Motorboat Owner February 2020

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Motorboat FEBRUARY 2020

Owner Affordable practical boating

BOAT TEST

Targa 30.1 Destination Guide Torqeedo T1103C l Beneteau Flyer 7 Sundeck l Sealine S29/SC29

CAEN

Welcome to the February issue.

From the Editor

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

editorial@motorboatowner.co.uk

You may have noticed on last month’s back page that we were supposed to be writing about installing turbo boost gauges for this issue. Unfortunately, practical jobs have no respect for magazine deadlines and if they want to prove to be trickier than expected, or take longer than they should, there is little we can do about it. As I write this, I have one out of two installed, with that engine currently

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

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February 2020

welcome aboard

A stolen winter weekend away before a break for maintenance and upgrades

refusing to start as I had to remove all of the injector lines to do it. It now needs to be bled before I can get around to testing the install and then repeating the whole process on the second engine. I simply ran out of time.

I have, however, made a bit of a leap forward on the other boat. The trim rams, that were holding up putting the sterndrive back onto the boat have now

been overhauled and, sporting some designer corrosion, are ready to be reinstalled. This was a very satisfying process. Knowing that two new rams would have set me back around £1200, and I have repaired and overhauled them for the princely sum of £23, is what makes all those cuts, scrapes, grease laden fingernails and copious use of old fashioned Anglo Saxon language so worthwhile. You can see how this overhaul was achieved on page 70, but I’m afraid you will have to wait until next month for the boost gauge install. I still have lots of unused language to give, and half of my knuckles with their full complement of skin to offer up.

Despite this, we still have a full complement of interesting features and tests this month, including a guide to one of my favourite cruising destinations, Caen, a test of a boat from the ever impressive Targa range, and a review of Torqeedo’s latest portable electric outboard. Enjoy.

Sub Editor, Pam Born Production Editor, John Frew

Subscriptions: 01268 922991 subscriptions@motorboatowner.co.uk

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

Contributors:

Alex Smith, Simon Everett, John Hall, Phil Hildyard, Mark Hammond, Tally Clift, Neil Mountain

Cover photo: Targa 30.1 on test on the Turku archipelago, Finland by Neale Byart Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

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CONTENTS FEBRUARY 2020

REGULARS

p70

NEWS page 6 INBOX page 14 CUTTING EDGE page 36 Q&A page 50 TESTED page 66 page 66 Tested

Torqeedo Travel 1103C page 70 Project Boat

Fairline Vixen

PRACTICAL

Volvo Penta 290SP trim ram overhaul

plus Volvo Penta 290SP drive trim ram overhaul

page 74 Hooked

Thornback Rays

p38

NEW BOATS AT

DUSSELDORF page 16

CAEN Destination Guide

p22

p54

BOAT TESTS

p76

Sealine S29/SC29

CLASSIC CRUISER GUIDE

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

Targa 30.1

Beneteau Flyer 7 Sundeck

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NEWS

Greenline sell Neo range to Bavaria Yachts The Slovenian hybrid boat builder, Greenline Yachts, has sold its Neo range of outboard-powered sportscruisers to German builder, Bavaria Yachts. The deal sees the Bavaria shipyard procure all rights to the construction of the range, as well as the moulds and tooling, and it will begin production at its Giebelstadt facility in September 2020. The move is being described as strategic to enable Greenline to focus on hybrid propulsion, as the Neo is the only model in the current range that is not available as a hybrid. A decision perhaps reaffirmed by excellent sales at Boot Düsseldorf 2020 of which 80% were for boats fitted with the H-Drive Hybrid system. Luca Meffle, Head of Sales and Marketing at SVP Yachts, Greenline’s parent company, said “We are very happy that our NEO found a suitable new owner in Bavaria. We still believe in this project and we are excited to see how Bavaria will push the Neo to another level with its knowledge of serial production.” Greenline will stop producing the Neo range in March, after which its range will consist of seven models from 9.99m (32ft 8in) to 20.8m (68ft 2in), all available with hybrid or full electric propulsion.

Recognising the growing movement towards outboard-powered cruisers, Michael Müller, CEO of Bavaria Yachts, concluded that with Neo it can now complete its portfolio of models and hopes to present a new model as early as this year.

Handshake at the Boot Düsseldorf boat show. Michael Müller, CEO Bavaria Yachts, pictured left and Vladimir Zinchenko, Owner and CEO Greenline Yachts right 6

February 2020

TARGA. THE TRUE ORIGINAL. T23.1

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T25.1

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T27.2

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T30.1

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T32

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T35

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T37

ǀ

T44

WESSEX MARINE, Salterns Marina, Salterns Way, Lilliput, Poole, Dorset, BH14 8JR, England +44 (0) 1202 700702, info@wessexmarine.co.uk, www.wessexmarine.co.uk

ǀ

T46

NEWS West Country Boat Show This summer, a new West Country Boat Show will be held at MDL Marinas’ Queen Anne’s Battery (QAB) marina in Plymouth. Taking place over the weekend of the 20th-21st June, the new free-entry regional show is being supported by the Plymouth City Council and its organisers have already signed up several motorboat brands, such as Plymouth-resident Princess Motor Yachts and Sunseeker Torquay. Show attractions at the 235-berth marina will include demonstrations, sea trials, live music, food and land-based exhibitors showcasing new products and services.

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Sealine S430 NEW BOAT German boat builder, Sealine, has announced a new ‘S’ open cockpit version of its 430 model. Drawing on the design of its smaller sister, the S330, the new S430 has an electric concertina roof that can be almost completely opened, while side windows slope to the rear to merge the cockpit with its surroundings. A U-shaped cockpit lounge-cum-sunpad adapts for access to a hydraulic bathing platform, while the boats galley has been relocated down below. The S430 is set to debut at the Palma Boat Show in April and prices are expected to start at €409,950.

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February 2020

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

editorial@motorboatowner.co.uk

Zodiac and Barrus

UK and Northern Ireland marine leisure product distributor, Barrus, has announced its partnership with the French RIB and inflatable boat brands, Zodiac and Bombard. Complementing its Mercury and Mariner outboard distribution, Barrus will now be offering boat and engine packages and will be securing authorised dealers within the UK whilst supporting its existing network, with stock held in the UK to meet customer demand. François Renault, EMEA Export Sales Director for Z Nautic Group added “We have big ambitions for Zodiac in the UK and would therefore like to take advantage of the synergy between Barrus and Zodiac which include over 220 years of combined experience, Barrus’s logistical expertise, the existing dealer network and Z Nautic renewed product range.”

Fernhurst Self-Publishing House Budding boating authors now have the opportunity to publish their own book in paperback, hardback and or eBook format with a new self-publishing service from nautical publisher, Fernhurst Books. Director, Jeremy Atkins, explained “We get a number of manuscripts each year from boaters who have done amazing voyages. I really enjoy reading these but, in most cases, I have to reject them because I cannot guarantee that we will sell enough to cover our up-front costs.” Fernhurst added that ‘many would-be authors are simply not looking for huge sales, instead wanting to create a book for their friends and family, a niche audience or just for personal satisfaction. This might be a log of a voyage, a book about a particular boat, the history of a boat club, a biography or any other type of book, non-sailing included. Self Publishing House gives the power back to the author, and keep any profit the book makes’. Various services are also available in the publishing model including book design, marketing and distribution. For more information, go to fernhurstbooks.com.

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

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NEWS Rodman 1290 Evolution NEW BOAT This summer, the Spanish boatbuilder, Rodman, will unveil a revitalised version of its 90s sportsfisher icon, the 1250. The new 1290 Evolution will be based on the 1250, sharing its flaredhull shape, deep side decks and large cockpit, but will have some striking new features, such as stylish hull windows, a wheelhouse side door, larger saloon windows, a larger forward cabin skylight and new interior finishes. It will be available as two versions, a Flybridge or a Hardtop, which has an electric sliding roof. The 4-6 berth cruiser has two cabins, with a large double berth in the forward cabin, and an L-shaped side cabin offering two single berths. Like the 1250, it will be available with conventional shaftdrives or IPS drives, with either 440hp Volvo Penta D6 shaftdrives, or IPS 380hp or 440hp D6s. Prices start at £397,200.

Conwy Marina redevelopment Conwy Marina in north Wales is to be given a major facelift this spring, with pontoon installation and reconfiguration providing new berths. The multi-phase investment, which is currently at Phase 1, will see an additional 42 berths added. The reconfiguration will see inside pontoon ‘I’ absorbed, with the main pontoon network extending west and more entry gangways added. The 500-berth marina is operated by Quay Marinas, which is now partner to south coast marina operator, Dean and Reddyhoff.

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February 2020

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

editorial@motorboatowner.co.uk

Ring Arksen partnership The British commercial and leisure boat builder, Ring Powercraft, will be teaming up with exploration vessel builder, Arksen, to create a new Adventure range of rugged exploration vessels from 15 to 45 feet. Models, such as the debut Arksan 45, pictured, will offer up to four berths, a range of up to 500nm and ‘sprint speeds’ of over 45 knots with various engine configurations available, outboards, stern and jetdrive systems, with hybrid options.

British Motor Yacht Show extends

Organisers of the British Motor Yacht Show (BMYS) announced in January that this year’s show will extend to four days, running from Thursday 14th to Sunday 17th May. Held at Premier’s Swanwick Marina, this ‘high end’ show is ever expanding and packs in British and overseas motoryacht builders, such as Fairline, Princess and Pearl.

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Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

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NEWS Ocean Safety open days UK marine safety specialists, Ocean Safety, is inviting boat owners to familiarise themselves with some essential onboard safety equipment by hosting two open days in February. On the weekend of the 15th and 16th, the company will be opening its Saxon WharfSouthampton headquarters doors and asking boaters to bring along their liferafts and lifejackets to watch them being opened and inflated. Ocean Safety’s team of marine safety experts will also be on hand throughout the two days between 10am and 4pm to discuss a whole range of safety products, providing advice on products right for your boat and boating plans. Liferaft and lifejacket servicing and certification of these before the new season starts can also be prearranged. Boaters need to register their interest and book a time slot by emailing service@oceansafety.com

Poole Harbour Boat Show partner RNLI The RNLI Poole Lifeboat Station has become the official event charity partner to the Poole Harbour Boat Show. Members of the Poole Lifeboat Station team will be on hand throughout the threeday free-entry show, 12-14th June, providing advice, demonstrating equipment and raising awareness.

Show organisers also hope to have several of the RNLI Poole lifeboats on display. Jim Stewart, CEO of Poole Harbour Commissioners, said it is “the perfect partnership to help promote the key show message of safety on the water”. See pooleharbourboatshow.co.uk 12

February 2020

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

editorial@motorboatowner.co.uk

The Broads Authority has agreed a differential increase in tolls for 2020/2021, which, from the 1st April, will see diesel and petrol powered boats paying 2.9% more than the previous year. Those owning unpowered, hybrid and electric vessels will see a rise of 1%. The Broads Authority said this is unlikely to lead to a major shift in the propulsion used on the Broads, with non-fossil fuel technology for boats still in its infancy, and, with the increase, wanted to demonstrate its commitment to tackling climate change. The authority gave the following increase example, a 38m2 privately-owned diesel-powered boat will pay an extra £14.82 in 2020.

DIARY DATES Vene Båt Helsinki 7th-16th February North Essex Boat Jumble 29th March Thames Boat Jumble 16th April Horning Boat Show 2nd May Thames Valley & London Boat Show 8th-10th May Brundall Boat Show 16th May British Motor Yacht Show 14th-17th May South Coast Boat Show 15th-17th May All Wales Boat & Leisure Show 29th-30th May Click any of the above for more info Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

© BroadsAuthority/James Bass

Broads Toll rises

ATYC Rally new venue This year’s ATYC Rally (The Association of Thames Yacht Clubs) is being sponsored by TBS Boats and MDL Marinas and will be held at Weybridge over the August bank holiday weekend. At the event participants can try watersports, watch demonstrations and take part in competitions, with a number of functions being held at the Weybridge Mariners Club. Participant clubs and boats are being advised to book to save disappointment.

0800 310 2100

Marine Electronics in stock for immediate dispatch.

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

sales@mdsbattery.co.uk

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INBOX

@ Julian Claxton/Broads Authority

That’s my old boat

Thank you for the latest issue of Motorboat Owner. I was surprised to see my old Sealine F43, Moneypenny, moored at Oulton Broad, in the opening photograph and in the Lowestoft feature. I estimate that it was taken around 2014/2015 as we changed the cockpit canopy and the horseshoe lifebuoy around that time. As I lack photos from that time, I wondered if you might send me a copy, please? The photo at Oulton, in the sun, brings back many memories. I suspect we were moored there waiting on a lock to travel through Lake Lothing and out to sea. We also often used the Royal Norfolk & Suffolk Yacht Club with her, so I half expected her to be in that photo as well. We unfortunately had to give up boating this year and miss it dreadfully. You never know we may get another one, which can be crewed single handed. I had considered a Marex but we are not ready at the moment. David Phillips Editor comments: Thank you for writing in to us. We are so pleased to have brought back some happy memories. You are absolutely on the money in terms of the year, it was taken in September 2014. The image, which is absolutely stunning, is a publicity image owned by the Broads Authority and taken by talented Broads photographer, Julian Claxton. I have contacted the Broads Authority, and both the BA and Julian are happy for you to have the image and I have forwarded it onto you. I hope you get back out on the water soon.

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February 2020

email:

editorial@motorboatowner.co.uk

BACK

IN

TIME

Here is Fairline’s first Targa, the 33, in its 1984 brochure with the tagline ‘the power to be free’

Discover space to relax at Portland Marina.

Marina, dry stack, boatyard.

01305 866190

portlandmarina.co.uk

DÜSSELDORF

HIGHLIGHTS

Messe Düsseldorf/ctillmann

Germany’s massive, Boot Düsseldorf boat show always sees numerous new boat launches. Here is our pick for 2020

Bavaria SR41

German boat builder, Bavaria unveiled its new sportscruiser model, the SR41. Key features include an aft cockpit dinette area converting into a sunpad and stylish hull windows. The SR41 will be available in soft top, hardtop and coupé versions and is fitted with standard twin 355hp MerCruiser petrols, or up to D6-380 diesels.

Price from £229,600 www.clippermarine.co.uk

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February 2020

BOOT DÜSSELDORF 2020 SPECIAL

Fairline F//Line 33 The British boatbuilder, Fairline Yachts, unveiled a new metallic blue, outboard-powered version of its latest F//Line 33 model at the show. The stylish sportster is now available with twin 300hp Mercury Verados giving 37 knots, 350hp Verados offering 42 knots, or the latest 400hp Verados giving 45 knots.

