Motorboat Owner March 2019

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Motorboat MARCH 2019

Owner Affordable practical boating

BOAT TEST

Silver Raptor Birchwood TS31 l Spring Cleaning l Cruising to Norway

Jeanneau NC33

Welcome to the March issue.

From the Editor

contact us

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

editorial@motorboatowner.co.uk

I know it’s a bit clichéd for us Brits to talk about the weather, but what a spell we have just had. Only last weekend I was sitting in the cockpit of our boat, at anchor, eating lunch in a T shirt, in the UK in February! It’s easy to be lulled into a false sense of security, but it really feels like spring is just around the corner so, with that in mind, we have produced a comprehensive guide to spring

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

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March 2019

along the side of our starboard engine to install it. The warm spell also meant I could do some painting on our project boat, and I’m getting quite excited about the prospect of refitting the engine. I think it will still be some time before we will be turning the ignition key, but 18 months after removing the rusty lump from the boat, I have started taking bits back.

Elsewhere in this issue we have gone Birchwood mad. Fresh from hearing the news that the brand may be relaunching, we have a guide to one of their popular former models, the TS31, and one reader’s story about modifiing his 33 Classic to fit under the notoriously low Osney bridge.

If you are looking for some cruising cleaning your boat in readiness for the inspiration, we also kick off a sixseason. We, on the other hand, have had ours hauled out for its annual maintenance, part story about a couple’s cruise to Norway. Most of us don’t have time cue weeks of rain, a flurry of snow and a late appearance of a beast from somewhere for such adventures, but I hope it spurs you on to venture a little further eastern. Still, at least we managed to get the problem with the power steering fixed, afield, and explore new which involved having a new hydraulic pipe cruising grounds in 2019, I know it made and copious use of someone slightly has for me. more svelte than me to fit upside down

welcome aboard

Silver Raptor at rest in its Finnish archipelago habitat. See the boat test on page 26

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: Peter Pitcher, Barry Booth, John Pridmore, Richard Orton Cover photo: Silver Raptor on test on the Turku archipelago, Finland by Neale Byart

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

3

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CONTENTS p70

PRACTICAL

REGULARS

PRACTI CAL

MARCH 2019

Spring Cleaning

ADVICE

Hull an d

topsid es

Most boa continu and mou ts have diffi ed cult to get to brushes ldings, so a corn sele toothbruis a must. I alwa ction of han ers d awkwar sh or two on ys keep an old d boa perfect to get to bits, rd for thos for e really and Sometim many onboard a nailbrus cleaning h is for a stub es you may jobs. cleaners born mark. need a spot clea The ner market that real for very spec is full ific of Streak ly seems to wor purposes, There are lots remover but of spot with the . This dealk is Starbrite one cleaners Blac s very on the find belo vertical blac effective k 3m’s Med market k ly Wax ium marks. w canopies, lines that you as is a goo Cutting Com Cut as a spot ting compou well as man often d mid pound Once rang and nd is also y other marks cleaner for hose off the boat is clea e polish. usef rem and small bott minor scra oving stub ul you shouto remove any n, and after born pes. a le of acet I also if used absorben ld wipe the residual soap good carefully one on boa keep a boat dow , defeat the old t cloth. Cha n with all othe , can remove rd which, moi scho an s leath r clea ol met marks modern If your ers are hod that boat has ners. waxed which equivalents , but I like the on a regu not been such leav polished surface lar basi surface. es a dry, sme as the Easi has dri, ar and this case become mat s you may findand droplet Afte free enough washing alon t and chalky. the dryi r cleaning and ng you e is and you In shou compou the who will need not going to le boat ld wipe be to reso results nd polish. I with a rt to a have with 3M coat of over range products always got grea good quality to deal mar and t This with all ine will prot wax. levels they do a of neg ect the lect.

For

NEWS page 6 INBOX page 18 CUTTING EDGE page 36 Q&A page 46 TESTED page 82

’s idea of fun, but if

your

not be everyone really B oat cleaning maythe winter lay-up there one above after the in. I’ve just

up and get stuck boat is looking like different it but to roll your sleeves which I tried lots of is nothing else for with my boat, during up a typical been through the process cleaning all the various bits that make of products and methods but even a well groomed boating package. look like the one above, 72 also looked at Hopefully yours doesn’t for long all on its own, so we have good and prolong your efforts. boat won’t stay looking s designed to protect technique and March 2019 various products 70

dull need a gelcoat you may polish

Protect clean If the wate fibreglass surface, r doesn’t beadwith a wax . you need on more wax the Marc h 2019

page 20 New Boats

Helsinki Highlights page 52 Project Boat Fairline Vixen

PRACTICAL

Spring Cleaning guide p38

page 66 My Boat Birchwood 33 Classic page 82 Tested

AGlaze Crystal Vision

p66 CRUISING Norway Bound Leg 1

p56

p26

Birchwood TS31

CLASSIC CRUISER GUIDE

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

p84

Silver Raptor

BOAT TESTS

Jeanneau NC33

5

NEWS Birchwood set to relaunch Birchwood Marine Ltd has announced that it is ‘relaunching’ the Birchwood brand via crowd funding investment and what is being described as a ‘joint venture manufacturing association’.

Birchwood’s Chairman and Managing Director for the past 16 years, Ernie Vick, explained ‘Due to the recession we stopped manufacturing in the UK and decided to look further afield, subsequently we had boats built at a shipyard in South East China, but due to their economic downturn the yard decided to close. We have since acquired a (MOU) /Joint Manufacturing Agreement with an established yard in Argentina with a range of models from 34ft-74ft with both sport and flybridge models. These will be ‘Birchwood branded’ for the UK, EU, US, with potentially the UAE and China markets.”

The Birchwood brand dates back to the 1950s, but closed its doors in 2002.

The investment is being raised through Crowdcube.com and Ernie also told Motorboat Owner that this “will be used initially to fund two boats or more, depending on the level of funding raised and displayed at the forthcoming Southampton Boat Show 2019 and then to the Boot Düsseldorf boat show in 2020 with representation from dealers in our various countries.” Initial launch models from the 34ft-74ft range are to be the 640 and 430, both flybridges, and the company is also looking to use technological advances in hybrid power in its models. You can see a video presentation on the proposed relaunch, which includes interviews with MD Ernie Vick, Owner and CFO, Paul Wagstaff and John Pridmore of the Birchwood Classics website, here.

55 years of the Birchwood brand, the 22, 25, TS34 and TS31 (see used boat guide this month) 6

March 2019

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

editorial@motorboatowner.co.uk

Brightlingsea’s Morgan Marine sold The Brightlingsea boatyard in Essex, Morgan Marine, has changed hands.

With its tidal marina, Jeanneau dealership and chandlery, the boatyard business has been owned and run by the Morgan family for over 45 years. Its new owners, the Miller family will take over at the end of February. Graham Miller and his son Oliver are described as ‘keen boaters’, with ‘sound business acumen, a high-level of technical ability, and a pioneering-vigour crafted from Formula One racing’.

Graham and Oliver have spent several years in roles with the Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix, and said “our top priority is to continue to serve our customers well, to implement the new marina proposal thereby embarking upon an exciting journey to develop the boatyard, its moorings, facilities and workshops. By continuing to invest in our agility and capability, we’ll build a platform for future success that will earn us the opportunity to remain, best in boating.”

Moorings Martinique The boat charter company, The Moorings has introduced the Caribbean island of Martinique as a new power charter destination.

Located in the heart of the Lesser Antilles’ Windward Islands and nicknamed the “culinary capital of the Caribbean”, the volcanicformed island of Martinique is a mountainous region that is part of the French Republic. The charter base is at La Marina du Marina, which is a 45-minute commute from Martinique Aimé Césaire International Airport. Bareboat and skippered winter 2019 departing charters are now available aboard the flagship 514 power catamaran pictured.

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

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NEWS Thames Valley & London Boat Show The Thames Valley and London Boat Show is a new boat show that will be held at Penton Hook Marina on the River Thames on the 12-14th April. The free entry, 3-day show, is being organised by MDL Marinas and Chris Manners and the team at TBS Boats Penton Hook. After its announcement in early February, the show gathered exhibitors at a fast pace, attracting many Thames brokers and new boat dealers, such as Bates Wharf, Val Wyatt, Boat Showrooms and Tingdene Boat Sales. Companies also exhibiting include Lombard, MCC Marine, Barrus, Ideal Boat, Boats.co.uk and the RNLI. The show will have new and used boats on display on and off the water, and stalls for marine equipment and services, food and entertainment ashore. Chris Manners said “We hope this will be a great weekend to get people afloat, try a boat, drink and dance.” The show will be open between 10am-6pm daily, for details visit the show website.

TBS Boats Bray represent iSloep The Thames boat dealer, TBS Boats Bray has become a dealer for the Dutch boat brand, iSloep. Based in Amsterdam, iSloep have been building dayboats since 2006 and its current range is 5.8m to 9.9m. Its models have two distinct styles, with the 585 and 735 featuring traditional rope fendering, while the Rapida range offers contemporary styling, an aft sunbathing area and higher speeds for coastal use as well as inland. Prices start at £28,076 for the 585. TBS Boats Bray will have Rapida 666 and 777, pictured top, demonstrators arriving in late March 2019 and a 735, pictured left, is due in April 2019.

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March 2019

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All trademarks mentioned in this publication are owned by, or licensed to, the AkzoNobel group of companies. © AkzoNobel 2019.

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NEWS £800m development: Fawley tower to be demolished The 198-metre chimney close to the entrance of Southampton Water in the Solent is to be demolished to make way for a £800m residential development. Fawley Power Station began operation in 1971 as a 2000-megawatt oil-fired power station, but closed in March 2013, and is now decommissioned. At the peak of its operation it employed in excess of 700 people, making it a major employer within the New Forest. Developer, Fawley Waterside, now owns the 3000-acre site and is initiating plans to demolish the station to make way for a proposed, traditionalSouthampton-style harbour development with a canal and dock at its heart, featuring 1500 homes, an all-tides marina, a hotel, yacht club, shops, restaurants and marine industries, and a ferry service to Southampton. According to the Solent Protection Organisation, the same developer is proposing another 30 new homes at Calshot, as part of a Calshot Village development. The chimney tower at Fawley, near Calshot, on the west bank of Southampton Water was built in 1964 and has been an important navigation mark for Solent boaters ever since. Fawley Waterside state ‘We do recognise that the chimney is an important and popular landmark used by sailors, and those walking the New Forest to orientate themselves. For this reason it will be replaced by a building of sufficient scale and height that can be seen from the Solent’s eastern and western approaches. This proposed building will be 100m high and combine a mixture of residential and commercial use.’

A Victorian warehouse-style Southern Quayside with 18th and 19th century architecture 10

March 2019

AL I C R! E SP FFE O

Leader 33 £199,995

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Merry Fisher 795 Marlin £59,995

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NEWS South Coast Boat Show at Ocean Village MDL’s Ocean Village Marina in Southampton is set to host a new South Coast Boat Show this May. Introduced ‘to facilitate serious boat buyers’, the show will take up position in the new western Platinum area of the marina on the 17th-19th May, with a proposed fifty new boats on display and twenty exhibiting brands confirmed, including the motorboat ranges, Axopar, Bavaria, Beneteau, Fjord, Fleming, Fountaine Pajot, Galeon, Jeanneau, Ocqueteau, Rhea, Sasga Yachts and Sargo.

Visitors are required to register via the show website, southcoastboatshow.com.

DIARY DATES

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Marine Electronics in stock for immediate dispatch.

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

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Irish Boat Jumble 7th April Thames Valley & London Boat Show 12th-14th April Hythe Marina Village Boat Jumble 13th April Tingdene Thames Used Boat Show 12th-14th April Click any of the above for more info

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March 2019

– SOLID, SAFE AND SPORTY

”The unique SARGO hull is built to last and perform. Its robust structure is extremely strong and the construction is nothing less than heavy-duty.

The outcome is the unmistakably quiet and smooth SARGO ride.”

David Sarin, Head of Production, Sarins Båtar Ltd.

Sargo Boats UK Limited - Hamble Point Marina, Hamble, Southampton Hampshire, SO31 4JD

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

NEWS Banks Martin Beaulieu 30 layout update British boat builder, Banks Martin, unveiled its latest incarnation of its Beaulieu 30 inland cruiser at the Birmingham NEC Caravan and Camping Show in February. The all-new display model is outboardpowered and sleeps 6 with a new three double layout, featuring a fixed forward double and the outboard providing space for a full beam mid cabin with a thwartships double.

New rescue RIB for the Severn The Severn Area Rescue Association (SARA) put its new Sharpness Lifeboat to work in February. Powered by twin Mariner 115hp outboards, it has self-righting capabilities and is equipped with the latest Raymarine and FLIR imaging equipment, ‘The Pride of Sharpness’, a Highfield 8-metre RIB, was launched at a ceremony on the 23rd February and is now on duty at the Sharpness Lifeboat Station. SARA is an independent marine and land search rescue service operating across Gloucestershire, Hereford & Worcestershire, and Gwent, and its new RIB is a vital resource for the fast flowing, tidal River Severn.

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March 2019

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

editorial@motorboatowner.co.uk

Ice RIB Challenge To raise awareness for the protection of the marine environment and marine polution caused by plastic waste, adventurer, Sergio Davì has set himself a challenge to travel ‘among the glaciers’ across the North Atlantic, in a route from Palermo in Sicily to New York. Called the Ice RIB Challenge, Sergio will travel an estimated 6,000 nautical miles aboard an 11-metre cabin RIB from Sicily, to the Balearic Islands, Spain, Portugal, France, UK, Ireland, Faroe Islands, Iceland, Greenland, Canada and on to the United States. The Nuova Jolly Prince 38cc RIB, called Nautilus Explorer, will be powered by twin Suzuki DF350 outboard engines and be equipped with the latest Simrad equipment. Sergio is due to set out in late May and will undertake this challenge mainly solo, with some legs with accompanied by guests. It is thought it will take 75 days including stopovers.

