Motorboat Owner December 2015

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Motorboat DECEMBER 2015

Owner Affordable practical boating

MY BOAT

Coronet 270 CRUISING Coaster 720 GT l Dell Quay Ranger 27 l Corrosion Sprays

Caledonian Canal

Welcome to the December

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

issue. Despite an almost balmy start to November, this last week has seen the weather turn much more seasonal, which can only mean one thing, it’s time to start thinking about protecting your boat against the winter weather. We have tagged onto the end of this issue our winterising feature, in case you missed it the first time around. Whether you are laying up, or

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

2 October 2013

December 2015

The results are interesting and you can find out which one was awarded our ‘Best in Test’ accolade on page 26. We also bring you a ‘bucket list’ cruising account of a trip through the Caledonian Canal, and we have a test of one of the most interesting new boats launched at the 2015 Southampton Boat Show, the clever little Coaster 720GT. Now that our project boat is waterworthy, I have found myself at a bit of a loose end. Cue another hopeless cause, an old two-stroke outboard, that should help keep me out of mischief during the winter months. On the subject of staying in commission, there are jobs you our project boat, we have produced can do to ensure that your boat remains in a special issue that contains all of the project boat features, from tip top condition.

Elsewhere in this issue we have our first buying through to launching. This is available in our back issues section. ever multi-product test. As part of your In the meantime, if you get snow, winterising regime you might want to please do send us your winter coat your mechanicals with a protective boating pictures, we spray, but which one should you go for?

We can answer that question after putting would love to see them.

12 leading sprays up against each other.

welcome aboard

Caledonian Dreaming. A ‘bucket list’ cruising account on page 14

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: Mark Hammond, Adrian Waddams, Paul Byart, Julian Gregory, Pam Born, Tally Clift, Richard Poat

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

3

8 Superior Marinas

M o o r i ng s fo r a l l t y pe s o f bo at s

R i v er T ha m e s . R iv e r Se v e rn N o r f o l k B ro a d s . R i v e r We y

TYHA GOLD A N CH O R AWA R D ED MARINAS

N ew & U s e d B o at S a l e s

NEW BOAT AGENTS FOR

w w w.tin gde ne . net

We’re also on Our Marinas Brundall Bay Marina

T. 01603 717 804 Broadlands Marina T. 01502 573033 Norfolk Broads

Thames & Kennet Marina

T. 01189 482 911

River Thames, Caversham

Upton Marina

Racecourse Marina, Windsor

Upton upon Severn

River Thames, Windsor

T. 01684 594 287

T. 01753 851 501

Walton Marina

T. 01932 226 305 Walton on Thames

Pyrford Marina

T. 01932 340 739 River Wey, Surrey

Stourport Marina

T. 01299 827 082

Stourport on Severn

CONTENTS DECEMBER 2015

REGULARS NEWS page 6 INBOX page 12 TESTED page 26 Q&A page 46 CUTTING EDGE page 60

tested p26

Corrosion Sprays

page 14 Cruising

Caledonian Canal page 50 My Boat

Coronet 270 Family

p36

Appendix

Winterising

PRACTICAL

Outboard Project

p62 p22 CRUISING Caledonian Canal

p36 p66 Dell Quay Ranger 27

CLASSIC CRUISER GUIDE GUIDE CLASSIC CRUISER Motorboat Owner Š Digital Marine Media Ltd

BOAT TEST

Coaster 720 GT

5

NEWS BSS warn of the dangers of portable generators In light of fatalities and injuries that have taken place on boats across the UK in recent years, the Boat Safety Scheme (BSS) have warned of the risks of using petrol generators incorrectly.

Petrol generators provide power for items such as heaters and televisions, but emit deadly carbon monoxide and need refuelling with highly flammable petrol. BSS Manager, Graham Watts says, “On too many occasions we hear of fatalities, or near fatalities, caused by the incorrect use of portable generators. The heart-breaking thing is that on most occasions the accident could have been avoided, and lives saved, if generators were used according to manufacturer’s instructions, in the open and away from the boat.” The BSS advise the following: generators ‘must never be run in an enclosed cockpit area or engine space, or used on or close to the boat where exhaust fumes could enter the boat. Never install a portable generator permanently or make unauthorised modifications that are not supported by the manufacturer, or proprietary component supplier. If you can smell exhaust fumes in the boat, it could mean the cabin is also filling with deadly carbon monoxide. Never refuel a generator onboard the boat, take it to the bank and ensure you are a safe distance from other boats and potential sources of ignition.’ Further advice for boaters on staying safe using generators is available on the BSS website.

WetWheels wins £50k prize

Geoff Holt MBE, has won a £50,000 prize for his company WetWheels. He was one of three shortlisted finalists in the Stelios Award for Disabled Entrepreneurs 2015, run by easyJet founder Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou and charity Leonard Cheshire Disability.

WetWheels provides boating opportunities for people of all ages and abilities. Geoff Holt, said, “I am deeply honoured to have been chosen by Sir Stelios and the award will really give us the chance to expand our services for disabled people. Over the years I have witnessed thousands of disabled people of all ages enjoy our boats and services. It doesn’t matter if that is on a sail boat or a motor boat; it is being on the water that makes the difference.”

6

December 2015

If you have news from your region, email us at

editorial@motorboatowner.co.uk

On Tuesday 17th November, in the full force of Storm Barney, the Poole RNLI co-ordinated the rescue of a sportscruiser which had broken free of its mooring in Poole Harbour.

The Bayliner 285 had been washed up onto the rocks at South Haven Point, on the south side of the chain ferry slipway at the entrance of the harbour. Although it was secure, it was felt that in the worsening conditions it would break up if left. Two lifeboats, as well as the Swanage Mobile Coastguard Unit were on scene as the boat was pulled off the rocks and, now taking on water, was towed to Parkstone Bay Marina, where it was promptly lifted out.

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NEWS

If you have news from your region, email us at

editorial@motorboatowner.co.uk

New Inland mooring search website The Canal & River Trust has launched a new inland mooring search website, called Waterside Mooring. It enables boaters to search for vacant leisure and residential moorings across the Canal & River Trusts 3500 long-term, permanent moorings throughout England and Wales, over 2000 miles of inland waterways, including canals, rivers and docks. Visitors to the website can search for a mooring by place name, or waterway or see availability on a map or list view. Moorings can be acquired by auction, buy it now or for short-term occupancy.

There are currently 162 moorings available now on the website.

Nimbus 405 Flybridge NEW BOAT This new Swedish 40ft flybridge made its debut earlier this year at the Stockholm Boat Show. It’s based on the 405 Coupé flagship with an asymmetrical deck layout and three separate cabins, offering 6-8 berths. The UK dealer is Offshore Powerboats in Lymington and prices start at £390,717 with twin Volvo D4 225hp diesels.

New Solent live weather website

Iridium-based satellite tracking and communication company Rock Seven, has launched a new weather website for Solent boaters. Rock7.com/wind, provides real-time weather, with wind, air pressure, temperature data and trends, from port hand marker, Calshot Spit off Southampton Water. The weather station is managed by ABP Southampton and is fitted with instrumentation from Hydrosphere and Gill.

The new Calshot weather station provides weather actuals and trend data from the Southampton approaches 8

December 2015

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NEWS BoatShield crime initiative for the Broads

To help tackle crime on the Norfolk Broads, the Norfolk Constabulary has launched a new intiative called BoatShield. Its members receive advice on boat security products and methods, and also the latest news on crimes on and around the Norfolk Broads. Local businesses, including boatyards, chandlers and boating clubs are also being encouraged to become BoatShield Information Points for the scheme. The Broads Beat Team Inspector, Teresa Eagleton said: “I want boat owners to enjoy Norfolk’s beautiful waterways, but I also want them to be safe and secure and I urge them to join the BoatShield initiative. Signing up to it sends out a strong message to thieves that people with the BoatShield emblem have taken steps to secure their boat, and at the same time it will help boat owners to be aware of the risks.” The scheme is particularly relevant at this time of year, when boats are often locked up and left unattended over the winter months. For more information on how to take part, call the Broads Beat team on 101. Updates are also available via Twitter from @Broadsbeat.

New VHF loan service for Thames tideway The Port of London Authority (PLA) advise that any vessel over 13.7m must carry a VHF radio below Brentford on the Thames tideway, this is to monitor and contact ‘London Vessel Traffic Services’ (London VTS) on VHF channel 14.

As a result, boaters can now hire a handheld VHF from Lindon Lewis Marine for £25 per week. Lindon Lewis is based at Shepperton Marina which is a useful stopover and claims to be the ‘last fuel point’ on the non-tidal Thames before the tideway. The chandlery provides the PLA “Leisure Users Guide”, tide tables and a template for producing a passage plan, and its staff can offer advice and guidance on using the tideway. PLA Assistant Harbour Master, Jonathan Beckett said, “This is a very welcome initiative, which should be a massive help to those coming onto the tideway, whether for the first time or occasional visitors .” As an introductory offer Motorboat Owner readers can get this rental for £20 per week by quoting code MBOVHF16.

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December 2015

If you have news from your region, email us at

editorial@motorboatowner.co.uk

New chandlery opens in Plymouth A new chandlery Captain Watts Yacht Supplies has opened its doors at Mayflower Marina in Plymouth. Its name pays homage to Captain O M Watts stores, originally based in Mayfair London and Salcombe, and a small team hope ‘to recapture a traditional buying experience’ offering advice, as well as online shopping.

Increased berthing capacity in Portsmouth marina

An extra 18 berths, suitable for boats of up to 10m, have been added to Royal Clarence Marina, Gosport. The new berths have been created with the installation of nine new finger pontoons, replacing some of the alongside berths. The marina now has 150 berths and is run by Castle Marinas Ltd, which owns seven marinas in the UK, including five inland waterways marinas and two coastal marinas, Birdham Pool Marina in Chichester Harbour and Royal Clarence Marina in Portsmouth Harbour.

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INBOX STAR LETTER

Mayland 20 project

As a recent subscriber to your great magazine, I have been eagerly looking through all of the back issues following the progress on your Mayland project boat Olive. It was so good to see her back on the water. I am totally new to the boating world, but undeterred I bought a Mayland 20 as a project for my first boat.

What an experience it was, but also really satisfying.

It was a lot of hard work sanding and filling before a Robert bought his project complete re-spray. I sprayed it myself to keep costs Mayland 20 for £2250 down. New rubbers and polycarbonate windows, carpet inside, a new roof liner and new seats cost £497.65. The boat cost £2250 with a good 35hp Evinrude two stroke outboard. It was worth all the hard work. We launched the boat on the River Avon at Evesham in mid August and have had many great days out on her, and hopefully many more to come. Is there a Mayland owners club? There seems to be clubs for all other makes but not Mayland. Keep up the great work. Robert Powell Editor replies: Hello Robert, it’s great to hear of another Mayland being put back into service. Unfortunately I don’t believe there is a £1 Mayland Owner’s club, perhaps we should start one!

We have produced a ‘Project Boat’ special issue, with the whole story of our Mayland in one PROJECT Mayland 16 document. You can download it for free from the L back issues section of our website.

Motorboat Owner

K CHALLENGE

Budget cruisers at Andy Seedhouse Boat Sales.

Does your local boatyard have a bargain corner?

ast month we announced our ambitious plan to go boating in 2015 with a budget of just £1,000. We’ve made a good start and can now reveal what will be the Motorboat Owner £1k boat.

We looked at many different options, from Fairline to Shetland. Some came with trailers, some with an engine, but they all had one thing in common, they needed work. In many cases, the cost of this work would have taken us well over our budget.

20

The boat that really caught my eye though, was a Mayland 16, and it did so for two reasons. Firstly, I have fond childhood memories of day trips out on our Mayland 14, bought brand new from the London Boat Show in the early 70’s (see photo).

The second reason was that it was right on our doorstep in Essex, which meant going to view it was as easy as popping to the shops. It felt like it was meant to be.

The Mayland was originally on eBay and we had placed a bid for it at that time but

September 2014

12

were eventually beaten by a higher bid.

For whatever reason the sale did not go through, and the boat came back onto the market. This allowed us to view and negotiate in person. The Mayland was being offered on a trailer, but without an engine. The price agreed, after a bit of haggling, was £450. This means we have spent just under half our budget, but we have obtained both a boat, and a trailer. So far, so good.

The Mayland 16, boat number 3218,

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

has a simulated clinker fibreglass hull. The topsides are in what we believe Mayland called ‘Olive’ and are still all original, albeit in quite a neglected state. The white hull has at some time been painted but is in reasonable condition. The boat is split roughly 50/50 between cockpit and cabin, the latter of which offers two berths in the bow, a very small separate toilet compartment which is currently missing its door, and a moulded area, optimistically described in the original

21

December 2015

email:

editorial@motorboatowner.co.uk something about wooden I love the smell boats, of them”

MY BOAT

Did they buy a Freeman?

“There is just

Mark & Julie Clare’s boats

I I’ve just been reading the My Boat story in the September 14, about the couple with the Corvette 320. They really fell in love with a Freeman 30, and as a fellow Freeman owner I really like the look of the 30 too. I see it is not for sale anymore. Did they buy it? Don Hughes Associate Editor replies: Thank you for getting in touch. It was love at first sight and Mark and Julie Clare bought a Freeman 30 last year, not the one featured but an aft cockpit version for sale at Newark Marina. They replaced the engines and renovated it over the winter months, and the boat was launched in time for Henley Royal Regatta. It is a beautiful boat. f you were torn between the joys of owning a traditiona commission l wooden boat the lure of the and real experiencin the Royal Navy but his first difficult to choose sea, it would be very e of boating was renting a motorboat a boat. Throw into the mix on the River a family and Thames in his very early 20’s.

Mark and Julie it’s the very dilemma He had always Clare have faced his own boat times. Conseque and, after being wanted many money by his ntly, this intrepid left have had a very mother in 1986, a bit of impressive and couple his first one. portfolio of Bates Hirefleet, he bought diverse boats over the based on the River Thames years. A story that began in at the 80’s on one closed, and MarkChertsey, had recently ‘special’ Mark spent 10 had seen the years short service river. advertised for whole fleet sale in a boating 54 He visited the yard and purchasemagazine. d the 36ft September

2014

Royal Star for £10,000.

It was an ex hireboat built single berths.

Collins on the by “It had the most Norfolk Broads, Ernest size cooker, it was wonderfu amazing full very basic inside, so it l” “The beauty and came fitted was single Perkins of this boat also Julie recalls.

4-107 41hp diesel with a air draft. All was its low Julie said “when we had to do engine. was remove wooden mast the grass growing I first saw her there was to get under Osney Bridge”. out from under So, as a newly decks, she was the rotting married couple in able to explore they were the boat offered a real state.” Inside, the romantic upper reaches of the River a Thames. spacious cockpit V berth in the bow, a with The a boat’s sliding galley area, and exterior colour roof and scheme was an aft cockpit blue and white, with two so the name Motorboat Owner © Digital Royal Blue “just worked” Marine Media Mark said, and Ltd the boat 55

Caley Cruisers T H E P E R F E C T WAY T O E X P LO R E LO CH N E SS & THE C A L E D O N I A N C A N A L

www.caleycruisers.com | 01463 236 328

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

13

CRUISING

CRUISING

Caledonian Canal Charter

Highland Fling

W

hen we retired last year, we drew up a ‘bucket list’ of the things that we wanted to do.

One was to travel from one end of the Caledonian Canal to the other, by boat.

So we did a bit of research and booked a week’s charter with Caley Cruisers in Inverness in June.

We chose Caley Cruisers because we were impressed by the quality and style of the boats they offered. Most were Brooms or Haines, fitted out by Caley Cruisers, to their own specifications. We were also impressed by their website, giving detailed information about the cruising area and

by Pam Born

what to expect along the way.

The quickest way to get to Inverness was to fly, so after a one and a half hour flight from Luton and a short taxi ride, we were at the boatyard early one Saturday morning in June. First there was the all-important and very thorough safety briefing to attend, after which, we were introduced to our boat, a Broom Ocean 38 called Balmoral. The boat was clean and comfortable, more akin to a private boat rather than a hire cruiser, and it had everything you could possibly need for our weeks stay, including bedding and a supply of lovely white towels. All we

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December 2015

“The Scottish highlands are very special to us and cruising the Caledonian Canal was an ambition that didn’t disappoint” needed was our provisions, which arrived shortly after courtesy of a Tesco van.

