Motorboat Owner August 2018

FREE DIGITAL MAGAZINE

Motorboat AUGUST 2018

Owner Affordable practical boating

BOAT TESTS

Grandezza 34oc Highfield Patrol 760

CRUISING

Dometic CFX28 l Onboard Spares l Ten to Trail for £20k

West Country Cruise

Welcome to the August issue,

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

and what a season it’s been so far. It feels like one of those mythical summers from your childhood, when the days were endless and the sun never stopped shining. Sometimes it is easy to question the sanity of owning a boat in the UK, but when you get weather like we have had recently, it seems like the best choice you have ever made. Who needs far flung exotic holidays when you can bask in

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

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August 2018

sunshine with the world beating scenery of the UK coastline as a backdrop. And, when the stars align, and the two week cruise you planned back in January falls slap bang in the middle of the heatwave, all previous disappointments are forgotten and memories that will last a lifetime come one after the other in quick succession.

It’s just the sort of scenario that makes you want to go out and buy your first,

welcome aboard

The Grandezza 34OC, just one of sixteen cracking boats reviewed in this issue

another or a bigger boat. Like England winning the world cup would almost certainly have sparked a baby boom, I am sure that this summer will be responsible for an upsurge in boat sales. If you are reading this issue and you don’t already own a boat, you are in luck.

Not only have we got tests of two very different, but equally great, new boats, we also have a round up of fourteen boats, both new and old, that could be parked on your drive for under £20k, and in some cases under £10k. With this cracking selection there really is no need for you to miss out on the sort of experience that many think is reserved for the rich and famous.

Boating is, without doubt, the best way to spend quality time with your friends and family and, if you jump in quickly, you may just catch the end of the summer of 2018, a year that I suspect will, in future, be lumped into conversation along with 2003 and 1976. They may not happen often, but when they do you really should make sure you enjoy it on a boat.

Sub Editor, Pam Born Production Editor, John Frew

Subscriptions: 01268 922991 subscriptions@motorboatowner.co.uk

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

Contributors: Alex Smith, Ross Young, Tim Clift Cover photo: Grandezza 34oc on test in Turku in Finland by Neale Byart

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

3

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Broadlands Marina Portishead Quays Marina Upton Marina Racecourse Marina, Windsor Tel 01603 396 608 Tel 01275 397277 Tel 01684 593111 Tel 01753 851 717 The Docks Portishead Lowerstoft, Oulton Broad Upton upon Severn River Thames, Windsor

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CONTENTS AUGUST 2018

NEWS page 6 INBOX page 20 CUTTING EDGE page 38 TESTED page 40 Q&A page 66

PRACTICAL

REGULARS

ESSENTIAL GUIDE

Onboard Spares

BY NEALE BYART

Gear bo x oil / If you have a sterndr shaftdriv suffer a leak. e boat ive oil , some Some engine mod spar bay. If you have els of sterndriv e gearbox oil would e allow one of help these, Two str carry som topping up from if you e spare the oke oil oil just in case If you . have Engine engine, a two stroke you shou Oil ld have plen It ty of this anyway, its alwa but ys wor th add to the ing list particul as a reminde r, arly if your stroke is the little two tender outboard used easily forgotte which is n.

Power ste

ering/

goes with that som out saying e any burn oil to top up t but wha during a long t if you cruise is sens need to filter? ible, Or wha change t if a the oil top ups become seal springs a leak for a who more regu le lar. Eno and seem exce oil change ugh oil on why not. ssive, but if you one engine may have spac e,

Often the sam e thing, Again but chec this is som k the spec unexpec ething that s on your you ted top boat. up duri may find need ng your s an cruise.

Pre-m ixed

page 40 Tested

power trim flu id

coolan t

You coul d, of cour se, just additional kit fittedsystem if you add wate boat. You may have found during thought regarding r to your that is often asked it need an A common questionon that also requires some away from base. boats inte with som overheat even ed topping while off a cruise away rnal up or if t. It wou e pre-mix keeping it running by those venturing you have cooling A coup subjects that the ld be far is, “what spares ed cool lost cool In fact, its one of those from their home port better ant of you le of litres much of that prob it, the more kit though the corr ant is norm lem, in more you think about to top should I carry?” Obviously your boat ect vari ally which up you need. The end ety for case plain enough, unle can convince yourself depends on what equipment spares, your engi carrying ss water require ne. course, that you are of will get you have had is, game is fitted with that may boat. to a major you out that equipment is If yourmake a new of trou enough spares to almost and how important engi ble. of your boat. We youlehave tonebeisrealistic I thinkhass a non-inte Ultimately that the use and enjoyment at wrong willgostop rference, If your things a good idea to look the and say that sometimes engine carrying thought it would be or ‘safe is an inte engine dead ’, model, an all-encompassing foreseen, be the enginesor that couldn’t , that this question from but rfere a these cam . In internal is if you have a single be impractical s. Regularnce engine therfairly easy to belt snapping a spare for would viewpoint. Of course, Moto be curtailed replace boat, your spares is a maj e is no rboat replacem probably Owne and poin or cases your trip will petrol powered outboard ent at © Digital things thatr these different from service t. A snapped get going agai Marine Media and you have to accept list might look a little interval n. cambelt Ltd 45 diesel shaftdrive s is all someone with a twin you can will ruin do here Ltd © Digital Marine Media .

Motorboat Owner

Cambe lt

Dometic CFX28

p45

49

page 82 Project Boat

Fairline Vixen

PRACTICAL

A guide to onboard spares

p22

p40

CRUISING West Country Cruise in Company BOAT TESTS

p72

p84

Highfield 760

Grandezza 34oc

p54

Ten to Trail for £20k

CRUISER CLASSIC CRUISER GUIDE SECOND LOOK - USEDGUIDE BOATS

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

5

NEWS Norfolk broker seeks legal ‘Rights of Passage’ advice after multiple bridge fails After a recent spate of malfunctioning bridges on the Broads, one Norfolk yacht broker is taking action to tackle the problem for the Broads boating community.

Norfolk Yacht Agency (NYA) is seeking legal advice and with it financial backing to determine the Rights of Passage for boaters. In an address to all Broads boaters, MD of NYA, James Fraser, wrote “Our Summer of discontent with regard to the opening of the Broadland Bridges continues. The Haven Bridge has finally been repaired after some five weeks out of service, but Somerleyton & Mutford swing bridges continue to cause regular problems. The fact is that the cost of replacement is significant (circa £30-million per bridge) and the relevant authorities seem to have their head in the sand hoping the problem (we boaters) will go away. I am in communication with John Packman, CEO of the Broads Authority, who is in communications with Network Rail.

However, these discussions have been going on for many years. I fear we may soon be faced with a situation where one or more of the bridges fail and remain shut for months or years. In order to understand the full legal position regarding Rights of Passage and right to redress, I would like to seek Barristers opinion on the matter. This is estimated to cost in the region of £5,000 in legal fees, so I am asking for your help.” James added that NYA is seeking pledges of up to £200 maximum, saying that they will not be taking any money at this stage, but the more who agree to help, the cheaper the cost per head will be when the bill comes. NYA has said it will underwrite any shortfall beyond this amount. James added “I cannot promise that this will solve our problems, but a full understanding of the current legal position will stand us in good stead and inform you of your Navigation Rights. A full copy of the Barristers opinion will be forwarded to all donors.” At the time of writing a rally fleet of 12 motorboats were stuck the wrong side of Reedham Bridge pictured, due to it being reported as broken. With a Haven Bridge opening booked, they were due to head out to sea, bound for the River Orwell on the Suffolk coast.

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August 2018

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

editorial@motorboatowner.co.uk

CG66 out, SafeTrx in The Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) and the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) has joined forces to reveal RYA SafeTrx as HM Coastguard’s new official voluntary safety identification scheme. RYA SafeTrx is a free app designed to improve safety at sea and, in an emergency, has the ability to call 999 and also pinpoint a casualty’s location. The app also alerts designated emergency contacts should you fail to arrive on time and automatically informs HM Coastguard of voyage plans, vessel and crew information and location.

The SafeTrx mobile app and website now supersedes the HM Coastguard CG66 scheme and can be used free of charge in UK territorial waters. It is also recognised by maritime search and rescue agencies in Ireland, the Netherlands, Germany, Spain, Finland, Norway, Cyprus, South Africa and Australia.

PLA campaign to reduce tidal Thames breakdowns In a bid to reduce breakdowns on the tidal Thames, the Port of London Authority (PLA) has asked owners taking their boats on the Thames to ‘step up vigilance and avoid the side effects of neglect’.

The PLA say that over the last two years 120 breakdowns were reported on the Thames in central London, and its research shows that 40% of these were caused by debris in the water, mainly ropes, 18% caused by electrical wiring and switch faults, 10% by overheating and 8% by fuel problems, for example blocked filters and contamination. With a campaign byline of “bin it”, “check it”, “cool it”, and “clean it”, the PLA advises boaters what to look out for and ways to ensure their boats are in the best condition possible before taking to the Thames. With the majority of breakdowns caused by debris, the PLA’s call to “bin it” is also supported by the Cleaner Thames campaign, which aims to reduce the volume of rubbish, principally plastics, in the river.

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

7

NEWS MF605 Marlin

NC37

Jeanneau announce six new models The French boat builder, Jeanneau will be introducing six new motorboat models for 2018/19. The first in the line up is a new addition to Jeanneau’s NC hardtop sportscruiser range, the NC 37, which will provide three cabins (two doubles) and will be powered by a choice of twin Volvo D3-220 or D4-260 sterndrives. The two open and hardtop sportscruiser Leader models, the 30 and 33, have been redesigned and are now available with twin outboard options. In its day cruiser, walkaround and weekending Cap Camarat range, there will be a new 6.5 CC SERIE3 with a T-topped centre console and 6.5 WA SERIE3 with a stylish wraparound screen and two berth cuddy cabin. Finally, in its sportsfisher range, there is a new Merry Fisher 605 Marlin. This exciting small fisher will have an offset wheelhouse with a recessed starboard sidedeck, a slide-out, dualposition helm console and double berth. This particular boat is expected to make its debut at the Southampton Boat Show. Jeanneau has announced that it will also be updating the interiors of its Velasco range, the 37F and 43F, with a redesigned galley now incorporating a larger fridge/freezer and new three panel saloon door on both models, and a larger saloon area on the 37F.

Leader 30

Cap Camarat 6.5 CC SERIE3

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August 2018

14 - 23 SEPT 2018

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• Displays on water and ashore • Top brands, new and used, power and sail For more visit premiermarinas.com/usedboatshow

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Visit ou Centre ofr Jeanneau at SwanwiExcellence ck Marina

+44 (0)1489 565 444 www.sea-ventures.co.uk sales@seaventures.co.uk

NEWS Why Boats to host Used Boat Show The south coast broker and boat dealer, Why Boats, has announced that it will be hosting its fifth Used Boat Show this September. Held at its Deacons Marina site at Bursledon concurrently during the Southampton Boat Show, it is being billed as ‘the largest event of its kind on the south coast’, and set to showcase 60 yachts and motorboats afloat and ashore. The show will be open daily 9am-6pm, 14th–23rd September, and a catalogue of boats for sale will be available via the website in early September.

DIARY DATES Cowes Week Fireworks 10th August Portsmouth Boat Jumble 19th August Fambridge River Festival 26th August Essex Boat Jumble 2nd September TheYachtMarket.com Southampton Boat Show 14th-23rd September Why Boats Used Boat Show 14th-23rd September Premier Swanwick Used Boat Show 14th-23rd September Click any of the above for more info

0800 310 2100

Marine Electronics in stock for immediate dispatch.

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

10

sales@mdsbattery.co.uk

August 2018

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

editorial@motorboatowner.co.uk

Rhea Marine new boats and buy out The French boatbuilder, Rhea Marine, has been acquired by the Experto-Revollier Group, recognised in the UK as parent owner of Wauquiez Yachts and Tofinou. The move will enable the yard to expand and launch its new walkaround Trawler 34 pictured, due to debut at the Paris Boat Show, and re-introduce the Trawler 36 model. Rhea Marine produce a range of motorboats, 23ft- 67ft. Marco Marine represents Rhea Marine in the UK and will be exhibiting the new version of the Rhea 850 at the Southampton Boat Show.

USED B O AT SHOW

14th - 23rd Sept at Deacons Marina

No:

Once again and for the fifth year running whyboats.com will be hosting yet another great used boat show at our flagship site at Deacons Marina in Burseldon on The River Hamble.

We are expecting to feature over 60 boats this year and should you be looking to sell yours we do have some availability for you to showcase your boat at this event. For further details please contact us for one of our exceptional brokerage & storage ashore deals.

14th to 23rd September

Motorboat Owner Š Digital Marine Media Ltd

at Deacons Marina, Bursledon Bridge, Bursledon, Southampton, SO31 8AZ | Tel: 02382 120000 | info@whyboats.com11

NEWS Sealine S330v NEW BOAT The German boat builder, Sealine, has introduced an outboard-powered version of its successful S330 sportscruiser. With twin outboard power options up to 700hp, the new Sealine S330v will be capable of speeds of up to 38 knots and will boast the ‘largest storage space in its class’ in the form of a lazarette in place of its engine bay. With outboards offering the advantage of boating in shallow waters, Sealine say the model will be a catalyst for a new product line. Drawing approximately 62cm, the S330v will be offered with twin outboards of 300 or 350hp. The S330v will debut at the Cannes Yachting Festival in September (11th-16th). The starting price for the Sealine S330v is £155,507 ex engines, with a twin Mercury Verado 300hp option priced at £62,378.

39th Swanwick Used Boat Show The south coast marina operator, Premier Marinas, is getting ready to host its annual Swanwick Used Boat Show this September. Back for its 39th consecutive year and running concurrently with the Southampton Boat Show, 14th-23rd September, the Used Boat Show will feature a display of pre-owned boats for sale through the marinas onsite brokerage offices, Ancasta International Boat Sales, Clipper Marine, Princess Motor Yachts, Sea Ventures and Sunseeker Southampton. The event will be open daily from 10am-6pm.

Visit www.premiermarinas.com for details.

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August 2018

The

HX870E Southampton Boat Show 2018 ticket offers

Celebrating its 50th anniversary, the 10-day TheYachtMarket.com Southampton Boat Show takes place between the 14th23rd September at Mayflower Park. Motorboat Owner readers planning to visit the Southampton Boat Show can save up to £12 on gate purchases by booking tickets online. The exclusive ticket offer code, EPTO18JKB9, entitles readers to any day flexible entry tickets priced at £13 when booking via the Southampton Boat Show website. The offer expires on the 13th of September. Also the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) is offering a free ticket to all of its members. For tickets and information, members need to visit the RYA website.

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

Handheld DSC VHF Radio

Your safety in your hands

www.standardhorizon.co.uk

Email us at sales@standardhorizon.co.uk or call us on +44 (0)1962 866667 Please visit our website for details of our stockists.

