year Awards 2018/19 The winners of The Yacht Harbour Association (THYA) Marina of the Year Awards were announced in late February, and the event saw Plymouth Yacht Haven awarded UK Coastal Marina of the Year (over 250 berths) and Buckler’s Hard Yacht Harbour winning the Plymouth Yacht Haven Coastal Marina under 250 berths catergory. Inland Marina was awarded to Church Minshull Aqueduct Marina, while Marina de Vilamoura won International Marina and Yakilavak Marina collected Superyacht Marina of the Year. Now in its 6th year, the awards recognise the best of over 160 Gold Anchor accredited marinas from around the world and the winning marinas are voted for by berth holders.

Built in 1992, the 400-berth Plymouth Yacht Haven lies on the Mount Batten peninsula in Plymouth. Steve Kitchen, Marina Director at Plymouth Yacht Haven, said “We are absolutely thrilled to have won. It is well-earned recognition for the team for their hard work in all weathers, looking after 450 loyal berth holders and hundreds of visitors.” He added “…to be voted one of the best by so many of our customers makes us very proud and determined to continue our policy of continuous improvement and investment in the future.

We look forward to another busy year.” Lord Montagu, owner of the Beaulieu Estate and River, said “I am delighted that the Buckler’s Hard Yacht Harbour has won this award, especially as it is based on the votes of people who visit and keep their boats on the river. The work done by Harbour Master, Wendy Stowe, and her staff to improve the facilities and services is evidently appreciated by our customers and I would like to thank Buckler’s Hard Yacht Harbour them for this ringing endorsement.”

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April 2019

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

editorial@motorboatowner.co.uk

Portland Marina Dry Stack goes undercover The 19-metre high dry stack at Dean & Reddyhoff ’s Portland Marina in Dorset now has a roof. Opening in March and costing over £900,000, the stack is now clad on the back, sides and roof to give protection from the elements including the prevailing wind. The dry stack has space for up to 132 boats up to 9.9 metres and annual contracts are priced at £448 per metre. 21 overnight stays are included and the marina offers a two-hour launch service on demand, with further investment coming in the shape of a new Neptune Hoist negative forklift. The marina is also expanding. Berthing Manager, Paul Swain, told Motorboat Owner that the marina is planning to install an extra 40 berths afloat, with piling work due to start at the beginning of April.

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NEWS New marina proposed for Ramsey IOM Plans are being put in place to build a new marina at the northeastern fishing port of Ramsey, on the Isle of Man. The proposed Ramsey Bay Marina will be located outside the existing harbour, between the harbour entrance and the Queen’s Pier, and is set to offer all tides access, unlike Douglas and Peel, without the need for lock gates or sills. A new breakwater will run from the existing southerly breakwater out for some 350 metres due east before turning south-eastwards for a further 350 metres.

The marina will have a minimum water depth of 3m at mean low water springs and will be approached from the north-east by an approach channel, passing to the north of the existing dolphin located to the north of the Queen’s Pier. The marina’s mooring area will be dredged and the sand extracted from the sea bed will be used to reclaim the beach to create residential and leisure-commercial areas. The total project cost is estimated to be in the region of £100m, of which 50% will come from the sale of the properties and the remaining 50% will be raised from the private sector. For more information visit Ramsey Marina Ltd The inner harbour at Ramsey.

It is the second largest town on the island after Douglas

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April 2019

NEWS Sunseeker ‘father’ dies Robert Braithwaite 1943-2019

In early March, Sunseeker’s Robert Braithwaite CBE, DL, passed away at the age of 75. Born in 1943, Robert was the co-founder and ‘father’ figurehead of what has become one of the largest boat builders in the UK, transforming from a small boat dealer established in Poole in 1969, into a globally-recognised boat brand, with a range today from 50 to 161 feet.

Leaving school in his teens, Robert dreamt of building a new kind of boat. He set up a boat dealership selling an American brand of cruisers in the 60s. Eventually he bought the moulds for these and began building his own range, renamed Sunseeker in the years that followed. Models such as the Hostess 17, Sports 23 and Daycab 23 were the first of many products by entrepreneurial Robert. He also went on to form close ties with racing pedigree boat designer, Don Shead, with the development of early models, such as the Offshore 28 cruiser.

Christian Marti, CEO of Sunseeker International, said “Robert was an inspiration to everyone at Sunseeker and, to the wider marine industry, recognised as a boating pioneer, a true visionary and someone who changed the face of boating forever. Robert was not only the company’s founder, but the father of the ‘Sunseeker family’ here in Dorset, and worldwide through our dealers and clients.

He will always live on as the driving force behind our success. Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with his immediate family.”

The marine association, British Marine also paid tribute to the ‘man behind one of the industry’s most iconic brands and great personal friend to many’. “He

A best seller and a ‘modern masterpiece’, the 1970s Sunseeker 23 Daycab and latest Hawk 38 10

April 2019

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

editorial@motorboatowner.co.uk

Robert driving Daniel Craig in Quantum of Solace

was a boat show champion” British Marine said, and “one of the longest serving Chairmans of National Boat Shows (now dissolved within British Marine), he spearheaded the two leading boat shows, London Boat Show and Southampton Boat Show.” Robert served as Chairman of National Boat Shows for 6 years.

Robert was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the Queen’s Birthday Honors in 2007, and amongst his list of recent accolades Robert received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2016 Boat Builder Awards and an Outstanding Achievement award at the 2018 Luxury Briefing Awards.

Away from his work in the boating industry, ‘generous’ Robert also gifted a surgical robot to the Dorset Cancer Centre, who had treated him for bowel cancer in early 2015. With Sunseekers appearing in several James Bond films, Robert appeared in a cameo role in the 2008 film ‘Quantum of Solace’, driving Daniel Craig aboard a restored classic Sunseeker Sovereign 17 on location in Italy. Accepting his lifetime achievement award in 2016, Robert said “I have dedicated much of my life to this industry and have strived to make Sunseeker the world-renowned luxury brand that it is today. I am very proud of what Sunseeker International has become over the last 47 years, it is quite an achievement. We are continuing to grow worldwide thanks to our investment in new products, shipyard facilities and our people, it is exciting to see what the future will hold.” Today Sunseeker is considered to be ‘Britain’s biggest boat builder’. To read more about Robert see the Sunseeker website Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

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NEWS Gloucester Lock repairs delayed but underway

DBagshaw

The Grade II listed Gloucester Lock is currently closed due to a leak detected in January. The lock is managed by the Canal & River Trust and is a vital link for barge traffic and boaters between the Gloucester Docks and River Severn.

With Spring and Easter fast approaching, boaters are concerned. A Canal & River Trust notice displayed on the lock explains that there has been difficulty emptying the lock of water due to the leak and also problems opening the top gates due to pressure. Latest notices are available via the Canal & River Trust website saying that divers successfully sucked out silt from the downstream lock gate, and that both downstream lock gates were opened enough to allow a crane barge to enter the lock for mooring during March, and with fabrication of the stop-plank channels ‘in hand’, installation is due to take place on the 3rd April.

Hythe Marina boat jumble

MDL Marinas has announced the date of its annual Hythe Marina Village Boat Jumble as Saturday 13th April. Opening at 9:30am, the boat jumble is a free entry event and fees for selling are £10 for a car, 4x4s and vans are £15 and cars with trailers are £20, with profits going to local causes.

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

DIARY DATES Irish Boat Jumble 7th April Thames Valley & London Boat Show 12th-14th April Hythe Marina Village Boat Jumble 13th April Norfolk Boat Jumble 14th April Tingdene Thames Used Boat Show 19th-28th April Val Wyatt Marine Open Weekend 27th-28th April Click any of the above for more info

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April 2019

19 - 28 APRIL 2019

Thinking about about buying a bigger boat for the new season? Or new to boating?

Join us this Easter at Thames & Kennet Marina where you can expect an excellent selection of dayboats, motorboats, narrowboats and barges to suit all budgets with lots of great help and advice to get you afloat.

Special offers for buyers and sellers alike so whether you are an experienced boater looking to sell or change your current boat, or new to the idea of boating we are here to help with Finance, Tuition, Surveys, Insurance and of course Moorings.

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NEWS Seven new Wheelyboats for UK fishing clubs Marking its 35th anniversary, the charity, the Wheelyboat Trust, has partnered with the Angling Trust to partfund seven new Coulam 16 accessible Wheelyboats, which are destined for clubs and fisheries across the UK. Built by Coulam Ltd in Lincolnshire, the purpose-built boats will be fitted with a maximum of a 10hp outboard and will be equipped with a hydraulic platform amidships that lowers the angler from gunwale height to floor level. The angler wheels up a short ramp onto the platform and a lever is pressed that lowers the platform.

At floor level, the angler can then position themselves at the bow or stern, it can be driven from a wheelchair and, once onboard, the disabled angler can operate it singlehanded. The trust has raised £35,000 in grants from the Peter Harrison Foundation (£30,000) and Lord Barnby’s Foundation (£5,000) to support this initiative. The trust is inviting UK fisheries and clubs to apply for these seven new boats, and divided into two parts, a first round will provide four Wheelyboats in Spring 2019 and a final round in Autumn 2019 delivering the other three Wheelyboats. To date the trust has built and supplied 195 Wheelyboats across the UK and Europe.

New surveyor search app It is now a little easier to find a local boat surveyor, as the body of surveyors, the International Institute of Marine Surveying (IIMS), has created and introduced an app. The Marine Surveyor Search App is a search tool available for iOS and Android devices which is free to download via the iTunes AppStore and Google Play.

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April 2019

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

editorial@motorboatowner.co.uk

Thames Valley & London Boat Show Over 31 marine companies will be exhibiting at the inaugural Thames Valley and London Boat Show this April. The new free entry, 3-day boat show will be held at Penton Hook Marina on the River Thames on the 12-14th April. Hosted by TBS Boats and MDL Marinas, the show will have new and used boats on display on and off the water, and stalls for marine equipment and services, food and entertainment ashore. Exhibitors include many Thames brokers, showing brands such as Haines, Interboat, Sealine and Cranchi. Other companies include Lombard, MCC Marine, Barrus, Ideal Boat, and the RNLI.

NEWS Windermere Jetty Museum of Boats opens

In March, a museum housing what is thought to be one of the oldest mechanically-powered boats in the world, the SL Dolly, opened on the banks of Lake Windermere. Following a £20-million development by Lakeland Arts, with funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund, the new Windermere Jetty Museum tells the story of 200-years of boats, boating and boat building in the Lake District through a 40-vessel collection, and is housed inside one of the first contemporary buildings to be built on the shores of Lake Windermere in over 50 years. A series of new jetties on the lake will also allow visitors to travel aboard Osprey, a fully-restored Edwardian steamer built in 1902. The collection also includes the famous Lakeland writer and illustrator, Beatrix Potter’s tarn boat, which she used to sketch in on Moss Eccles Tarn. The museum is open all year round with adults entering for £9 and children over 4 years for £7.

Midway Boats becomes Maxima Boats dealer The Cheshire-based boat dealer, Midway Boats is now offering a Dutch range of Honda outboardpowered sloops and tenders, Maxima Boats. The 13-boat range consists of modern and traditionalstyle dayboats from 4.8-7.5 metres. Midway’s first two stock boats are due to arrive soon and will be a Maxima 490, fitted with a Honda 10hp, and a Maxima 630 with a Honda 15hp.

Midway is also an existing agent for Oceanmaster, Yamarin, Highfield RIBS, Honwave inflatables and Yamaha and Honda outboards.

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April 2019

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NEWS Plymouth Boat Club expands with 2nd boat The Devonshire boat rental scheme, the Plymouth Boat Club will be expanding this Spring with the addition of a second new boat. Launched in April 2018 at Yacht Haven Quay drystack, following a positive response, the club has expanded with a new 6.5-metre RIB joining the existing 2018 Beneteau Barracuda 7. Manager, Will Rahder, said “Year one was great with new customers and ex-boat owners getting into boating. Our new RIB will allow more people to get on the water, with members getting the choice of which boat they’d like to use.” Yacht Haven Quay is also offering Boat Club members who progress to buying their own boats a ‘generous’ discount on annual dry stack berthing. Will adds “Joining the club is a great introduction into the convenience of dry stacking, with secure indoor storage, launch and recovery on demand 365 days a year, and access to our fabulous local cruising destinations such as Salcombe, Fowey and more.”

More names added to Barrus marine division Glomex, Barton Marine and Blue Gee Supplies are the latest three marine equipment names to be added to Barrus’ growing Marine Equipment Division. Glomex produce a range of marine VHF and entertainment antennas, as well as developing systems like WeBBoat, a ‘Coastal Internet’ system and Zig Boat, a wireless system for monitoring and interacting with a boat remotely. Both British companies, Barton Marine manufacture a range of deck hardware mostly relevant to the sailing market, but provide innovations such as inflatable hole repair, Clamseal, and Blue Gee Supplies is a manufacturer of marine construction and repair materials. With technical support available, the three brands will now be distributed by UK marine company, Barrus, and these join G-Nautics, Swobbit, Attwood, Stazo, Talamex and Besto in the marine equipment range.