Berthon Lymington Marina buys BHG Marine BHG Marine and Willow Marine has been bought by the 300-berth Berthon Lymington Marina, from family owners David and Paul Martin. Based close to Lymington’s town centre, BHG Marine, specialises in the sales, service and parts for Yamaha outboards, the Jeanneau boat range and Zodiac inflatables and RIBS. BHG is the European distributor for PropGuards and Hurley Davits, and in the UK, is responsible for products such as Turboswing, Motortoter and the Linder range of aluminium dinghies and canoes. Willow Marine trades as BHG Service through two sites at Bucklers Hard, offering Rigiflex boats, boatyard services and repairs on inboard and outboard engines and a chandlery.

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

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NEWS London-on-water rebranded London Yacht Show The annual London-on-Water boat show, now partnered by the Southampton Boat Show organiser, British Marine, has been relaunched as the London Yacht Show. With a new ‘luxury’, buyer-targeted focus, the 5-day show will be held on 8th-12th May at St Katharine Docks and will see large motoryachts from British builders such as Sunseeker, Princess and Fairline descend on the historic London marina.

Other motorboat brands, including Azimut, Bayliner, Bavaria, Chris Craft, Greenline and Sealine will be displayed in the Dock’s central basin, alongside two luxury fashion and equipment floating marquees and trailboats on Marble Quay. Those wishing to attend need to register on the show website. Tickets for the Wednesday VIP Elite & Press Day are £180 per person, and £30 per person Thur-Sun, which will be available at the show entrance. However, organisers do state that these will be subject to capacity on the pontoons. While the London Yacht Show is clearly aimed at a certain segment of the industry, British Marine CEO, Lesley Robinson pictured above (left) told Motorboat Owner at the relaunch event that since the cancellation of the London Boat Show, the BM team have been exploring opportunities to partner with other regional events.

Tingdene Thames Used Boat Show 2019 The boat broker, Tingdene Boat Sales, will be hosting its annual Thames Used Boat Show at its sales office at Thames & Kennet Marina between the 19th-28th April. Commencing on Good Friday of the Easter weekend, the free-entry 10-day show will have a display of used boats of all shapes and sizes, but also new boats from the Cranchi, Viking, Admiral and Glastron ranges.

The company is currently appealing to boat owners looking to sell to be part of the show, with offers available such as free listings, moorings and cleaning.

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March 2019

As a boat seller:

19 - 28 APRIL 2019

NO-SALE NO-FEE FREE External wash down FREE Sales berth for the show Dedicated sales pontoon FREE WC Pump-out pre-sale FREE Internet listing 25% Discount on hull & superstructure polishing Dedicated national, local press and social media marketing Every style of boat catered for from Day Boats to Dutch Barges, -Narrowboats to Sports Cruisers and Speedboats to Motor Yachts Open 7 days a week Experienced, qualified brokers with large active database Your boat also promoted at our 10 nationwide offices

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#ThamesUsedBoatShow

INBOX

@

Sterndrive slow speed handling

I read your article on the Fairline Phantom 32 and the comments on its handling at river speeds with great interest.

Having come from sailing boats for years and purchased a Sealine 260 single engine with outdrive and twin rotating props, I was also rather miffed Ruddersafe device on an OMC Cobra outdrive with the continual steering corrections at slow speeds. After a lot of investigating I came across a company from Holland, Ruddersafe, that had what looked like the perfect solution. A bolt on rudder that raised up with the force of the water when at planing speeds. After further investigation and research, I took the plunge and purchased one. It is available in the UK via Seamark Nunn. Having had it for approximately four seasons now I have to say I would not be without it. It reduces steering corrections considerably but not completely. It also does give a small amount of steerage when the engine is in neutral. This is particularly useful when berthing. I would have to say that I feel it does affect top speed slightly, but very little, maybe one or two knots. All in all it was worth every penny and it is very easy to fit. I had feared it might fall off, but its been there for four years with no maintenance apart from antifouling and my boat is regularly cruising at 26 plus knots. I hope this helps Motorboat Owner readers. Nigel McFarland Editor replies: Thanks Nigel. I have never used one of these myself, but have heard mixed reviews over the years. If the majority of your cruising is undertaken at slow speeds, a Ruddersafe certainly sounds like a useful addition, and it’s good to hear that it also works for you at higher speeds.

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March 2019

FREE ub r c s r e m sum ew for n rs! e d l o h h ber t Friendly marina with fab facilities just minutes from the Solent.

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HELSINKI

HIGHLIGHTS

There are always a number of interesting boat debuts at Helsinki’s Vene Båt boat show. We paced the hall to bring you the best of the new models for 2019

W

ith the London Boat Show perhaps confined to history, the obvious replacement for a new year boat fix is, of course, Boot Düsseldorf. But there is another early-inthe-year boat show that, while somewhat more boutique than Düsseldorf, is certainly worth considering. Every year, for 10 days in early February, Vene Båt is held in Helsinki. As you would expect from the Finnish, the show is

full of practical motorboats including the ranges from the masters of the craft, Sargo, Targa and Nordstar. Fresh from visiting the German behemoth, we had already pored over many of the new boats on show in Helsinki, but we still managed to find a few new launches that we hadn’t seen before.

Fancy going to next year’s show? Vene Båt 2020 will be held from the 7th to the 16th of February.

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March 2019

VENE BåT 2019 SHOW SPECIAL Messukeskus/VeneBåt

Bella 640DC

Bella boats have a new model in its line-up. The 640DC offers all of the usual clever design features found on the rest of the Bella BR range but with a two-person overnight cabin in the bow. As you would expect from a Day Cruiser, the emphasis is on the cockpit where you get copious, sociable seating protected by a substantial windscreen and, in usual Bella style, we predict the boat will have impeccable manners on the water. Power comes from a single outboard of between 115 and 150hp.

LOA: 6.58m Beam: 2.34m Displacement: 1,200kg ex engine Price: circa from £35,500 www.bellaboats.fi

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

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HELSINKI

HIGHLIGHTS

AMT 190BRf

AMT, a brand we are familiar with in the UK due to its tie-up with Honda, is another Finnish boat builder who is crossing over to alternative build materials. The all-GRP line-up is being joined by three new models that sport aluminium hulls and GRP decks. The Bf and BRf models include this 190BRf, a 5.6m bowrider model with engine options of up to 115hp.

LOA: 5.60m Beam: 2.25m Displacement: 700kg ex engine Price: circa from £32,350 www.salmarine.com

Silver Hawk BR

Continuing with the aluminium hull theme, Silver also has a new model for 2019. The Hawk BR is a completely new boat to the old Silver Hawk, one of Silver’s very first models, with an all-new hull, new steering console and windscreen and new interior. Usually fitted with the largest, 100hp, outboard option, the unsinkable Hawk can be specified with anything from 60hp.

LOA: 5.70m Beam: 2.13m Displacement: 675kg ex engine Price: circa from £28,500 www.silverboatsuk.co.uk

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March 2019

VENE BåT 2018 SPECIAL

Falcon C7

Following on from the success of their aluminium open boat range, Bella boats has launched the Falcon C7.

Built on the same hull as the BR7 we tested last month, the C7 offers a fore and aft cockpit with a wheelhouse in the middle and is what the Finnish would call a commuter boat, although its versatile design would lend itself to fishing, dayboating and even an occasional overnight foray. Outboard engine options range from 115hp to 175hp.

LOA: 6.55m Beam: 2.34m Displacement: 1,250kg ex engine Price: circa from £43,000 www.falconboats.fi

Silver Tiger DCz

Following Silver’s venture into GRP manufacturing with the Raptor, as tested in this issue, they have followed up with a pair of Tigers. The cuddy cabin Tiger DCz model, we saw at Düsseldorf, but the bowrider

BRz version was first aired on home soil. Available with a single outboard of between 115hp and 150hp, the BRz is said to hit speeds of up to 40 knots.

LOA: 6.06m Beam: 2.36m Displacement: 1,150kg ex engine Price: circa from £43,700 www.silverboatsuk.co.uk

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

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HELSINKI

HIGHLIGHTS

Nordkapp Noblesse 720

Nordkapp’s Noblesse 720 is a performance orientated day cruiser from the prolific Thorup design house. Produced with a low cockpit floor and high freeboard, the 720 offers good protection without losing any of its sporty lines. Usually paired up with one of Evinrude’s excellent G2 E-Tec outboards, the new Noblesse can be fitted with an engine of up to 250hp for speeds in excess of 40 knots.

LOA: 7.10m Beam: 2.57m Displacement: 1,480kg Price: circa from £69,200 www.willsmarine.co.uk

Bayliner VR6 Cuddy

Bayliner continue to update their cuddy cabin offerings with the new VR6 cuddy being the latest model. Available in both sterndrive and outboard versions, the VR6 cuddy has a clever over-andunder berth arrangement that delivers four berths in the small cabin, together with a separate toilet compartment. With the rise of the VR range, the days must be numbered for the x42 models. The 642 has been discontinued, the 842 renamed the Ciera 8 sport, leaving just the 742 clinging on in a limited edition 742R version.

LOA: 6.84m Beam: 2.40m Displacement: 1,690kg Price: circa from £49,900 www.bateswharf.co.uk 24

March 2019

Silver Raptor

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March 2019

BOAT TEST

Length (LOA): 8.05 m Beam: 2.76 m Weight: 2,150 kg Fuel capacity: 260 litres Water capacity: 60 litres People capacity: 10 Max power: 350 hp Engine as tested: Suzuki DF350 Other engine options: Honda or Suzuki 250hp, 300hp Price from (Honda BF250) £118,699 Price tested (Suzuki DF350) £127,799

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

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T

hose who have known Silver throughout its 28-year history have become confident about what to expect. It’s a company that has built its name on the back of compact outboard-powered open boats in Side Console, Centre Console, Day Cruiser and Bow Rider configurations. It has tended to build these boats using a hybrid ‘Alufibre’ form of construction, involving aluminium hulls and plastic interior linings, each material isolated from the other by means of a rubber compound.

This long-standing Silver formula was of course broadened in 2017 with the advent of the ‘X’ series, which used full aluminium construction, both inside and out, but for 2019, we also now have the ‘Z’ series, which abandons aluminium altogether and uses fibreglass as the sole construction material.

Plainly then, despite its reputation for

rapid aluminium runabouts from 16 to 21 feet in length, things at Silver are changing and yet the appearance of the new Raptor represents a much bolder tangent than it first appears. After all, not only is this the first fully fibreglass boat to emerge from the yard but, at eight metres in length, this new flagship model is also far and away the company’s largest to date. Of course, there’s no reason why a fresh approach to size and building materials should necessarily mean a wholesale departure from established design and construction methods, but even a cursory glance at the hull lines suggests that the Raptor is very different indeed.

The Petestep rides again Conceived by Norwegian design house, Eker Design AS, the Raptor uses the same Petestep hull we first witnessed on Yamarin’s short-lived 81 DC. The idea

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March 2019

“Raptor by name, Raptor by nature. A Finnish flagship with a difference” behind it is to generate an easy-driving, soft-riding and stable hull that looks great from the outside and keeps the interior living spaces very modern and clean-lined.

It aims to do that by employing a broad beam and a relatively shallow, undercut forefoot, with steeply angled spray rails that deflect the spray downwards rather than sideways. In addition to generating a quieter and drier ride, the Petestep’s design principles suggest that the extra lift from the vertical spray deflection should also help soften the impacts underway by actively graduating the upward forces operating on the hull’s underside. Though it looks and sounds quite unusual, what we’re basically talking about here are reverse chines, which are a well proven and widely used element of recreational hull design.

That said, when you get underway, the Petestep feels almost as different as it Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

looks. It shifts onto the plane with fussfree efficiency in around four seconds and accelerates through 40 knots in a little over 20 seconds to a top end of almost 47 knots at wide-open-throttle. That’s around five knots more than Yamarin’s 300hp 81 DC achieved and, with a decent fistful of trim to move the point of impact aft and free up the forward sections of the hull, it handles the pace very well. On a

Unlike anything else on the water. The forward hull shape is quite raked and undercut

29

PERFORMANCE RPM

Idle (650) 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000 4500 5000 5500 6000

moderate sea, even at high speeds, the big beamy Raptor feels as though it’s cruising well within itself, a sensation in no way diminished by the sheer scale, depth and security of the driving environment. There’s not a hint of cavitation, however hard you push, and in gentle conditions like this, it’s difficult not to feel like you’re at the helm of a cruise-optimised 30-footer.

And yet the unusual shape of the Petestep hull also seems to bring out some less confidence-inspiring characteristics.

For instance, the shortening of the waterline length engendered by the undercut bow shape seems to create a peculiar sense of lateral uncertainty underway. While the promised softness of ride is, for the most part, present and

Knots LPH

GPH

MPG

2.7 4.0 5.9 6.9 8.6 15.6 24.0 31.4 36.0 40.0 43.2 46.5

0.48 0.88 1.82 2.58 4.92 6.18 7.92 9.67 14.25 17.60 21.86 23.53

5.63 4.54 3.24 2.67 1.75 2.52 3.03 3.25 2.53 2.27 1.98 1.98

2.16 4.00 8.26 11.73 22.36 28.08 36.00 43.96 64.80 80.00 99.36 106.95

Range (nm)

260 208 148.6 122.4 80 115.6 138.7 148.6 115.6 104 90.4 90.4

Noise

47.0 50.0 68.0 69.0 75.0 78.0 80.5 85.0 86.0 87.5 89.5 90.5

correct, the lateral stability on the plane, whether in gentle waters or through confused chop, leaves you feeling unsure about how to dial it out. There is of course a tendency to launch a little when you put that bow shape into the wrong swell at the wrong speed but the majority of the impacts seem to come at you from the side. Regardless of how you choose to drive, you find yourself prodded gently left and right, left and right, when your rate of progress and the modesty of the sea state

30

March 2019

The elevated twin helm is very well appointed. Our test boat was fitted with a Suzuki 350hp outboard

“You feel like you are at the helm of a cruise-optimised 30 footer” suggest that no such sensation ought to occur.