13

NEWS Fambridge River Festival Billed as ‘one of the most diverse and unique marine events on the east coast’, the annual Fambridge River Festival is being held at Fambridge Yacht Haven on the River Crouch in Essex on Sunday 26th August. The festival is a celebration of the River Crouch and the east coast’s marine scene with an on-the-water display of classic and historic boats. This includes 1937 Motor Torpedo Boat (MTB) 102, which was involved in ‘Operation Dynamo’ where British Forces were evacuated from Dunkirk in 1940, and the classic 21m Thames Tug MB Touchstone. Also on display will be the historic puffer VIC 96, several classic Thames barges including Pudge and Ironsides, Gravesend Bawley Marigold and the Pioneer Sailing Trust. In addition to demonstrations, try-boating activities and live music at the nearby Ferry Boat Inn pub, event organisers at Fambridge Yacht Haven have announced two new features for the festival, an international food fair and a classic car and motorbike show. The festival will also coincide with the opening of the new children’s adventure playpark located at the marina.

Linssen Grand Sturdy 30.0 NEW BOAT The Dutch steel builder, Linssen Yachts, has added two new compact models to its Grand Sturdy range, the 30.0 AC (with aft cabin) and the 30.0 Sedan (with open cockpit). The 10-metre models have the same characteristics and styling as the rest of the range, with the Sedan fitted with a ‘Longtop’ cockpit roof and an exterior helm position on the AC model. Both interior saloon settees convert into a double berth, with AC offering two cabins, two toilets and 4-6 berths, and the Sedan providing four-berth accommodation.

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August 2018

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

editorial@motorboatowner.co.uk

New Water Taxi at Buckler’s Hard Buckler’s Hard Yacht Harbour has made it easier for boaters to get ashore from the Beaulieu River with a new water taxi service for the summer. The service will operate from Gins Farm in the lower reaches of the Beaulieu River, and also serve Buckler’s Hard. Harbour Master Wendy Stowe said “This is an invaluable summer extension to the water taxi service, which will better serve the moorings in the lower reaches of the river. Permanent mooring holders can park at Gins Farm for convenient access to their boats and visitors will have the flexibility to choose where they want to land.” The service will operate FriSun 9am-5pm until September, with the standard water taxi running from the Buckler’s Hard Yacht Harbour fuel jetty seven days a week throughout the year.

The taxi is contacted via 01590 616200 or VHF channel 68 ‘Beaulieu River Taxi’.

This is the life…

A welcoming yacht harbour anchored by the country’s finest sailing waters.

• Contemporary marina and safe moorings • One of the largest visitor pontoons in the south west • Full service boatyard • Boat lifting and shore storage • 1st class shore side facilities

VHF ch.

37/80

• All tides access and prime sailing location Image © Aerial Cornwall

mylor.com 01326 372 121 m enquiries@mylor.com

NEWS CO Alarms: BSS says beware of false claims As a result of reports of nonworking imported carbon monoxide (CO) alarms sold on internet shopping sites, the Boat Safety Scheme (BSS) is cautioning boaters to ‘beware of false claims’ and that ‘choosing the right CO alarm is an especially critical decision as boats can fill in minutes, sometimes seconds, with lethal levels of the highly toxic gas.’ The BSS and the CoGDEM (Council of Gas Detection & Environment Monitoring) urge boaters to choose from a list of CO alarms suitable for boats, and to buy alarms that have been independently tested and certified by British Standards Institution (BSI), looking for the Kitemark on the alarm or packaging or the Loss Prevention Certification Board, look for the LPCB Certification Mark. CO alarms certified to BS EN 50291-2 are the best choice for boats, but if you have a CO alarm, BSI or LPCB certified to BS EN 50291, or 50291-1, CoGDEM’s advice is to keep it, test it routinely and when it needs replacing, choose a unit certified to BS EN 50291-2. The list includes alarms by makes Kidde, Firehawk, Spruce, Ei Electronics and Honeywell. BSS Manager, Graham Watts said “Reports of new alarms, not working out of the box is very concerning, so our advice to anyone worried that they have bought a non-functioning alarm for their boat, is to reassure themselves by looking for the Kitemark or LPCB Certification Mark. Leigh Greenham, Director and Administrator at CoGDEM added “We cannot stress enough that CO alarms are vital pieces of lifesaving equipment, but only independently tested and certified alarms should be trusted to do this most important of jobs. Alarms not only warn people about immediately dangerous amounts of CO, they can alert people to the presence of the lower, but still health affecting, levels.” The Boat Safety Scheme, or BSS, is a public safety initiative owned by inland waterways bodies, Canal & River Trust and the Environment Agency. For more information and advice on the dangers of CO and choosing CO alarms visit www.boatsafetyscheme.org/co.

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August 2018

we’re only a short sail away You’ll find clear waters and space to relax at Portland Marina 01305 866190

portlandmarina.co.uk

NEWS Plymouth drystack marina launches Boat Club scheme The Plymouth boatyard and drystack, Yacht Haven Quay, has just launched Boat Club, a scheme giving members shared access to a new Beneteau Barracuda 7. The boat is MCA approved and is fitted with a 200hp Suzuki outboard. A 6-month membership is £999 and you can buy additional days for £100 a time. Members are entitled to two guaranteed boating days per month (day period 8.30am-6pm), which are bookable through an app. Onboard start-of-membership training and a handover will also be provided, but users need a minimum of an RYA Powerboat Level 2 qualification to take the boat out and be aged 25 or over. Yacht Haven Quay Manager, Will Rahder said is hoping that the scheme will inspire families and younger generations to get afloat. “Everyone in the marine industry is trying to make boating more accessible and to inspire the next generation of water users. We’re certainly hoping that our new Boat Club allows families around Plymouth and further afield to enjoy low cost, hassle-free boating. We’re confident that once families have experienced the fun of getting out on the water, they’ll be hooked for life!” Claimed to be the UK’s first purpose-built drystack marina, Yacht Haven Quay pictured below is located to the east of Plymouth, and is part of the Yacht Havens marina group.

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August 2018

THE All Season walkaround Boat since 1978

Visit us at the Southampton Boat Show, berths M226 onwards Show premiere for Rhea 850 Timonier & Sargo 36 Fly Sargo Boats UK Limited/Marco Marine Hamble Ltd - Hamble Point Marina, Hamble, Southampton, Hampshire, SO31 4JD Tel: +44(0)2380 453 245 Email: info@sargoboats.co.uk or info@marcomarine.co.uk www.sargoboats.co.uk www.rheaboats.co.uk

Sargo IND_140 FINAL.indd 1

06/04/2017 10:28

SargoSargo BoatsBoats UK Limited/Marco UK Limited/Marco Marine Marine Hamble Hamble Ltd - Hamble Ltd - Hamble PointPoint Marina, Marina, Hamble, Hamble, Southampton, Southampton, Hampshire, Hampshire, SO31SO31 4JD 4JD Tel: +44(0)2380 Tel: +44(0)2380 453 245 453 Email: 245 Email: info@sargoboats.co.uk info@sargoboats.co.uk or info@marcomarine.co.uk or info@marcomarine.co.uk www.sargoboats.co.uk www.sargoboats.co.uk www.rheaboats.co.uk www.rheaboats.co.uk

INBOX

@

Princess 440 Having just received our usual Motorboat Owner notification email, I immediately spotted that you had featured a Princess 440 as one of your reviews.

It was with considerable delight that, having downloaded the magazine, there was our boat, Echoes, as the main feature upon which the review is based. TBS Boats had already advised me that there was interest in reviewing her, but I hadn’t expected it to be so soon, prominent and well presented. So, our sincere thanks to you for writing such an interesting and compelling article on our boat. She hasn’t sold yet, but we are quite certain that your wonderful review will help. Bill Jenkins Editor replies: Your 440 is a lovely boat and will make a great used buy for someone. I see that since your email the boat has gone under offer. Good luck with the sale and wishing the new owners many happy days onboard.

West Country Cruise

Upon returning from the recent Motorboat Owner West Country Cruise, Margaret and I felt that we would like to thank you for your hospitality to ourselves, the crew on Broom 39kl Dacelo. The work involved in organising such an event and trying to keep everybody happy is no small achievement. We enjoy reading your magazine, as we did with your previous magazine. Keep up the good work. Peter & Margaret Jenner Editor replies: It was great to have you along. We were so lucky with the weather that the disappointment of not making the Isles of Scilly was soon forgotten. You can read the whole story of the cruise on page 22.

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August 2018

email:

editorial@motorboatowner.co.uk

BACK

IN

TIME

1990s Fletcher brochure showing a Ford Sierra 4x4 estate, pictured launching a Fletcher 17 Black Max on Lymington’s public slipway and Sportsman 15 (inset picture).

Join us in 2018 and receive a

£250 fuel voucher

The home of motorboating in the westcountry Celebrating ten years of dry stacking - Unlimited launch and recovery on demand - Suitable for motorboats, RIBS and flybridge cruisers up to 11m LOA - Prolong the life of your boat with unrivalled protection in all weathers and jet wash after every use

01752 481190

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YEARS

2008-2018

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21

Motorboat Owne r

Cruise in C ompa n y

West Country Cruise 30th June - 15th July

West is best S

aturday 30th June marked the start of the Motorboat Owner West Country Cruise and saw participant boats and their crews gathering in the western Solent, at Lymington Yacht Haven. A twoweek itinerary lay ahead and, weather permitting, we would be taking in ports along the Dorset, Devon and Cornish coasts, and potentially the Isles of Scilly over the middle weekend. The cruise was lead by MBO Editor, Neale Byart, aboard Sealine S28, T L Sea, with the 14-boat fleet ranging from 26ft to 50ft. With the UK gripped by a summer heatwave unlike any seen in years, the weather could not

be better, and at the evening inaugural briefing there was a feeling of excitement and anticipation in the air.

The first stop was the Dorset harbour of Weymouth, and a rather leisurely 1pm departure the next day saw the fleet filing out of the serenely flat Needles fairway, crossing Poole Bay and arriving in Weymouth Harbour three hours later.

Here the fleet took up residence on the visitor pontoon alongside the historic Custom House Quay. Crews were soon off exploring in hot afternoon sunshine.

With a planned two-night stay, a day of rest and refuelling at Weymouth lay

22

August 2018

Lymington Weymouth Brixham Fowey Isles of Scilly

Falmouth

ahead. A diesel tanker from Quayside Fuels had been arranged to refuel the fleet and then crews went ashore, acquainting themselves with the picturesque harbour in the summer heat. The busy town has plenty of attractions, walks and shops, not to mention a three-mile sandy beach, the latter proving popular for cooling off with the four canine crew members, Bruno, Monty, Poppy and Maisie.

Keen walkers, Penny and Steve of Princess V39, Gîte, walked to the northern end of Weymouth beach and Lodmoor RSPB bird sanctuary, while Bill and Karen from Windy 33 Scirocco, About Time,

Salcombe

walked the Nothe Fort peninsula towards Portland, and followed the disused railway line, the Rodwell Trail, back to Weymouth.

At an evening briefing, Neale detailed the next day’s lunchtime move, weather permitting, to the Devonshire fishing harbour of Brixham, and afterwards crews were welcomed onboard fleet boat, Sealine C48 Just The Tonic for gin tasting. Owner, Darryl is something of a gin connoisseur and carries a variety of gins in bottles of all origins, shapes and sizes.

True to forecast, the MBO fleet was awoken early the next morning by a strong easterly wind blowing into Weymouth

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

23

© RossYoung

Inaugural Welcome Briefing, Lymington Yacht Haven

harbour. The water clopped against hulls, boats buffeted, fenders squeaked and ropes tugged. A grey start to the day followed but despite the gloom crews were out making the most of what may be their last morning in Weymouth. However, with no sign of the wind relenting, and a reported Force 5 gusting 6 at Brixham Marina itself, the planned early afternoon passage to Brixham, was called off. The fleet would remain in Weymouth for another night and look at the next tidal window to get around Portland Bill and across Lyme Bay. The fleet would now make a 6am departure to Brixham the following day.

As predicted, by early evening the wind had dropped and the sun made a welcome appearance. It was the knockout stages of

Custom House Quay, Weymouth

the World Cup and with England winning their game against Columbia on penalties, a wave of cheers and celebrations could be heard across the illuminated harbour.

After an exhausting football game for those who watched, alarms were set and crews turned in for a much quieter night in the Harbour.

An early alarm call at 04:30am saw MBO Control Boat, T L Sea, heading out of the harbour to assess the sea conditions for the 50-mile passage to Brixham. An hour later Neale reported that he had made good progress, rounding Portland Bill and was heading across Lyme Bay. Some residual swell was pushing west past Portland, but Lyme Bay was reasonably tame and the call was a ‘go’.

With the rising sun casting beautiful

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August 2018

Let the party be gin, briefing and gin tasting

colours on the coastline, all boats had departed Weymouth Harbour by 6am and were dodging the lobster pots as they past historic Portland Harbour. As the fleet made its way steadily across Lyme Bay, clouds gathered overhead making it quite a gloomy passage with a sloppy following sea and some rain. By 8:30am boats were beginning to file into the rather wet Brixham harbour, with Claire and the marina staff directing boats into berths and taking lines.

It had been a dismal morning but luckily by midday the sun was breaking through and crews were able to see Brixham at its best. Many ventured off into town, with some visiting the Brixham museum, while others walked east to

take in the scenery at Berry Head. Bill and Karen from About Time walked north around the headland to the little anchorage at Churston, discovering its ice cream shop. With a bewildering choice of fish and chip establishments in Brixham, you can guess what was on the lunch and dinner menu for most crews today.

In order to get back on schedule, the fleet spent one night in Brixham and departed for Plymouth the next morning.

A 7am departure saw the fleet filing out of the harbour breakwater in the morning sunshine and rounding Berry Head in incredibly smooth conditions. Travelling towards Start Point the coastline was a pretty patchwork of green-coloured fields and places such as Slapton and Hall

Brixham Marina and inner harbour Motorboat Owner Š Digital Marine Media Ltd

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Parker 800 Weekend Moonshadow

Sands were easily identified. By Start Point lighthouse the fleet were beginning to encounter the sloppy swell that Neale had described in his early reconnaissance mission. With only a slight reduction of speed needed, it was short lived. Once off Salcombe, the swell had subsided and an eerie blanket of cloud shrouded the cliffs to the west of the entrance. This remained the case for the journey across the bay towards Plymouth, with crews just

able to make out the shape of the high, undulating coastline.

Whilst off Salcombe the crew on Sealine F42/5, Tipzee Turtle reported that they were getting water in their engine room.

The problem was narrowed down to the starboard engine, so it was shut down and the boat proceeded on at 7 knots, shepherded by T L Sea. By 9am boats were arriving in Plymouth Sound in the now bright sunshine,

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August 2018

Breakfast dinghy safari crews at Yacht Haven Quay, Plymouth

refuelling and heading east up the River Plym to Plymouth Yacht Haven. Tipzee Turtle, escorted by Neale aboard T L Sea, made their way into Queen Annes Battery where there is a Volvo Penta dealership. The problem was diagnosed as a split hose and a replacement was ordered for delivery the next day. In new surroundings, many chose to chill out on their boats, while others took the regularrunning Mount Batten Ferry over to the Barbican for exploration and sustenance.