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April 2019

INBOX

@

Cruising inspiration I just wanted to write and say how much I enjoyed reading the first installment of ‘Norway Bound’ by Peter and Gill Pitcher in the March magazine. We thought we had done some extended cruising in the past, including short sojourns across the English Channel, lower North Sea or just about ‘dipping our toes’ in the Atlantic, before returning to our base in the Solent. But nothing compares to what these brave, intrepid travellers have embarked on and to say we have found it inspiring is an understatement. I am not sure that we will ever be attempting anything so courageous or adventurous as, like many boaters, when we were working, we didn’t have the time and now we are retired on a fixed income, we do not have the necessary resources! It doesn’t stop us from dreaming though, and I look forward to reading the next installment to see what they encountered, and the exciting places they visited on their journey to Norway. Julie Hill Editor comments: Thank you. Like you, I always feel like I have been quite adventurous until I read stories like this. I hope you enjoy the rest of the series.

What is this?

I found this item below decks in the ‘engine room’ of our Carver 3207 (1990) with Volvo Penta TAMD41B engines, and I haven’t been able to find out yet what it was used for or what it could be attached to. Is it used for winterising or servicing the engines by removing fluids perhaps? Any ideas welcome. Phil Taplow Editor replies: It looks like some kind of manual bilge pump or greaser to me.

There is clearly part of it missing, and this may hold the key in identifying its use. Do any of our readers recognise it?

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email:

editorial@motorboatowner.co.uk

BACK

IN

TIME

We journey back to 80s with the British-built RIB manufacturer, Flatacraft. Does anyone remember wanting one of these?

Our Associate Editor is still drooling over the blue Force 3 GT

Normandy landings

June 2019 will mark the 75th anniversary of the largest seaborne invasion in history

W

orld War II’s D-Day landings and the Battle of Normandy saw nearly three million troops crossing the English Channel, England to Normandy and into occupied France.

The battle to recapture the Normandy shore began on the night on the 5th/6th of June 1944. With flanks of military troops dispatched to their zones, the first landing was by British paratroopers and gliders on the east bank of the river Normandie Tourisme

Fireworks and re-enactments are just some of the events planned at Arromanches in June

Orne, to the north of the city of Caen.

This was followed by thousands of American paratroopers landing in the Carentan vicinity. By 2am approximately six thousand ships were on station off the five beaches, and the assault came with a wave of American troops landing at the western beaches of Utah and Omaha (off the Carentan entrance) at 06h30.

The next wave of British troops landed at Gold (Arromanches) and Sword (west of Ouistreham) beaches an hour later, followed by a Canadian division at Juno (Courseulles-sur-mer). The invasion force, by sea and air, had achieved its surprise objective and was able to progress inland and west to Cherbourg, but with German defences, gun emplacements, fortifications and bunkers nestled in the undulating and diverse coastline, it meant there were severe losses on the beaches. Breaches were opened up and British troops re-

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captured Creully and Arromanches, where a huge artificial harbour was installed in the days that followed.

The 75th anniversary is not a time to celebrate, but rather a time to remember those brave men, many of them in their teens and early 20’s, who landed on a foreign beach straight into an unimaginable scene on Normandy shores, caught up in a four-year German occupation. Normandy’s D-Day coast covers some 50 miles and with so many

©US National Archives & records Administration

CRUISING

Normandy D-Day 75 guide

accessible ports for leisure boats along this section of coastline, many of which with easy access to the many historical D-Day sites, museums, events, beaches and cemeteries of World War II, 2019 is Portsmouth perhaps the year for a meaningful crosschannel pilgrimage to this beautiful and captivating shore. Motorboat Owner has selected its favourite ports, fittingly like the landings, west to east.

For more information on events for D-Day 75, visit website, en.normandie-tourisme.fr

ENGLISH CHANNEL

Cherbourg UTA

H

St Vaast

OM AHA

St Valery en Caux

GO

LD

JUN

O

Carentan

SW

OR

D

Arromanches Ouistreham

Honfleur Dives sur Mer

Caen

Utah Beach monument. US, British and Canadian D-Day beaches, between St Vaast and Ouistreham Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

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Cherbourg Dating back to the 5th century, Cherbourg is now one of the largest man-made ports in Europe and is prominently positioned on the tip of the Cotentin Peninsular. With a huge, 1600-berth, modern, all-tides ŠBibliothÊque Jacques PrÊvert / Ville de Cherbourg-Octeville

marina, Port Chantereyne, offering plenty of space for visitors, it is a well-used crosschannel refuge and starting point for a Channel Islands or Normandy adventure.

It is also a ferry and cruise liner terminal.

But, behind its original Napoleonic harbour fortress, this major commercial and leisure port has many attractions and stories to tell. Certainly for us, its familiarity has sparked an affinity with the marina, town and spectacular harbour.

You are certain to discover something new each time you visit.

D-Day Gripped by World War II and occupied by the Germans for 4 years, the D-Day landings saw allied troops march some 30 miles from the beaches, to Cherbourg, to launch their attack. Known as the Battle Wartime Cherbourg, allied forces helped rebuild of Cherbourg, the Germans did not go 24

April 2019

Port Chantereyne

quietly and deployed thousands of mines, sank ships in the harbour and crippled the bridge that spanned the river, what is now the inner basin. Much of the town was destroyed and today its crumbling breakwaters remain riddled with battle scars. Cherbourg was liberated on the 26th June and allied forces helped its residents rebuild the city. This date is usually commemorated with a crescendo of fireworks over the inner harbour. At the top of the city’s Roule Mountain is the Musee de la Liberation, which tells the story of its occupation and liberation.

With good transport links and car hire available, the Normandy beaches and Arromanches are also within easy reach (approximately 1 hr by car).

Where to moor Nestled next to Cherbourg’s formidable

See Cherbourg guide in the June 2014 issue

Navy docks, Port Chantereyne has 220 dedicated visitor berths. Here, harbour staff greet and direct visitors in a red zodiac, otherwise its visitor pontoons are on N, P and Q, which are mainly finger berths. Larger boats are accommodated alongside on the east side of Q pontoon.

Port Chantereyne has all the facilities you would expect of a modern marina, a self-service fuel berth (selling petrol and diesel), a travel hoist, boatyard, a yacht club restaurant, café, shops and a chandlery. There is also easy access to the town centre with its popular high street style shopping, large supermarket, regular markets, numerous restaurants, sights and attractions. Its attractions include the maritime museum and aquarium, the La Cite de la Mer, with its resident Titanic exhibition, housed in the old transatlantic terminal with original baggage hall.

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

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St Vaast la Hougue Positioned just east of the Cherbourg Cotentin peninsular, is the picturesque unspoilt Normandy town Saint Vaast la Hougue. With a coastline decorated with oyster beds, islands and Norman forts, this 19-century-built fishing harbour has a tide gate, offering access of 2 1/4 hours either side of high water and a 750-berth marina with visitor berths, a fuel pontoon and a boatyard. The small harbourside town is a delight, with a few shops and a good choice of restaurants, many of which serve fresh seafood, including the rather special, Fuschias. There is also the traditional French grocery store selling local cider and calvados, the Maison Gosselin, which is a must visit. Amongst the town’s attractions is an amphibious ferry that

carries visitors out to Isle Tatihou where they can climb a Norman fort. There is also a shipwreck museum and some lovely coast and country walks.

D-Day Saint Vaast La Hougue was all but decimated in World War II, with the Germans occupying many of its existing forts and gun emplacements, many built for World War I. St Vaast was the first harbour to be freed by seaborne and land allied forces on the eve of the 14th of June. Walking along the beautiful tidal coast path and along the peninsular stretching south of the harbour, you will find observation bunkers and the Norman Fort de la Hougue, with its stunning moat,

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April 2019

once occupied by German forces. Nine miles south east on the coast at Quineville is the World War II museum (a 20-minute drive). Housed in a seafront bunker, it tells of French civilian everyday life at the time of the Normandy landings, as well as the landings themselves.

at the head of pontoon A. Ashore, in the Capitainerie building by the lock gate, are toilet and shower facilities. The town and its quayside are a short walk away across the bridge or, if the gate is open, a longer walk around the harbour basin.

Where to moor The marina can accommodate up to 80 visitors on visitor pontoons, A-E, which can be found just inside the tide gate on the starboard side. Larger boats over 14 metres are accommodated alongside, and either side of pontoon B and pontoon C. The pontoons are equipped with water and shorepower and there is fuel, petrol and Carentan’s resident PA30-4 layed up for works diesel, available on a self-service pontoon, at St Vaast’s traditional boatyard Motorboat Owner Š Digital Marine Media Ltd

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Carentan Set inland up a 5-mile tidal river on the east side of the Cotentin peninsula, Carentan is perhaps one of the most closely-guarded secret boating havens of this coastline. A lock at the confluence of the rivers Douve and Taute, accessible up to 2 hours before HW, provides entry to a unique and unspoilt tree-fringed, T-shaped canal and marina basin. The roman-originating town of Carentan lies to the south of the basin and has a supermarket, a tourist information centre, a choice of restaurants and a UShip chandlery. Conveniently the town is also on the trainline that runs between Cherbourg and Paris, making day trips on storm-bound days a possibility.

D-Day Carentan’s river entrance passes between two of the US Normandy beaches, Utah to the west and Omaha to the east.

Surrounded by marshes, Carentan was a vital Utah-to-Omaha crossing point and strategic location that had to be recaptured swiftly. Six days of fierce fighting in its streets saw the town liberated, unfortunately with much destruction. Two museums, known as the D-Day Experience, are now located 3 miles north west of Carentan and tell of the battle for the town that was in the heart of the parachute zone and showcases Dead Man’s Corner Museum, a former German command post. Two more D-Day attractions are closeby, the Utah

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April 2019

Beach Landing Museum and US Airborne Museum at Saint Mère-Eglise (both 1520 minutes by car). Saint Mère-Eglise is also where US paratrooper, John Steele, became snagged on the church spire and acted dead to evade enemy fire. D-Day tours are also available through Carentanbased company, Normandy Discovery Tours. Finally, Carentan Marina also has a resident authentic American L.C.V.P. landing craft, PA30-4, and this can be seen in use off Utah and Omaha beaches each anniversary of D-Day.

finger berths are equipped with water and shorepower, and the captainerie building, complete with restaurant, toilet and shower facilities, can be found conveniently on the east side of the basin.

A boatyard, chandlery and fuel pontoon can be found in the south east corner of the basin. Locking times are available via the port website.

Where to moor Carentan Marina has 330 berths including space for up to 50 visitors on designated visitor pontoon K. Its floating Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

29

Caen Inland, beside the River Orne is one of the largest cities in Normandy, the ancient town of Caen. William the Conqueror is responsible for several historical buildings here, which include one of Europe’s biggest medieval enclosures, Caen Castle. Ravaged by World War II, Caen’s cosmopolitan high street has plenty of shops, many housed in some fine remaining examples of original fourstorey, ornately carved timber framed buildings. A mighty lock at Ouistreham, which is also a ferry terminal, gains entry to the 8-nautical-mile Caen Canal that delivers waterbourne visitors to the city centre through three lifting bridges, the first of which is the famous Pegasus Bridge. The third lifting bridge leads into the basin, Bassin Saint-Pierre, with its 92-berth marina, Caen Plaisance marina.

D-Day The British landing beach, Sword, is immediately to starboard upon entry at Ouistreham. However, it is 8 nautical miles upstream on the Caen Canal where D-Day started after midnight on 6th of June 1944. Pegasus Bridge is where the first British paratroopers and gliders of 6th Airborne Division landed, liberating the bridge and its near vicinity, including a well-known family-run café overlooking the bridge on the west bank, Café Gondree, which is still open today.

With a mooring spot on the east side of the canal, close to the bridge, it is possible to visit the Memorial Pegasus museum by boat, but it is a very popular spot. The very moving museum, which is a 15-minute drive from Caen Plaisance, is dedicated to the British paratroopers and has the

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April 2019

original BĂŠnouville Bridge, renamed Pegasus Bridge after the liberation, on display, as well as a full size replica of a wartime Horsa glider. Caen was almost flattened in the war and today its historic streets and ornate churches wear bullet hole battle scars. Known as the Battle of Caen, it saw the French and British battling the Germans for control of the city. A museum and memorial, Memorial de Caen commemorates the battle.

Where to moor Fuel and visitors moorings are available at Ouistreham Marina, which is located in a basin immediately inside the lock at Ouistreham. However, we would recommend making the journey up the canal to cosmopolitan Caen, where there are fabulous sights, good transport

links and plenty of opportunities to top up ship stores. Here there are a limited number of visitor berths on pontoon E at Caen Plaisance (booking in advance is advisable). It is a mile walk from here into the city centre, with its sights, shops and supermarkets. The marina has shorepower, water, a toilet and shower block and the welcoming, Caen Yacht Club on site. Lock and bridge opening and tide times can be found on the Caen Plaisance marina website.