The driving experience is a slightly mixed bag in other ways too. For instance, at displacement speeds, the cabin space seems to amplify the water noise as the chop flicks and tickles at the undercut bow. And while the gruff, rasping engine note of the top-rated Suzuki DF350 inevitably limits refinement in the cockpit at high speeds, the steering is also noticeably over-weighted. While your natural inclination at the helm is to remedy the hull’s lateral shifts with an ongoing series of adjustments, such is the stiffness of the wheel that you have to make any substantial alterations twohanded. It’s unfortunate because if the steering was light and agile, the helm Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

might well feel like a more confidenceinspiring place to be.

Extraordinary internals If the driving experience feels slightly odd, the internal space is memorable in some very positive ways. The helm station, for instance, sits on an elevated tier, above the deepset cockpit and both visibility and ergonomics here feel spot on. The beautiful six-spoke sports wheel comes with tilt-adjustable steering and you also get an intuitive Zipwake trim control system as standard, positioned by your throttle hand, exactly where you would want it. There’s a pair of cupholders and a rubberised dashtop shelf for your loose gear, as well as a screen demister, an armrest for your throttle hand, a

31

The galley is much more spacious than you expect. Its bathing platform offers fantastic watersports potential

dashboard recess for your iPad and a grippy, composite teak-lined foot brace to keep you securely in your seat.

Protection at the helm, for both skipper and co-pilot, is also extremely impressive but it’s actually the use of the twin starboard helm seat that sets the tone for the rest of the internal space. It frees up the port side of the upper tier for a two-metre galley, complete with gas stove, fridge-freezer, sink and worktop – and that in turn leaves the lower cockpit entirely free to dedicate itself to the needs of sitting, dining, lounging and sunbathing. With its huge U-shaped sofa, wrapping around the cockpit’s periphery, alongside a pair of diagonal tables, it can be rigged as an open deck, as a four-man dining station with a clear port walkway; as an eight-man dining station; or as the largest sunbathing platform you will ever see on a boat of this size. Better still, if you invest in the all-over canopies with their black-out curtains, you can use it as a separate guest bedroom, complete with

a transverse privacy curtain to separate those in the aft space from those further forward. It’s arguably a better solution than the integrated guest cabin which runs fore and aft beneath the upper tier of the cockpit, but in all cases, the fact that six people can spend a relatively comfy weekend on board the Raptor is extremely impressive.

There’s a rare degree of security here too. That comes partly from the elevated screen rim, which extends all the way back to the aft bench, and partly from the cockpit’s position beneath the helm’s upper tier. It’s as deepset a cockpit as you will ever see on a boat as compact as this and, while it means that forward visibility is next to zero, it does enable you to take young kids out, safe in the knowledge that there is next to no chance of anyone managing to find their way overboard by accident.

Further aft, the multi-tier swim platforms are also extremely generous both in terms of scale and provision. They

32

March 2019

come with plenty of changing space, allied to a pair of large anchor lockers, a swim ladder and a couple of storage spaces for your fenders. And while on the test boat, the squat steel A-frame at the forward edge of the engine well makes contact with the cowling when you try to lift the outboard’s leg clear of the water, this is one of very few flaws on a boat that features

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

plenty of very positive small details.

For instance, inside the aft bench, the double-battery bank is neatly protected from wayward baggage by a protective hinged board and Silver has also been very thoughtful in its provision of easy-access, one-handed lids with simple locking mechanisms, so you can get to your gear without having to drop whatever’s to hand.

33

In fact, forward visibility aside, the only real issue in the cockpit concerns the reversing backrest on the helm seat, which despite its best intentions, brings no significant rewards at all. When you swing it over to face aft, you’re still exiled from the lower passengers by means of your elevated position. You can’t reach the table without craning forward and while the starboard seat leaves you nowhere to put your legs, the port one leaves them dangling above the deck with a bizarrely positioned grab handle digging you in the back of the calf.

Even so, as you move down below, marvelling at how much this 26foot weekender offers, it’s easy to be surprised by how modest the lower deck compromises seem to be. Ahead of you is a broad, bright and open main double berth that makes good use of the squared off bow.

A compact bench at the foot of the bed on the starboard side sits opposite an enclosed heads compartment to port and there’s still room for a compact longitudinal guest cabin beneath the upper cockpit sole.

It’s a very effective use of restricted space but, as on the original Yamarin 81 DC on which it is based, the execution down here is a little way off the pace. The cushions slide about on their bases, unsecured by

The canopy storage solution is exceptional

any straps or fastenings, the LED light strips are bare and exposed and there are some naked bolts protruding through the deckhead from the foredeck railings above.

If you spend a night onboard, these will inevitably pick up the moisture and drip water onto your mattress. While the hard, vinyl-lined cabin sides also look like they might be a bit chilly in the winter months, the primary issue down here, on boat number one, concerns the finish of the heads compartment, which is constructed with panel gaps so large that it’s almost a misnomer to call the heads ‘fully enclosed’.

Conclusion While our early test model was by no means perfect, the Raptor is actually quite a charming boat to use. You could of

34

March 2019

course point to the heavy steering, to the cockpit’s obstructed view, or to the lack of lateral composure underway. You might also talk about the failings in terms of finish down below, but when you examine what this boat offers and how that has the potential to impact on the way you go boating, it puts forward a very strong case.

After all, this is a good-looking ten-man weekender with massive cockpit versatility, class-leading security, lots of storage and excellent watersports ability. The fact that it also offers 47-knot performance and the capacity to sleep six people takes it way beyond the envelope encompassed by most boats of this length and type. It is of course

Family fun with cruising and watersports potential

a major departure for Silver and as such, it inevitably brings with it some teething troubles that will take time to tweak and resolve. But in view of the outstanding merits of the Raptor’s internal design, Silver’s new flagship is already a boat that demands consideration.

ENQUIRIES: Silver boats UK Limited are the sole UK distributor for Silver boats 01202 489634 www.silverboatsuk.co.uk YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

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LOA: 8.10 m Beam: 2.72m Displacement: 2,200kg Enquiries: Ideal Boat 01758 703013 www.idealboat.com

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Zodiac Open 5.5

35

CUTTING Dometic Sinepower DSP-C

If you are looking for a new combined inverter/charger, Dometic’s new Sinepower DSP-C series should be of interest. Available in 1.2kw and 2.0kw outputs, and for 12 or 24V operation, the new models also offer charging capabilities of between 25A and 100A, depending upon model. Each DSP-C model is also available with a smart remote information/control panel. Price from £1,200 www.dometic.com

Digital Yacht

Digital Yacht has teamed up with SIMY to create the world’s smallest AIS MOB beacon. The AIS MOB100 sends the casualty’s location as an AIS transmission that can be picked up by their own boat, or any other AIS equipped vessel. An optional Digital Yacht AIS LifeGuard can also be added to automatically alert the remaining crew by audio alarm of the MOB situation. Once activated, the MOB100 sends a position eight times a minute and has a range of around 5-10nm, depending upon sea conditions.

Battery life is seven years, with 24 hour continuous operation once activated.

Price £179.95 www.digitalyacht.co.uk

Fusion

Fusion, the Garmin owned entertainment company, has added a couple of new additions to its Signature series of class D amplifiers.

The six and eight channel models join the existing monoblock, four and five channel models and deliver 1500w and 2000w of power respectively. To compliment the range, Fusion has also released a new line of high-quality, high performance RCA cables with gold plated connectors and superior noise reduction.

Price from £540 www.fusionentertainment.com

36

March 2019

CRUISING

Norway bound Leg 1: Elburg to Cuxhaven

In the year of their 50th wedding anniversary, intrepid Broom owners, Peter and Gill Pitcher, embarked on a journey that would reunite them with a cruising favourite, Norway. The first of six legs would see the couple take their Broom 425, Seawolf from its winter berth of Elburg in Holland to Cuxhaven in Germany, inside the Friesian Islands. Peter recounts the journey

F

ive years ago we took Seawolf to Norway and had such an incredible time we decided to do it again in 2018. This time we wanted to leave the boat at Stathalle, Norway for the winter returning via a different route through the summer of 2019.

For the winter of 2017/18 we had left Seawolf, at a first class facility with heated indoor sheds in Elburg, Holland.

Seawolf emmerged from her Dutch winter hibernation in perfect condition. Her engines had been serviced, hull gleaming and ready to go. Departing Elburg on

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March 2019

NEW CRUISING SERIES

Norway bound

Borkum

LEG

1

RIVER

LEG

Ba ltru Lan m ge oo g

NDS ISLA N A I IES T FR EAS Norderney

2

NORTH SEA

ELBE

Cuxhaven

Bensersiel Greetsiel

Hamburg

GERMANY

HOLLAND

the 12th May, we decided on the first day just to do a short run to one of our favourite stops on the Ijsselmeer, Urk. Apart from being a very welcoming and pleasant town, it also has probably our favourite restaurant in the whole region, the Actherhuis, which is above the

harbourmaster’s office to starboard as you enter the harbour. I can fully recommend the ‘menu of three fishes’. Urk used to be the fishing capital of Holland, before they built the dams, and still has a superb range of fresh fish.

The next morning we moved across the

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

39

Ijsselmeer into Friesland, at Lemmer, and followed the canal system as far as Grou where, again, we went to a very popular and good restaurant, Ostergoo, which has its own pontoons for diners. Grou is a quaint small town, but conveniently situated roughly half way across Friesland.

Just after Grou, on the Princess Margriet canal, is Fonejacht where there is a fuel barge competitively priced but cash only, no card. After fuelling we moved on to Groningen, where we stopped overnight at the Motor Yacht Club Groningen on the junction of the canals, this was with a view to getting an early start the next morning down to Delfzijl, and away up the Emms to our first of the German Friesian Islands, Borkum.

Borkum is like most of the other Friesian Islands, a step back in history.

Like 1920s UK, it is quaint, with unusual beach huts and old-style living. It is also the most westerly of the German Friesian Islands, and access is possible at all states of the tide. However, the smaller ‘Henry’ marina is pretty shallow and I would not advise entering it either side of low water.

At Borkum Henry marina there is electricity on all the berths but be careful, some are only 6 amp, where others are 16.

A firm favourite. The popular Ostergoo Hotel at Grou has pontoon moorings for its patrons

It is worth checking before you finalise your stay. We took a walk around to the other marina, Borkum Burkana and spoke at length to a Scottish lady, Jackie, who runs the marina and its restaurant. As well as taking care of advance bookings, Jackie offers delicious homemade cakes in the Haven café. Borkum Burkana, is more commercial and has deep water access.

This is where our ‘challenge’ started.

We intended to do as much as possible of our journey inside the Friesian Islands, travelling along the drying channels which are marked by buoys and by ‘withies’. We had a long conversation with the Henry marina Harbour Master, Christian, who

Borkum was shallow. Pictured, its approaches, the Henry marina entrance and unusual beach huts 40

March 2019

Gill and Peter overnighted at Borkum ‘Henry’ Marina basin pictured, which proved quite shallow

said there was ‘no problem going along the Borkumer Wattfahrwasser’. He also kindly told us that two Dutch yachts were leaving in the morning and, as they drew considerably more than we did, if we followed them, we would be OK. Sure enough, at exactly the time the Harbour Master said, we left the harbour following the two Dutch yachts and crossed the Wattfahrwasser with no problems. We did however need to be very cautious, as at times we saw less than 2 feet below our keel on our depth sounder.

Timing is crucial for travelling along

this inland route and, as the next island we wished to visit was Norderney, it would have meant doing the inland channel on a falling tide due to its distance from Borkum. So we decided to turn inland down the Osterems channel to Greetsiel, which is a quaint fishing-holiday village on the mainland.

To get to Greetsiel you have to traverse the huge sea lock, Greetsiel Schleuse Leysiel. Operating on VHF channel 17, Berth for €21 euros. Yacht Club Greetsiel offered solid pontoons, electric, water and showers

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

41

we found the lock very efficient and had no problems. At Yacht Club Greetsiel we were greeted with good solid pontoons, 10-amp electricity, nice showers and washing facilities at the clubhouse, near a very pleasant village, all for €21. There was no WiFi, but free WiFi was available at the Tourist Office in the village.

The next morning, with the weather still good, we set off following the buoyed passage up past Kopersand, entering into the Memmerbalje. This is the beginning of the narrow passage to Norderney, travelling south of the island of Juist and through the Memmert Wattfahrwasser.

Again, leaving 2 hours before high water and following the withies very closely, we got to a depth on our depth sounder of just 18 inches below our keel. However, we were going through the shallowest area before high water, so if we did touch, we were hopeful that we would float off.

Fortunately we had no problems. This was not a passage to be attempted in rough seas or poor visibility, luckily the wind was light and visibility good. The charts are fine, but the buoys move regularly.

Our advice would be to keep to the deep channel and follow the withies, not the charts.

A wooden traditional looking, Friesian-style Greetsiel-based fishing Lugger casting its nets

Nordeney is the main town and island of this region. It has good facilities but was one of the most expensive berths, at €45 per night. Nevertheless, it was a lovely spot in calm conditions.

The weather was deteriorating. The wind became a force 6 from the north and there is no way you would want to be out to the north of the island with horrendous seas. We sat in a restaurant drinking coffee and saying ‘thank goodness we are not out there’. We decided to stay put for another day as conditions were not conducive to safe travel.