The next day, a rest day, a fun and not-so early start awaited crews, as the

MBO team had organised a dinghy safari up to Yacht Haven Quay (Plymouth’s drystack) and its nautically-themed, Mess Room café, for breakfast. At 9am a line of dinghies and MBO control boat, T L Sea, carrying those who did not have a dinghy, made the short, 0.8nm, passage upstream. Tying up to the outer pontoons, crews received a very warm welcome at Yacht Haven Quay drystack and sat up on the Mess Room’s roof terrace in the sunshine devouring a yummy breakfast (a full English for most). There was a high ratio of Torqeedo electric outboards in the

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dinghy fleet, with rumours of an unofficial zero emissions race being organised for the return trip.

Exploration of Plymouth’s sights was on the agenda in the afternoon, as well as a fascinating group tour of the Plymouth Gin distillery organised by Tally from Portunas. On the tour crews learned about the history of the distillery, the botanicals used to make it and, at the end, were able to taste two of the products, the original 20% proof Plymouth Gin and its Sloe Gin. The distillery produces 33,000 litres of gin a week, 40 weeks of the year. The tour is £6 per person and this includes a gin and tonic, or miniature from the bar at the end. Over at Queen Annes Battery marina, the necessary Volvo Penta part was delivered to Tipzee Turtle and fitted by Neale, so they were now ready for the next morning’s move to Falmouth.

Crews awoke to a beautifully bright and still start at Plymouth Yacht Haven. To

make best use of the tide, the fleet began to snake out into Plymouth Sound, and out to sea, at 07:30, with control boat T L Sea bringing up the rear. Upon exiting the Sound the first boats encountered a pod of 30 or so Common Dolphins, and slowed to watch them. It was an incredible sight, but to the annoyance of crews, the dolphins proved quite elusive to capture on camera.

With the sun glinting off the turquoisecoloured calm waters, the fleet made its way towards Falmouth. In the superbly flat conditions, the temptation to ‘open up’ was there for many, and boats such as Windy 33 Scirocco About Time were unleashed at 30+ knots, albeit momentary.

Soon the Falmouth entrance was in sight, with the Saint Anthony Lighthouse to the east and the mound topped with Pendennis Castle to the west. The fleet proceeded to fuel before making its way to the outer visitors pontoon at the rather

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August 2018

Mylor Yacht Harbour, Falmouth

beautiful Mylor Yacht Harbour.

The marina was bathed in sunshine, and it was gloriously hot. For many it was a good opportunity to launch their tenders and explore new surroundings.

For some the heat was unbearable, and the temptation of the water too much, with several crew members swimming off their bathing platforms. Crews also ventured off to the picturesque local village and its grocery store at Mylor Bridge for supplies, ready for the evening’s pontoon party.

For seven of the fleet boats, St Mary’s in the Isles of Scilly was on the agenda for the next day, a 60-mile passage that requires careful planning and perfect weather. Crews awoke to an eerie damp mist shrouding Mylor Yacht Harbour and unfortunately the weather prognosis was not good. The wind at the Lizard and Lands End had picked up in the early hours to a NNE Force 5-6, so the passage was cancelled. It was disappointing for

the team and the crews who wanted to go, but it left a couple of days to explore the beautiful Falmouth Estuary.

With Mylor Yacht Harbour expecting a large fleet of Swallows, the MBO team set about securing berths for the majority who wanted to be nearer the town, while others who prefered to, stayed on at Mylor. In the stunning hot Sunday weather, the adventurous crews aboard Fairline Phantom 38, Portunas and Parker 800, Moonshadow set out to explore the estuary. Moonshadow anchored in the tranquility of the upper reaches, while Portunas anchored at St Mawes, where they would stay overnight. The crew of Sealine C48 Just The Tonic took their tender from Mylor up to the sun-drenched and rather popular 13th century waterside pub, the Pandora Inn, for a spot of lunch.

The harbour was busy in the summer sunshine, but luckily, thanks to the departure of a rather large 46-metre

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Port Pendennis Marina, Falmouth

superyacht, the majority of the fleet were welcomed onto the long outer visitor pontoon at Port Pendennis Marina. With the town just a matter of yards away, and the lure of Cornish pasties, cream teas and boat-ique shop sales on in the high street, crews were soon off exploring the town.

The next day, a rest day, brought another warm and fantastic day to explore, shop and stock up on ships stores. That morning cruise leader, Neale, received word from the three larger boats at Mylor Yacht Harbour that they would be making for St Marys, in the Isles of Scilly. A later update revealed that it had been too busy, bouncy and exposed at St Marys, and they had moved to buoys on the eastern side of Tresco, where it was more settled.

At 12:30 Annie from Moonshadow had

organised a tour of the Falmouth RNLI station. Eleven cruise participants were shown, by an enthusiastic guide, around the station and over its two boats, a ÂŁ3m 42-tonne Severn-class all weather lifeboat and a 32-knot B-class Atlantic 75 inshore lifeboat, powered by twin 75hp Yamaha outboards. The tour of the Severn class lifeboat left many wide-eyed, with several getting to sit in the helm seat. When the tour had finished and whilst the crews were exploring the RNLI shop, a shout went out and soon the crew were racing towards the station, donning their heavy gear and powering off in the inshore lifeboat.

Karen and Bill of About Time walked about 8 miles from Port Pendennis Marina to the beautiful white-sandy beaches at

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August 2018

Fowey Harbour

Maenporth. Stopping off on the way for lunch at a cafĂŠ and a refreshing swim.

Meanwhile, cruise leader Neale was helping fix the generator onboard Broom 425 Jomima. The generator would be needed at the next two ports, where there will be no electric available on the visitor pontoons. Neale was able to fit the necessary part, which was delivered to Weymouth, and get it up and running.

Now into the second week, the fleet would make its way back east. The next stop was Fowey, so water tanks were topped up and electrical items were charged in preparation for being out on the mid-river pontoons. Unfortunately the weather had other ideas. A Force 6 overnight, dropping to a Force 4-5, had left unsuitable sea conditions for the 20mile trip, so the passage was delayed until the afternoon when the wind was forecast to drop. Unfortunately, although the wind did die down, the sea conditions remained rough and the passage was postponed, so the fleet would spend a bonus night in their respective marinas in Falmouth.

The next morning brought some localised fog at Falmouth, but by 7am all was well for an en-masse departure. As the boats headed east, an overcast sky looked threatening but the conditions were absolutely flat and everyone was keeping their eyes peeled for dolphins.

By 8am the first boats were entering Fowey Harbour and mooring on visitor pontoons 1 and 2. With everyone settled and enjoying the spectacular views of the town in the sunshine, it was time to explore. Tenders were launched and water taxis were called. Later the fleet was rejoined by the three Isle of Scilly boats who had also had a fantastically flat passage. After the briefing, detailing the next days move to Salcombe, the MBO team had organised a pontoon party and barbecue. A whole host of barbecues were fired up, with sausages, burgers and steaks cooked and devoured. Football fans were also able to keep up to date with the drama of the World Cup match, England versus Croatia, with a TV set up on the back of T L Sea.

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Jeanneau Prestige 32 Sea Jade

A leisurely 1pm departure the next day gave crews a bit more exploration time in Fowey. The crews from Gîte, Portunas and Just The Tonic ventured upstream by dinghy to ‘That Cafe at the Quay’ at Mixtow for breakfast. Others took the opportunity to get into town for one last look around, or to top up with fresh baked goods and pasties for lunch. During the morning, Neale was helping the owners of Bavaria 450 Weeks Away with their non-functioning generator, the diagnosis being a faulty fuel pump. Weeks Aways left for Plymouth in search of the part and replacement batteries, and would catch up with the fleet in a couple of days.

One o’clock came and the fleet filtered passed by the sun-drenched colourful facade of the town and out of it’s rocky fortified entrance. There was no need for Neale to assess the sea conditions today, as the seas were flat and there was a cloudless and windless blue sky.

As the Salcombe peninsula drew closer, it got cooler for those travelling with canopies down, with many crews reaching for extra layers. Once again clouds shrouded the high cliff entrance, as the fleet boats crossed Salcombe’s

notorious Bar and snaked up the estuary in mirror-like sea conditions. The harbour was very busy, with a large dinghy racing fleet darting between the many swinging moorings.

Thanks to owners Penny and Steve, MBO’s Claire was travelling aboard the fastest boat in the fleet, their Princess V39, Gîte. This allowed her to be first in port to provide fuel and berthing instructions.

Much to Claire’s dismay, and despite being informed of the fleet’s arrival, the independently run Salcombe Harbour Fuel Barge allowed one boat to fuel before promptly closing for the day. Salcombe was one of the last fuel stops before the passage home to the Solent, and many boats had intended to fuel.

The fleet was assembled in rafts on the visitor pontoon in The Bag. Soon tenders were being launched or harbour taxis were being hailed, and crews were off exploring the town. By late afternoon the fleet was basking in hot sunshine and everyone was enjoying the peaceful tranquility of the Bag. In the windless conditions you could only hear the sheep bleeting on the surrounding hillsides. It was stunning.

There was a lazy lie in and a day for

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August 2018

Salcombe Harbour

exploration and relaxation ahead for the fleet. After the previous days saga with the Salcombe fuel barge, it was still necessary for some to refuel, control boat T L Sea included, so in the strong tide, three boats untied from the rafted fleet and refuelled in the busy harbour.

Those who had in-built generators were suffering from the weed being carried up and down with the strong tide.

Generator raw water filters were getting clogged and generators shutting down due to overheats, with one ‘all-electric’ boats impeller breaking. Unfortunately a replacement could not be found in Salcombe’s only chandlery, but the crew onboard were supplied with kettles of boiling water and power from portable generators for the rest of their stay.

The town of Salcombe was busy in the sunshine and with many sales in its boaty

boutiques, such as Henri Lloyd and Joules, crews hit the shops. A couple of fleet boats departed Salcombe during the day. Sealine F42/5 Tipzee Turtle left for Brixham to fuel, before moving on to Torquay to visit relatives. Parker 800 Weekend, Moonshadow, also moved to Brixham in search of parts for a non-functioning sea toilet, which is not something that you can really be without whilst on a non-walkashore visitor pontoon in the Bag. Crews awoke to a bright, very still morning in the Bag. All was quiet and very calm, with the sound of a cockerel in the distance. Portland Marina was on the horizon today, with the majority of the fleet departing at 8am. Several fleet boats left an hour earlier, to divert into MDL’s Brixham Marina for fuel before catching up with the rest of the fleet in Portland.

Conditions in Lyme Bay were superb.

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Departing Salcombe Portland bound

Seas were flat, with barely a breath of wind. Running towards Start Point, the high cliffs topped with lush green fields looked stunning and the sea sparkled in the morning sunshine. Dolphins were spotted while crossing the millpond-like Lyme Bay. However, a rather ominous grey mist lay ahead and, upon nearing Portland Bill, the fleet was enveloped by a localised band of fog. With visibility of at least one mile remaining, boats were able to continue on at just a slightly reduced pace and, upon turning north and passing the east side of the Bill, skies cleared and the landscape was basked in sunshine again.

Triumphantly the fleet entered historic Portland Harbour and headed towards Portland Marina, the last official overnight stop of the cruise. By 1pm the fleet was assembled along the southern side of S pontoon, leaving an afternoon to explore.

A nice hot shower was on the agenda for many, with crews traipsing across the impressive, huge marina to the facilities.

The friendly marina staff came round delivering ice creams to all the boats, a blessing in the scorching conditions.

Walkers, Penny and Steve of GĂŽte trekked

to Tout Quarry where they discovered 38 fascinating sculptures carved out of Portland stone.

At his last briefing, Cruise Leader, Neale, detailed the return passage to the Solent. The fleet would depart at 7am to make best use of the tides through the Needles channel and Solent.

Sunday brought another bright, clear and very still morning and, as crews surfaced, everyone was gathering on the pontoon saying their goodbyes.

Control boat, T L Sea was the first to slip and departed Portland Harbour, before holding station at the second waypoint for one final fleet photoshoot in the morning sunshine.

At sea, conditions were once again superb with dolphins spotted by some.

Once off the distinctive cliffs of Durlston (near Swanage), Windy Scirocco 33, About Time peeled away from fleet. Owners Bill and Karen were heading for the anchorage at Studland Bay for some bacon butties, while they waited for the tide at their home berth at Christchurch.

With a few knots of spring tide underneath them, the fleet was soon

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August 2018

entering the Needles Fairway. At the last waypoint, at the rather tidal-turbulent Hurst Narrows, crews were once again saying their goodbyes on the VHF and signing off with control boat, T L Sea. Once all the Solent-based boats had logged their safe arrival, Neale and Claire, making best use of the east-going tide and the mill-pond conditions, continued out of the Solent and on towards Brighton and then Dover to refuel, before stopping overnight at Ramsgate, logging 178 miles in one day. By the afternoon of the next day the boat was back on its Essex berth.

It had been a fantastic two weeks for boating and, despite one or two blustery days, the weather could hardly have been better. Old friends were reunited and new friends made, all sharing some very

special and magical boating memories. We had been to some fabulous destinations, with historical ports such as Plymouth, Portland and Falmouth being firm favourites, but it was Mylor and Fowey that seemed to have captured the hearts of many of the crews. When it comes to this bit of the UK coast though, we really are spoilt for choice. These two weeks delivered just a taste of what the south west has to offer and I’m sure many, MBO team included, will return.

LOGBOOK

‘T L Sea’ Sealine S28

Twin Volvo Penta AD31 150hp diesels

Time & Distance cruised: 67hrs 807.4nm Fuel used: 1762 litres (387.75 gallons) Average fuel consumption: 2.08nmpg

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Dacelo Broom 39kl

Gîte Princess V39

Jazzbo Sealine S38

Jomima Broom 425

Juniper Fairline Targa 44 GT

Just the Tonic Sealine C48

Moonshadow Parker 800 Wkd

Muddy Duck Sealine SC35

Portunas Fairline Phantom 38

Sea Jade Jeanneau Prestige 32

T L Sea Sealine S28

Tipzee Turtle Sealine F42/5

Weeks Away Bavaria 450 Coupe

©TClift

About Time Windy 33 Scirocco

2018 Cruise participants

Motorboat Owne r

Cruise in C ompa n y

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August 2018

BEGINNERS TAKE

Broom 39kl ‘Dacelo’

Beverly and Martin Briggs

H

aving owned river boats for many years, we are experienced inland waterways cruisers but, wishing to broaden our horizons via seagoing adventures, we purchased Dacelo, a Broom 39KL in August 2017. The organised Cruise in Company offered an ideal opportunity to gain experience and (hopefully) competency at sea. Including our boat and the lead boat, 14 boats took part in this exciting event.