Day 1 – Inverness - Urquhart Harbour Once the briefings were over, it was time to embark on our adventure. We left the base in Inverness in convoy with other fleet boats and cruised the short distance

along the canal to the first swing bridge, and then on to Dochgarroch Lock. At this point the Caley Cruiser staff, who were aboard boats with less experienced crews, waved us all goodbye on the lock side.

Some crews had decided to stay at Dochgarroch Lock for the night, and this is always advisable if the weather on Loch

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

15

Caledonian Canal

The Caledonian Canal lies within the Great Glen, a massive fault line resulting from a tectonic tear in the earth’s crust over 300 million years ago, which virtually cuts Scotland into two parts. Running for approximately 60 miles, from Fort William on the west coast to Inverness on the east coast, the canal provides safe passage for vessels, avoiding the exposed waters of the northern coastline. With famous engineer Thomas Telford overseeing the construction, work began over 200 years ago and it took 21 years to complete. This massive feat of engineering, connects three huge, beautiful lochs, Loch Ness, Loch Oich and Lock Lochy, across some of the most dramatic and rugged scenery the UK has to offer.

There are 29 locks on the Canal. Above, the flight of five locks at Fort Augustus

Conditions changed dramatically on Loch Ness, and our charter boat handled it very well

Ness is inclement. As it was only midafternoon and the weather and conditions were good, we decided to push on into the open waters of Loch Ness and head for a little harbour in Urquhart Bay, just south of the village of Drumnadrochit. Urquhart Harbour is a delightfully tranquil and very sheltered basin where mooring fees are £10 per night and electric hook-up £4, paid for at a pay and display machine.

All moorings in this harbour are sternto, so it gave us a chance to practice our medi-mooring skills. The harbour is also home to a Fairline 40, aptly named Nessie Hunter, which runs regular trips out onto the loch to look for Nessie, and the Loch Ness research vessel, Deepscan. Although there is a taxi service from the harbour to the village and local restaurants such as Cobbs Restaurant at the Clansman Hotel, it had been an early start for us, and a very long and eventful day. We sat in the summer evening sunshine on the back of Fort Augustus

Banavie Fort William

Ben Nevis

LOCH LO CHY

Invergarry

Laggan Locks

LOCH OICH

Going up, the flight of five locks at Fort Augustus took us about an hour to traverse

the boat, admiring the amazing scenery, waves in the centre of the Loch. All due, delved into our Tesco supplies, and had an we were told, to the ‘funnelling’ effect early night. of the weather down the Loch. We were completely engulfed by sea mist and Day 2 – Urquhart - Invergarry rain, with a further 12 miles to go to We awoke to heavy rain, but this soon Fort Augustus. Balmoral handled the gave way to bright sunshine. In tranquil conditions beautifully and we felt no conditions, we departed Urquhart danger as we plodded on at 6 knots, Harbour to traverse the length of Loch ploughing through the waves, unfazed.

Ness to Fort Augustus, rounding the Astonishingly, as the Loch broadened headland where Urquhart Castle stands and we approached Fort Augustus, the dominant over the eastern end of the conditions changed dramatically. The Loch. We had been warned about the wind died and we found ourselves, unpredictability of the weather conditions once again, in bright sunshine, perfect on Loch Ness, and soon, a short whiteconditions for ascending the flight of five capped chop began, followed fairly locks in the centre of the town. We hit Fort swiftly by Force 5 conditions with 2–3ft Augustus at just the right time. No sooner Urquhart Harbour Inverness L O C H N E S S

CRUISING

There was a surprise at the pine fringed Kytra Lock. Gold stars were given to lifejacket wearers

had we moored up on the long waiting pontoon, the Lock Keeper came down to meet us to give us instructions and, before we knew it, we were entering the first chamber with friendly lock staff taking our lines. Two crew stayed ashore with bow and stern lines and as each chamber filled, boats had to be physically pulled through into the next chamber. The good waiting pontoons above the locks gave us an opportunity to have a quick look around the town and get some supplies of Highland Whisky.

We were back on the canal again with a further two locks to negotiate before we reached our intended destination of Invergarry, on Loch Oich. Linda, the jolly Lock Keeper at Kytra Lock, insisted on coming round to all the boats in the lock to give a gold star to everyone wearing

a lifejacket. We wore our gold stars with pride that afternoon.

Once through Cullochy Lock, and the Aberchalder Swing Bridge, we were at the highest point of the canal and once again in open waters. It was just a short distance along Loch Oich, with some careful navigation via buoys, to our destination, a small pontoon directly under the tall, eerie ruins of Invergarry Castle, in the grounds of the Glengarry Castle Hotel.

We shared this free mooring with another Caley Cruiser, a Broom Monarch. This is such a beautiful, peaceful spot, with high hills on the opposite bank extending up into the mist. Adjacent to our mooring pontoon was the sad and pitiful wreck of the ex-herring fishing vessel, Eala Bhan, which sunk here around five years ago.

The grounds of the hotel are elegantly laid

18

December 2015

out, with tiered terraces, a Lily pond and old stone pier. The hotel building itself is very imposing and would have been very grand in its day, with a coach house and stone bell tower. After first walking around the fenced off ruins of the castle, we ventured out of the grounds and crossed the bridge, over the fast flowing river, to the village. The Glengarry Castle Hotel comes highly recommended as an eatery but, sadly, it was fully booked. There is, however, another hotel, the Invergarry Hotel, offering meals in the village, but it is quite a hike.

Day 3 – Invergarry - Banavie It was a chilly start to the day so we fired up the diesel heating and listened to the Scottish news on the radio. Apparently there was a heatwave on the way. Our plan was to travel to the end of navigation (for hire cruisers), Banavie Locks, as quickly as possible. We could then take a leisurely cruise back to base, stopping at selected moorings on the way. To reach that goal we still had approximately 25 miles, several locks and swing bridges, and 5 hours of cruising to do. At the end of Loch Oich we passed through the Laggan Swing Bridge and entered the narrow pine tree-fringed section of canal, affectionately known as Laggan Avenue, at the end of which is Laggan Locks,

On a clear day the dramatic, snow-capped Ben Nevis mountain range is visible from the canal

where we descended into, Loch Lochy, our final Loch on the canal. Here we passed the ‘Le Boat’ hire fleet, which is based at Laggan Locks. The scenery had begun to change, the high rolling green hills gave way to more rugged snow-capped mountains and, once through Gairlochy Locks and Moy Swing Bridge and onto the last section of the canal, we occasionally caught glimpses of the sea, many metres below us, in the distance.

Under the gaze of the dramatic Ben Nevis range of mountains, we tied up on the pontoons above the Banavie Locks, nicknamed Neptune’s Staircase. Beyond lay the entrance to Loch Linnie. Here, as with many of the other locks along the canal, there are excellent shower, toilet,

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

19

CRUISING

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

Clouds covered the summit of the snow-capped Ben Nevis, as we departed the pontoons at Banavie

and refuse disposal facilities, all of which are completely free to use. No sooner had we tied up, we were off to explore the area, first descending the mighty Neptune’s Staircase and then catching a taxi into Fort William. We struck lucky with the taxi driver. Originally from Essex, she had settled in Fort William many decades ago.

She gave us a tour of the area (including showing us the distillery) and offered to pick us up for our return trip. Loch Linnie is a sea loch, which means that they have a strong fishing tradition here, making it an excellent place to sample fresh

Fort William is a short taxi ride from Banavie

seafood. We chose the warm and friendly restaurant, ‘The Tavern’, in the High Street for an early dinner and ate a lovely, hearty meal in true Scottish style, including a smoked fish, potato and leek thick broth called ‘Cullen Skink’, which was very tasty.

We picked up supplies from Tesco and caught the taxi back to Banavie.

Day 4 – Banavie - Laggan Locks We awoke to the sound of engines and discovered that there was a fleet of vessels embarking on a decent down Neptune’s Staircase to Corpach Sea Lock and Loch Linnie below. One of these boats was a Princess 54 called Snow Tiger and we spoke to the owners as they negotiated the first of the eight locks. They were fulfilling one of the items from their ‘bucket list’ by circumnavigating Britain. They had started out from the Solent last year and wintered on the east coast, continuing up the North Sea to the Moray Firth and Inverness, before entering the Caledonian Canal. Their next port of call was Oban,

20

December 2015

but ultimately they wanted to reach the Scilly Isles before heading back to their base in Southampton. They introduced us to the star of the boat, their lovely Dalmatian ‘Bertie’, who actually gave us a smile. We wished them a safe journey as we waved goodbye.

Today was turnaround day for us.

Meandering our way back along the narrow canal stretch, we caught a momentary glimpse of the summit of snow-capped Ben Nevis before the lowlying cloud and mist covered it again. At Moy Swing Bridge, the lovely Irish bridge man opened one side of the bridge for us and then, to our surprise, clambered into a dinghy, rowed across the canal and manually opened the other side, before waving us through. Surely he doesn’t have to do this all the time we thought, so by way of a thank you, we gave him some refreshments in a plastic bag held out on an extended boat hook as we passed through.

We started our ascent again as we negotiated Gairlochy Locks. These are very deep locks, and too high to lasso the bollards on top of the lockside, so ropes were passed

The Laggan Locks moorings are very picturesque

down by the attendants. There are excellent moorings and facilities on the upstream side of this lock, perfect for an overnight stay, but we needed to go a bit further and had already decided to try for a mooring at Laggan Locks where we had spotted a very unusual floating pub, called The Eagle Barge Inn. The sun had broken through the cloud and it had actually turned a lot warmer, so we had a lovely passage across Loch Lochy, arriving at Laggan Locks shortly after 3pm. This picturesque spot has good pontoon moorings and facilities but the breeze funnels up Loch Lochy between the steep green

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

21

CRUISING

hills either side, so we moored bow into the wind, just a short distance from the barge. It was time to explore and the hillside looked lush and inviting, like a mowed lawn. In reality it was a different story with waist high dense ferns, nettles and a slope that was a lot steeper than it seemed from the boat.

That evening we ate hearty pub grub in the cosy bar area of the Tardis-like belly of The Eagle Barge. It was obviously a very popular haunt for locals and boaters alike. Some fellow visiting boaters had the foresight to book ahead and were tucking into a huge platter of seafood in the restaurant. It looked fabulous.

It was at dusk, when I went for a walk to the shower block, that I spotted something. As I crossed the upstream lock gates and looked downstream, I saw the sleek, silvery silhouette of an otter hopping across the gates. It was obviously a regular occurrence for him as he appeared to know where he was going. I had never seen otters in the wild before and this was a magical moment that I will hold in my memory forever.

Day 5 – Laggan Locks - Fort Augustus We left Laggan Locks at 8.30am and entered the tree-fringed Laggan Avenue and on into Loch Oich. Our first stop was for breakfast at the Well of Seven Heads mooring, where a monument on the loch side, erected 150 years ago, commemorates a particularly bloody massacre and is so-called because on a mound close by, at least seven headless bodies were found buried. Just across the busy A82 road here, is the most amazing Lochside Larder café where we purchased the tastiest and largest scotch eggs we had

The pontoon mooring at the Well of Seven Heads was stunning and had a cafe across the road

ever seen.

True to the forecast, the weather had changed and we were bathed in sunshine all day. We were now seeing Loch Oich in very different conditions to what we had witnessed a couple of days previously. It was beautiful, with many tiny, lush-green islands, between which we were guided by navigation marks. We dropped the canopy for the first time to catch the breeze in the sweltering heat, arriving at Fort Augustus at 12.20. We were not called into the locks until around 4pm and, as a consequence, didn’t reach our mooring for the night, the pontoons at the bottom of the lock flight, until after 5pm. We weren’t sure why there had been such a hold up, we were just thankful we hadn’t left getting through the locks until the next day.

We still found time to explore the busy and historic town of Fort Augustus,

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December 2015

At the locks along the way we met some lovely people. For many it was their first boating experience

which has a great selection of pubs and restaurants, a large supermarket, a Benedictine Abbey and a Caledonian Canal Museum. The downstream lock moorings have laundry, shower and toilet facilities and the path leads on to the end of the entrance channel, where you have the most amazing views right down Loch Ness. Moored just a few boats down from us was another Caley Cruiser boat which had a family of three generations on board, on their first boating holiday. The grandad turned out to be a bubble blowing enthusiast and treated us to a wonderful display of huge bubbles on the bank as we sat in the warm evening sunshine on the back of the boat.

on Saturday. As we left Fort Augustus at 9.40am, following the first boats out of the flight of locks, it was murky, muggy and slightly overcast, and we couldn’t help wondering what Nessie had in store for us today. We all agreed that we loved Loch Ness, as the scenery was not only stunning, it was so wild and unpredictable.

When it is calm, the way the wind and reflections play on the water is incredible.

With ‘windslicks’ and changes in colour, it is easy to see how these can be mistaken for ‘Nessie’. Today, the weather was perfect

Day 6 – Fort Augustus -Urquhart Our plan for today was to travel back along Loch Ness to Urquhart Harbour and explore the village of Drumnadrochit. We also needed the boat in a position where, whatever the weather, we would be able to easily get back to the Caley Cruiser base, The ‘bubble man’ attempts to blow his biggest ready for our early flight back to Luton bubble on the bankside at Fort Augustus Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

23

CRUISING

as we meandered down the centre of the loch under ever brightening, brilliant blue skies and the wind behind us. We pulled into Urquhart Harbour just after midday with plenty of time for our walk.

It’s about a mile and half walk to the village of Drumnadrochit from Urquhart Harbour. The scenery is stunning, but the walk is along a very fast road. It was well worth the hike though, the village is quaint with a small grocery store, as well as some very interesting individual shops and bars. Notably, Fiddlers Highland Restaurant and Malt Whisky Bar, boasts a selection of over 600 malts.

Drumnadrochit is also home to the Loch Ness Centre and Exhibition. We spent a couple of hours here, learning about the history and geography, facts and figures and, of course, the legends attached to what is, undoubtedly, the most famous Loch in the world. Measuring 22 miles in length, with an area of 21.75 sq.miles, it has enough water to immerse the entire population of the world, three times over.

In 1987 ‘Operation Deepscan’, using a fleet of 20 Princess 32 motorboats, courtesy of Caley Cruisers, performed a massive sonar sweep of the Loch, in a search for ‘Nessie’.

Day 7 – Urquhart - Inverness We awoke to a very still morning with the

Our passage back east through Loch Ness was spectacular and we were bathed in sunshine

water glistening in the sunshine. On the opposite bank, a mist hung eerily over the loch. The bubbleman was casting bubbles across the harbour and the ducks came quacking for food at the first signs of life onboard. It was an idyllic start to our last day.

We left our mooring hoping that we could secure a temporary mooring on the Urquhart Castle pontoon and were not disappointed, the pontoon was empty.

This pontoon is very popular but is only

24

December 2015

The medieval ruins of Urquhart Castle stand dominant at the eastern end of Loch Ness

available to leisure boats at certain times of the day, due to trip boat use. This famous medieval castle was the site of much action and bloodshed over the centuries, the latest of which, in 1692 left it in ruins.

It is now owned and run by the Scottish National Trust and has magnificent views across the loch.

It was beautiful back out on the loch, but a lunch at the highly recommended Oakwood Restaurant beckoned and, no sooner had we exited our final lock (Dochgarroch), we were sitting down to a fantastic feast at this very friendly, quirky venue. Our menu choices consisted of fresh langoustines, scallops and a rich beef

dish of braised Aberdeen Angus steak. It was absolutely gorgeous.

Arriving back at the Caley Cruiser base at 4pm, gave us a chance to get the boat checked-in and refuelled, we had used 113 litres of diesel. In the evening, having already seen the western exit of the Caledonian Canal at Fort William, we were anxious to see where it starts on the east coast, and walked along the final stretch of the canal to the, delightfully named, Clacknaharry Sea Lock. We enjoyed supper in the Clacknaharry Inn, overlooking the glistening waters of Beauly Firth, which leads out into the Moray Firth and the North Sea. Our journey was complete. We had travelled the length of this breathtaking waterway, and the next day travelled back home in the pouring rain. We really had enjoyed the best of the weather for our very memorable trip. We’ll be back.