The wind dropped to force 4, but it was still unpleasant outside the islands.

However, to the south of the island, through the shallow channels, it was calm.

Channels inside the islands are marked by withies.

North Sea conditions looked evil on some days 42

March 2019

Stepping back in time, Friesian Island life. Clean, cobbled residential streets, horses and quirky cafes

Two hours before high water, we cast off following the Norderneyer Inselwatt.

Conditions were good, visibility was 3-4 miles and we were running with a 3 knot current. The course is well marked, with a withie every few hundred yards and more frequently around bends. It was an exciting passage, if not a little worrying, but the locals are very precise and if you stick to the course, it is no problem.

At 13.45 we tied up on the hammerhead in Baltrum, the next island along, and one of the smaller ones. The wind was still blowing, but with the protection of the islands it was perfectly safe and calm.

There was no electricity points free on arrival unfortunately, but a friendly figure from one of the adjacent German

boats came out with a splitter and shared his electric with us. Another local came along and sorted out our WiFi connection.

Everyone was so very helpful and they all spoke very good English.

Baltrum is a small, quaint island and town with no cars, only bicycles and horses. It was also well laid out, clean and neat, with lots of paths and fringed with several beaches.

For our next move we debated whether to go outside the islands, or again stay inside to visit Langeoog. Either way there didn’t seem much water. It looked even shallower inside but, having talked it Yachthafen Langeoog had newly-installed pontoons and a friendly atmosphere

Motorboat Owner Š Digital Marine Media Ltd

43

A typical Friesian-style cafe in Langeoog town centre. The town is a 33 minute walk from the marina or you can take the free train

through with our German co-boaters, who advised strongly to stay inside the islands, we planned a route accordingly. So, the next day, we set off down the Baltrumer Wattfahrwasser, again 2 hours before high water and in great comfort as many other boats were doing the same passage. Enroute we did encounter one spot where we only had, according to our depth sounder, 6 inches below the keel.

We arrived safely at Langeoog, which is a much busier town/island with a marina, Yachthafen Langeoog. Here you use the time honoured system of looking for a green ‘frei’ sign saying the berth is free.

If it said ‘belegt’(red) you know not to use that berth. The harbour master here organises hot bread, croissants or rolls for

anybody who asks, which was a nice little touch. The town was 2½km away with a free train, but we chose to walk.

Back on the boat, at low water the marina became shallow, with most boats sitting on the mud. When the tide fell, Seawolf rose up out of the water about a foot and settled comfortably into the soft mud in the finger berth.

After a day’s rest in Langeoog it was time for our next move. With the wind blowing an easterly force 5, we decided to travel the short passage to the mainland and Bensersiel, before carrying on along the coast. We did not fancy moving out to sea or further on in these conditions.

At Bensersiel it was not clear where you could berth. We pulled up on a berth

Aground. Seawolf sits in the mud at low water at the friendly and busy marina at Langeoog 44

March 2019

Bensersiel. Entertainment at Bensersiel Beach, Seawolf moored and the entrance at low water

with a green tag, tied up and soon after the owner came along in his boat and said it was his. He was very accommodating and as we were all tied up, agreed to stay on his neighbours and come back to his berth when we left the next morning. We thanked him for his courtesy and invited them onboard for wine ‘entant cordial’.

The next day the winds had dropped to a moderate easterly. But the weather forecast was not looking good for the long term and we had to be in Hamburg for a flight home, so we decided to move from Bensersiel out into the North Sea and head for Cuxhaven at the entrance to the river Elbe. Unfortunately our route meant

The approaches to Bensersiel are marked by two training walls that cover at high water

we were missing out the two islands of Spiekeroog and Wangerooge, both we had visited before and are very beautiful, but prudence prevailed. Rather than risk being in the Elbe estuary in rough seas we had a very pleasant journey across the Jade and Weser channels, passing many large ships in the outer Elbe, before berthing at the Segler marina at Cuxhaven.

Next Month we join Peter, Gill and Seawolf on leg 2 of their journey to Norway, as they explore Cuxhaven, make passage up the Elbe and along the Kiel Canal

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

45

Q&A

Your Questions Answered

9.9hp outboard output increase

Q I have a two-stroke 9.9hp outboard that appears to be

identical in every way to the 15hp motor of the same era from the same manufacturer. Obviously there are no fancy electronics in these old engines, so what would I need to do to get the extra 5.1hp out of my engine?

A It is true that many manufacturers used the same engine block for

their 9.9hp and 15hp offerings. Unfortunately you don’t provide more details of the manufacturer or the year so I cannot look into what changes your particular outboard would need to produce the extra output. What I would suggest is to see if you can find a parts list for your model, and the 15hp engine, and compare the two. Look specifically at the part numbers associated with the intake and exhaust systems, as well as the carburettor and fuel management components.

Sometimes it can be as simple as changing carb jets to get the extra power. Other times there are changes in manifolds and other castings to improve gas flow. I would suggest that it may just be easier to find a suitable used 15hp motor and sell yours on. The cost to change would be negligible if you do the right deals, and you know you will get the result that you desire with minimal effort.

Cracked engine block

Q I have picked up a cheap boat because the Volvo V8 5.7

litre petrol engine block is cracked, due to frost I understand.

Is it possible to get the block repaired by welding?

A It certainly is sometimes possible, depending upon the

severity and location of the damage, to weld a cracked block, but I would seek the advice of a local engineer/specialist welder to be sure. An alternative might be to look for a used block. The 5.7 litre engine used by Volvo is a GM block that was also used by MerCruiser and OMC, so there is usually one to be found quite easily. You should be able to pick one up for a few hundred pounds and then just swap all your ancillaries, and top and bottom ends, over.

46

March 2019

If you have a question, email us at

editorial@motorboatowner.co.uk

Prop slip

Q When looking at prop

sizes, I keep hearing about prop slip. What is it, and how much slip is the right amount?

A The pitch of a prop is the

theoretical distance it will move through the water for one revolution. The slip is the difference between that theoretical distance and the actual distance. The amount of slip that is acceptable is generally considered to be up to around 18%, with 1015% being good, and figures below 10% being very good. To work out your slip, you need to know the RPM of the engine, the reduction ratio of your gearbox, or drive, and the propeller pitch. If we take an engine running at 4,500rpm through a reduction gearbox of 1.5:1 with a 14 inch pitch propeller, we can work out that: in one minute the propeller will turn 3,000 times (4,500/1.5).

That means the prop should travel 42,000 inches through the water per minute (3,000 x 14) or 2,520,000 inches per hour (42,000 x 60). Convert these inches into nautical miles and you get a theoretical speed of 34.5 knots. If the boat only actually reaches 30 knots at 4,500 rpm, you have a prop slip in the region of 12%, which is generally considered acceptable.

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Q&A

Your Questions Answered

Do I need lead in my fuel?

Q Looking at the used boat market, many of

them are fitted with petrol engines, and are from an era when we still had lead in our petrol. Do these boats usually require a lead replacement additive, or are they generally OK to run on unleaded fuel. The last boat I looked at had a Volvo Penta AQ131 from the mid eighties.

A While there will be some petrol engines that either require a lead substitute,

or remedial work to the engine to run safely on unleaded, most of the common marine petrol engines from the late ‘70s through to 2000, when the UK stopped selling leaded petrol, were already fitted with hardened valve seats for the US market, where leaded fuel started to be phased out in 1975. This means that all the US based four-cylinder, V6 and V8 engines from that era are fine to be run on unleaded, as are engine from Volvo, like the AQ131, which were sold into the US. Any engine that didn’t have hardened seat valves will require a lead substitute, if it hasn’t had work done to run on unleaded, but I think these will be few and far between now and mostly confined to the ‘classic boat’ sector.

Oil viscosity

Q I understand that engine oil with a multi-grade specification, such as 15w40, means that it has the viscosity of a 15 weight oil when cold and a 40 weight oil when warm. Now I know 40 weight is thicker than 15 weight, so why is the oil runnier and thinner when hot, surely it should be thicker.

A Warming oil will always make it less viscous. The ratings refer to

the relevant viscosity when at temperature, so a 15w40 oil has the same viscosity as a 15 weight oil when cold and the same viscosity as a 40 weight oil when hot, but it will be runnier than a 40 weight oil when cold, and more viscous than a 15 weight oil when hot. In other words it gives you the protection of a thin oil when cold, and a thicker oil when hot.

48

March 2019

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Q&A

Your Questions Answered

£10k sportscruiser

Q I have been wanting to own a boat

for a number of years, and reading your magazine each month has given me plenty of Bayliner 2450 information and knowledge in the meantime.

I was originally looking to spend around £20-£30k on something like a Fairline Targa 33 or a Sealine 285/290, but have decided that I can’t wait any longer and 2019 is going to be the year that I finally get afloat. The trouble is, I only have a budget of around £10k at this time, so I am going to have to lower my aspirations a little. There is only the two of us, and we will want to spend occasional nights onboard but mostly use it for day trips and a bit of fishing out of the east coast. What do you recommend that’s within my meagre budget?

A Based on your shortlist, I am guessing you are looking for a sportscruiser.

For your budget of £10k there are some great boats on the market, if you buy carefully. Although you might get lucky enough to pick up an economical diesel engined boat at this price, I think you may have to settle for something petrol powered. A single V6 or V8 is not too expensive to run and, as long as you have easy access to fuel locally, won’t be a problem to fill up. Twin petrol boats can, on the other hand, get rather expensive to feed, especially twin V6 or V8, so if you go down this route make sure you understand the running costs involved, which could be as much as 100+ litres per hour at cruising speed. Back to the question, and starting with the brands you have already identified, I would suggest looking at a Sealine 215, 218, 220 or possibly a 255, or, if you are happy to go smaller, the 195,190, 200 or 210. From the Fairline stable, a Sprint 21, Weekend 21, Holiday 23 or maybe a Carrera 24 or Sunfury 26 if you can stretch the budget a little. Another British pocket sportscruiser that I particularly like is the Falcon 22/23. Then there are a host of US boats from the likes of Bayliner, SeaRay, Four Winns, Glastron, Wellcraft and Regal. Ultimately, at this price range, condition is everything, so don’t rush into buying the first one you see.

Take your time to have a good look at the market and when you get onboard a good one, you will know immediately. Unless you are confident in what you are looking at, it is worth getting a survey, and definitely have a sea trial. Our used boat buying guide from May 2017 is available in the back issues, and should provide some useful information to help sort the wheat from the chaff.

50

March 2019

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Motorboat Owner

PROJECT BOAT

PROJECT Fairline Vixen

F

ollowing on from last month, when I lapped the intake and exhaust valves into the cylinder head, I carried out a little, non-scientific, test to see how good a job I had done. I have read about water pressure tests, where water is poured into the intake or exhaust ports to see if any seeps past the valve, but I wasn’t too keen on putting water into the cylinder head and, because I haven’t yet reassembled the head, the valves are not being held in place by their springs. Instead I tried something else, I filled the piston side of the head with diesel, after installing some old sparkplugs to bung up the plug ports, and left it a couple of hours with the valves just sitting in position under gravity, to check for any leakage. The results showed that two valves were leaking more than

any others, and these were given a second lap, after which I repeated the test and got good results on all eight valves. You may remember that when I left off last month I only actually had seven valves to lap, as one was left with an engineer for a bit of reworking. This came back with a reusable bill of health, so this was lapped and joined the others in the head prior to my testing above.

The head is now ready for a rebuild, and I would have done so had it not been for the unseasonably pleasant weather towards the end of February. With the sun out, and T shirt on, it seemed an ideal time to get back on the boat and prepare the engine bay, as it won’t be long before it will once again be hosting the AQ151B that I removed some 18 months ago. The

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The valve ports were filled with diesel to check for leaks. A couple of valves needed re-lapping

last time I worked on the boat, was when I re-fibreglassed the engine bearers, which had started to delaminate. This involved lots of grinding and, as a result, the engine bay was thick with GRP dust. I started by vacuuming out what I could, and then got stuck in with a hose and a stiff brush. A couple of hours work and the engine bay was dust free and clean once again.

While I waited for it to dry, I spent another day in the workshop, painting more of the engine ancillaries. This process just seems to go on and on, and I still have a pile of rusty engine parts to clean, paint or replace. This month it was the turn of the engine oil cooler, the cylinder head cam pulley, the thermostat housing, the fuel pump and the water pump mounting bracket. These had already been sandblasted clean last month, so each was given a coat of etch primer and a topcoat of POR15, and are now ready to be fixed back

More parts have been given a fresh lick of paint

The engine bay was vacuumed, washed and scrubbed to remove all traces of fibreglass dust

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BEFORE

AFTER

One coat of Danboline bilge paint has brightened the engine bay

onto the engine.

Back on the boat, and with the engine bay dried out, it was time for its makeover.

I have used just about every brand of bilge paint on the market and have, in the past, always been very impressed with International’s Danboline. It’s probably not the best colour for an engine bay, but white does at least show up any leaks very quickly, and also helps locate those dropped nuts, bolts and washers that invariably end up under the engine. A few hours later, the whole engine bay had received a single coat. In the past, one coat has always been good enough, with the Danboline easily covering a multitude of sins. Maybe the makeup of the paint has changed, and changed for the worst, as it didn’t appear to have quite the same covering capabilities as before. I’ll need to wait for it to dry, but initial results seem to indicate that a second coat may be required. Luckily, it only took just over half of a 750ml tin, so I have plenty left if required.

The next step is to get the head reassembled and installed, clean up and refit, the flywheel and drive plate, and start thinking about getting the engine back into the boat, where I can continue to build it up with its ancillaries. At some point though, I am going to have to tackle the twin Solex carbs. These have been sitting in a bucket of diesel for some months, after finding them seized solid when removed from the boat. Whether they are going to be salvageable or not, remains to be seen, but stripping and rebuilding them is creeping ever closer to the top of the jobs list.