The Cruise in Company was a wonderful holiday, with Neale diligently checking/assessing conditions and making decisions accordingly, along with Claire arranging moorings and being available to assist when needed. The weather was glorious throughout, the sea passages were smooth and calm and our fellow cruisers were friendly. Brenda and Mike of Jomima kindly ‘took us under their wing’ and were particularly encouraging and helpful, even giving us some Raymarine navigation equipment tuition. In return, Martin helped Mike regarding use of his inverter and generator.

Prior to this cruise our sea-going experience consisted of one return Weymouth/Poole passage and several mini trips to Portland so this was the first thorough test of Dacelo and our skills. We are absolutely delighted as her engines performed magnificently, the Raymarine hybrid touch screen navigation equipment was amazing, the dinghy was released from, and fixed to, the davits with ease and the accommodation was extremely comfortable. Dacelo is, quite simply, a

Dacelo’s crew: Peter, Margaret, Beverly & Martin

super boat and perfect for our needs. Of course we had Peter onboard to provide an extra pair of hands when mooring which was very useful.

Having successfully completed this cruise we now feel able to assess conditions independently, use the navigation equipment to its potential and handle/moor the boat by ourselves.

The one big negative from the trip is the damage to the generator, caused by weed in Salcombe. Regrettably we face a hefty repair bill, which has naturally put a dampener on the holiday.

When an elderly, well-travelled motor cruiser owner, based at Weymouth Marina, told us that the south coast is more beautiful than anywhere else, we thought he was exaggerating. But, having now cruised in calm seas, with views of the beautiful coastline and moored in stunning locations, he may well be right.

Dacelo leaving Weymouth

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CUTTING Raymarine Axiom XL

Raymarine’s Axiom range has been extended upwards with models designed for larger boats and ‘glass bridge’ installations.

The new Axiom XL range comprises four displays, of 16, 19, 22 and 24 inch, delivering edge-to-edge glass construction for maximum display size and a minimalistic design. Fully waterproof, the displays can be mounted externally and optical bonding display technology offers wide viewing angles, sharp contrast and great sunlight viewability. A quad core processor supports all technologies including sonar, radar and their FLIR thermal imaging cameras.

Price from £5,995 www.raymarine.com/axiomxl

Actisense PRO-MUX-1

Actisense, the NMEA specialists, has just launched a new product in their PRO range. The PRO-MUX-1 is a professional multiplexer designed to provide isolation of all inputs and outputs to avid hazardous ground loops, which is the most common cause of product failures in NMEA 0183 networks. The PRO-MUX-1 has eight NMEA0183 inputs and six outputs as well as a bi-directional serial port and an Ethernet port for configuration and diagnostics.

Price £588.60 www.actisense.com

Volvo Penta

Volvo Penta has unveiled a new Hybrid Marine concept for IPS-equipped boats. Designed to enable optional zero emission propulsion, the system uses a clutch and electric motor mounted between the engines and IPS pod, which is powered from a Li-Ion battery pack. The battery pack can in turn be charged from AC or DC chargers, or from the engines. It can be used in diesel or electric-only modes or, with the clutch closed, using both in parallel. The system is due to be released in 2020. Price £TBA www.volvopenta.com

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August 2018

the latest boating gear and technology

Sunbrella

Rules of the Road

Price £POA www.sunbrella.com

Price £14.99 www.fernhurstbooks.com

Sunbrella, a name perhaps better known for its canopy and outdoor materials, has launched a new ‘Marine Collection’ range of interior fabrics. The collection is UV, fade, mould and mildew resistant and treated to repel water and offer protection against stains.

With around 135 different patterns and colours in the range, there is sure to be a perfect one for your reupholstering project.

Anyone looking to do an RYA course, or taking to the water for the first time, may be interested in Fernhurst Books new, second edition, ‘Learn the Nautical Rules of the Road’ book.

It takes you through the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, known as the Colregs, with illustrations, pictures, self tests and in-depth explanations.

POWERFUL, PORTABLE FRIDGE/FREEZER DOMETIC COOLFREEZE CFX 28 • • •

Refrigeration and deep-freezing down to –22 °C Available in capacities from 11 to 100 litres Excellent cooling performance, even in extremely high temperatures

•

Lightweight and compact design, 26 litre capacity

•

Extremely low energy consumption

•

A++ energy efficiency class

•

Heavy-duty design with reinforced corners

•

Digital temperature display

•

Battery protection

Buy it online: £579

12 / 24 V

100 - 240 V

SOLAR OPERATION

To find out more, please visit: www.dometicstore.com dometicstore.com is a website owned by Cool Control Ltd and is not the Dometic website, nor is it a website run or owned by Dometic, all invoices and trade will be with Cool Control Ltd.

tested Dometic CFX28

PRICE from

£579

If you have ever spent more than a few nights onboard your boat, the chances are, unless you own something quite large, you have wished for a bit more fridge space or even an onboard freezer. With two fridges already onboard our 28 footer, we are quite blessed in that department, but apart from that little bit Motorboat at the top of the fridge that Owner can just about make ice cubes, “A flexible given enough time, we have often thought a freezer would be nice. and easy way to add cold storage When we saw the launch of the Dometic CFX range at a recent to your boat” boat show it appeared to be just the answer we were looking for.

Value 3/5 The CFX range consists of user controllable coolboxes that Usability 4/5 can be either a fridge or freezer, depending on how you set the Performance 5/5 temperature, or even, as we found out, a bit of both. All models can be operated on 12 to 24Vdc as well as 100 to 240Vac. With seven models to choose from, starting with a 26 litre CFX28 model and going right up to the 88 litre CFX100, we decided to put the entry level model through its paces so, with our two week summer cruise to the West Country upon us, we packed the CFX28 onto our Sealine and headed west.

To start with I used the unit as an additional fridge, with the temperature set to around +2°C, and packed it full of drinks. In this guise the unit was perfect for keeping us well stocked with cold beer and soft drinks while leaving the boat’s fridge free for food supplies. After a few days I then cranked it up to -20°C and tried the freezer function.

To really put the unit to the test we Different sections allow freezing and cooling together bought 30 choc ices and 20 unfrozen 40

August 2018

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

Freezer power. Ice Creams anyone? Bought in Plymouth and consumed two days later in Falmouth

frozen drinks that I referred to as Jubblys (although I now realize that they were a very 1970’s thing, and possibly quite localised, as no-one else had ever heard of them).

The idea was, two days later we would have a pontoon party and it would either be ice creams for everyone, or a soggy mess in the bottom of my CFX28. Luckily, it was the former, with everything, bottles of water included, solid and ice cold. A nice touch is that the small area still acts as a fridge, even when the rest of the unit is on freezer settings, allowing you a bit of flexibility in its use. Later in the trip we reverted to a more sensible use of the CFX and filled it with frozen food, something we had never really had onboard before.

The control interface is simple and easy to use. Two LED lights indicate state of operation, a set button swaps between functions and plus and minus buttons change the settings. Inside you get a small light, a useful drain hole in the bottom to help with defrosting or spills and an easy to remove partitioning cage. Other features include a USB port for charging other devices and an emergency override switch that operates full cooling capability should any of the inbuilt electronics fail. Some of the larger units offer additional features not available on the CFX28, such as reversible lids and WiFi to enable full control of the unit via an app on your smartphone. Strangely, the USB port only appeared to be live when the compressor was running, making charging a phone a bit hit and miss.

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tested A drain bung makes light work of spills or defrosting and the light is very useful at night

In use we found the accuracy of the setting to be pretty good, with the display showing inside temperature always hovering within a degree or two of our chosen setting, despite the high ambient temperature. Noise levels were perhaps a bit more than a standard fridge, you could certainly hear the unit when the compressor was running, but if kept in the cockpit, hardly likely to cause a nuisance. Although the unit makes no claims of waterproofness, and indeed the manual specifically states not to expose it to moisture, using it onboard a boat, it is almost inevitable that it will get damp. Sure enough, one day our unit got a soaking as water from washing the boat entered the cockpit. Despite getting a quite serious soak, the water appeared to have no ill affects, so it’s good to know that a little splash of rain or spray is not going to cause any problems.

Accessory wise, the CFX28 can be paired up with a £57 wireless display, to make up for not having the WiFi capability of the larger models, and you can get a choice of fixing kits, including a £47 quick release kit specifically for the CFX28 model.

Despite a drenching, the CFX28 survived

Power consumption During start up we saw power draw reach a maximum of 4.2A when we had the setting turned to the maximum -22°C and the ambient temperature was around +28°C. This power draw gradually dropped away as the unit got to work, with a draw of around 3.6A as the internal temperature passed through the +10°C mark and 2.9A when it reached zero. Once the unit has reached the required

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August 2018

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

internal temperature, whether that was a fridge temperature of around +4°C or its maximum setting, power usage appeared to settle at around 2.5A when the compressor was running. Like a normal fridge, the compressor cycles to keep the temperature stable and when it is off, power draw drops down to around 50mA. Like a normal fridge, cycling duty will depend on contents and ambient temperature. The specification of the 28 Some models, the CFX28 excluded, model states a rated power of 6.5A but, despite can be controlled via a phone app taking numerous readings during our two week use at various sates of cooling, we never saw anything higher than the 4.2A mentioned above. The unit can also be powered direct from the AC mains, and when doing so power draw is stated to be around 0.32A. Our boat is equipped with a pair of 110Ah leisure batteries on the domestic bank and I noticed that without the engine running or the shorepower connected, the unit would, after a while, turn off due to low voltage. We were also running the boat’s main fridge, so perhaps with our relatively small domestic bank this was not surprising.

Having later read the instructions properly, I realised that the unit has a built in battery protection setting and ours was set to the most sensitive, turning the unit off at 11.8V (24.6V on 24V systems). Other settings allow the unit to remain running right down to 10.1V (21.5V). On a positive note, this function means that you are unlikely to flatten your batteries using the coolbox and we found that the insulation was so efficient that if we had frozen bottles of water inside when it turned off, they remained partially iced for a couple of days, even in the recent summer heatwave and with the coolbox in direct sunlight, so you could crank it up when running and use it as an efficient coolbox when away from power if your batteries are not up to keeping it running. It was very quick to cool down, going from +25°C down to Zero in about 15 minutes when empty.

Obviously this will change depending upon the load.

Conclusion If you need additional fridge space onboard, maybe just occasionally when extended cruising or with some extra guests, or if a freezer would improve your onboard dining choices, a CFX would certainly be one answer. They are not cheap to buy, but then neither is a boat dedicated fridge or freezer, and the fact that you can have it on the boat only when needed is a bonus. Of course, you need to find space to store it, but if we survived for two weeks on a 28 footer without it getting in the way, I am sure most Enquiries Dometic www.dometicstore.com would manage.

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PRACTICAL

ESSENTIAL GUIDE

Onboard Spares

A

common question that is often asked by those venturing off on a cruise away from their home port is, “what spares should I carry?” Obviously much of that depends on what equipment your boat is fitted with that may require spares, and how important that equipment is to the use and enjoyment of your boat. We thought it would be a good idea to look at this question from an all-encompassing viewpoint. Of course, if you have a single petrol powered outboard boat, your spares list might look a little different from someone with a twin diesel shaftdrive

BY NEALE BYART

boat. You may have additional kit fitted that also requires some thought regarding keeping it running while away from base.

In fact, its one of those subjects that the more you think about it, the more kit you can convince yourself you need. The end game is, of course, that you are carrying enough spares to almost make a new boat.

Ultimately I think you have to be realistic and say that sometimes things go wrong that couldn’t be foreseen, or that carrying a spare for would be impractical. In these cases your trip will probably be curtailed and you have to accept that these things

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

45

PRACTICAL

happen. What you don’t want though, is your trip to be ruined for the sake of what should be considered an easily obtained part that is cheap to buy, easy to store and possibly even easy to fit.

In my many years of boat ownership, and my nearly 20 years of being involved in running cruises in company, I have seen, experienced and often help fix more breakdowns than I care to remember.

Some of them were easy to deal with, and fixed in a jiffy because the spare parts were onboard. Some were more terminal and led to a loss of use of the boat while repairs were undertaken. Others, though, were frustrating. I have seen breakdowns that I could easily have fixed in an hour or two had I only had access to the part needed. The part in question may not even have been that obscure, but when you are stuck in an unfamiliar port you are at the mercy of the local dealer, if there is one, to order the part in. Surprisingly, that has taken days on some occasions. Once a participant on one of our cruises, who had broken down in a busy commercial French port, chose to get the ferry back across the channel, hire a car once in the UK and collect a part himself, having been told it would take three of four days to obtain through local official sources. In short, I have a good grasp of what is likely to cause you a fixable breakdown and therefore what bits are good to carry onboard. Some would suggest that I overstock my boat with spares, and in many ways I probably do, but there is a pretty reliable rule that applies to these situations, and that is, if you have it, you probably won’t need it, so I play it safe.

Chandlery closed? Carrying the right spares to fit could keep you going when cruising

You might think that carrying all of the recommended spares onboard is useless if you personally don’t have the skills or the tools to fit them. I would suggest not to be so hasty. Even if you can’t fix it yourself, you will still avoid the delay in obtaining the part when you contact the local marine engineer in whatever port you end up. On the subject of tools, if you are going to tackle these sorts of repairs, you need to ensure that your tool kit contains everything you need. Think about each spare part you carry, and make a list of what tools would be needed to change it.

I have listed below the spares that I consider it wise to carry. I have broken it down into three lists. Those items that need replacing fairly regularly, and that I think every boat should carry, and every boat owner should be able to replace. Then, items that could possibly need replacing, and which it would be sensible to consider carrying. Lastly I have added a list of items that I would

46

August 2018

not expect everyone to carry, but that I seriously think are worth considering. I carry most of this last list onboard my 28 footer, as well as all of the relevant items from the first two lists and almost every single item, on all three lists, is one that I have had personal experience of needing replacement while cruising, either on my own boat, or on a boat I have been cruising with.

When thinking about engine spares, remember that a generator, if you have one, is just another engine and requires equal consideration if it is an integral part of your cruising enjoyment. The

same applies to an outboard tender, so don’t ignore some of those petrol engine components just because you have diesel units in your engine bay. In short think about what systems on your boat would A: stop the boat proceeding, B: make using the boat more difficult and C: make using the boat less enjoyable. Then think about what parts on these systems may break and how easy they would be to obtain in an unfamiliar port.

Here’s my list, but remember, not everyone will need every item and there may be specific items to your boat that I haven’t mentioned.

ESSENTIAL These are the things that often require replacement and that in many cases can stop a boat almost instantly. This is the bare minimum that every boat should carry.

Drive Belts

I would suggest at least one full set of all drive belts. I personally carry two sets.

Don’t forget that generators have belts too.

Impellers

Having seen an impeller destroyed, and then seen its replacement destroyed within five minutes, I would carry a few. I tend to keep about six previously used ones onboard as emergency spares. Make sure you have spare gaskets or O rings too and remember the generator impellor.