LOGBOOK

‘Balmoral’ Broom Ocean 38 hull Single Volvo 150hp shaftdrive diesel engine

At the Oakwood Restaurant at Dochgarroch we feasted on delicious langoustines and scallops

Fuel used: 113 litres (25 gallons) Engine Hours: 24.5 hours (1 gallon per hour)

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

25

tested Corrosion Sprays One of the things that I like to do, indeed I recommend it whenever I am writing articles about winterizing or laying up, is to use some kind of protective spray on the boat’s engine and other mechanical components. To be honest, over the years I have always used whatever came to hand, and that was typically anything from good old WD40, to the latest product sent to the office and claimed by the manufacturer to be the very stuff used on the space shuttle.

Is one better than the other? Is it worth paying more for something blended for NASA? Do you really need anything at all?

These are the questions I have set out

to answer this month with Motorboat Owner’s first comparative product test.

I hit the chandlery, paid a visit to DIY and car stores and rummaged around the darkest recesses of my garage to come up with 12 products that claim to offer protective qualities. During my research I

13 pieces of mild steel, 12 anticorrosion products, salt water and a damp environment. Let the test begin 26

December 2015

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

was surprised to find just how many such products there are out there and, it soon became apparent, I would not be able to test them all. What I have done is narrow the selection down to 12 and included products marketed and sold specifically to boaters, as well as some general DIY products and other specialist sprays that A regular spray keeps rust at bay, but which is best? have received glowing reports in other sectors, such as motorcycling, automotive attachment, so even the less targeted ones and aerospace. can still be used for very specific jobs, if To test them we have given them the required. toughest job of all. We have taken 13 pieces A small saturation area makes it harder of virgin mild steel and abraded them to to get good, even coverage on larger items remove the protection they left the foundry such as an engine, while lots of run-off with. Each piece was then treated with one means you need to be quick with your of the 12 products on test, with the 13th application to avoid wastage and making piece left untreated as a control. We then a mess. In turn, a quick application may left them outside for a month to deal with mean that you end up missing bits. The the ravages of the British autumn and early perfect spray for large areas should provide winter and, just to add to their workload, a good wide saturation with little run once a week we gave all test samples a off, while for very targeted protection, liberal spray with saltwater. something thicker that is delivered in While the products were left to get on a smaller spray pattern would be more with their protecting, we also looked at suitable. Another thing to look out for is the application of each product in terms residue. If you are going to use a protective of its spray pattern and coverage. Each spray on a regular basis, you will want one product was test sprayed for one second that doesn’t leave too much residue behind, at a distance of 20cm to see what kind of as it will build up over time. Also look out coverage they would deliver with typical for ones that leave a sticky residue behind. use. Not all sprays are equal, and it is plain This will attract dirt and dust. Ultimately to see that some lend themselves better though, the spray must stop corrosion to the act of protecting large expanses of and if it can do so without leaving a metal, while others are more suited to nasty residue and with an easy and frugal targeted protection. Many of the sprays application then it’s a winner. have the ability to be used with a straw Here’s how our 12 products fared: Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

27

tested Corrosion Sprays continued......

PRICE 354ml

£14.99

Motorboat

PRICE 312ml

Owner

£8.99

BEST IN

TEST

Corrosion Block

Produced by the same people that sell ACF50 and is the same product in a slightly thicker solution. Said to last up to six months, it is delivered in a narrow and directional spray, more like a jet, with little overspray outside the 3.5cm diameter saturated area, but with lots of run off, despite being quite viscous. This would make it hard to use if you wanted good, even coverage over a large area, and I think you may end up using lots of product to ensure total protection, which could make it expensive to use.

Starbrite Corrosion Protection

This product has quite a thick viscosity and is delivered in a rather narrow spray pattern, with a 1 second saturation area of 4cm with moderate overspray.

Due to the thickness there was no run off, making it particularly good for vertical surfaces. It does leave behind a very obvious yellow coating that remains a little tacky. This product was discontinued during our test, but is still available to buy while stocks last.

After 24 hours: Still wet but not tacky At end of test: Corrosion Block delivers brilliant corrosion protection with one tiny spec of light rust on the test piece, possibly due to missed application.

Recommended for Motorboat targeted application Owner Usable with a tube: Y “It does what is says What else can it do: on the tin” Penetrate, lubricate, attacks corrosion, displaces water Value 4/5

After 24 hours: Tacky At end of test: Still very slightly tacky and still showing a yellow colouration.

The test sample was completely rust free so a top notch performer and recommended as Motorboat long as the tackiness Owner and discolouration “Would have are acceptable. been commended Usable with a tube: Y if it wasn’t What else can it do: discontinued” Lubricates Value 5/5

Performance 5/5

Performance 5/5

www.flyingshop.com

Usability

3/5

www.starbrite.com

28

Usability

3/5

December 2015

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

PRICE 325ml

£14.95

Motorboat

PRICE 354ml

Owner

Motorboat

£25.95

HIGHLY COMMENDED

Owner

HIGHLY COMMENDED

Quicksilver Corrosion Guard

Boeshield T9

After 24 hours: Tacky At end of test: Showing some very faint traces of surface rust around the edges but overall an impressive result.

Targeted delivery makes it less suitable for larger areas.

Motorboat Usable with a tube: N Owner What else can it “I would be happy do: It doesn’t claim to use this on my to do anything engine” other than prevent corrosion Value 4/5

After 24 hours: Still wet but not tacky At end of test: A few spots of surface rust had started to appear but overall a very impressive result and an easy product to use for wide coverage. Only its price lets it down.

Motorboat Usable with a tube: Y Owner What else can it do: “A great performer Penetrate, lubricate, but comes at a attack corrosion, price” displaces moisture

www.force4.co.uk

www.boeshield.co.uk

This Marine specific spray is widely sold in chandleries and is a brand that belongs to Mercury Marine, part of the massive Brunswick Corporation. This medium viscosity product is clear and was applied without any run off during our test. It has a very targeted delivery with the smallest diameter saturation area of all the products on test, at just 2.5cm, with just a little overspray.

Usability

3/5

Performance 4/5

This is one of the products that I had kicking around and that I have used over the last couple of years. As the name infers, it has an aeronautical connection and was developed and licenced by the Boeing aircraft company. It is a medium viscosity product that delivered a 5cm saturation spray during our 1 second test with an average amount of overspray and slight run off. This product lends itself well to application on large areas, as well as targeted use with the addition of a tube.

Value

Usability

2/5

5/5

Performance 4/5

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

29

tested Corrosion Sprays continued......

PRICE 500m

£7.00

PRICE 400ml

£2.61

Duck Oil

Tectane SL 527

After 24 hours: Dry At end of test: Moderately priced, it delivered a moderate performance.

Still much better than using nothing, but we had a fair amount of surface rust on our test piece after a month.

Motorboat Owner Usable with a tube: Y “An average What else can it do: performance but Penetrate, lubricate, worth considering” non-conductive, displaces water, Value 3/5 degrease and insulate Usability 4/5 www.swarfega.com Performance 3/5

After 24 hours: slightly wet At end of test: Probably best to leave this one to lubricating. It seemed to have had no effect on keeping corrosion at bay and, at the end, the test sample was difficult to tell apart Motorboat Owner from the untreated “Very poor control piece. anti corrosion Usable with a tube: N properties” What else can it do: Lubricate and repel Value 1/5 water Usability 2/5 www.toolstation.com Performance 1/5

Recommended by many, Duck Oil is sold by Swarfega. The blurb says that this thin, clear silicone free spray protects for up to 12 months. Our test spray produced an 8cm diameter area of saturation with a little overspray and some run off. This would be a good product for coating large areas evenly and quickly, although being very thin it readily runs off vertical surfaces. Duck Oil made the ink of our permanent marker run, so I would suggest testing a small area first to ensure compatibility.

Tectane products are available through Toolstation DIY stores. SL527 is simply a silicone spray that also promises to protect against oxidization. At under £3 per can, it is a very cost effective option.

The spray is more of a mist, than a spray and despite a nice wide spray pattern, it is barely noticeable on the surface.

During our spray test, I even tried it at 15cm, and for two seconds, and there seemed to be barely any evidence on the test sheet, and therefore no run off. If you need an invisible spray, this is it.

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December 2015

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

PRICE 300ml

£9.75

PRICE 600ml

£7.19

Wurth Corrosion Protection Spray

Triple QX Maintenance Spray

After 24 hours: Wet but not tacky At end of test: I had big hopes for this, but in the end our test piece had a light but comprehensive covering of surface rust. It was better than using nothing, but I wanted more.

Usable with a tube: N Motorboat Owner What else can it do: “Delivered some No claims, but it does protection” specifically mention its benefits around salt water and boat Value 2/5 engines Usability 4/5 www.wurth.co.uk Performance 2/5

After 24 hours: Dry At end of test: It’s cheap and easy to apply but its performance on the corrosion test was poor. The result was a test piece indistinguishable from the untreated control sample.

Motorboat Owner Usable with a tube: Y “A cheap and useful What else can it spray, but not for do: Lubricates, this job” penetrates, dewaters, removes grease, tar, Value 1/5 gum and sticky labels Usability 5/5 www.eurocarparts.com Performance 1/5

This is a clear and thin spray that covers easily, but runs readily. The benefit of this is that it will creep into crevices and protect hard to reach places, the downside of course is that it runs easily off vertical surfaces. Having said that it manages to leave behind a film that is almost invisible. After application it was difficult to see any difference between the piece treated with this product and the untreated control sample.

I have seen this big can available for as little as £2.52 which makes it the cheapest per litre of any product on test.

The silicone free multipurpose spray delivered a big 9cm diameter saturation spray during our test with little run off or overspray, making this the easiest product to use on large areas. It’s a thin liquid and a little seems to go a long way so with 600ml in a can it should last quite a while.

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

31

tested Corrosion Sprays continued......

PRICE 475ml

PRICE 400ml

Corrosion X

GT 85

After 24 hours: Very wet At end of test: This was still wet after a month and was the only sample to have debris stuck to it. Having said that there was no evidence at all of rust so if the above doesn’t matter, you won’t be Motorboat Owner disappointed.

“A great performer Usable with a tube: Y if you can live with What else can it do: the residue” Lubricates, penetrates, kills existing corrosion, Value 4/5 safe on electrics Usability 2/5 www.corrosion-x.co.uk Performance 5/5

After 24 hours: Dry At end of test: I really wanted this one to work well so that my boat would have that lovely smell. Sadly it joins the list of those with a result little better than the untreated control piece.

Motorboat Owner Usable with a tube: Y “Unfortunately you What else can it do: don’t get points for Lubricates, cleans, a nice smell” shines, penetrates and displaces water Value 1/5

£19.95

Corrosion X is available in a range of sizes. It produces a powerful jet that creates lots of spatter at normal spraying distance. It delivered a 4cm diameter saturation pattern but with loads of product delivered quickly there was a fair bit of run off. Like other products that deliver a directional jet, it is difficult to get blanket coverage of large areas without using lots of product so it could get costly. As a targeted use product, it would work well. On our test piece it left behind a thick foamy film.

£4.99

Not that breathing in any of these sprays is recommended, but GT85 takes the prize for having the nicest smell. This PTFE general purpose spray is a budget product that fulfills many roles. It is a light, clear spray delivered with an odd spray pattern that left three separate saturation spots on our test piece, with the middle devoid of product. Having said that it would still be easy to get good coverage of large areas, you just might use a little more product than you would with a normal spray pattern.

www.gt85.co.uk

Usability

2/5

Performance 1/5

32

December 2015

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

PRICE 400ml

PRICE 400ml

£3.08

£4.99

Motorboat Owner

BUDGET

BUY

Tectane PO 496

WD40

After 24 hours: Dry At end of test: I was hoping my visit to Toolstation would turn up an affordable surprise product that I could bring to the boat owning masses. Unfortunately it was not to be and PO496 will have to Motorboat Owner stick to penetrating “Corrosion Usable with a tube: N protection is not What else can it this products forte” do: Penetrates and loosens Value 1/5

After 24 hours: Slightly wet At end of test: I was expecting little and was pleasantly surprised that WD40 was the joint sixth best product in terms of corrosion protection. It’s cheap and widely available.

Don’t dismiss it.

Motorboat Owner Usable with a tube: Y “Better than you What else can it do: think for keeping 2000 things. See rust at bay” here: http://wd40. com/files/wd40Value 4/5 2000.pdf Usability 5/5 www.wd40.co.uk Performance 3/5

As the name suggests, this product is designed to penetrate, but it also claims to protect against corrosion. It has its own built in nozzle and delivers a thin, fast jet that puts down a lot of product quickly. Our one-second spray created a 5cm diameter area of saturation with no overspray, but lots of run off. The product is thin but the delivery is more suited to its job of targeted penetration, rather than blanket coverage. It erased our permanent marker, so is a product to test on an inconspicuous area first.

www.toolstation.com

Usability

1/5

Performance 1/5

This test wouldn’t be complete without WD40. If you already have any of these sprays in your toolbox, this is probably it. WD40 is a general purpose water displacement spray. The thin and clear liquid gives good easy coverage with a 9cm area of saturation in one second, with little overspray and a small amount of run off. It will run off a vertical surface but leaves behind a thin film of protection.WD40 also do a long-term corrosion inhibitor, which we were unable to obtain in time for this test.

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

33

tested

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

Corrosion Sprays continued......

Conclusion

The real surprise for me was good old WD40. It seems to get dismissed by many, including me I have to admit, so I honestly wasn’t expecting it to do very well. Our test proves me wrong, and that it is definitely worth using to combat corrosion. It’s as good as Duck Oil, but cheaper and easier to get hold of, which is why we have awarded it our best budget buy accolade. If you want the very best performer in rust prevention then two products produced a Our control piece, no 7, was zero rust result. One of them , Starbrite has been bare and untreated mild steel withdrawn and the other, Corrosion X, leaves a wet residue. Corrosion Block and Quicksilver Corrosion Guard are brilliant products, with Corrosion Block just edging out in front, but their delivery method is more suited to targeted areas. Boeshield produced a very good result and is easy to use on large areas but is expensive. For me, the overall winner has to be Corrosion Block, but I would back it up with a can of Boeshield if I was feeling flush, or WD40 if on a budget, for those larger expanses of metal.

Our test pieces of virgin mild steel were liberally coated with each product and left outside for a month. Once a week they were sprayed with a salt water solution. The test continues, and we’ll bring you an update at three months to see if a longer term test favours a different product 34

December 2015

STANDARD RANGE

PERSONALISED PRODUCTS We can supply hand held dry powder, foam, CO2 or water mist extinguishers in all sizes personalised with your boat name, make, model and logo Price from £12.00 PREMIUM RANGE Anything from the standard or engine room ranges using high quality, corrosion resistant stainless steel cylinders.

Price from £120

sales@firemonkeyltd.co.uk

BOAT FIRE SYSTEMS

tested

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

A cost effective range of hand held dry powder, foam, CO2 and water mist extinguishers from 1kg/litre to 9kg/litre and a selection of fire blankets from 1m2 to 1.8m2.

Price from £10.00

ENGINE ROOM SYSTEMS Build your own engine room system from a large selection of components. 1kg/litre to 50kg/litre, foam, CO2, dry powder, FM200 and water mist.

Manual, automatic or electronic activation.

Price from £100

08452 177574

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

35

CLASSIC CRUISERS

a complete guide to the best boats on the used market

Dell Quay Ranger 27

W

ho could mistake the classic lines of a Fairey hull? They are beautiful, elegant and iconic.

Back in the early 60’s these hulls spawned a very different range of boats, a range that to this day has melted the hearts of many boaters in the British Isles, the Dell Quay Ranger.

In the late 50’s and early 60’s Fairey Marine was successfully producing a range of shaftdriven wooden ‘express’ cruisers on the River Hamble. The company had adapted a hot moulding process, used originally in aircraft production, to

produce its hulls using layers of a material known as Agba, a West African mahogany.

Fairey’s fast, deep V hulls were originally designed by American naval architect, Ray Hunt, and its range included the 23ft Huntress and the 28ft Huntsman, both designed by Alan Burnard.