Spend so far

Motorboat Owner

PROJECT BOAT This month’s spend Bilge Paint £15

Total to date: £1,314.76

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March 2019

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CLASSIC CRUISERS

a complete guide to the best boats on the used market

Birchwood TS31

W

ith the news of the proposed relaunch of British boat builder, Birchwood, Motorboat Owner celebrates one of its compact and iconic aft cabin models, the TS31.

The Birchwood Boat Company was established in the late 1950s in Huthwaite, Nottinghamshire, and was building 20ft sportsboats through the 60s. The 70s saw the company expand its range, building larger aft cabin and flybridge cruisers, with models such as the GT 33 and later 33 Classic, setting Birchwood’s stall in the 30ft plus aft cabin market. By the 1980s the aft cabin centre cockpit was

vanishing, in favour of an enclosed central saloon area. Using the previous 33 bluff bow hull design, the aft cabin flybridge 33 Viceroy was one such example. It featured a radically modernised superstructure and a rather unusual aft galley dinette area. In the years that followed, it seems Birchwood wanted to push the boundaries of the aft cabin design, making an even smaller entry-level model. The 31 Commodore was in production between 1981-1984 and it is believed that up to 100 of these boats were built during that time. With an exterior quite similar to the Viceroy, it offered 4-5 berths, two separate

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Built 1985-1992 Prices then £61,076 (1989) Prices now £29,000-£50,000 Length 33ft 5in / 10.18m Beam 11ft / 3.35m Draught 3ft / 0.91m Air Draught mast and screen lowered 9ft / 2.73m Fuel 75 or 150 gallons Water 75 gallons / 341 litres Displacement 4570kg approx

sleeping areas, an aft deck helm position and enclosed saloon. Powered by single or twin, petrol or diesel engines, it was also capable of speeds of up to 20 knots.

In 1984 came the inception of Birchwood’s TS model guise. Standing for ‘twin screw’, the second model to be released in the range in 1985 was the TS31, which was based on the 31 Commodore. The 33ft TS31 is essentially the same compact aft cabin as its popular 31ft predecessor, but with characteristic TS scalloped topsides and black window frames, a Birchwood look that continued on well into the 1990s. The TS31 was

available in river and coastal guises, with diesel only single and twin options, making it popular with the UK’s estuarygoing inland boaters. Its bow master cabin also featured a fixed island double berth, which very few 80s boats could boast. The TS31 was built up until 1991/2 when it morphed into the 310/320, and later the 340 model. This saw an integral bathing platform added and a few significant changes to its layout and wheelhouse window line. Such mouldings were supplied for the hireboat market.

Motorboat Owner was unable to obtain exact build figures for the TS31, but can

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surmise that numbers were similar to the 31 Commodore, 100, perhaps more.

Today the TS31 is still admired and much loved, with devoted owners keeping them for many years. One owner said this “poor man’s Fairline Turbo 36 is hard to beat”. With prices starting at £29k, could it be the most affordable compact used aft cabin on the market?

Interior Moving from the aft deck into the accommodation, clip open the starboard Perspex door and roll back the top hatch and you are greeted with a set of four steps that lead down into a spacious saloon area. Immediately to starboard is a sideboard, which incorporates drink and glassware storage. In here, inside

The original 1980’s TS31 brochure 58

March 2019

Its saloon is social with seating for 6-7 people. Space for a vacuum cleaner? The companionway steps hinge up

the smaller cupboard door, you will also find a build plate, featuring a production year, engine serial numbers and a HIN (hull identification number). Large side windows fill the 6ft 5in high saloon area with light, and ventilation is provided by a large slide-opening window each side.

Two diagonally-opposing, L-shaped settees provide seating for 6-7 people and very comfortable lounging space for two.

The larger one, to port, can be used as a single berth. Both settees have metal bases which are side mounted, providing open storage and easy removal of floor hatches below. The seating is also a perfect height to provide a view out when seated. A section of each settee’s backrest hinges up to reveal long under deck storage areas, which may be useful for sleeping bags or camping chairs.

There is a simple and unassuming helm console to port. Switches, throttles and dials are displayed on a low profile, twotier dash, with a vertical steering wheel. In front of this, is a side mounted, adjustable helm seat. Like most aft cabin boats, helm

visibility aft is not great. However, there is a large rectangular window giving a view out on to the aft deck. The flat area opposite the helm can be used as a chart area and to mount additional navigation equipment.

Moving aft, down a flight of three steps and through a door, is the boats full beam galley dinette area. This spacious cabin area is lit on all three sides by opening low-level portholes and a slightly scalloped floor provides 6ft headroom. A long L-shaped galley is located along the

The helm has Birchwood’s feature switch panel

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port side and a large raised and angled U-shaped dinette area is to starboard.

The L-shaped, 2-metre long galley is impressively proportioned and well equipped with plenty of storage areas, a large capacity fridge, sink/drainer, a full gas oven and two-burner hob. Initial 80s brochures show that Birchwood repeated

the 31 Commodore’s galley format on the TS31, with the hob and oven mounted aft and the sink/drainer in the fore and aft section worktop. However, most TS31s will have the sink/drainer facing aft, thus freeing up the long worktop by day and gives the dish washer a larger porthole view aft out through the transom.

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1987 £35,000 (featured) Twin BMW D636TAs 180hp Val Wyatt Marine 01189 403211 www.valwyattmarine.co.uk

Its moulded toilet compartment is well appointed and plenty big enough for showering

The dinette will seat 6 people, or more, and its pedestal table drops down to create a double berth. The seat bases provide deep locker storage, with a cupboard at the forward end and a loose base in the aft seat providing access to the steering system (access to the port side is via the aft galley unit). We noted that there is un-utilised space under the dinettes raised floor, this perhaps could be used for infill cushion storage. A large bi-fold fronted wardrobe is concealed behind the forward bulkhead backrest.

Moving forward from the wheelhouse, and down the semi-spiral stairs, you will find doors to the toilet compartment, located to starboard, and access ahead to the master cabin. The moulded toilet compartment is a decent size for showering and provides headroom of 5ft 11in. Its large integralmoulded sink unit, with shower mixer tap,

1988 £29,950 Twin Volvo TAMD41A 200hp Norfolk Yacht Agency Horning 01603 211033 www.nya.co.uk

1990 £39,950 Single TAMD31A 130hp TBS Boats Bray 01628 773177 www.tbsboats.com

1991 €39,950 Single Volvo 80hp diesel Portumna Marine 090 9759793 www.portumnamarine.com

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Island master. Owners may have modified the standard oval-shaped mattress to a ‘keyhole’ shape

offers shelved storage in its base and there is further cupboard storage behind the mirror.

Inside the forward master cabin a central oval island double berth dominates the space, with side portholes and an escape hatch providing light and ventilation. Measuring 5ft at its widest, and 6ft 5in long, the bed leaves adequate space to dress with 6ft headroom and a carpeted step each side to aid the ascent into bed. There is good storage in this cabin, with a wide shelf curving around the bed and open side lockers for bits and pieces. To port is a dresser storage unit, providing drawer and cupboard storage. The mirror above this unclips and drops down on chains to reveal a shelved, carpet-lined cupboard. A large wardrobe, also this side, makes use of the saloon helm console void. There is more storage in the bed base itself, with a drawer at

its foot and hatched hull voids forward.

Owners may well have modified the oval shaped mattress into a keyhole shape to echo the shaped bed base, which is regarded as ‘an amazing improvement’.

Something to look out for on these boats is window leaks. Check around portholes and hatches for signs of water ingress, particularly any surrounding wood surfaces in the aft galley. Also note that the rear port and starboard windows open inwards on early models, so cannot be opened when raining. One owner had made custom sized metal drip trays for each aft porthole. Another thing to watch out for is vinyl lining shrinkage. You may find this in areas such as the toilet compartment and aft galley, where the vinyl may appear to be coming away in places. Ceiling and interior linings tend to be carpet, which is prone to mould spots without proper ventilation. Doting owners

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??????????

may well have updated cabin linings with vinyl, which is quite an big job. The interior was factory finished in teak, which Birchwood say was hand waxed.

Overall the TS31 is a bit of a tardis. Its layout is most suitable for a couple for long term liveaboard cruising, with occasional overnighting guests. With guests, perhaps curtaining off the aft dinette double from the galley might bring some added

‘friendly’ privacy and allow the galley to be used in the mornings. The layout also has potential for a family who will surely want to make use of the berth in the saloon.

On deck For an aft cabin cruiser, the TS31 is not too difficult to board. Recessed steps in the top sides and engine vents allow for easier boarding. However, much like the

A recessed anchor, 8-inch side decks, side steps and a scandinavian pulpit are a few deck features Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

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Albeit a little exposed, the aft deck and outside helm has seating for 4-5 people

Aft deck & helm Relatively low stainless steel guardrails and vinyl dodgers semi enclose the flat aft deck, with a central transom gate and ladder leading down to the bathing platform. A locker each side of the transom gate provide seating for 4, inside of which is gas bottle and general deck storage. Some models are fitted with additional quarter seats on metal pedestals on the back deck, creating L-shaped seating in each corner. This does however restrict access to the cleats. For ‘stern to’ mooring, for instance on the Broads, we have seen owners use a gangplank to shore from the aft deck transom gate or ladder for easier access. The bolted on bathing platform is slatted GRP. Like the interior helm, the outer helm console is compact, low profile and unassuming, with a vertical wheel, and all the necessary dials and instruments.

Here, bracket mounting is necessary for navigation and VHF equipment. The throttles are mounted on a binnacle at Its traditional-style aft deck has two seat lockers 45 degrees out from the console and one Fairline Turbo 36, it has a wire-gated companionway and a narrow step to pass the wheelhouse to get to the aft deck.

Eight-inch side decks, solid guardrails, a low profile foredeck and well positioned grabrails along the wheelhouse roof make it relatively easy to move about on deck. However, with the guardrails angled outwards, a mid-rail may provide additional security at the bow. The TS31 has a Scandinavian-style pulpit gate that could be useful for those wishing to install a boarding ladder at the bow.

To complement the TS curves and deckline, some boats may have pale blue or navy decals, these can deteriorate, but can be removed or replaced.

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The TS31 has a semi displacement hull and is capable of speeds up to approximately 25 knots

owner had created a stainless steel plate to lie over the joint, we presume to direct rain water away. Albeit a little exposed, a single pedestal helm seat was standard.

Owners may have upgraded this to a twin. The wraparound tinted Perspex windscreen provides sufficient protection, but has been known to fade and craze over time. One owner replaced this with a taller, metal-frame glass version.

The aft deck will normally be covered with a tonneau, or those boats equipped with a radar arch (an optional extra) may have a full canopy. We have also seen examples with a bimini fitted over the aft deck. On inland versions, the Perspexpaned windscreen and short nav light fold flat to the wheelhouse roof, providing a bridge clearance of 9ft.

Hull and Handling The TS31 is a semi displacement cruiser, and a bit of a chameleon at that, with the hull providing a good balance for sea and inland use. Its hull is a development of the

Commodore 31 and its 33ft predecessors, and has a medium-vee, with rounded sections forward, and a three-quarter length keel. At speed, its bluff bow and horizontal knuckle push the water aside and owners describe the ride as well balanced, with little need for trim. At slow, close quarters speeds it is responsive and reassuringly stable.

On single engine versions going astern, owners will find the paddlewheel effect to starboard useful in mooring situations.

Vetus bowthrusters were offered, but were still something of a novelty in this era, so retro-fitting one will almost certainly bring that added piece of mind.

Be aware, with a fair amount of storage and weight on the port side, the TS31 may list to port. Placing a large bag of ballast under the aft dinette seating was a solution installed by one inland owner.

Out of the water, inspect around the hull for damage, as the TS31 has a rather shapely underwater side profile and has various protruding elements above the

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A 1987 model fitted with twin BMW D636TAs, left.

Inset, a re-engined TS31 with 150hp D3s

waterline, which can be prone to dinks and scuffs.

Twin 180hp BMW D636TA should provide a comfortable 12 knot cruising speed and an estimated 18 knot top speed.

Engines Twin Volvo TAMD31A 130hp should offer The TS31 was available in single or twin a cruising speed of approximately 12-16 shaftdrive diesels, and the majority of knots and a top speed of 20 knots. Boats models will be fitted with Volvo Penta fitted with the larger twin 200hp engines engines. However, in the 1980s Birchwood should offer top speeds of 25 knots or were fitting BMW engines (made by more, and be comfortable cruising at Italian company VM) to many of its approximately 16 knots. We are aware of models, including early TS31s. When one example that was re-engined from BMW ceased to market its marine TAMD31s to twin 150hp Volvo Penta products in 1987, Birchwood used Volvo D3s, describing the former as smoky, Penta and MerCruiser power plants, the something that could be said for many latter also based on VM engines. of the original fit options. Twin diesel Early TS31s may well be fitted with configurations should achieve around 180hp BMW D636TAs. A 1989 price list a mile a gallon at cruising speeds, with has seven Volvo Penta engine options almost double this on single engine setups. listed. Priced from £53k, base single With no access from the galley or engine options were either a 130hp forward stairs, engine access is via a series TAMD31 or a 200hp TAMD41. Twin of under carpet hatches in the saloon floor. engine options were 62hp MD31s, 100hp The hatches, running along the centreline, TMD31s, 130hp TAMD31s, 150hp provide convenient access between the TMD41s and finally 200hp TAMD41s. two engines on twin configurations.

A year later, three MerCruiser engine Owners may have carpeted and metal options were added priced from £57k, edged these for ease of access. For twin 150hp D183s or single or twin 180hp servicing tasks and the removal of all the D219s (£71k). floor hatches, the saloon companionway 66

March 2019

steps hinge up out of the way.