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

47

PRACTICAL

Fuel filters You can simply never carry too many primary fuel filters. If you suffer contaminated fuel, you can be changing them numerous times as you make your way back to port. I also carry at least two spare secondary filters per engine too. If your filters require separate O rings, make sure you have an equal supply of those.

Bulbs, fuses and relays I put these in the essentials list as a failed lamp may be a huge problem if you are travelling at night and a blown fuse or faulty relay could stop all sorts of important electronics from working. Carry spares of every size and every type you have onboard.

RECOMMENDED These items are less likely to need replacing, but in many cases also have the ability to stop the boat dead, or cause you a big inconvenience if they fail.

Petrol engine ignition parts

Depending upon how ‘old school’ your ignition system is, it is definitely worth having spare spark plugs, HT leads, points, distributor cap, rotor arm, condenser and coil. Many of these items fail without warning, and even freshly serviced boats have been found with faulty ignition components.

Oil filters

I carry a spare filter for each engine. They may seem unlikely to be needed, but I have witnessed one leaking due to corrosion on the case, and another damaged when something was dropped into the engine bay. Better to be safe than sorry.

48

August 2018

Gear box oil / sterndrive oil

If you have a shaftdrive boat, some spare gearbox oil would help if you suffer a leak. Some models of sterndrive allow topping up from the engine bay. If you have one of these, carry some spare oil just in case.

Two stroke oil

If you have a two stroke engine, you should have plenty of this anyway, but its always worth adding to the list as a reminder, particularly if your two stroke is the little used tender outboard which is easily forgotten.

Engine Oil

It goes without saying that some oil to top up any burnt during a long cruise is sensible, but what if you need to change the oil filter? Or what if a seal springs a leak and top ups become more regular. Enough oil for a whole oil change on one engine may seem excessive, but if you have space, why not.

Power steering/ power trim fluid Often the same thing, but check the specs on your boat.

Again this is something that you may find needs an unexpected top up during your cruise.

Pre-mixed coolant

You could, of course, just add water to your boats internal cooling system if you found it needed topping up or if you have lost coolant during an overheat event. It would be far better though to top up with some pre-mixed coolant of the correct variety for your engine.

A couple of litres is normally enough, unless you have had a major problem, in which case plain water will get you out of trouble.

Cambelt

If your engine is a non-interference, or ‘safe’, model, a cambelt snapping is a major hassle that will stop the engine dead, but is fairly easy to replace and get going again.

If your engine is an interference engine there is no point. A snapped cambelt will ruin the engines internals. Regular replacement at service intervals is all you can do here.

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

49

PRACTICAL

Spare engine hoses

One full set can be an expensive purchase, but even large dealers don’t usually carry a full stock of these, as we found out on our recent cruise. A split coolant or oil hose is a game stopping problem, but usually a very easy fix if you have a spare.

Shear pins for bow thrusters

Admittedly, a bowthruster not working is not the end of the world but, as an expensive option, chosen to make your life easier, it’s annoying when a couple of pounds worth of shear pin goes and stops it working. If it’s the one on the inside, it’s usually a very easy and quick fix.

Propeller shear pins Wiper for tender outboards blades Again an inexpensive little item that causes a disproportionate sized problem if it goes. Carry one on board and next time your prop hits the beach on the way ashore it won’t take long to get the motor going again.

On some boats, a failed wiper blade can be a huge problem in rain or spray. If you reply on your wipers for good vision in these conditions, you should always carry a spare, at least for the helm side.

WORTH CONSIDERING...... .....on the basis that if you have it, you probably won’t need it. These items may seem excessive, but are typically those that leave you stranded for days while finding a replacement.

Alternator A failed alternator will mean flat batteries and an interruption to your cruise. A spare can usually be fitted in about half an hour.

50

August 2018

Starter motor A faulty starter motor is more common than you might think. I have witnessed numerous during various cruises in company, and they always seem to take days to get hold of. It was a starter motor that sent once cruise participant back on a ferry to the UK, as mentioned at the beginning.

Spare prop, or set of props I can recall three occasions where boats I have been travelling with have completely lost a propeller. On two occasions it was the aft duo prop, and the other was a shaftdrive prop. There have also been occasions where serious prop damage has occurred, requiring a renewal before continuing.

On my boat I carry one spare set of duo props.

Whole spare raw water pump Raw water pumps commonly suffer seal failure that can, in some cases lead to quite a large influx of water into the bilge. When this last happened to me, I luckily had a whole spare pump onboard, overhauled with new seals and a new impeller. Swapping it only took a little longer than a simple impeller change.

When I got home, the faulty unit was overhauled and is now carried as a spare.

Prop fixing kit Of course, if you are changing your props, you should have a spare set of the fixing components, including all nuts, washes, retaining pins and nose cones. Where props have fallen off, the fixing kit obviously goes with them as well.

Motorboat Owner Š Digital Marine Media Ltd

51

PRACTICAL

Diesel injector pipe This is one that I don’t carry, but keep meaning to sort out, having been impressed by a participant on one of our cruises who suffered a fractured high pressure pipe.

“Not to worry he said” and pulled out a spare straight pipe that he had got made up with the correct connections, and of a length that would fit any one of his six injectors. With a bit if bending to shape and a bleed of the system he was up and running again in no time.

Lift Pump

Lift pumps are relatively cheap and easy to replace. I’ve not witnessed one fail yet, but have heard enough stories to make me think it’s a worthwhile spare to carry.

Spare float switch

This may seem trivial, compared to many of the others, but float switches are notoriously unreliable, and you probably have a couple in your bilge and one in your shower sump.

I guarantee a spare will get used sooner or later.

Manual toilet overhaul kit There are not many things, mechanical breakdown aside, that will spoil your boating holiday quite like a non-functioning toilet on a one-toilet boat. A kit specific to your model with all the gaskets and seals is a useful part to carry or, if you have the space, a whole replacement pump unit.

52

August 2018

A BODGE BOX I’m not normally one to encourage bodges, but sometime you have to resort to the occasional non-authentic fix to keep a boat running. I have rigged temporary power cables to starter motors, cable tied broken throttle controls, wrapped split hoses in tape, plugged holes with various compounds and taped over damaged windows. None of these fixes were ideal, but they all got the boat out of a predicament, to be fixed properly at the first possible opportunity.

• Selection of hoses of different diameters and capable of dealing with water, oil and fuel • Selection of cable ties of different sizes • Roll of strong tape • Self amalgamating tape or similar • Selection of hose clamps • Lengths of wire of different gauges • Liquid Metal / Araldite and other hard setting compounds / adhesives

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USED BOAT

SECOND LOOK

Ten to trail - £20k challenge

20/07/20

18

18/07/2018

2006 Quayline 18 - 6689442

y 18 "Pelican" - Hard

1998

Location Kingdom Chertsey, United

Trailboating is possibly

the most affordable way to get into boating, not to mention a whole lot of fun for families and friends.

You can simply hitch up a boat and take it on your holidays with you.

We took a look at the used market to see what a modest budget of £20k would get you.

Before buying any used boat, always employ the services of a YDSA or a IIMS accredited surveyor and, if you have any doubt about the engines, a separate engine survey by a suitably qualified person is recommended 54

Fletche

r 25 Arr

Essex Clarke & Carter Burnham Yacht Harbour Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex, GB, CM0 8BL Tel:+44 (0)1621 785600

2006 Quayline 18 YEAR

2006

er 25

Burnham-on-Crouch, United

LENGTH

18 ft

Fletch

BUILDER/MAN UFACTURER

Quayline Boats Ltd

Arrow

owbolt

GTS for

sale, 199

8, ES3

547 - Boa

ts.co.uk

bolt G

TS

Kingdom

PRICE

£10,950 The Quayline 18 is a highly regarded compact cabin cruiser, based on the very popular Sealine �nish. Ideal for trailer boating 18 but with a more modern due to their relatively light weight and dimensions, they to boats like the Quicksilver make a very comfortable alternative 550. St Jacks is a rare diesel powered version �tted with combination of performance a Volvo Penta D3-130 o�ering and economy. Her impressive a great inventory includes a galvanised and tonneau, fridge, GPS chart road trailer, trim tabs, full canopy plotter and more, all presented in superb condition for her age.

Viewing by appointment only through our Essex o�ce (01621) 785600

Year Built

2006

Beam

7'7 ft

Total Engine Power

128.20 hp

Dry Weight

1,070 kg

Dimensions

Builder/Designer

£ 6995

Price:

1980

Year:

Pelican

Boat Name: Construction: Engine

GRP

:

Number of Engines Make:

Model:

1

Mariner Four stroke 15 hp

Power: Fuel Type:

Petrol

TBS Boats Bray 177 - +44 (0)1628 773

Length:

Beam: Max Draft:

5.49m / 18.6ft 2.26m / 7.4 feet

Make: / 2.8 feet 0.85m Volvo Fuel:

Penta

Diesel

Propeller Type:

4 Blade, Aluminum

SPECIFICATIONS Category

Length Overall

Power

Construction

Fiberglass

Fuel Tanks

1

18 ft

Specific

Bridge ClearanceStock num ber

Manuf

Engines

1

Fuel Tank Cap. ation 136 L

ES3547 acture r Fletch Model er 25 Arro Year wbolt GTS 1998 Price £ 19,950 Locatio VAT pai n Boa d Dimens ts.co.u Model: k HQ, ions Drive Type: Essex D3-130 Marina Stern , United Displa Engine Power: cement Kingdo Type: 130hp m : Engin 270Inboard e(s) Engine Hours: 0kgs 6'7 ft

ENGINE 1 SPECIFICATIONS 160

Engine Mfr: Mercruiser Fuel: 5.7 EFI No of Petrol Engine s: Engine 1 (HP): Power 260 Engine Locatio Drive n: Inb Type: oard Outdriv Electri e Battery cal Equipm ent Bilge Pump etcher-2 5-arrow Gener bolt-gts Coversal Equipment http://clarkeandcarter.co.uk/boats -1884 TBS Boats Hamble -for-sale/2006-quayline-18-burnha 458 524 - +44 (0)2380 Hydrau m-on-crouch-united-kingdom-668 Hook sales@tbsboats.com 9442/?print=1&full=1 lic Trim TBS Boats Penton 055 Tabs - +44 (0)1932 570 1/3 boats.com penton@tbs Naviga Compastion Equipm ent Speed s Instrum ent http://w ww.boa ts.co.uk/ boats-fo r-sale/fl

brayinfo@tbsboats.com

1/2

TOW WEIGHT When it comes to

towing, you need to ensure that the boat and trailer are within legal towing limits for your licence (up to 3500kg maximum) and that your tow vehicle is suitable. Be aware that factory boat and trailer weights aren’t always accurate and you will need to take into account the weight of any equipment added. Taking your boat and trailer to be weighed at a public weigh bridge is recommended.

August 2018

Warrior 165

The brand name Warrior has a good reputation for building stable, fast and fun day boats and fishers. This 2011 165 has the characteristic huge cockpit and open-backed wheelshelter, and is fitted with a Suzuki DF70 outboard with 80 hours on the clock. As a package it comes on a single axle roller coaster trailer. Other features include additional cleats, a trailing cover and half canopy, a folding rear seat, VHF and a 5-inch Lowrance plotter/fishfinder. At 16ft it is any easy size to tow and ideal for inland rivers, lochs, lakes and coastal work. It may not have any overnighting accommodation, but we think it would be perfect for day trips, camping and house-rental holidays.

Length 5.05m Beam 2.1m Engine: Suzuki DF70 outboard Boat weight: 560kg Contact details: Cambrian Boats 01792 655925 www.cambrianboats.com

FOR SALE

ÂŁ12,995

Motorboat Owner Š Digital Marine Media Ltd

55

FOR SALE

£18,500

Sea Ray 215

The US builder, Sea Ray know a thing or two about building quality trailable sportsboats.

This 2000 215 Express Cruiser model was reengined in 2015 with a 220hp Mercruiser 5.0L petrol, and also benefits from a new sterndrive in 2016. As a cuddy sportsboat, it offers good size accommodation for weekending, with a V-berth converting to an offset double, a separate toilet stall and sink unit. Its ivory vinyl modular cockpit, together with full height cockpit canopy, provides a versatile, impressive space that is great for entertaining.

The boat comes as a ‘ready to hitch up’ package with a twin axle trailer.

Length 6.55m Beam 2.59m Engine: 220hp MerCruiser 5.0l Boat Weight: 1724kg Contact details: Boats.co.uk 01702 258885 www.boats.co.uk 56

August 2018

Sealine 210

British builder, Sealine, produced a series of trailable pocket cruisers from its humble beginnings in the 70s until the 00s. The 210 Senator, together with the almost identical models, the 195 and 200, has to be one of our favourites, and the perfect introduction to this clever brand. Its comfortable interior offers a dinette area converting to a double berth and a compact galley unit and toilet, while its covered cockpit is well appointed with helm and navigator seats, a fridge, aft seating and an integral bathing platform. This 1996 model is fitted with a 145hp MerCruiser petrol engine, which should provide 25-28 knots. At just under £13k, there should be plenty of budget spare to buy a decent twin axle trailer.

Length 6.4m Beam 2.31m Engine: 145hp MerCruiser 3.0LX Boat Weight approx: 1700kg Contact details: TBS Boats Penton Hook 01932 570055 www.tbsboats.com

FOR SALE

£12,950

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

57

FOR SALE

ÂŁ10,950

Quayline 18

Based on the iconic Sealine 18, this 2006 Quayline is fitted with a modern 130hp Volvo D3 diesel sterndrive providing both 30-knot performance and cruising economy.

Its V-berth-cum-dinette cabin area converts into a large double berth and has a disguised sea toilet to starboard. Out in the cockpit are helm and navigator seats, concealing a sink and portable gas hob, and its wrap-around seating has plenty of storage beneath. As a ready to go package, it comes on a galvanised road trailer, is fitted with a fridge, GPS chart plotter, trim tabs and comes with a full canopy and tonneau cover. This would make a perfect starter boat for a family or a couple.

Length 5.48m Beam 2.30m Engine: 130hp Volvo Penta D3 Boat Weight: 1070kg Contact details: Clarke & Carter Burnham-on-Crouch 01621 785600 www.clarkeandcarter.co.uk 58

August 2018

Fletcher 25

The British brand name Fletcher has long been associated with trailboating. This 1998 25 Arrowbolt GTS sportscruiser is ideal for family weekending and watersports, and comes, complete with trailer, just within budget. Under its sporty exterior it offers a four-berth cabin area with a convertible dinette and double mid berth. It also has a galley and separate toilet compartment.

Its cockpit has a twin bucket helm seat and wraparound seating. The 260hp MerCruiser 5.7 EFI sterndrive engine should provide up to 30 knots, and cruising speeds of around 25 knots. At around 2700kg, ex trailer, it is getting close to the towing weight limit, and you will need a large 4x4 to tow it behind.

