Motorboat Owner October 2019

FREE DIGITAL MAGAZINE

Motorboat OCTOBER 2019

Owner Affordable practical boating

Nimbus 37/370/380

BOAT TEST

Beneteau Antares 9 Destination Guide Squid fishing l Capelli Top Line 650 l Southampton Boat Show

HEYBRIDGE BASIN

Welcome to the October 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

We have only just caught our breath after the annual boating extravaganza that is the Southampton Boat Show. As usual we have a round up of the latest products, and a quick view of many of the new boat launches, that were on display. The best part of the show though, is meeting you, our readers. We heard so many lovely comments and I want to thank everyone who stopped by for a chat. I

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

2

October 2019

welcome aboard

See our Southampton Boat Show review on pages 20-21

would also like to welcome the many new subscribers who signed up at the show, and in the days since. I hope you enjoy your first fresh copy of Motorboat Owner, and don’t forget that there are 72 back issues for you to download as well. When we run our bi-annual reader surveys, we really do analyse the answers to try and make MBO even better and more relevant to as many of you as we can. In the last survey we were

surprised to see that a large percentage of responders use their boats for fishing. This got us thinking. We test the odd boat that is designed with fishing in mind, and even comment on its suitability for such, but we haven’t ever really catered for the boat owner that likes to fish in any more detail.

This month we have added a new section to the magazine for those who already fish, or are perhaps thinking of trying it. Our new contributor, Simon Everett, has a penchant for the subject. He will be writing a column for us every month detailing what’s currently fishing, and giving us a few hints and tips on how to catch them.

As this new section develops, we hope to plumb the depths of Simon’s knowledge and experience with some further interesting fishing related content (he is also a bit of a small boat adventurer). For those that don’t fish, don’t worry, all the existing elements of the magazine will remain, and we hope to expand on some of these areas too in the near future, so keep downloading and watch this space.

Sub Editor, Pam Born Production Editor, John Frew

Subscriptions: 01268 922991 subscriptions@motorboatowner.co.uk

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

Contributors:

Alex Smith, Simon Everett, Mark Pearce, Tim & Tally Clift, Nick Heyes Cover photo: Beneteau Antares 9 on test off Port Ginestra, Spain by Neale Byart

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

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CONTENTS PRACTICAL

REGULARS

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INVESTIGATIO

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PRACTIC AL

OCTOBER 2019

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and Funct B+ Fun ion CtiO Trans nalit mit Powe y r Trans Class mit Rate A Minim 12.5W Class um Keyb B+ oard Up to + Displa 5W ology every Class y (MKD 2-3 secs B ) YES Guar antee Up to 2W d Time every 5 secs Slot Alloc Voya SOTD ge Data NO MA ation Every 30 secs Extern YES SOTD al GPS NO MA Conn ectio Price YES n (appr YES SOTD ox) MA YES NO NO £2000 “As can NO NO be Techn

NEWS page 6 INBOX page 36 TESTED page 54 Q&A page 70

transmit seen from £650 NO the table Class B s at a much above, higher £500 tran in norm power transpon sponder al oper than a shou ation a Class B. be bette der maybe seen ld be able chose to fit a receive Clas Many leisure boats r as far as to transmit In “real-life” s A transpon n System) they can see“As illusthan a Class up to 7-8N 20-25NM terms B A IS (Automatic Identificatio only unit, which means transmitting a well der set of the trated in the (2W), but have looked at in insta about vessels not x2.5 s away. With Ms whilst a follo data tran is something that we gone information Class A lled its any better, smitted wing table, not new, but it has but do not transmit typically 5W output, data, AIS Class depth before. It is by a Clas a AIS has, until recently that many s A tran B and B+ tran 10-12NM shouClass B+ will information themselves. as ClassCla through some changes of. If you want A and ss a sponder”. smit the ld be seen aware B and same recently, been categorised ”. boaters may not be to B+ how installed data, a transm is typicallyData of AIS, including Transmit subClass B. The former the full run down itte ted while the latter is d data see our July 2015 issue, in commercial vessels, AIS. MMS install one, please kit el ClassI +AVess this is what AIS Position on Name + Call considered to be ‘leisure’ Class but for a quick overview A + COG £2000), transmits Sign is more costly (circa + SOG is, and how it works.

AIS True YES information frequencies, Heading Class Using VHF radio a higher power, transmits B and transmits B+ information Rate more YES Of Turn more frequently and YES transmitters send out priority takes to. also fitted It . are they Nav StatuA uses detailed information YES about the boat YES include fixed transmissions. Class s This information will on size over Class B IMOTime-Divisi YES ized as the boat’s name, Number YES SOTDMA (Self-Organ information, such Class as well as real time Type while YES Multiple Access) technology ofSense NO and MMSI number, TimeVessel boat’s speed, direction B kit uses CSTDMA (Carrier Vess YES information on the NO technology.

Dime and navigational Access) el nsions Division Multiple ETA CSTDMA of travel, destination on YES with+ Dest rs are compulsory NO The difference is that inati it status. Transponde + Drau transmit until on over a certain size, YES the unit will not ght YES commercial vessels 36no other stations are to any vessel, kit, can determine that NO but can be fitted voluntarily dayboat.

YES 2019 leisure October including the smallest NO

34 Octob

er 2019

Southampton Boat Show Review page 20 page 22 New Boats page 30 New Gear

p38

page 54 Tested

Lowrance LiveSight

PRACTICAL

AIS Class B+ investigation

p58

page 88 Hooked

Fishing for Squid

SOUTHAMPTON REVIEW page 20

HEYBRIDGE BASIN Destination Guide

p90

Nimbus 37/370/380

CLASSIC CRUISER GUIDE

p44 p76

Capelli Top Line 650

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

BOAT TESTS

Beneteau Antares 9

5

NEWS UKHO to withdraw Admiralty Small Craft Folios The UK Hydrographic Office has announced that it is proposing to withdraw the supply and maintenance of Admiralty Small Craft Folios for the leisure boating market, in favour of a replacement digital solution. The marine bodies, the Royal Institute of Navigation (RIN) and the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) are urging boaters to have their say by completing a survey set up by the RIN by 8th October. The RIN say ‘The intention to retire the small craft folios is in response to the changing requirements of users and to increase the frequency of updates.’ It also added ‘as an alternative, established suppliers in the small craft market will continue to be able to license data from the UKHO to serve those who do not wish to operate digitally. In a news release on its website, the RYA say it is ‘preparing its response to the consultation and would urge all recreational boaters and other leisure mariners responsible for safety of life at sea, to complete the survey’. Motorboat Owner spoke to chart manufacturer and supplier, Imray who said that it will continue to produce its entire range of charts, including its leisure atlas folios.

It said ‘As an official distributor of Admiralty charts, we’re disappointed that we may not be able to continue to offer Small Craft Folios to our customers, although we understand that feedback is being gathered before a final decision is made to withdraw them. We’ll continue to make available its larger format standard paper charts as print on demand. We’ll continue to expand our catalogue to offer a choice of formats, both paper as folded charts and atlases/ folios as well as digital, covering popular and less explored cruising areas.’

Chichester winter lock shut down IN BRIEF Chichester Marina’s lock is planned to shut in January for 8-12 weeks of modernisation and maintenance. Marina operator, Premier Marinas said ‘The lock was constructed in 1964, and whilst it has been carefully maintained since, time has caught up with it and it now requires upgrading to ensure that it is efficient, reliable and fit for the future.’

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October 2019

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

editorial@motorboatowner.co.uk

Parker 920 Explorer Max NEW BOAT Polish boat builder, Parker recently unveiled a new 920 Explorer model at La Rochelle’s Grand Pavois boat show.

The 32 foot outboard-powered model is a pilothouse sportsfisher with an ultralarge extended cockpit area offering plenty of seating to accommodate its 12-person capacity, while inside the wheelhouse it adopts the identical 5-berth layout as its sister the 790, offering a convertible dinette with a fixed double, a single underberth and separate toilet compartment forward. Its hull has Parker’s characteristic modified-V, two-stepped hull for optimum performance and fuel efficiency, and it will be powered by single or twin outboards up to 225hp.

Nationwide Cruising FoR Annual Berth Holders Up to 300 cruising nights at 11 stunning coastal marinas for all Dean & Reddyhoff and Quay Marinas annual berth holders.

deanreddyhoff.co.uk

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

1 2 3 4 5 6

Bangor Marina Rhu Marina Royal Quays Marina Conwy Marina Penarth Marina Portishead Marina

7 Portland Marina 8 Weymouth Marina 9 East Cowes Marina 10 Deacons Marina 11 Haslar Marina

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NEWS Marina of the Year Awards 2019 Quay Marinas

The winners of the 2019 Towergate Marina of the Year were announced

by The Yacht Harbour Association at September’s Southampton International Boat Show. Now in its 7th year, the awards recognise the best of 160 Gold Anchor accredited marinas around the world and the winning marinas are voted for by berth holders and visitors, and divided up into the UK Coastal, UK Inland, International and Superyacht categories. The catergory, UK Coastal Marina of the Year with over 250 berths, was won by Royal Quays Marina in North Shields, with Mayflower Marina in Plymouth named as runner up. The award for UK Coastal Marina of the Year with under 250 berths went to the host of the Poole Harbour Boat Show, Poole Quay Boat Haven, with Emsworth Yacht Harbour named as runner up. UK Inland Marina of the Year was won by Church Minshull Aqueduct Marina, International Marina of the Year by Marina de Vilamoura and Superyacht Marina of the Year

by IGY Marina Yacht Haven Grande.

RNLI Salcombe Lifeboat celebrates 150 years In September the RNLI Salcombe Lifeboat celebrated 150 years and there was a weekend of events in this Devonshire seaside town to mark the occasion. Taking months of planning, events included a royal visit by HRH the Duke of Kent, who unveiled two commemorative sculptures at Salcombe and neighbouring Kingsbridge, where the very first lifeboat was launched from Dodbrooke Quay in 1869. Each sculpture has a special time capsule box embedded into each plinth, containing items of Salcombe memorabilia donated by the public. There was also the spectacle of a fleet review of old and new lifeboats, a fundraising party and bazaar, and a special memorial service to honour the 13 lifeboat crew who perished in October 1916.

8

October 2019

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NEWS Thames emergency practice exercise During September, Harleyford Marina on the River Thames, played host to an emergency practice exercise. The mock scenario was passenger boat, ‘The Waterman’, suffering an explosion, resulting in 40 casualties. Organised by the University of Buckingham, the exercise saw over 250 people taking part, with emergency services arriving on the scene within a few minutes to find bodies in the water and passengers calling for help. Ambulance crews and 70 university students conducted triage on the injured, whilst fireman ensured the 66-foot vessel did not sink, setting up pumps and ferrying the injured to land, whilst police sorted out the melee, during which time the exercise had attracted quite an audience on the riverbank. Harleyford Estate, near Marlow in Buckinghamshire has over 300 moorings, a golf course and numerous residential lodges. Harleyford Marina Manager, Mark Pearce, told Motorboat Owner “We were very happy to accommodate this exercise on the estate, as any form of training helps the services and our staff in any such an event, which may be just around the corner. The exercise started at 7.30am and finished at 1pm and we had three fire engines, three search and rescue trucks and boats, three ambulances, a drone overhead, over 20 police and many support staff on site.”

Emergency services and students descended upon Harleyford’s Park moorings for the exercise 10

October 2019

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

editorial@motorboatowner.co.uk

Moorings Palma RYA Motor Cruising Course From October onwards, the charter operator, The Moorings, will be offering a new RYA Motorboat Cruising Course at its Palma base in Majorca, Spain.

Students will receive instruction aboard a 434PC power catamaran, earning a RYA Helmsman or RYA Day Skipper cruising certifications, while on a 7-day charter. Courses will be run by Moorings partner, Aigua Sea School, and will include five days instruction for up to five people. Prices start at £1,386 for two guests sharing a double cabin with breakfast and snacks.

Honda and Ranieri At this year’s Southampton Boat Show the outboard manufacturer, Honda, announced an exclusive UK outboard partnership with the Italian boat builder, Ranieri.