The Memorial Pegasus museum is very moving

Motorboat Owner Š Digital Marine Media Ltd

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Honfleur

St Valery en Caux

Port Guilliame

Other favourites Motorboat Owner can also recommend visiting the Normandy ports to the east of the D-Day Landings beach zone, historic beach side Dives sur Mer (Port Guilliame) just east of Ouistreham, beautiful Honfleur in the mouth of the River Seine (guide in the Feb 2019 issue) and Saint Valery-en-Caux on Normandy’s Seine Maritime coast (guide in April 2016 issue). The small, unassuming but very welcoming tidal port of St Valery in particular saw heroic attempts to defend it in the wake of Dunkirk by un-rescued Scottish WW2 troops. Its German-fortified white cliffs saw defeat and left rescue attempts scuppered, capture and occupation followed. But, landing at Sword Beach in June 1944, the same division were to return and liberate St Valery in September 1944.

Visiting Arromanches With cautious navigation and in the right tide and sea conditions, why not consider adding a waypoint to visit the remains of mulberry harbours at Arromanches. In a feat of World War II engineering and ingenuity, various components were towed across the English Channel and were used to create an artificial harbour off the French coastal town, Arromanches. These structures comprised of bridges, floating roadways and pierheads which went up and down with the tide, with huge hollow concrete blocks forming a breakwater around these.

Today, the flooded concrete hulks protruding out of the sea at jaunty angles are an eerie reminder of the past, whilst ashore at Arromanches is a museum dedicated to the artificial harbour, the towns liberation and recounts the story of the D-Day landings.

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t u o b a s Ask u s: ber th ual n n a , r o t visi r e m m u s & Friendly marina with fab facilities just minutes from the Solent.

02392 601201 haslarmarina.co.uk

Motorboat Owner Š Digital Marine Media Ltd

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PRACTICAL

PROJECT

Volvo sterndrive removal I

f your boat has a sterndrive, or two, hanging off the transom then you benefit from increased performance, improved shallow water operation, the ability to dry out and better fuel economy over your shaftdrive friends. The downside, and the price you have to pay for those benefits, is increased and more complex maintenance.

Part of that maintenance regime usually requires complete removal of the drive. In the past we have shown you how to change U joint bellows without drive removal (Feb 14), the process that I usually follow, and we have also taken you through the steps involved in carrying out a full annual service (May 17), so this month we thought we’d show you, in depth, just how to remove your drive. The process will vary from model to model, and make to make. The award for the easiest drive to remove must go to OMC and their Cobra, which requires little more than seven nuts to be removed and a trim bar withdrawn.

The Volvo SX drive is a re-branded Cobra, so if you are lucky enough to own one of these, you have the same simple procedure to follow. Many Volvo owners though, particularly those whose boats are at the DIY stage of their lives, will have one of the drives from the 270-DP-E era. These are the ones that can be typically serviced without removal, but periodic removal is still a good idea to avoid parts seizing up, and also to replace items such as bushes etc. The process is a little more complex than the Cobra/SX drive, but is still easily

YOU WILL NEED TOOLS • Prop removal tool • Screwdrivers (flat head and Phillips) • Allen keys or Hex sockets • Pliers

• • • • •

Spanners Hose clamp tool Drift or socket Hammer Receptacle for drained oil

CONSUMABLES • Waterproof grease • Service items as required

DIFFICULTY RATING

ooooo achieved by a competent DIYer, and the drive, even in duo-prop guise, is not so heavy as to be a problem for a single fit person to remove and replace. This is the process required to remove a DP-D drive.

It will be almost exactly the same for drives in the 290 to DP-E range, and more or less the same for 270 and 280 models.

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April 2019

HOW TO IN 21 STEPS >

1

Start by removing the prop/s. This will ensure they do not get damaged and will reduce the weight of the drive 4

Undo the two steering pivot pin retaining bolts using an 8mm allen key or socket

7

Remove the split pin and washer that retains the gear shift cable to the gear change linkage

2

Next I drain the oil. I’m going to change it anyway, and again it will reduce the weight by a couple of kilograms 5

Then, using the longer of the two gear linkage cover bolts, jack out the pivot pin by screwing it into one of two threaded jacking holes 8

Slacken the locking bolt on the end of the gearshift cable, you may need a pair of grips or pliers on the cable end to do this

3

The gear linkage cover will need removing to gain access to the gearshift cable

6

With the pivot pin removed, you can then push the steering helmet fully up and out of the way

9

Then remove the cable end and locking nut, first making a note of how far on they were screwed

Motorboat Owner Š Digital Marine Media Ltd

35

PRACTICAL

10

11

12

Then, using an 11mm ring spanner, loosen the bolt on the gear shift cable fixing clamp just below the U-Joint bellows

You don’t need to remove the bolt completely. Just loosen it enough to flip the clamp up and release the cable

Now you can loosen the hose clamps that fix the U joint bellows, exhaust bellows and cooling water inlet pipes onto the drive unit

13

14

15

The bellows and water hose should be pushed back off the drive. The water hose may need a bit of persuasion with a lever

Remove the hex headed bolts on either side of the drive that lock the mounting pins in place

Remove the split pins that retain the trim ram fixing pins in place………

16

17

18

..... followed by the pins themselves. If they are stuck try carefully twisting them with a good set of grips on the flat headed end to ease them off

The mounting pins are designed to be removed outwards with a slide hammer. Without one, turn the steering yoke fully in a direction away from the pin

If the weight of the drive isn’t supported, place some blocks beneath the skeg before proceeding

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April 2019

19

20

21

Using a suitably sized socket or drift, tap the mounting pin inwards until it is free, and remove

You can then turn the steering fully the other way and tap the second pin out. The drive should now pull forward and free of the transom shield

Before pulling it away completely, ensure that the gear shift cable, bellows and water intake hose are all coming away freely

REFITTING Refitting the drive is simply a case of reversing the above procedure, with a little bit of fiddling to ensure that the U-joint splines line up with the jackshaft inside the bellows. Ensure that you use copious amounts of waterproof grease on items that are prone to seizing, namely the mounting pins, trim ram pins and pivot pin. It is also worth replacing the plastic bushes in the steering fork and using new split pins on the trim ram pins and gear shift cable connection. When tapping the mounting pins back in, it is crucial to ensure that the fork is correctly aligned otherwise you risk damage to the plastic bushes. Gentle taps is all it should take to knock the pins home if everything is perfectly lined up.

COST £ There are no costs involved in removing your sterndrive, but based on the fact that you are probably removing it for its annual service/maintenance, you should budget around £250 - £300 for each drive service using genuine manufacturer branded parts and fluids. You can reduce this figure down to around £175 - £200 if using nonbranded parts.

TIME TAKEN To remove a drive like ours, or any other from the 270 to DP-E range takes around an hour. For a full removal, service, refit and paint I would suggest allowing a day per drive. Some drives, like the OMC Cobra / Volvo SX can be removed in a matter of minutes. Mercruiser Alpha and Bravo drives tend to be more akin to OMC and SX drives in terms of complexity and time taken to remove.

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

37

Zodiac Open 5.5

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April 2019

ZodiacNautic/HocasFocus

BOAT TEST

Length (LOA): 5.4m / 17ft 9in Beam: 2.54m / 8ft 4in Displacement: 585kg (ex engine) Fuel capacity: 100 litres Water capacity: n/a RCD category: C12 Engine as tested: 1 x Yamaha F115 outboard Other engine options: Single 100hp to 130hp Price from ÂŁ29,900

Motorboat Owner Š Digital Marine Media Ltd

39

R

IBs must be one of the most versatile boats you can buy, they are available in anything from 2.5m tender size, right up to huge 20m+ behemoths with just about every type of use catered for somewhere in between.

They can be the perfect dayboat for the beginner, being easy to maintain and very forgiving when it comes to learning the art of close quarters manoeuvring, but a well made and well spec’d rib can also punch above it’s weight when it comes to serious passage making too.

In France, they use the name Zodiac for RIBs in much the same way we might use Hoover to describe a vacuum cleaner, so a new model carrying this historic name deserves a closer look. We took a trip to the home of Zodiac to see the new Open 5.5, the smallest of the

four boat ‘Open’ range.

While the 5.5 is most definitely an open boat, the name of the range is a little confusing, as pretty much every Zodiac, from the smallest tender to the largest Medline, bar a single cabin boat in the N-ZO range, is an open boat. For me, the range is perhaps better described, albeit in longer terms, as general-purpose leisure RIBs. Not quite as commercially minded as the Pro range, not quite so luxuriously appointed as the Medline or N-ZO ranges. What you have is a range of RIBs that looks perfect as entry-level family boats for a multitude of purposes. In fact Zodiac themselves describe the Open 5.5 as a bit of a Swiss army knife, and having seen it in action, I tend to agree.

Our test was conducted in Port Crouesty on the stunning southern

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April 2019

“Travelling by tube.

Zodiac’s new baby Open reignited my lost love of RIBS”

Brittany coast where the boat’s multi faceted personality was immediately shown by displaying, and offering for test, no fewer than 10 examples of the 5.5, each fitted with slightly different spec, engines and options. Our test took us out into the bay where the boats were photographed cruising, fishing, wakeboarding and taking parts in other watersports that I don’t even know the name of. We were then taken to an offshore island where the boats

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

shallow draft allowed us to disembark over the bow onto the beach without lifting the engine or getting wet feet. It was a fantastic day to be on the water, and one that really reignited my lost love of RIBs. Lets start by looking at the thing that sets the 5.5 apart from the pack, its features and options. Starting with the tubes, you have a choice of three colour schemes and two different tube materials.

In Hypalon you can have black and Arctic

41

grey or Arctic grey and Neptune grey, and in Zodiacs own Strongan tube material (an enhanced PVC) the 5.5 comes in black and light grey. You also have a choice of red or black grab lines along the inside of the tubes, a small thing that costs nothing, but nice to have, and all tubes come with a sturdy, three ribbed rubbing strake for maximum tube protection. Then you can

Dedicated cool box storage below transom seat

choose between grey and black if you pick the EVA deck option, which is a soft, closed cell foam that provides good grip and a comfortable underfoot experience.

At the stern you have the option of a pair of bathing platforms that curve around the tube ends, themselves covered in a hard plastic protective cap. The optional platforms come with a sturdy boarding ladder and would be an obvious, almost compulsory, tick in the options box if you plan to use your 5.5 for any in-thewater activities. Without the additional platforms you can still have a ladder option fixed direct to the transom. Up at the bow, the flat tube section, designed for increased internal space forward, is significantly reinforced where it meets the hull to protect against the inevitable pounding that it might take. The hull itself has a double chine that should help deflect

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April 2019

spray away from the boat, and help keep the crew dry.

Moving into the boat, and Zodiac has paid particular attention to maximising internal space, with an impressive 4.22m of the overall length and 1.39m of the beam available to the crew. The flatter bow section is one such feature, but the significant design feature that allows maximum space and, more importantly, ease to move around that space, is the helm console. Being offset to port, the layout delivers a wide walkthrough from bow to stern without having to squeeze past the helm or, as you often have to on RIBs, step on the tubes to get around it.

The layout provides a three person seat across the transom, with removable backrests for easy access to the swim platforms, a two person leaning post at the helm and a further cushioned area in Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

the bow that could seat one person facing aft. If you wanted to carry this boat’s full complement of 12, you would have to resort to sitting some on the tubes. The tubes themselves are large, which adds a great deal of stability to the hull at rest. During our test we stood all three crewmembers on one tube and the boat’s lean was surprisingly negligible. Zodiac

The Open 5.5 is not short of general storage

43

PERFORMANCE

As tested Fuel 90% Crew 3 Force 2

RPM

tell us that four fully kitted divers can stand on the same tube at the same time with similar results. The helm console is nicely laid out and has space for a decent sized multi-function display and any additional kit or instruments you may require. The helm is fitted with a tall windscreen that is framed with matt black rails to provide rigidity and plenty of grab holds. The whole console unit is hinged to allow it to tilt forward for access below, and to significantly reduce the boats height to enable undercover storage in a garage or similar. An option fitted to about half of our test boats was an overhead T-Top that provides some shelter for the two helm seats as well as some high-level rod holders. Additional rod holders can

700 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000 4500 5000 5500 6000 6200

Knots

LPH

GPH

MPG

2.0 3.0 4.9 5.9 6.5 8.3 16.2 21.2 25.4 28.2 32.0 34.5 35.7

1.2 1.9 3.7 5.7 8.2 11.4 13.1 16.6 21.0 25.0 32.0 39.0 40.6

0.26 0.42 0.81 1.25 1.80 2.51 2.88 3.65 4.62 5.50 7.04 8.58 8.93

7.69 7.14 6.05 4.72 3.61 3.31 5.63 5.81 5.50 5.13 4.55 4.02 3.99

Range (nm)

169 157 133 104 79 73 124 128 121 113 100 88 87

also be affixed to the backrest of the helm’s leaning post. Another option is an aft roll bar. While it may carry a misnomer, this bar does offer the option of a high towing point, which is useful for certain watersports.