You will find the engine bay well engineered, with plenty of room for inspection and maintenance on single engine examples but a little tight for space on twin configurations. Fuel filters are mounted on the forward bulkhead, the tanks are outboard of each engine, batteries along the centre and a calorifier is situated under the helm floor panel. Fuel tank sizes vary between twin and single engine models, single models having a single 75-gallon fuel tank and boats with twin configuration carry 150 gallons.

As with all engines, check that regular maintenance has been carried out.

Volvo Penta and MerCruiser engines are well regarded as reliable and easy to maintain. There is a bit of a stigma towards bygone BMW power, meaning Volvo and MerCruiser are likely to be more desirable and possibly higher priced.

However, with parts and services available

for BMW engines, from dealers such as PH Marine on the River Thames, it may not necessarily be a problem nor more expensive to maintain. On BMWpowered boats, heat exchangers and valves have been known to be an issue, and having heat exchangers cleaned biannually, and valves checked regularly is recommended. As mentioned before, new or used BMW parts are still available. It is also worth noting that there is likely to be some crossover with MerCruiser, as the companies used the same VM base engines.

Conclusion As a compact aft cabin cruiser for inland and estuary use, the TS31 is indeed hard to beat. It is great value and will provide liveaboard cruising comfort, and diesel engine economy for many years to come.

The Birchwood Classics website is good place to contact other owners and find out more about Birchwood.

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

Family TS34

1989-1992

Prices £39,950-£55,000

Length 34ft Beam 12ft 2in A 4-6 berth sterndrive dieselpowered flybridge that offers family space and pace.

Buy one (pictured) 1990 £39,950 www.ancasta.com

31 Commodore 1981-1984

Prices £32,000-£45,000

Length 31ft Beam 11ft The TS31s direct predessesor still remains popular and is perfect for a cruising couple.

Buy one (pictured) 1985 £42,500 www.tbsboats.com

340 AC

1999-2002

Prices £75,000-£88,000

Length 33ft 11in Beam 11ft The extended evolution of the TS31 with revised layout and updated window line.

Buy one (pictured) 2005 £86,939 www.mgmboats.com

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Richard Orton Birchwood 33 Richard & Jeannie Orton have owned Seaward, their Birchwood 33 Classic for 28 years and wanted to take it up to Lechlade on the River Thames. But there was a problem, its hardtop. Richard tells us about the drastic and practical measures that were called for

I

t all started in 2004 when I thought it might be nice to take the boat above Oxford. For such a journey I needed to reduce our hard-topped Birchwood’s air draught in order to limbo under

Osney Bridge at 7ft 6ft. That winter I went about converting the hardtop roof to make it drop down onto the aft deck and the windscreens fold forward. I made it work by adding two temporary wooden

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supports, which enabled us to lower the roof. Some 13 years later we were much older and found the procedure a bit too heavy and it was taking approximately 45 minutes to organise. So, me being a great thinker, I decided that we should change from a lowering hardtop to a soft-top convertible. After many measurements and sketches, and a quote from Jeckells, I came up with a plan.

First, when the boat was craned out for Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

MY BOAT

“I decided that we would change from a lowering hardtop to a soft-top convertible”

the winter of October 2017, the hardtop was removed with the help of the many members at our boat club that day. With this done, I then cut the hardtop up ready for disposal. There was no going back now. Over the winter I removed the teak support frame and cut it down to size for the window tops. This was to make the three front windows more rigid so the new soft top canopy could fix to it. Then I modified the rear cabin hatch surround

67

so that the back of the canopy had a nice shape and a good fixing. Once this was all prepared I got Andrew Jeckell to come back and measure up for the frame that would support the new canopy. We had chosen a heavy duty, ‘Topgun’ canvas fabric in a very modern-looking ‘mid grey’. After several visits by Andrew to adjust the frames and template the canopy, it was finally finished just before crane-in, in March 2018. It cost in total, including

the stainless steel frames, £2,300.

I have designed the canopy in two parts so that the back section can fold down into the space over the rear hatch, and the front can stay as a sunshade for the helmsman. Now, when going through low

In 2005 Seaward’s hardtop could be lowered for adventures above Osney Bridge, pictured. But it was cumbersome and took a while to prepare

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MY BOAT The old hardtop is lifted and disposed of and Richard prepared the wooden frame for the canopy

bridges upstream we can drop the lot in 15 minutes maximum, including folding down the windscreens and lowering the pushpit rails, which I had already modified to allow that back in 2004.

All this has made our boating much easier, and we think it has made the boat look more modern and spacious. We

have had our boat for 28 years and will continue to adapt it to our needs as we get older. She has undergone many changes over the years, the first refurbishment included putting turbos on the engines, which gave such a terrific change to her performance when going tidal. She really is my pride and joy.

Birchwood 33 Classic Cabriolet. With standing headroom of 7ft, the new canopy has transformed Seaward

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PRACTICAL

ADVICE

Spring Cleaning

B oat cleaning may not be everyone’s idea of fun, but if your

boat is looking like the one above after the winter lay-up there really is nothing else for it but to roll your sleeves up and get stuck in. I’ve just been through the process with my boat, during which I tried lots of different products and methods of cleaning all the various bits that make up a typical boating package.

Hopefully yours doesn’t look like the one above, but even a well groomed boat won’t stay looking good for long all on its own, so we have also looked at various products and techniques designed to protect and prolong your efforts.

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Hull and topsides A well polished and waxed boat will still pick up grime during the winter, but may need nothing more than a good soapy wash to bring it back like new. You can start by soaking the boat with a hose to loosen any dried in dirt. A pressure washer can be used but you should avoid aiming it at the canopy, teak decks or windows/ ports as they have the capability of causing damage to these areas. Once wet, a bucket of warm soapy water comes next. Always use a detergent designed for boats, as some other products can be too harsh and strip any wax protection along with the dirt.

Use a good quality brush and don’t press too hard. You want to let the bristles do the work, which they can’t if you flatten them. Start at the highest point and work down all the way to the waterline so that AFTER BEFORE you aren’t washing dirt onto areas already Jet hosing non-slip cleaned. If you have areas of deck with a areas is a popular first non-slip surface you will probably find, like step method but can be harsh.

On ingrained grime, on non slip decks, try a I did, that a brush and soapy water is not product like Starbrite’s Non Skid Deck Cleaner enough to get into the grooves and lift out the ingrained grime.

I tried a specialist non-slip deck cleaner from Starbrite, combined with a small stiff nail brush, and it made easy work of bringing the non-slip area up sparkling white.

Nail and tooth brushes are great for getting at those hard to reach parts

BEFORE

AFTER

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PRACTICAL

Hull and topsides continued Most boats have difficult to get to corners and mouldings, so a selection of hand brushes is a must. I always keep an old toothbrush or two on board for those really awkward to get to bits, and a nailbrush is perfect for many onboard cleaning jobs.

Sometimes you may need a spot cleaner for a stubborn mark. The market is full of cleaners for very specific purposes, but one that really seems to work is Starbrite Black Streak remover. This deals very effectively with the vertical black lines that you often find below canopies, as well as many other marks. Cutting compound is also useful as a spot cleaner for removing stubborn marks and minor scrapes. I also keep a small bottle of acetone on board which, if used carefully, can remove marks that defeat all other cleaners.

If your boat has not been polished and waxed on a regular basis you may find the surface has become matt and chalky. In this case washing alone is not going to be enough and you will need to resort to a compound polish. I have always got great results with 3M products and they do a range to deal with all levels of neglect.

There are lots of spot cleaners on the market

3M’s Medium Cutting Compound and Wax is a good mid range polish.

Once the boat is clean, and after a good hose off to remove any residual soap, you should wipe the boat down with an absorbent cloth. Chamois leathers are the old school method, but I like the modern equivalents such as the Easidri, which leaves a dry, smear and droplet free surface.

After cleaning and drying you should wipe the whole boat over with a coat of good quality marine wax.

This will protect the For dull gelcoat you may need a polish

Protect clean fibreglass with a wax.

If the water doesn’t bead on the surface, you need more wax 72

March 2019

surface and ensure that dirt has a harder time sticking to it. Ideally wax should be applied three or four times a year for maximum protection. If water isn’t beading on your fibreglass it is a good indication that you do not have enough wax protection.

When it comes to scrubbing the waterline, do so gently. Unless you are planning on antifouling soon, you don’t want to be scrubbing too much of the paint away from such a high growth area.

Mud scum and green grime can build up along a waterline. Use a brush, but don’t scrub too hard

Teak and faux teak

Real teak decks will fade to grey over time and, during the winter, often turn green as well. If a gentle scrub with soapy water doesn’t do the job you will need a specialist teak cleaner, usually a two-part product comprising a cleaner and brightener, such as Marine AGlaze’s Teakcare system. For a quick result there are also some one-part products that combine a cleaner and brightener in one.

Apply the product, wait a while, give it a little scrub and rinse it off. The teak should be clean and golden again. What you do next is up to you. You can apply

a finishing product to help seal in the colour, or even enhance it further, or you could just let it age gracefully and slowly return to grey. A regular wash with salt water is usually enough to keep the green away.

Specialist teak products can bring back the golden glow of your greyed teak Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

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PRACTICAL

Teak and faux teak continued.....

If your teak is of a man-made persuasion, a good hard scrub with soapy water or a dedicated synthetic teak cleaner should remove any marks and generally clean it up.

We occasionally combine the above with a magic sponge to clean areas of high traffic.

These clever sponges are a must on every boat and can be used for a multitude of jobs. They really lift the grime out of plastic teak decks and leave them looking much brightener.

Synthetic teak protectors are also available to prolong results.

Magic Sponges work well on synthetic teak

Canopies These are perhaps the most susceptible part of the boat when it comes to damage caused by the weather and neglect, but a bit of maintenance should ensure a long lifespan. A wash with water and a mild detergent is the first step, but if the covers have been allowed to turn green this won’t be enough. At this stage it is best to remove each section and work on it flat on the floor. Be careful to ensure that any clear windows cannot get scratched or damaged. With detergent and water, the trusty nailbrush is perfect for getting the green out of the material. There are also specialist products such as the Marine AGlaze Canvas Cleaner that we tried. You still need to scrub, but the results were pretty good with the green lifting out almost completely after the first attempt.

If your cover is old and losing its colour, Renovo do a range of revivers, which are

Take care when cleaning clear vinyl sections on solid surfaces that they don’t get scratched.

Marine AGlaze also do a good two-part Canvas Cleaner and Protector (see Tested May 2015)

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basically a paint-on dye. We used this on our project boat canopy with good results, and if your cover is at this stage you can postpone the inevitable replacement. If your covers are allowing water through the material, there are a range of products available to restore the waterproof properties. I tried AGlaze Fabric Protector and the result was impressive, with water beading on the treated area but soaking straight into adjacent untreated material.

After cleaning, replace the covers while they are still wet to avoid shrinkage.

The clear windows in your canopy can be cleaned with soapy water, rinsed and leathered dry. If they have lost some of their transparency there are a few products that might help. I started with Renovo Window polish, a one step solution, and then tried the three-part A B

C D

C

Renovo Canvas Cleaner Renovo Window Polish & 3-part BoatSheen Renovo Canvas Reviver AGlaze Fabric Protector

Boat Sheen Vinyl Window Restorer. They both improved the transparency, but the extra effort required for the three-part product was rewarded with better results.

As a finishing touch, give your zippers and poppers some lubrication with a dedicated product. I used Starbrite’s Snap & Zipper Lubricant and Snap-Stick, and they both worked very well, although you need to be careful not to apply too much, otherwise it can get everywhere.

B

A

D

Motorboat Owner Š Digital Marine Media Ltd

75

PRACTICAL

Windows should be washed with

soapy water while you are doing the rest of the boat, but finish them off last, once the hose has been put away to save ending up with water marks all over them. With a damp absorbent cloth wipe away any remaining water left from washing, to leave a streak and dropletfree finish. I then like to give the glass a A wash and a wipe over with an absorbant coating of a hydrophobic product such cloth should bring your glass up spotless as Rain X or Marine AGlaze’s Crystal Vision V3. These coatings will help keep the glass cleaner for longer, as water will simply roll off, taking any particles with it. (see Tested on page 82) Rubber seals around windows can be the source of many leaks, as UV from the sun damages them and causes them to shrink. Scrub them with a small brush and soapy water to remove dirt, algae and any other build up, then protect them from UV with a suitable coating.

You could use normal boat wax or a special product designed for rubber, such as 303 UV Protectant. Think of it as sunscreen for your window seals.

A hydrophobic product should help keep your glass clean for longer

Clean the rubber seals and then apply a UV protector to keep them in tip top condition 76

March 2019

Metal

Stainless steel should, of course, be stainless. Unfortunately there are different levels of stainless and many stainless fittings on boats do sometimes start to show signs of surface rust. This can also leach onto surrounding fibreglass, leaving difficult to remove rust stains. Two products are useful in these situations: Y10, which is a gel that removes rust marks and is particularly good on fibreglass, and Spotless Stainless, which can be applied to the metal itself to remove surface rust. I used both on this snap davit and surrounding area to good effect. The best part is that you just paint it on, leave it and wash it off without any hard work.

Aluminium is widely used on boats, particularly for window frames, ports and hatches. If allowed to corrode the damage is usually irreversible. Keep on top of it by using a good quality metal polish and wax. This should remove surface

Regular application of a metal polish and wax will prolong the life of aluminium components

blemishes before they get into the metal and help keep the aluminium corrosion free. The wax will also add a protective coat for the coming season.

The same products can also be applied to stainless steel rails after cleaning. This will remove any water marks and again leave them gleaming and protected.