Ranieri produce a range of RIBS and sportsboats 17-38ft and, at the show, Honda detailed key models for the UK market, including three new Honda-powered centre console models with stepped hulls, the H19CC, H20CC and H22CC.

SUPPLY AND INSTALLATION OF VETUS BOW AND STERN THRUSTERS J C Marine Services specialize in the supply and installation of Vetus Bow and Stern Thrusters, with a lifetime warranty on GRP work, three years manufacturer’s warranty on all Vetus parts We have also designed and manufactured our own external stern box, ideal for twin stern drive vessels.

Vetus Approved Bow & Stern Thruster Installation Specialist Price List 2019 Approx size *25kgf Bow / Stern Thruster supplied & fitted £2750 / 18 ft - 28 ft *55kgf Bow / Stern Thruster supplied & fitted £3250 / 28 ft - 41 ft *75kgf Bow / Stern Thruster supplied & fitted £3750 / 34 ft - 51 ft *95kgf Bow / Stern Thruster supplied & fitted £4250 / 39 ft - 59 ft Installation includes Thruster, tunnel/pod, looms, control, battery, battery box, fuse and fuse holder, Isolator switch & battery recharge kit Nationwide service available

Thrust-It Remotes Compatible with: Vetus – SidePower – Craftsman £125 plus £5 p&p : DĂƌŝŶĞ ^ĞƌǀŝĐĞƐ hŶŝƚ Ϯϵ :ƵďŝůĞĞ ŶĚ >ĂǁĨŽƌĚ͕ ƐƐĞdž Kϭ ϭhZ :ŽŶ ϬϳϴϱϰϬϬϵϵϴϬ ŝŶĨŽΛũĐŵĂƌŝŶĞƐĞƌǀŝĐĞ͘ĐŽ͘ƵŬ ǁǁǁ͘ũĐŵĂƌŝŶĞƐĞƌǀŝĐĞ͘ĐŽ͘ƵŬ

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

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NEWS Dean & Reddyhoff and Quay Marinas Cruise Pass After announcing a merger in June, the marina operators, Dean & Reddyhoff and Quay Marinas have launched a new nationwide ‘Cruising Pass’, which allows its berth holders to cruise across its network of 11 marinas for up to 300 nights. Now claimed to be the ‘UK’s second largest coastal All together now, Dean & Reddyhoff and Quay marina group’, Managing Director Marina’s managers and MDs at Portishead of Quay Marinas, Simon Haigh, said “Our marina teams have been getting to know each other over the summer and we have loved welcoming berth holders who have been exploring all that we have to offer in our new group. We can’t wait to make it easier for our berth holders and visitors to get out and about on the water.”

Outboards for Orkney Due to ‘growing popularity of outboard power in the 25-35ft motorboat sector’, the British boat builder, Orkney Boats has launched outboard-powered versions of two of its large models. Historically powered by inboard shaft or sterndrive engines, the Pilothouse 25 and its flagship 27 are now being offered with single or twin four stroke outboards. The company say this offers several other key advantages including improved cockpit storage, otherwise taken up by engine space, and additional comfortable cockpit seating and easier access from astern. The builder also aluded to the fact that diesel outboard engines might also be on the horizon for its boats.

12

October 2019

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

editorial@motorboatowner.co.uk

Fairline Targa 45 GT & Open NEW BOATS British boatbuilder, Fairline Yachts has unveiled plans for a new Targa 45 GT, which will launch at Boot Düsseldorf in January 2020. The 45ft hardtop sportscruiser will have a powered sunroof and large patio doors, a tender garage and two or three cabin layout. It will be priced from £564,000 and powered by the new twin Volvo IPS600 D6-440 engines, with the option to upgrade to Volvo’s new IPS650 D6-480. Fairline Yachts recently unveiled the Targa 45 Open at the Southampton Boat Show, which is an update of the 43 Open introduced in 2018. The twocabin model now has a large sunbed over a tender garage and a larger cockpit seating area. It is priced from £499,000 with the same engine options as the GT.

Surf the web at high speed up to 15 miles offshore

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

NEWS 2019 Best of Boats Awards shortlist announced The Best of Boats Awards, known in the industry as the BOB awards, has announced its 2019 shortlist of finalists.

This year 22 shortlisted boats have been whittled down from hundreds of boats tested by the 19 jury members over the last 12 months. The jury is made up of boating journalists from Austria, Denmark, USA, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Russia, Slovenia, Spain, Croatia and the Ukraine, with Motorboat Owner’s Neale Byart representing the UK. The shortlisted boats are divided into categories ‘Best for’ fun, beginners, fishing, family and travel. The winners of each catergory will be announced at an awards ceremony at Berlin Boat and Fun on 21st November 2019.

The Parker 790 Explorer has been nominated in catergory, Best for Family

AWARDS NOMINEES Best for Beginners Bayliner VR6 Quicksilver Activ 675 Silver Tiger V Boats Voyager 700 Open Best for Fishing Beneteau Barracuda 9 Jeanneau Merry Fisher 605 Marlin V Boats Fishpro 54 Wellcraft 352 Fisherman Best for Family Jeanneau NC 37 Marex 360 CC Marian M800 Parker 790 Explorer Sealine C 390

Best for Fun Beneteau Flyer 8 Sundeck Frauscher 1414 Demon Air Greenline Neo Pardo 50 Zodiac Medline 7.5 Best for Travel Bali 4.3 MY Fountaine Pajot MY 40 Prestige 590 Silent Yachts 55

14

October 2019

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

editorial@motorboatowner.co.uk

Buckler’s Hard winter marina visitor closure Buckler’s Hard Yacht Harbour, on the Beaulieu River in Hampshire, will be closed to visiting boaters this winter for dredging and reconfiguration works. The 198-berth marina is having a £2-million pound renovation and the visitor closure will be taking place between 23rd September until 31st January 2020, with limited mooring availability thereafter until the 31st March. Swinging moorings will be available to visitors but with ‘limited landing facilities for tenders’. Boaters can keep up to date with the developments and any restrictions via the marinas ‘Notices to Mariners’ web page.

DIARY DATES Scotland’s Boat Show 11th-13th October Solent Boat Jumble 6th October Berlin Boat & Fun 21st-24th November 2019 Boot Düsseldorf 18-26th January 2020 Horning Boat Show 2nd May 2020 Brundall Boat Show 16th May 2020 Poole Harbour Boat Show 12-18th June 2020 Southampton Boat Show 11th-20th September 2020 Click any of the above for more info Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

Correction In the practical ‘Fitting a bowthuster remote control’ feature, in the September issue of Motorboat Owner, the product’s name was incorrect and should have been ‘ThrustIT’. The web address was also incorrect and should be www.jcmarineservice.co.uk.

0800 310 2100

Marine Electronics in stock for immediate dispatch.

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

sales@mdsbattery.co.uk

15

NEWS Barrus champions Maritime Engineer course Marine engine and equipment supplier, Barrus is helping train ‘the marine engineers of the future’ by supporting a Maritime Engineer Technician course held at South Essex College. The course focuses on engines and systems rather than boat building, with practical experience of mechanical, electrical, hydraulic systems and welding, and is run by Marine Engineering Lecturer, Simon Lofting, who served for 20 years in the marine police. First introduced in September 2018, the course came about after Thames-based boating employers raised concerns that marine engineering courses were only available in Southampton, the Isle of Wight and Hull, and South Essex College was approached to build a dedicated course for the south east of the UK. Barrus has donated inboard and outboard engines and spare parts to the college to support the course. With a growing demand for marine engineers and advances in technological engine management systems, the Bicester-based company also has a purpose-built Training School which is used to facilitate a majority of courses, training lecturers like Simon in the UK and Ireland.

Jeanneau Cap Camarat 12.5 WA NEW BOAT In September, French builder Jeanneau unveiled the new flagship to its Cap Camarat range, the 12.5 Walkaround. The 39ft outboard-powered model is fitted with a T-top, is equipped with a side access gate and spacious forward and aft seating areas, while inside it offers a full-beam double mid cabin. Outboard power is up to 900hp, with twin 450hp or triple 300hp giving up to 50 knots. The model will premier at the Paris Boat Show this December.

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October 2019

NEWS Essex family broker celebrates 50 years The family-run, Essexbased boat broker, Boats. co.uk, is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. The company was started by David Barke in 1969, who sold used boats and trailers at a base in South Woodham Ferrers, before moving his company to a Maldon boatyard in the late 70s.

Then in 1986, he purchased Paglesham Boatyard on the River Roach and, working with his sons James, Nick and Guy, established company ‘Essex Boatyards’, also acquiring Arvor and Fairline new boat dealerships. The company, now joined by a fourth son, David Barke (Junior), had outgrown its Paglesham boatyard and purchased Essex Marina, pictured below, on Wallasea Island in 2005. The move enabled the family to run concurrently a large marina and sell new and used boats. In 2014 it rebranded as Boats.co.uk, with James Barke and Nick Barke now Directors, and today the company is the agent for Princess, Williams, Parker Boats and Arvor with additional branches in Poole, Spain and Mallorca. Despite first planning to retire 20 years ago, David Barke (Senior) is still actively involved in the business, working with his four sons six days a week to support the business. Most recently the company moved into purpose built, waterfront premises which includes a chandlery and Williams showroom.

18

October 2019

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

editorial@motorboatowner.co.uk

Premier Marinas 25th anniversary UK Marina operator, Premier Marinas was celebrating its 25th anniversary at this year’s Southampton Boat Show. Founded in 1994 with a portfolio of just Port Solent pictured and Chichester Marina, the company is now responsible for nine marinas along the UK’s south coast, including its most recent acquisition, Noss on Dart.

Motorboat Owner Š Digital Marine Media Ltd

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NEWS

Southampton Boat Show 2019 REVIEW This September, over 600 marine brands gathered at Southampton’s waterfront Mayflower Park for the annual Southampton Boat Show, and it is being hailed ‘one of the best ever’. Sponsored

by Borrow a Boat, this year’s boating extravaganza saw uncharacteristic weather, with almost no rain and wall-towall sunshine for 9 of the 10 days, which is exceptional. Consequently it seems the show welcomed more visitors than last year. According to show organiser, British Marine, the event saw 103,000 visitors across the 10 days, which is a rise

of 5% on the previous year. Canine crew members were welcomed to this year’s show, with many spotted participating in ‘boat hunting’ out on the pontoons and onshore. It is also being described as the ‘most environmentally friendly show yet’, with new network of water refill points and the removal of plastic bottles from catering outlets.

The event was opened by Olympic rower and Strictly Come Dancing star, James Cracknell OBE, and TV star, Lucy Mecklenburgh. Other personalities spotted at the show included Eddie Jordan,

20

October 2019

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

editorial@motorboatowner.co.uk

award-winning chefs, Paul Ainsworth and James Martin, and Ben Fogle with his dog, ‘Storm’, and stars from TV show, Love Island. There were a few new features this year, including a waterfront dining and watering hole, the Quarterdeck. This provided a marina view for any on-thewater action, which this year included rescue demonstrations and Honda model boat racing. Other water-based activities included Try-a-Dive in a purpose-built dive tank, Try-a-Boat and Get Afloat attractions. Out on the water, the purpose built marina was once again the spectacle Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

of the show and played host to over 300 boats, many of which making their show debuts. Onshore outdoor stalls and Ocean Hall were packed with boats, equipment and services, and with show deals to be had, visitors were getting into a shopping frenzy. There was also the obligatory Guinness Bar and a schedule of daily talks at the Foredeck Stage by the likes of Dee Caffari MBE, Tom Cunliffe and global sailing social media influencers, ‘Sailing Uma’, who were also welcoming visitors aboard their boat at the show. Next years show will be held 11-20 September 2020.

21

NEWBOATS We trawled the aisles and pontoons to find you the latest in boats, gear and technology. We’ll start with some of the best new boats at the show

Dale 40 Aft Cabin

PRICE FROM

£757,579

This new 40 footer from Dale could well be a contender for our ‘boat of the show’. Inside you are cosseted in a world of wood and leather and the layout of the show model provides two sumptuous cabins, each with a large en-suite toilet compartment, a large saloon with inside helm console and the external helm above the aft cabin. The 40 is also available in an aft cockpit version and both models offer a choice of engine options ranging from twin 340hp up to twin 480hp, all D6 from Volvo, to provide a top speed of up to 28 knots. The options list may well tip the final price over £800k, but you do at least get Nelson’s impeccable seakeeping as standard.