In the bow, the single cushioned seat can be framed by additional matt black

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April 2019

In its various guises it is rated up to a 130hp, with a Yamaha F130 delivering a ‘punchy’ 30 knots. Its protective helm console is offset to provide walkaround access

“Rated up to a 130hp, it’s stable and forgiving when pushed hard” bow rails, which are useful for providing support when boarding or disembarking over the bow where there is a fibreglass moulded non-slip step, complete with anchor roller for this purpose. This single bow seat can also be extended aft to create a sunpad/lounging area with the optional Sundeck Extension. Beneath this seat there is an anchor locker/storage compartment with a sturdy Sampson post mounted just in front. In here you will also find the boat’s fuel filler for its 100-litre fuel tank. There are two further lockers beneath the outer most seats on the transom, while below the middle section of the aft bench seat there is dedicated cool box storage. A small self-draining locker can also be found beneath the Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

cushion of the helm leaning post, while the main storage, located in the helm console itself, is accessed via a large lifting hatch in the front of the console, which is held open when in use by a pair of gas struts. This 780-litre space is large enough to fit wakeboards, water skis and just about any amount of luggage your crew might bring. It also comes with a lock to keep it all secure while you are ashore.

Underway With limited time on hand, we picked two examples of the ten on offer for our test.

The first, and the one we have produced full figures for, was fitted with the mid range engine option, a Yamaha 115hp, and was not fitted with the optional

45

With seating for six, the tubes provide additional capacity to take up to 12 out on the water

T-Top. Our second run, was a boat with the largest 130hp option, again from Yamaha, and this time with the T-Top. With an almost full tank of fuel and with three people onboard, the performance of the 115hp model was quite punchy, with the boat jumping onto the plane in just three seconds and reaching 30 knots just 8 seconds later. We did find that it needed a big fist full of power to get it up and over the hump, otherwise it sits bow high for quite a while, but once up and going you can back off and it settles nicely into a well trimmed mid-range cruise. The 5.5 delivers a decent ride and easy handling, with a certain amount of slapping coming from the chines forward but with them also doing an excellent job of pushing water away and keeping the boat’s occupants dry. The RIB delivers a stable ride and is predictable and forgiving when pushed hard. It does suffer from some cavitation in tight turns, but loses grip gently and in an easily managed way that would ensure the boat remains safe even in inexperienced hands. The two helm seats are nicely protected behind

the screen, as is the centre seat on the transom. The two outer transom seats are subjected to quite a bit of wind, and a small amount of spray, but at least they provide good visibility forward, which cannot be said of the more protected central seat. The driving position is good and the skipper is rewarded with a commanding view. The double helm seat/leaning post did appear to be flexing laterally during our test when two crew were actually sitting on it. Although it survived our test, this may be something to watch out for in the long term.

On our second run, with the 130hp Yamaha on the transom, we achieved almost identical speeds with the same number of people onboard and just a little more fuel in the tank. We assume that the windage and weight of the T-Top and other options ate up the extra 15hp without offering any additional performance benefits. I guess the lesson here is to go for the larger engine if you want all the bells and whistles, or leave the options list alone if you want outright performance.

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Conclusion Although perhaps not quite large enough to be considered an offshore boat, the Open 5.5 is certainly up to just about any other type of use. You want a family day cruiser, the 5.5 will do that in comfort and safety.

You want a boat for fishing or watersports, the 5.5 will do that too, providing you spec the right engine for the latter. You want something simple and easy to own, the 5.5 is certainly that. In fact, I came away from the day hugely impressed by what is, a not very large RIB. It is fun, funky, economical, easily trailerable and as near as you will get in the boating world to the kind of jump in and go usage we expect from our cars. If you want an easy and carefree entry point

The 5.5 is a great family day boat or entry-entry level sportsboat for watersports enthusiasts

into boat ownership a RIB will almost certainly fit the bill and, if you want your RIB to be just a little more than the commercial kind of offering you usually see on the water, the 5.5 could really be the boat for you.

ENQUIRIES: For your nearest dealer visit www.zodiac-nautic.com

ZODIAC OPEN 5.5 - 6.5 - 7 RIBS

go explore For more details see Zodiac Nautic Website or contact your nearest Zodiac Dealer

www.zodiac-nautic.co.uk

NOW AVAILABLE IN THREE SIZES 5.5 , 6.5, 7 metres • The ideal RIB to explore the UK coasts • Available in PVC or Neo • Go fishing, diving or just to take the family out, the Zodiac Open will make you feel secure and safe in all weathers

CUTTING Garmin EchoMap

Garmin’s EchoMap range of multi-function displays has two new top-of-the-range models. The 102sv and the 122sv form the new Ultra range and are 10 and 12inch touchscreen displays supporting Garmin’s Ultra HighDefinition scanning sonar as well as their Panoptix LiveScope that delivers real-time moving images of what is going on below the boat.

The Ultra range use Garmin’s G3 and G3 Vision cartography with integrated Navionics data and Auto Guidance technology. Price from £1,739.99 www.garmin.com/en

Bilgeaway

In these environmentally aware days, pumping oily bilge water into the environment simply isn’t an option.

A bilge filter can reduce hydrocarbons in bilge water and Bilgeaway claim to be able to get them down to less than 3 parts per million. The boat safety scheme for inland waterways requires less than 5 ppm, and the limit for contaminants on coastal waters is 15ppm according to the Marine Pollution Authority. That means that Bilgeaway is not only environmentally friendly, it can allow a boat without a separate bilge compartment for engine oil capture to pass the BSS. Price from £150 www.bilgeaway.com

Prop Defender

Prop Defender is a new non-stick antifoul product for props and sterngear. Designed for DIY or professional application, a single 400ml kit is said to offer 9ft2 coverage.

It can be applied to stainless steel, aluminium, nibral and bronze and requires no aggressive primers. The product is free of toxins, solvents and biocides, so is better for the environment than many traditional solutions, and creates a hard-wearing but slippery surface that fouling just can’t cling on to. Price £49.95 inc delivery www.propdefender.com

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April 2019

the latest boating gear and technology ‘Motorboating Start to Finish’ is the perfect book if you are new to motorboating and need to learn the basics, or if you are experienced, but wish to broaden your skills and techniques. This stepby-step guide takes you through the basic principles, preparing to go to sea, your first voyage and safety at sea. It includes advice on choosing and buying a motorboat, essential equipment, boat handling, tides, weather and navigation.

Price £16.99 www.fernhurstbooks.com

APP

Fernhurst Books

Liqui Moly

Choosing the right oil for your engine just got a little easier thanks to a new app from German lubrication giant, Liqui Moly. Although designed for cars, the app also has a marine section that allows you to put in the make and model of your engine, including both petrol and diesel, as well as some two stroke outboards, and suggests the best oil for your application. It also includes some sterndrive oil recommendations too. Price Free Download at the Apple Store or Google Play

on board

with the UK’s leading distributor of premium brands

T: 01869 363690 marine.chandlery@barrus.co.uk www.barrus.co.uk/barton-marine Barton - Supported by Barrus

CRUISING

Norway bound

Leg 2: River Elbe to Kiel Canal In 2018 intrepid Broom owners, Peter and Gill Pitcher, embarked on a journey that would reunite them with a cruising favourite, Norway. Peter recounts the second of six legs as they venture across Germany, from the River Elbe and into the Kiel Canal

I

n the right conditions, Germany’s River Elbe is a beautiful sailing area in its own right. However, its estuary entrance flows very fast, and you need to travel with the tide, and preferably not in wind against tide conditions

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April 2019

NORTH SEA

G

LE

Rendsburg

Ba

River

2 Can al

1

Kiel

LEG

LEG

Elbe

Kiel

T EAS Norderney

ltru La n m ge oo g

NDS ISLA N A SI FRIE

Borkum

Norway bound 3

CRUISING

GERMANY

Glückstadt

Cuxhaven

Bensersiel Stade Greetsiel

Wedel Hamburg

HOLLAND

as it can get extremely rough. It is also a busy entrance for commercial shipping.

Luckily it seems we had hit it just right.

Bypassing the rest of the German Friesian Islands to stay ahead of a grim-looking weather forecast, the journey from Bensersiel to Cuxhaven was very pleasant.

Nestled on Germany’s North Sea coast, and at the Elbe’s entrance, lies the seaside and historic maritime town of Cuxhaven.

This has two possible mooring places for The 50-nautical mile Kiel Canal, Germany.

Inset, Peter and Gill Pitcher at Hamburg

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

51

Seawolf tied up at the friendly and convenient Selger Marina at Cuxhaven in Germany

leisure boats, a marina or an old town quay. Based on previous experiences we berthed at Segler Marina, as we had found its environment much friendlier, its English-speaking Harbour Master very helpful, and it has easy access to the supermarket, which is conveniently just over the flood wall. The town quay is a fine option, but you have to lock in for this and, with the big surrounding walls, you don’t get much sun.

As we were doing well on our schedule we decided to stay at Cuxhaven for a few days. During our stay we decided to walk to Duhnan, a small town about 5 miles along the coast, where you can get horse and traps rides to the Island of Neuwerk over the sand flats at low tide. We also wanted to see the seal colonies living on the off-lying islands. Unfortunately when we arrived it was half term, nice weather, low water and lunch time, so it was very

Gill at the glorious beach at Duhnan and the fully-booked rides to Neuwerk from Duhnan 52

April 2019

The berths were too small in the outer marina at Glückstadt. Dutch-style housing on the quayside

busy indeed. We tried three different companies who offer seal trips, but sadly they were all fully booked, so we had to content ourselves with taking a photo of the vehicles going out to the islands.

Booking in advance is obviously essential.

Nevertheless we had enjoyed the very pleasant walk along the coastal footpath to Duhnan.

Back at Cuxhaven, we found the local boating community very friendly and we were very lucky to be moored alongside a boat from Hamburg and a boat from Denmark, and had long chats with both

about future stopping places and places of interest to visit.

With a little time in hand before needing to be in Hamburg for our flights back home to Jersey, we decided to move slowly up the Elbe and made our next stop Glückstadt. Here we needed to lock in, as the berths outside were too small and not suitable for cruisers of our size, but once inside it was very pleasant and ideal for Seawolf. We tied up at a local finger berth marked with a green tag, indicating that its owner was away, and confirmed our presence with the Harbour Master.

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

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Beautiful Stade dries at low water and is accessible at HW+/- 2 hours

Glückstadt can be described as ‘Dutch style in Germany’, here we enjoyed some beautiful walks around the town and were charged €15 per night including electric and water.

Having taken advice from the owner of an adjacent boat at Glückstadt, our next move was to cross the Elbe to the old town of Stade. To get to Stade we had

to go up the Schwing, a 3-mile tidal river that would take us right into the centre of town. Access is 2 hours either side of high water and the moorings dry to soft mud at low water. Passing several yacht clubs with moorings along the way upstream, we were welcomed on the town quayside by the Harbour Master and tied up on a good solid floating pontoon with 6-amp electric

Idyllic setting, Hamburger YachthafanApril at Wedel 54 2019

City base. Peter and Gill explored Hamburg whilst based at the convenient City Sporthafan marina

and water. Stade is an old town with lots of history, good shopping and we had a very pleasant stay there in 30 degree heat.

Upon departing Stade we proceeded on at a leisurely 7 knot pace up the Elbe on to our next destination, Wedel, which was only about an hours run. Wedel has the biggest marina in the area, Hamburger Yachthafan, with in excess of 2000 berths and excellent boatyard facilities. After fueling up at a rather pricey €1.53 per litre, we made our way over to our allocated overnight berth, a hammerhead which offered fantastic views.

After a brisk walk and visit to Wedel’s modern town centre the next morning, we were soon back out on the Elbe again, trundling along at a sedate 7 knots and travelling with the tide to our next destination, Hamburg. As we were flying home and leaving Seawolf for 10 days, we had booked a berth in advance at the City

Sporthafen marina, which is right in the middle of town. The large and beautiful German town is a must visit with lots to see and do. With much of it rebuilt after the second world war, it is quite green, with lots of water and several parks. At the marina, the Harbour Master, who spoke English, had kept us a good berth, safe on an inner pontoon, so there would be less wash, and gave us all the appropriate advice. This included directions to nearby Rewe supermarket, which was most convenient for stocking up on food essentials. He also did us a deal on the berthing, ordered our taxi and we left for Jersey in the knowledge that Seawolf was in their good care.

On our return 10 days later all was well.

Seawolf was in excellent condition and the electric had stayed on. Our next move was to the Kiel Canal and, after doing a fair bit of homework for this part of the journey,

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

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German engineering shortcut. Built in the 1890s, using the Kiel Canal saves over 200 nautical miles

we decided to stay on in Hamburg a complete day and leave at the crack of dawn the following day to take the tide up the Elbe to Brunsbuttel, which is the entrance to the Kiel Canal.

Unfortunately we got this wrong. Yes, we had the tide with us, but even though we were on a river, we had wind against tide conditions and had a very sloppy journey up the Elbe. Our normal cruising speed of 18-19 knots was reduced, for comfort, to 14 knots. But Seawolf took it in her stride. Once we arrived off Brunsbuttel we waited for the lock to open to let us into the Kiel Canal, thankfully its outer waiting area was a little more sheltered. We spoke to the lockmaster on VHF channel 13 and were told we had a 10-minute wait, which was no problem.