Other new features include an ‘Ascender’ bathing platform around the outboards.

Price from £272,150 www.fairline.com

Axopar 37

Axopar’s new 37 model range received its official public unveiling at Boot’s opening weekend. The Sun-Top version pictured, has gullwing cabin entry and spacious walkaround side and aft-deck areas. The aft deck can also be equipped with an optional wet bar module, aft cabin, sunpad or a storage compartment. Its cabin provides a fixed double, a toilet and L-shaped seating.

Price from €91,500 www.axopar.fi

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

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DÜSSELDORF Nimbus C11

HIGHLIGHTS

The Commuter 11 is the latest boat to be unveiled in an 11-metre series from Swedish builder, Nimbus. This rugged wheelhouse cruiser offers four berths in two cabins, a stepped hull and, with twin outboard or sterndrive options, 300-440hp, its capable of 40 knots.

Price from €292,300 www.nimbus.se

XO 260

Finnish Aluminium boatbuilder, XO, unveiled its new 260 model at Boot.

Available in Cabin or T-Top versions, on display was the Cabin fitted with a single 300hp Mercury Verado, with 200-400hp engine options available, giving up to 50 knots. Inside the wheelhouse, a versatile layout offers adaptable seating, two berths and a separate toilet.

Price from €96,806 www.idealboat.com

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February 2020

BOOT DÜSSELDORF 2020 SPECIAL

Parker 760 Quest

Following the success of its 790 Explorer and 920 Explorer Max models, Polish builder, Parker, has unveiled a new 26ft pilothouse. The 760 Quest. Like its sisters, has a twinstepped hull for improved efficiency, and power is provided by a single outboard up to 300hp. A boat weight of just over 2000kgs means it could also be used as a trailboat. Its interior provides a secure-feeling wheelhouse and two double berths.

Price from £66,227 www.boatshopgroup.co.uk www.parkerpoland.com

Beneteau Gran Turismo 32

Drawing on the design of its Flyer 10 express cruiser, French builder, Beneteau, launched its new Gran Turismo 32 at the Cannes Yachting Festival last year. Making its German debut, the GT32 has an intuitive deck layout that provides walk-through windscreen access to a sunken foredeck and forward sunpad area, while inside are two double berths.

A covered, adaptable cockpit is topped with an electric roof. It is available with a choice of outboard and sterndrive options up to 600hp, providing speeds up to 35 knots.

Price €161,600 www.beneteau.com ©Photos supplied by Ancasta

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

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DÜSSELDORF

HIGHLIGHTS

Alfastreet 28 Cabin Slovenian builder, Alfastreet presented its new flagship model, the 28 Cabin at the show. This stylish electric dayboat-cumweekender has a social covered cockpit, complete with aft sunpad and customary clamshell roof.

A forward cabin provides two berths, with a dinette converting into a double berth and a separate toilet compartment. The boat on display was fully electric, but petrol or diesel engine options are available, as is an Open version.

Price from £119,995 display £159,995 www.boatshowrooms.com

Nimbus T8

The T8, or Tender 8, is the second 2020 launch from Swedish builder, Nimbus.

This clever 26ft walkaround offers a two-berth cabin area with a separate toilet cubicle and a versatile cockpit protected by a unique and stylish see-through T-top roof. Power options are a single Mercury outboard, 200-300hp.

Price from €80,605 www.nimbus.se

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February 2020

BOOT DÜSSELDORF 2020 SPECIAL

Rodman 33 Offshore Billed as a ‘seriously fast fisher’, the 33 Offshore is a centre console, deck boat that is based on the hull of Rodman’s popular 33ft patrol boat. Offered with twin outboards, 250hp or 300hp, this flash, T-top is capable of 45-50 knots. A door on the starboard-side of the console provides entry to a substantial cabin area, offering dinette seating which converts into a double, ample storage, a fridge and separate toilet.

Price from £224,400 www.rbsmarine.com

Paragon 31 Flybridge From the Swedish Nimbus stable comes the latest revised addition to the Paragon range, the 31 Flybridge.

Here cruiser and RIB design collide to create a rugged and rigid commuter flybridge. A versatile wheelhouse, equipped with a galley, leads into a V-berth cabin forward, and a cabin offers twin berths aft. It is available with single or twin Volvo Penta D-series options, 300-440hp.

Price from €TBA www.paragonyachts.se

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

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Targa 30.1

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February 2020

BOAT TEST

Length (LOA): 10.08m / 33ft 1in Beam: 3.25m / 10ft 7in Displacement: 5,500kg Fuel capacity: 600 litres Water capacity: 120 litres RCD category: B6 Engines as tested: 1 x Volvo Penta D6-400 Other engine options: 1 x Volvo D6-440, 2 x Volvo D4-270, 2 x Volvo D4-300, 2 x Volvo D4-320 Price from ÂŁ282,200

Motorboat Owner Š Digital Marine Media Ltd

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A

couple of years ago Botnia, the Finnish builders of the Targa range of fast seaworthy boats, relaunched their long standing 31 model.

They called it the 32 to ally the name with its slightly increased length. This meant that Botnia had a bit of a gap in their line-up between the new 32 and the long-standing 27-foot model, then known as the 27.1. This gap was perfect to drop a new boat straight into, and that new model was called the 30.1. Having already tested the 32 and the 27, we were keen to find out what unique features the 30.1 would bring to the range. I was particularly keen, as I always felt the old

31 hit the sweet spot in the range, and the new 30.1 has all the hallmarks of filling its keel shoes admirably.

On initial inspection, the 30.1 looks to serve up the standard formulaic Targa recipe, and that’s a good thing.

The Botnia Targa range have won a reputation that must be the envy of many other boat builders,

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February 2020

“Targa’s new 30.1 had big boots to fill”

and that reputation is justly deserved.

There may be the odd detractor that points to the range’s appearance as being a bit agricultural, others will tell you that the accommodation is not as spacious and luxurious as other boats, and of course, they would be right in both regards. What you will never hear from anyone in the know though, are any complaints about the way the boats are built, presented and their on-the-water manners. With plaudits coming so thick and fast, why risk any radical change?

Externally the 30.1 delivers the usual mix of safe walkaround decks with space to relax both fore and aft. Access onto Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

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Outside space and practical working decks come as standard with every Targa in the range

the boat can be achieved over the bathing platform and through a nice big double door mid transom, or over the gunwale on either side where a gate is provided in the sturdy teak-topped, wraparound

Bow access is excellent although an anchor winch will clutter this space, if chosen

guard rail. Once onboard you are met with one-level walkaround decks behind deep guardrail topped gunwales that provide a very safe environment for crew, or an easy way for the single hander to get around the boat when mooring. The sidedecks get pinched a little as you approach the forward end of the wheelhouse, but still offer a decent width to allow brisk access to the bow area. Here, raised seating sweeps around the bow and this, together with a small seat on the forward end of the wheelhouse, allows for a large social gathering with the option to install a table, if required. With lockers beneath the bow seats, there are dedicated places for the table and a gas locker, while still leaving plenty of space for general storage. As is usual for Scandinavian boats, the bow offers easy boarding options with a teak laid walk-through, two raised handrails and a flip down single rung ladder. If fitted, an anchor and winch will clutter this walkway with the chain falling into a locker below.

Moving aft and the 30.1 delivers that

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February 2020

The ‘flybridge’ comes as standard but can be deleted during build if you would prefer not to have it

almost ubiquitous aft deck, with a wide open expanse of space, those twin opening stainless steel transom gates and a locker/ seat in each aft corner. Again, the table can be set up here for some al fresco seating, dining or entertainment. In the floor there are two large hatches that lift to provide access to the engine bay. These are gas strutted, to hold them safely open while you are down there, but their sheer size does make it a little awkward to find somewhere to stand, that isn’t on them, to get them open. Once open, however, their size works in your favour as the engine, or engines, are laid out in their full glory in front of you. On a single engine boat, like our test model, space around the whole engine is fantastic. Choosing one of the twin options, will restrict access a little but Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

should still offer enough room to get at all the important bits easily enough.

Step out through the transom and onto the large bathing platform and you will find the usual Targa hatch that opens to allow easier access to a raised leg and prop should you get fouled. Apart from this the

Double transom gates provide easy access to the large bathing platform with prop access hatch

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The galley, hidden below a lifting section of the console, has lots of useful storage within easy reach

platform is uncluttered save for a small grab handle on the port side to help when using the bathing ladder and the stern anchor to starboard, a feature unlikely to find its way onto many UK based boats. At the forward end of the aft cockpit there is access to the boat’s flybridge’. This is quite a steep climb and, once there, consists of three forward facing seats, a single helm and a double co-pilot, and some basic helm equipment/instrumentation. On the 30.1 this flybridge is a standard no-cost option, meaning you get it in with the base price. You can delete the option if you don’t require it, and I understand that will result in a small saving on the base boat price, but despite its basic facilities this is actually a nice place to drive this, or any other boat from the Targa range, from. It

gives you that option to get the wind in your hair and provide a real sportsboat helming experience on those rare days when the weather allows, which is this boat’s not-so-obvious talent.

Entering the wheelhouse, which can be done on either side through a sliding full height door, and you are greeted with a plethora of teak, crafted to the usual high standards we have come to expect from the brand. The saloon cum wheelhouse offers 6ft 9in of headroom and delivers the usual repertoire, with a helm station to starboard, a dinette in the aft port corner and a galley in the forward console on the port side. The galley comprises a twoburner gas hob alongside a small but deep single sink. Both of these are hidden below a lifting teak lid so as to be completely

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February 2020

Clever details. There is sectioned storage for mugs and plates. A dinette area seats five people

hidden from view when not in use. Below the galley there are four drawers, the top one laid out for cutlery, and on the other side of the companionway there are a further five drawers in the base of the double co-pilots seat to offer a decent amount of galley storage right where you need it. The co-pilots seat backrest flips to enable it to form part of the dinette seating, which is just behind. This has the capacity to seat five, three along the aft seat and two forward, all around a nice teak table. Gone is the full-height pole and

small table that used to be found on Targas of this size, although this is still available if required, and to our mind the dinette feels more homely and more usable for it.

On the opposite side of the wheelhouse, behind the helm, there is a small ‘sideboard’ style unit offering a selection of cupboards and drawers to add to the stowage available. At the helm there is yet more stowage low down on the helm console, and the single helm seat is mounted on a teak faced moulding that houses the boat’s refrigerator. The

Numerous adjustments to the helm and helm seat make finding the perfect driving position easy Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

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The single toilet compartment is well-appointed and volumous, with excellent headroom

helm console offers the usual adjustable section that allows the steering wheel and throttles to tilt back and forth for the perfect position whether standing or seated and a flat area in front provides space for a bracket mounted multifunction display. Engine instrumentation and a VHF set are mounted overhead, with space for additional kit, if required.

Between the helm and galley there is a companionway down into the forward cabin. The companionway hatch houses a selection of small storage solutions for the crews personal items and lifts on a gas strut to access the cabin. The descent is quite steep, with two steps, each about 13in taking you just over 3ft.

Once in the cabin you have two single berths in a vee formation and these can be in-filled to create a double. There is

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February 2020

“Two cabins, at opposite ends of the boat, provide five berths”

The aft companionway leads down to the master cabin with its double and single berth Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

31

PERFORMANCE As tested 75% fuel 50% water 3 crew Force 1

RPM

over 6ft of standing headroom and you get a small cupboard at the aft end of each bunch. A large bilge locker below the forward end of the bunks is filled with the bowthruster, its battery and other associated electronics. Light and ventilation for this cabin are catered for by a single opening port in the forward facing moulding.

The aft cabin is reached via a companionway in the aft starboard corner of the wheelhouse, where a couple of offset steps take you down into a lobby area that contains a corner hanging locker, with a couple of drawers, and a whole double rack of coat hooks along the aft bulkhead.

The steps that you have just walked down lift and swing out of the way to provide

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GPH

MPG

4.1 6.3 8.2 13.9 21.5 25.0 28.2 31.5 34.6 36

1.2 3.0 11.2 22.8 34.3 42.1 50.6 61.0 72.5 81.7

0.26 0.66 2.46 5.02 7.55 9.26 11.1 13.4 15.9 18.0

15.8 9.55 3.33 2.77 2.85 2.70 2.54 2.35 2.18 2.00

Range (nm)

2085 1260 439 365 376 356 335 310 288 264

access to a single, ‘pilot style’ berth. This will most likely be used as storage for bags and other bulky items, but would serve well as a berth for a younger child for whom the forward end of the boat may be too far away from mum and dad. On the port side you will find the boat’s master berth. This double is generous in size and although perhaps not as salubrious

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February 2020

The 30.1 can be fitted with single or twin Volvo Penta D-series diesel sterndrives

“You can throw it around like a sportsboat with impeccable manners” as some other boats of this size, feels like a nice place to spend your nights when onboard. You do have to remind yourself when looking around this boat that it is only just over 30ft and yet offers two cabins, one at either end, and still manages to deliver all of that safe outside deck area. ‘Tardis like’ probably gets used too often, but in this case I think it would be fully justified.

In the port aft corner of this aft cabin area is where the boat’s single toilet and shower compartment can be found. In Targas of old, this would have been very utilitarian with fold down sinks and pull out toilets. Now, you could be stepping into the toilet of almost any top-end luxury cruiser, with moulded sections Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

adorned with teak, mirrored storage and plenty of space, including excellent headroom of well over 6ft, to do your thing.

Underway On our test day we had a force four blowing with that short sharp chop often associated with that kind of wind in shallow water. As we have come to expect from the brand, it handled it exceptionally well, even when we increased speed right up towards the top end. Yes, we got the occasional bang if we landed awkwardly, but when we looked at the speed and realised we were well into the 30’s at that point it was easily forgiven. Drop back to around 25 knots and you are not only

33

achieving some excellent fuel economy figures, but the boat just settles into a ride that was so relaxed and effortless it was in danger of becoming boring. Start playing with the controls though, and the 30.1 is far from boring. It accelerates well, it offers a great top speed and you can throw it around like a sportsboat with impeccable manners. There is a little bit of lag when you first push the throttles, but once the supercharger kicks in the boat jumps up onto the plane and is off. The hull is particularly well balanced, with barely any tabs required, and the ride from inside is sublimely comfortable and quiet. The suspension seat on our test boat only adds to the smoothness that the hull already provides. Driven from the flybridge and you really do get a better sense of the speed, and this is the place to be if you just want to blow off a bit of steam and take full advantage of the speed, handling and agility that the 30.1 delivers. The flybridge also offers excellent all-round visibility, which is perhaps one of the minor negatives of being inside, where there is a very small blind spot on the aft quarters.