LOA: 13.48m Beam: 4.23m www.dalenelson.co.uk

Zodiac Medline 7.5 RIB

PRICE FROM

£65,957

Zodiac has extended its Medline range of RIBs with a new 24ft model. The 7.5 comes with removable tubes with various colour choices, an optional fibreglass arch with bimini cover and an under seat galley unit incorporating a sink and optional cooker and fridge. An aft dinette and forward sunpad provides plenty of sociable options, with easy access between areas down both sides of the helm console unit. Storage around the boat is excellent and power is provided by a single outboard of up to 300hp.

LOA: 7.34m Beam: 2.9m Displacement: 1,150kg (ex engine) www.zodiac-nautic.com

22

October 2019

SOUTHAMPTON BOAT SHOW SPECIAL

Rodman 1090 Evolution

PRICE FROM

£215,000

Spanish boat builder, Rodman’s, latest model was on display courtesy of UK dealer RBS Marine.

The 1090 Evolution is, as the name suggests, an evolution of a previous model, in this case the 1040. It comes with all the evolution features to bring a fresh, modern look that will be rolled out across the whole range. The 1090 is available in hardtop or flybridge versions and comes with a two cabin (one double and one twin), single spacious toilet layout, with a galley up in the wheelhouse. Deck space is generous with a large uncluttered cockpit and wide, deep-set side decks with easy access from the wheelhouse via a sliding door adjacent to the helm. Power is supplied by a choice of twin 270 or 300HP Volvo Penta D4 engines on shafts.

LOA: 10.7m Beam: 3.44m Displacement: 8,660kg www.rbsmarine.com

Corsiva Coaster 640SC

PRICE FROM

£31,500

As far as affordable dayboats go, Southampton did not disappoint. The Coaster 640SC from Corsiva is one of two 640 models, the other being a Sun Deck version. The SC, standing for Sports Cruiser, offers a fairly standard open dayboat layout that incorporates a bow dinette, centre console style helm with access forward down both sides and a deep, safe aft cockpit with some clever, rear-facing, transom seat arrangements, but it also has a small, cuddy-style cabin that, while short on space for staying in, will offer fantastic storage and a place for an onboard toilet, if required.

Power comes from a single outboard of up to 175hp. LOA: 6.2m Beam: 2.45m Displacement: 1,200kg (ex engine) www.valwyattmarine.co.uk

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

23

NEWBOATS Viking 31

PRICE FROM

£155,046

The Viking 31 offers something a little different from this Essex-based builder.

Based on the popular Alphacraft 31, Viking has revamped the model and given it a modern twist to deliver a contemporary inland cruiser with four berths, a private and spacious aft cabin with separate toilet and shower cubicles and a saloon/dinette area that can be opened up to the elements thanks to a twin sliding roof system. Propulsion comes from a single 40hp Yanmar diesel and standard features include diesel fired heating, a 1600W inverter, holding tank and a fully equipped galley, including a full sized fridge. Options include a bow thruster, anchor winch, teak decking and pushpit/pulpit. LOA: 9.53m Beam: 3.69m www.tingdeneboatsales.net

Jeanneau Merry Fisher 1095 Fly

PRICE FROM

£209,188

We have been thinking long and hard about it, and we cannot come up with another outboard-powered boat with a fully-fledged flybridge, which makes the 1095 a bit of a first. We have tested the standard version of this twin outboard powered boat so it will be interesting to see how the flybridge changes its dynamics. We know that it adds around £20k to the price, 500kg to the weight and it gives this already roomy, three-cabin, boat even more space, with seating, sunpad and storage solutions all available ‘up top’. Down below, the 1095 Fly delivers an identical layout, and all the same features, as the standard 1095.

LOA: 10.45m Beam: 3.37m Displacement: 5,300kg (ex engine) www.jeanneau.com

24

October 2019

SOUTHAMPTON BOAT SHOW SPECIAL

Futura 36

PRICE FROM

£135,000

The Futura 36 from Cobra Yachts is a Polish built inland and estuary cruiser with distinctive looks, attractive price and a Tardis like interior. Inside you get a family friendly wheelhouse with a choice of two, three or even four cabins. The show model was built with three double berths in three cabins and two fully equipped toilet compartments. Above the wheelhouse the 36 comes with a sundeck as standard but can be upgraded to a flybridge with second helm and seating, if required. Power comes from a single shaft drive diesel with options ranging from 80hp up to 250hp. Top speed of the 150hp model on display is said to be around 10 knots.

LOA: 11.0m Beam: 3.5m Displacement: 7,500kg www.yorkmarina.co.uk

Targa 25.1GT & Sargo 31 Aft Door

PRICE FROM

£165,660

Two boats making an appearance at the show may have looked familiar, but were both sporting some new features. The Sargo UK team were giving the PRICE FROM £262,000 British public their first look at the new ‘aft door’ version of the 31, while the guys at Wessex Marine were showing the Targa 25.1GT, an outboardpowered version of the popular 25.1. The Sargo 31 aft door comes with a redesigned wheelhouse layout that sees 10cm added to the length, the galley moved from the helm to the aft starboard side of the wheelhouse, and access to the aft cabin from the port side to the central companionway. Engine options include single or twin Volvo diesels with the new DP-I drives. The Targa 25.1GT is identical to the inboard 25.1, bar the twin 200hp Mercury outboards that are said to deliver speeds of up to 45 knots, and offers all the usual practical Targa features, plus a large aft lazarette that once housed the inboard engine. Targa LOA: 8.38m Beam: 2.88m www.wessexmarine.co.uk Sargo LOA: 9.96m Beam: 3.30m www.sargoboats.co.uk Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

25

NEWBOATS Cranchi T43 Eco Trawler

PRICE FROM

£626,200

The Cranchi Trawler has been designed to offer economical and comfortable cruising at 8 knots, with a range of up to 700nm from its 1,400 litre tank, while retaining the ability to hit speeds of up to 18 knots from its semi-displacement hull and twin IPS 500 drive systems. Inside you can choose a two or three cabin layout with the former providing a full width VIP mid cabin. The bow master cabin is very spacious and comes with private ensuite facilities and the wheelhouse cum saloon is light, airy and well appointed. Outside you get a huge flybridge, wide side decks and a lovely foredeck that includes seating and sun loungers. LOA: 13.8m Beam: 4.37m Displacement: 13,698kg www.tingdeneboatsales.net

Seaward 27

PRICE FROM

£181,724

If you are looking for a compact cruiser with the capability of boats twice its size, then look no further than the new Seaward 27. With a double vee berth forward, a separate toilet compartment, a further single berth in the wheelhouse and a galley that can be either in the lower forward cabin or in the wheelhouse, the 27 delivers everything you could need for extended cruising, and that’s without even mentioning the semi displacement hull with three quarter length keel that should provide impeccable sea-keeping and assured close quarters manoeuvring. Power is supplied by twin shaftdriven 110hp Yanmar diesel engines to provide a top speed of around 18 knots and a comfortable cruise of 14 knots. LOA: 8.32m Beam: 2.69m Displacement: 3,050kg www.seawardboat.com

26

October 2019

SOUTHAMPTON BOAT SHOW SPECIAL

AMP Oceancraft

PRICE EX ENG

£156,800

If you want something a little different, you needed to look no further than the AMP stand. Two models from the three boat range were on display, the 7.1 and 8.4, and what makes them special is their amphibious ability, courtesy of a four wheel drive system. The 7.1 can be fitted with a single 150 to 200hp outboard on the transom, while the 8.4 is capable of taking a single outboard of up to 400hp. A separate 35hp Briggs and Stratton electronic fuel injected inboard petrol engine runs the hydraulic pump that provides drive for the wheels, which are steerable and fully retractable when underway to ensure they don’t compromise the on-the-water performance.

7.1 LOA: 7.0m Beam: 2.5m Displacement: 1,300kg (ex engine) 8.4 LOA: 8.37m Beam: 2.5m Displacement: 1,450kg (ex engine) www.idealboat.com

Nimbus T9

PRICE CIRCA

£120,048

We have already tested the C9, so were very keen to jump onboard the new T9 to see how it compares. Built on the same hull as the C (commuter) version, the T (tender) model is an open cockpit, dayboat cruiser that is available with or without a T-Top and with both outboard and sterndrive propulsion systems. Down below there is a cuddy cabin and separate toilet compartment that are both spacious, albeit lacking in full standing headroom.

Outside you get a layout that is very easy and safe to move around and delivers plenty of seating, together with a galley unit. The nicely laid out helm has two supportive bucket style seats set behind a protective windscreen that should provide a good driving experience. Outboard options, all Mercury Verado, range from 250hp up to 350hp, while inboard options comprise two Volvo Penta V8 petrol units of 300 and 350hp.

LOA: 9.35m Beam: 2.95m Displacement: 2,810kg www.offshorepowerboats.co.uk

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

27

NEWBOATS PRICE FROM

Oryx 379

£372,000

Oryx is a new name on the British boating scene, but is one of the brand names that come under the Gulf Craft umbrella. Gulf Craft is a builder from the UAE who are, perhaps, better known over here for their superyachts and large expedition style boats from the Majesty and Nomad ranges. The Oryx 379 is the first of the next generation of Oryx models that have features and styling more commensurate with the British market, and price tags that are a tad more palatable. Offering a US style large dayboat layout, the 50-knot, triple 300hp outboard-powered 379 also manages to fit a full four-berth cabin with galley and toilet facilities down below and, despite the low profile deck, delivers all this with excellent headroom. Two internal layouts are available, with or without a separate forward cabin, and you can also specify twin outboards or inboards diesels, if you can find the surprisingly large amount of extra cash to go for the latter. Outboard options, all Mercury Verado, range from 250hp up to 350hp, while inboard options comprise two Volvo Penta V8 petrol units of 300 and 350hp. LOA: 12.02m Beam: 3.65m Displacement: 6,100kg www.oryx-yachts.com

Prestige 420

PRICE FROM

£422,400

Prestige’s latest model is a revamp of its previous popular 42 footer and comes with a new, traditional style, full-width midships master cabin with ensuite facilities thanks to a redesign of the interior, which sees the aft midships cabin entrance removed in favour of a typical 42 foot flybridge layout with all cabin entrances from a forward lower companionway. The bow VIP cabin is very spacious and also has ensuite facilities, this time to the day toilet. Exterior space is good, with plenty of seating on the flybridge and a nice sunpad feature on the foredeck. Interestingly, Prestige has dropped IPS in favour of V drives with power supplied by twin Cummins 380 or 425hp diesels. LOA: 13.6m Beam: 4.1m Displacement: 10,400kg www.prestige-yachts.com

28

October 2019

SOUTHAMPTON BOAT SHOW SPECIAL

Quicksilver Activ 605 CR

PRICE FROM

£36,943

Anyone bemoaning the lack of quality entry-level boats at Southampton must have clearly missed the Quicksilver stand. With over 10 models ashore, and a further couple on the water, there was a good selection of the 30 odd models available from this prolific builder. The latest offering is the 605 Activ Cruiser, a smart looking cuddy that is also available in bowrider layout. The Cruiser version offers two berths for overnighting and a sociable cockpit with seating for up to six. Power is supplied by a single Mercury outboard of between 115 and 150hp, and the 605 comes with an extra large fuel tank as standard for extended time on the water.

LOA: 6.02m Beam: 2.34m Displacement: 1,074kg (ex engine) www.barrus.co.uk PRICE FROM

Ring Ranger 25

£87,538

Iconic British Boat Builder Ring was showing the new Ranger 25 Vengeance at the show. Offering a blend of the performance that Ring is known for, together with a touch of high-end luxury, the Ranger 25 is a centre console boat that is a little different from the norm.

With a 400hp Mercury Racing outboard on the transom, the 25 on display should hit speeds in excess of 50 knots, but the 25 is more than just a speed machine. With a separate toilet compartment in the helm console, it could also serve as a performance family day boat. The 25 Vengeance is available in two versions, a sport version that ironically comes with a smaller 225hp motor, or the more expensive and performance orientated ‘Luxury’ version as shown.