However, 10 minutes turned into 20.

Eventually the lights changed to white

over red, which means prepare to enter, then, white over green entry permitted, so in we went. Tying up inside the lock is not easy, and big wooden beams floating at water level meant our ordinary fenders did not work, so we got out our tyres fenders, which we had specially made for that purpose, and they protected Seawolf nicely.

Upon leaving the lock we pulled in, albeit briefly, at the marina just inside the lock at Brunsbuttel. With apparently only 4-amp electric and nothing special to recommend it, we did not stay for long. We moved off aiming for the only town with marina facilities on the canal, Rendsburg, but when we arrived we found the visitor berths fully occupied, three deep, by a rally so, with nobody around to tell us where to moor, we perched ourselves on the very end of the long fuel

The marina Rendsburg was very busy, but Peter and Gill managed to secure a hammerhead 56

April 2019

You self pay on the Kiel Canal. Careful fendering was needed at Holtenau Lock at the end of Canal

pontoon. Later that afternoon the lady Harbour Master came down to see us and, even though we were not blocking it, asked us to move. Eventually with a little bit of negotiation she gave us a hammerhead. This berth had a reserved tag on it and she said it was okay for 2 nights, as we required, which was perfect.

The facilities at Rendsburg were superb, with a restaurant on site and good toilet and launderette facilities.

When it was time to move on, we were up and away early, fueling at the marina and then travelling along the rest of the canal in beautiful weather, enjoying the lovely scenery to the end of the canal at Kiel (Holtenau). Here the locks are the same as at Brunsbüttel, with low fenders needed, but just before you come to the lock there is a waiting pontoon where

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

you pay your canal dues in an automatic machine, by cash or card. We paid €35 to use the canal.

Overall we found the Kiel Canal very easy cruising, you just have to take your time. It is also important to do your homework and look on the internet for recreational craft guides, such as one by local authority, WSV, which is a useful reference, identifying various signals, regulations regarding speeds, hours of operation, maps and more.

Next Month we rejoin Peter, Gill and Seawolf on leg 3 as they exit the Kiel Canal heading out into the Baltic for Eckernforde and the Schlei

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

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tested Precision Performance

PRICE for 2.5 litre

£52.67

We don’t normally run tests of antifoul products, mainly because our mooring is drying and therefore probably not representative of the majority of readers.

This year though, I am going to make an exception because I am thoroughly impressed with the product we have been using over the last 12 months.

Now usually, despite the fact that our boat only has water around the hull for maybe 6 hours in every 24, we still manage to get a certain amount of both hard and soft fouling. Our berth dries to very soft mud, which usually means the bottom half of the Motorboat hull remains in a small pool of water and Owner a large section of the hull, together with the lower parts of the “An affordable drives, get coated in a layer of fine brown silt. During the last year, and effective we have also had an extended cruise down to the west country, antifoul paint” that meant the boat had one continuous four week period afloat, Value 4/5 as well as numerous weekends and shorter trips without drying.

Usability 5/5 Because of the difficulty in protecting against fouling when Performance 5/5 on a drying berth, the silt seems to almost form a protective barrier that the barnacles are happy with, we tend not to over analyse it when it comes to buying antifoul products. We have, in the past, used most of the well known brands, including Sea Jet, International, Flag and Hempel, and all have provided pretty good service, but always with a few barnacles to be found on lift out, usually along, and close to, the keel line and on the transom, which faces the sun on our mooring.

This year, the lift revealed not a Barnacles set up home where the paint wasn’t applied single barnacle on any painted 58

April 2019

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

We also found green fouling on areas that were not painted, but the hull was completely free of both hard and soft fouling, with not a single barnacle present, anyway that Precision was applied

surface. At first I thought maybe it was simply a good year for fouling, but a closer inspection of unpainted areas around the drives and on the trim tabs revealed quite a tightly packed collection of the critters, so clearly they were around but just put off by our paint doing its job. The best part of all of this is that when it came to painting the boat just over 12 months ago, we made a conscious decision to buy the cheapest antifoul we could find, so its performance is all the more surprising. The paint we used was Precision Performance, a product not really pushed as an ultimate antifouling paint. Even the company’s own marketing material suggests it is probably not suitable for the most challenging fouling areas. Well let me tell you Precision Paints, you may be underselling it because, despite our drying mooring, those east coast barnacles are a tenacious lot and fouling in our area, even on drying berths, can be pretty serious.

Precision Performance is suitable for boats up to 30 knots, is available in red, navy and black and is also suitable for brackish or freshwater based boats. Despite the MRRP as stated, we usually manage to find it at around 30% off, which makes it very good value indeed, and means that we have just given our Sealine another two coats for the coming year for around half the price of most other leading antifoul paints.

Enquiries: Precision Yacht Paint www.precisionyachtpaint.co.uk Motorboat Owner Š Digital Marine Media Ltd

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tested Jake & Nayn Naansters

PRICE each I am always on the hunt for quick and easy ‘boat’ food to take away with me, and I’m also very partial to curry, so when we were sent a pack of Nayns Naansters to try it was like all my answers came at once. Naansters are like an Indian version of a Cornish pasty, but with the pastry being replaced by a naan bread and the Motorboat filling swapped for one of Owner four well-known Indian dishes; Beef Madras, Chicken Tikka, “Quick, tasty Balti Chicken and Chickpea Curry. They don’t have hugely long and convenient use-by dates, but kept refrigerated you have a week or so, which boat food” should be plenty to keep a few onboard for a short cruise. They Value 4/5 can be eaten cold, but for the best experience they take just 90 Usability 3/5 seconds in a microwave to produce a steaming hot, and very Taste 5/5 tasty, snack. For us, the biggest issue was the lack of a microwave onboard and, with no oven heat instructions, we were faced with eating them cold or borrowing a microwave. Luckily the latter was the answer and we made the most of their simplicity and convenience while carrying out our annual maintenance in the boatyard. I have to say though, for the first time in years, I would seriously think about putting a microwave onboard, that’s how much I enjoyed them. Naansters are available from selected Sainsburys, COOP, Londis and Spar stores.

£2.00

Naansters are a tasty snack to have onboard, or in the boatyard, with plenty of good quality filling

Enquiries: Jake and Nayns www.jakeandnayns.com

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April 2019

All-weather cruisers handcrafted in Finland

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Nord Star model range certified as B-Offshore rated luxury Motor Cruisers from 26-49 ft.

Motorboat Owner

PROJECT BOAT

PROJECT Fairline Vixen

W

ith weather more typical of the season, I have been confined to the workshop for the project boat this month. Our Sealine is also out of the water at the moment, so any half decent days where I could work outside, we have been antifouling, servicing outdrives and changing anodes on that boat. This gave me the perfect

opportunity to reassemble the cylinder head on the AQ151B. Having already lapped the valves, it was just a case of returning to our neatly laid out parts, all placed carefully to ensure that everything goes back in exactly the same place, and start reinstalling them.

HOW TO IN 27 STEPS >

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April 2019

1

It is crucial to install components back into the same place they were removed from, so I have stored them, undisturbed, in the correct order 4

On the AQ151, only the inlet valve has an oil seal.

These came as part of my comprehensive rebuild gasket kit and were pushed into place 7

Then the top valve spring washer was oiled and laid in place ready for the spring compressor

2

3

The cylinder head had already been cleaned, repaired and prepped for rebuilding

The lower valve spring washer was coated in oil and placed over the valve guide

5

6

The stem of the valve was then oiled, to help protect the valve seal, and pushed into place

8

The compressor pushes the spring down so that the top washer is below the grooves in the valve shaft that hold the retaining collets

This was followed by the valve spring, all parts having been thoroughly cleaned before reassembly

9

The collets were then placed on the top of the valve stem, a screwdriver helps locate these fiddly bits in the tight space

Motorboat Owner Š Digital Marine Media Ltd

63

10

11

12

Once the compressor is removed the collets are clamped to the shaft by the valve washer and, in turn, fix the washer in place

This process was repeated a further seven times, which is not as much fun as it sounds. I’m glad I don’t have the 16 valve AQ171

The old rubber rings from the shaft end were replaced with new ones, again these came with my engine rebuild gasket kit

13

14

15

The valve compressor and adjusting washer were given a liberal coat of oil and re-installed

Before the camshaft could be installed, all bearing surfaces, and the tops of the valve depressors, were coated with engine assembly lube

Each of the running surfaces of the camshaft were also liberally coated with assembly lube to offer protection until engine oil reaches them

16

17

18

The aft bearing cap houses a blanking plate, which required a smear of sealant before installation

At the front end of the camshaft a new oil seal (also included in the rebuild kit) was installed

The front bearing cap also required a smear of sealant on its mating surface with the cylinder head

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April 2019

19

20

21

The remaining bearing caps were then installed and each one tightened to the required 20Nm of torque

With a new bearing, the cam belt tensioning kit was pre-tensioned, locked off and installed

The repainted and rust treated camshaft pulley was reinstalled. Note the cam shaft cover has been temporarily replaced to keep dust and dirt out

22

23

24

The existing temperature gauge sender was also re-fitted. I don’t know if this still works, but it will be easy to change later, if required

I also picked up a new set of spark plugs and have fitted these, again to the correct torque

The thermostat looked in good order, but before reusing I tested that it opened at the required 82°C in a pan of hot water

25

26

27

It was then given a new sealing ring, and reinstalled into the freshly painted thermostat housing

This was then bolted to the cylinder head, together with the overhauled engine lifting ring

The cylinder head is rebuilt and just requires a clean up and repaint of the cam shaft cover before it is ready to be fixed to the engine block

Motorboat Owner Š Digital Marine Media Ltd

65

When I get around to cleaning the camshaft cover, I will also tackle the engine’s flywheel, dampener plate and heat exchanger. In readiness, I have stripped all plastic and rubber parts from the heat exchanger, but have decided not to try and venture inside. From what I can see, it appears to be in good condition internally, and a tentative effort to remove a couple of the many bolts that holds it together leads me to believe that more will shear than will come undone. It will get an external overhaul and no more. If it proves troublesome later, I can always opt for an internal chemical clean.

With the help of the wiring diagrams in the workshop manual, which doesn’t always match colour wires to what I have, I have also been looking at the engine wiring loom this month. Luckily, my library of photos has helped me identify what goes where so I have labelled them up and will assess just how far I need to go with it in terms of an overhaul. Some new terminals will certainly be needed, but some of the wiring appears hardened and showing signs of corrosion, so I may have to remake parts of it. What I will have to replace is the very corroded relay and main breaker. I have had to cut these off the mounting bracket, and it is clear that they are beyond re-use. With Volvo pricing on these two bits coming in just shy of £100, I am going to investigate an alternative supply. There will be parts where I will have to pay OEM prices, but with electrical items like these I should be able to save money and still buy the right spec and quality elsewhere.

With all seals and gaskets, together with the belt tensioner, already included in the spend to date figure, the only expenditure this month has been a set of spark plugs.

The heat exchanger has been stripped ready for a mechanical cleanup (top), the engine wiring loom has been labelled (middle) and the old rusted breaker and engine relay have been cut away from the mounting bracket (bottom)

Spend so far This month’s spend

Motorboat Owner

PROJECT BOAT

Spark Plugs £6.46

Balance from last month

£1,314.76

Total to date: £1,321.22

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April 2019

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Nimbus C9

By Alex Smith

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April 2019

BOAT TEST

Length (LOA): 9.35m / 30ft 6in Beam: 2.95m / 9ft 6in Weight: 3,170kg Fuel capacity: 320 litres Water capacity: 80 litres RCD category: C8 Max power: 350hp Engine as tested: Verado 300 Other engine options: Verado 250, 350 / Volvo Penta V8 300, 350 Price from (250hp) £131,803 Price as tested: £153,857

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

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I

n a world bogged down by samey boat design, the Nimbus C9 cuts a very distinctive figure. So distinctive in fact that it’s difficult to know which marine category it deserves to inhabit. Though in essence it’s an outboard-powered pilothouse cruiser, it’s nowhere near as volumous as the do-it-all family platforms from the likes of Quicksilver or Jeanneau, and it’s nowhere near as commerciallyminded as the four-season offshore cruisers that emanate from the yards of Targa, Sargo and Paragon.

I guess if you squint a bit, you could say it looks like a slimline Sargo 28 that’s been sucked through a wind tunnel and dolled up for a night on the tiles but, despite its four-season protection, the C9 was never really designed to be a commercial-

style offshore utility boat. On the contrary, according to Joacim Gustavsson, Chief designer at Nimbus, it was designed to cater for people seeking “a spacious, fast, year-round commuter”, and for those who like to “travel undercover on longer journeys or active daytrips”.

If that makes the C9 sound slightly narrow in terms of its range of applications, that’s

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“????????” exactly as Nimbus intended, because the C9 is not a standalone boat. It is in fact one of three nine-metre configurations which includes the W9 (a sporting weekender with closed bow and open cockpit) and the T9 (a Tender model with open deck and walkaround helm console).