In 1961 the Dell Quay Yacht Company, based in Itchenor, started the development of a 25ft, wooden, aft cabin cruiser using a Fairey Marine Huntress hull. With rumours of a ‘cancelled order’ by the Ministry of Defence, it is believed that this boat was initially destined for military

36

December 2015

J.Ray

Built approx 66 1963-1968 Prices then £6,680 (1966) Prices now £7,500-£20,000 Length 27ft / 8.23m Beam 9ft / 2.74m Draught 2ft 4in / 0.71m Air Draught windscreen 6ft 3in / 1.91m Fuel 455 litres / 100 gallons Water 135 litres / 30 gallons Displacement 3000kg approx

use, to be dropped into the sea from aircraft, or to be used by high-ranking naval officers as tenders. Large lifting eyes in the decks may be in evidence but, unfortunately, there is little else to back up this story. Nonetheless, the Dell Quay Ranger 25 was born and, in January 1962, the first boat made its debut at the London Boat Show. It offered four berths with two separate cabins and an open centre cockpit. Unlike its Fairey inboard diesel relatives, the 25 was powered by single or twin sterndrives, which made them far cheaper by comparison, costing in the

region of £5k when new.

Eighteen Huntress-based Ranger 25’s were built, but by 1963 Dell Quay was planning a larger boat with more power options, a Ranger 27. The initial transition between the Ranger 25 and 27 seems to be a bit of grey area. Build records from Fairey Marine indicate that the next few Huntress hulls supplied were lengthened to 27ft overall and were named the Dell Quay Ranger 27. Others believe that the builder, Dell Quay, opted to use the larger Huntsman hull for the Ranger 27 from the off. Whichever scenario it is,

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

37

Selling the dream, the 1964 brochure shows a Ranger 27 tied up at Dell Quay in Chichester Harbour

a new flagship was born and the extra 2ft of space was divided up between the cockpit, cabin and, most importantly, the engine bay, so it could accommodate larger engines. It was designed to be fast and comfortable for long distance cruising. Sterndrive power also made these boats easier to dry out, making them very popular in the Channel Islands, particularly Guernsey. The company also introduced two other versions of the 27, the Tropical and the Fisherman. The Tropical version was identical in terms of the forward superstructure but it had an open, one-level aft cockpit. On this version settees fold out from below the deck. The Fisherman version has a similar

arrangement but with a tank below the cockpit deck.

Although these boats were designed primarily for leisure use, a 27 took part in the famous Cowes-Torquay race.

Under race number 163, ‘Missus Smith’ competed in 1966, 1967 and 1968. It was also shipped out to participate in one of the Miami-Nassau races. The boat, Dell Quay production number 910, is now called Shalom and is believed to be one of the boats based in Guernsey. When the 27 ceased production the company went on to produce the GRP, twin engine, three cabin Ranger 36 designed by Carey Golesworthy.

There is a functional elegance to the Ranger 27. Its lines are

‘To Malta and then who knows’ is one of the quotes from the pages of the 1964 brochure 38

December 2015

A group of four Ranger 27’s approaching St Peter Port, Guernsey, as pictured in the Ranger 36 brochure

purposeful and streamlined, yet full of character. When you mention a Ranger 27 to people, the word ‘cute’ is often inferred, and with features such as the curved windows and the pronounced ‘eyebrow’ over the forward cabin, we can see why.

We are sad to report that there are very few of these boats in existence today and on the water. At one time there were 23 Ranger 27s based in Guernsey alone.

Today there are believed to be just 11 boats still on the island. We heard that just a few months prior to writing this feature a 27 was cut up at Marine and General’s yard at St Sampsons in Guernsey. This is the sad fate of many an abandoned wooden boat. In our quest to research the 27 we were only able to find two for sale,

and one previously for sale in Gibraltar, yet we saw many more examples out of the water in various states of repair. We are however, reassured to hear of one renovation project in the UK that is well underway. There is also support out there for potential buyers with the Dell Quay Ranger website, where many enthusiastic owners can be contacted.

Interior The boat’s accommodation is arranged over two levels, with two, two-berth cabins either side of the open, canopy-covered centre cockpit. The interior fit out is best described as ‘no frills’, and typical of the 1960’s. It is basic and stark, but this is all part of its charm and the overall

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

Photo provided by B.Gabriel

Ten Ranger 27’s dried out on Shell Beach on Herm in the Channel Islands

39

practicality of the boat. Originally the marine ply interior was white, with some teak edging in places, and the seat vinyl was blue, with chunky 4-inch foam bunk cushions, seating and padded lockers in the aft cabin. These boats are over 50 years old now and proud owners are often meticulous at keeping their boats as original as possible. As you move about the boat, opening cupboards and lockers, look for writing on the back, as Dell Quay often wrote the build number on every part of the boat.

A door and single wooden step leads down from the cockpit into the forward cabin. Inside are two V berths and triple aspect, large rectangular windows offer plenty of light, as well as a good view out.

Unfortunately these windows are prone to leaks, most will have been repaired but it is worth pulling back the curtains and looking for signs of water damage. There are two large cupboards on the cockpit bulkhead and ample storage space under each berth. Slotted inside the forward locker you should find another ‘nifty’ feature of this boat, the vinyl slatted infill base. With an infill cushion this makes a

The forward cabin has V berths which convert into a large ‘whole-cabin’ double

generous double, but it fills the cabin area, leaving little space to stand up and dress.

Moving aft, a large sliding cockpit door and a roof hatch give access to the dualThe cabin-cum-dinette aft and the compact toilet compartment

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December 2015

purpose sunken aft cabin. This tends to be the owners choice of cabin as it’s quite spacious. It has two single bunks, one on either side, with recessed footwells and a large hanging locker in the aft bulkhead.

Again there is excellent storage under each berth, and open vinyl padded lockers provide essential bedside storage. The cabin is perfect for lounging and, with the canopy down and the huge roof hatch slid back, you can really let the sunshine in. This cabin doubles as the boats main entertaining and dinette area. An opening leaf tabletop lifts out from between the two berths and slots into the floor with a single pedestal.

Uniquely, on the Ranger 27, access to the toilet compartment is off the centre cockpit. The toilet’s central location, under the helm console, not only makes it practical for use while underway, it also ensures that no one is disturbed at night.

Inside this sunken, compact compartment you will find a sea toilet and foldout sink.

Like most of the boats of its era, a hot water system was not standard. A single cold-water tap in the toilet compartment and galley was linked to the boats 30 gallon water tank under cockpit floor.

Owners may have added a calorifier and a shower fitting at a later date.

The concealed, rectangular-shaped, galley unit is located in the centre cockpit to starboard. This is often cushion-topped and doubles as additional cockpit seating.

It’s also perfectly placed to put the kettle on while underway. The galley features a two-burner hob, a large sink and deep cupboards with sliding doors below, offering plenty of storage. Above the sink is a shelved storage cupboard, useful for smaller helm or galley items. The galley unit was constructed before the days of

The cockpit galley offers a two-burner hob, a sink and plentiful storage with deep drawers

fitted fridges, but you may find that some owners have used the space under the helm seat to stow a coolbox or install a fridge.

Cockpit and Helm The easiest way to enter the cockpit of a Ranger 27, particularly with the canopy up, is usually from the starboard side deck.

The helm seat somewhat obstructs entry on the port side, while on the starboard side there is plenty of room to limbo under the boats fixed canopy frame, and step down into the deep centre cockpit. A bank of storage lockers aid your descent down, and the cockpit immediately feels safe and protected, due to its high surrounding bulkheads.

The helm is simply laid out with a single, sloping dashboard. Note that the engine dials may well have been updated through re-engining. On the dash you will

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

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also find the Dell Quay builders plate. Like many boats of this age there is very little dash space, so you will find navigation kit bracket-mounted on top of the helm console. The bolstered double helm seat sits on four metal pillars and incorporates a footrest. It provides good visibility out of the windscreen, even with the canopy up.

There is a lack of seating in the cockpit, but most boats will have a small fold down seat in the starboard corner.

The condition of the canopy is another important aspect to consider, it’s an essential feature on this boat and could be expensive to replace. Traditionally made in white vinyl material, this can dry out and become brittle through age.

The canopy framework consists of two fixed metal bars, which start at the top of the windscreen and gradually cascade down to the aft cabin roof. The sloping design is very simple, giving full standing headroom, and allows the aft cabin roof hatch to be fully open undercover. Its shape also compliments the boat’s lines beautifully. The canopy top section usually

There is a small fold-out seat in the cockpit

The helm is simply laid out with a double seat

rolls forwards and is secured over the windscreen.

Whilst in the cockpit, check along the inside the windscreen and cabin roof joins, as leaks are common here. The windscreen upstand may vary in height from boat to boat and may have been replaced at some time.

On Deck The Ranger 27 has one-level walkaround decks. These are a good width and enclosed by solid stanchions at the bow and aft quarters, with flexible guardrails between. Often the stanchion uprights have become lose through years of use, so check for damage at the bases. Traditionally teak, the decks are susceptible to rot and will probably have been repaired or replaced, so check thoroughly. A non-slip covering may have been fitted for practicality, but be aware that this could also hide problems.

Mooring warps can damage the wood near the fairleads, so this is another are to pay close scrutiny to. Stainless ‘lugs’ are fitted to the transom and these, together with the stainless bow roller, are described in the 1964 brochure as lifting points so that the boat could be lifted ashore, or onto the

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December 2015

The area around the bow is prone to rot. This is 1966 boat ‘Cygnet’, undergoing renovation

deck of a ship.

Owners often use the large flat aft deck, above the engine, as an outside seating area with deck chairs.

Hull and handling The Huntsman is renowned for its excellent sea keeping, so it will come as no surprise that the Ranger 27 shares its abilities and is just as highly regarded.

Although the Fairey Huntsman’s hull was designed for a shaftdrive engine installation, it took to sterndrive power very well. Albeit wet at times, the deep V-hull is very capable and makes light work of chop. Ranger 27’s didn’t leave the factory with trim tabs, although many owners will have fitted these since.

It is important to remember that each 27 is different. The size of the hull bow badging (traditionally blue) and the distance between gunwale and horizontal sprayrail will often differ from boat to boat. This is not unusual in traditional boat building.

Wooden hulls are a ‘labour of love’ and you will need to keep on top of maintenance. Checking what work has been carried out before purchase, is advisable. You will also need to give the

hull a thorough inspection out of the water, and we would recommend enlisting the services of a surveyor, specialising in wooden boats and with particular knowledge of the Fairey hot moulding method. While the simple construction means minor repairs are relatively easy, major repairs, such as rebuilding of the transom, are likely to be costly and time consuming.

There are a few specific areas which are susceptible to water ingress, which may lead to rot. For instance, the iconic Fairey blue bow badging is a particularly common area to require work. This is made of marine ply and rain can easily creep underneath it. If left, this could

It has generous all-round decks and the large flat aft sundeck can be used for deck chairs

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Today, twin diesel installations are popular. Left, twin Volvo D3 160hps and right, twin Steyr 144hps mated to Volvo sterndrives

eventually penetrate the hulls hotmoulded layers of veneer. Many boats have suffered from this and consequently will have had their bow sections refurbished.

The transom is another important area to inspect. This was originally made from marine ply, like the superstructure, and is not part of the moulded hull. Water can gather inside the deep steps of the chunky solid bathing ladder and cause rot, as can any leaks around the transom joins or outdrive legs.

If possible have a good look along each hull spray rail for any damage, checking for areas of exposed wood and the condition of the fastenings. Note that keel shoes are often added to limit damage when drying out so, if fitted, check that

Rangers are sometimes re-engined with a single

these are in good order. Inspect the aft section of the waterline spray rail, as this sits underwater and may be suffering from rot. Dell Quay did strengthen the hull and superstructure with the evolvement of the engines. However, even more strengthening is recommended with further re-engining, especially if adding more power.

Engines It is important to remember that any Ranger 27 will almost certainly have been re-engined, and perhaps even several times. The first 27s were fitted with twin Volvo Penta 110hp Aquamatics petrol sterndrives. At the time, these would have given a fairly low top speed of 23 knots. A Volvo Aquamatic diesel alternative is also mentioned in a 1964 brochure.

The 27’s power evolved through its production and soon the boat was fitted with twin 130hp Volvos. Twin V6 150hp and V8 180hp were also offered, upping the top speed to 30 knots. However, these were apparently prone to water ingress through the sterndrive exhaust inlets and were often re-enginged as a result.

One particular boat we know of has had four sets of engines. Martin Ray, owner

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December 2015

of Guernsey-based 1967 boat, Poppacross, bought his boat with a pair of 130hp Volvo petrols, these had replaced the original V6 150hp petrols. Martin has since reengined his boat twice, first fitting with a pair of larger petrols, Volvo AQ167’s and then opting for diesel economy, fitting a pair of 144hp Steyr diesels. The boat cruises happily between 22-25 knots and is capable of 30 knots.

It seems the introduction of Volvo’s modern and compact D series diesel engines has not escaped the attentions of a few enthusiastic Ranger 27 owners. We are aware of at least two boats that were re-engined with twin D3 160hps. This is a worthy and well-matched transplant, as it transforms the boat into an obedient and supercharged rocket ship. But this is an expensive operation costing in excess of £30k, a fact that is often reflected in the re-sale price. No doubt a pair of similar sized, previous generation 170hp KAD32’s would give similar performance.

Another popular occurrence, particularly with the examples based in Guernsey, was re-engining to a single 200hp Volvo Penta AD41. The single configuration meant the engine could be mounted lower in the engine bay and transom. This reportedly gives a similar 30-knot performance to twin engined versions. More recently one owner is looking to implant a modern single Volvo D4 260hp, and will be teaming it with a bowthruster for close quarter manoeuvring.

Engine access is very good, via a large heavy hatch in the aft deck. Originally the boat had two 227-litre fuel tanks located under the centre cockpit floor. These may have been modified to effectively turn them into a single tank.

Conclusion These boats are over 50 years old now, but age itself is not necessarily a concern. Look for an example that has been well loved and maintained by its owners, that ideally can be stepped aboard and used. Be wary of getting yourself into a project that may prove too big and costly to complete. Time and skills will be required but know your limits, in terms of budget. The Dell Quay Ranger 27 is part of our boating heritage and deserves to be treasured and celebrated, like the Fairey’s that spawned them.

1966 £19,950 VAT not paid (featured) Twin Volvo D3 160hp diesels Lovell Yachts 01481 716880 www.lovellyachts.com

1966 £7,450 Twin Volvo 170hp petrols Value Boats 0800 043 2628 www.valueboats.co.uk Dell Quay Ranger 25 Buy one (pictured) 1962 £24,999 Boatshed www.boatshed.com

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

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Q&A

Your Questions Answered

What year is my outboard?

Q I have an old Evinrude 15hp two stroke

and I am trying to work out the year, I believe it to be around 1990, at least that is what I was sold it as. I have attached the model number, can you date it from this?

A Luckily with OMC engines from the

80’s and 90’s there is a very easy way to date them, if you have the model number. OMC model numbers from this era start with a letter, which designates where it was built.

Most UK engines will have a B for Belgium.

Next you will usually find either a J or an E depending on whether the engine is a Johnson or an Evinrude. Then you will have a number that tells you the HP of the engine and the next one or two letters will provide some design features, the BF in our example stands for Belgium de-rated – rope start. The next single letter provides shaft length information, L for long, but it is the next two that we are interested in. Remember the word ‘INTRODUCES’, then allocate the numbers 1 through to 9 and then zero, to each of the letters. This is your year code. In our example the C equals 8 and the U equals 7 so we can work out that ours is a 1987 engine. Your ES code tells me that you do indeed have a 1990 motor.

The ‘INTRODUCES’ year code works for all OMC engines from 1980 onwards, although from 99 onwards other parts of the model number changed slightly.

I NT R O D U C E S 12 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0

OMC were very helpful when it comes to dating outboards.

The CU here dates it from 87

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December 2015

If you have a question, email us at

editorial@motorboatowner.co.uk

Outdrive duoprop doesn’t engage

Q I have a Volvo Penta duoprop outdrive that doesn’t engage gear until I bring the engine revs up to around 1100rpm. It happens mainly in forward gear, although occasionally there is a slight delay going astern. Any idea what’s causing it and, more importantly, is it going to be expensive to fix?

A There are a few possible causes for symptoms such as yours, and the cost will

depend on which one turns out to be the problem. The first is an incorrectly adjusted, or damaged, cable, which should be a relatively cheap and easy fix. The next thing to look at is the oil in the drive. Is it the correct type and is it free of contamination?

Again, changing the oil is inexpensive unless you find contamination that requires further investigation. If these items check out ok you may be looking at a cone clutch problem. Sometimes these can be removed and overhauled, but once you are into paying someone an hourly rate, and this really is a job for the professionals unless you are a very competent DIYer, it might be just as simple to get a new one installed.