LOA: 7.75m Max Hp: 500 www.ringpowercraft.co.uk

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

29

CUTTING

EDGE

Digital Yacht GPS160 Tri Nav

The GPS160 Tri Nav is a new highperformance positioning sensor that uses GPS, Glonass and the new Galileo satellite system for exceptional accuracy with built in redundancy. The unit promises accuracy to below 1m and outputs at 18Hz for a smoother plotter track display. The unit outputs NMEA 0183 and is available in a USB variant for PC, Mac and Linux applications. For NMEA2000 networks, the GPS160 comes bundled with a Digital Yacht NMEA2000 Gateway meaning the GPS160 can be used for position fixing in more or less any application.

Price £150 www.digitalyacht.co.uk

Selva

A visit to the Selva stand had no fewer than three new models to look at. The Amberjack 25 is a 25hp two-cylinder SOHC EFI engine that is available in both manual and electric start versions. At just 57kg, it is 20% lighter than the outgoing 25hp model and a lower ratio gearbox provides better bottom end grunt. The Spearfish 100 is a four-cylinder motor with an increased capacity, and a lighter weight, over the old model at 1832cc and 162kg. The Spearfish is also available in 80hp and 100XSR versions, the latter giving slightly more power than a standard 100. The last new engine is the new 200hp, the Sei Whale. This EFI four-cylinder 16 valve DOHC 2.8 litre engine replaces the old 200hp six-cylinder 3.3 litre motor and is the largest Selva outboard available on an engine only basis. It offers fly-by-wire control and a sharper power curve leading to better acceleration, better response and improved fuel consumption.

Price: Amberjack 25 from £3,689 Spearfish 100 from £10,499 Sei Whale 200 from £18,999 www.selvamarine.co.uk

30

October 2019

SOUTHAMPTON BOAT SHOW SPECIAL

Optio Fuel Flow Sensor

Sometimes, you have to ignore all the lavish product launches and pace the halls and walkways of the show to find the really interesting new products. This was the case with the Optio Fuel Flow Sensor, a clever little gadget that sits in the fuel line and wirelessly delivers real time fuel flow data to our smart device using Bluetooth. As well as current fuel use, the app will also provide your current range, using a ring around your position for an easy visual reference, and an optimal range based on running at your boat’s best economy. The device is very simple to fit and works with both petrol and diesel, but you will need two units for any system with a flow and return line. Price: £379.00 www.interactio.co

Seadoo Fish Pro 155

With an increase in PWC ownership, and a rise in small boat fishing, it was surely only a matter of time before the two combined. The result is the Seadoo Fish Pro 155 from BRP. This PWC comes with a 1500cc Rotax engine, just like other models, but combines it with a few other features not normally found on such craft. Notably you get a Garmin fish finder, a fishing seat, a 51 litre cooler, four rod holders and an extended platform. It uses a quick release system for the aft cooler and storage unit that means they can be easily removed when not fishing, and even replaced with an extra fuel tank to supplement the standard 70 ltr tank. It can carry up to three people and has a total of over 150 litres of onboard storage.

Price from £14,598 uk.sea-doo.com

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

31

CUTTING

EDGE

Garmin GPSMAP86

Garmin has launched not one, but two new handheld GPS units, The 86s and 86i both come with integrated Navionics data, but can also use optional Garmin BlueChart g3 cartography too. They can both connect to onboard Garmin instruments to stream real time boat data direct to the 86 and they both have 3-inch sunlightreadable colour displays, are water resistant to IPX7, float and are capable of acting as remote controls for onboard Garmin autopilots or Fusion entertainment systems. The 86i offers additional communication features, thanks to its inbuilt InReach two-way messaging system. This allows users to send messages via the Iridium satellite network and requires an additional subscription.

Price from £349.99 www.garmin.com/marine

Spectro Jet-Care oil analysis kit

Analysing the engine oil on your own boat, or a potential new purchase, can give you advance warning of excessive wear or save you from making a huge financial mistake. Spectro Jet-Care has teamed up with Force 4 Chandlery to offer quick and affordable oil analysis for boaters. Each analysis kit costs £65 and provides you with a sample bottle, an extraction tube, a form to complete with as much information about your oil and engine as possible and a freepost label to send the oil to the lab. Oil extraction is done using a pump, that costs an additional £40, that can be used for all future tests. Tests can be used for engine, gearbox or hydraulic oil and will show water or fuel contamination, oxidisation or soot loading, or particle contamination due to wear. Price £64.95 per test plus £39.95 for pump www.force4.co.uk 32

October 2019

SOUTHAMPTON BOAT SHOW SPECIAL

Orca

Orca outboards are probably not a name you have heard of and are, in fact, another brand coming out of the prolific outboard factories in China. The range from 2.5 to 15hp was on display at the show, but the one that caught our eye was the 6hp propane model. Gas powered outboards are said to be cleaner, smoother and more responsive than petrol powered models and are said to be allowed in some places were petrol is banned. The Orca 6 is a single cylinder motor that weighs 26kg and is said to operate at full throttle for fourteen and a half hours from a 13kg gas cylinder. It can use LPG, or BioLPG for an even cleaner burn, with a propane content of at least 65%. There are other compact LPG outboards on the market, ie Tohastu, Mercury and Lehr, but the Orca does appear to offer unbeatable value for money.

Price £945.00 www.boatworld.com

Ilver Boat RIB Bags

Anyone with an open boat, RIB or even tender will find a use for something from the Ilver Boat accessories range.

It consists of various heavy-duty PVC storage bags, including a bow-shaped model that incorporates an anchor locker section and other examples with inbuilt rod holders. There are no claims that they are fully waterproof, but these organisers would certainly protect your possessions from a light shower or a bit of spray, which on an otherwise fully open boat are likely to get damaged. There are small and large bow bags, each with or without rod holders and two tube-mounted organisers for inflatables, all available in a range of colours.

Price from: £69.95 www.specialistsmallcraft.co.uk Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

33

CUTTING

EDGE

Vesper Marine Cortex

VHF re-imagined, was the tag line when Vesper Marine showed us the new Cortex, and having seen the product, they are not wrong. Looking more like a smartphone than a VHF, the Cortex brings the humble VHF very firmly into the 21st century.

The Cortex is the world’s first VHF with wireless touchscreen handsets, built in class B+ AIS transponder and remote vessel monitoring. One of the many features this brings is automatic collision risk alerts with quick, easy access to information about the threat and a simple way of communicating with the other vessel. There is so much to say about the Cortex, that we will dedicate some proper space to it later, by which time it promises to have evolved even further with more features, capabilities and onboard Apps. Price from £1,869 www.vespermarine.com

Suzuki DF300B

If having only one 300hp outboard in your line-up is simply not enough, what do you do? The answer, it appears, is to launch a second one to run alongside the first. Normally when a second-generation model is launched, a B version in Suzuki’s terminology, the A model is dropped. In the case of the 300B that is not the case. The DF300A is a single prop, four-litre V6 engine that weighs in at 290kg, while the B version is basically a downgraded 350hp motor, which means it is a 4.4 litre V6 with twin counter rotating propellers and comes in at 330kg. No price has been announced yet, but we expect it to sit somewhere in the middle of the DF300A and DF325A, making it circa £26k Price £TBA www.marine.suzuki.co.uk

34

October 2019

SOUTHAMPTON BOAT SHOW SPECIAL

Wallas Spartan Twin Air

The new Spartan 4.54kW diesel heater from Finnish company Wallas is ideal for boats of around 40ft. It offers super quiet running, low fuel and electricity consumption and offers better control.

Launched to replace the 40DT model, the Spartan also offers Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity for control via a smartphone and the Wallas App that allows you to control your heating from anywhere onboard, see the usage hours and number of starts, receive service reminders and troubleshoot problems.

Price £1,955.45 www.kuranda.co.uk

Mercury 450

It only seems like yesterday when the first 300hp outboard was launched, and yet at Southampton we witnessed a new model packing 50% more horses again. The Mercury Racing 450R is the world’s most powerful production outboard and has been designed, as the name suggests, for high performance applications. The 4.6 litre supercharged V8 engine produces 40% more torque than the Mercury 400R and, at 313kg, is said to be over 130kg lighter than any other outboard rated at 400hp or more. It is also compact, sharing the same cowl as the 300R model. All this performance comes at a price, but it is a price worth paying if you want the biggest and the best. Price £46,000 www.barrus.co.uk Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

35

INBOX

@

Bowthruster remote I was very interested in the article about how to fit a bowthruster remote control in the September issue. I’m often single handed or with inexperienced crew onboard and mooring up can be difficult especially when away from the helm. I wasn’t sure if the control was suitable for my bow thruster so called Jon at JC Marine Service who made some enquiries and assured me it would work. It does, fitting was as easy as you indicated and it’s made a big difference to my boat handling. Mike Rourke I read with interest your article on fitting a bowthruster remote. Whilst £149 is a lot less than buying a kit from any of the thruster manufacturers that offer them there is an even less expensive option. On the Internet you can buy winch remote controls for around £10 which do the same job. OK you do not get the little loom for the wiring up but it is fairly straight forward if you are at all electrically knowledgeable. The receiver looks very similar with four wires and short antenna.The only downside is the buttons are ‘north south’ rather than east west. Since fitting one on my boat several other boaters from my marina have bought one after they saw mine. Graham Lison Editor comments: I’m glad to hear that our feature has inspired some of you to fit one of these, they really are great bits of kit. While a cheaper option may sound even more tempting, make sure you understand what you are doing on the electrical side of things. I know of one boat that nearly went up in smoke after incorrectly wiring a remote switch. The pre-wired remotes from JC may cost a bit more, but the simplicity and peace of mind is definitely worth it.

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October 2019

email:

editorial@motorboatowner.co.uk

BACK

IN

TIME

US builder, Bayliner’s 1995 ‘Classic’ brochure and details for its 28 Command Bridge

10% off selected inflatables plus 5% off selected outboards*

15% off package RRP *Discount applies when bought as a package

T: 01869 363690 marine.chandlery@barrus.co.uk www.barrus.co.uk Talamex � Quicksilver � SunSport - Supported by Barrus

PRACTICAL

INVESTIGATION

AIS Class B+

A IS (Automatic Identification System)

Many leisure boats choose to fit a receive is something that we have looked at in only unit, which means they can see depth before. It is not new, but it has gone information about vessels transmitting through some changes recently that many AIS data, but do not transmit any boaters may not be aware of. If you want information themselves. AIS has, until the full run down of AIS, including how to recently, been categorised as Class A and install one, please see our July 2015 issue, Class B. The former is typically installed but for a quick overview this is what AIS in commercial vessels, while the latter is is, and how it works. considered to be ‘leisure’ AIS. Class A kit Using VHF radio frequencies, AIS is more costly (circa £2000), transmits on transmitters send out information a higher power, transmits information about the boat they are fitted to. more frequently and transmits more This information will include fixed detailed information. It also takes priority information, such as the boat’s name, size over Class B transmissions. Class A uses and MMSI number, as well as real time SOTDMA (Self-Organized Time-Division information on the boat’s speed, direction Multiple Access) technology while Class of travel, destination and navigational B kit uses CSTDMA (Carrier Sense Timestatus. Transponders are compulsory on Division Multiple Access) technology. commercial vessels over a certain size, The difference is that with CSTDMA but can be fitted voluntarily to any vessel, kit, the unit will not transmit until it including the smallest leisure dayboat. can determine that no other stations are 38

October 2019

State-of-the-art 2G, premium synthetic decking with enhanced and lifelike graining 30% cooler underfoot and 30% lighter in weight than its traditional counterpart

Why settle for less?

30 colour combinations available from stock

0345 812 1010 sales@sea-dek.co.uk www.sea-dek.co.uk Motorboat Owner Š Digital Marine Media Ltd

39

PRACTICAL

How does it work? AIS transmits data over the VHF airwaves using three different technologies

transmitting, effectively waiting for a quiet period to get its data out, and then waiting at least 30 seconds after transmission before trying again. The latter, simply looks for the next available slot and uses that. This effectively means that Class A units will transmit typically every 2-3 seconds while Class B is every 30 seconds (assuming it can find an empty slot).