Length 7.49m Beam 2.49m Engine: 260hp MerCruiser 5.7EFI sterndrive Boat Weight: 2700kg Contact details: Boats.co.uk 01702 258885 www.boats.co.uk

FOR SALE

ÂŁ19,950

Motorboat Owner Š Digital Marine Media Ltd

59

FOR SALE

ÂŁ11,000

Watershed Courier Open

If you are looking for lazy, slow-pace cruising onboard something a little more traditional in terms of looks, this 19ft Essex-built dayboat may suit. Ideal for inland and estuary explorations, this characterful shaftdriven boat was built in 1996 and has an open-backed wheelshelter, a fibreglass clinker-style hull, and is fitted with a 23hp Vetus diesel shaftdrive engine. Its glossy teak cockpit offers plenty of seating, a central helm binnacle and comes with full canopy covers. It also comes as a package complete with 2017 trailer.

Length 5.9m Beam 2.1m Engine: 23hp Vetus shaftdrive Boat Weight: Unknown Contact details: Val Wyatt Marine 01189 403 211 www.valwyattmarine.co.uk 60

August 2018

Hardy 18

British boat builder, Hardy, is well known for building large and robust motorboats, but it has also produced a popular range of sub20ft, cute and sturdy pilothouse cruisers for dayboating, weekending and fishing. Priced just shy of £7k, this 1980 Hardy 18 Navigator comes with a twin axle trailer and has been very well maintained. It is fitted with a 15hp Mariner four stroke outboard, making it ideal for inland and estuary cruising and has bilge keels for drying out. Its interior has also been refurbished. The 18 was just one of several small trailable Hardy models available and in budget. Other models include the 17, Pilot 20 and the Seawings 194 and 234.

Length 5.42m Beam 2.20m Engine: Mariner 15hp Brochure boat weight ex engine: 660kg Contact details: TBS Boats Penton Hook 01932 570055 www.tbsboats.com

FOR SALE

£6,995

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

61

FOR SALE

£21,995

Bayliner Trophy 2102

Slightly over budget is this 2010 21ft US-built Bayliner deckboat. It has a two-berth cuddycum-dinette cabin area and a safe, spacious cockpit, making it perfect for day/weekend fishing or blasts around the bay. Its striking GRP T-top offers some weather protection, and its two-tone white and blue hull is stylish and modern-looking. As a ‘ready to go’ package it comes with a three-month engine warranty, GPS and fish finder, a full-standing canopy enclosure, chemical toilet and, most importantly, a twin-axle Indespension trailer.

Length 6.58m Beam 2.46m Engine Mercury 150 Optimax Boat Weight base engine: 1516kg Contact details: Cambrian Boats 01792 655925 www.cambrianboats.com 62

August 2018

Harbour Launch 21

Here is another traditional-looking trailboat that would be perfect for day trips to next years Henley Royal Regatta. This rather special mahogany on oak wooden open launch was built in 1950 and has been beautifully restored and maintained. It is in fact powered by a Vetus 2.2kw shaftdrive electric engine and comes with a SBS roller trailer and a canopy. Straw boaters are not included, but with plenty of budget left for posh frocks and paraphernalia, you will certainly look the part whilst parading the rowing racecourse.

Length 6.2m Engine 22kw Vetus electric engine Boat Weight: Unknown Contact details: Tingdene Boat Sales Walton 01932 221689 www.tingdeneboatsales.net

FOR SALE

ÂŁ17,995

Motorboat Owner Š Digital Marine Media Ltd

63

FOR SALE

ÂŁ19,995

AMT 185 BR

The Scandinavians are great producers of compact, fun and very clever commuter and dayboats. This 2014 18ft Finnish-built AMT bowrider is a great example. The bowrider deck layout is perfect for day boating, and the Finns have made it safe, versatile and easy to move about onboard, with a one-level teak-lined cockpit sole enclosed by good height coamings. The layout also incorporates swivel helm and navigator bucket seats, and a decent amount of seating and storage, with a stowable, pedestal table mounted aft for picnicing, and a dedicated well for the easilyerected canopy. Fitted with a 100hp Honda the boat should be capable of up to 35 knots.

Length 5.40m Beam 2.50m Engine Honda 100hp Boat Weight ex engine approx: 680kg Contact details: Ideal Boat 01758 703013 www.idealboat.com 64

August 2018

Buying new?

PRICE FROM

£16,503

Quicksilver Activ 505 Cabin

This new pocket cruiser has a double berth cuddy cabin. At £16k with a 25hp Mercury outboard, there is budget for a new or used trailer.

TBS Boats Penton www.tbsboats.com

Brig Falcon 500L

RIBS are fantastic fun for coastal exploits. This black-tubed 5-metre Brig comes fitted with a 50hp Suzuki outboard, a SBS R600EL trailer and several extras.

PACKAGE PRICE

£18,840

Cambrian Boats www.cambrianboats.com PACKAGE PRICE

£19,995

Admiral Classic 561 XL

This traditionally-styled, clinkerhulled open dayboat is ideal for day trips. As a package it comes with a bimini, a single axle trailer and is fitted with a 15hp Mariner outboard.

Tingdene Boat Sales tingdeneboatsales.net

Corsiva 500 Tender

This stylish 16ft open boat has a bathing platform and ample wraparound seating for picnics. It comes with a teak floor, sunpad, table, 15hp Mercury outboard and trailer.

PACKAGE PRICE

£19,700

Val Wyatt Marine valwyattmarine.co.uk

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

65

Q&A

Your Questions Answered

£25k Flybridge search: Sealine 305

Q I am looking for my first boat and have decided that I definitely want a

flybridge. My budget is small, around £25k, which seems to always lead me to petrol versions of the Sealine 305. Is this a good boat, and would petrol engines be a sensible choice?

A In terms of what they offer, I have always thought the 305 to be a pretty

good buy. Small flybridge boats with sterndrives can be a bit ‘interesting’ to handle, but once used to them, they do offer a great deal of boat in a fairly seaworthy package for very little money. If you can find one with a bow thruster fitted, so much the better. You should, of course ensure that the mechanicals, particularly the outdrives, are in very good condition, otherwise you might be in for some early and expensive repair bills. I would also be inclined to look for a diesel example, particularly if you are going to be coastal based. A pair of large petrol engines are going to be expensive to feed, so it may be wiser to add some of that cost up front and spend a bit more on a diesel version. A quick look at the classifieds show a few nice diesel examples at just a little over your budget. There is also the odd diesel powered 305 at below your budget, but tread carefully as they may not end up the bargain buy that they appear if they haven’t been looked after.

68

August 2018

If you have a question, email us at

editorial@motorboatowner.co.uk

Boating experience in Portsmouth

Q I am not sure if this

request is one you can help me with but here goes. I am a 58 year-old newbie to the motorboat scene and have recently completed RYA Powerboat Level 2 and Safety Boat courses.

I have no access to a boat of my own at present and was wondering whether there is any way of contacting your readers in the Portsmouth area who might be willing to help me gain some practical boating experience and advice. Any help in this matter would be greatly appreciated.

A I am happy to put this out to the readership. If anyone is looking for a willing,

Powerboat Level 2 equipped, crew member, please get in touch and I’ll pass your details on. Another possibility would be for you to look into one of the boat share membership schemes. The Boat Club is right on your doorstep at Trafalgar Wharf drystack in Portsmouth Harbour, and offers the use of a variety of boats for a fixed monthly fee. With fees starting at under £300 a month, it may be a great way for you to gain more experience, as well as help you decide what sort of boat is right for you, without a large financial commitment.

SYSTEMS SOLUTION The

• Quality engineering • Innovative design • Competitive pricing • Guaranteed compatibility • Unrivalled warranty

for ELECTRICS t: 023 8045 4507

e : S A LE S@ VE T US. CO. UK

W W W .V E T U S . C O M

ENGINES | STERN GEAR | FUEL | INSTRUMENTS | FRESH WATER | WASTE WATER | MANOEUVRING | ELECTRICAL | STEERING | HATCHES | VENTILATION

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

69

Q&A

Your Questions Answered

Navigating wind farms

Q With the rise in the

number of wind farms around the coast, it is becoming increasingly difficult to avoid them. What are the rules for navigating around or through them?

A Wind farms that are still under construction usually have an exclusion

zone of around 500m that you should not enter. There may also be temporary exclusion zones put in place when maintenance is being carried out. Apart from that, you can navigate through an operational wind farm with an advisory exclusion zone of 50 metres around each turbine. Interestingly, although you are most definitely not allowed access to the turbines themselves, there is a general acknowledgment that in an emergency situation you can use a turbine as a safe refuge, climbing the ladder to a platform to await rescue. Considering the dangers involved in this, I would think it would very much be a last resort.

Tender cleaning

Q My dinghy hangs on davits at the back of my twin

diesel boat and, as a result, gets covered in black soot.

Normal washing with soapy water does improve things, but some of it is so ingrained it looks permanently dirty now. Is there anything I can use to lift the ingrained soot out and make my tender look clean again?

A I would start by using magic sponges with your normal cleaning solution.

They are very mildly abrasive and are great at cleaning vinyl and PVC. If that alone is not enough, one of the best dinghy cleaners I have ever come across is the amusingly named Gommostrip. Just spray some on, leave for a few minutes, gently agitate with a cloth or brush and wash off. If that is not enough, replace the brush or cloth with a magic sponge and try again.

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August 2018

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Q&A

Your Questions Answered

3M ‘Restorer and Wax’ equivalent

Q I have always used, and been very pleased with

3M’s Marine Fibreglass Restorer and Wax. I see that 3M has changed their range of marine polishes and I am not sure which one from the new range is the current equivalent of this product. Can you help?

A The Restorer and Wax was a mid range product

designed to remove light to medium oxidization, while also protecting the surface with an inbuilt wax. From the current Perfect-It range I would view the Medium Cutting Compound and Wax as being the equivalent, with the Light Cutting Compound replacing the previous Fibreglass Cleaner and Wax, and the Heavy Cutting Compound being a replacement for the old Super Duty Rubbing Compound.

Oil for Volvo SP-C drive

Q What oil should I use in my single prop

Volvo Penta SP-C drive? I am getting mixed messages with some saying engine oil and other suggesting synthetic high-viscosity gear oil.

A Your drive is an interesting one in that

Volvo’s recommendations seem to change depending upon the gear ratio. This would explain the conflicting advice you have received. If you have either of the 1.61:1 or the 1.89:1 ratio versions, you are recommended to use synthetic SAE 75W90 GL5 gear oil.

If, however, you have the 2.15:1 ration version of the same drive, Volvo recommends using the same oil as you put in the engine.

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August 2018

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Highfield Patrol 760

By Alex Smith

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August 2018

BOAT TEST

Length (LOA): 7.6m / 24ft 11 in Beam: 2.83m / 9ft 3 in Weight (ex engine): 875kg Tube diameter: 0.4 – 0.56m Fuel capacity: 285 litres Maximum load: 2,029kg / 16 people Engine as tested: Honda BF250 Other engine options: Honda BF200, BF225 Price as tested £58,995

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

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W

hile RIBs were originally conceived as practical, loadcarrying workboats, the modern recreational platform tends to involve some fairly seismic tangents on that theme. In response to public demand, they’re often raked and tapered, with narrowing bow shapes, stepped hulls and streamlined, ‘rubber band’ inflatable collars. It’s also now quite commonplace to see a selection of pretty colour palettes, carbon fibre dash plates, console toilets, convertible sun loungers, refrigerated cup holders and LED deck lights.

That’s no bad thing of course. On the contrary, in tandem with the ever more outlandish wish-lists of the chase boat and superyacht tender markets, this fresh approach has enabled us to see just how far the RIB concept can go. But when you witness a modern RIB that appears to

embody the stoic workhorse principles of simpler times, there’s something very satisfying about that. It feels like a welcome return to toast and tea after the puerile over-indulgence of Christmas party food and oddly enough, the public seems to have embraced Highfield’s modern-retro straightforwardness in a very big way.

Since its foundation in 2011, this French-Chinese company has grown to become the world’s most prolific aluminium RIB builder, selling more than 15,000 units, securing distribution in 38 countries and forging a productive union as Honda’s official RIB partner.

It’s a global company in terms of its composition too, using Australian-based designs, a European management team and a manufacturing facility in China.

But rather than incurring the cost and

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August 2018

“Rigorously practical, Highfield is the world’s most prolific aluminium RIB builder”

While the aft part of the cockpit can be wet, the helmsman is well protected. Fit-outs don’t get much more traditional than this

compromise of buying its parts through third-party suppliers, Highfield has been careful to consolidate its advantage by owning its factory outright, setting and maintaining its own quality control protocols and designing and building all its components in-house.

Compelling practicalities As a part of Highfield’s ‘commercialstyle’ Patrol series, the 760 is rigorously practical. It comes with a generous beam of nine foot three, which is taken a long way forward, before terminating in a squared off forepeak, with a broad anchor locker and that most hardy of seamanship trinkets, the Samson Post. It also comes with two rows of traditional jockey seats, a Honda BF250 outboard and widediameter Hypalon tubes, complete with grippy tube-top tread plates and two pairs Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

of full-length grab lines as standard. And then there’s the hull, not that of a rapier race machine or a shallow fairweather plaything, but a traditional deep-V model, built from tough, industrial aluminium.

It’s fair to say that aluminium puts forward a convincing case to be considered one of the world’s most effective boat building materials. It is extremely lightweight, very strong, easy to repair, simple to clean and, aside from the odd chalky deposit, which can be cleaned off with a vinegar-soaked cloth, idiot-proof to own. It won’t split, splinter or become brittle, it won’t ignite or rot, it’s unconcerned by temperature extremes and it’s also usefully impact-resistant.

More to the point, while aluminium boats of the past may have looked a little agricultural, there are no quality issues at all with the Highfield. It feels profoundly

75

Optional ‘brushed foam’ decking is a treat underfoot

“The raised, squared off bow is useful, both for inboard space and helming confidence”

well built, with neatly finished welds, safely squared off screw tips, a notable absence of sharp edges behind the various lids and hatches and an impressive adhesion overlap to fix the Hypalon fabric to the hull. And when you step onboard, the evidence of this pragmatic approach continues.

For a start, the inside edge of the collar sits level with the deck edges, so there’s no noticeable encroachment on internal space at all. That makes the side decks feel very broad, enabling you to circumnavigate the central deck furniture without the slightest difficulty. And while it’s obviously a bit awkward, making your way from one side to the other, through the tightly packed jockey seats, the distribution of grabbing points feels just right, particularly in terms of the seatback grabrails, which are perfectly positioned for comfort in a lively

sea state.

While the storage space inside these slimline jockey seats is restricted by their narrow-gauge access points, the aft bench also does a good job of making up for that. The battery and switchgear is separated from the main compartment by means of an elevated asymmetrical shelf to starboard, which means you can throw plenty of bulky gear into the deepset primary space without compromising any of your critical equipment. Similarly, the space beneath the seat on the leading edge of the fibreglass helm console offers easy access to a clutter-free storage space, and it’s again noticeable that even the lightest, least vital components, like the plastic frames for storage hatches, are fastened with nuts rather than a dab of glue and a scattering of self-tappers.