Replacing outdrive bellows

Q My boat is just about to be lifted for some

winter maintenance and servicing and was thinking about changing the outdrive bellows on my Mercruiser Alpha drive. They were changed two years ago so, according to the servicing schedule, are due to be changed now. The thing is, they look to be in great condition and I am not currently in a position to be spending money I don’t need to. Do you think I will get away with leaving it for another year?

A The answer is that you will probably be OK for another year, but you have

to ask yourself whether it is worth the risk. The exhaust bellows is not such a problem, so stretching this for another year should be fine, but if your drive bellows, or gear shift bellows split, the repair bills will mount up very quickly and make the cost of a new bellows seem like small change. The sort of damage a split bellows can cause is a ruined gimbal bearing, damaged U joints and, in some cases, can even lead to water ingress into the boat, resulting in sinking.

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

47

Q&A

Your Questions Answered

Wiring a TV to 12 Volt

Q I have a small household flat screen LCD TV on board our Broom that we currently can only use when we have shorepower. Someone said that I could power it direct from the boat’s 12 volt circuit. Is that correct?

A Many small TV’s, usually those below 19 inches, actually run on 12 volt and

convert the 240 Volt AC from the plug into 12 Volt DC using a transformer. If you have a black box on the mains power lead, yours may well be one of them.

Read the label on the black box and see what it says the output voltage is. If it says 12 Volt DC, you can power your TV from the boat’s batteries. You would need to make up a suitable lead, or cut off the transformer and use the one you have.

If you do the latter you will obviously not be able to use the TV on mains power again. One thing to be aware of is that your boat’s electrical system may well be up at around 14 volts when underway, or with the battery charger turned on, and some TV’s may not like this. I have been using a household TV in this way for a few years now with no problems, but if you are concerned you can add a voltage regulator to the circuit to ensure that your TV only ever gets 12 volts.

Can I use PTFE tape?

Q Can I use PTFE tape where petrol is present?

I have a small weep on the fuel tap for my outboard. Some say that PTFE tape will be ok, while others tell me it will dissolve in petrol.

A PTFE is ok to use where both petrol and

diesel is present, as it offers good chemical resistance to both. My only concern would be the possibility of bits of it breaking off and entering the fuel system. As long as it is before the fuel filter this should be fine but if it is after, I would suggest using it very carefully.

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December 2015

If you have a question, email us at

editorial@motorboatowner.co.uk

Cleaning my speed log

Q My Raymarine speed log isn’t reading, just showing zero knots all the time, and I have been told that I can take it out to clean it when afloat. I’m a bit nervous about doing this as surely I will have trouble stemming what must be quite a jet of water coming in. Can you put my mind at rest. Will I be able to do this without risking sinking my boat?

A I understand your trepidation. I have done this many times and still get a little

flutter of doubt every time I do it. Firstly, do you have the blanking plug to hand? This should be mounted next to or near the transducer. If you don’t have this, you can still do it using a softwood bung but you need to be careful that you don’t wedge it in too hard and break the housing. With your blanking plug or bung in hand, undo the top of the transducer fully. You might get a very slight weep of water but nothing much will happen at this stage. Once fully undone the important thing is to draw the log out smoothly and in one motion. These logs have a small plastic flap that partially blocks the flow of water when the log is removed, but if you only half withdraw the log the flap can’t do its job and you’ll let more water in than is necessary. Once the log is out, go straight in with the blanking plug or bung and the water will stop. Do it well and you should get less than a litre of water inside the boat that can easily be mopped out when you have finished. Clean the paddle wheel and reverse the process, ensuring the arrow on top of the paddlewheel faces forwards. What you will be most surprised about is how little pressure there is in the water coming in. If all goes wrong you can simply stick your hand over the log and stop the water using very little force.

Don’t be afraid to pull the speed transducer out when afloat. The water ingress isn’t that great.

With your paddlewheel removed and the blanking plug in place, you can clean away any fouling and ensure that it runs freely Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

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Tim Hobbs Coronet 270 Family

I

t was around 1989, the exact year seems to have been lost on the mists of time, when Tim Hobbs was asked by a friend to accompany him, from their home in Guernsey to the UK, on a boat buying trip. The boat in question was a Coronet 270 Family and it was one of a number of boats being liquidated after the builder, Coronet, had gone bust. The boat was being sold out of Bucklers Hard, along with at least one other 270, a 33 and a 38.

Rumour has it that there were three 270 Family’s in the UK with the names Silver Cloud 1, 2 and 3. The boat that was being collected was a dealer demo boat, Silver Cloud 1. It is known that Silver Cloud 3 also ended up in Guernsey, but the fate of Silver Cloud 2 is unclear. The 270 Family was one of the last models produced by Coronet in this period, and Silver Cloud 1 was hull number 001 and was originally powered by a single Volvo Penta AD41

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200hp diesel. The model was a revamp and redesign of the 26 Family from the 1970’s and, despite its similarity to the Coronet 27 Seafarer, was built on an entirely different hull, being both shorter and narrower than the Seafarer. The Coronet name did resurface again, with a limited attempt to reintroduce new versions of earlier models, but as far as we are aware no boat has left a factory wearing a Coronet badge since 2003.

Motorboat Owner

MY BOAT

“24 years after helping the original owner deliver the boat to Guernsey, I found the Coronet languishing in a field”

Having helped his friend with the delivery, Tim then spent further time aboard that year when he went on Holiday to Brittany aboard the boat. Around four years later, the owner sold Silver Cloud 1 due to a divorce and so ended Tim’s first association with the boat. Silver Cloud 1 then changed hands numerous times, but all the while remaining in Guernsey waters. Then, sometime around 1999, Tim heard that the boat, now named Double

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The 270 Family has always been in and around Guernsey but had not spent all of its time above the water

Dutch II, had sunk on its mooring in the QE2 marina.

The wreck was sold to a local marine company and the boat, minus its engine and drive, then spent the next three years untouched and in a very sorry state on the pier overlooking the marina. For many boat’s this would probably have been the end of its story, but the Coronet still had a few chapters up its sleeve. After languishing on the pier, it was bought by another local who put it in the water

and towed it to the nearby island of Sark.

Here it was lifted out, but yet again it was left untouched. Again it changed hands a couple of times, including a guy named Kevin, who took ownership of the boat for a second time in its life, but again it didn’t get any attention and was looking less and less likely to ever see the water again.

Then one day in the summer of 2013 Tim was on Sark for the annual sheep racing weekend when he stumbled across the Coronet in a field sitting on an old

Before it could be taken back to Guernsey, Tim had to repair some holes and strengthen the rotten floor 52

December 2015

MY BOAT After passing through numerous owners, the Coronet was left abandoned in a field on Sark

trailer. “It was in a pretty sorry state, and it looked like someone had been living in it at some time. It was full of water and literally hundreds of empty beer cans” Tim told us, “and despite her condition I saw some potential in her”. Tim started to ask around to find out who the current owner was, and was eventually put in touch with Kevin. “I asked if it was for sale and Kevin replied that I could have it for £800. I didn’t argue and put a cheque in the post the next day”. It was August 2013 and over the next couple of weeks Tim visited Sark twice in preparation of bringing the Coronet home, using the trips to empty the boat of water and rubbish, plug up holes in the hull, and making the rotten aft deck safe to walk on. “A local wanted the trailer so I did a deal with him and he towed it down to Sark’s Creux Harbour and launched it in return for the trailer”.

As well as having some previous history with this particular boat, Tim has his own boating history, which started with a little NAB17. He later progressed onto a Wilson Flyer, which he completely fitted Motorboat Owner

out, before making his own boat from scratch, including the hull moulds. The skills learnt during ownership of these last two boats would go on to serve him well with the Coronet, but at the time of buying it he was the owner of another Coronet, a 1968 24 that he used to tow his new boat back from Sark with. Once back in Guernsey, Tim beached the boat on the drying hard in St Peter Port where he pressure cleaned it inside and out,

The 270 was towed from Sark to Guernsey behind Tim’s other Coronet, a 24

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Back in St Peter Port, the boat was beached and cleaned before being taken to St Sampson by road

before putting it on a trailer and towing it to its new home inside a temporary tarpaulin tent in St Sampson. During the next 15 months Tim spent 20 hours a week, every week, on the Coronet. At last she was getting the attention she so

For 15 months the Coronet resided under a makeshift shelter while Tim restored her

desperately needed. During that time Tim removed all of the interior woodwork, stripped it, re varnished it and replaced it. Nearly all of the woodwork we see today is original, apart from one or two bits that were beyond saving. The cabin floor was rotten so Tim upgraded it to teak and holly. Tim was keen to keep the boat as original as possible, but conceded to make a couple of changes where it would improve the boat. To this end, the interior is almost exactly the same layout as it left the factory, apart from the helm, which was modified slightly to allow for all the extra electronics that modern boats require. Tim is a fisherman so he wanted to have the latest kit and the ability to have dedicated units for separate jobs. The result is that the helm now packs a pair of eight inch Garmin multifunction displays, with a further one out in the cockpit, all networked together. The rest of the boat’s interior has been sympathetically restored to its former glory, although Tim has added some nice hidden touches, like his

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December 2015

MY MY BOAT BOAT

The interior was stripped and rebuilt, using much of the original woodwork. Almost everything was replaced to the original spec and design, with just a couple of exceptions

dedicated rod locker under the forward bunk. Tim did suffer one minor setback in this area. “I was replacing the windscreen wiper motor into the glass and there must have been something trapped beneath it because, as I tightened it up, the glass

shattered. I had a new one made from toughened glass and unfortunately the tint doesn’t match”. This is one of those niggles that only a fastidious owner would worry about. In fact if Tim hadn’t pointed it out, I would never have twigged, even

Tim fabricated a new fibreglass arch and also replaced the loose wood panelled cockpit floor with GRP Motorboat Owner

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Originally fitted with a 200hp AD41, the boat was engineless until Tim sourced a 285hp KAD300 and DPG drive

after he pointed me in the right direction and asked if I noticed anything. The rest of the windows are still held in with their original seals and despite the years of neglect there is not a single leak evident.

When it came to looking for an engine, Tim knew what he wanted. He had repowered his previous Coronet with a Volvo Penta KAD32 and knew that he wanted the 6 cylinder equivalent for his new boat. “The boat originally had a

200hp AD41, but I really wanted either a 260hp KAD44 or a 285hp KAD300”, Tim explains. “I found a RIB for sale locally that had a 600 hour KAD300 fitted and, after some negotiations, I agreed to buy the engine, DPG drive and stainless steel props for £10,000 on the proviso that the owner remove them from the boat and deliver them to Island Marine Craft, where they would be stored and cleaned up, ready for installation”. The RIB owner

The new fibreglass deck and hatches were finished off with synthetic teak to very good effect 56

December 2015

MY BOAT The arch cleverly mirrors the superstructure below and provides shelter in the cockpit, as well as somewhere to mount the aerials

subsequently sold the engineless boat on to an outboard sales company who were going to put a big outboard on the back.

Out in the cockpit Tim completely replaced the cockpit floor, changing it from numerous wooden lift out hatches to a flush fiberglass deck with two hinged lids, one for the engine bay and another for access to the boats new fiberglass fuel tank, built and installed by Tim, and lazarette. The whole cockpit was then laid in synthetic teak and finished with a pair of self draining GRP lockers, one on either side, the port one of which has been thermally lined and now serves as Tim’s fish locker. The original engine room vents were forward facing on the aft end of each sidedeck and, because of their position, let in water. “They must have leaked from day one” Tim said, “so I blocked them off and relocated them to within the cockpit”.

Another big job that Tim tackled was the addition of the wheel shelter cum radar arch. “I needed something to mount the aerials and radar onto and I also wanted a bit of shelter for when I am fishing Motorboat Owner

out in the cockpit”, Tim explained. The result is excellent and I would challenge anyone, who doesn’t know the model, to pick it out as an after market add on. The way that Tim has mirrored the lines of the cabin below means it looks every bit original and is a credit to his fibreglassing skills. Other external additions include an anchor winch and a bow thruster, and

Tim moulded GRP deck boxes, one of which is insulated to serve as a fish locker

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Almost as she left the factory. Tim has only made changes to the helm to accommodate the electronics

down below he has upgraded the boat’s battery system by installing five batteries and an inverter. To complete the boat’s fishing credentials, Tim has cleverly added a livebait well on the transom and a filleting table that slots over the aft quarter stern rails.

In January 2015, the completed boat, named Old Bidd after his mum, left its temporary home and headed for St Sampson Harbour where it sat for another couple of months before being launched in March. Initially the C6 props that came with the engine and drive proved to be a bit too coarse, so Tim borrowed a set of C4’s which proved to be spot on. From buying the boat until getting it launched Tim estimates it has cost him around £36k, with the engine and electronics accounting for around half of that. Since launch he has replaced the turbo and exhaust elbow and in total spent a further 58

December 2015

MY BOAT

Fishing is Tim’s other passion and he has designed a custom cutting board for the stern rail and a bespoke rod rack under the forward berth

£3k on the boat, bringing its total up to £39,000. Since being launched in March, Tim has put around 70 hours on Old Bidd, mostly with fishing trips in local waters, but he has also undertaken a few short trips to France and has had one

Motorboat Owner

overnighter in Dielette. So is Tim happy with how the boat has turned out? “She will do 35 knots flat out” Tim tells us, and the way he was enjoying working the throttle in the chop of St Peter Port gives me the answer to that question.

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CUTTING Excel Voyager Lite

Excel Inflatables has launched a new range of tender RIBs with lightweight aluminium hulls. The Excel Voyager Lite boats are made with 3mm aluminium, which is TIG welded and powder coated before being oven cured.

The result is not only lightweight, but also corrosion resistant and extremely durable. The range currently consists of models between 2.4m and 4.2m.

Price from £1,149 www.excel-inflatables.co.uk

Aurora flares

Crewsaver has teamed up with Pains Wessex to launch a brand new range of leisure boat pyrotechnic flares.

The Aurora range consists of red and white handhelds, Orange Handsmoke, Lifesmoke buoyant daylight distress, and red parachute rockets, as well as a Sky Lite 2 Star Aerial Distress, which delivers two red aerial flares, and the Day and Night Distress, which has a red handheld at one end and an orange smoke at the other. The flares are also available in a variety of different flare packs Price from £8.75 crewsaver.com

Waeco CRX

The humble boat fridge has finally evolved. The new Waeco CRX refrigerator from Dometic Marine has a unique feature. The freezer compartment can be removed if it’s not required, providing more fridge space. Conversely, the whole fridge can also be reduced down to -8°C turning it into a large freezer-only unit. It’s available in sizes from 45 litre up to 136 litre with a standard, or newly designed stainless steel door.

Price £670 (CRX80) www.dometic.co.uk

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December 2015

the latest boating gear and technology

Solent Cruising Companion

The Solent is undoubtedly one of our most popular cruising areas, so it is surprising to find that the last Solent Cruising Companion went out of print three years ago. Fully updated with new charts and useful aerial photography, the third edition is the perfect pilot guide for South coast based motorboaters and would make an ideal stocking filler for the hard-to-buy-for boater in your life.

Price £34.99 www.fernhurstbooks.com

Henri Lloyd Flex 3D Jacket Are you looking for a warm boat jacket this winter? The new, award-winning Henri Lloyd Flex 3D Jacket features thermal, nonflattening ‘spiral’ wadding for extra warmth, plus extra stretch yarn, fabric and thread for ease of movement. It is available in black, and sizes S-XXXL. Price £140 www.henrilloyd.com

Mirka Deros 5650CV

Claimed to be the world’s lightest electric sander in its class, the Deros features a brushless motor, combined with a new premium ceramic abrasive, called Q.Silver Ace, designed to achieve fast and efficient sanding of surfaces such as wood and composites.

Its design means your hand is close to the vertical surface, delivering good control and grip, and a new backing pad promises better dust extraction.

Seaview

If you are looking for an antenna mount, then you’ll be glad to hear that Interform Marine is now acting as UK distributor for the Seaview range.

This US range consists of single item pods right up to the Dual Mount range, which can house two large antennas, plus a variety of smaller aerials, as well as lights. If you need to mount something above decks, Interform should be able to help.