Within the last year there have been some AIS transponders launched that are labelled as AIS Class B+, or sometimes AIS Class B SOTDMA. Digital Yacht’s AIT2500 is one such unit. We spoke with Digital Yacht’s CEO, Nick Heyes, to get the low down on AIS Class B+. This is what he said: “The new Class B+, often referred to as ‘Class B SOTDMA’ or ‘Class B 5W’, has been defined to bridge the gap between Class A and Class B transponders, offering some clear advantages for some types of vessels and applications.

Class B+ uses the same SOTDMA technology as Class A, and therefore has the same priority when it comes to reserving a time slot, guaranteeing that it will always be able to transmit, even in busy AIS congested waters. For fast moving vessels this is important as a missed transmission can result in a vessel

moving a long distance before it next manages to send out its information.

Another feature that the new Class B+ technology has taken from Class A, is the increased and automatic changing of transmission rates depending upon speed. Unlike Class A, the update rate is unaffected by whether the vessel is maneuvring, but as the vessels speed increases, the number of transmissions increases so that other vessels get a clearer and more up to date view of where the boat is. For slow moving vessels the increased update rates of Class B+ are not so important, but a fast power boat travelling at say 23 knots, will move 360 metres in 30 seconds, which is the update rate of a normal Class B transponder. On a Class B+ vessel travelling at 23 knots or more, the update rate is 5 seconds, so (using the above example) only 60 metres would be moved between updates. Finally, Class B+ transponders have a higher power transmission, 5 Watts instead of 2 Watts, and this not only increases the range over which the vessel’s transmission will be received, assuming good antenna height and performance, but it also significantly improves the AIS Satellite reception, enabling global tracking”.

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October 2019

Comparison of AIS Classes CLASS A, B AND B+ FUNCTIONALITY Function

Class A

Class B+

Class B

Transmit Power

12.5W

5W

2W

Transmit Rate

Up to every 2-3 secs

Up to every 5 secs

Every 30 secs

Minimum Keyboard + Display (MKD)

YES

NO

NO

Technology

SOTDMA

SOTDMA

CSTDMA

Guaranteed Time Slot Allocation

YES

YES

NO

Voyage Data

YES

NO

NO

External GPS Connection

YES

NO

NO

Price (approx)

£2000

£650

£500

“As can be seen from the table above, in normal operation a Class A transponder transmits at a much higher power than a Class B. In ‘real-life’ terms, a well installed Class B transponder should be able to transmit up to 7-8nm whilst a Class A transponder maybe seen as far as 20-25nm away. With its 5W output, a Class B+ will be better than a Class B (2W), but not x2.5 better, typically 10-12nm should be seen”.

“As illustrated in the following table, Class B and B+ transmit the same data, a subset of the data transmitted by a Class A transponder”.

CLASS A B AND B+ TRANSMITTED DATA

Data Transmitted

Class A

Class B and B+

MMSI + Vessel Name + Call Sign

YES

YES

Position + COG + SOG

YES

YES

True Heading

YES

YES

Rate Of Turn

YES

NO

Nav Status

YES

NO

IMO Number

YES

NO

Type of Vessel

YES

YES

Vessel Dimensions

YES

YES

ETA + Destination + Draught

YES

NO

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

41

PRACTICAL

“Finally, the table below shows the different data transmit rates of the three systems.

As can be seen, Class A transponders have several different transmit rates, based on speed, maneuvering and navigational status, whereas the Class B+ transmission rate is purely based on speed. Comparing Class B+ to the original Class B, it can be seen that the simple two update rates (underway or stationary) of the original Class B has been expanded and increased in Class B+. For any boat that regularly travels at over 15 knots, and particularly for boats capable of travelling at over 23 knots, the increased transmission rates offered by Class B+ are an important benefit”.

CLASS A B AND B+ TRANSMITTED DATA Ship’s Dynamic Conditions

Class A

Class B+

Class B

Ship at Anchor or Moored

3 mins

3 mins

3 mins

SOG 0-2 knots

10 secs

3 mins

3 mins

SOG 2-14 knots

10 secs

30 secs

30 secs

SOG 2-14 knots and changing course

3 secs

30 secs

30 secs

SOG 14-23 knots

6 secs

15 secs

30 secs

SOG 14-23 knots and changing course

2 secs

15 secs

30 secs

SOG > 23 knots

2 secs

5 secs

30 secs

Ship Static Information

6 mins

6 mins

6 mins

So while there are still options to simply receive AIS, and you can do so for as little as £100, the benefits of transmitting your own information are obvious. A better chance of being seen by the big ships and giving them a clearer indication of what you are up to is the obvious one. Standard Class B transponders are still widely available, and will continue to be for the foreseeable future. For as little as £400, with prices still coming down, the savings made by choosing a receive-only unit are becoming negligible. The question now is more along the lines of do I fit a standard Class B transponder, or do I go with Class B+? Budget is probably going to define which way you go, but with Class B+ units now available for under £600, the gap is closing all the time. If you have already made the decision that you want to be seen, it might make sense to fit the kit that gives you the very best chance. With Class B+ using SODTMA technology, it seems to us that the extra cost is a price worth paying.

WITH THANKS Thank you to Nick Heyes at Digital Yacht for his assistance in the investigation.

For more information or AIS products visit www.digitalyacht.co.uk 42

October 2019

Capelli Top Line 650

By Alex Smith

44

October 2019

BOAT TEST

Length (LOA): 6.55m / 21ft 6in Beam: 2.67m / 8ft 9in Weight: 800kg Fuel capacity: 220 litres People capacity: 12 Max power: 175 hp Engine as tested: Yamaha F175 Other engine options: Yamaha F150, F200 Price from £36,595 Price as tested £53,995

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

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B

uilt in northern Italy, just a stone’s throw from the region’s famous lakes, Capelli’s modern fleet is so varied, it could easily confuse the unwary.

In addition to 17 hard boats from 13 to 31 feet, there are four ‘Easy Line’ RIBs and a trio of ‘Fishing Line’ RIBs, plus ten ‘Tender Line’ RIBs and seven deckintensive ‘Work Line’ RIBs. We then get to the traditional meat and drink of the RIB range, where 17 ‘Top Line’ Tempest craft from 4.3 to 10m in length give the recreational RIBster plenty to aim at, before Capelli’s prodigious ‘Luxury Line’ Tempest craft (the 38, 40, 44 and 50) take

their place at the pinnacle of the fleet with all the raucous catwalk bravado they can muster.

That’s more than 50 craft in all, encompassing everything from tillersteered inflatables to cabin equipped sports fishers and quadruple rig 1,700hp offshore cruising machines. But when you set eyes on the Top Line 650, clarity of focus is again restored. Here, in full compliance with the Capellis we have come to know and enjoy over the past couple of decades, is a moderate, family-sized RIB with simple lines, fat tubes, cleanly configured deck spaces

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October 2019

“An Italian idol. If you want a proper RIB with a leisure boat fit-out, it works a treat” and a sensibly powered single-rig outboard. It appears to bring together the practical underpinnings of a proper RIB with the luxuries of a leisure boat and, notwithstanding the breadth of the current fleet, that’s precisely what most of us bring to mind when we consider the work of Cantieri Capelli.

Leisure credentials While the Capelli 650 doesn’t quite adopt the ‘empty deck, inline jockey seats and tough-guy Samson posts’ approach of an authentic old-school workboat, its 56cm tubes are profoundly fat for a boat of this Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

length. And yet, in an early nod to the hybrid nature of this RIB’s posturing, they also happen to be as beautiful as they are practical. Built from heavyweight 1670-Decitex Orca Neoprene-Hypalon, one of the very highest grades of fabric produced by Pennel & Flipo, the fibrous anthracite grey of the finish is both lovely to look at and very reliable to walk on when wet. There are fabric handles along the entire length of the tubes and, in this case, the rubbing strake also features a grey insert that lends some extra stylistic potency to the subtle rise of the collar as it nears the bow.

47

PERFORMANCE RPM

700 (idle) 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000 4500 5000 5500 5750

As you would expect, the 650’s 12man carrying capacity is well up to par, making it a solid practical asset for those keen to shift heavy loads, but Capelli’s designers have also done well to mitigate the impact on the wide-diameter collar on internal space. By using a broad beam of 2.67m, it manages to retain some very decent internal breadth and when you’re onboard, the fact that it feels in no way hemmed in or restricted is also a consequence of Capelli’s thoughtful approach to the layout of the deck furniture. While the helm console and leaning post are lowprofile units positioned directly in the middle of the deck, the aft bench is offset

Knots LPH

GPH

MPG

2.0 3.8 5.9 7.5 11.2 14.0 23.0 26.5 30.5 33.0 37.0 40.0

0.35 0.73 1.14 2.00 2.86 3.50 4.77 5.76 7.11 10.51 12.91 14.06

5.71 5.20 5.17 3.75 3.91 4.00 4.82 4.60 4.29 3.14 2.87 2.84

1.6 3.3 5.2 9.1 13.0 15.9 21.7 26.2 32.3 47.8 58.7 63.9

Range (nm)

220.0 240.0 203.1 145.1 151.6 155.0 186.5 178.0 166.2 121.5 110.9 110.2

Noise

67.2 80.4 80.9 83.5 85.1 92.0 91.2 91.4 92.8 96.0 98.8 99.4

to starboard, freeing up a proper walkway along the port side, which leads you from the swim ladder, over the transom and all the way to the bow without the slightest obstruction.

In the bow itself, it’s interesting to note that no space (or budget) has been lavished on a seat built into the front of the helm console, and given how compact

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October 2019

A traditional binnacle console, the helm is simple, central, open and really a one-man unit. You can up the ante to 200hp if required

“Handling is impressively taut and pick up is tremendous” the console is and how rarely used seats of this kind tend to be, that’s by no means a great loss. On the contrary, with no conventional seating in the V of the bow, nor any place for the installation of a forward table, the inclusion of a traditional ‘suicide seat’ would have been largely pointless. Instead, what you get up here is a large, raised moulding, topped with cushions that can be used in tandem with a pair of simple infills to convert everything forward of the helm console into a large open sunpad.

While it certainly makes a fun place to recline at anchor on a flat day, this fixed bow moulding is also blessed with a large ram-assisted hatch to grant easy access to Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

one of the most accommodating storage spaces you could ever wish to see on a RIB of this size. That’s particularly useful on the 650 because the storage spaces elsewhere look a touch compromised. The console, for instance, is too narrow to offer much capacity and the space further aft, inside the stern bench, is conflicted partly by the presence of fuel lines and cables, and partly by the fact that the lid’s arc of travel is inhibited by the engine cowling.

That said, this RIB actually does pretty well for leisure versatility and the aft sun lounger is a prime example of that.

Created by folding down the backrest of the stern bench and dropping an infill into place, this compact two-man lounging

49

space butts up against the starboard tube, between the leading edge of the engine cowling and the trailing edge of the leaning post. When rigged, it preserves the port walkway for easy movement and, while the 650’s deck feels generally quite shallow in relation to the tube height, the aft lounger’s position in the most secure part of the boat, makes it feel perfectly confidence-inspiring for family use.

The integrated table that lifts into place on the back of the leaning post is another neat touch. Set beneath a row of

cupholders, the absence of a supporting leg eradicates the need for any additional parts and prevents any infringement on the leg space of those on the aft bench, and the fact that it’s built into the seat unit also means it comes as part of the standard package, which is very much a rarity on RIBs of this size.

As regards the rest of the features list, it’s also worth mentioning that the 650 feels pretty well spec’d. Plenty of the marine industry’s classic ‘non-optional options’, like the compass, the cockpit table and

50

October 2019

the aft ladder, are included as part of the standard package; and most of the options that have been selected for the test boat also look worthy of their place. In addition to the Yamaha F175 and the stainless steel A-frame, the teak-style Wasser foam decking is a particular success. It looks great, offers plenty of grip, improves insulation for bare feet and upgrades damping to help mitigate heavy impacts.