However, it’s not all perfect. With the

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August 2018

big tubes framing the engine well and the thickset towing arch standing guard over the space, the aft end is a touch onedimensional. There’s no room for swim platforms or a ladder, nor much in the way of provision for a stern anchor. The Highfield could also do with some rams to help free up your hands as you lift and lower the various lids and hatches, and while the steely black fabric looks engagingly military, it does get extremely hot under an intense summer sun. Even so, despite the pared back sobriety of this boat, it’s actually pretty well specced.

Notable standard features include the ORCA Hypalon collar, the integrated aft bench with cushion, the self-draining deck with flush-mount non-return valves, a built-in, under-deck 285-litre fuel tank and a rubberised keel guard. The jockey seats can of course be replaced with Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

The aft end is a bit one-dimensional.

Inset, separation of the electrics does good things for the aft storage

impact mitigation units or leaning posts with flip-up bolsters, and you can also spec an inflatable sun deck for the bow.

But whichever way you choose to go, the ‘brushed foam’ teak-style decking of the test boat is well worth a look. It comes with a slightly spongy texture, helping damp down the worst of the impacts, alleviate any hardness underfoot and prevent bare feet from getting cold.

Easy underway Even sitting idle at the pontoon, it’s easy to tell that this boat has been conceived as a heavy-duty load carrier. Its big collar sits well proud of the water even at the aft end,

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PERFORMANCE RPM

suggesting there’s plenty of scope for loading up with people and gear, and with a payload capacity in excess of two metric tonnes (or 16 passengers), Highfield’s official specs back that up.

Get the boat underway, however, and it’s surprisingly good fun. It planes flat and fast in a shade over three seconds before reaching 40 knots in less than 17 seconds and topping out at almost 43 knots. And if you drop her down to an easy cruising speed of between 25 and 27 knots, a fuel flow rate of less than 30 litres per hour gives you a useable range well in excess of 200 nautical miles.

More impressively still, while the top end is a knot or two better, and five or six litres per hour more frugal, than you

600 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000 4500 5000 5500 5600

Knots

LPH

GPH

MPG

2.7 4.0 5.6 6.3 14.2 18.7 23.7 28.3 32.8 37.4 41.2 42.7

1.5 3.8 6.4 10.6 12.9 18.2 25.0 31.0 43.5 56.8 74.6 84.8

0.33 0.84 1.41 2.33 2.84 4.00 5.50 6.82 9.57 12.49 16.41 18.65

8.18 4.76 3.97 2.70 5.00 4.68 4.31 4.15 3.43 2.99 2.51 2.29

Range (nm)

410.4 303.2 199.5 135.5 251.0 234.2 216.1 208.1 171.9 150.1 125.9 114.8

Sound levels dB

52.6 55.6 66.2 76.6 79.0 82.2 83.2 84.0 84.8 87.6 90.2 91.3

might expect, these figures are being achieved with a prop that is slightly too large for this package. The BF250 is currently stopping around 400rpm short of its nominal 6,000rpm target, so while the pace and economy are a surprise, the urgency of the pick-up at everything from zero to 40 knots is a more predictable high point. It provides plenty of grip at the prop and enjoyably unrelenting drive through a fast turn, usefully tempered by a little novice-friendly slide from the hull.

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August 2018

Highfield is Honda’s official RIB partner and our test boat was fitted with a BF250 outboard

“There’s an engaging blend of grip and slip in the way the 760 handles” It’s also notable that this boat loves a fistful of trim, not so much to increase speed and efficiency, which appears to remain largely unchanged, but to improve the comfort of those onboard. Keep the leg tucked under too far and you will firm up the ride, increase the noise and stiffen up the steering. Trim out again and all clicks back into focus, with a comfortable, refined and enjoyable helming experience, allied to decent softness through the lumps and a complete absence of the slap and reverberation so commonly associated with lightweight aluminium boats.

Similarly, despite lacking the acutely resolved spray rails of a fibreglass hull, there is no perceptible stuttering of momentum when the boat makes its Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

way through the chop at pace. And yet the aluminium hull does seem to throw up more spray than a GRP hull might, particularly when confronted with a beam sea, and with the low-slung collar and a relatively modest rubbing strake, a decent amount of that water can find its way into the laps of those who happen to be sitting in the back half of the cockpit.

While many will see that as a perversely pleasurable inevitability on a traditional open RIB, you might still want to dress for the occasion, drive to the conditions and pick a dry seat on the leeward side of the boat.

When tradition makes sense There is a sportier (non-Patrol) version

79

of the 760 available, with a tapered bow shape and lounge-friendly seating, but having spent a couple of days on the Patrol 760, the test package feels like an effective compromise. The reassuringly elevated bow with its beam-forward design generates greater confidence at the helm and better inboard space for your guests, and while the current prop may limit this boat to 5,600 rpm, its capacity to deliver urgent grunt throughout the performance band and to bring a range in excess of 200 nautical miles at sensible cruising speeds, would compel me to leave well alone. There’s little doubt that the Highfield 760 lacks the glossy showroom impact of some of the market’s more leisure-centric

The 760 is the second largest RIB Highfield builds

hybrids, but for those in pursuit of a mixed and busy life of towing, beaching, cruising, fishing and exploring, its modest price, knockabout simplicity, endless reliability and 16-man carrying capacity make the 760 Patrol a very attractive platform indeed.

ENQUIRIES: Highfield Boats www.highfieldboats.com YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

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August 2018

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Motorboat Owner

PROJECT BOAT

PROJECT Fairline Vixen

I

t’s all been a bit quiet on the project boat front for a couple of months, mainly due to it being boating season and being onboard our Sealine for three out of the last eight weeks. Having said that, I have given it a little bit of time, where I could, and moved things on just a

The ‘jacking point’ bolt holes are slowly helping

tiny bit.

To start, I am still locked in battle with the bell housing to transom shield connections. You may remember that five out of the six bolts that hold these two items together sheared off when I tried to separate them. Since then I have tried all sorts to get them apart with lots of frustration and little success. Usually the idea is to use three of the six bolts that you remove as ‘jacking bolts’ in the three spare holes in the mounting ring.

My first problem was that I didn’t have three bolts, I only had one. The second issue was that these bolts appear to be very specific to this application and are only obtainable as a Volvo Penta part.

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August 2018

All lower end pulley hardware was put in a sand blaster and cleaned of years of accumulated rust

Once I was over the initial shock of the RRP of each bolt, I managed to track some down at a less shocking price and placed an order. When they arrived I proceeded to try jacking the units apart but found that the broken studs of the old bolts were stopping the mounting ring and bell housing separating. Copious applications of penetrating fluid, and leaving the three bolts under tension between visits, is slowly paying dividends. Little by little the two parts are coming apart, but I have to tread very gingerly to avoid shearing one of my expensive new Volvo bolts and bunging up the jacking hole in a double whammy. I may be jinxing things, but I have a good feeling that on my next visit, the bell housing will be coming home with me in the back of the van, ready for an overhaul, and repaint.

Back in the workshop, I have been fettling a little with the engine’s lower end ancillaries. Initially I was going to clean up the water pump and re-use it, but after finding an exact, pattern part replacement online for just £17, it seemed silly not to replace it, especially considering the slight damage on the casing. The new pump is designed for car variants of this engine, so came without the blanking bung and plate fitted to the outlet that is unused in marine applications. It was just a matter of removing these from the old pump, cleaning them up and bolting them to the

new one, before I could fit the pump to the engine block using a new gasket and some sealing compound.

I have also been cleaning up all of the bottom end belt pulleys, both for the cam belt and the water pump/alternator.

They were first scraped, to get rid of any old paint and flaky corrosion, before being given a once over in a sand blaster.

The result is that, despite their initial condition, they should all be reusable once they have been given a coat of paint.

A new waterpump has been sourced and fixed to the block. Just a blanking plug needed swapping

Spend so far

Motorboat Owner

PROJECT BOAT This month’s spend

Six new bell housing mounting bolts: £30.10 Replacement water pump: £17.78

Balance from last month

£1053.68

Total to date: £1,101.56

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

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Grandezza 34oc

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August 2018

BOAT TEST

Length (LOA): 10.03m / 32ft 11in Beam: 3.25m / 10ft 8in Displacement: 4,800kg Fuel capacity: 490 litres Water capacity: 120 litres RCD category: B Engine as tested: 1 x 370hp D6 Volvo Penta Other engine options: 2 x Volvo Penta D3 220hp Price from ÂŁ253,953

Motorboat Owner Š Digital Marine Media Ltd

85

I

f you are in the market for a 10-metre hardtop sportscruiser, the pickings are a little slimmer than they used to be. Luckily, those that are currently being produced offer a tantalising choice of quality options across a range of budgets. This month we are looking at one particularly classy act that may not immediately appear on your radar.

The Grandezza range is produced by Finn Marine, a Finnish company that is also home to the Finnmaster and Husky brands, so you would expect them to be kitted out with great practical features and finished to the highest standards. The boat we are looking at sits in the middle of a six boat range and, unlike the boats above and

below it, is available in just one configuration. The 34OC is a refresh of the outgoing 33OC model and, with its four berth, two cabin layout, hard top with opening roof and choice of single or twin engines, sounds like it could be the perfect 10m family boat for UK waters. We took it for a spin on the beautiful Turku archipelago in southern Finland to find out more.

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August 2018

An opening roof where you can stick your head out for all-round visibility is a useful feature

Onboard, the 34’s forward section is all about overnight accommodation and comfort. A small sunken lobby and companionway has three doors leading off to the boat’s two cabins and single toilet compartment. The forward door takes you into the bow master cabin. Here you get an offset double berth to port, with an option of an infill to create a large trapezoid shaped berth. This infill blocks the use of much of the two-seat dressing bench on the starboard side but it is easily stored by simply sliding it under the fixed part of the berth. Storage is provided under the berth, in a small locker on the port side and below the starboard seat.

Standing space at the end of the berth, with 1.85m headroom, is not too bad for a boat of this size and is helped by having a two-part entrance door to the cabin. Two good-sized hull windows provide plenty of light and a nice view when laying on the Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

“At 33ft, this Finnish two-cabin hardtop cruiser is stylish and feature-full” berth and a small opening port in each, together with an overhead hatch, offer a useful amount of ventilation.

Back out in the lobby area, the door leading to starboard provides access to the boat’s second cabin. In many ways, this cabin is as good as the master, with good standing headroom of 1.85m, a large (2.1m x 1.53m) comfortable double berth, albeit low down and under the wheelhouse, and a decent amount of natural light from a hull window and

87

separate opening port. It also has a small dressing bench seat and a usefully sized hanging locker. There were also two other lockers that house mechanical and electrical equipment which could be

pressed into use as additional storage if needed.

Opposite the entrance to the second cabin you will find the toilet compartment.

This is particularly impressive for what it Extra-large double, an infill converts the offset double into a large full width berth

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August 2018

offers on a 10m boat. The compartment is split into two with a toilet and shower in the aft section and a sink in the forward part. Headroom is again 1.85m throughout and generous storage can be found in the cupboards above and below the sink. A small opening port allows the area to be aired, but does not offer as much natural light as we would like.

From the lower lobby, two steps lead up through the companionway and into the wheelhouse. As this is where you will spend all your waking hours onboard, both at sea and in port, it was important that the builders got this right. The forward section is given over to underway activities with a double helm seat to starboard and a single forward facing crew seat to port. While it’s nice to see three An impressive toilet and shower compartment forward facing seats, as opposed to the Motorboat Owner Š Digital Marine Media Ltd

89

more usual two, it does leave someone out if you have a full complement of four onboard. Having said that, the three lucky occupants will be rewarded with large, comfortable seats that offer a good view and decent levels of support. All have lifting bolsters, and the two at the helm also get a fold down foot rest. Overhead, an opening roof section increases headroom at the helm from just 1.63m to infinity. Three glass panels in the roof prevent the helm from feeling gloomy with the roof closed and go a small way into dealing with any blind spot when turning sharply to port. The helm console is understated and well laid out, with plenty of room for a decent sized multifunction display as well as any additional instruments you may wish to add. There is also a handy storage area between upper and lower instrument consoles for

the skipper’s bits and bobs. It would be hard to improve what Grandezza offer at the helm, although I think a sliding window alongside would be a nice option.

Opposite, the single crew seat offers a comfy and secure place to be when underway and has a conveniently placed grab handle. The fibreglass moulding in front is devoid of any features at all and the reason why becomes clear when the companionway door slides open to completely cover this area. A little bit of extra GRP work may have been able to see the door sliding into a recess leaving this area free for a chart table or even just a cup holder or two and a small amount of storage.

The aft section of cockpit provides the boats living and domestic areas with a galley to port and a dinette to starboard.

The galley is behind the single crew seat,

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August 2018

which folds forward and out of the way to allow a slot-in extension to be put in place that increases galley work surface. Beneath a gas strutted section of worktop you will find a double sink and a two-burner hob and the boat’s fridge is located beneath the crew seat. What is noticeable by its absence, both on our test boat and also the options list, is any form of oven. There is plenty of storage space in the cupboards below the worktop, so the installation of a small combi microwave should be relatively easy, if you didn’t want to go for a full gas installation. The loss of a bit of galley storage should be manageable, given how much there is to start with. Not only do you have the cupboards below the galley, you also get drawers behind, in the base of the helm seat and forward dinette seating. An option worth considering is the additional drawer fridge, which is Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

located in the plinth base of the port side crew seat.

The dinette sits on a raised plinth and offers seating for around six with a table easily capable of taking a family of four for dinner. Beneath the seating there is some storage in the aft section, with the boats main electric panel built into the base of

With a double bench at the helm, and a single opposite, the 34 offers three forward facing seats

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PERFORMANCE

As tested 65% fuel 20% Water 6 crew Force 2 RPM

600 1000 1500 2000 2250 2500 2750 3000 3250 3450

the forward part of the starboard seating. The table can drop to form an infill for an occasional berth or lounger and the options list allows for this to be done electrically if you so wish. Access to the engine is via a lifting section of dinette floor, complete with table attached. The engine installation is tidy and, at least with the single engine option, has lots of space to get around the engine for maintenance and servicing.

Headroom throughout the cockpit is great at a smidgen under 2m.

Leaving the cockpit via the port side transom door, you come to the area where the main differences between this boat and the previous 33 model can be found. The

Knots

LPH

GPH

MPG

3.2 5.6 8.0 9.4 14.6 17.4 24.2 27.6 30.5 33.6

1.7 4.2 14.0 35.0 39.0 45.0 47.0 55.0 66.0 78.0

0.37 0.92 3.08 7.70 8.58 9.90 10.3 12.1 14.5 17.2

8.65 6.09 2.60 1.22 1.70 1.76 2.35 2.28 2.10 1.95

Range (nm)

932 656 280 131 183 189 253 245 226 210

Sound levels dB*

65 73 78 83 84 84 85 85 86 86

aft section has been extended which has allowed for a larger bathing platform, and the rear facing seat that was previously an option is now a standard feature. Beneath this seat there is huge, boot-like storage space, which is perfect for ropes, fenders and cleaning kit while still leaving plenty of space for other items. Alternatively you might be able to squeeze a fold up bike, a roll up dinghy or a liferaft in here.