Stainless isn’t always stainless. Two products to chase rust stains away

A coat of wax on your stainless steel will help protect it from the elements and keep it shining Motorboat Owner Š Digital Marine Media Ltd

77

PRACTICAL

Dirty sealant I haven’t found a

product yet that can bring dirty, stained or yellowed sealant back to sparkling white. This is a shame because it can really spoil the overall effect of your cleaning endeavours. We have tried using black streak remover, scrubbed in with a toothbrush, on the sealant around one porthole. The results were not bad, and showed a visible improvement, but were by no means perfect. Any household cleaner that includes bleach will make some headway, but be careful not to damage the sealant in the process.

Dirty sealant is difficult to clean. Black streak remover helped, as will any bleach based household product, but use with care

Fenders

Nothing lets a boat down quicker than grubby fenders. They are there to do a job, and that job means they often end up looking very tatty, very quickly.

Luckily they are not difficult to bring back to ‘as new’. First you could start with a soapy wash, which in our case didn’t make the slightest difference.

Then you could try a proprietary fender cleaner, which made a good impact on our soot covered fender. Magic sponges are also really good for cleaning fenders.

Used with water, or as we did with a fender cleaner, it brought our grubby fender up almost spotless. There were just a couple of marks that refused to budge so, as a last resort, we tried some acetone, which did the trick. If you give your fenders a coat of wax after cleaning they should stay clean for longer and be easier to clean next time.

Soapy water may not remove the grime from fenders, so a specialist cleaner might be needed

Protect your fenders with a coat of wax

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March 2019

Engine Room

For grubby engine rooms there is not much alternative to getting in there and scrubbing it out. Obviously any oily water needs to be sucked out and disposed of correctly. A specialist bilge cleaner, such as Bilgex, can be poured into the bilgewater first to emulsify any oil, but ultimately you are going to have to get in there with a scrubbing brush and overalls and go to work.

Use Bilgex, or similar, to clean up the boat’s bilges

Ropes left out for the winter may

well be dirty and stiff. Many people resort to putting them in the washing machine but I prefer to just give them a gentle soak. Using the bath, or another suitably sized container, fill it with hand hot water and add a gentle detergent. I use soap flakes and leave them to soak for a day or two, giving them a bit of gentle agitation every now and then. Some people add a fabric conditioner to the wash, which is said to soften the ropes up further. I have never felt the need to do this and find a good soak works perfectly.

Cockpit vinyl

Our white cockpit vinyl has a grain pattern that seems to absorb grease and dirt, and simple washing often doesn’t touch it. A magic sponge used with water was an improvement, but used with Starbrite’s Vinyl Cleaner and Shampoo, diluted and used in conjunction with our trusty nailbrush, gave the best result. This got right into the grain and lifted the dirt out leaving the vinyl whiter than I have ever seen it. It’s not easy work, but the results are worth the effort and a coat of vinyl wax or protector should ensure it stays white and supple for as long as possible.

Starbrite’s concentrated Vinyl Cleaner and Shampoo with a nail brush achieved the best results. A Magic Sponge also worked well.

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

79

PRACTICAL

Interior Cleaning upholstery

If your interior upholstery is looking marked or generally grubby, you can save the expense of refurbishment or a professional valet by cleaning it yourselves using a carpet cleaner.

This can remove marks and restore the general brightness of the fabric.

There is something deeply satisfying about emptying all that grey and grimy water from the cleaners waste tank down the sink. So if you fancy having a go – here are some tips for achieving good results: • Choose a warm, sunny day for optimum drying conditions • Read and follow the instructions for the machine and the solution • Try a patch test of the solution in an inconspicuous place first

• Always use the nozzle in the direction of the pile of the material and resist the temptation to scrub the fabric with it • Once you have completed the application, extract as much moisture as you can from the surface Most hire shops will loan you a small commercial carpet cleaner and an upholstery tool for around £30 for the day. Or invest in your own machine, a Vax Carpet Washer is usually under £100 from retailers on the high street.

For spot cleaning, AGlaze upholstery cleaner has given us good results on both carpets and fabric.

A carpet washer is a good investment for upholstery and carpets on the boat or at home 80

March 2019

General Your boats interior can be treated like your house. A vacuum and a polish are usually enough.

If, after the winter lay-up, you find black mould spots on soft furnishings try removing them with Milton sterilising fluid. It’s a mild bleach so you should test an inconspicuous area first, but as long as the material is not damaged by it you should find that black mould spots are easily removed. It also works on lifejackets or clothing left in a damp locker.

A great product for boats that are suffering from that musty damp smell is AGlaze Air Purifier. It comes in a spray bottle, seeks out nasty niffs and neutralises them. It also states that it can deal with fuel and tobacco smells. I have used it before and it really does freshen the boat up. You can also get one-shot aerosol ‘bombs’ that do the same job.

Any sliding windows or doors that are starting to feel a little sticky can be made to glide open and closed again with a dose of silicone spray on the runners.

This is a biannual event on our Sealine to keep the companionway door operational.

Milton Sterilising Fluid, silicone spray and Marine AGlaze Air Purifer are useful products

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

81

tested Marine AGlaze Crystal Vision V3

PRICE for 250ml

£15.59

I’m always on the lookout for ways of maintaining the best visibility from the helm of our Sealine, and the latest product to cross my desk was Crystal Vision V3 from Marine A Glaze.

Crystal Vision is a glass cleaner and sealer that is said to ensure that water beads and slides off the glass easier, and stops rain and salt spots from forming. It is also said to ease cleaning the glass of any bird muck or general pollutants.

The instructions do not specifically require it, but I started by giving the glass a wash with normal soapy water. Once clean and dry, it was time to apply the Crystal Vision. The instructions tell you not to do this in direct sunlight, but we wasn’t able to be picky and our test day was during an uncharacteristically sunny February weekend. I suspect the issue is more about the glass being hot, which ours wasn’t, so I went ahead anyway.

Motorboat Owner Application is simple, you just wipe a film of Crystal Vision “A hardworking over the glass with a soft clean cloth. You then spray a light mist ally in the battle of water over the top before buffing it with a second cloth. Unlike for through screen many boat cleaning products, this really couldn’t be simpler or visibility” easier with very little effort involved and with it taking literally no Value 4/5 Usability 5/5 more than a couple of minutes to do a whole windscreen section.

Performance

4/5 I partitioned my screen off into two, so I could see a clear dividing line between treated and untreated. Once dry, a hose sprayed onto the screen confirmed its effectiveness. On the treated half, the water ran off easily, leaving very few droplets on the screen. Compared to the untreated half, the

Application is very easy and the results are clear to see, with half the glass almost droplet free 82

March 2019

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

difference was night and day, and I would say that it works well enough to actually negate the need for the wipers in a shower.

Next came the seawater A significant reduction in water droplets equates to less salt spots test. After dousing the screen in saltwater, it was left to dry in the sunlight. The results showed that there was around an 90% reduction in the salt spots left on the treated side of the screen.

The product claims around a six-month lifespan between treatments, so we will leave the screen treated half and half and report back during the summer with a long term update. In the meantime, for very little outlay (the 250ml bottle is said to offer 15sqm coverage), and a very minimal amount of effort, Crystal Vision looks to be a very useful product indeed. Enquiries: Marine AGlaze www.marineaglaze.com

Motorboat Owner Š Digital Marine Media Ltd

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Jeanneau NC33

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March 2019

BOAT TEST

Length (LOA): 10.5m / 34ft 5in Beam: 3.32m / 10ft 10in Displacement: 5,366kg Fuel capacity: 520 litres Water capacity: 175 litres RCD category: B8 / C10 Engines as tested: 2 x Volvo Penta 220hp D3 Other engine options: None Price from ÂŁ225,347

Motorboat Owner Š Digital Marine Media Ltd

85

W

ith so many boats in the Jeanneau portfolio, it is sometime difficult to know where to start. If you want something around 10 metres, with an enclosed helm position, you can choose between the Merry Fisher 1095, the Leader 33 and the NC33. It is probably easiest then, to start by outlining the main characteristics of these three model lines to help narrow down just which of the trio may be right for you. The 1095 is the flagship of the Merry Fisher range which, as the name suggests, is a combined cruiser/fisher.

Merry Fishers, tend to be more spartan in their fit-out and, hence would be considered the entry level boat of the three mentioned. They are also all outboard powered, including the 1095 that sports

a pair of 300hp engines on the transom. The Leader models are the sportscruisers of the line-up, with all, bar the entry level 30 model, having open backed hard tops with large sunroofs. Some of these, like the 33, are available with a choice of inboard and outboard engines.

The NC boats are Jeanneau’s enclosed wheelhouse models, that range from 9 to 14 metres, with the 33 being the second

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March 2019

“The NC33 is one of three 10m platforms from the Jeanneau stable”

model in the group and, along with the 37, the newest of the NCs. If you want to find out more about the 1095 or Leader 33 then please see our tests in the May 18 and May 17 issues.

Built on the same platform as the Leader 33, and with not very dissimilar looks from

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

most angles, you would be forgiven for thinking that the two models would be similar inside, but this is not the case. In true wheelhouse style, the daytime living space is moved up into the wheelhouse and the lower accommodation has been given over entirely to nocturnal

87

occupation.

The forward cabin is entered via a sliding door and inside there is 6ft 3in headroom and a decent amount of standing room aft of the double island berth. There is a hanging locker/storage unit on the port side, some eye-level cupboards down both sides and access to a huge under berth storage area by lifting the aft end of the bed, which is assisted and held open by gas struts. The bed itself is also extendable by around 30cm by pulling the end aft and installing a couple of small infill cushions. This does, impact on your standing room by the same amount, but still leaves adequate space for getting dressed. There is also a small single seat to starboard, which has some additional storage below. Overhead there are two opening hatches with further ventilation available from an opening port

in the port side hull window.

Moving aft into the lower lobby area there are two more doors, one that leads into the boat’s second cabin and the other to the toilet/shower compartment. In this lobby there is a useful full height mirror and some storage below the companionway steps.

There is also a further cupboard that houses the boat’s fridge, which is perhaps not the most convenient place for it, and some additional shelved storage.

The toilet compartment is on the starboard side and separated off into two sections. The aft section houses the toilet and shower, while the forward part contains a sink, mirror and a decent amount of storage. Again there is good headroom in here, of up to 6ft 6in, and overall the compartment is spacious enough for everyday use. Both sections contain a fixed hull window for light, with the shower

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March 2019

compartment’s window also incorporating an opening port for ventilation.

Opposite the toilet is the entrance to the guest cabin. In here there is a large double berth thwartships, with a decent amount of overhead space above the pillow end, to port. There is a small, full-height, standing area immediately inside the door with a hatch overhead that opens below the boat’s windscreen. A good-sized hull window, with built-in opening port, allows in plenty of light and provides a feeling of spaciousness. Storage wise, this second cabin does not play second fiddle. There is a half-height hanging locker, a single bench seat with storage below, a cupboard built into the aft bulkhead and a nice, compartmentalized, locker below the bed which is accessed by a gas strutted section of the bed base.

The toilet compartment has a separate shower compartment with ample space Three steps up from the lower Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

89

accommodation brings you into the wheelhouse where the helm is located immediately to starboard. Here a nonadjustable helm, but bolstered, seat is just large enough to be considered a double, although is perhaps better described as a generous single. Alongside there is a three quarters height sliding door to allow easy deck access for the skipper, a useful feature when single or short handed. There are

The navigator’s seat flips and converts to help deliver a family-sized dinette

two fold-down flaps to allow a range of helming options for skippers of different heights, although even with the higher one in use you would need to be six foot plus to be able to stand with your head out of the large sunroof. These fold down flaps also act as steps out through the side door. The helm binnacle is well laid out with a centrally placed multi-function display and all engine dials and other switchgear laid out around it in an easy to see and easy to use configuration. There is also space in front of the throttle control for the optional joystick, as fitted to our test boat. In front, the single part screen comes with twin pantograph wipers and, essential on a wheelhouse boat, demisters.

On the port side there is a double bench seat, meaning you can just about accommodate a family of four all facing forwards when underway, which has a conveniently placed grabrail, cup holders and an opening window alongside. This

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second forward facing seat lowers, and the backrest flips, to allow it to form part of the dinette seating behind when not underway. In this configuration you get a large, family sized, L-shaped dining area or, with the crew seat facing forward you have a couple of additional crew seats on the aft section. Curtains around the wheelhouse does allow the saloon seating to be used as an occasional extra berth, if needed.

Opposite the dinette you have the galley.

This is quite compact, hence the fridge being placed in the lower accommodation, but you still get a deep sink, double burner hob, and a gas oven. The former two of these can be found below a lifting worktop, which keeps it all neat and tidy when not in use, but offers rather limited worktop space when lifted. While putting the fridge down in the lobby may be a little inconvenient, it does allow for a decent amount of storage in the galley, Motorboat Owner Š Digital Marine Media Ltd

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PERFORMANCE As tested Fuel 65% Water 30% Crew 2 Force 2

RPM

with two cupboards and one drawer at base level, and a further two lockers overhead. If the fridge location really concerns you, there is an option for a second fridge to be placed below the helm seat, at the expense of the largest of the galley storage units.

Moving out into the cockpit, through the three-part sliding doors, and you have an L-shaped seating arrangement to port.