Useful deck stowage can be found in both corners of the aft cockpit, as well as in the bow

Apart from that, seated, standing, inside or out, the 30.1 offers a multitude of excellent driving options and positions and, with these, is perhaps one of the most versatile boats you can buy at this size.

Conclusion With three models so close together in terms of size, and very similar in what they offer, you may think Botnia are overcrowding their own market, but we think they have been quite canny. The models are close together enough that the next model up is not so far away, in terms of price, to be unrealistic for the buyer, and the models are not so dissimilar that

34

February 2020

an owner who chooses a 27 or 30, will always be looking up at the next model and wondering ‘what if ’. Having now tested the 27, the 30 and the 32 I can safely say that whatever your aspirations or budget stretch to, you will never be disappointed in your choice, or feel you have had to compromise. Each of these boats fulfil the brief, and each fully lives up to the hard won reputation that the brand owns. The 30.1 is brilliant at what it does, and if that’s the point in the model line-up where your dreams and your reality meet then go for it, safe in the knowledge that like all of the Targa range, it will do exactly what we have

Comfortable, practical, safe, sporty, tough and fun. The Targa 30.1 offers it all

come to expect from the brand and, when the time does come to sell, you can rely on the rock solid residuals that the models command.

ENQUIRIES: Wessex Marine Tel: 01202 700702 www.wessexmarine.co.uk YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

Sargo 31

XO 270 Front Cabin

Nord Star 31+ Patrol

LOA: 9.96m Beam: 3.3m Displacement: 5,100kg Enquiries: Sargo UK Tel: 02380 453245 www.sargoboats.co.uk

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

LOA: 10.05m Beam: 3.15m Displacement: 5,500kg Enquiries: MCC Marine 02380 456116 www.mccmarine.co.uk

The Sargo 31 is the model closest in size to the Targa 30.1 and offers all of the same facilities in a slightly different layout.

PRICE from £240,000

Motorboat Owner

The XO270 Front Cabin can be combined with a toilet and galley module to deliver a great all-weather explorer.

PRICE from £165,864

> NEXT MONTH

New in 2020 from Finland’s lesser-known wheelhouse walkaround builder, the 31 is available with inboard or outboard options.

PRICE: TBA

Finnmaster R6 & T6

35

CUTTING Rokk Wireless Edge

The Rokk Wireless Edge takes the existing ‘Active’ model and gives it manoeuvrability. The wireless charging cradle offers a high friction grip, one handed operation and is 12 or 24volt compatible. It comes with IPX6 waterproof features and allows your phone to rotate through 90 degrees. You don’t even need a phone with built in wireless charging to use it. Just add one of Scanstrut’s wireless receiving patches to your non-wireless phone and you too can benefit from this latest feature. Price £167 www.scanstrut.com

Yanmar

Yanmar Marine launched two new engines at the recent Dusseldorf boat show. The 6LF and 6LT ranges comprise six engines, with three in each series.

The 6LF models will be available in 485, 530 and 550hp outputs while the 6LT comes in 500, 580 and 640hp options.

Technical details are a bit thin on the ground, but the six cylinder commonrail engines rev to 3000rpm in LF guise and 2530 in LT. They can be mated to ZF transmissions and feature Yanmar’s next generation VC20 vessel control.

Price £TBA www.barrus.co.uk

Lowrance

The new Hook Reveal brings a new range of models to the Hook series of fishfinders/chartplotters from Lowrance. Available in 5, 7 and 9 inch models, the Reveal delivers auto-tuning sonar, improved deep water performance, SideScan and DownScan imaging and a new feature called FishReveal, which is said to offer improved fishfinding abilities by combining CHIRP sonar and DownScan imaging onto one screen.

You can also create your own charts and mapping, with 0.5 foot contours, using Lowrance’s Genesis Live.

Price from £329 www.navico.com

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February 2020

the latest boating gear and technology

Seasafe

Euromeci

Price from £99 www.seasafe.co.uk

Price from £19.99 www.ibsparts.co.uk

iZip lifejackets from Seasafe are not new per se. The colourful range of jackets with their removable and swappable covers have been around for many years. What is new, is the ability to customize your own lifejacket cover using your own personally designed print, a favourite piece of tweed, denim or the lining of your old Burberry coat. The possibilities are endless. Each jacket can also be embroidered with your name or boat name for a modest additional cost.

Euromeci may not be a name you have heard of, but they produce one of our favourite cleaning products, Gommostrip inflatable boat cleaner.

They have now launched a threeproduct GRP care range consisting of a cutting compound, finishing polish and protective wax. Boat Gloss Cut, Boat Gloss Finish and Boat Gloss Wax all come in 1 litre bottles and, like other Euromeci products, are available in the UK through IBS Boat Supplies.

Dometic Optimus

The first all-electric remote mount steering actuator has been launched by Dometic.

The system uses no hydraulic oil or fluids, instead using state of the art mechanical components and sophisticated integrated electronics. The actuator uses a compact roller-screw drive system, is easy to install, and works with most popular makes of outboard engine, including Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki and Mercury, by simply mounting in place of the existing hydraulic unit.

Price £TBA www.dometic.com

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

37

Guernsey Caen A great historical canal journey followed by an aweinspiring French city break, filled with fabulous sights and delicious cuisine. Caen delivers it all

W

ith its skyline studded with ancient spires, Caen is one of the largest cities in Normandy and is definitely one for a boating bucket list. Located 9 miles inland, a mighty lock at the cross channel ferry port, Ouistreham, provides entry into the Caen Canal, which delivers visiting boaters into

Caen’s city basin and visitor marina.

The 8-nautical-mile Canal de Caen Ă la Mer was built as a commercial trade link for the city basins in the early 19th century and is fed by the tidal River Orne, which runs parallel with it. The canal is sure to captivate any World War II history enthusiast, as the first of three bridges over

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February 2020

©FMahaut/Calvados-Attractivite

Portsmouth Brighton

Destination

ENGLISH CHANNEL Fecamp Guernsey

CAEN Boulogne

Dieppe St Valery en Caux

Cherbourg St Vaast

Le Havre

Jersey

Carentan

Honfleur Ouistreham

Dives

Caen

the canal is the famous Pegasus Bridge. It was here, just after midnight on the 6th of June 1944, that D-Day started, when the first British paratroopers strategically landed, liberating the bridge and its near vicinity, including a well-known, familyrun café overlooking the bridge on the west bank, Café Gondree, which is still open today.

Caen itself, as a city, is diverse and awe inspiring. It has many fabulous sights, good transport links and plenty of

opportunities to top up ship stores. The man who conquered England in 1066, William the Conqueror, is responsible for many of its original historic buildings, which include one of Europe’s biggest medieval enclosures, Chateau de Caen or Caen Castle. He is also buried at Caen’s 13th century Gothic-style Abbaye de Hommes. The city was ravaged during World War II in what is known as the Battle of Caen, which saw French and British soldiers battling German forces

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

39

ŠCaen-la-mer-Tourisme

A castle to explore. Built by William the Conqueror, fortress Chateau de Caen dominates the skyline

for control of the city. A museum and memorial, Memorial de Caen commemorates the battle. Despite its bombardment, Caen remains dotted with ancient monuments and buildings, many of which are built with ornately carved limestone, but wear the bullet scars of war. The city’s busy cosmopolitan streets offer plenty of shops, many of which are housed in some fine remaining examples of original four-storey, timber-framed buildings. Once a busy 19th century port filled with dual-masted trade ships, Bassin Saint-Pierre is now home to Caen Plaisance marina. The 92-berth marina is

within easy walking distance of the centre, providing visiting boaters with the perfect opportunity to explore the famous city.

Approaches

Tides play an important role when travelling along this part of the Normandy coast. With Cherbourg and Le Havre being the major, all-tides harbours on this stretch of the Normandy coast, travelling west to east with the flood tide, which runs at over 3 knots, makes sense for slower displacement cruisers exploring the Baie de la Seine, with intermediate tidal harbours usually opening (some of course

ŠCalvados Tourisme

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February 2020

Destination OUISTREHAM APPROACHES

Distances

leading lights 184.5°

training walls

Approximate distances in nautical miles from Caen Plaisance: • Ouistreham 8 miles • Dives/Port Guillaume 17 miles • Honfleur 32 miles • Fecamp 49 miles • St Vaast 54 miles • St Valery en Caux 67 miles • Cherbourg 72 miles • Brighton 98 miles

trainin g wall

Weather & Tides

s RIV

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OR

NE

TERM

INAL

FERRY RO RO DOCK

tra

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FERRY

inin

Waiting pontoon

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• • • •

Tides Ouistreham Port de Caen Tides & Lock times Meteo France Baie de Seine Wind/Wave Actuals Greenwich Lightship • Forecast for Ouistreham to Barfleur • Meteo Marine Ouistreham • Shipping Forecast Wight

Charts & Pilot Books

LOCK

© FMahaut/Calvados_Attractivite

LOCK

(tid

V Ouistreham Plaisance

Canal d e

Caen à la

Mer

Chandlery

CAEN

Ouistreham’s busy entrance is straightforward, and is marked by buoys followed by beacons

earlier than others) in an anti-clockwise fashion. It is not really a problem for fast planing boats, however these will need to take into account the prevailing west to

• Imray 2110 North France Chart Atlas chart folio • Admiralty Chart 2136 Pointe De La Percee to Ouistreham • Imray C32 Baie de Seine - Le Havre to Cherbourg chart • Reeds Nautical Almanac • Imray Shell Channel Pilot

Caen mooring prices • • • • • • •

10m Overnight Jun-Sept €23.50 10m Overnight Oct-May €18.50 10m Week Jun-Sept €122.50 10m Week Oct-May €55 10m Month Jun-Sept €355,00 10m Month Oct-May €196.50 10m Annual €1623

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

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Ouistreham is easily identifiable by its lighthouse. The yellow gates represent the smaller east lock

south west wind directions. There is also a useful tidal stand of 2-3 hours at high water between Ouistreham and Le Havre.

Although the canal is ‘inland’, skippers are not obliged to carry an ICC with CEVNI endorsement.

An approach and entry at Ouistreham is not recommended in strong northerly wind directions. Boaters approaching the lock also need to be aware that, being a major cross-channel ferry terminal, the deep approach channel is used by ferries.

The lock is also frequented by large commercial vessels travelling to and from the docks near Caen. Keep a good look out and well clear, as these have priority.

The lock entrance is marked by the Ouistreham lighthouse, with its rather

distinctive white and red 38-metre tower, which stands to the east and is visible from 15 miles. The east cardinal ‘Ouistreham’ lies just over a mile from the entrance channel and is a first point of approach. Ouistreham’s outer channel is marked by lit buoys, 1 to 6, and three pairs of lit beacons. Sword Beach, used for landings during operation Neptune, is to starboard of the channel as you are heading south. Leisure boats are advised to slow to minimum wash speed once in the fairway. The large car ferries, namely a Brittany Ferry from Portsmouth, dock on the west side of the lock channel, usually after turning in the fairway. There is a lock waiting pontoon for leisure boats further up on the east side that is connected to shore, but watch the depth here as it dries at low water springs. Depending on

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February 2020

Destination

CAEN

Marine supplies

You will usually join a convoy of boats transiting the three bridges. Top, Colombelles bridge and La Fonderie bridge into the basin

tide times, between July and September and the hours of 7am-7pm, the lock can operate up to five times a day for leisure inbound traffic and up to 3 hours either side of high water. It will take roughly 30-minutes to transit the lock. Lock times are displayed on the waiting pontoon and are also available online on the Caen Plaisance and Ouistreham Plaisance marina websites. Please note that the times listed are gates closing times not opening times, so plan to arrive at least 15 minutes in advance.

The lock operates on VHF channel 68 and leisure boats are normally directed by traffic lights into one of two locks. This is normally the smaller east lock, but larger groups with commercial vessels may be directed together into the larger west lock.

Be wary of the current that occurs when

V1D2 Marine Services (0033 231835931) at Caen’s Nouveau Bassin deal with GRP repairs, wintering and electronics. There are good marine supplies and services at Ouistreham Plaisance marina (0033 231969137).

Here there is a fairly large Uship chandlery (0033 231963807), which is closed Thursdays and Sundays.

Also available on site are lift and hardstanding facilities. There is also Mecanique Marine Diesel (00 33 231973534), which, as the name suggests, is a local marine engineer and an agent for Volvo Penta, Perkins and Nanni, and deals with other makes such as Vetus and Yanmar.

Food supplies

There is a really useful Lidl supermarket just a 5-minute (0.2mile) walk away from the marina. It can be found by walking north east along Avenue de Tourville, which follows the canal and is open 8:30am8pm Mon-Sat. For fresh bread and naughty cakes, Boulangerie La Huche Caennaise, located on the corner of Rue Basse, is a 5-minute walk. There is also Carrefour City supermarket west and a 7-minute walk from the marina basin (7am-9pm Mon-Sat and 9am-1pm Sun). At Ouistreham there is the Carrefour Contact supermarket, which is a 20-minute walk from the marina, crossing the lock and via Avenue Général Leclerc (8am-8pm Mon-Sat and 9am-1pm Sun). There is also butcher, Boucherie Marcel, in Rue de l’Engannerie.

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

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the gates are opened. Inside, the concrete lock sides have vertical covered chains to secure your lines around and you will need large fenders to protect your boat.

Rafting at busy times is to be expected.

Once through and into the canal there is a 7-knot, or zero wash, speed limit. There are three bridges to pass through to get to Caen, the first being Pegasus Bridge, or Benouville Bridge, a lifting bridge which is roughly a half an hours passage from the lock. The next two are swing bridges. The bridges open at specified times, with three openings designated for inbound traffic and three for outbound/ northbound boats. There is also normally ŠCaen-la-mer-Tourisme

Caen Plaisance in Saint Pierre Bassin. Note the grey-topped marina building and facilities

an extra evening outbound opening on a Friday, and an extra inbound on a Sunday night. When busy, convoys of boats tend to form. There is little point rushing ahead, as the bridges will not open until the group gathers at them. Boats travelling northbound have priority when transiting bridges. Bridge timings can be found on the Caen Plaisance website.

Following the tranquil, leafy canal south, you will transit the first of the swing bridges, at Colombelles, before you pass through the industrial-looking Caen docks to port, and go under a 38-metre high motorway bridge, then a third bridge that leads into Bassin Saint-Pierre. Once through the third bridge, La Fonderie Bridge, you enter a T-shaped basin, 550 metres long and 50 metres wide, and Caen Plaisance marina is immediately to starboard.