Access to each side deck is best achieved

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August 2018

The 34 is available with single or twin Volvo diesel sterndrives.

Our test boat was fitted with a single 370hp Volvo Penta D6

“A sporty, composed ride, with the single 370hp providing 33 knots� from the bathing platform via three teak laid steps on either side. The side decks themselves are usefully wide, although I am not a fan of the outside mounted and outward leaning guardrails. I know this has been done to provide maximum space, but what they have gained in that respect they have lost in security, with horizontal gaps big enough to lose a leg down between the toerail and top of the guardrail. Moving forward you have sturdy grabrails along both sides of the wheelhouse roof, as well as a further pair mounted on the raised forward cabin roof.

Up at the bow a nice flat working area, teak laid on our test boat, provides the crew a decent working area with an inset anchor locker lid, beneath which you can Motorboat Owner Š Digital Marine Media Ltd

have a hidden electric anchor winch. The anchor locker itself is a decent size, but a fairly small access limits its usefulness as additional storage.

One very clever feature on this boat, that almost goes unnoticed, is the spoiler type moulding on the aft edge of the wheelhouse roof. This is designed to force air down towards the transom, thus alleviating the area of low pressure you often get on boats of this style, often referred to as the station wagon effect. This reduces the amount of spray and exhaust that would otherwise be sucked back into the cockpit.

Underway Our test boat was fitted with the single,

93

370hp, Volvo Penta D6 engine and sterndrive, but I have also driven the almost identical 33OC with twin 220hp Volvo Penta D3’s, which is the other option for the 34. Grandezza claim a top speed for the single engine boat of 35 knots. Considering we had six onboard, the boat did pretty well to get to within a knot and a half of that. With the twin 220hp powered 33, we achieved 36 knots, although we did only have three onboard.

Going back to the test boat we found the ride to be very composed and the helming experience excellent, with light and perfectly balanced steering and precise directional stability. All in all it was a very easy and relaxing boat to drive. With the single engine we found acceleration to be good, with the boat planing at 8 seconds, reaching 20 knots after 13 seconds, 25 knots at 17 seconds and 30 knots just 8 seconds later. That translates into quite a sporty ride for a cruiser, and combines with a fast response to steering input and

A modified rear end, with a larger bathing platform, is the main difference from the 33OC

a hull that turns in sharp and grips very well. Fast speed turns did wash quite a bit of top end off, around six knots in fact, but this was quickly made up once the wheel was straightened out. The helm position is excellent, with pretty good visibility all around, bar those tight port hand turns with the roof closed. With the roof open you can drive with your head out and, if you stand on the footrest, you also get a good view behind. Although we had flat

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August 2018

conditions for our test, we had some decent wake from the photo boat and can confirm that the hull landed softly after getting some air. Planing can be achieved all the way down to around 15 knots, providing a decent get you home speed should the weather pick up.

Conclusion The 34OC is a class act, built and finished with typical Scandinavian finesse. From a driving point of view it has almost zero vices and it can turn in a performance that is responsive enough to satisfy all but the most hardcore adrenaline junkie. It does all this while also being a competent and

A 10m family cruiser that is sporty, fun, easy to drive and comes with a UK friendly hardtop

practical family cruiser. The fact that it is also a package that you can squeeze into a 10m mooring just adds to its appeal.

ENQUIRIES: Gibbs Quay Boat Sales Tel: 01202 682457 www.gibbsboatsales.co.uk YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

Sealine S330

Nimbus 305 Coupe

The S330 is available in single and twin engine configurations with open plan or separate cabin layouts down below.

More of a wheelhouse boat than a sportscruiser, this Swedish semi-displacement offering comes with a single shaftdrive configuration.

LOA: 10.31m Beam: 3.5m Displacement: 6,700kg Enquiries: TBS Boats 01932 570055 www.tbsboats.com

LOA: 10.07m Beam: 3.25m Displacement: 4,100kg Enquiries: Offshore Powerboats 01590 677955 www.offshorepowerboats.co.uk

PRICE from £196,740

PRICE from £212,073

Jeanneau Leader 33

This French-built hardtop has a galley down below, is available with twin diesels on sterndrives and, coming soon, twin outboards.

LOA: 10.56m Beam: 3.32m Displacement: 4,912kg Enquiries: Jeanneau For your nearest dealer visit www.jeanneau.com

PRICE from £181,880

> NEXT MONTH Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

Aquador 35 AQ

95

34OC

NEW

Grandezza Motor Boats are designed and built in Finland and are highly regarded by yachtsmen all over the world. The unparalleled design combined with the finest quality and precision in every detail make Grandezza the perfect companion for prestigious moments at sea. Step aboard to enjoy your time on the water in absolute luxury with a Grandezza motor boat.

Gibbs Quay Boat Sales Ltd are a dynamic sports boat and sports cruiser dealership based in Poole, Dorset and are the sole dealer of Grandezza boats in the UK. An impressive line up of models are in stock year round from both the sports boat and cruiser range of Grandezza Motor Boats, including the Grandezza 34 OC as reviewed and tested on page 84 of this months Motorboat Owner magazine.

Please contact a member of our experienced sales team for further information on the Grandezza Motor Boats range as well as models from our other line of boats from Cobalt, Monterey, Rinker, Salpa, Atlantic Marine and Bavaria.

28OC

25S

Gibbs Quay Boat Sales Limited 14-17 West Quay Road Poole Dorset BH15 1JD United Kingdom Contact 01202 682457/01202 233000. sales@gibbsboatsales.co.uk www.gibbsboatsales.co.uk

FIND YOUR PERFECT BOAT...

We are UK Dealers for Jeanneau Powerboats, BRIG Inflatable Boats, Glastron Sports Boats, and Suzuki Outboard Engines.

We offer New and Used boat sales and Marine services from Bowness Bay Marina on the shores of Lake Windermere.

Whether you are looking to buy, sell or have your boat serviced or repaired we’re on hand to provide expert advice and guidance.

SEE US AT THE SOUTHAMPTON BOAT SHOW

M222

CRANCHI Z35

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

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Cranchi Endurance 30

Cranchi T43 Trawler

Volvo Penta V8 Petrol Engine FROM £124,000 INC VAT

2x Volvo Penta 370 IPS Diesel Engines FROM €513,000 EX VAT

EW

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

Cranchi 44HT

2x Volvo Penta D6-EVC400 Diesel Engines Lying Windsor £560,240 INC VAT Arriving Windsor soon

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Glastron GT185

EW

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Glatron GT229 Cuddy

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

Admiral 570

Mariner 15 EFI Outboard Engine £19,567 INC VAT Lying Walton

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2009 - Bayliner 285

2004 - Gobbi 425 SC

Admiral 450

Mercruiser Mag 350 Petrol Engine 2x Volvo Penta KAD300 Diesel Engines Mariner 15 EFI Outboard Engine £47,950 Lying Windsor £139,950 Lying Windsor £12,567 INC VAT Lying Walton

TINGDENE SALES OFFICES Thames & Kennet Marina 01189 477770

“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

New and Used

Boats for Sale 01189 403211

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

Ribeye / TL260

Watershed / Courier

Bayliner / VR5

2015 | £1,995 | 8.5ft | 2.6m

1996 | £11,000 | 19.4ft | 5.9m

2016 | £25,995 | 20.4ft | 6.2m

Antaris / Connery 22

Interboat / 6.5

Succes / Marco 860 OC

Interboat / Intender 780

2012 | £35,995 | 22ft | 6.7m

2017 | £38,500 | 21.3ft | 6.5m

2006 | £39,950 | 30ft | 9m

2019 | €75,645 | 25.6 ft | 7.8m

In as new condition with 3.5hp Mercury, oars & two covers

Fully equipped day boat with fridge, cooker, toilet & bowthruster

With teak cockpit, chartplotter, 25hp inboard, trailer & character!

Nearly new, 25 hours, spacious seating for 10, flexiteak flooring

REDUCED Only 40 hours, Mercruiser 4.5L 200hp, immaculate boat

Immaculate & spacious river boat, shaft driven, 65hp, full facilities

Freeman / 30

Great example with refurbished saloon, helm, & equipped galley

1978 | £23,000 | 30ft | 9.1m

NEW! Brand new model with toilet room, fridge, sink & deluxe styling

Get the boating life.. ...with Val Wyatt Marine.

Offering everything you need to get on the water – from our picturesque family-run marina.

01189 403211

As well as an impressive range of river boat and offshore brands – including the handmade Interboat and British-built Haines – we offer: • sales - new and used • moorings and maintenance • friendly, expert advice

So come and visit us at our superb site at Willow Marina, soak up the atmosphere and experience a whole new lifestyle!

Open seven days a week.

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

Owners Directory i Arvor Boat Owners Club

Dell Quay Ranger website

www.arvorboatowners.co.uk

www.dellquayranger.supanet.com

Aquastar Owners Club

Electric Boat Association

www.aquastarclub.co.uk

www.electric-boat-association.org.uk

Atlanta Boat Owners

Elysian Boat Owners

www.atlantaboats.co.uk

www.elysianboats.co.uk

Bavaria Owners’ Association

Fairey Owners Club

www.bavariaowners.co.uk

www.faireyownersclub.co.uk

Bayliner Owners Club

Fairline Owners Club

www.baylinerownersclub.org

www.fairlineownersclub.com

Beneteau Owners’ Association

Fjord Club

www.beneteau-owners-association.org.uk

www.fjordclub.com

Broom Owners Club

Freeman Cruisers Forum

www.broomowners.com

freemanboats.forumer.com

Chaparral Boat Owners Forum

Freeman Owners Club

Classic Motor Boat Association

Freeman Cruisers

www.cmba-uk.com

freeman-cruisers.forumotion.co.uk

Classic Offshore Powerboat Club

Haines Owners Club

www.classicoffshore.com

www.hainesmarine.co.uk/owners.php

Cleopatra Owners Club

Hampton Safari Boat Club

mycleopatra.ning.com

hamptonsafaribc.webplus.net

Coronet Cruisers

Hardy Owners Club

forum.chaparralboats.com

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

Corvette Motorboat Association

corvettemotorboat.wordpress.com

Cranchi Owners Club & Forum cranchiownersclub.com

Dawncraft Owners Club & Forum www.dawncraftowners.com

100

www.freemancruisers.com

www.hardy-owner.org.uk

Jeanneau Owners Network

www.jeanneau-owners.com

Marex Owners Club www.marexownersclub.co.uk

Mariah Owners Club www.mariahownersclub.com

August 2018

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

Princess Owners Club

Viking Owners Club

princessownersclub.com

www.vikingowners.org.uk

Regal Owners Forum

Warrior Boats Owners Club

www.warriorboatsownersclub.co.uk

www.regalownersforum.com

Relcraft Boaters Group www.relcraftboatersgroup.co.uk

Owners Club missing?

Rinker Owners Club

Contact us at

editorial@motorboatowner.co.uk

www.rinkerboats.com/owners-club

Rodman Owners Club

www.rbsmarine.com/rodman-owners-club

Sea Ray Owners Club

www.clubsearay.com

Advertise with us

Classified adverts from £25 1999 Broom 38

Sealine Forum www.sealineforum.co.uk

Contact us at

advertising@

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

Twin Yanmar 6LP DTE diesels.

Spacious 4-6 berth aft cabin

£118,950 0118 947 7770 email address

101

Classified

2004 Jeanneau MF805

Single Volvo Penta TAMD41 200hp diesel shaftdrive. Bowthruster with remote, heating, microwave, fridge, TV. New teak carpet.

Excellent condition.

£35,995

07941 468549

Motorboat Owner Affordable practical boating

1995 Sealine 360 Ambassador

1988 Birchwood TS31

Twin Volvo KAD43P diesels. 6-berth, 2-cabin sportscruiser, with spacious cockpit. Bowthruster, heating, inverter, new batteries, BSS 2022.

Twin BMW D636TA diesels. Aft cabin cruiser offering 4-6 berths.

Bowthruster, heating, chartplotter, VHF, autopilot, engines serviced 18

£67,950

£45,000

01753 851717 jo.minton@tingdene.net

0118 940 3211 info@valwyattmarine.co.uk

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2002 - Sessa Oyster 35

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2006 - Sealine S34

2009 - Bayliner 285

Mercruiser 350MAG Petrol Engine £47,950 Lying Walton

2012 - Broom 35 Coupe

x2 Nanni 170 Diesel Engines £189,950 Lying Thames & Kennet

“9 sales offices throughout the UK”

Thames & Kennet Marina 01189 477770 Pyrford Marina 01932 343275 Stourport Marina 01299 827082 Racecourse Marina, Windsor 01753 851717 Hartford Marina 01480 454677 Upton Marina 01684 593111

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Walton Marina 01932 221689 Portishead Quays Marina 01275 397277 Broadlands Marina 01603 396608

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Boat Track.......................................................................................... Page 10 Dean & Reddyhoff Portland Marina................................................. Page 17 Craftinsure.......................................................................................... Page 53 Dometic.............................................................................................. Page 39 EC Leisurecraft (Ocqueteau)........................................................... Page 81 Gibbs Marine / Grandezza............................................................... Page 96 Insure4Boats...................................................................................... Page 69 MDS Battery....................................................................................... Page 10 Mylor Yacht Harbour........................................................................ Page 15 Parker Poland.................................................................................... Page 44 Premier Swanwick Used Boat Show................................................. Page 9 Sargo Boats / Rhea Boats................................................................. Page 19 Standard Horizon............................................................................... Page 13 Tingdene Boat Sales......................................................................... Page 98 Tingdene Marinas............................................................................. Page 4 Val Wyatt Marine.............................................................................. Page 99 Vetus.................................................................................................. Page 67 Why Boats.......................................................................................... Page 11 Windermere Boat Sales.................................................................... Page 97 Yacht Havens.................................................................................... Page 71 Yacht Haven Quay Plymouth.......................................................... Page 21 102

August 2018

L K what I saw

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

@

send your images to us at

editorial@

motorboatowner.co.uk

Swan soft

Cygnets at Poplar Dock Marina SPOTTED! by Chris Lannister

Me and my shadow

Tow rating of a silver shadow anyone?

SPOTTED! by Neale Byart

Music to my Sunseeker

“No, you misunderstood, I said I wanted a Yamaha PWC” SPOTTED! by Michelle Whitehead Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

103

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PRACTICAL • Project Boat update • Cruising overseas PLUS

• Your questions answered in Q&A • The latest products and technology • Tested -The team put some nautical kit through its paces • Inbox – your comments • Inland and coastal news

104

January 2018

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