Authentic open boating The Capelli’s driving experience feels very distinctive. Despite a transom that could handle 25hp more, its urgency of throttle response sees us launch onto the plane in just 1.7 seconds and pass 30 knots in less than six. That’s fiercely rapid by recreational standards and yet, despite the 650’s easy plane and generous beamforward design, this is also a very cleanrunning head sea boat, with a fine entry and a very pronounced capacity to slice wave shapes rather than launch over them.

While it quickly proves itself an excellent driver’s boat, with a ride that is impressively soft and dry, it also exhibits some very impressive fuel flow figures.

We’re seeing around a litre per nautical

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

The shallow bow lounger offers plenty of storage

mile at everything between 20 and 30 knots, which is a very sustainable rate of progress for a boat of this size and type.

As things stand, the hinged ladder, which dips over the trailing edge of the port swim platform, seems to kick up water underway. Though the impact of that is likely to be minimal, there’s no sense introducing unnecessary drag to the mix, so a properly integrated telescopic model would be a useful investment.

51

In terms of the driving experience itself, the relative shallowness of this boat, allied to the use of a compact console and an upright leaning post, means that you do tend to feel a touch exposed during a rapid transit over a rough seascape. Some lateral support built into the helm seats would be a good way to help mitigate this, but for the passengers on the aft bench, it’s a different story. Yes, there’s more in the way Alfresco dining. The helm leaning post features an integrated fold-up table of wind and spray but, with the fiberglass mouldings and robust A-frame giving the bench an elevated physical perimeter on a straight back and a proper view of the both sides, it feels much more reassuringly seascape. ‘contained’. That said, I would also like If you enjoy swimming or watersports, to see an elevated rail built into the top it’s also worth mentioning that the swim edge of the leaning post for those rear seat platform could do with a dedicated passengers who, like me, prefer to stand. grabbing point for those coming in After all, this boat offers a very responsive and out of the water, as the only thing and sporting drive, with lots of grip in that currently falls to hand is a cleat. the turn and no perceptible slip at the And if you’re likely to be using the aft prop. When the seas are rough, it would bench as much as the helm, it would therefore be good to give your passengers be worth considering the aft grab rails the option of getting up and engaging too. As things stand, they are positioned with the experience, planting their feet, on the inner edge of the mouldings, bending their knees and holding a rail with presumably to keep them out of the way

52

October 2019

of the A-frame when it’s folded down for transport, where they can dig you in the side of the leg underway. It seems sensible to me to eradicate these entirely, enabling those who require a steadying point to reach for the natural security of the A-frame instead.

Conclusion Despite the sheer variety of Capelli’s modern fleet, there’s nothing especially modern or tangential about the Top Line 650, and that’s exactly what buyers of a boat like this will appreciate. This is simple RIB building done well, a RIB for RIB fans. It’s fast, agile and responsive with a

Head sea performance feels particularly secure

soft, dry ride, good quality of build, plenty of carrying capacity and easy movement from bow to stern. It also benefits from some overtly leisure-friendly features like the integrated cockpit table and the twin convertible sunpads, making it particularly family friendly.

ENQUIRIES: Ideal Boat 01758 703 013 www.idealboat.com

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LOA: 6.5m Beam: 2.65m Displacement: 860kg Enquiries: Wills Marine 01548 852424 www.willsmarine.co.uk

LOA: 6.5m Beam: 2.5m Displacement: 800kg Enquiries: Ballistic RIBs 02392 397000 www.ballisticribs.co.uk

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tested PRICE from

£1,167

Motorboat Owner

Lowrance LiveSight

“Lowrance’s best fishing tech to date”

Lowrance LiveSight Sonar gives owners of HDS Live displays Value 3/5 the ability to see and track fish in real time, with a wider Usability 4/5 coverage and at a greater range. The transducer comes Performance 4/5 with three mounting brackets that allow you to mount it traditionally, looking down from the transom, but also as a forward looking sonar if you use a bow mounted trolling motor. The transducer operates on both 200kHz and 83kHz frequencies, the former for deeper water and will provide a cone with a 4m diameter at 4 metres depth and LiveSight works with the new HDS Live range of displays the latter for shallow waters 54

October 2019

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

You can watch the fish move on your screen, and even see your bait/lure

that provides a 13m cone at 4 metres depth.

In operation, the HDS display shows fish as moving objects, not perhaps so well defined as to specify what type of fish it is, but certainly good enough to detail individual small fish in a shoal and the bigger fish that may be feeding off them. You can even see your bait/lure so you can put it exactly where it needs to be. The screen return will put ‘trails’ on moving objects, so you can see the direction the fish are moving in and, because it works in a cone and returns live data, you don’t need to be moving for it to be effective.

Lowrance LiveSight transducer can be mounted in three different ways, including on a trolling motor for forward scanning

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

55

tested

The standard palette provides, in our opinion, the best display, but there are four others to chose from

The transducer combines LiveSight with traditional CHIRP sonar, so you can also view standard high resolution down scan view and, on the HDS Live, you can have these two displays side by side . Although not widely used in the UK, with LiveSight mounted on a trolling motor and facing forward, you can see fish up to around 10m in front of the boat, and hard structure for around 20m.

In terms of how LiveSight compares to other similar systems on the market, it is probably fair to say it’s a middle of the road performer. It offers a medium resolution return compared to say, Garmin’s high resolution LiveScope, but as an add on to an HDS Live display it would prove to be a really great feature for the boater who likes to fish, giving you the chance to find fish using normal sonar, and then target them with LiveSight.

Enquiries: Lowrance www.lowrance.com

56

October 2019

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repower engine packages

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Servicing and repairs

WWW.VOLSPEC.CO.UK

01621 869756 enquiries@volspec.co.uk

Volspec Ltd Woolverstone Marina Ipswich Suffolk IP9 1AS

Guernsey Heybridge Basin In the tidal upper reaches of the River Blackwater in Essex, not far from the historic town of Maldon, lies a closelyguarded secret. A sea lock provides entry into a tranquil boating basin and a glimpse into a fascinating, bygone commercial waterway that is ripe for dinghy exploration.

We uncover the hidden gem that is Heybridge Basin

I

n bygone times shipping used to navigate west through the Blackwater, downloading cargo at Maldon and

Heybridge Creek, a trading route to London that was vital for establishing the major nearby town of Chelmsford.

58

October 2019

Woodbridge

Destination

HEYBRIDGE BASIN

Brightlingsea

Heybridge Basin Maldon Burnham-on-Crouch

THAMES ESTUARY

However, with the tidal and depth constraints on such quays, a canal linking the two rivers, the Chelmer and Blackwater was built in the late 18th century so cargo, such as flour, coal and other commodities, could be carried directly up and downstream to Chelmsford. The canal system was completed in 1797, with a lock built as its sea terminus in Colliers Reach, and an artificial link to the River Chelmer at Beeleigh completed the 14-mile waterway

known as the Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation. In the wide basin just inside the sea lock, cargo was transferred from ships to canal barges and carried upstream. A village known as Heybridge Basin was established around the lock and its trade activity, as there was plenty of work unloading the ships. On the locks waterfront, two public houses, the Jolly Sailor followed by the Old Ship, offered refreshment to waiting skippers and crews. Here local craftsmen offered

Motorboat Owner Š Digital Marine Media Ltd

59

A 1.5 mile canal links the Blackwater to Heybridge on the Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation

timber repairs and services, while traderelated buildings such as a ropewalk and lock house were established. And so, it became a small port and a favourite haven amongst its visitors. Sadly the trade route was to die out nearly 200 years later, with commercial traffic to Chelmsford ceasing in 1972. However, village and community life continued to thrive around the lock and its basin, which in turn has become a haven for leisure boaters. Today the basin is home to 150-200 leisure boat berth

holders and with its good haven facilities, it regularly welcomes visitors entering from seaward via the Blackwater, and also from the Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation. The thriving waterway caters predominantly for small boats, able to negotiate Paper Mill Road Bridge at 1.9 metres clearance.

Unspoilt and largely undiscovered by tourism, it is easy to see why Heybridge Basin is popular with the boating fraternity. It is sheltered, welcoming,

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October 2019

Destination

HEYBRIDGE BASIN

Distances

Heybridge Basin lock keepers have manually operated the sea lock for over three centuries

charming and tranquil. While there are no shops in the village, the towns of Heybridge and Maldon are nearby for provisioning, and the basin’s two pubs and excellent tea room take advantage of the picturesque lock and river views. The sea lock, with its traditional push-pull gates, is still manually-operated by a resident lock keeper, and a team of volunteers, around high water during daylight hours, creating something of a spectacle for walkers and pub garden visitors. The basin’s future is also being protected by its navigation proprietor, Essex Waterways, with a new electronic outer gate installed in 2018.

Approaches

Access to Heybridge Basin is tidal and its river approach is drying, so timing is crucial. Ensure that you have the latest chart and tidal information for the Blackwater, and look for sufficient height of tide for a visit. As a rule of thumb, for boating on the Essex coast, spring tides normally occur around midday/lunchtime and neap tides are in the evening or very early morning.

The sea lock is manned for high waters occurring between 0600-2000 May to September and 0700-1700 October to April. If you are looking to visit the basin,

Approximate distances in nautical miles from Heybridge Basin: • Maldon 1.8 miles • Bradwell Marina 10 miles • Chelmsford 14 miles • Tollesbury 15 miles • Brightlingsea 15 miles • Burnham-on-Crouch 27 miles • Walton Backwaters 28 miles • River Orwell/Stour 31 miles • Ramsgate 50 miles

Weather & Information • MET Office Inshore Waters Gibraltar Point to North Foreland • Shipping Forecast Thames • MET Office observations Shoeburyness • NOAA Actuals F3 Lightship & Sandettie • Blackwater SC Weather station • Blackwater SC Webcam • East Coast Pilot website

Charts & Pilot Books

• Imray 2000 Suffolk & Essex Coasts Pack - Lowestoft to River Crouch • Imray 2000.6 River Blackwater • Admiralty SC5607 Thames Estuary - Essex and Suffolk Coasts • Admiralty Y17 River Colne to Blackwater & Crouch chart • Admiralty 3741 Rivers Colne and Blackwater chart • Imray East Coast Pilot - Great Yarmouth to Ramsgate • East Coast Rivers Fernhurst Books • Ordnance Survey Explorer map: 183: Chelmsford & The Rodings

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

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BLACKWATER APPROACHES e Ch er lm &B er at kw

lac Na a vig

tio

Blackwater Sailing Club n

Maldon

15

13

14

Heybridge Colliers 8 Basin Reach Causew ay

11

12

9

10

Northney Island

7 North Double No 6 South Double

No 4 Southey Creek

OSEA ISLAND No 3

BLACKWATER

Pier

Anchorage

Marconi

8-KNOT LIMIT

No 2 The Doctor

RE CO L

LIE

CRS Marine

RS

Heybridge Basin

AC H

8 not to be used for navigation

13

2

Blackwater Sailing Club

VISITORS LOCKHOUSE FACILITIES

Maylandsea

Blackwater Marina

The Blackwater estuary is well marked and dotted with sights such as broadcast ship, Radio Caroline 11 9 you contact the lock keeper, make sure off Osea Beach. The anchorage is off the

Grant Everiss, on 07712 079764, well in advance, at least 24hrs before, to check availability and make a booking. He will then, nearer the time, contact you with a specific arrival time for locking in.

Upon entering the Blackwater, proceed through the marked estuary towards starboard marker No 1, then port hand marker, Marconi. This will take you past the red-hulled, Blackwater-based broadcast ship, Radio Caroline. Those wishing to wait for the tide can anchor

10

Northney Island

south-east corner of the island, to the east of the pier, and just west of the 8-knot speed limit buoys. Sailing barges frequent this anchorage, waiting for the tide to get to Maldon, and you may well find yourself travelling upstream on the tide with one of these mighty, but serene, vessels.

Leaving marker, No 3, Doctor, to starboard, head towards No 4, Southey

Approaches from seaward, the lock entrance to port with the CRS Marine boatyard to starboard

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October 2019

Destination

HEYBRIDGE BASIN

Marine supplies

The approaches to Heybridge Lock dry to two metres above CD and are marked by port withies

Creek, passing between the North and South Doubles. From here the channel is somewhat devoid of markers. However, the lit starboard shore beacon at the Blackwater Sailing Club acts as a transit.