The transom section of this seating slides fore and aft to create a larger cockpit, at the expense of some bathing platform space, and can also fold flat to create a sunpad. Access to the engine room requires the transom seat to be slid aft, and in this position a large section of the cockpit floor lifts on double gas struts to

700 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000 4150

Knots LPH

GPH

MPG

3.6 5.4 7.3 8.9 12.4 18.5 24.5 29.8 31.5

0.37 0.75 2.07 4.31 7.30 10.7 13.2 18.4 21.1

9.73 7.20 3.52 2.06 1.70 1.73 1.86 1.62 1.49

1.7 3.4 9.4 19.6 33.2 48.6 60.2 83.8 96.0

Range Noise (nm)

1112 823 402 235 194 198 212 185 170

71 74 78 81 85 86 88 90 91

give good access to the twin Volvo D3 engines, the only option available on this boat. Space down in the engine room is good to get around, and work on, the engines and, in front of the engines, there is unusually easy access to the whole of the fuel tank. You would always hope that you would never have to, but if ever a tank looked easy to remove and replace, this is it. The port side cockpit seating houses a single cylinder gas locker and a self

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There is only one engine option with the NC33, twin 220hp Volvo Penta D3 diesels

“The NC33 delivers a good turn of speed, but always in a composed and safe way” draining storage locker and, to starboard, a gate leads you out to the generously sized bathing platform. Here, you have access to a large ‘boot’ type storage locker together with a smaller locker to port that houses the shorepower connection. The transom locker can also be accessed from the cockpit via a hatch without having to lift any cushions. If you want some alfresco dining, the saloon table can be easily unbolted and used in the cockpit, where again there is enough space for a family of four.

In true Jeanneau fashion, the sidedecks are asymmetrical, with the starboard deck being sunken, wider and the favoured choice. Jeanneau has also installed a small side gate in the topsides to allow Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

easier boarding when alongside. From the cockpit there are two steps aft and one more just forward of midships to take you to the bow. The deck remains sunken to the helm with a decent raised toe rail forward of this. Guardrails, up to hip height, and grabrails make the process of moving forward easy and safe, and the flat side deck continues all the way to, and around, the bow. At the bow you have the option of sunpad cushions for the raised cabin roof and, of course, you get an anchor locker with electric winch option.

Underway The NC33 is an easy and rewarding boat to helm. For a family wheelhouse boat it has quite a sporty and responsive feel,

93

with the twin 220hp D3s getting the boat up and on the plane in around 6 seconds.

Mid range pickup was comparable, going from 16 knots to 25 knots in around five seconds. The steering setup was as good as it gets, with a wheel that could be turned by a single finger in either direction at cruising speed, and tight turns were undertaken with minimal fuss and zero ventilation or loss of grip. The bow feels quite light, so in a head sea the NC33 needed a bit of bow down trim from the tabs to maintain a comfortable ride, trimming the legs in alone was not enough. On the plus side, with a bit of bow down trim tab, and with the legs trimmed in, we kept the boat on the plane and comfortable down to around 16 knots, using around 40 litres per hour, which is a good get-you-home speed if the sea picks up. With a half metre head sea on our test day we were able to achieve a comfortable 23 knots, at 3500rpm, using full tab. In the opposite direction, with a following sea, zero tabs and about half trim on the legs, we could make a comfortable 26 knots for the same engine speed. At these speeds, and in this sort of sea, a less composed

Some very useful storage is accessible from the bathing platform thanks to a large ‘boot’

boat would have been slamming and uncomfortable. Its most economical cruising speed seems to be at around 2324 knots where it will achieve somewhere around 1.9nm per gallon. Overall, the boat is everything I would expect from a family boat. It has a good turn of speed, but always feels composed and safe. In fact I would describe the helming experience as sedate, but not in a bad way. It’s just easy and relaxing to helm, but with enough power in reserve to have a bit of fun if you want it. The helm ergonomics are good, the lack of adjustment on the seat didn’t cause me any problems, and visibility is great, apart from to port when in a tight

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port hand turn, but this is standard for all hardtop boats with a starboard side helm.

Conclusion If you are on the hunt for a 10m boat, the market has never been busier.

Notwithstanding Jeanneau’s three models, you have some great options from the likes of Parker, Sealine, Hardy, Nimbus and Bavaria to name just a few. If, however, you want the economy of inboard diesel, the choices become a little more limited, and the Leader 33 should definitely join the NC33 on your shortlist. Having tested both, I have to say you would be hard pushed to choose poorly, they are both entirely competent boats. To my eye, the

A perfect family boat for north European waters?

Leader is perhaps the prettier of the two by a whisker, but the NC offers a more practical and north European friendly package. Ultimately, it will come down to how you use your boat, so take a look at both and choose with your heart. Your head will be happy either way.

ENQUIRIES: For your nearest dealer visit www.jeanneau.com YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

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UK Jeanneau Motorboat Specialists NC 33

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O Vie W w at wi Sw th an us w ic k

With over 25 years of association with Jeanneau we are the UK’s largest Jeanneau dealer and specialists in the sale of New and Used Jeanneau Motorboats!

Velasco 37

Visit our Permanent Jeanneau Motorboat Show at Swanwick Marina.

Large stock of Inboard and Outboard Jeanneau Motorboats available for viewing and delivery now!

Velasco / NC / Leader Cap Camarat / Merry Fisher

Sea Ventures (UK) Ltd | Swanwick Marina, Swanwick, Hampshire, SO31 1ZL t: 01489 565 444 e: sales@seaventures.co.uk

Jeanneau main dealers for power & sail | Part-exchange welcome

www.sea-ventures.co.uk

2018 winners of the Jeanneau Dealer of the Year award

CRANCHI Z35

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

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Cranchi E30

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2001 Sealine S37

Mariner 40EFI ELPT Outboard Petrol Engine FROM £124,000 INC VAT Lying Upton

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

1998 Colvic Sun

2x Cummins Sabre 225 Diesel Engines £89,950 Lying Thames & Kennet

2017 Glastron GS259

Volvo Penta 280 Petrol Engine £89,950

2010 Bayliner 315

Mercruiser 4.3 Petrol Engine £79,950

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Viking / 22

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

Call our friendly team to arrange an appointment to view any of the used boats for sale below – or visit our website for this month’s complete range www.valwyattmarine.co.uk

Corsiva / 475

Complete with covers, cushions, table, sundeck & engine up to 30hp

Custom / Norfolk Launch Built to a high specification, refurbished & revarnished

Fairline / Mirage

Extensively upgraded, new galley & heads, 2 double & 2 single berths

1987 | £6,500 | 22ft | 6.7m

NEW | £9,995 | 14.8ft | 4.5m

1962 | £19,995 | 27ft | 8.2m

Interboat / 22

Interboat / Intender 820

Intercruiser / 28 Cabin

Haines / 320 Aft Cabin

2011 | £34,500 | 22ft | 6.8m

NEW | £70,650 | 26.6ft | 8.1m

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NEW | £247,200 | 32ft | 9.8m

Excellent condition, solid teak flooring, low hours, bowthruster

Stunning new boat, Esthec floor, bowthruster, fridge, sink, toilet

Fantastic cruiser, teak cockpit, heating, bow & stern thrusters

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£346,680

400 AFT CABIN

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

British built since 1980

1978 | £21,000 | 28.4ft | 8.7m

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

FROM

INTENDER 820

£48,570

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

Premium Dutch Quality

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

New Boat Sales | Used Craft | Moorings & Storage | Boat Maintenance

Classified

1986 Shetland Family Four

Suzuki 15hp four stroke outboard with electric start. Cockpit canopy, chemical toilet, BSS 2020, Brenderup single axle road trailer.

£5,000

0189 403211 info@valwyattmarine.co.uk

Motorboat Owner Affordable practical boating

2004 Orkney 20

1988 Shetland 4+2 Hardtop

Single MerCruiser 3.0-litre Alpha One sterndrive petrol. Dayboat/ fisher, 2 berth, equipped with VHF, stereo, sea toilet.

Re-engined in 2000 with single Volvo Penta AQAD3IP 150hp diesel duo prop sterndrive. Lowrance Elite 7ti chartplotter, Icom M323G DSC/ VH.

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£9,995

01480 454677 chris.bennett@tingdene.net

01792 655925 sales@cambrianboats.com

New and Used

Boats for Sale 01189 403211

Advertisement Index

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

Liberty / 4.75 XL

Interboat / 16

Seating for 6, regularly serviced, sprayhood, tonneaus, BSS 2022

Well maintained spacious 7 berth cruiser with twin diesel engines

2006 | £14,000 | 15.6ft | 4.75m

1970 | £15,950 | 31ft | 9.5m

Princess / 30 DS

Interboat / 650

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

Viking / 20

Perfect river cruiser, 4 berth, toilet, polished, antifouled & serviced

2003 | £15,995 | 20ft | 6.1m

Interboat / Intender 700

Haines / 32 Sedan

Excellent family cruiser, well equipped galley, bowthruster

Modern colours, cruising canopy, teak floor, sunbed, Vetus 27hp

Luxury dayboat, folding transom, Esthec floor & triple back sundeck

Equipped for river and estuary use, 100hp engine 142 hrs, immaculate

1983 | £22,500 | 30.5ft | 9.3m

2009 | £26,950 | 21.3ft | 8.4m

NEW | £49,950 | 23ft | 7.0m

2015 | £169,000 | 32ft | 9.75m

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

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

01189 403211

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

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

Open seven days a week.

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

All adverts are clickable ValWyattAdvertising2018-A4HPLS.indd 1

Barrus Chandlery (Besto & Talamex) ..............................................

Dean & Reddyhoff..............................................................................

International Paint..............................................................................

Marine AGlaze...................................................................................

MDS Battery........................................................................................

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

Parker Poland.....................................................................................

Sargo Boats UK...................................................................................

Seabridge Marine..............................................................................

Sea Ventures (Jeanneau).................................................................

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

Silver Boats UK....................................................................................

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

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

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

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

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

RLM / Bahama 31

Perfect starter boat with trailer, serviced, polished & antifouled

2013 | £8,995 | 15.4ft | 4.7m

31/01/2018 11:00

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Owners Directory i Arvor Boat Owners Club

Dawncraft Owners Club & Forum

www.arvorboatowners.co.uk

www.dawncraftowners.com

Aquastar Owners Club

Dell Quay Ranger website

www.aquastarclub.co.uk

www.dellquayranger.supanet.com

Atlanta Boat Owners

Electric Boat Association

www.atlantaboats.co.uk

www.electric-boat-association.org.uk

Bavaria Owners’ Association

Elysian Boat Owners

www.bavariaowners.co.uk

www.elysianboats.co.uk

Bayliner Owners Club

Fairey Owners Club

www.baylinerownersclub.org

www.faireyownersclub.co.uk

Beneteau Owners’ Association

Fairline Owners Club

www.beneteau-owners-association.org.uk

www.fairlineownersclub.com

Birchwood Classics

Fjord Club

www.birchwoodclassics.com

www.fjordclub.com

Broom Owners Club

Fletcher Owners Group

www.broomowners.com

www.facebook.com/groups/4011883149

Chaparral Boat Owners Forum

Freeman Cruisers Forum

forum.chaparralboats.com

freemanboats.forumer.com

Classic Motor Boat Association

Freeman Owners Club

www.cmba-uk.com

www.freemancruisers.com

Classic Offshore Powerboat Club

Freeman Cruisers

www.classicoffshore.com

freeman-cruisers.forumotion.co.uk

Cleopatra Owners Club

Haines Owners Club

mycleopatra.ning.com

www.hainesmarine.co.uk/owners.php

Coronet Cruisers

Hampton Safari Boat Club

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

hamptonsafaribc.webplus.net

Corvette Motorboat Association

Hardy Owners Club

corvettemotorboat.wordpress.com

Cranchi Owners Club & Forum cranchiownersclub.com

100

www.hardy-owner.org.uk

Jeanneau Owners Network

www.jeanneau-owners.com

March 2019

Owners Club missing?

Contact us at

Marex Owners Club

editorial@motorboatowner.co.uk

Sea Ray Owners Club

www.clubsearay.com

www.marexownersclub.co.uk

Sealine Forum

Mariah Owners Club www.mariahownersclub.com

www.sealineforum.co.uk

Maxum Owners Club

Sealine Owners Club

www.maxumownersclub.com

www.sealineowners.com

Microplus Boats

Seamaster Club

www.microplus.dk

www.seamasterclub.org

Monterey Fourm

Seaward Owners Club

forums.montereyboats.com

www.seawardboat.com/club.html

Moonraker Owner’s Club

Shadow Boats - Victoria Shadow Association

www.moonraker.dk/eng_index.htm

www.victoriashadow.co.uk

Nauticus

Shetland Owners Association

www.nauticus.co.uk

www.shetlandowners.co.uk/shetland/

Nelson Boat Owners Club

Star Craft Owners Club

www.nelsonboatownersclub.co.uk

www.bates-starcraft.co.uk

Nimbus Owners Club UK

Storebro Passion

www.nimbusowners.co.uk

www.storebropassion.de

Norman Appreciation Society

Sunseeker Owners Club

www.normanboats.co.uk

sunseekerownersclub.com

Classic Princess facebook group

Viking Owners Club

Click here for Facebook group

www.vikingowners.org.uk

Regal Owners Forum

Warrior Boats Owners Club

www.warriorboatsownersclub.co.uk

www.regalownersforum.com

Relcraft Boaters Group

Advertise with us

www.relcraftboatersgroup.co.uk

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

Rodman Owners Club

www.facebook.com/rodmanownersclub

Classified adverts from £25

advertising@

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

2004 Ryds 510 MC

£9,995 01189 403211 email address

101

L K what I saw

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

@

send your images to us at

editorial@

motorboatowner.co.uk

A seal at sundown

Cheeky seal playing at Lymington Yacht Haven SPOTTED! by Ed Lyall

Foggy Burnham dawn

A misty sunrise at Burnham Yacht Harbour SPOTTED! by Jamie Banner

Fender safe

This riverboat owner is playing it very safe SPOTTED! by George Lincoln

Red sky at night

A colourful January sunset at Hythe Marina SPOTTED! by Timo Galeon 102

March 2019

Britain’s only FREE dedicated motorboat magazine

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CRUISING Normandy favourites & Norway bound BOATS • Zodiac Open 5.5 RIB • Nimbus C9

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