Price from £258 interform-marine.co.uk

Price from £395 www.mirka.com

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

61

PRACTICAL

HOW TO

Outboard Project

I

f you have been following our project boat saga, you will know that I came away from our first trip out with a reservation or two about the engine. Once we got it running correctly it was fine, it’s just that I found that 20hp was either too much power for the river, or too little for going coastal. As we most definitely want to take Olive to sea, I decided that we needed the biggest engine we could fit, up to the boat’s maximum rating of 40hp, but without adding too much weight for reasons of

towing and trailer weight. It turns out that there is an engine that could be the perfect solution. Back in the 80’s, OMC, the makers of Johnson and Evinrude outboards, supplied an engine that was effectively the same as what we had, but that produced 35hp. If I could get one of those, we would almost double our power with zero weight penalty. The trouble is, old engines like this are, well old, and finding a really nice one is going to be rather difficult. I was chatting to a friend

62

December 2015

Despite lubricating the cylinders the engine was seized solid. Even with an extension bar the flywheel didn’t budge

about my new plan, and the problem I was going to have in finding a suitable engine, when he informed me that he knew of a long shaft 35hp Johnson that was available now, and even better, locally. There was just one small problem, the engine was seized solid. It turns out that the engine had come off a boat that had been left for some time, possibly years, without any attention. Not only was the engine itself seized, but the motor was seized onto the boat and had to be cut off. I could have it for a sum equal to its value in parts and so I decided to take a punt.

As far as I see it, there are three ways an engine can become seized like this. It could, as I have been told, just be neglect with the pistons becoming seized due to rust forming in the cylinders. It could have been on a boat that had sunk, in which case the crankcase is full of salt water, or it could be heat seized either through lack of cooling or because someone forgot to mix two-stroke oil into the fuel. I was hoping it was going to be the former, willing to accept the latter, and keeping my fingers crossed it was not the middle one, which would have effectively made the engine

scrap. The good thing about these older OMC engines is that spares are readily available so, cost aside, there is no reason, as long as it hadn’t spent time in Davy Jones locker, that I couldn’t get this motor running again.

As I was hoping it was nothing more than a bit of cylinder bore rust, I started by removing the spark plugs and spraying, very liberally, some anti corrosion lubricant into each cylinder. I have freed seized outboards like this before and they are still going strong to this day, with no

Digging a little deeper meant tackling seized bolts, one of which has sheared off

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

63

PRACTICAL

The thermostat has seen better days but is not the cause of our problem.

Time to take the head off

more attention required. With the engine laid on its back, it was left for a few days for the lubricant to work around the cylinder, each day being topped up with a little more, in the hope that it would work its magic.

With a socket on the flywheel nut and an extension bar added for extra leverage, I tried to see if I could get any movement.

The answer was no, the flywheel would not move even a millimetre. It was clear that this was not going to be a simple fix and it was time to start looking at delving a little deeper. What I have worked out is that the chances of this engine having spent time underwater are very slim. Everything about the condition of the components under the cowl indicates to me that it has remained above the surface.

My next step was to remove the cylinder head. I needed to see inside the cylinders and get my first glimpse of the trouble I would be facing. I started by removing the cylinder head cover, which is held onto the cylinder head with 11 small bolts, or rather it should be. Mine was held on with 10, as the one at the very bottom had

sheared off during some previous attempt to remove it. Not to be put off I gradually loosened the 10 remaining bolts, all of which were corroded in place to some extent, and was happy that I managed to remove 9 without shearing any more off.

The one I failed on would be added to the list of things to tackle should I ever reach the rebuild stage. The cylinder head cover didn’t reveal as much as I had hoped, apart from the fact that the thermostat was little more than a collection of useless metal, so next I removed the 10 cylinder head bolts, after first removing the coil packs. Despite the bolts being tight, all came out without any further problems. Now I was hoping to be able to see exactly what the problem was, but actually found very little. The cylinder walls looked almost completely free of corrosion and there were none of the score marks that you would normally expect to see on a heat seized engine.

Without something obvious to work on, I decided, now I had full access to the cylinders, to try once more to free them up with some lubrication. This time I filled the pots with diesel, which is said to be

64

December 2015

one of the best lubricants you can use for this kind of job. While one cylinder could be filled, and would retain the diesel, the other was at the stage of its stroke that meant the exhaust ports were uncovered.

Consequently any diesel I poured into this cylinder would run into the crankcase, but nevertheless I ensured I got as much diesel around the piston edges as I could and retreated for a few days, topping up and reapplying as necessary, to allow the diesel to do its work.

With the engine laying on its back, the cylinders were filled with diesel and left for a week

Was it successful?

Was it successful? No. After leaving it for a week there was still absolutely zero movement in the flywheel, so what I am going to do is undertake an outboard engine autopsy and, if possible, a rebuild. Until I dig a little deeper I have no way of knowing if this engine will ever turn again, or if the rebuild part of the feature will ever come to fruition. What I do know though is that in the process of trying to fix it, I’ll learn a great deal about the inner workings of a two stroke motor, how to strip it down, and hopefully, how to put it all back together again and set it up properly. There will be more stubborn bolts to tackle, and no doubt a few more will shear off in the process, but we can use these to look at various ways of tackling these problems. It may turn out that the block will need a re-bore and oversized pistons added, it may need a new crankshaft, or it may simply

require a new set of piston rings, and the cylinders re-honed. One thing is for sure, it’s going to be an interesting journey that will no doubt frustrate and annoy in equal measures. It will probably end up costing more than the engine is worth but, if all goes well, I will have the satisfaction of bringing an engine back from the dead and, for the enthusiastic DIYer, that is something it is difficult to put a price on.

Despite no obvious corrosion or heat damage, I have been unable to free it up

Motorboat Owner Š Digital Marine Media Ltd

65

Coaster 720 GT

66

December 2015

BOAT TEST

Length (LOA): 6.8m / 22ft 4in Beam: 2.5m / 8ft 3in Displacement: 1800kg (ex engine) Fuel capacity: 200 litres Water capacity: 77 litres RCD category: C Engine as tested: Single Suzuki DF150 Other engine options: Single outboard from 40hp to 200hp Price from £34,995 As tested £49,635

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

67

W

hen it seems that every other person is bemoaning the fact that many builders see ‘entry level’ as keeping it as near to 40 foot as possible, it’s very refreshing to see a new launch like the Coaster 720 Gran Turismo.

Not only is it a new boat that is truly ‘entry level’, it is also packed full of new design features and innovations that make this 22 footer a genuinely affordable and compact family cruiser.

The Coaster range is built in Poland by Corsiva, the same people that supply the Corsiva range of inexpensive ‘Dutch sloop style’ open river boats and, just like them, Coaster boats offer a feel and build quality that belies their budget pricing. You can buy a Coaster 720GT ex engine from as little as £28,995 and, with engine options going right down to 40hp for a river based version, that means that you and your

family could be cruising in a brand new boat for under £35k.

You can’t fail to notice that the 720GT is not like most other compact cruisers.

It’s rather unorthodox looks allow the builders to deliver a boat small enough to trail, but that has an enclosed ‘hard top’ style wheelhouse, four berths and a surprising amount of usable space. Under the low flat foredeck you will find a large cuddy style berth that can be set up as two singles or, with the use of an infill, a decently sized double.

In between the berths,

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December 2015

An opening windscreen allows safe and easy foredeck access

at the forward end, there is a ladder that allows easy, and in fact the only, access to the foredeck through the middle section of the windscreen, which hinges open. As well as gaining full access to the foredeck, this window also allows a crew member to access the forward cleats and bow rail to deploy fenders and lines without completely leaving the safety of the cabin, a useful feature on a small boat in choppy

conditions. When the double berth is required, this ladder simply folds down to become part of the support for the infill cushion. The small, slightly sloping, foredeck comes with a very efficient nonslip surface, a deep anchor locker with bow roller, a raised toe rail and a sturdy pair of cleats. There is also a short pulpit rail and you can also turn this area into a sun pad with some optional bow cushions.

“An affordable and versatile hardtop cruiser that’s suitable for coastal or inland use”

The 720GT offers a sociable and practical cockpit and the foredeck can be equipped with sunpads Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

69

The forward berth can be used as two singles or a large double. The removable ladder allows foredeck access

The fender storage baskets on our test boat are very useful but they did stop the anchor locker opening fully and therefore staying open on its own. You may also find that with fenders in situ, they restrict forward visibility a little.

Beneath the forward part of the berth there is a deep lined storage locker, and within this there are hatches to allow

A sea toilet and holding tank are standard.

Privacy when in use will need some planning

access to the forward bilge and the optional, and very reasonably priced at £1800, bow thruster. Under the starboard side cushion the builders have installed a sea toilet as standard, together with a holding tank. The toilet is tucked away under the helm but still offers only limited privacy. Having said that, on a boat of this size it is a great feature to have and you’ll just have to put the rest of the crew out in the cockpit when necessary.

In the floor, stretching for most of the length of the cabin, there is a long and thin lined locker. This could be used for all sorts of storage, but if you are into fishing or watersports, it looks ready-made for rods or skis. On the port side, just above the forward berth, is a navigator’s seat.

This would squeeze two on if required but is really comfy for one. It feels a long way

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December 2015

A family sized dinette, beneath which you have a dedicated wakeboard locker

forward, and is in front of the helm in fact, but offers a good position for crew to tend to their watch keeping duties with a well placed grab rail and the convenience of a cup holder and small cubbyhole/glove box right in front.

Below the nav seat there is an enclosed fire extinguisher locker and, with the backrest flipped forward, this seat becomes part of the dinette that is located just aft. This will seat four at a push with two on the forward seat and a further two on a second aft bench. Beneath the dinette there is a large storage locker that is said to be specifically designed to fit a wakeboard.

If you are not into wakeboarding this locker would be the perfect place to store the dinette’s infill cushions that turn it into a second sleeping area, either a large single or cosy double. A nice touch here is a pair of 12 volt sockets, one to be used on or around the dinette, and another that faces out into the cockpit. On a boat of this size you would normally only expect to find a single socket at the helm.

Beneath the aft dinette bench seat is where the optional, although I would argue almost compulsory, 12 volt fridge. This places it perfectly for the small galley unit Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

opposite. A nice touch is that the aft bench backrest also flips fore and aft, allowing it to become part of the cockpit seating on a nice day. As standard the galley consists of a small sink with cold water tap under a Corian worktop and a good size cupboard underneath. For £350 you can add the option of a single burner Origo alcohol

The forward dinette seat converts to provide a double forward facing navigator’s seat

71

A compact galley comes as standard with a sink and pressurised cold water. Upgrades include an alcohol hob and an electric fridge

hob, a worthwhile addition even if it’s just for a cup of tea or a hot soup on a cold day.

The helm is just in front of the galley and comes with a supportive ‘bucket’ helm seat that slides fore and aft, has a lifting bolster for optimum driving position, and can swivel towards the dinette to become part of the social seating when at rest.

The console is simple and uncluttered and comes with a dedicated iPad mount, which could be used for navigation as long as you keep the sun from shining on the screen. There is plenty of empty console space to mount your own kit, but these

The aft dinette seat back pivots to allow it to become part of the cockpit seating

would ideally need to be surface mounted as there is no void behind this facia into which the kit and wiring could disappear.

Everything else works well and all controls are easily reached and operated from the helm. The boat’s electrical circuits are controlled by cool stainless steel buttons, backlit with blue LEDs. Our boat was fitted with Suzuki electronic controls and a multi-function display that included useful features such as fuel usage, but obviously what you get depends upon the engine you choose to fit. On top of the console there is a storage locker for charts etc. This also houses a 12 volt socket and two USB outlets which is great for keeping your portable kit, including an iPad if you are using one, charged. Alongside your knee there is a collection of four storage pockets for all those bits and bobs you need to keep close to hand while helming, and under your feet there is a locker for larger or heavier items. At floor level, beneath the helm seat, is where you’ll find the boat’s main electrical panel with individual circuit breakers and master battery switches.

The whole wheelhouse can be curtained

72

December 2015

At night optional extra blue LED lights can bathe the cabin in a cool blue lighting scheme

off for privacy with a canvas section across the back. A really clever feature is that steel strips have been gelled into the fibreglass along the bottoms of the windows. Magnets are then sewn into the hems of the curtains so that they stay snugly in place against the window frames, which is especially important where the windows lean steeply inwards at the top.

Overhead, the whole wheelhouse roof slides forwards to turn the 720GT into an open boat. The roof can only be fixed either fully open or totally closed. When fully open, the excess material that hangs down in loops is fixed out of the way with dedicated straps that clip permanently in place on the forward most section of the roof structure. At night the whole cabin can be bathed in a cool blue light which creates a rather nice ambiance. In all, the interior of this boat is simple and basic in some ways, yet stylish and upmarket in others. The builders seem to have perfectly hit the spot between keeping the costs down, while still delivering a product that feels expensive.

With the cabin only separated from the cockpit by a roll away canvas section, Motorboat Owner Š Digital Marine Media Ltd

the two blend effortlessly into one when you need them to. An optional teak table forms the centrepiece with a transom seat aft that stretches two thirds of the way across, to leave a walk through section for boarding and disembarking aft. When required an infill makes this seat full width and large enough to seat four. On the other side of the table another two can sit on the cabin’s aft dinette seat meaning you have a cockpit large enough for six. In the floor there are three hatches under which there are lockers for batteries on either side, and a large central locker that houses the fuel tank, the optional bow thruster

The cabin is secured, and can be separated from the cockpit, with canvas panels

73

PERFORMANCE As tested 30% fuel 0% water 4 crew Force 2

RPM

battery and still has space for a few fenders and ropes. You don’t even need to remove the cockpit table to access the latter, which is a useful feature. A cockpit enclosure and bimini is a £1k option and the 720GT has a clever trick up its sleeve should you choose it. The aft bench seat lifts to reveal a storage area for the framework and canvas when it is lowered, leaving the cockpit open and completely framework free.

The walk-through transom access has a small opening stainless steel framed gate that should help to keep pets and little passengers inside the boat. Out on the transom there are two areas of non-slip GRP to act as small bathing platforms either side of the engine. Both of these conceal a locker that drains into the outboard well and the starboard one is also

Idle 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000 4500 5000 5500 5800

Knots LPH

GPH

MPG

1.4 2.4 3.9 5.3 5.9 6.8 9.6 12.7 23.0 26.5 30.8 31.9

0.26 0.46 0.75 1.30 2.29 3.06 4.38 5.63 7.06 8.80 12.3 12.8

5.39 5.22 5.20 4.08 2.58 2.22 2.19 2.26 3.26 3.01 2.50 2.49

1.2 2.1 3.4 5.9 10.4 13.9 19.9 25.6 32.1 40.0 56.0 58.0

Range (nm) 237 230 229 179 113 97 96 99 143 132 110

109

Noise

61 65 71 72 73 75 78 84 90 91 93 95

equipped with a fold down bathing ladder.

The engine well has three neatly laid out deck fillers, one for fuel, one for water and one for waste, plus a transom shower. The fillers may not be in the easiest position to use, but it is a very neat solution and perfect for dealing with any spills. This area can be topped off with an optional watersports frame with towing eye. As well as having no side decks, the 720 is also devoid of any midships cleats. This is not a problem for mooring up, as on a small boat you can

74

December 2015

A dedicated iPad mount is a nice touch, and there is plenty of room to surface mount extra kit

“The hull grips extremely well and with the Suzuki 150hp acceleration was brisk” just run springs fore and aft, but it does leave you a bit short for somewhere to tie your midships fender. Luckily there is a small clip, positioned midships on the wheelhouse roof that you can reach from the cockpit, or from inside if the roof is open, that takes care of that problem. This is especially easy to use from the helm and is therefore very useful if single-handed, but should you forget to deploy a fender, the good solid all-round rubbing strake should take the odd mooring bump in its stride. Optional equipment also extends to really useful features such as heating and windscreen demisting.

Underway The 720GT can be equipped with a single outboard engine of up to 200hp. Our Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

test boat was fitted with a 150hp Suzuki and, unless you are a real speed freak or a serious watersports enthusiast, this should prove adequate for most customers.

Acceleration was certainly brisk enough and, with a top speed of just over 30 knots, it is going to be a rare day when the sea is flat enough for you to use all of the horses.

Like most small boats the hull would slam if you pushed it too hard but, as long as you are sensible with the power and work the throttle in choppy seas, it is more than capable of getting you places quickly and comfortably. The nice thing with a small hull is that it stays up on the plane at relatively slow speeds and, in choppy seas, you continue to sit on top of the water right down to about 12 knots and just under 4000rpm with the trim set up correctly. The

75

hull grips extremely well and delivers ultra tight turns if required, but it did sometimes give the impression that too much power in too tight a turn would result in the back end slipping out. The boat delivered its best cruise at around 4500rpm with a speed of 23 knots. The Suzuki delivered smooth and quiet power at the bottom end and up to cruising speed, but sound levels increased as the revs rose, leading to a rather noisy flat out run.