All bridge opening and lock times for a return seaward journey are displayed at Caen Plaisance marina office. However, it is worth double checking these with the marina reception before departure. Lock timings are also displayed outside the Yacht Club at Ouistreham Marina.

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February 2020

9

Destination

CAEN

4 3 to city A

B

C

Marina Office D

E

NIEUW BASSIN

La Fonderie Bridge

Marine Services & Iguana Yachts

F

Ba

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Yacht Club Slipway

ain

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River Orne

Pontoon E is reserved for visitors and is the second pontoon you come to when entering

Where to moor

Caen Plaisance marina is the sole option for visiting Caen, and is within easy walking distance of the historic city centre.

Tere are a limited number of visitor berths (up to 16) on pontoon E, which is the second pontoon in. The space between each finger pontoon can accommodate two boats of approximately 3.5 metres wide, side by side. Alternatively, calling the marina office on VHF channel 9, the team will allocate vacant berths on an adhoc basis. Please note at busy times this may mean mooring directly against the harbour quayside. Booking in advance is advisable and the marina can be contacted on 0033 231952447. The marina is equipped with shorepower, water, a toilet and shower block, and the welcoming Caen Yacht Club, offering WiFi, is closeby.

The friendly and helpful marina team at the reception dispense key fobs for the facilities , which should be returned in a white letterbox before departure. It is a one mile walk from here into the city centre, with its sights and shops. There is also a convenient Lidl supermarket closeby.

For those wanting to stay on the canal a little longer, fuel and visitors moorings are available at sister site, Ouistreham Marina,

Transport

Brittany Ferries operate up to three car ferry departures a day to Portsmouth from Ouistreham. Paris is a 2-hour train ride from Caen’s central station, Gare de Caen, which is a 17-minute walk south across the River Orne. Caen airport is 5 miles west of the city and offers flights to London Southend and several French and Italian cities.

Where to fill up

Ouistreham Plaisance marina has an easily-accessible, dedicated 24hour, credit-card-operated fuel pontoon offering petrol and diesel.

This is located just outside of the basin on the port/north side.

Further afield

East of the D-Day Landings beach zone and Ouistreham, there is the historic beach-side town of Dives sur Mer and its tidal marina, Port Guillaume (see guide Sept 2019). There is of course beautiful Honfleur in the mouth of the River Seine (see guide Feb 2019) and lesser-known Saint Valeryen-Caux (see guide Apr 2016).

West of Ouistreham you have the mighty harbour of Cherbourg (see guide Jun 2014) with its all-tides marina, Port Chantereyne, and the unspoilt fishing port of Saint Vaast la Hougue. With cautious navigation, and in the right tide and sea conditions, you could consider visiting the remains of the WWII mulberry harbours at Arromanches.

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45

which is located in a basin immediately to port inside the sea lock. The marina is a convenient sheltered bolt hole for inward and outbound passages, and is located on what effectively is an island, with the River Orne running along its east side. A dedicated visitor pontoon can be found at the north end of the marina basin, where there is also a yacht club, toilet and shower facilities. Also on site is a fairly large UShip chandlery, and several marinerelated businesses. Walking across the lock you will find Ouistreham’s daily seafood market, various wine warehouses and a supermarket.

Finally there is a popular daytime and overnight mooring spot on the east side of the canal, close to Pegasus Bridge.

Here there is a small section of concrete bank with mooring bollards. From here it is just a short walk to the Memorial Pegasus museum and Café Gondree. The mooring also doubles as a waiting spot for the bridge, so you should expect rafting at busy times. This bankside mooring has no facilities and overnighting here is normally free. Be wary on your approach as it can be shallow in places where the bank has previously given way.

Moor bankside. There are limited moorings on the north side of the iconic Pegasus Bridge

Where to eat and drink

In the city there is plenty of choice when it comes to dining out, and you are sure to find something to suit all tastes and budgets. Whilst in Caen you must also experience the local specialities the region has to offer, which include calvados, cider, madeleines, seafood, chocolates and of course, the cheeses. Tripe is another, but while this may not tickle everyone’s taste buds, most will be pleased to hear that steak features on most menus. Crepes, both savoury and sweet, are also a must.

For that special evening, or authentic French fine dining experience, the

©FMahaut/Calvados-Attractivite

A useful bolt hole. There is a dedicated pontoon for visitors at Ouistreham Plaisance marina 46 February 2020

Destination

CAEN

©LDechamps/Calvados-Attractivite

There’s plenty of eateries in Caen’s pretty Vaugueux district, or why not have lunch at Café Gondree?

including sports bar, O’Donnell’s Irish Pub, which serves a multitude of beers and, of course, Guinness.

Places to see and visit

The mighty Caen Castle dominates the city landscape, and exploring its high battlements is a must. It is free to enter its grounds, across a drawbridge, and the views across the city are spectacular.

The castle is also home to two interesting ticketed museums, the Musée des BeauxArts (Museum of Fine Arts) and the Musée de Normandie, detailing the region’s history. ©Caen-la-mer-Tourisme

Michelin-starred A Contre Sens in rue des Croisiers and Le Bouchon Du Vaugueux in Rue Graindorge are local favourites.

For crepes visit Crêperie L’instant à Caen found in the side road, Rue de l’Engannerie, on the south side of the marina basin. Caen also has its fair share of world influenced-bars and restaurants.

For those craving a juicy steak there are several restaurants to choose from, including the popular Boeuf and Cow in Boulevard des Alliés. If you are looking for something quirky, perhaps even a full English breakfast or a burger, Dolly’s is a British-themed café restaurant on Avenue de la Liberation. You are sure to find a favourite in the cobbled ‘old Caen’ district of Vaugueux, with its beautifully decorated restaurants like Le Clou de Girofle, L’Abracadabra and the familyfriendly L’Ardoise serving pizzas, pasta and salads, not to mention delicious ice cream and crepes for dessert. Families may be interested to know that there is also a McDonalds in Caen. There are plenty more bars and restaurants along the lively marina quayside, Quai Vendeuvre,

Shopping? Head to the picturesque Rue Froide

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City Shopping Centre Train Station Slipway Cashpoint

1

Lidl supermarket

2

Boulangerie

3

Carrefour City

4

Market (Sundays)

5

Boucherie Marcel

10

Pharmacy

9 11

12

4 3

C

15

2 16

7

C

2

C

C 4

5

8 6

C

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3

C

1

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13

14

Ba

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©Calvados-Attractivite

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KEY 1 Caen Plaisance Office

9 Abbaye des Dames

2 Tourist Information Centre 3 Dolly’s 4 Vaugueux district

10 Chateau de Caen

11 Musée des Beaux-Arts 12 Musée de Normandie

5 Boeuf & Cow

13 L'Abbaye-aux-Hommes

6 Creperie L’Instant 7 McDonalds 8 O’Donnells Irish Bar

14 La Fonderie Bridge

er Riv

ne

Or

15 A Contre Sens 16 Rue Froide

There is no shortage of sights, shops and eateries in the city centre. Cycling is a great way to get about

More fantastic city sights include the monastic L’Abbaye aux Dames and, on the west side of the city, L’Abbaye aux Hommes, the latter being a highly decorative gothic abbey housing the tomb of William the Conqueror and the Caen Town Hall. Slightly further afield is the Mémorial de Caen. This major war museum has a fascinating room devoted to D-Day with a large split presentation screen showing footage of the landings simultaneously from allied and German viewpoints. Be aware it is about a 40-minute walk from the marina basin. ©Caen-la-mer-Tourisme

Caen Plaisance’s Bassin Saint Pierre quayside transforms into a market each Sunday

Caen is often described as a gateway into Normandy, and with its excellent transport links we could not agree more.

Hiring a car is another great option to explore the nearby D-Day beaches, local sights and attractions. The Memorial Pegasus museum is very moving and an absolute must visit. Located next to Pegasus Bridge, it is dedicated to the British paratroopers and has the original Bénouville Bridge, renamed Pegasus Bridge after the liberation, on display, as well as a full size replica of a Horsa glider.

The video played in its atrium is a real tearjerker, as it shows original footage of the beach landings and interviews with the glider pilots. Entry is €8 for adults and €5 for children over 8. No visit to Pegasus Bridge would be complete without a pitstop at the nostalgic Café Gondree.

This original family run café serves lunch, and its interior houses some interesting World War II memorabilia. Boats can tie up at the aforementioned mooring spot on the east side of the canal, or travel by car (15-minutes from Caen Plaisance).

Alternatively it is a leisurely hour flat

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February 2020

Destination

CAEN

Moving Memorial Pegasus museum with the original pock-marked bridge and Horsa glider replica

cycle ride along the canal. Electric bikes are available to hire from various docking points in the city. From Pegasus Bridge it is also possible to walk, or cycle, to the Ranville War Cemetery, at 1.3 miles.

Caen has its own theme park, Festyland, which is ideal for families and only a 20-minute drive away, 4 miles to the west of the city. It houses various attractions, including water rides and roller coasters.

A visit to Caen is also a good opportunity to see the Bayeux Tapestry, as the town of Bayeux and its museum is just 30-minutes away by train or car.

If shopping is high on your list of priorities then head for Rue Saint-Jean, and the picturesque Rue Froide, as a starting point. Here you will find many unique independent shops, as well as all the popular French high street brands.

However, when exploring the busy streets be sure to keep a look and listen out for the stealth-like trams.

Boaters berthed in Caen Plaisance marina over a weekend may awake to the sight and sounds of a market being set up on a Sunday morning. There are several markets held in Caen during the week, but this is the biggest one. The Saint-Pierre market is held between 8am and 1pm along the west quayside of the marina basin, Quai Vendeuvre and sees up to 400 traders assemble to show their wares.

You can find more information about attractions, transport and car hire on the Caen tourist information website, or by visiting the tourist office, which is in Place Saint-Pierre, opposite the imposing Église Saint-Pierre de Caen church. MBO

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Q&A

Your Questions Answered

Lifejacket longevity

Q The lifejackets on my boat are all about 5 years old and, although worn regularly, have never been inflated, serviced or even looked at. At this age, is it best to replace them or can they be serviced to provide a few more years?

A It is often quoted that lifejackets have a lifespan of

circa 10 years, but this assumes that they are serviced and inspected during that time. At 5 years old I would not be too hasty in binning yours. A few simple checks and maybe some new arming kits is probably all they need. Delve into our back issues section and download the December 2013 issue. Inside there is a guide on lifejacket maintenance, service and owner checks. This should provide all the info you need to ensure your jackets are fit for a few more years service yet.

Volvo 100B drive ball socket

Q I have a Volvo Penta 100B drive on my Birchwood

and the plastic ball socket, part number 809902, is breaking up due to age. This part doesn’t seem to be available from Volvo anymore but is there an alternative manufacturer that still supplies these. Without a replacement, my drive is going to be useless.

A It would appear that the part number was superseded by 809903, but this

doesn’t really help, as neither part seems to be available from Volvo Penta dealers. Your best bet is looking for someone that might hold some old stock, you may have better luck looking further afield, with the US being a good starting point. This outlet in the US does list the part with a price, so an enquiry may be worthwhile. Failing that, you could take the part, or what’s left of it, to an old-school engineering unit and see if they can manufacture something from a suitable material. Either way is not going to be cheap, but still better than complete replacement of your drive unit.

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February 2020

If you have a question, email us at

editorial@motorboatowner.co.uk

Retro-fitting heating system

Q I would like to fit heating

in to my Beneteau Antares 780.

But I’m not sure what’s the best way to go. The main problem I have is that the boat is powered by a 150hp petrol outboard with a 200 litre inboard fuel tank. I was wondering if you have come up against this problem before? I was thinking a diesel heater with a small 10-litre fuel tank, but concerns are the exhaust. Any help and ideas would be greatly appreciated.

A It sounds like you have already worked it out. Many petrol engined boats

have diesel fired heaters fitted using a separate fuel tank. The size of the fuel tank depends on what space you have available, but 10 litres would be a usable size and should last a few days. The exhaust is really no different to any other installation, it simply goes through the side of the boat using a suitable exhaust fitting. With petrol boats there are some special considerations to think about.

The heater should not be installed in the engine bay, (not a problem on an outboard powered boat) or anywhere that fuel vapour could collect. You should also ensure that it doesn’t draw air, either combustion or air to be heated, from any area where petrol fumes could be present. This means that the installation should be away from, and sealed against, areas containing fuel tanks, engines and any fuel lines.

SYSTEMS SOLUTION The

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

for ENGINES t: 023 8045 4507

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

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Q&A

Your Questions Answered

Tidal mid-river mooring

Q On a tidal mid-river pontoon mooring, is there any preferred mooring orientation, ie bow upstream or downstream, or does it really not matter?

A The biggest thing for me would be to always moor up against the flow,

which means a mixture of orientation, depending upon ebb and flood. I understand that mooring with the bow upstream may reduce the risks of debris coming down the river getting entangled in your stern gear, but in reality mooring up in a controlled manner would be the more important factor, and mooring against the current provides better control and the ability to ferry glide onto the pontoon. If you find yourself mooring up at slack water, bow upstream is probably better for the reasons mentioned and also the fact that on many rivers the outgoing stream is slightly faster, and the ebb often lasts longer.

If you are leaving the boat for longer periods, especially during the winter months when floods may be likely, then bow upstream would be preferred.

This may require a special visit to the boat to turn it around if you happen to have moored up last during the flood.

For mid river moorings, mooring into the strongest element, with the bow upstream, is the preferred option. Pictured, mid-river moorings at Cabin Boatyard on the River Hamble 52

February 2020

If you have a question, email us at

editorial@motorboatowner.co.uk

Budget first boat

Q I am 16 years old and have wanted a boat for as long

as I can remember. I have almost no money, but have been offered a small, around 14ft, fishing boat with a semienclosed cabin and complete with a trailer for free. It will need a bit of work, and I’ll have to source an engine, but I am up for a challenge and am quite handy with wood and fibreglass. I have also helped my dad strip and rebuild car engines, so I should be able to get to grips with any outboard work that is needed.

What sort of budget do you think I will need to get a boat like this on the water?

A If you can do all the work yourself, with maybe a bit of help from dad, a

project like this could get you on the water very cheaply. Much will depend on what needs doing to the boat itself, but a little 4hp outboard would push a ??????