Keep this off your port bow, to remain in the channel, until you reach the buoyed moorings. Looking along the north bank you will see some rather unusual floating rental beach huts.

Be aware, at high water the Blackwater River’s landscape is flat, and the wide expanses of water are deceiving. This is particularly apparent when reaching No 8, Hilly Pool Point buoy, which marks the north end of the walled marshes at the tip of the private Northney Island. Here the channel bears round to the south west into Colliers Reach to pass the entrance to the

The nearest chandlery is the Marinestore Chandlery (01621 854280) at Maldon. CRS Marine can lift up to 6-tonne and offers hardstanding and repair services, but does not have road access.

The basin itself is equipped with an 18-tonne crane. The Maldon boatyards, Shipways (01621 854280), Downs Boatyard (01621 859373) and Landbreach (01621 843334) offer engineering, liftout and storage facilities. Battery Shack UK (01376 386486) supplies marine batteries and is located at the Riverside Industrial Estate at Heybridge. There are also marine services elsewhere on the Blackwater, at the marinas at Tollesbury and Bradwell. The nearest Volvo Penta dealer, spares supplier and service agent is Volspec based at Tollesbury.

Where to fill up

Waterside diesel and petrol is available at the Blackwater marinas, Bradwell and Tollesbury (01621 869202). Diesel is also available from the drying Blackwater Marina (01621 740264), at Maylandsea (Lawling Creek).

Motorboat Owner Š Digital Marine Media Ltd

63

A helping hand, lock keeper Grant Everiss (right) and volunteers help visitors lock into the basin

lock at Heybridge Basin. You will need to monitor VHF channel 80 on your final approach to this.

The tide gate opens, and locking process can start, up to an hour and a half before high water on spring tides, and an hour on neaps. The lock into Heybridge Basin will generally only operate when there is traffic due in or out, and there is normally only one lock cycle before high water to conserve levels in the basin, hence punctuality is needed and very much appreciated. Additional cycles per high water may be required when groups of

visitors are departing or arriving.

On arrival at the starboard channel marker in Colliers Reach, you will see another starboard channel marker for the lock approach. Beyond this, three port withies mark the narrow lock fairway, its entrance is funnelled by piled dolphins each side, and the lock itself is highlighted in distinctive blue paint. Obey the traffic light and be aware that outbound traffic has priority, so you are advised to loiter in the main channel and keep clear of the approach until you are signalled or called in on VHF 80 (callsign Heybridge Lock).

The sea lock is fairly large, at 33 metres long and 7.5 metres wide. When preparing to enter the lock ensure that you have plenty of high fenders for the flat concrete lock sides. Most importantly have long lines prepared fore and aft, as the white bollards are set quite a way back on the lock sides. You will be told on the VHF which side of the lock to moor and lockkeeper Grant and volunteers will usually be there to take your lines, The lock entrance is flanked by two pier dolphins passing them around a bollard and back 64

October 2019

Destination

HEYBRIDGE BASIN

Transport

The Stephensons 73/73A/673 bus route operates from The Colliers bus stop, at the top of Basin Road, into Maldon, and then Chelmsford, with its waterside Chelmer Shopping Village.

The basin’s concrete quayside has water and shorepower, with a facilities block yards away

onboard. ‘There is no need for owners to get off their boats’ Grant says. This level of personal service continues with the team of two or more manually winch-operating the sluices and pushing and pulling open the heavy large gates. With this you are immediately transported to bygone times.

It is back-breaking work, so be sure to offer the team help or a hot or cold drink for their efforts.

Where to moor

The low concrete quayside to port, immediately inside the lock gates, is used for visiting boats. On your starboard are rafted resident boats.

The basin is popular during the summer months and is also frequented by rallies.

Be aware, boaters not only visit from

The code-operated, timber-clad facilities block has toilets, showers and a laundry room

Food supplies

There is an Asda supermarket in Heybridge, which is a 1.3 mile walk away along the river towpath (open 7am-10pm Mon-Sat, 10am4pm Sun). This is based at Bentalls Shopping Centre which also has a WHSmith, a Post Office and two cash points. A large Tesco supermarket is reachable by river and open 6am-midnight Mon-Sat and 10am-4pm Sun.

Further afield

The Blackwater is a beautiful tidal estuary that could easily warrant a week of cruising with its choice of buoys, anchorages and marinas. Brightlingsea Harbour and the Mersea Quarters are popular haunts, and the marinas at Tollesbury and Bradwell offer fuel and good facilities. Further south along the coast you have the River Crouch which offers marinas and the sailing mecca of Burnhamon-Crouch. North you have the tranquil Walton Backwaters, followed by the adjoining rivers, the Orwell and Stour, offering a choice of marinas, Ipswich town basin and visitor pontoon at Harwich.

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

65

seaward, but the basin is also a popular weekend destination for those already based on the Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation. Informing lock keeper, Grant, that you are a motorboat and giving the number of nights during the booking process is usually beneficial, as if the basin is busy with rafted yachts, and you are under 10 metres, there might well be space for a motorboat to moor stern-to, tucked inside the east corner. At busy times, those wishing to only to stay one night may also be accommodated in the full lock chamber itself. The price for an overnight stay for a 10-metre boat is ÂŁ23. For those who stay over 7 nights, there is a reduced rate of ÂŁ6 for subsequent nights.

Shorepower is available via electricity towers on the quayside, this operates on a card system, with ÂŁ1 giving 6kW hour. There is a tap and hoses providing drinking water. Set back across a pleasant grassy picnic and barbecue area is a convenient, black and green timber-clad, code-entry toilet, shower and laundry block. There is also a chemical toilet disposal point close to the facilities block.

Alternatively, if you are under 36ft and able to dry out it is worth contacting Clint Swann at CRS Marine, to see if there is overnight visitor or longer term availability. Situated in front of a popular,

A lock-in. Overnighting inside the lock is an option for those staying just one night

co-owned tearoom, the small network of drying pontoons accommodate boats alongside, in finger berths and also in stern-to, Medi-mooring style berths with pick up buoys that face south-south-east.

The moorings dry to mud with the outer moorings accessible up to an hour before high water on spring tides, like the lock.

Be aware, the outer stern-to moorings can become exposed in stronger southerly winds, and this is the reason there are no pontoon fingers here. Clint also has several swinging moorings (yellow buoys) which may be available for short stays over the high water period, so dinghying ashore for lunch is also a possibility. Again these dry at low water, with the ones to the west of the river channel drying to mud, while the ones to the east dry to a shingle mud mix.

RCHandler/Essex Waterways

66

October 2019

CSwann

Drying boatyard, CRS Marine, located in the basin entrance, and its friendly owner, Clint Swann

Trailboating

For those intending to visit Heybridge Basin, and also explore the Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation, there is a slipway at Paper Mill Lock. Note that a visitor licence is required to use the waterway, and day licences are available at the cafĂŠ kiosk. Those looking to launch on the Blackwater should consider using the slipways at the marinas at Maylandsea, Bradwell and Tollesbury. It may also be possible to launch at the Blackwater Sailing Club at Heybridge. Be advised that while CRS Marine at Heybridge Basin is equipped with a crane, unfortunately, being outside the sea wall, it has no road access for launches from trailers.

delicious treats, including cakes and ice creams. Make sure you inspect the old photos of the sea lock when you visit.

There is a choice of two pubs at Heybridge Basin, within yards of each other and the sea lock. The modern gastro-style pub, the Jolly Sailor is a popular choice. Set behind the sea wall, it offers a good range of beers and local ales and a menu that includes burgers, pub favourites and seafood platters. It has an outside patio, sea food bar and a summertime booth selling Essex-made Rossi ice cream. Breakfast is served Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays between

Where to eat and drink

The Lock tearoom overlooking the basin entrance is a must visit. A popular suntrap with plenty of indoor and outdoor seating, this charming white timber-clad tearoom is owned by CRS Marine and run by the local jam maker, Tiptree. Opening at 9am daily, it has a delicious breakfast and Small boat exploration of the Chelmer and lunch menu, as well as tempting array of Blackwater is possible from the Paper Mill slipway

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67

Three eateries within a stones through away, The Old Ship, The Jolly Sailor and The Lock tearoom

10am-11.30am (a large full English breakfast is £6.95) and you can also join the locals for the regular quiz nights and live music.

Occupying a corner plot overlooking the lock itself and the entrance is the more traditional Old Ship which also serves ‘pub grub’ food. It has a beer garden beside the lock and a raised conservatory looking out towards the entrance.

A short stroll along the towpath and you will come across the Daisy Meadow Kiosk Café. With its outdoor seating perched on the riverbank, it’s the perfect place to take stock after a long walk or enjoy a bacon roll, burger or a cake and a coffee.

The town of Heybridge has its fair share

of great eateries, including several Indian restaurants. Takeaways are also available from China Garden and Curry Nights.

Places to see and visit

The Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation is ripe for dinghy exploration and visitors staying at Heybridge Basin are allowed to use their tenders up to the first lock at Beeleigh without having to get a waterways licence. This is useful as you can venture up to Heybridge’s Tesco supermarket to top up ships stores and picturesque Beeleigh where several rivers converge. The wooden pontoon at Tesco is beside the supermarket carpark and from here it is possible, if you are feeling fit, to

Dinghy adventures, a Tesco supermarket and the town of Maldon are discoverable by this pontoon 68

October 2019

Destination walk up Market Hill and into Maldon’s lovely High Street (0.5 mile from Tesco).

This picturesque ancient town offers plenty of great restaurants, cafes and shops. For those without a tender, daily 1-hour Chelmer Cruises are available from the Daisy Meadow Kiosk at £5 for adults.

There are plenty of lovely walks to enjoy.

Heybridge town is a level 25-minute, 1.3 mile walk away along the gravel towpath. Lined with a hedge studded with blackberries, the towpath brings you out close to Bentalls Shopping Centre with its useful Asda supermarket. Continuing along the towpath will take you to Beeleigh Falls and the ancient hamlet of Beeleigh.

Directly south of the basin a former gravel pit is now salt lake wildlife sanctuary, which you can circumnavigate via the sea wall path. This is a loved by birdwatchers, with sightings of Egrets, Larks, Redshank, Plover and Red-Backed Shrikes, and the shoreline is dotted with wrecked hulks of bygone barges, providing

HEYBRIDGE BASIN

There is a lovely walk beside the salt marshes and around the river peninsular to the south

a glimpse into the past. The path continues along the sea wall to Maldon. The path along the sea wall to the north takes you towards the Blackwater Sailing Club, Saltcote, and along the shoreline dotted with beach hut rental properties to the Osea View Café Bar, which is another popular Tiptree tearoom.

For the ardent shoppers onboard, Maldon high street has a lovely selection of independent boutiques, chain and charity shops, while Chelmsford, with its waterside big-brand-studded Chelmer Shopping Village, is just a short bus ride away and a must visit. MBO

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Q&A

Your Questions Answered

Bilge blower

Q I am toying with the idea of installing a bilge blower to my Freeman 22 MkII. Can you outline anything I need to consider, such as location, wiring etc? I am thinking of wiring it into the ignition switch, so that it always runs when the engine is running.

Would this be a good idea?

A I am assuming that your

Freeman has a petrol engine, and if so I would suggest the following. The blower itself should be ignition protected and should be installed so that it draws air from as low down in the engine bay as possible. Blowers can be set to suck in or blow out, depending usually upon the way they are installed.

Make sure yours sucks from the bilge and blows out, not the other way around.

The blower itself does not need to be installed low, and it is often better fitted high up to keep it away from any bilge water, but you should use ducting so that it draws air from low down. You should ensure that you use cable of a sufficient diameter to carry the current required without a voltage loss over the distance needed. The average small bilge blower draws around 4A when running, so for a distance from the batteries of 2m you should be using at least 1mm2 cross sectional cable. If your distance is up to 4m, I would use 2mm2 cable. As for wiring it into the ignition, personally I wouldn’t. If you do, you will need to leave the ignition on for a few minutes before trying to start the engine and this may draw more power from the batteries than you need. It is also possible on an old style petrol engine to damage the coil by leaving the ignition on without running the engine. Some cheaper bilge blowers are also not rated for continuous duty, so may be damaged if run like this. Best bet is to wire it to a separate switch and run it for a few minutes before starting. If you are in and out of locks continuously, you could always leave it running while you are in the lock if you need to turn the engine off.