In short, while the Nimbus 9 may have

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

“Nimbus’s new 9-metre commuter wheelhouse walkaround is not lacking in impact”

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been conceived to coincide with Nimbus’s 50th anniversary, its purpose is not about short-term celebration. It’s about the development of a recreation-focused design approach that can be rolled out onto both smaller and larger platforms as the brand moves forwards.

The ‘Commuter’ approach Given the existence of the T9 and the W9, it’s reasonable to expect the C9 to validate its place as the four-season commuter with plenty of covered accommodation, and it does exactly that by making some major compromises in the aft cockpit. All you get back here is a single, aft-facing, twoman seat built into the back end of the wheelhouse structure and it’s positioned so far back that its aft edge kisses the leading edge of the engine well. The use

“Massive sliding side doors keep the wheelhouse very open and practical” of a hinged decking section enables you to make your way from port to starboard around the jutting beak of the engine cowling, but there’s no room for side seats, a table or a work station. What you get instead is a storage space inside the seat itself, a couple of fender lockers, some tying off points and a pair of sensibly extended swim platforms.

Even so, ease of movement is generally good on the C9. Textured tread machined

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April 2019

into the lids of the cockpit’s side lockers makes it easy to find a grippy spot to jump aboard with confidence. And the broad side decks are lined with well-placed grab rails and hemmed in by elevated gunwales that range from 64 to 70cm in depth at every point aft of the helm’s sliding side doors. Those decks then continue forward to meet at the forepeak, where a squared-off bow enables them to orbit the forward-facing two-man bench seat with plenty of room to spare. There’s no external lounging space of course, because the two bench seats, one at the bow and one at the stern, are separated by about 20 feet of covered accommodation, but that’s not to say that this all-weather cruising companion doesn’t feel like an attractive lifestyle companion for summer boaters, because it really does.

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

Take the pilothouse itself for instance.

While it’s invariably easier to mould a set of slab sides with standard windows and the odd token design flourish, it looks and feels as though the dominant building material here is glass. There’s a big one-piece screen, a similarly enormous

Quick commuter storage, the bow hatch enables you to drop bulky gear into the cabin with ease

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The cabin gets most of its natural light from the aft window, and long side windows with mullions so slender, you barely even notice wheelhouse. Its modest galley is for one-pot, sitdown cooking while the toilet compartment is they’re there. There’s also a pair of large serviceable and cleanly moulded overhead sunroofs, plus a couple of sliding side doors, each with a really generous aperture of 91cm. It all conspires to make masculine frown to the pilothouse’s the pilothouse feel bright and open, with dipping roofline that adds tremendous huge, unobstructed views and natural light potency to the C9’s stylistic impact. of a similar order to that of an open boat.

In terms of its physical proportion, the A question of ergonomics pilothouse is also fairly spacious, with a Step down below and it’s plain that the breadth of 1.7m (5’7”) and headroom of sleeping space is very much that of an around 1.93m (6’5”) at the helm. That occasional weekender rather than a space is used for a pair of side-by-side dedicated cruiser. It features a pretty helm seats, an aft bench with removable sizeable V-shaped bed, which (at its table and a portside fridge, in a useful greatest) measures well in excess of six feet position both to service the helm and both in terms of its length and its width, to free up a little extra space down and the enclosed toilet compartment below. And in spite of all this practical to starboard is also very serviceable, convenience, it also happens to be a although with headroom that maxes great looking boat, with a pronounced 74

April 2019

out at 1.47 metres (about 4’10”), and a compact integrated galley unit comprising nothing but a sink and single burner, we know from the start that the Commuter’s priorities lie elsewhere.

Given the existence of the W9 and T9 variants (and Nimbus’s explicit commitment to pursuit-specific solutions) that much is entirely reasonable. However, there are a couple of areas where the cabin could be improved without any compromise to the layout. For instance, as a boat with deep gunwales and wraparound decking, side windows would be of limited value to those in the cabin, so you don’t really miss them.

But an overhead window in front of the windscreen or a forward-facing window in the leading edge of the bow seat moulding would do good things for the light in here.

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

“This rugged and refined 30-foot wheelhouse has a two-person cabin, galley and toilet for weekending” It’s also noticeable that, when you swing the heads door open, it gets wedged beneath the cabin’s fabric deckhead lining.

It’s already resulted in some indentation and fraying on the test boat and, over time, it would certainly need amending or repairing. But these imperfections are counterbalanced by plenty of satisfying touches, like the cleanly lined storage compartments beneath the double bed

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PERFORMANCE As tested Fuel 50% Water 0% Crew 1 Force 2

RPM

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

and cockpit seat, the attractive Nimbus storage pouches above the galley and on either side of the wheelhouse’s aft bench and like the impressive joinery, both in the neatly integrated galley pod and in the wheelhouse’s removable dining table.

If that begins to tell a story of premium quality, tempered by moments of oddly un-Scandinavian imperfection, it’s a tale that continues elsewhere. For instance, the long swim platforms that frame the outboard are elevated slightly above deck level, enabling any water that finds its way inboard to flow freely from the gap between the two.

It works a treat, jettisoning far more water

Knots LPH

GPH

MPG

1.5 3.1 5.2 6.7 7.4 8.8 10.9 15.4 20.8 32.6 36.5 39.1

0.44 0.92 1.56 2.40 3.85 6.10 8.07 9.85 11.20 16.80 18.72 24.53

3.41 3.37 3.33 2.79 1.92 1.44 1.35 1.56 1.86 1.94 1.95 1.59

2.0 4.2 7.1 10.9 17.5 27.7 36.7 44.8 50.9 76.4 85.1 111.5

Range Noise (nm)

240 237 234 196 135 101 95 110 131 136 137 112

47.0 48.4 51.3 55.5 67.2 68.9 71.1 75.0 79.1 83.2 87.9 94.5

than regular deck drains might achieve but it does mean that, when you’re at rest, any stray wakes are free to enter the back end, soaking your shoes when you’re idly compiling your test notes.

Similarly, in spite of the positive flow of deck space and the apparent simplicity

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Light and visibility at the helm are fantastic. The 300hp Mercury Verado provided 39 knots

“The drive is very straightforward and novice-friendly” of the layout, there seem to be steps, elevations and angles all over this boat.

The convoluted four-level access points to the wheelhouse are a very good example, as are the raised lips on the leading edges of the elevated swim platforms. These things are not a problem if you go slow and take care but if you get casual with it (as most people will), they can become irksome. For my own part, it seemed very natural to me to enter the port side of the pilothouse two steps at a time, which saw my trailing shin get a sharp rap on a fibreglass edge on three or four occasions.

And access to some of the hatches (in particular, those beneath the helm seat and the wheelhouse’s aft bench) is also a tad awkward and labour-intensive, so Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

it would be good to see a bit more effort on Nimbus’s part to make the day-to-day logistics of the C9 experience just a shade smoother and more intuitive.

Underway With the Verado 300 on the transom, the performance of the C9 is pleasingly simple. We’re planing in six seconds, passing 20 knots in 6.5 and hitting 30 knots in 15 seconds. That’s steady rather than spectacular, but of more interest is the fact that, at every planing speed between 20 and 37 knots, the returns on our fuel are broadly similar. With a 320-litre tank as standard, we’re looking at a cruising range (leaving a 20% margin in hand) of between 105 and 110 nautical

77

miles, alongside fuel efficiency of around 1.9 miles per gallon. Beyond that, as you push from 5,500rpm toward wide-open throttle, the top end of around 40 knots takes another 15 seconds to achieve and the returns on fuel take a radical nosedive.

But for those keen to undertake long, exposed passages at generous pace, the merits of this performance profile are obvious.

While there is a little rattling and slamming from the various lids, doors and hatches when you run at pace through the chop, ambient noise levels of between 80 and 88 decibels at these same cruising speeds (20 to 37 knots) also represent quite a refined performance. And that refinement becomes even more evident when you come off the plane, at which point some beautifully stable low-speed tracking makes close-quarters manoeuvres very confidence-inspiring. When you couple that directional stability with the big views, the squared off bow, the properly located thruster switch and the

Clever aft mouldings. The elevated swim platforms mean great deck drainage

easy deck access on both sides, the C9 proves itself to be one of the most userfriendly boats the novice or singlehanded skipper could ever wish to helm.

Conclusion The C9 is a very attractive commuter for those who want to cruise all year without feeling hemmed in by the physical constraints of the pilothouse. It’s bright, it’s open, it’s wonderfully easy to helm and it combines four-season protection with great looks and impressive freedom of

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movement. In light of Nimbus’s new design approach, which aims to satisfy a specific purpose and a specific audience with each variant, it has to be said, this is a very effective boat.

Even so, if you anticipate a more varied mix of pursuits, the W9 may well be the higher value proposition. In addition to its increased seating capacity, its larger, more flexible galley and its broader, more spacious cabin, it offers convertible cockpit seating that ramps the sleeping capacity up to four. And with its elevated wraparound screen, extended T-top and versatile canvas solutions, it’s also a boat that can turn its hand to foul-weather cruising if the circumstances demand it. The fact

With the Verado 300, the C9 is good for 39 knots

that it won European Powerboat of the Year at the recent Dusseldorf Boat Show certainly demonstrates how much it offers, but what it also shows is that, whether you favour the C, the T or the W, the Nimbus 9 is a platform that deserves your consideration.

ENQUIRIES: Offshore Powerboats 01590 677955 www.offshorepowerboats.co.uk YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

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LOA: 9.18m Beam: 2.95m Displacement: 1,940kg Enquiries: Offshore Powerboats 01590 677955 www.offshorepowerboats.co.uk

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LOA: 8.40m Beam: 3.00m Displacement: 3,000kg Enquiries: Ideal Boat 01758 703 013 www.idealboat.com

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PRICE from £124,486

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

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Q&A

Your Questions Answered

GPS ‘Millennium Bug’

Q I have heard a rumour that we

are facing another Millennium Bug type event in the next few weeks that could affect our GPS units. I have a Raymarine C80 Classic and an old handheld Garmin 12. Am I likely to find them unusable soon?

A What you refer to is the 2019 GPS week rollover event. It appears that we

have already had one of these back in 1999, but many of us either were not using GPS then, or our equipment handled it without a problem. It is to do with the number of weeks that GPS uses before it starts at zero again. Garmin tell me that this is 1024, or about 19.7 years. The next counter reset is due on the 6th of April and some older GPS units may experience problems after this date. I understand that they should still provide accurate position information, but their time and dates may be incorrect, which will affect things such as tidal information and sunrise/sunset times, if used. Making sure that you have the latest software update for your unit is the first basic step. For some older units, there is unlikely to be any recent updates and you may have to wait and see what happens. We have tracked down, or received, the following statements from the big four suppliers of nautical GPS units. If you have a different make, try looking on their website to see of they have issued a similar statement, or alternatively, drop their customer services people an email. Click on the following for companies for individual statements: Raymarine, Garmin, Furuno. Navico (Simrad, Lowrance, B&G) Product Line Director, Alan Davis, told Motorboat Owner “Navico are continuing to work through our product portfolio to identify any products that may not function correctly following the GPS week rollover event on April 6th.

All current generation products have been tested and show no issues, we are currently testing legacy products and we are producing software updates where required. Navico expects to support all products up to 10 years old with updates if affected. Updates will be published shortly.”

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If you have a question, email us at

editorial@motorboatowner.co.uk

Shaftdrive maintenance

Q I have a Princess 33 that is coming

out of the water in a couple of weeks. My last boat was a sterndrive sportscruiser, so I am at a bit of a loss as to what to do with the underwater gear on my shaftdrive boat. Do I just paint everything with hull antifoul, and are there any other maintenance tasks to carry out?

A Maintenance wise you should check the condition of the cutlass bearings

by checking for any movement of the shaft within them. If there is, they will probably need replacing. Check also the condition of the rudder stocks and make sure there is no excessive movement here. Although unlikely, ensure that the P brackets are not loose and that, in general, everything appears to be free of any damage caused by grounding or collision. If all is well, you should check/ change your hull and/or shaft anodes and antifoul your rudders, P brackets and trim tabs, usually with the same product used on your hull if they are made of bronze or stainless steel. Antifouling the prop shaft and props is usually pointless as it doesn’t stick very well to these fast spinning parts. You could give them a coat if you are launching and not using the boat for a bit, as it will offer protection against fouling until the season gets underway proper. After that, your best bet is just to use the boat regularly to keep the fouling on these items to a minimum. While the boat is out, it is also the time to address any maintenance issue on your sterngland or stuffing box, if required.

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Q&A

Your Questions Answered

Seizing mooring shackles

Q I use fixed shorelines on my home berth,

which are fixed shore-side using shackles. On two occasions last year, I found a shackle had managed to somehow undo itself and the pin had dropped out. I initially thought it may have been someone undoing them, but I have been told that it is not uncommon for them to unscrew themselves and that I should seize the pins using wire. What wire should I use and how do I go about it?