14ft boat along nicely at displacement speed, and you should be able to pick up a good used engine, one that is ready to go with little or no work, for around £400. If you want to add remote steering and throttle, you may need to budget for another couple of hundred pounds if buying used, more for new. Boating can be great fun, but safety must be taken seriously and you should put some money aside for some basic safety kit. A good lifejacket is imperative, and this will set you back at least £50 for one from a reputable supplier. You will also need one for anyone that comes out with you. You should also invest in a VHF radio and the training that allows you to use it. A fixed set can be bought for just over £100 new, or much less used, and the one-day course can be taken for around £50. Once you are ready to use the boat, you will also need a basic level of insurance. A simple third party policy from a company such as Craft Insure will be around £70 per year. If you haven’t been boating before some training would be sensible. Perhaps if you have a birthday coming up, you could drop some hints to your parents about booking you on a Powerboat Level 2 course.

This would give you a good understanding of using a small boat in a safe and sensible way. What parent could say no to that? If you haven’t done so already, download our £1k project boat special issue. It can be found in the back issues section between the November and December 2015 editions. This should give you some ideas of what can be achieved with a small budget. Good luck, and please send us a picture when you get out on the water.

Q

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Beneteau Flyer 7 SUNdeck

By Alex Smith

54

February 2020

BOAT TEST

Length (LOA): 6.41m / 21ft 0in Beam: 2.45m / 8ft 0in Displacement: 1,473 kg Fuel capacity: 170 litres Water capacity: 50 litres Engine as tested: Suzuki DF200 Other engine options: Single 150-200hp outboard People capacity: 8 Price from £44,323 Price as tested £49,711

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

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W

hen Beneteau reinvented its Flyer line in 2013, it did so in a very clever and industrially efficient way. While the original Flyer had been around since the 1980s, the updated range comprised a selection of base hulls, each with a trio of pursuit-specific layout options. The SPORTdeck used a modified bow rider layout for maximum seating; the SPACEdeck used open walkways from bow to stern for maximum versatility; and the SUNdeck used a raised, cushion-lined bow with a cabin underneath for easy weekending.

Since that overhaul, the Flyer line has

continued to evolve. The SPORTdeck option has ceased to exist and the hull range now extends from five to ten metres in length. Individual models have also been tweaked in pursuit of incremental improvements and the Flyer 7 SUNdeck is the result of just such a development.

So what’s changed?

Introduced as a replacement for the Flyer

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February 2020

“Beneteau’s new familyfriendly Flyer 7 is the replacement for the 6.6”

6.6, the hull length of the Flyer 7 remains exactly the same, but by narrowing the gunwales, Beneteau has been able to increase the internal volume without any expansion in the beam. The usable cockpit width now stands at 2.176m (around 7ft 2in) and that in turn has enabled the designers to position the console in the centre of the deck, opening up the starboard side, creating a more natural driving environment, and generating a symmetrical pair of walkways to enable easier movement between the cockpit and the bow.

That console also enjoys a significantly Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

uprated wraparound screen in place of the old frameless tinted version, which seemed geared more toward styling bravado than to security and protection.

The decorative grey plastic column that lifted from the rubbing strake amidships and extended a few inches clear of the gunwale at the aft end of the grab rail is also now gone. It certainly looked very ‘on brand’, courtesy of its classical Beneteau seahorse insignia and its integration with the hull graphics, but it felt rather flimsy and the new Flyer 7 SUNdeck is all the better for its absence.

The new boat also features a pulpit

57

The aft bench folds flat for lounging and sun worshiping. Folding seats add flexibility to the cockpit

at the bow and a redesigned aft bench with an uprated backrest that folds flat and operates as a quick-rig sun pad to supplement the main lounging space on the foredeck. These are all positive developments and, in combination they also seem to have had a significant impact on the styling. With its uprated features, its more purposeful-looking deck furniture and its subtle simplifying of the fixtures and fittings, it has the look of a boat that has shed its triviality and grown up a bit. You could argue that the new boat could do with a bit more in the way of hull graphics to help mirror the black grab rails and screen rim but if attractively understated is your thing, the simple, elegant lines of the new Flyer 7 will put a big smile on your face.

remarkable. The use of folding benches with integrated cushions on both sides of the cockpit, allied to an aft bench offset to starboard, means the ease of movement here is impressive. Whether the seats are occupied or empty, and whether the aft bench is folded flat for sunbathing or not, it’s an easy job to make your way from the aft platforms to the forepeak. The use of 70cm gunwales also helps keep things secure and, though the walkways on either side of the console use three steps to carry you up to the sun deck, a walkway width of 32cm, with grab rails on one side and screen rails on the other, means you are able to move freely without feeling at all exposed.

The convertibility of the furniture in the aft cockpit is also first class. If you want to come to a standstill and rig your sixDay space considerations person dining station, you simply rotate Despite the fact that the overall length still the two helm seats, fold down the two side hovers around the 21-foot mark, the sense benches, erect the table and you’re ready of space onboard the new boat is quite to go. In fact, given the modest size of the 58

February 2020

Flyer 7, this is such a satisfying space for an intimate meal with family or friends that it probably warrants something much larger and more sophisticated than the oval plastic table that slots (slightly apologetically) into position between the

diners. For my money, a quality piece of teak is no more than the cockpit deserves.

The centre console is also a very neat piece of work. It features outstanding screen protection for the two at the helm, plus a wraparound rail that makes an

Adaptable cockpit living space. The narrower gunwales have increased internal space

Motorboat Owner Š Digital Marine Media Ltd

59

excellent steadying point. There is some warping of your vision at the edges where the screen bends into shape but with ample space for a pair of bulky blokes in three-season foulies, alongside tidy aesthetics, a well-arranged helm position and uninhibited forward visibility, even from the aft bench, it’s a really impressive upgrade on the old 6.6.

In short, the upper spaces on the new Flyer 7 are superb – practical, ergonomically advanced, efficient in their

use of space and very versatile. In fact, the only exception to the outstanding usability of this boat’s day spaces is the means by which Beneteau attaches its cushions to their moulded seat bases. While a popper or a patch of Velcro would keep things simple, Beneteau’s straps are a painfully labour-intensive solution. I’ve been using them on test events for several years now and I still can’t execute what ought to be a three-second job in less than a minute.

It wouldn’t put me off buying the boat but

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February 2020

if it were for my personal use, I would change them for something more userfriendly at the very first opportunity.

Its cuddy-style cabin is equipped with a fridge and chemical toilet. It is not the lightest of cabins but for storage and weekending it is ideal

For sleeping or storage?

It’s a tough task blending the lightweight dexterity of an open sports boat with a flat, cushioned foredeck and serviceable sleeping facilities, particularly on a boat of such modest proportions - but the Flyer 7 treads a very intelligent line. Down in the cabin, the asymmetrical bed extends

to 1.85m (6ft, 1in) on the starboard side, before butting up against the optional fridge. On the portside, it extends right aft, generating a useful seat for getting changed, as well as some easy-access storage to supplement the quick-stash compartment in the centre of the bed base.

However, while there’s plenty of space in

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

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PERFORMANCE As tested 44% fuel, 0% water, 3 crew, Force 2

RPM

the hull sides and in the upper console mouldings to include some extra windows, there is in fact just one small hatch down here, built into the forward part of the deckhead. That means that the cabin is neither as bright nor as open-feeling as it might be. There’s no view of the water or of the horizon and no mirror to help bounce around the light that does make its way in, so unless you’re visiting the loo or bedding down for the night, it’s best to keep the sliding door open.

There’s no galley or wet bar on this boat either, nor apparently any option to fit one; and I’m not sure I’m completely in love with positioning the fridge directly next to the chemical toilet. But of course, you have to remember what this boat

700 (idle) 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000 4500 5000 5500 6850

Knots LPH

GPH

MPG

3.0 4.2 5.7 7.0 7.5 10.5 16.8 22.4 27.0 30.0 33.7 37.0

0.31 0.57 1.03 1.63 2.38 3.41 4.42 5.54 7.92 9.50 12.19 14.74

9.68 7.37 5.53 4.29 3.15 3.07 3.67 4.04 3.41 3.15 2.76 2.51

1.4 2.6 4.7 7.4 10.8 15.5 20.1 25.2 36.0 43.2 55.4 67.0

Range (nm)

291.4 219.7 164.9 128.6 94.4 92.2 113.7 120.9 102.0 94.4 82.7 75.1

is all about. It’s designed as an open plaything with day spaces that can cater for eight people and a physical profile that can match its sporting intent. Yes, the cabin could be brighter, but given its modest length, price and running costs, not to mention the generosity of its day boating facilities, the layout of the Flyer

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February 2020

Its Suzuki DF200 is at the top end of the option spectrum.

The centre console puts you in the ideal driving position and protection underway is excellent

“Feeling quicker than 37 knots, the drive is fun, agile and trim-sensitive” 7 SUNdeck looks very well optimised for mixed summer recreation and the odd night of cosy ‘camping’ in the bow.

with lots of baggage, a decent size of crew and the odd watersports session thrown in, opting for any less than the top-rated 200hp outboard might prove to be false Family fun economy.

When you slip into the helm seat and If the performance is family-friendly, pin the throttles, a planing time of 6.5 the nature of the handling reinforces seconds might seem a little sedate but the those easy-driving credentials because, acceleration figures are actually pretty when the seas are relatively flat, this boat good. She passes ten knots in two seconds, makes it very tough to get yourself into 20 knots six seconds later and 30 knots trouble. That’s partly because the pace in 12. It takes another 13 seconds to push is modest, partly because the balance of from 30 to 35 knots, and the top speed of the boat is very sound and partly because 37 knots is by no means striking, but as when you really ramp up the speed and a compact, cabin-equipped walkaround execute an aggressive turn, the prop tends family runabout, Suzuki’s DF200 provides to aerate, washing off a little of the pace a fun, controllable and well judged drive. and flattening out the arc. But that doesn’t Just be aware that, if you intend on diminish the fun. On the contrary, the enjoying a life of mixed leisure boating, compact size of the boat makes the drive Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

63

feel much faster than it actually is and the trim sensitivity of the boat enables you to exert plenty of proactive control from the helm. Certainly, the figures might make the helming experience appear modest but the Flyer 7 SUNdeck delivers a thoroughly engaging drive.

Conclusion The new Flyer 7 SUNdeck is a valuable and intelligently conceived improvement over the 6.6. It features far greater space and ease of movement, as well as uprated helm protection; and it also comes with a six-person dining station, a lounge-friendly foredeck, versatile deck furniture and an impressive range of storage solutions.

True, the limited accommodation and the

The Flyer 7 is a really good boat to look at and, as a family day boat, it is very effective

absence of a wet bar probably make it better suited to family day boating than long weekends away, but this is a capable, fun and fine-looking Med-style package and a convincing demonstration of how much entertainment an intelligently conceived 21-footer can provide.

ENQUIRIES: Bates Wharf 01323 470066 www.bateswharf.co.uk YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

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LOA: 6.31m Beam: 2.48m Displacement: 1,050kg Enquiries: Cambrian Boats 01792 655925 www.cambrianboats.com

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February 2020

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tested Torqeedo Travel 1103C

PRICE

£1,885

When we tested the Torqeedo 1003 back in 2014 we were impressed by its torque and low noise levels, but most importantly, by its endurance. In 2019 Torqeedo launched a new model called the 1103C. The main differences between this and the 1003 previously tested is that it uses a brushless motor and has a more powerful battery, up from 530Wh to 915Wh. The 1103C is Motorboat Owner available in short and long shaft “We loved the 1003, versions and, as you would expect, there are a range of accessories we just need to brush up the man maths. that you can add with any left over budget. A spare prop would It makes sense on almost every level” probably be a sensible thing to buy but you can also opt for a 12v Value 2/5 charging lead, a travel bag, outboard cover, solar charging option Usability 4/5 and the TorqTrac App, that allows you to turn your smartphone Performance 5/5 into a digital dashboard for your motor.

Like the 1003, the 1103C splits into three more manageable pieces for transportation and, more importantly, handing down into and rigging on the tender. My initial thoughts when handling them, particularly the largest part, the shaft and motor, is that it feels heavier than I remembered. I suspect this may be due to the new brushless motor, and a quick check on the specs tells us that this part of the 1103C is 2.4kg heavier than the 1003. Overall, there is a 3.1kg weight penalty with the new model coming in at 17.3kg, with the rest of the extra weight no doubt being contained in the more powerful battery.

One of the benefits of the new brushless motor is that is operates more quietly. We Charging time is 10 hours. Noticeably heavier than the 1003, I needed a hand lifting the shaft and motor into the boat said, back in 2014, that the 66

February 2020

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

1003 was quiet, and compared to a petrol outboard it was, but the 1103C takes things to a whole new level. At very slow speeds you can just about hear a faint whine from the motor, but at anything over a couple of knots this is drowned out by the sound of the water lapping past the hull and being stirred in your wake.

At 17.3kg, The motor itself simply cannot be heard. Forward the T1103C and reverse are both available on the tiller by simply is heavier twisting the throttle in opposite directions and, like the 1003, the than its new model has a built in GPS and a display on the tiller that will predecessor provide information such as battery percentage remaining, battery time remaining at current speed, distance achievable on battery remaining at current speed and, of course, your current speed.

With electric power, as with petrol motors, you are always going to get the best mileage by going easy on the throttle, and maintaining a minimum speed, and the 1103C is no exception.

Using just 200 watts out of the battery the Torqeedo pushed us along nicely at around 2 knots and, in return, was promising an endurance of over six hours, providing a range in excess of 12nm.

Conversely, using full power we were getting an endurance of around 40 minutes or 3nm. I didn’t want to test the outboard in this way, preferring to use it in exactly the same way that I would use my trusty 3.3hp petrol tender engine. With that in mind I set off and maintained a speed of between 3.5 and 4 knots, which is my normal tender speed, with the odd high-speed burst. As a sort of control and comparison, another tender joined me on my trip. This was equipped with a 3.3hp outboard exactly the same as mine, and started the journey with its 1.4-litre internal fuel tank brimmed to the top.

With the 1103C having a claimed output equivalent to a 3hp petrol motor, this provided us with some useful insight.

A quick full throttle blast confirmed that the top speed of the outfit was 4.6 knots, not fast enough to plane and around half a knot down on the speed I can achieve with 3.3 petrol horses.