The seated driving position is good and with the roof open you are able to stand with your head out for slow speed and close quarters manoeuvring. The wheelhouse provides excellent shelter as you would expect, but this continues all the way aft, so that even those sitting on the transom seat can enjoy a dry ride with minimal wind blast. The steering was quite heavy on our test boat, particularly when fighting the torque of the engine at speed.

This could be overcome with an upgrade to a power assisted hydraulic steering system, something that would definitely be worth considering if you were going for an outboard of this size or larger. Like all boats with an enclosed helm there

Watersports fans can opt for the water ski mast

is some compromise when it comes to visibility. The large mullions and bulky superstructure mean that at times you can experience some large blind spots. This is particularly apparent when cornering tightly with the roof closed, where you cannot see much at all on the inside of the turn. With the roof open this problem disappears, as you simply look out over the top.

Conclusion The Coaster 720GT is a clever boat that packs so much into a compact and very affordable package. As a weekender it offers everything a couple would need, and will

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December 2015

also accommodate the whole family for day trips and the odd overnighter. It’s small enough to trail behind a sturdy vehicle, so the affordability also extends to mooring fees if you have the space to keep it on your drive, and with the right engine it will be equally at home as a watersports boat, as it is a cruiser. The unusual design may not appeal to everyone, but it is this design that delivers features such as the UK climate friendly enclosed wheelhouse, and that is something you often only find on much larger sportsboats. Normally I would not recommend a planing hulled outboard powered boat as an inland cruiser, but stick a little engine on the back and the Coaster would be a great family boat for the river.

Sporty performance, practical features and cost effective to run and moor. What’s not to like?

As an entry level cruiser, the 720GT won’t disappoint and I have a strong feeling that this is just the sort of boat that will set you on the path to a life long love of boating, and that’s no bad thing.

ENQUIRIES: Val Wyatt Marine Ltd Tel: 01189 403211 www.valwyattmarine.co.uk YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

Aquador 22 Cabin

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Flipper 670ST

LOA: 6.65m Beam: 2.68m Displacement: 1800kg (ex eng) Enquiries: MGM Boats Tel: 02380 456318 www.mgmboats.com

LOA: 7.51m Beam: 2.60m Displacement: 2100kg (ex eng) Enquiries: T L Harvey Ltd Tel: 0121 568 8837 www.tlharvey.com

LOA: 6.66m Beam: 2.48m Displacement: 1200kg (ex eng) Enquiries: T L Harvey Ltd Tel: 0121 568 8837 www.tlharvey.com

The 22 has a similar layout to the 720 and benefits from solid wheelhouse doors. The roof is fixed but you do get twin sunroofs

PRICE from £56,300

Add another metre or so and you can get a bit more space all around, including a separate toilet compartment.

PRICE from £75,400

The 670ST is a more open boat than the 720, but can be fully enclosed under a canopy. Power is from an outboard of up to 250hp

PRICE from £53,350

> NEXT MONTH Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

Viking 275

77

New and Used

Boats for Sale 01189 403211

Bayliner / 175 GT

Great package with trailer, 135hp with 54hrs, radio & bimini

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

Corsiva / 590 Tender

Spacious day boat with inboard/ outboard 20hp Tohatsu

Interboat / 22 Classic

Interboat / Intender 760

2005 | £27,500 | 22ft | 6.8m

2014 | £44,500 | 25ft | 7.7m

Rare version with toilet, bowthruster, fridge, radio & bimini

Almost every extra added & only 17hrs. Truly As New

2011 | £13,995 | 17.5ft | 5.3m

2013 | £15,000 | 19.4ft | 5.9m

Broom / 32

Intercruiser / 28 Cabrio

Sheerline/1020

Broom / 38 Ocean

1985 | £39,995 | 32ft | 9.8m

2015 | €120,500 | 28ft | 8.5m

2007 | £98,000 | 33ft | 10.6m

1998 | £129,950 | 38.5ft | 11.7m

PRICE REDUCED. 6 berth spacious cruiser with 50hp diesel

Perfect social cruiser with full facilities. 42hp Vetus, only 60hrs

High coastal spec, new canopies, 6 berth, excellent condition

Luxurious cruiser with spacious cockpit, 3 cabins & 6 berths

See us at stand D150

Discover the essence of relaxed river life with Val Wyatt Marine From our superb family-owned site at Willow Marina we cater for your every boating need.

As well as an impressive range of river boat brands – including the handmade Interboat – we offer moorings, maintenance, on-site refreshments and local produce for that all-important picnic, and much more.

Just go with the flow and call in soon!

GREAT CHOICE OF BOAT BRANDS • FRIENDLY, EXPERT ADVICE • OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK Val Wyatt Marine, Willow Marina, Willow Lane, Wargrave, Berkshire, RG10 8LH | info@valwyattmarine.co.uk |

01189 403211

www.valwyattmarine.co.uk

See 100’sofofboats boatsforfor sale See 100’s sale at at www.tbsboats.com www.tbsboats.com Formerly www.thamesboatsales.co.uk purchased.

Part exchange available on all boats Formerly www.thamesboatsales.co.uk Boats Boats purchased.

Part exchange available on all boats

NEW SEALINE S330

Single Volvo Penta D6 330hp Diesel – 20 hrs Cruising Pack Comfort Pack Entertainment pack inc Digital TV Aerial Brand new Sealine S330 Raymarine A97 Plotter Brand new Sealine S330 with Single Volvo Penta D6 330hp Diesel.

Raymarine 260 Vhf in Cockpit stock Greatbbq Specification. with Single Volvo Penta D6 330hp Diesel. in Microwave stock Great Specification.

Eberspacher D4 Heating Wellington walnut saloon floor, with over carpets Vinyl hull wrap

Brand new Brand new Sealine S330

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Single Volvo Penta D6 330hp Single VolvoGreat Penta D6 330hp Diesel.

In Stock.

Diesel.

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Great Specifi cation.

Penta D6 Specifi cation.

Penta D6 330hp Diesel.

In Stock.

Great new Sealine F380 Brand new Sealine C330 Specifi cation.

330hp Diesel. In Stock. Great

2009 Jetten 37aC

2000 Fairline targa 43

Single43 Yanmar 75hp Diesel.2009 4 berths newDiesels.

Sealine targa Twin Volvo Brand Penta D3 220hp Huge C330 Twin TAMD 480hp 2000 Diesels. 5Fairline berths, generator, inverter low Specification. bowthruster, air con, full nav kit £134,950 bow / stern thrusters, Single Yanmar 7 with Twin Volvo Penta D6 330hp Diesels.

Twin Volvo Penta D3 220hp Diesels. Huge Twin TAMD 480hp Diesels. 5 berths, generator, new.

2007

new Sealine F380 with Twin Volvo Penta D6 330hp Diesels. cation.

HugeSpecifi Specification.

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2007

bowthruster, air con, full nav kit

bow / stern thru new.

See Sealine at the London Boat Show 2016. Sealine are exhibiting the S330, C330 & F380 Stand A144

RETAIL PRICE £199,615

SPECIAL OFFER PRICE £179,000 inc VAT

2015 Four winnS h180 Bowrider

£134,950

2004/05 galeon 380.

2004/05 CruiSerS F380 340 NEW SEALINE

2011 Sealine SC3

2004 Sealine S42

PHOTO Twin Volvo Penta Kad 43 260hp. Diesels. Twin Yanmar Volvo Penta D4 260hp. 5 berths 250hp Penta Diesels.D66 berths, Twin Volvo Penta Kad 300. 6 berths, blue hull, TwinLIBRARY Twin Volvo 6 berths, full nav kit, holding tank, folding generator, bowthruster, radar, gps, plotter. bow thruster, heating. Great Condition. aircon,Diesel heating, –huge specification.

330hp 30 hrs 2011 2004 Sealine S42 380.

2015 Four winnS h180 Bowriderradar arch.2004/05 galeon 2004/05 CruiSerS 340 £114,950 £124,950 ‘2013 SC35 due in soon’. £95,000 Please call for viewing.

Entertaining Pack Twin Volvo Penta Kad 43 260hp. Diesels. Cruising Single Volvo Penta 4.3 V6 petrol.

Twin Yanmar Pack250hp Diesels. 6 berths, Twin Volvo Penta Kad 300. 6 berths, blue hull, Twin Volvo Penta bowthruster, ra Special offer pric £31,500 6 berths, full nav kit, holding tank, folding Comfort generator, aircon, Pack heating, huge specification. bow thruster, heating. Great Condition. radar arch. £114,950 Navigation Pack inc £124,950 ‘2013 SC35 due £95,000 Please call for viewing.

Autopilot D4 Eberspacher Heating Raymarine HD Raydome AIS Exterior Cushion SEALINE SC35’S 2011 & 2013 Leather saloon upholstery Prices from £159,950 both fitted

Single Volvo Penta 4.3 V6 petrol.

Special offer pric £31,500

See 100’s of boats for sale at 01932 570055 www.tbsboats.com sales@pentonhooksales.co.uk 01932 570055

Formerly www.thamesboatsales.co.uk Boats purchased.

Part exchange available on Chertsey, all boatswith Volvo Penta 260hp Diesels.

RETAIL PRICE £350,977 Penton Hook Marine Sales, Penton Hook Marina, Staines Road, Surrey, KT16 D4 8PQ SPECIAL OFFER PRICE Both boats have great overall £319,000 inc VAT

sales@pentonhooksales.co.uk Brand new

Penton Hook

Sealine S330 Marine Sales,

Penton hook.indd 1 Brand new Sealine S330 with Single Volvo Penta D6 330hp Diesel. in stock Great Specification.

Penton hook.indd 1

2009 JETTEN 37AC

specifications

Penton Hook Marina, Staines Road, Chertsey, Surrey, KT16 8PQ

Single Volvo Penta D6 330hp Diesel. In Stock. Great Specification. Penta D6 330hpnew Diesel.

In Stock.

Great Sealine F380 Specification.

with Twin Volvo Penta D6 330hp Diesels.

Huge Specification.

2007

£144,950

Single Yanmar 75hp Diesel. 4 berths, 2 separate showers, bowthruster, 2004/05 galeon 380.

2015 Four winnS h180 Bowrider heating, tank, gas Twin Volvo Pentahob Kad 43 oven 260hp. Diesels.

Single Volvo Penta 4.3 V6holding petrol.

Special offer pric £31,500 6 berths, full nav kit, holding tank, folding & grill, battery charger, radar arch.chartplotter £114,950

Library Picture

Brand new Sealine C330

2000 Fairline targa 43

Twin Volvo Penta D3 220hp Diesels. Huge Specification.

Twin TAMD 480hp Diesels. 5 berths, generator, bowthruster, air con, full nav kit £134,950

2002 SEALINE S42

£119,950

Twin Volvo Penta KAD300 Diesels.

6 berths, Bowthruster, heating, 2004 Sealine S42 2004/05 CruiSerS 340 chartplotter, charger, teak Volvo Penta Kad 300.

6 berths, blue hull, Twin Yanmar 250hp Diesels.battery 6 berths, Twin generator, aircon, heating, huge specification. bow thruster, heating. Great Condition. cockpit floor & bathing platform for viewing. £124,950 £95,000 Please call

01932 570055

sales@pentonhooksales.co.uk Penton Hook Marine Sales, Penton Hook Marina, Staines Road, Chertsey, Surrey, KT16 8PQ

2009 Jetten 37aC

Fairline Phantom 38

Single Yanmar 75hp Diesel. 4 berths, heating, Due Soon. bow / stern thrusters, inverter low hrs from new. £149,950

2001/02 FAIRLINE PHANTOM 38 £119,950

Twin Volvo Penta TAMD 63P. 6 berths, heating, battery charger, speed/ 2011 Sealine SC35 2005/06 Sealine S34 depth gps, chartplotter, Twin Volvo Pentaradar, D4 260hp. 5 berths, heating, Twin Volvo Penta 170hp Diesels.6 berths, bowthruster, radar, gps, plotter. £169,950. radar, gps, chartplotter, heating, bowthruster. autopilot, ‘2013 SC35 due in soon’.anchor winch £92,500.

London Boat Show 8th to 17th January 2016 ~ MARINA'S & VIKING - B140, BROOM - A140 NEW CRUISER AGENTS FOR:-

Contact Thames & Kennet

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Contact Racecourse

Contact Upton

SEALINE S34 - 1999 - Twin Volvo KAD43 230hp A well presented S34 with a good specification including Plotter, Radar, VHF, Hydraulic gangway, New flexiteek bathing platform, Leather upholstery, New canopies, Holding tank. A popular 3 cabin craft with excellent cockpit £74,950

CONTACT US Sales Email:- guy.girling@tingdene.net Sales Mobile:- +44(0) 7701 287046 Thames & Kennet Marina Caversham Lakes Henley Road Reading, Berkshire RG4 RG49RA 6LQ 0118 947 7770

Windsor Racecourse Marina Maidenhead Road Windsor Berkshire SL4 5HT 01753 851717

Viking 24 Highline - 2012 Mercury 25hp o 4 berths, Teak laid cockpit, LED lighting, Flip back helm seat, Cut out Hull sides for easy boarding. Excellent condition £32,950

Contact Walton

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Sealine 305 Statesman – 1989 - Twin Volvo 200hp Diesel Engines. A popular small fly bridge cruiser with accommodation for 6, with this power option the 305 is a capable craft for coastal use and at home on inland waters. Ideal as a family craft good exterior space in the cockpit and fly bridge. £38,000

Viking 24 – 1998 – Honda 30 (2012) . A very tidy example of the Viking 24 with a new outboard in 2012 with full service history, Features 4 berths, Hot and cold water, spacious cockpit with sunbed conversion. A good family riverboat offered at a competitive figure. Afloat and ready to trial. £19,950

Contact Walton

AQUALINE VOYAGER 60 - 2011 -Beta 150hp A superb 2 cabin, 2 en suite, saloon, galley and wheelhouse barge. Perfect for European cruising Astounding specification - £219,000 ONE OF 3 BARGES AND 6 WIDE BEAMS AVAILABLE AT THAMES & KENNET MARINA

Sealine S28 – 1999 – Twin Volvo 170hp A very tidy S 28 with new canopies and cockpit upholstery, fully surveyed and new boat safety certificate, a spacious cabin with 4 berths and cockpit with seating for 6 in comfort. £49,950

Gobbi 345sc – 2002 – Twin Volvo KAD 43-230 Diesels Featuring Autopilot, Plotter, New Teak on bathing platform, New cockpit and cabin upholstery, New canopies, Toilet waste tank, The 345 is a very spacious boat with 4 berths and saloon, open plan to fore cabin, easy deck and transom access, in immaculate order. £69,950

Contact Racecourse

Viking Seamaster 28- 2012 - 40HP Honda 2013 A great family boat that will navigate the entire widebeam UK inland waterway system with 6 berths £44,500 - Also 2013 INBOARD AT £69,500 VISIT THE TINGDENE / VIKING STAND AT THE LONDON BOAT SHOW - NEW Viking 295

Contact Thames & Kennet

Contact Upton

Broom 395 Aft cabin – New Boat – Twin Volvo D4 360 Split galley design with Classic interior package, Heating, Inverter, Bow thruster, Powered folding mast, 2 Tv’s, Autopilot, VHF, GPS Plotter, Cockpit BBQ Stainless windows. The 395 offers tremendous space with twin master cabins both with ensuite facilities, Large galley and saloon, AVAILABLE NOW £452,503 Inc Vat

Contact Walton

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Stevens 1240DL – 1999 - Perkins Sabre 135L F Bow/Stern Thrusters. bow and stern thrusters. This Dutch steel cruiser been restored to a very standard. With comfortable accommodation and sleeping for 7. Two owners from new £135,950

Sessa C30 – 2007 – Twin Volvo D3 -190 Diesels Lemar Bow Thruster, Raymarine C80 Chart plotter, Holding Tank, New Canopy, Just Serviced, An immaculate 4 berth sports cruiser at home inland or on the coast, Large Cockpit with seating for 6 in ease, Cabin with separate mid cabin and toilet room. £69,950

Contact Racecourse

Broom 30HT Coupe – New Boat - Nanni 65 The All new 30HT with full sunroof to the hard top, Graphite colored hard top and hull, Teak cockpit, Bow thruster, Hull windows. The cabin gives 4 berths a large toilet and galley with Corian worktops.