A Yes shackles, when used like this, should definitely be seized, or ‘moused’ as

it is often called. You can use galvanised or stainless wire, or even cable ties, but the material of choice is monel wire, which can be bought in most chandleries.

To seize the shackle, you simply pass the wire through the eye of the pin and around the shaft of the shackle. Depending upon the thickness and strength of the wire used, you should do this up to four or five times before locking the wire end off by twisting them together. If you need a more temporary way of mousing a shackle, you can do so by using a smaller shackle in the same way.

Un-painted strip around drives

Q Why do boats with sterndives usually have a

strip of unpainted hull around them on the transom?

A It is to do with the fact that hull antifoul contains copper, and copper is not something that you should paint onto an aluminium drive, as it is said to increase galvanic corrosion on the aluminium.

Because of this, most people leave a gap of around 25mm around the transom shield to ensure that there is no contact between the copper paint and the aluminium drive components.

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April 2019

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Q&A

Your Questions Answered

Moving to freshwater

Q I am planning on spending about four months

or so on fresh water this year, but my boat is currently being prepared for the season and is due to be launched back into salt water in a couple of weeks. I won’t be going inland for about three months after launch, so I am trying to work out what to do about anodes. I understand it’s zinc for salt water and magnesium for fresh, but what about a good mix of the two?

A With three months in saltwater, followed by four or more months in fresh,

I think the only real solution is a lift and change of anodes nearer the time.

Magnesium anodes added now may get severely depleted in saltwater within three months, and zinc anodes will be passive if left in fresh water for four months or more. Perhaps try and find a summer lift, scrub and re-launch deal, of which there are usually a few, and see if you can hang in the slings over lunchtime to allow extra time for an anode change. You could wait until you are on fresh water to do this, but don’t leave it too long.

Squeaky supercharger

Q I am getting a squeak from the supercharger or supercharger belt on my

KAD42 and I don’t know what’s causing it. I have changed the belt and the belt tensioner, but every time the supercharger kicks in I get this squeak that sounds like a belt slipping. It appears to be tensioned correctly, and it was the same with the old and new belts. Could it be the supercharger itself that is faulty?

A It could be a fault with the supercharger, but before you go down that route,

have you checked the belt that runs the alternator on that engine? It is possible that it is, in fact, this belt that is slipping and squealing due to the extra load put on the electrical system when the supercharger kicks in. If this is not the problem, remove the belt and check that the supercharger spins freely and is not seized, or partially seized. You could then look at replacing the clutch, which can be bought separately from Volvo at considerably less than a whole new unit, but with a bill of a few hundred pounds, even for just the clutch, it might be an idea to get a Volvo engineer to have a listen. It might work out cheaper in the long run.

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CLASSIC CRUISERS

a complete guide to the best boats on the used market

Sealine 230/240/S24

A

re you looking for a trailable, four berth cruiser and have ÂŁ20k to spend? Well the answer may well lie in the British-built Sealine range.

The Kidderminster-based boat builder, Sealine had a sub 25ft, trailable, four-berth cruiser in their line up from the day the company launched in 1971, right through until 2009. These single sterndrivepowered pocket cruisers could offer more than a cuddy, with accommodation for extended cruising, a galley, standing headroom below, two sleeping areas and a separate toilet compartment. It all

started with the Continental 23, which was followed by the 22 Sport and Cabin, around 1980. Next came the more modern 215 Envoy in 1986, which became the 218 Envoy in 1989, and later renamed the 220 Senator in 1991. The next trio of boats, and the focus of this used boat guide, are all but identical.

In late 1992 Sealine launched a freshfaced compact cruiser, which sported Sealine’s all-new curvier, bulbousstyle and an era-distinctive, anchordisguising bow platform. Unveiled at the Southampton Boat Show in September,

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April 2019

Built 1992-2002 Prices then 240 1994 £31,183 Prices now £17,000-£26,000 Length 24ft 8in / 7.52m Beam 8ft 2in / 2.49m Draught drive down 0.84m Air Draught 9ft 9in / 2.97m 6ft 8in / 2.04m to windscreen Fuel 49 gallons / 222 litres Water 19 gallons / 86 litres Displacement 2100kg approx

this boat was called the 230 Senator. At 25ft it offered the same layout and engine configuration as its predecessors, but there was one crucial difference, it had an integral bathing platform. The 230 was renamed the 240 Senator in 1994 and then the S24 in 1998. Incidentally, in 1994, Sealine introduced a spin off to the 240 Senator, the 240 Sport model. However, this cuddy cabin version had a completely new hull design. A complete redesign for Sealine’s entry-level cruiser followed years later, with the birth of the all-new S23 in 2002, which was rebranded the S25 in

2004. This model remained in production until 2009.

We think this trios dynamic, modernlooking styling would not look out of place at a boat show today and, obviously popular, they can be seen in use inland, on the coast or on tow. But, what are these boats like to live with and have they stood the test of time?

Interior A two-part door provides access to the cabin area, with a sliding hatch top, which can be notchy, and a lower door equipped

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with a nautical oval window. Inside, two steps drop down into the saloon, with a galley immediately to port, a raised, horseshoe-shaped dinette forward, a useful half-height wardrobe and an integral-moulded toilet compartment to starboard (not many boats of this size have either), and finally a crawl-in mid

berth aft.

Headroom is pretty good for a boat of this size, with approximately 5ft 9in in the saloon area and slightly less in front of the galley sink due to it being set on a raised plinth. It is a private and cosy space to crash out in, after a hard day afloat.

The galley is very functional for day

The evolution of a trio. Original brochures 88

April 2019

boating and overnighting, and is equipped with a two-burner gas hob and grill, a fridge and a good sized metal sink.

Admittedly there isn’t an oven, but there is worktop and mounting space for a small one (microwave or conventional) if necessary. There is also a decent amount of storage, with a shelved cupboard under the sink and a bank of three open shelves below the galley’s opening window. The only thing it lacks is a bin, which could be housed in the companionway steps perhaps. You will also note that there is no storage or access under the saloon floor.

With its backrest surround, the dinette area will seat between 5-6 people and, due to the size of the table, will accommodate 3-4 for dining. It also converts into a good size double berth, measuring 6ft 2in in length and 5ft 8in at its widest, so there is potential of sleeping both fore-and-aft or thwartships. When not in use these two cushions slot neatly in the bow void, or can be used against the backrest shelf panel, thus creating a useful storage area behind. Large, painted-out lockers in the

seat mouldings provide plenty of space for storage and are big enough to store larger items, such as bedding or pots and pans.

The moulded toilet compartment is well appointed, with a wash basin with shower mixer tap and a sea toilet, albeit a little tight for space. With the sloping coach roof, headroom is 5ft 4in at its maximum, so those of a taller statue may need to take a seated shower. It is also sadly lacking in dry storage, with no locker in the wash basin unit and only open shelving for lotions and potions.

The lined compartment has an upstand around its base and its worth inspecting

Its wide dinette area converts into a double

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the condition of all the sealant inside, also checking for signs of leaks onto the carpet outside.

The mid cabin berth, situated under the helm position, is very much a crawl in affair. However, the bed itself is very impressively proportioned and extends full beam. It measures 6ft 7in long and nearly 4ft wide at the head, narrowing to 3ft 5in for the cabin steps. There is also just enough seated headroom, 2ft 6in, under the helm/cockpit moulding to sit up in bed for that morning ‘cuppa’. A small hatch in the berth’s aft bulkhead reveals

the toilet inlet and outlet seacocks.

Interior colours and finishes vary wildly from boat to boat. Some boats may have a combination of glossy wood-effects, with a burr elm finish on flat surfaces which is very attractive, while others may have a ‘00s style white or grey wash wood effect.

Upholstery, if original, will also differ, with Sealine using jazzy woven or printed fabrics in the early ‘90s, and plainer fabrics, such as velour, in the ‘00s. Both of which are very hardwearing. Whilst exploring the interior inspect upholstery and flat surfaces, such as on top of the

Enclosed or uncovered the cockpit has some practical features, such as a reversing double helm seat 90

April 2019

wardrobe unit, for evidence of water leaks from the overhead hatch and side windows. Sagging or deteriorating headlining may also be a telltale sign of this. Also check for movement or delamination between hull and interior mouldings. The boat’s water tank is under the mid cabin berth. If factory-fitted, a black waste or holding tank will either be found in one of two places, under the mid berth or under the raised dinette floor. We have also seen this mounted in the dormant starboard shelf space in the engine bay. You will find the boat’s electrics switch panel, together with an open book shelf, above the entrance to the mid cabin berth.

Overall the accommodation is perfect for those day trips and weekend getaways, it is also well equipped for longer cruises, although the latter could prove a little cosy for a family with older children. But, for a couple or a young family, it is absolutely ideal, the grown ups using the mid berth and the kids using the forward double, both can be left made up for longer stays and the cockpit used as a saloon.

Aft Cockpit & Helm Two moulded steps and a half-height transom gate, opening outwards, lead down into the canopy-covered cockpit area. Here the cockpit seating and helm are offset to starboard, whilst to port a companionway leads through from the transom gate to the cabin door. There is a U-shaped settee area around the rear of the cockpit, made up of three ply-backed cushion sections slotting into the cockpit coaming and supported by metal legs. The space underneath these can be used for open storage, and the cushion closest to the transom gate is easily removed for access. The cockpit will seat up to 8 people around a two pedestal, GRP moulded table, with additional seating provided by the rather ingenious forward hinging helm seat. The latter is best operated by lifting out the helm seat cushion from its moulding, as this enables the

1999 £23,950 (featured) Single Volvo Penta 4.3-litre TBS Boats Penton Hook 01932 570055 www.tbsboats.com

Choice of two, 94 £22k & 99 £25k MerCruiser V6 & Volvo KAD32 Tingdene Boat Sales 0118 947 7770 www.tingdeneboatsales.net

240 £17,950 Single 170hp Volvo KAD32 Devon Boat Centre 01548 857444 www.devonboatcentre.co.uk

1995 240 £18,750 Single 170hp Volvo KAD32 Brighton Boat Sales 01273 840129 www.brightonboatsales.co.uk

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This British-built pocket cruiser has side decks, a modular cockpit and integral bathing platform

seat bases to fold flat and flip back past the throttle control. Here in the cockpit, Sealine opted for more seating over more headroom in the mid cabin below. After all, this is where you will be spending a lot of time onboard. The aft table top may also be used as an infill to form a sunpad-cumoccasional double.

Moving forward, the raised helm provides good visibility out through, or over, the modern curved two-pane windscreen, seated or standing, and there is a surprisingly generous, bolstered double-helm seat. Ahead of the helmsman is a basic moulded console, with dials displayed on a crescent-shaped dash and two fairly large chart storage areas. As a trailboat and small cruiser, these models will generally lack nav equipment, nor space to flush mount them. Additional mounting pods were factory-fitted options to house electronics such as the Raytheon/ Raymarine ST60 GPS speed/depth and RayNav 300 GPS. In the cabin companionway, set into the cockpit/deck coaming, are two lockers.

The small aft one is for general storage

with a drain, although sadly not large enough to house a bucket. The forward one is a gas locker, capable of housing two 907 gas cylinders.

The canopy is usually a two-part design supported by a stainless steel ‘hoop’ arch, with a retractable hoop shaping the forward section. The format allows you to drop the aft section easily if required, whilst removing further windscreen sections leaves a bimini top for sun protection. There is headroom of 6ft 5in in the centre, under the hoop.

However, a sloping aft curtain can mean a lack of seated headroom aft, although in the evolution of the model, canopies were adapted by adding another hoop to achieve both standing and improved seated headroom.

On deck The scalloped side decks are fairly narrow at 5 inches, but, with many of its American rivals having non-existent side decks and walk-through windscreens, these are a blessing. With well-placed grabrails and sturdy, good-height stanchions, it is easy

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Adventure possibilities. At just over 2 tonnes, the planing hull 230, 240 or S24 are large but trailable

enough to move out and around on deck.

With or without the canvas in place, getting from the cockpit out onto the side deck is easiest on the port side, using a couple of moulded steps in the coaming.

The foredeck and coachroof is considerably higher than the side decks, and slopes all the way forward to the eradistinctive anchor bowsprit platform.

Here there is a symmetrical chain locker capable of stowing a couple of small fenders, or a toolbox.

The bathing platform is again quite scalloped and shapely, with a recessed standing area, concealed bathing ladder and a fender basket in the centre of the transom. There is also a moulded central bracket which could be used for an auxiliary outboard for coastal exploits.

Hull and Handling This trio of models share the same medium vee planing hull, which was based on their predecessor, the 220.

Sealine lengthened the hull to incorporate the integral bathing platform and slightly

increased the beam. The hull has a 24° vee amidships reducing to 22° at the transom.

Like most single sterndrive pocket sportscruisers, these models have the reputation for being sensitive to trim at speed. Historically Sealine fitted Eltrim trim tabs, which can suffer from water getting into the motors through the gators.