Response from the throttle is excellent, Security measures. The 1103C can be locked to the transom and has an electronic kill cord with the torque accelerating the dinghy Motorboat Owner Š Digital Marine Media Ltd

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tested Torqeedo Travel 1103C continued......

almost instantly. Heading out of the marina and onto the tidal river we motored down and up tide in equal measures and watched as the battery slowly depleted. When the indicator reached 30%, the first alarm sounded. The second came at 20%, then the third at 10%. Throughout this period, the motor still offered almost full power, maybe dropping from 1100 down to 1000W but no more. This is different to the 1003, which Display shows your range at current speed. A pin keeps the battery in gradually reduced the power available as each alarm sounded to ensure you had best mileage left place but offers no security from theft as the battery approached the end of its charge.

I entered the marina with the display indicating 1% battery remaining and I was still pulling between 700 and 800 watts from the battery and achieving the same cruising speed I started with. Then, suddenly, when the display said 0, the motor cut out with an abrupt jolt and fault code E43 (flat battery) was displayed. I eased the throttle back to neutral and on applying it again found I was back underway, despite the zero reading on battery and time. Initially I could use up to 550w for around 3 knots before the unit tripped out again. At this point I headed back to the mothership and compared the fuel usage in my companion boat. The petrol outboard had used one litre for the same journey, the same distance and the same speed profile. Our journey had been exactly 4nm. With around 0.4 litre left in the tank, the petrol outboard too was reaching the end of its endurance, and without some spare fuel would soon have been left stranded. I, on the other hand, went back out and kept running to see just how much further I could go. The motor kept tripping out if I tried to draw too much power, and each time I restarted I found the threshold was getting lower, but I managed to do another 0.7nm before I found the threshold too low to be really useful.

Up to this point I could still make a couple of knots, proving that even if you hit the zero mark, you can still nurse the Torqeedo a decent distance in an emergency.

While our range was decent enough, there are those that may need to go more than 4-5nm and feel that a petrol motor with a spare can of fuel is still the right choice. In some ways The motor will alert it is hard to argue with this logic. The one benefit of a petrol you when the battery falls below 30% outboard that an electric one simply cannot compete on is 68

February 2020

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

refuelling time. Take a can with you and your petrol motor can be full again in less than two minutes.

Your Torqeedo will take 10 hours. What I do like though is that the motor will tell you your range at your current throttle setting. If range anxiety kicks in, a quick glance at the display will soon tell you if you have enough battery left to get you where you are going. If your range is lower than your destination, just ease off the throttle and watch the range increase to where you need it. Anxiety gone. Although there is no getting around the 10-hour full recharge time, we did find that the recharge is conveniently linear. Taking regular measurements it seems that the battery takes on almost exactly 10% per hour, so if you have a short hop to shore and back, a one-hour recharge will almost certainly be enough to get you there and back. Running cost wise, each hour and 10% recharge used around Bag it. Carry cases make 0.1kWh, meaning it will cost around 20 pence in real transporting the Torqeedo easy terms to fully recharge your battery. Compared to a litre of fuel at around £1.30 the Torqeedo is cheap to run, even cheaper if your marina electricity is not metered, or already included in your mooring fee.

On other cost factors, the maths become harder to justify. I do love the 1103C. The ease of storage, the way that it splits into three lightish parts for storage and moving around, the environmental factors and the fact that I don’t have to carry petrol onboard all make a very good argument for ditching the internal combustion tender engine in favour of one. However, the fact that you can buy three brand new 2.5hp four-stroke outboards for the price of a single 1103C is difficult to brush under the teak decking.

The other issue is lifespan. I have a selection of petrol outboards in my collection, the oldest, that still works perfectly, dates from 1986. As good as the 1103C is, I cannot imagine for a minute that the battery will still be good in 34 years time. Yes, the motor may well still be fine, but with a replacement 915Wh battery coming in at around £750, even my slightly dodgy man maths would find it hard to argue that the Torqeedo is best on a life/cost analysis. I even tried to factor in the one sixth running costs, but it is a lost cause unless you assume a 10 year battery lifespan and are likely to do around 5000nm in those 10 years in your tender. There are many reasons why buying a 1103C for your tender is a very good idea, but I’m afraid the financials are not one of them.

Contact: Torqeedo GB www.torqeedo.com/uk

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

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Motorboat Owner

PROJECT BOAT

PROJECT Fairline Vixen

D

espite the sterndrive being finished last month, apart from a bit of a cosmetic tidy up, there was a reason that it was still sitting in the corner of my workshop. The two hydraulic trim rams were still in pieces on my workbench and I needed to overhaul these and get them fitted back on the transom before installing the drive.

Having knocked my shin on the sharp end of the ‘cavitation’ plate one too many times, I thought it was high time I got that bit of the job completed. The rams themselves were showing no obvious signs of needing an overhaul apart from the poor shape of the visible scraper seal in the end.

Knowing the boat has spent so long sitting unused, I felt that an overhaul would be good insurance and far easier to do while everything was stripped, than when all the other bits are bolted around them.

Volvo will tell you that these rams are non-serviceable and do not sell the parts that you will require for an overhaul.

In reality, all hydraulic rams can be disassembled and the required seals and O-rings will be widely available from specialist hydraulic suppliers. Many of these places will offer an overhaul service, if you feel more inclined to let others do the work. It will still be considerably cheaper than a new replacement ram.

The biggest issue is working out the sizes of all the seals and O-rings required. To make life easier, I let someone else worry about this and bought one of the many kits available online. These will obviously cost you more than the sum of their parts, but are very much the ‘hassle free’ option.

With my kits in hand, and my rams already stripped down (see Jan 20 issue) I set about giving them a facelift.

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February 2020

Volvo Penta 290SP trim ram overhaul HOW TO IN 24 STEPS

1

The two ram ends, plus the cylinder itself was covered in dirt, old paint and corrosion 4

It did not go all the way through, but I decided to build the metal back up a bit and started by heating it up 7

After sandblasting, all of the parts were thoroughly cleaned in a solvent based cleaning solution

2

So these parts were given a sand blast to clean them up to see if they could be reused 5

Once hot enough, an aluminium brazing rod was melted into the crevice and ground flat once cooled 8

And then, because the solution has long term effects on aluminium, were thoroughly rinsed in fresh water

3

Most of the corrosion was minor, but this one deep pit in one of the cylinders concerned me 6

The four end caps were also cleaned up in the sand blasting cabinet

9

All parts were then dried with compressed air and left to dry on a radiator to ensure all water was removed

Motorboat Owner Š Digital Marine Media Ltd

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10

11

12

The two retaining pins were also given the same treatment, so they are ready for when the install time comes round

With all parts clean and dry, they were laid out ready for rebuilding

Each overhaul kit contained new O-rings for the cylinder ends and the piston, new scraper and main seals and a new piston ring

13

14

15

New O-rings we installed on each end of both of the cylinders

The main seal was installed into the aft end cap. This is a tricky fit and requires care and patience

The scraper seal was installed into the outer flange of the same cap

16

17

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The piston then receives a new O-ring and the piston ring fits on top of it

The aft cylinder cap is then slid over the threaded end of the ram and slid fully down

Thread lock is then applied to the thread on the inboard end of the ram shaft

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The piston is then held tightly in a vice with wood to protect it and the shaft fully tightened into it

The cylinder is then slid over the piston and, using thread lock again, screwed onto the aft end cap

The inboard end cap can now be installed, ensuring that the two end caps have the same orientation

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Once the rams were complete, the metal hydraulic lines between the two were cleaned and new O-rings installed on the retaining pins

The rams were given a coat of etch primer, followed by a couple of coats of Volvo Penta grey from a spray can

The finished result. The rams and associated hydraulics are almost ready to go back on the transom

As always seems to happen when working back on the boat, but hopefully that will through a job on this project, another all change next month. MBO problem arises. This time it was the main hydraulic hose that feeds oil from the pump inside the boat to the rams.

Spend so far Motorboat It appears to have some very dubious PROJECT BOAT looking damage that I suspect may well This month’s spend leak if re-used. A new one is rather pricey, Seals kits for 2x trim rams £23.24 but I have used hydraulic specialists in the past to replace the rubber hose, reusing Balance from last month £1,644.21 the existing end connectors, so this is the route I am going to take with this. Yet Total to date: £1,667.45 again I am thwarted trying to put things Owner

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Hooked Simon Everett goes fishing for Thornback Rays

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lasmobranch, no that isn’t a nasty disease, it is the name given to a class of fish that have a cartiligous skeleton, rather than a boney one, and includes sharks, skates and rays. Spring is a time of year where fishing goes into the doldrums. The winter fish leave, and catches dwindle to next to nothing, and the summer fish haven’t yet arrived. It can generally be a pretty lean time. However, the thornback ray can usually be relied upon to fill the fishing void.

Thornback rays are generally found over fairly clean ground, although the spring sees the bigger fish, which are all females, coming in close over broken rock and stony bottoms to drop their “mermaids purses”, the rectangular egg cases with curly tendrils coming off the corners. The rays will follow the edges of a spur of rock, reef, or the depressions and gutters of open ground or sandbanks. They will find refuge in clear patches between rocks and fingers of rock sticking out into otherwise clear ground.

Like other predatory bottom dwellers BAIT: FROZEN SANDEELS & SQUID

Frozen sandeels or squid are great bait. For squid, the hook is taken through the tail first and whipped in place with bait elastic

thornbacks like a bit of tide flow over their backs, bringing them food in the current. They will search out crabs and prawns from stones and small fish from the bottom. Whilst crab is probably the best bait for thornbacks, mackerel, squid, prawns or sand eels are all very effective, and will account for nearly as many fish.

The terminal tackle for this shallow water fishing need not be elaborate. I use a standard running ledger with a trace of about 3 feet long ending in a 5/0 semicircle hook. I have been using the Diaichi hooks with good effect, but others are just as good, provided they are of a suitable size so that, when baited, the hook point remains exposed.

To help hold the bottom in a strong tide flow a technique known as uptiding is used. This involves casting, as the name suggests, uptide and out from the boat, not necessarily very far but so that the lead finds the bottom before it is downtide of the boat. Once the cast is made let the reel peel off more line, you will feel the lead hit bottom, let out more line to put a bow in the line, the pull of the tide against this bow will help to anchor your bait by pulling the grip wires of the lead into the bottom.

Bite detection is a matter of watching the rod tip and the bow in the line, although bites normally show as the obligatory double nod of the rod tip followed by the line swinging downstream

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Circle hooks can be barbless as they hold better and helps to prevent deeply hooked fish. Bottom left, Simon’s friend Paul playing his ray on light tackle and a nice thornback ray is the reward

as the fish dislodges the lead. The pull of the tide on the line, plus the resistance of the lead, is enough to set the hook home, but the angler still needs to be quick in recovering the slack line, otherwise the loose line can get carried by the tide and wrapped in the rough ground.

Playing a fish requires a bit of patience, often they will kite up and break the surface some distance downtide of the boat, it is then a matter of gradually easing the fish back against the tide, sometimes they will get their tail wrapped in the line when they make a spirited run away from the boat, this puts additional strain on all your tackle, so play the fish with a bit of sympathy. Once in range, a landing net is the most useful way to bring a fish aboard, this goes for most species. Once in the net the strain is off the rod, reel and line and also the hook hold, so quite frequently a fish will shake the hook out in the net.

Take care when handling thornback rays, they have that name for a reason!

Thornback ray are edible, but many anglers return their catch when possible.

They are a good fish to catch at a time of year when the fishing is sparse and we need to conserve our stocks. If you like a ray wing, then take males rather than females that are about to lay their eggs.

They need to be treated differently to other fish in that they emit an alkaloid slime, by the bucketful. Once the wings have been taken off the frame they need to be skinned, it isn’t difficult but it is fiddly. To cook them I poach them in half water half milk with a handful of capers and black peppers. Dealing with one fish is quite enough for me and so I only take one every now and again, as I do enjoy a ray wing from time to time, served plain with bread and butter and with plenty of vinegar sprinkled on the flesh. Maybe this year I will taste one again.

A landing net is a useful aid. Pictured right, a frozen sandeel presented properly, whipped with bait elastic to hold it in place

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CLASSIC CRUISERS

a complete guide to the best boats on the used market

Sealine S29/SC29

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he British, now German-owned boat builder, Sealine, is well known for its clever, featureful and notoriously ‘out there’ designs. The SC35 is the perfect example. However, before the SC35, the British builder embarked on an ambitious project to replace its muchloved 28ft sportscruiser with a new 29ft model, and introduce its first cabriolet hardtop coupe. But did Sealine get it right?

With 450 boats built over 10 years, the S28 is arguably one of Sealine’s best-selling family sportscruisers of all time. This month Motorboat Owner stepped aboard

its replacement duo, and precursor to the SC35, the S29 and SC29, to find out more.

The S29/SC29’s story started in the 1980s with the classic stalwart Sealine, the 285 Ambassador, with its sporty exterior, twin-engine power, four-berth interior and separate mid cabin. Its success lead to a new era of sculpted successors in the early 90s, including the 290, the 310 Ambassador and the 270 Senator. In 1995, Sealine introduced its fresh-faced Sealine 28 Bolero, later known as the S28 from 1998. This plucky little cruiser was able to face-off its main British rival at

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Built 2004-2009 (177) Prices then S29 £106,474 ‘06 Prices then SC29 £113,997 ‘06 Prices now £60,000-£85,000 Length 29ft 11in / 9.13m Beam 10ft 5in / 3.19m Air Draught 11ft 4in / 3.45m Draught 3ft 3in / 1.02m Fuel 60/105 gals / 276/478 lts Water 41 gallons / 190 litres Displacement 3670-4220kg

the time, the Fairline Targa 28/29, which had an almost identical layout, engine choices and performance. In the autumn of 2004 Sealine announced that its was building two new models, the S29 and SC29. The model duo shared an identical hull, superstructure and interior layout, but it was available in two guises, the S being an open cockpit sportscruiser with a very striking forward-raked arch, and SC, standing for sports coupé, a cabriolet hardtop version. Ever keen to push design boundaries, Sealine’s collaboration with hull designer, Ocke Mannerfelt, also saw

use of a raceboat-style twin-stepped hull for performance, something rarely seen in the leisure market before. It was wider than its predecessor, and its cockpit was noticeably larger. It also was put on a strict weight shedding diet. Despite being a foot longer than the S28 it was 180kg lighter and fitted with Volvo’s very latest compact, electronically-managed engines. With an appealing starting price just shy of £100k, the S29 made its debut at the London Boat Show in January 2005, facing off its rivals the Bavaria 29 Sport and the new Britishbuilt Birchwood 290. Priced in the region

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of £10k more, the SC29 was unveiled a matter of months later and, in the years that followed, it also became a showcase for more new advances, such as Cummins MerCruiser engines with an Axius joystick control system.