Part Exchange possibilities – View at London Boat Show call for tickets . £155,000 Inc Vat

Viking 215 – New Boat – Mariner 20hp The 215 offers 6’headroom throughout, a 4 berth design, galley and shower/toilet room with cockpit seating for 5 and bathing platform boarding. Inventory with Hot & Cold water, oven, hob, grill & fridge. A great package that is also trailerable, View at the London Boat Show - Call for Tickets £34,083 inc Vat

Viking 275 - New Boat - Mariner 40EFI A fantastic family river cruiser with full bathing platform and transom boarding. Interior with 3 cabins and 6 berths, Inventory includes Bow thruster, Holding Tank , Heating, Shore Power and Battery Charger Afloat to view at Caversham.

STAND B140 LONDON £61,588 inc VAT

Contact Thames & Kennet

Contact Thames & Kennet

Contact Thames & Kennet

Broom Ocean 34 - 1998 - Sabre Perkins 135 A very clean and well presented 34 with 6 berths, open plan fore cabin, side door, plotter and VHF radio, canopies and soft furnishings immaculate. £89,950 1996Broom 29 - £59,950. New Broom 370 - £375,335 iF YOU ARE TRYING TO SELL A BROOM BOAT CONTACT US AS BROOM AGENTS,BOATS REQUIRED

Regal 2665 Commodore, 2004, Yanmar 240hp diesel, Very low engine hours, Full canopy, Extended bathing platform, 4 berths, Pumpout toilet, Raymarine GPS, Serviced & antifouled 2015.

Viewing highly recommend. £35,950

MOORINGS ARE AVAILABLE ATANY OF OUR EIGHT MARINAS CONTACT TODAY TO DISCUSS - marinas@tingdene.net COME & MEET US ON STAND B 140 LONDON BOAT SHOW, TO GET YOUR NEW BERTH FOR 2016

SCAN HERE

Upton Marina Upton upon Severn Worcestershire WR8 0PB 01684 593111

to view our boats for sale

Pyrford Marina 01932 343 275 River Wey, Surrey

Walton Marina 01932 221 689 Walton on Thames

Stourport Marina 01299 827 082 Stourport on Severn

Classified

2008 Monterey 275 Sportscruiser Well maintained and lightly used.

Fitted with Volvo Penta 300Hp petrol engine and duoprop outdrive.

4 / 6 berth, separate toilet and shower, microwave and hob. GPS. VHF. Lying Chichester

£38,950

07889 204236 Email address

2012 Sealine SC35 Twin Volvo D4

300hp (140hrs) with joystick. Superb hardtop sportscruiser. Limited edition. Air conditioning, generator, passerelle, full Raymarine electronics package

£165,000

Email address

Motorboat Owner Affordable practical boating

1983 Fairline Turbo 36 Twin Volvo

1983 Eurobanker Senator 37

235hp diesels. Garmin plotter, autopilot, radar. Hinged radar arch. BSS certificate. Seven berths with spacious master aft cabin.

Excellent sea boat. Well maintained

Twin Ford Lehman 120hp diesels.

Comfortable and economical cruising yacht offering good accommodation, and excellent sea keeping abilities. Well maintained with £30K of refurbishment since 2007

£49,500

£69,950

1988 Shadow 26 Twin Volvo Penta

1989 Sealine 328 Twin Volvo

£14,950

£44,950

07966 490943 Email address

131 petrols. Sleeps 4, with further a 2 berths in the cockpit. Shower, holding tank, gas oven grill, diesel heating. Lying Walton 01932 221689 waltonboatsales@tingdene.net

07795 831825 Email address

Penta AQAD41 200hp diesels. 4-6 berths with two seperate cabins.

Upgrades include a new canopy and new galley work top and sink

01932 570055

sales@pentonhooksales.co.uk

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81

Owners Directory i Arvor Boat Owners Club

Dell Quay Ranger website

www.arvorboatowners.co.uk

www.dellquayranger.supanet.com

Atlanta Boat Owners

Electric Boat Association

www.atlantaboats.co.uk

www.electric-boat-association.org.uk

Bavaria Owners’ Association

Elysian Boat Owners

www.bavariaowners.co.uk

www.elysianboats.co.uk

Bayliner Owners Club

Fairey Owners Club

www.baylinerownersclub.org

www.faireyownersclub.co.uk

Beneteau Owners’ Association

Fairline Owners Club

www.beneteau-owners-association.org.uk

www.fairlineownersclub.com

Broom Owners Club

Fjord Club

www.broomowners.com

www.fjordclub.com

Chaparral Boat Owners Forum

Fletcher Owners Club

forum.chaparralboats.com

fletcher-boats.co.uk/your-fletcher/owners-club

Classic Motor Boat Association

Freeman Cruisers Forum

www.cmba-uk.com

Classic Offshore Powerboat Club www.classicoffshore.com

Cleopatra Owners Club

freemanboats.forumer.com

Freeman Owners Club

www.freemancruisers.com

Freeman Cruisers

mycleopatra.ning.com

freeman-cruisers.forumotion.co.uk

Coronet Cruisers

Haines Owners Club

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

www.hainesmarine.co.uk/owners.php

Cranchi Owners Club & Forum

Hampton Safari Boat Club

cranchiownersclub.com

hamptonsafaribc.webplus.net

Dawncraft Owners Club & Forum

Hardy Owners Club

www.dawncraftowners.com

82

www.hardy-owner.org.uk

December 2015

Jeanneau Owners Network

www.jeanneau-owners.com

Mariah Owners Club www.mariahownersclub.com

Maxum Owners Club

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

Sea Ray Owners Club

www.clubsearay.com

Sealine Forum

www.sealineforum.co.uk

www.maxumownersclub.com

Microplus Boats

Sealine Owners Club www.sealineowners.com

www.microplus.dk

Monterey Fourm

Seamaster Club www.seamasterclub.co.uk

forums.montereyboats.com

Moonraker Owner’s Club

www.moonraker.dk/eng_index.htm

Nauticus www.nauticus.co.uk

Nelson Boat Owners Club

www.nelsonboatownersclub.co.uk

Nimbus Owners Club UK www.nimbusowners.co.uk

Norman Appreciation Society www.normanboats.co.uk

Princess Owners Club

Seaward Owners Club www.seawardboat.com/club.html

Shetland Owners Association www.shetlandowners.co.uk/shetland/

Star Craft Owners Club www.bates-starcraft.co.uk

Sunseeker Owners Club sunseekerownersclub.com

Viking Owners Club

www.vikingowners.org.uk

Warrior Boats Owners Club

www.warriorboatsownersclub.co.uk

princessownersclub.com

Regal Owners Forum www.regalownersforum.com

Relcraft Boaters Group www.relcraftboatersgroup.co.uk

Owners Club missing?

@ contact us at

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83

L K what I saw

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Dolphin off the port bow!

One of a pod of dolphins seen in the Irish Sea SPOTTED! David Bagshaw

Caledonian Classic

A 1970’s Elysian 27 on the Caledonian Canal SPOTTED! Claire Frew

Proud Chiefton

This Caledonian Canal-based Seamaster has been in the same family for 45 years SPOTTED! Pam Born

Seasickness

Sitting under a tree is not always a cure SPOTTED! Stewart Gregory 84

December 2015

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85

Winterise

W interising is the act of protecting your

boat and its equipment and contents from the ravages of the winter weather. Failing to carry out any preparation for winter can result in expensive damage to the engine, domestic water system and even your soft furnishings. The requirement to carry out any winterising will depend largely on whether you keep your boat in fresh water or salt and how far north you are in the UK. If you keep your boat in fresh water I would say that it is almost imperative to carry out some basic

YOUR BOAT

winterising. With salt water the need isn’t quite so great because salt water freezes at a lower temperature than fresh, typically around –2°C. Damage is caused by water expanding as it freezes, and this expansion can crack even a solid iron engine block.

I know that many people on the south coast who keep their boat in salt water do not carry out any winterising at all, and for the most part will get away with If we get another winter like this, will your boat be protected?

www.stuhaynes.co.uk

PRACTICAL

HOW TO

18

December 2013

BY NEALE BYART Paul & Sandra Field

it, but is not unheard of for damage to occur even here, so I would suggest a little bit of preventative work is well worth doing to save the worry and, even remote possibility, of a large repair bill.

The complete process of winterising and protecting the boat can be broken down into a number of different jobs. The most important is winterising the engine as this is where the most expensive damage can occur. Next comes the domestic water system which, because it is full of fresh water, is the most prone to damage when the temperature dips. Although tales of engine damage are thankfully quite rare, possibly because most owners do take some precautions, stories of damage to the boats freshwater supply are far more common and I have personally been caught out with this one. Next comes the interior of the boat. There are some simple steps to take to ensure the soft furnishings see it through the winter unscathed. You can simply take them home and store them, you can ensure the boat has good ventilation to keep mildew at bay or you can go the high tech route and use some form of dehumidifier. The last section is the boats exterior. It is a good idea to give the boat a wash and a coat of good quality wax at the beginning of winter as it will protect the gelcoat from airbourne contaminates and any UV over winter, meaning re-commissioning in spring should require nothing more than a quick wash and a recoat of wax.

While you are on the boat and in your work clothes you may want to consider carry out some servicing. This is not strictly winterising but fits in well with it and will, in a small way, help to protect the

Freezing water can split metal, this is a damaged tap but it could be your engine

boat over winter. A freshly serviced engine means that the boat is ready to go in the spring, it has nice clean oil protecting the engine’s inner workings, it’s a great opportunity to use up your existing engine spares and order some new ones for next season, but most importantly, it gives you lots of time to deal with any problems that might show up during a service. The sort of thing we are referring to is finding water in your outdrive oil, or worse still in your engine oil. Find a problem like this in the spring and you will be hard pressed to secure the services of a decent engineer as this is their busiest time, so you are likely to start eating into your season while waiting for repairs. Find a problem before Christmas and, expense aside, getting the repair carried out should be painless and most importantly, completed in time for the start of next season.

So, how do you winterise a boat? Simply follow the steps detailed on the next few pages, or at least the ones that are relevant to your boat, and you can relax knowing that regardless of what mother nature throws at us in the coming months, your boat will remain safe and serviceable as soon as spring has sprung.

Motorboat Owner Š Digital Marine Media Ltd

19

PRACTICAL

HOW TO IN 9 STEPS

PART 1

The Engine

If your engine is fresh water cooled the block itself should be protected with antifreeze already so you just need to displace the raw water that is trapped in the heat exchangers with an antifreeze mixture. Raw water engines will need an antifreeze solution run right through the engine so will need running up to temperature first.

1

On a freshwater cooled engine the captive antifreeze mix should be changed every two years. Change it, or if it not due, check the strength to ensure it is up to the job.

4

On a stern drive boat you have a choice of feeding the antifreeze mix through the leg via a set of muffs, or taking an inlet pipe off inside the boat. Check first that the hose is not below the waterline if still afloat.

2

Mix a solution of antifreeze and water at a ratio of 1:1.

Around five litres of mixture is usually enough per engine so a 5 litre container of antifreeze should be enough for most twin engine boats.

5

Outboards often have a flushing port which you can use to introduce an antifreeze mix. Alternatively use a pair of muffs or simply lower the leg into a container filled with an antifreeze mix.

3

On a shaft drive boat close the seacock and remove the raw water strainer cap. Pour the mix into the strainer with the engine running and shut the engine off just as the mix runs out.

6

Antifreeze is toxic so it should not be allowed to enter the water or soak into the ground. Try and catch the expelled antifreeze mix in a bucket. If this is not possible consider using nontoxic polyethylene glycol.

20

December 2013

7

8

An alterative to inhibiting an engine with antifreeze is to drain it. Check your owner’s manual for the drain points on your engine and follow the instructions carefully to ensure you remove all of the raw water.

Once the engine is inhibited remove the impeller and store it for the winter to reduce distortion. Replace the pump faceplate if the boat is staying afloat to reduce the chance of water entering the engine room.

9

Place a sign on the helm to advise that the engine should not be started due to winterisation. This could also remind you to replace the impeller and open the seacock if required.

HOW TO IN 9 STEPS

PART 2

Domestic water systems

As previously mentioned the domestic water system is most prone to frost damage. You can inhibit it with a non-toxic antifreeze but we recommend simply emptying the system completely to remove any threat of expansion damage.

1

Drain your domestic water tank to remove as much water as possible by running a tap. There will always be a small amount of water remaining in the bottom of the tank but this won’t cause a problem.

2

Remove the connections from your domestic water pump. Using a dinghy pump blow back through the inlet hose to ensure there is no water trapped in the hose from the tank to the pump.

3

Open one tap at a time and blow water through the pumps outlet pipe until only air comes out of the tap, then close the tap. Do this to each tap, both hot and cold not forgetting any cockpit or transom mounted taps.

Motorboat Owner Š Digital Marine Media Ltd

21

PRACTICAL

4

Remove the water pump filter and empty any water trapped inside. This is also a good opportunity to clean the filter element. Now open all of the taps and leave them open.

7

Manual toilets should be pumped on the dry setting to remove any water from the pump body, as these have been known to crack when water inside freezes.

5

Most of the water in the calorifier will have been blown through, but if yours has a drain cock, open it and drain the last of the water out. If you have a gas water heater open the drain valve.

8

To keep the seals and valves lubricated you could pour a little vegetable oil down the pan as you are excavating the water in step 7.

6

If you have any shower sumps on board, ensure they are empty. If necessary remove the lid and mop it out. Again this is a good opportunity to clean the pump filter inside.

9

If you have grey or black water tanks, pump them out and leave them as empty as possible.

Many owners like to bung up exhaust and ventilation ports. This is fine but make yourself a note to remove them in the spring.

22

December 2013

HOW TO IN 9 STEPS

PART 3

Other jobs

These jobs are really more a mixture of preventative maintenance, servicing and good practice rather than strictly winterising, but it makes good sense to consider doing them while you are on a roll.

1

Using a good corrosion protection product, give the engines, mechanicals and any exposed electricals a good spray. You can also grease any movable linkages and squirt some grease into any grease points.

4

A dehumidifier will really help to keep the boat dry.

You can use chemical ones if you have no power, but an electric version does a much better job. Put it on a timer for around 6 hours a day to save electricity.

2

With diesel boats, fill the tanks to the brim to reduce condensation problems.

Petrol fuel tanks are best left completely empty, or if this is impractical, add some fuel stabiliser to keep the fuel fresh.

5

Change the engine oil so that the internal components of the engine are coated in clean contaminant free lubricant.

It is also an opportunity to check for major problems such as water in the oil.

3

A good coat of wax all over the boats exterior should help see it into the new season with a shine and will certainly make the first wash of the year much easier.

6

It’s the same with gearbox oil on sterndrive and outboard legs. It’s not uncommon to find water in here and you don’t want that water sloping around your gears all winter.

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

23

PRACTICAL

7

9

8

Check your props for damage. Like good engineers, the people who refurbish propellers get very busy in spring so get in early if required.

Check your safety equipment. Items such as lifejackets, liferafts, PLBs, EPIRBs and fire fighting equipment all have service requirements. Winter is a good time to get this done.

Check the electrolyte levels in your batteries, top up if required and ensure that the batteries are fully charged if they are going to be left idle for any length of time.

What about leaving the boat in commission?

Q&A

If you are planning on using the boat throughout the winter, inhibiting the engine and domestic water supply after each use is going to be costly and time consuming. The easiest thing to do with the domestic water system is simply not use it. Take bottled water on board and use the marina facilities.

If you do need to use it, perhaps see if you can decommission the most susceptible parts such as transom and cockpit outlets. If you have reliable shorepower you can put some greenhouse tube heaters in the engine room to keep frost at bay and prevent engine damage. Rather than simply running them 24/7, consider plugging them into a thermostat set at around

3°C so that they only come on when the temperature is getting close to freezing. You should consider blocking up the engine room vents too to help keep any warmth in. Just remember to remove the plugs before starting up. If you are going to be reliant on electric to stop your boat from freezing it is a good idea to invest in some kind of shorepower monitor that will alert you if someone unplugs your boat, or if the power supply fails. This winter we are going to be using a SIM card enabled socket called the Thermotxt from a company called Tekview, we’ll let you know how we get on.

24

December 2013

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