The gators, or bellows, need to be checked regularly and changed if they are showing signs of hardening or cracking. You can source parts easily from UK companies such as Seabridge Marine, or directly from Eltrim in Germany. Installing an auto trim system, such as Zip Wake, Volvo Penta’s Boat Trim System or upgrading the exiting tabs with a Mente Marine system, could transform the handling and the overall driving experience. A single sterndrive can also be a little vague at slow speeds.

Duo props provide a little more grip in this instance, but overall this is something you will get used to. These models are also criticised for being a little unstable or ‘tippy’ when static. However, they are similar to many 25ft sportscruisers and it

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A 99 model fitted with the 190hp Volvo Penta 4.3GL V6. A 30-knot 170hp KAD32 option (below) was also available

is a small price to pay for the quality, fun and level of accommodation on offer.

When it comes to the boats height above the waterline, the model is perfect for inland cruising. Its air draft is just under 3 metres and, if you drop the canopy and hoop, which hinges aft, you are looking at clearance of just over 2 metres to the windscreen. Its light mast can also be customised to be removable, for extra clearance above the hoop.

Stylish hull side mouldings disguise hull and superstructure joins aft.

Unfortunately, as these protrude out from the hull, they are prone to suffer from impact damage. Early 230 Senator models may well have era-defining turquoise and red hull stripe decals. This changed to a blue and turquoise in the late 90s and were completely removed on the S24. Removal of stripes from earlier models is often done to update their appearance.

Engines Whether petrol or diesel, you will find most examples fitted with a Volvo Penta engine. There were, however, MerCruiser options available on the 240 Senator.

At its launch the 230 was available with a choice of Volvo engines, namely the 146hp AQ250 (single prop) or 275hp AQ570 V8 (duo prop), or an AD31 (duo prop) diesel. The 130hp AD31L provided a 25-knot top speed and cruising speed of around 20 knots, while the 275hp V8 offered a 35 knot top speed and a 25+ knot cruising speed.

In 1994 the 240 Senator was available with a new and bewildering choice of five 3 to 5-litre petrol options and two 150hp diesel options, with prices between £31£38k. MerCruiser petrol options were the 145hp 3.0LX, 205hp 4.3LX V6 or 230hp 5.0LX V8, while Volvo’s options were a 210hp 434/DP or a 235hp 5.0FI/ DP V8. Diesel choices were the 5-cylinder MerCruiser D3.0 or 4-cylinder Volvo AD31XD, providing a cruising speed of up to 24 knots and top speed of 28 knots.

The S24 was offered with only Volvo Penta engines with a choice of single or duo props for petrol versions and duo props for diesel versions. It was available with the two versions of the 4.3-litre V6 engine, the 190hp GL on a SX single prop drive (£41,438) and the 205hp Gi on a duo

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DPS drive (£43,802) giving 31-33 knots, and also the 5.7GS on a duo DPS drive (£44,508). Providing 30-31 knots, and arguably the most economical option, was the 170hp KAD32 mated to a duo-prop DPE drive (£49,553). Diesel versions of the three models should deliver around 4.5mpg at cruising speeds of around 20 knots. Boats fitted with petrol engines will deliver economy of around 3mpg at similar speeds.

Engine access is via a large hatch in the cockpit floor. This usually requires the removal of the table, all the seat pads and supports, and the cockpit carpet, if fitted. Lifting the hatch, which has a detachable support, reveals the engine block in its majority. The moulded, wellengineered engine bay has a calorifier mounted to port, with batteries each side and good access around the engine block. The boats 49-gallon fuel tank is just forward of the engine bay, behind

a removable bulkhead panel. Battery shut-off switches are mounted in the starboard cockpit coaming, with a fuel shut off on the opposite side. Check that regular engine and drive maintenance has been carried out. Both Volvo and MerCruiser engines and drive systems are well regarded and have good availability of parts and services. Furthermore these engines are easy enough to work on for the practically-minded.

Conclusion It is no wonder that these cruisers remain popular to this day. They are clever, modern looking, and above all affordable to buy and run, in petrol or diesel guises. Whether you are looking for a first ‘grown up’ cruiser or trading down, any one from this dynamic trio is sure to do you proud.

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

Family 218 Envoy

1989-1990

Prices £10,000-£15,000

Length 23ft Beam 8ft 2in A rare four-berth, short-lived model that was morphed into the 220 Senator.

Buy one (pictured) 1989 £13,430 www.tingdeneboatsales.net

28 Bolero/S28 1995-2005

Prices £32,000-£60,000

Length 28ft 11in Beam 9ft 11in Popular four-berth compact sportscruiser with diesel or petrol, twin or single engines.

Buy one (pictured) 2001 £49,999 www.boatshopgroup.co.uk

S23/25

2002-2008

Prices £25,000-£36,000

Length 25ft Beam 8ft 2in Mostly diesel, the S24’s successor offers an almost identical layout and asymmetrical side decks.

Buy one (pictured) 2004 S25 £34,995 www.jaykaymarine.co.uk

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New and Used

Boats for Sale 01189 403211

Ryds / 510 MC

Super little boat, ideal for fishing trips inc. trailer and 50hp Mariner

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

Viking / 22

Great starter boat with hob, grill, porta potti & Honda 25hp

Corsiva / 475

Great open day boat, spacious seating & teak effect floor

Custom / Norfolk Launch

High specification, refurbished & revarnished, launching trailer

2004 | £9,995 | 16.6ft | 5.1m

1987 | £5,995 | 22ft | 6.7m

NEW | £9,995 | 14.8ft | 4.5m

Coaster 640SC

Intercruiser / 28 Cabin

Interboat Intender 950

Haines / 320 Aft Cabin

NEW in stock | £25,995 | 20.3ft

2011 | £79,950 | 28ft | 8.5m

NEW to order | £169,900 | 31ft

NEW | £247,200 | 32ft | 9.8m

Brand new model: planing hull, teak effect floor, up to 175hp

Handmade Dutch cruiser, heating, teak cockpit, bow & stern thrusters

Own the first of its kind; full cabin facilities, capable of 26 knots

FROM

£346,680

400 AFT CABIN

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

British built since 1980

1962 | £19,995 | 27ft | 8.2m

Redesigned with 2 double cabins, 2 en-suites & stunning finish

FROM

INTENDER 820

£48,570

PRICE AS AT JANUARY 1ST 2019 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 Boat Sales | Used Craft | Moorings & Storage | Boat Maintenance

CRANCHI Z35

2x Volvo Penta D4-260 Engines FROM £270,000 INC VAT EW

N

N

Viking 275

Narrowboat Tingdene/Colecraft 52 Beta Marine 38 Diesel Engine FROM £139,950 INC VAT

EW

EW

N

Lying Walton

EW

Lying Windsor

EW

N

Glastron GT185

Cranchi E30

Mariner 40EFI ELPT Outboard Petrol Engine Volvo Penta 350 Petrol Engine £69,500 INC VAT Lying Upton £169,950 INC VAT

N

Volvo Penta V6 -200C Petrol Engine £36,950 INC VAT Lying Walton

Glatron GT229 Cuddy

Volvo Penta V6 - 280C Petrol Engine £59,950 INC VAT Lying Walton

2017 Glastron GS259

Volvo Penta 280 Petrol Engine £89,950

Lying Windsor

EW

N

2019 Cranchi M44

2014 Viking 24

2x Volvo Penta D6 Diesel Engines Mercury EFI30 Outboard Engine £564,630 INC VAT Lying Windsor £34,995 Lying Hartford

TINGDENE SALES OFFICES Thames & Kennet Marina 01189 477770

2010 Bayliner 315

Mercruiser 4.3 Petrol Engines £79,950

“LARGEST BOAT SALES ON THE RIVER THAMES” Portishead Quays Marina 01275 397277

Racecourse Marina, Windsor 01753 851717 Hartford Marina 01480 454677 Walton Marina 01932 221689 Broadlands Marina 01502 440238

Upton Marina 01684 593111

tingdeneboatsales.net e. boatsales@tingdene.net

Lying Windsor

‘SELL YOUR BOAT - Craft urgently required for our busy brokerage. We cover the UK & EU’.

RE

SEALINE INDEPENDENT SPECIALISTS, SALES, PARTS & SERVICE

Just a small selection of our brokerage boats

Fairline Targa 38GT, 2012, 2x Volvo D4-300hp diesel £232,000 One owner from new, Huge list of extras, fully serviced April 2019 (Thames)

Sealine T51, 2000 2x Volvo TAMD122P (610hp) diesel. £169.000

D CE

D

RE

RE DU

CE D

DU

CE DU RE

RE

DU

CE

D

One owner from new! Well maintained and presented. (Spain)

Fairline Turbo 36, 1989, 2x BMW 220hp diesel. £52,500

Sealine 328 Sovereign, 1990, 2x Volvo AD41/DP 200hp diesel £47,500 Recent service work and replacement items. Great value pedigree cruiser

Fairline 32 Sedan, 198?, 2x Volvo 5.0/DP 230hp V8 petrol. £19,950 (Thames)Spacious throughout. A great price but with some TLC required in places.

Sealine 270, 1994, 2x Volvo AQ250SP (147hp) petrol, £22,950

DU RE

•1,000’s of parts for your Sealine •Huge stock of ex-factory parts •Highly experienced staff & engineers •T: 01628 521067 •E: Parts@BritBoatParts.com

Offered in good condition, well equipped, BSC. (Thames)

CE D

Recent re-upholstery, well equipped and ready to go.

Sealine 190 Attache, 1990, 1x Volvo 150hp petrol. 9,950 Excellent condition throughout, New upholstery, many new items. (Thames)

Fairline 24 Carrera, 1989, 2x Volvo 131/SP 130hp petrol £15,500 Good condition, new canopy & cockpit upholstery, well equipped (Thames)

Tel: 01344 360707 hutchinsmarine@aol.com www.hutchins-marine.com

Advertisement Index Barrus / Mariner Outboards & Barton Marine....................................

Dean & Reddyhoff / Haslar Marina....................................................

Hutchins Marine / Brit Boat Parts........................................................

Ideal Boat / AMP Ocean Craft Marine..............................................

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MCC Marine / Nord Star.....................................................................

Offshore Powerboats / Axopar...........................................................

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Secure Marine / Hurricane Fenders...................................................

Tingdene Boat Sales............................................................................

Tingdene Marinas................................................................................

Tingdene Thames Used Boat Show....................................................

Val Wyatt Marine.................................................................................

Vetus.....................................................................................................

Windermere Boat Sales.......................................................................

Yacht Havens.......................................................................................

Zodiac Nautic.......................................................................................

98

New and Used

Boats for Sale 01189 403211

Shetland / Family Four

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

Viking / 22

Corsiva / 475

Tidy & original example, 15hp Suzuki, BSS until 2020, with trailer

Great starter boat with hob, grill, porta potti & Honda 25hp

Great open day boat, spacious seating & teak effect floor

1986 | £5,000 | 20.2ft | 6.2m

1987 | £5,995 | 22ft | 6.7m

NEW | £9,995 | 14.8ft | 4.5m

Coaster 640SC

Interboat / 22

Interboat Intender 950

Custom / Norfolk Launch

High specification, refurbished & revarnished, launching trailer

1962 | £19,995 | 27ft | 8.2m

Haines / 320 Aft Cabin

Brand new model: planing hull, teak effect floor, Mercury 150hp

Excellent condition, bowthruster, under 200 hours

Own the first of its kind; full cabin facilities, capable of 26 knots

Redesigned with 2 double cabins, 2 en-suites & stunning finish

NEW in stock | £25,995 | 20.3ft

2011 | £34,500 | 22.3ft | 6.8m

NEW to order | £169,900 | 31ft

NEW | £247,200 | 32ft | 9.8m

FROM

£346,680

400 AFT CABIN

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

British built since 1980

FROM

INTENDER 820

£48,570

PRICE AS AT JANUARY 1ST 2019 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 Boat Sales | Used Craft | Moorings & Storage | Boat Maintenance

All adverts are clickable

Page 7 & 49 Page 33 Page 98 Page 9 Page 21 Page 12 Page 61 Page 17 Page 19 Page 83 Page 85 Page 97 Page 4 Page 13 Page 96 Page 81 Page 15 Page 67 Page 47

April 2019

ED

UC

ED

L K what I saw

•1,000’s of parts for your Sealine •Huge stock of ex-factory parts •Highly experienced staff & engineers •T: 01628 521067 •E: Parts@BritBoatParts.com

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

@

send your images to us at

editorial@

motorboatowner.co.uk

A Leigh shore

An exceptionally high tide at Leigh-on-Sea SPOTTED! by Jamie Banner

Winter Thames sunset

Eton Bridge view as the sun sets in glorious February SPOTTED! by Sue Sharp

Irrawaddy sunrise

Cruising on the River Irrawaddy in Burma SPOTTED! by Barbara Spittal

Rust in peace

Drone image of historic barges on the Severn estuary SPOTTED! by David Bagshaw Motorboat Owner

99

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

April 2019

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@

motorboatowner.co.uk Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

1989 Shadow 26

£22,500 023 8045 6116 email address

101

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