By 2008/2009 Sealine was only offering the SC29 version and, although it appeared in early 2010 brochures and pricelists,the SC29 was not built beyond 2009. MBO has been informed that 148 SC29s were built in 6 years. The S29 proved less popular, with 29 built between 2004-2006.

Sealine’s current range starts with a 33ft model series, the S330V, S330 and C330. However, the UK Sealine dealer, TBS Boats Penton Hook, is encouraging

the German builder to introduce a smaller entry level model, 28-29ft. Director, Chris Manners told Motorboat Owner, that there are already drawings for the model, and when asked whether this would be an open or a hardtop, the answer was ‘both, if possible’. So watch this space. Sealine as a company may have since been sold, but there is a great support network out there for these UK-built models, including the Sealine Forum, and companies like Seabridge Marine, Brit Boat Parts and TBS Boats Penton Hook.

On the used market today there is still roughly a £10k difference between the two models. Rarer S29s are frequently priced in the region of £60-70k, and SC29s are usually £70-85k. When TBS Boats

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Its L-shaped galley is lacking in storage. This S29 has a useful cupboard in lieu of a gas oven

Penton Hook listed a rare S29, alongside a choice of two SC29s for sale, it was a great opportunity to take a closer look.

space. A bank of three eye-level cupboards provide yet more storage and above this is the boats main switch panel. Overhead, a round hatch vents to the cockpit. There Interior is a convenient shelf running along the An offset companionway sliding glass aft bulkhead, on some 29s there will be a door and a set of teak steps lead down into useful metal fiddle rail along this. the cabin area. At the foot of the steps lies Unfortunately, the boat does not have a a central lobby offering 6ft headroom, with storage area under the galley floor, as on a galley area immediately to starboard. the S28. The shower sump tray however Similar to the S28, the galley is configured is still sited aft under a panel in the floor. in an L shape and set aft. Here, a twoThere is also a storage locker in the burner hob and double sink lie concealed, companionway steps, which could be used set into the worktop. Below the worktop is as a waste bin. usually a gas oven (an optional extra), an On the port side are two oval Engel 47-litre fridge, a cutlery drawer and shaped doors leading off to the toilet a shelved corner cupboard behind a clever compartment and mid cabin. Between bi-fold door. Outboard of the worktop, the galley and saloon area is a half-height a gulley can be used to stand sink and hanging locker. Ahead lies a horseshoe hob covers. In lieu of a double sink, it is a shaped raised dinette, which is a rather shame Sealine did not make this draining impressive and welcoming space. With like the SC35, thus freeing up worktop its glossy elliptical table, it can easily seat Motorboat Owner Š Digital Marine Media Ltd

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The mid cabin has a slightly larger double berth and more storage than its predecessor, the S28

six people and offers lined storage in its moulded seat bases. Its table drops down and, using two infill cushions, creates a large double berth measuring 6ft long in the centre and 5ft 10in at its widest.

Between the hull and dinette seating lined lockers provide space in which to store the infill cushions. Light is provided by

two elliptical-shaped portholes each side and two round deck hatches overhead.

Admittedly it does not have the view and light seen from the larger side opening ports on the S28, but is a very comfortable and private space all the same. A hatch in the raised dinette floor lifts with the table pedestal attached and reveals a hull space

Its forward dinette converts to a large double 80

February 2020

2006 S29 £64,950 (featured) Twin Volvo D3-160 diesels TBS Boats Penton Hook 01932 570055 www.tbsboats.com

Inside the glitzy toilet compartment there is ample elbow room to shower and ensuite access to the master

where a holding tank, and bowthruster beyond this, were installed.

The toilet compartment is an ideal size and offers just over 6ft headroom. Inside the washdown, moulded compartment is a sea toilet and an integral corner washbasin unit with a deep, round metal sink and shower mixer tap.

A locker in its base houses a toilet roll holder and offers a decent amount of storage, while above, a Perspex slide-front locker provides storage for lotions and potions and a shaver socket. Mirrored lighting panels either side resemble a theatre dressing room and bring a splash of style and glamour. There is a curtain enclosure for showering and a second, angled ensuite door leads into the master mid cabin.

The mid cabin is well proportioned and cosy. Step over the threshold and there is a full standing dressing area (6ft 2in) lit by a frosted round hatch into the cockpit overhead.

Choice of 2 2008 SC29s £79-£89k MerCruiser or Volvo D3-190s TBS Boats Penton Hook 01932 570055 www.tbsboats.com

2006 SC29 £84,995 Twin Volvo D3-160 diesels Bushnells 0118 940 2162 www.bushnells.co.uk

2006 SC29 £71,950 Twin Volvo D3-190 diesels Tingdene Boat Sales Portishead 01275 397277 www.tingdeneboatsales.net

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Running fore and aft is a glossy, refinedlooking storage unit comprising of open shelving suitable for shoes and clothing and a half-height hanging locker aft.

Above this is a mirror and spot lamp.

Moving aft the crawl-in berth itself is 6ft 4in long by 4ft 6in, narrowing to 4ft.

It offers decent seated headroom, with height decreasing under the cockpit sole, and light is provided by a hull and cockpit porthole. Continuing the line of the storage unit, the headboard lifts to reveal a deep storage area, ample for storing pillows, a duvet or sleeping bags with flat shelf above. With a reduced size locker now at the foot of the berth, compared to the S28, Sealine did well to bring more immediately accessible storage to the port side in this cabin. Inside the narrow locker at the foot of the berth you will usually find the diesel heater unit, if fitted. The

folding mattress provides access to the 41-gallon water tank under the berth, as well as an access panel revealing the toilet seacocks. The water pump and various hoses to the shower sump and seacocks are accessible by a Velcro panel in a forward bulkhead.

Cockpit & helm Step through the port side feature metal transom door and you are greeted with a long and spacious cockpit area, offering versatile seating, storage and shelter from the elements. The cockpit is noticeably larger than the S28, and sports a onelevel, similarly styled layout, with clever, upscaled seating. Underfoot, a teak cockpit sole was available as a ÂŁ2k extra.

Immediately on the port side is a step moulding leading out to the side deck.

Housed in its base are two small lockers,

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the aft one containing the battery shutoffs while the forward one is a gas locker, accommodating two 907 Camping Gaz cylinders. Ahead of this is a moulded unit housing a cockpit fridge, which was an extra, and is topped with a sink concealed under a heavy duty Corian top.

A griddle BBQ was available as an extra here in lieu of the sink. To starboard is a long and spacious L-shaped seating area.

Here, there is provision for mounting a twin-pedestal long rectangular table top and offers seating for 5-6 people. Larger replacement folding teak table tops are available from companies such as Marine Teak. The aft seat moulding has a shaped and rather generous draining locker within it, while under the seat, running fore-and-aft, is open slotted storage for the aforementioned table top and its supports, as well as a pull-out sunpad infill base and cushion. One crucial difference Cockpit wet bar with fridge and handy wash here over its predecessor, the S28, is the basin. A BBQ griddle was an option here Motorboat Owner Š Digital Marine Media Ltd

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The best of both worlds. Slide back the SC’s roof and it is transformed into an open sportscruiser

hinging helm seat back rest. Folding this and a double-height helm seat cushion forward to the steering wheel creates a long C-shaped seating area, a sunpad or occasional double berth measuring a massive 7ft long and 3ft wide. This also provides access to a large flat liferaft locker in the helm seat moulding, which is perhaps only suitable for a smaller valisetype liferaft. Even so this is not really readily accessible in an emergency. It is worth noting that the hinging helm seat backrest is also height adjustable and is

The twin helm seat is a good size, double height and has an adjustable hinging backrest

locked into position using locking nuts and knobs, which are fiddly and liable to go missing.

Forward of the wet bar area, a seat on the port side resembles a chaise longue.

Unlike the S28, its 4ft length means it is not possible to lay out on this, but it remains a comfortable ‘chill out’ seat all the same. Here, on early versions, Sealine fashioned an unusual hinged mid support under the cushion.

To starboard is a generous twin helm seat and ahead of this is large blue or cream-coloured helm console moulding that stylishly extends over the companionway. The multi-angled and faceted console integrates all the usual items, switches, a bowthruster control if fitted, a compass and chart storage. Dials and displays are set into a separate dash panel. A chartplotter is normally fitted to the panel to the left of the helm. Raymarine equipment is fairly common, with Sealine fitting a portrait format RL70C, or larger C80/ E80, display here, usually linked to a 2kw radar dome. Visibility at the helm is good

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The stylish dash is well executed. The cockpit hatch over the galley might cause windscreen misting

on both boats. However, one noticeable difference between models here is a higher windscreen on the SC model, meaning you are more protected, but still with the ability to see over the top.

Sealine ensured that there was at least 6ft of cockpit headroom in both versions, with 6ft 3in at the helm on the S29 and 6ft 1in on the SC29. The S29’s forwardraked arch and a hinging metal framework aft support a two-part canopy, which has various zip-removable elements and neatly stows into and onto the radar arch.

According to owners the canopy is very easily removed and erected. This also offers noticeably more light over the SC with the roof closed. Aboard the SC29 a manual fabric concertina roof unclips and slides all the way aft to the radar mast overhang. It is on runners but can sometimes be a little sticky. The trick here is to keep the runners spotlessly clean and apply a regular dose of silicone

spray. Sometimes dirt can build up on the runners and cause its ball bearings to come adrift, so it is worth having a look along the gutters to check that all is in order. The roof fabric is double skinned with a waterproof vinyl canvas outer and a mesh lining to avoid a build up of condensation on the inside. Following your nose, inspect the interior mesh for mildew or mould growth, and check the outer fabric is clean and looks in good waterproof order. Replacement sliding roof systems are available through Sealinehoned companies, such as Seabridge Marine and Brit Boat Parts. Across both models ensure that the canopy and roof is in good order. Also be aware that clear vinyl shrinks at a faster rate than the canvas which can put strain on zips and associated stitching.

Cockpit seat cushions were factory finished in either a hard-wearing vinyl or a soft woven beige canvas, which is

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It has sculpted sidedecks, substantial cleats and a large anchor locker. Early S29s have foredeck rails

easily pulled, while later boats may sport modern waterproof Silvertex fabric. It is worth lifting all cushions to check for water ingress, particularly the starboard quarter, as this could be the result of a leaking roof, canopy or rain entering the radar arch.

On deck The boat’s side decks are easily accessible from inside the cockpit on the port side through the canopy, or via a step each side from the bathing platform moving around the outside of the canopy. The latter manoeuvre is slightly easier on the S version, due to the pronounced overhang of the SC29 hardtop. Owners may well have suspended rope guardrails on the corners here, for added security.

The moulded decks, with a sunken effect toerail and at 7.5-inch, are a decent width

for a boat of this size. Each deck is also equipped with three chunky cleats, with an additional and substantial bow cleat mounted on the foredeck.

High, sturdy rails have a wire insert for extra security and echo the windscreen line, continuing a long way aft. At the bow, the high and stylishly pronounced pulpit feels like it should belong on a larger cruiser, which together with a sloping foredeck, will perhaps take a little getting used to. A large anchor locker has the electric windlass mounted high with a separate chain locker, leaving ample space for all fenders to be stowed and tethered to a handy hatch rail.

Moving out of the cockpit there is a decent size bathing platform for crewing and boarding. This is equipped with a concealed bathing ladder and a transom shower, and is an ideal size for

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Striking and stylish. The S29/SC29 has a raceboat stepped-hull bringing efficiency at planing speeds

an inflatable tender on snap davits with stand-off arms.

Whilst on deck you should check all window rubbers for shrinkage, as this could lead to leaks and prove expensive to renovate. Also inspect the condition of the powder-coated metal window frames, as any exposed metal may be suffering from corrosion. Owners have reported a weakness in the windscreen frames, where the front joins the side, with one S29 owner resorting to strengthening the corners after a partial separation, so this is something to watch out for. It is also worth inspecting the radar arch for any voids and crazing in the gelcoat.

powered, planing-hulled boats, the 29 is very susceptible to cross winds or weight induced lean. It is likely to flop from side to side if people move about onboard, which can be quite alarming to those not versed. This is particularly noticeable with only two onboard. Therefore it is important to ensure that trim tabs are working correctly, particularly if you plan to do a lot of sea work. An automatic system is usually a worthwhile upgrade.

At close quarters the 29 is a manageable boat for two people, or even singlehanded. Once you have mastered the characteristics of sterndrives, the 29 is very responsive and easy to manoeuvre.

However, a bowthruster is an excellent Hull and Handling addition to look out for to aid those Sealine sought to achieve performance windy and trickier mooring situations. and efficiency with the 29, with the twinGadget lovers are also sure to fall for the stepped hull system designed to trap air to rare Cummins MerCruiser boats with reduce drag. The 29 was also honed to be the Axius joystick control system, which larger but lighter than its predecessor. The saw the drives moving independently for result is a capable, fun to drive and quick- 360 degree manoeuvrability. However, to-plane cruiser. However, weight saving they will need to do a bit of homework, is still key for performance for boats like considering ongoing maintenance costs, this, and something to bear in mind with ensuring that everything is up and storage. Trim is another important aspect running and that there is local dealer for coastal work. Like many outdrivesupport available. Note, these versions do Motorboat Owner Š Digital Marine Media Ltd

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Arguably the smallest hardtop on the market, the S29/SC29 is a manageable size in every aspect

not normally have a bowthruster.

Engines The S29 and SC29 were available with single or twin, petrol or diesel Volvo sterndrives, with the SC priced roughly £10k more throughout production. The SC was also available with Cummins MerCruiser with the Axius joystick control system.

During the first few years of production the two models were available with a bewildering six Volvo Penta engine options, standard being a single petrol engine, a 280hp Volvo Penta V8 5.7-litre Gi priced from £99,397 for the S model.

Next up were twin V6 225hp 4.3-litre GXi petrols, followed by a single D4-260 or D6-310 diesel. Two twin diesel options followed, D3-160s or D4-260s. By 2006, all D4 configurations had disappeared and a potent single D6-350 was added, priced from £124k. Uprated D3-190s also topped the line up, from £128k. Always open to new technology, during 2007 Sealine offered the SC29 with twin 260hp MerCruiser 5.0 MPI petrols with the Axuis joystick. This package was priced from £135k and offered 40-42 knots.

A twin diesel option was also available, namely 210hp Cummins MerCruiser QSD 2.8s with Axius, and incidentally offering the same speeds as the Volvo 190s. A 2008 brochure details a base engine option of twin V6 Volvo 4.3GXi petrol engines and by 2009, when the S29 had vanished from the range, a single Volvo D6 370 diesel engine (£137k) was added.

When it comes to speeds, there is a lot to be said for Volvos lighter, modern engines and a stepped hull. Single diesel configurations such as the Volvo D6 370 should give approximately 34-36 knots and economy of up to 4 nmpg. Boats with twin Volvo D3s should cruise happily at 24-25 knots, with the 160s offering a top speed of 33 knots and the larger 190s giving 35 knots. With these twin diesel configurations you would expect an nmpg in the region of 2.5, which is slightly better than a twin KAD32 powered diesel S28, achieving closer to 2 nmpg.

Most UK 29s are likely to be diesel and fitted with twin Volvo D3s, with 160s fitted in early boats and 190s in later versions.

These were mated to DPS drives running F5 duo props. Slightly rarer are the punchy Cummins MerCruiser engines, which are

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Early versions, like this S29, will be fitted with Volvo D3-160 diesels and cruise happily at 24 knots

marginally heavier than the Volvo engines, making the boat sit lower in the water. We have yet to find a single diesel version on the market, but with half the running and maintenance costs this would be a very appealing package and one that an owner might be reluctant to sell.

Fuel capacity varied between single and twin-powered versions, with a single 60-gallon tank for single configurations, and two 52.5-gallon tanks for twins.

The fuel tank or tanks usually extend thwartships under the cockpit floor ahead of the engine bay hatch. Removing a fixed hatch will provide access to the tank senders. Be aware there have been instances of the seal between the tank and its lid perishing and clogging the filters.

Access to the engine bay is via a large hatch in the cockpit floor. In order to lift the hatch it is necessary to close the transom gate, lift off the aft and corner seat cushions and raise the aft locker lid, which is on spring stays. The large engine bay hatch provides really good

access to the engines, and climbing down into the deep engine bay is usually aided by a narrow metal step on the forward bulkhead. One S29 viewed had a metal, single rung ladder leading down which was far easier. Ensure that its gas struts are working properly and check for crazing along the hatch drainage gulleys where the hatch may have come down heavily.

The engine compartment is a great size, but it is, like most sterndrive boats, a challenge to get to the rear of the engines. Inside you will find the fuel filters

Cummins MerCruiser QSD 2.8 210hp diesels were fitted between 2007-2009, but are rare

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mounted on the forward bulkhead. A battery box and calorifier can normally be found on the port side. Owners say that replacing the batteries can be quite hard as there is limited clearance to lift them out.

However, on the plus side, there is surplus space to starboard, which could be utilised for storage. To give you an idea of useable space available, on one of the versions viewed a holding tank had been retrofitted here. Cummins MerCruiser models have the separate clear raw water bowls mounted in the floor, which is excellent for visual checks.

Always ensure that regular servicing has been carried out regardless of hours.

Volvo and Cummins MerCruiser engines are well regarded, with a good service support network and availability of spares.

Buyers do, however, need to be aware that these modern engines are electronically managed and may need specialist diagnostic equipment for fault finding and

servicing, so will need to factor this into their running costs. Such engines are also extremely sensitive to their parameters, and will alarm and go into limp home mode if things aren’t spot on. Early D3s in particular were known for being problematic. Such problems may well have been ironed out and were addressed by Volvo with its next generation of D3s.

Conclusion It is really hard to fault this stylish duo. These boats are small enough to be affordable to berth and economical to run, yet big enough to go offshore. The good news is they are getting more affordable, especially for those craving a hardtop. Equally, at £10k cheaper, the S29 would make a quality starter boat and a very good choice for a family.

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

Family Sealine SC35

2007-2013

Prices £110,000-£180,000

Length 36ft 1in Beam 12ft 2in Radical and clever hardtop with a versatile, two-cabin 6-berth layout and large cockpit.

Buy one (pictured) 2010 £159,500 www.ancasta.com

S28

1995-2005

Prices £35,000-£60,000

Length 28ft 11in Beam 9ft 11in The S29 predessesor is still as popular as ever. An unbeatable family sportscruiser.

Buy one (pictured) 1997 £39,950 www.clippermarine.co.uk

S34

1998-2007

Prices £69,000-£110,000

Length 34ft 6in Beam 11ft A popular 34 footer with a 2-cabin 6-berth layout and twin 170-230hp diesel options.

Buy one (pictured) 1999 £69,500 www.valwyattmarine.co.uk

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CRANCHI M44HT £549,950 INC VAT NE

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2019 Cranchi T43

2018 Viking 24 Highline

Volvo Penta IPS 500 Diesel Engines £799,950 INC VAT Lying Brixham

Yamaha F40 Outboard Engine £49,950

NE

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NE

Glastron GT185 Lying T&K

2011 Bayliner 330 Lying Windsor

Lying T&K

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Volvo Penta V6-280 Petrol Engine FROM £105,000

Lying Windsor

Hartford Marina 01480 454677

Broadlands Marina 01502 440238

Upton Marina 01684 593111

e. boatsales@tingdene.net

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2020 Cranchi E26 Rider

Portishead Quays Marina 01275 397277

Racecourse Marina, Windsor 01753 851717

Lying T&K

2X Volvo Penta KAD 300 Diesel Engines £69,950 Lying Windsor

Mercury 250hp Outboard FROM £109,000 INC VAT

“LARGEST BOAT SALES ON THE RIVER THAMES”

Thames & Kennet Marina 01189 477770

tingdeneboatsales.net

Beta Marine Diesel Engine £174,500

2004 Cranchi 33 Endurance

2020 Cranchi E26 Classic

TINGDENE SALES OFFICES

Walton Marina 01932 221689

Lying T&K

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

NE

2x Mercruiser 4.3 Petrol Engines £79,950

Tingdene Colecraft 66x10

Glatron GT229 Cuddy

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

W

Lying Windsor

New and Used

Boats for Sale 01189 403211

Freeman / 23

Well presented river cruiser, low air draft, 2 double berths, BSS 2023

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

Bayliner / 2655

Great example with two double berths, Mercruiser 5.7L 250hp

Sealine / 260 Senator

Twin Volvo engines, equipped galley, spacious aft cockpit

Interboat / 22

Fantastic day boat, solid teak floor & decks, fridge, bimini

1974 | £9,750 | 23ft | 7m

1996 | £19,500 | 27.8ft | 8.5m

1991 | £25,000 | 25.8ft | 7.9m

Interboat / 6.5

Interboat / Intender 820

Broom / Ocean 40

Intercruiser / 29

NEW | £47,950 | 21.7ft | 6.6m

NEW | £77,950 | 26.6ft | 8.1m

1989 | £85,000 | 40ft | 12.3m

2016 | £180,000 | 29ft | 9m

Stylish open day boat, sunbed, bowthruster, seating for 10

Striking teal hull, Esthec & solid teak floor, toilet, fridge

Perfect for extended cruising, fully equipped, generator, bowthruster

FROM

£346,680

400 AFT CABIN

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

British built since 1980

2006 | £29,950 | 22.3ft | 6.8m

Immaculate cruiser, stern & bow thrusters, teak floor, Volvo 110hp

FROM

INTENDER 820

£48,570

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

Premium Dutch Quality

Enjoy the life you live www.valwyattmarine.co.uk | 01189 403211 | info@valwyattmarine.co.uk Val Wyatt Marine, Willow Marina, Willow Lane, Wargrave, Berkshire, RG10 8LH New Boat Sales | Used Craft | Moorings & Storage | Boat Maintenance

Owners Directory i Arvor Boat Owners Club

Dawncraft Owners Club & Forum

www.arvorboatowners.co.uk

www.dawncraftowners.com

Aquastar Owners Club

Dell Quay Ranger website

www.aquastarclub.co.uk

www.dellquayranger.supanet.com

Atlanta Boat Owners

Electric Boat Association

www.atlantaboats.co.uk

www.electric-boat-association.org.uk

Bavaria Owners’ Association

Elysian Boat Owners

www.bavariaowners.co.uk

www.elysianboats.co.uk

Bayliner Owners Club

Fairey Owners Club

www.baylinerownersclub.org

www.faireyownersclub.co.uk

Beneteau Owners’ Association

Fairline Owners Club

www.beneteau-owners-association.org.uk

www.fairlineownersclub.com

Birchwood Classics

Fjord Club

www.birchwoodclassics.com

www.fjordclub.com

Broom Owners Club

Fletcher Owners Group

www.broomowners.com

www.facebook.com/groups/4011883149

Chaparral Boat Owners Forum

Freeman Cruisers Forum

forum.chaparralboats.com

freemanboats.forumer.com

Classic Motor Boat Association

Freeman Owners Club

www.cmba-uk.com

www.freemancruisers.com

Classic Offshore Powerboat Club

Freeman Cruisers

www.classicoffshore.com

freeman-cruisers.forumotion.co.uk

Cleopatra Owners Club

Haines Owners Club

mycleopatra.ning.com

www.hainesmarine.co.uk/owners.php

Coronet Cruisers

Hampton Safari Boat Club

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

hamptonsafaribc.webplus.net

Corvette Motorboat Association

Hardy Owners Club

corvettemotorboat.wordpress.com

Cranchi Owners Club & Forum cranchiownersclub.com

94

www.hardy-owner.org.uk

Jeanneau Owners Network

www.jeanneau-owners.com

February 2020

Owners Club missing?

Contact us at

Marex Owners Club

editorial@motorboatowner.co.uk

Sea Ray Owners Club

www.clubsearay.com

www.marexownersclub.co.uk

Sealine Forum

Mariah Owners Club www.mariahownersclub.com

www.sealineforum.co.uk

Maxum Owners Club

Sealine Owners Club

www.maxumownersclub.com

www.sealineowners.com

Microplus Boats

Seamaster Club

www.microplus.dk

www.seamasterclub.org

Monterey Fourm

Seaward Owners Club

forums.montereyboats.com

www.seawardboat.com/club.html

Moonraker Owner’s Club

Shadow Boats - Victoria Shadow Association

www.moonraker.dk/eng_index.htm

www.victoriashadow.co.uk

Nauticus

Shetland Owners Association

www.nauticus.co.uk

www.shetlandowners.co.uk/shetland/

Nelson Boat Owners Club

Star Craft Owners Club

www.nelsonboatownersclub.co.uk

www.bates-starcraft.co.uk

Nimbus Owners Club UK

Storebro Passion

www.nimbusowners.co.uk

www.storebropassion.de

Norman Appreciation Society

Sunseeker Owners Club

www.normanboats.co.uk

sunseekerownersclub.com

Classic Princess facebook group

Viking Owners Club

Click here for Facebook group

www.vikingowners.org.uk

Regal Owners Forum

Warrior Boats Owners Club

www.warriorboatsownersclub.co.uk

www.regalownersforum.com

Relcraft Boaters Group

Advertise with us

www.relcraftboatersgroup.co.uk

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

Rodman Owners Club

www.facebook.com/rodmanownersclub

Classified adverts from £25

advertising@

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

2005 Glastron GS269 diesel

£32,950 01753 851717 email address

95

Classified

1989 Broom Monarch

Twin Volvo Penta TAMD 61A. 6 berth, with double ensuite master aft, circular saloon dining area and ensuite V-berth forward. Generator, radar, plotter, bowthruster.

£109,950

07701 287046 thamesboatsales@tingdene.net

Motorboat Owner Affordable practical boating

1994 Sunseeker Mustique

1988 Princess 286

Twin Detroit 565hp diesels (top speed 24 knots). Spacious opencockpit sportscruiser offering 6-berths with 2 ensuite cabins.

Bowthruster, Raymarine plotter.

Twin Volvo Penta AD41A 200hp diesel sterndrives. Classic Olesinski sportscruiser, offering 4 berths with separate double mid cabin.

Bowthruster, inflatable.

£69,950

£22,500

01323 470066 Freddie@bateswharfsouthern.co.uk

01189 403211 info@valwyattmarine.co.uk

Advertisement Index

CRANCHI M44HT £549,950 INC VAT NE

Discover space to relax at Portland Marina.

Marina, dry stack, boatyard.

01305 866190

W

NE

2019 Cranchi T43

2018 Viking 24 Highline

Volvo Penta IPS 500 Diesel Engines £799,950 INC VAT Lying Brixham

Yamaha F40 Outboard Engine £49,950

NE

W

W

Tingdene Colecraft 66x10 Lying T&K

Beta Marine Diesel Engine £174,500

Glatron GT229 Cuddy

2004 Cranchi 33 Endurance

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

Lying T&K

2X Volvo Penta KAD 300 Diesel Engines £69,950 Lying Windsor

NE

Lying T&K

W

portlandmarina.co.uk Glastron GT185 Volvo Penta V6 -200C Petrol Engine £36,950 INC VAT

Lying T&K

NE

2011 Bayliner 330 2x Mercruiser 4.3 Petrol Engines £79,950

W

2020 Cranchi E26 Rider Lying Windsor

Mercury 250hp Outboard FROM £109,000 INC VAT

Lying Windsor

Portishead Quays Marina 01275 397277

Racecourse Marina, Windsor 01753 851717

tingdeneboatsales.net

NE

Volvo Penta V6-280 Petrol Engine FROM £105,000

“LARGEST BOAT SALES ON THE RIVER THAMES”

Thames & Kennet Marina 01189 477770

Walton Marina 01932 221689

W

2020 Cranchi E26 Classic Lying Windsor

TINGDENE SALES OFFICES

Hartford Marina 01480 454677

Broadlands Marina 01502 440238

Upton Marina 01684 593111

e. boatsales@tingdene.net

All adverts are clickable

Bates Wharf Marine Sales (Beneteau)........................................... Page 65 Dean & Reddyhoff Marinas............................................................. Page 15 JC Marine Service............................................................................ Page 11 MDS Battery....................................................................................... Page 13 Parker Poland.................................................................................... Page 4 Seabridge Marine............................................................................. Page 91 Targa/Wessex Marine...................................................................... Page 7 Tingdene Boat Sales........................................................................ Page 93 Val Wyatt Marine.............................................................................. Page 92 Vetus.................................................................................................. Page 51

96

February 2020

L K what I saw

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

@

send your images to us at

editorial@

motorboatowner.co.uk

Pink wash

Sunrise, heading onto the Wash from Fosdyke SPOTTED! by Luke Collins

Christmas castle sunrise

The sun rises over Porchester on Christmas day SPOTTED! by Penny Rawle

Bail for sale

Someone needs to bail out this boat for sale SPOTTED! by Michelle Whitehead

Severn in flood

Drone images capturing Severn flooding in October SPOTTED! by David Bagshaw Motorboat Owner Š Digital Marine Media Ltd

97

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98

January 2018

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