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If you have a question, email us at

editorial@motorboatowner.co.uk

Wrap or polish?

Q I have a Hardy 18 with a blue

hull that looks almost white due to a bloom in the gelcoat. Can you get this back to a shiny blue or do I need to consider painting or wrapping the hull?

A Coloured gelcoat, especially on older boats, is not particularly UV stable

and the darker reds and blues in particular nearly always seem to suffer from this fading phenomenon. The good news is that gelcoat is remarkably resilient and even very badly faded gel can often be brought back to a deep shiny lustre.

The trick is to machine polish using as fine a grade of cutting compound as you can get away with. In really bad cases, you may even need to resort to a very light sanding using a DA sander and some wet 3000 grade wet and dry first. Then gradually move through the grades of polish, starting with a heavyduty cutting compound until you finish with a very fine, light-duty, compound.

It’s hard work and the result will only be as good as the effort you put in. Once done, the most important step is to protect the surface with a top quality wax, and make sure you re-apply it every three months, otherwise the white bloom will return. A hull wrap, is probably an easier way of dealing with the problem, but they don’t last indefinitely, so be prepared to do it again in a few years, if you go down this route.

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Q&A

Your Questions Answered

Volvo fuel consumption

Q I have a Jeanneau Prestige 32 running

on Volvo D4s and am keen to minimise fuel consumption and have read various articles but it seems having a fuel consumption monitor is perhaps the best way to do this. All those I have seen appear to be very expensive. Is there a reliable but cheap option, which is not too difficult to fit?

A Your D4s are capable of providing fuel usage data, but you will need to have

your EVC programmed by your Volvo dealer to have it enabled. I don’t know what the cost is for this, I have heard around £400+VAT per engine, but it may be cheaper than any alternative. As an aside, there was a product launched at the Southampton Boat Show that looks very easy to install. See www.interactio. co. The downside is that you would need four of the wireless units for your twin engine installation, and this brings the cost up to around £1200. In either case, you could simply set one engine up with a system, for half the cost, and double the amounts of fuel being used.

Shetland 4plus2 at sea

Q Can a Shetland 4plus2 be used at sea? I have

one on the Thames and was thinking of taking it down through London for a trip on the coast, but I have been told it is a river boat and not suitable. It has a 30hp outboard on the transom, so I know it won’t be fast, but will it be safe?

A The 4+2 in current guise is available with up to 90hp and comes with an

RCD category C classification, which means it should be suitable for inshore coastal waters. I don’t know the age of your model, but the basic design hasn’t changed much over the years so it is safe to assume similar parameters for your boat. Your 30hp motor is going to mean that you are limited to displacement speeds, so you will need to pick your weather very carefully, but I would say that if you prepare and equip yourself, your crew and the boat properly, it will be OK for an estuarial foray in settled conditions.

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Q&A

Your Questions Answered

Trailboat for £30k

Q I am looking to buy my first

motorboat and was thinking it might be fun to have one that I can tow, so that we can explore different places. I have a Land Rover Discovery, max trailer weight 3,500kg, and I have grandfather rights to tow on my driving licence, but I am struggling to narrow down the possible boats. We have two young children, so the boat must be capable of taking four, and we want to stay onboard for a few days so it needs to be as roomy as possible. Ideally I would like the boat to be diesel powered, capable of a decent speed and modern in design. My budget is around £30k.

A The limitations on size and weight for towed loads generally mean you are

looking for something up to around 25ft. There are lots of US sportscruisers that would fit the bill, but most of these will be petrol engined. If diesel is important, then I would be looking for one of Sealine’s offerings from the late 90’s onwards. Your £30k should be able to get you a diesel powered S23, or you may even get lucky and pick up a later S25. There is also the previous incarnation, the S24 and its predecessor the S240, both of which are normally in the £20-£25k price range. The one US-built exception that does appear to be quite widely available with a diesel engine is the Bayliner 245 from the early 2000’s. Like the Sealines, this will be fitted with the excellent Volvo KAD32 engine and available for around your budget, or maybe a little less.

24ft and towable. Sealine S24 on double axle road trailer and Bayliner Ciera 245 74

October 2019

Beneteau Antares 9

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BOAT TEST

Length (LOA): 9.0m / 29ft 6in Beam: 2.95m / 9ft 8in Displacement: 3,776kg (ex engine) Fuel capacity: 400 litres Water capacity: 160 litres RCD category: B6 C10 Engines as tested: 2 x Suzuki DF200 Other engine options: 1 x 350hp outboard Price from ÂŁ133,988

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T

he Beneteau Antares range has always fallen somewhere between outright sportsfisher and family cruiser. With the launch of the Barracuda models, Beneteau has allowed the Antares to migrate more towards the latter, while still allowing just enough of the former to be useful for a bit of both. The 9 is the largest in a four model range starting at 6m and are defined by their wheelhouse saloons, walkaround decks, open and uncluttered cockpits and outboards on the transom. We have tested both the 7 and 8 metre models before, see September 2017 issue, so it should be interesting to see what an extra metre or two can bring to

the format.

The wheelhouse is standard layout for a boat of this size and style, with a dinette to port just as you enter the wheelhouse through the three part sliding doors. The dinette is big enough to seat a family of four, with the forward double seat converting into a forward facing navigator’s seat at the flip of its backrest. Below the aft bench seat there

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“The twin 200hp Suzuki’s return a respectable 2mpg at sensible speeds” is some storage unless, like our test boat, you fill it with air conditioning equipment.

A door on the inboard end of this seat’s base provides access to the boat’s main electrical switch panel. The dinette can, of

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

course, be converted into an occasional double berth if required. Opposite the dinette is the boat’s galley unit. This is reasonably compact, but manages to pack in everything you would need for

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extended onboard stays with a sink and double gas hob, both located beneath a gas strutted worktop to provide some useful flat working area when they are not in use, a double cupboard and drawer below and a refrigerator mounted in the helm seat

console just in front. Above this, a single helm seat with lifting bolster and fore/aft adjustment is mounted behind the helm console with enough room in between to make use of a very handy three quarter height sliding helm door. This gives the

Three forward facing seats up front, with a further two aft, gives all the family a good viewpoint 80

October 2019

skipper very easy access to the decks, making short, or single-handed operation, and general crew communications, much easier. The helm console is nicely laid out, with room to flush mount a good-sized multifunction display right in front of the skipper, and there is also some additional instrument mounting space above the windscreen where our test boat’s VHF was installed. On the other side of the wheelhouse, the double forward facing crew seat provides a convenient grab rail, sliding window alongside and a nice flat chart area with cup holders forward.

Headroom throughout the wheelhouse is very good, with a minimum of almost 6ft 3in (1.9m), and overhead two almost full length fixed skylights and a single, central, sliding hatch provide plenty of light and ventilation.

Moving forward, three steps, with a Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

nicely placed grabrail, take you down into a small lobby with three doors leading off in all other directions. The door to starboard gains access to the toilet compartment. This offers a shower, sink and toilet in one roomy cubicle with exactly 6ft (1.83m) headroom. The toilet is covered by a fold down seat, which is a useful feature, and stowage is provided by a sizeable cupboard below the sink and some open storage above the toilet and

Great stowage under the forward cabin’s berth

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“Good headroom and light and airy interiors throughout the boat”

Basic simplicity, the cabins are practical and functional with good space

adjacent to the basin. One fixed and one opening port allow for natural light and ventilation.

The door opposite the toilet compartment takes you into the midships cabin. Just inside the door there is a small full standing headroom area of 5ft 10in (1.78m) with plenty of natural light due to the overhead skylight and a single opening port. A half-height open shelved storage unit in this area delivers all the storage this cabin offers. Beyond this, a large double berth sits beneath the wheelhouse sole with a low down hull window offering further light into this area. The doors into all of the forward cabins/compartments are quite short, with this cabin’s entrance the shortest of all at just 5ft 4in (1.63m).

The master cabin forward is accessed via a space saving sliding door and inside there is a large, slightly offset, double berth with easy access via a step up the port side. A half-height hanging locker to port and some useful, lined, under bunk lockers offer the occupants good storage, the latter being easily accessed by lifting the large, gas-strutted bed base. A half width overhead skylight at the aft end, where you get 5ft 10in (1.78m) of standing headroom, together with fixed hull windows along each side, provide plenty of light, while an overhead foredeck hatch offers the only opportunity for getting fresh air into the cabin.

Moving outside, and the cockpit comes

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with a nice, secure transom seat, a further seat along the port side, and a teak table in front. To this you can add a third seat module just aft of the wheelhouse doors to allow a full complement to sit around the table. This module also brings additional storage, not that it is in short supply out here, with lockers below the other seats, plus a huge lazarette in the cockpit sole.

The transom seat is rigged to slide fore and aft to allow the outboards to fully tilt when not in use, while maximising cockpit space when they are down. To starboard a stainless steel transom gate leads out onto the starboard bathing platform, which is usefully fitted with a top-mounted, but flush installed, bathing ladder and a very practical grabrail to ease your way in or

A sliding transom seat allows the motors to fully tilt. A large lazarette offers some useful storage Motorboat Owner Š Digital Marine Media Ltd

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PERFORMANCE As tested 90% fuel 100% water 5 crew Force 3

RPM

out of the water. The port side platform is bare, but equally useful, if only for engine checks on the port side outboard.

Remove the table and cushions and the large uncluttered cockpit becomes an ideal fishing platform, and the couple of rod holders, flush fitted into the cockpit gunwale, will come into play.

The way forward is best achieved by the starboard sidedeck with two steps up from the cockpit, one of which has a lid to access the single cylinder gas locker below.

A thigh high guardrail and roof mounted grabrail keep you secure as you move forward and, just in front of the sliding helm door, a further two steps take you up to the foredeck, where the guardrail is still knee height and you get a decent toerail.

700 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000 4500 5000 5500 5700

Knots

LPH

GPH

MPG

2.1 3.9 5.5 7.2 8.4 9.2 10.4 19.9 26.0 29.9 33.5 34.9

2.4 5.3 9.7 14.4 21.3 30.9 39.3 50.9 61.2 86.4 116.0 134.0

0.53 1.17 2.13 3.17 4.69 6.80 8.65 11.2 13.5 19.0 25.5 29.5

3.96 3.33 2.58 2.27 1.85 1.35 1.20 1.78 1.93 1.57 1.31 1.18

Range (nm)

348 293 227 199 162 118 105 156 170 138 115 104

The foredeck can be equipped with a full set of sunbathing cushions. While these are nice, they can get a little in the way of foredeck work so, unless you plan to keep your 9 in the Med, it may be one option you can leave unticked.

The anchor locker, accessed by moving cushions out of the way if fitted, is a good size and comes with a hidden anchor

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The helm layout just works and the Antares 9 is a nice boat to helm

“Hitting a top speed of 40.5 knots, it’s impressively brisk and comfortable in a chop” winch and enough space, and equally importantly, a big enough opening, to store a few fenders in. The port sidedeck is raised, and clearly not the favoured choice, but is certainly wide enough, and well protected by a knee high guardrail and roof mounted grab rail, to be used by crew if a port side mooring is your only choice.

Underway Out test boat was in unusually high displacement for a boat test, with a full water tank, almost full fuel tank and a complement of five crew. Given this, the figures are pretty impressive, but actually sell the performance of the Antares 9 a little short. We had the opportunity to take another quick run out in the boat Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

with only three onboard, and with around half tanks of both water and fuel, and we managed to add over five knots to the top speed, peaking at 40.6 knots. Given that, it is fair to say that performance figures, and fuel figures, are likely to be a little better across the range if you tend to go boating with just two onboard and travel reasonably light. Like most outboard powered boats, you need to get the revs quite high for a decent cruising speed, with the Antares 9 only just climbing onto the plane as you edge past 3,500 rpm. At around 4200rpm you enter this boat’s comfortable cruising zone of 20-22 knots, which is also its most economical fast speed, returning around 2nmpg. At this sort of speed, the 9 will shed quite a few

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?????

The sunpad cushions may be useful in the Med, but they do impact on access to the anchor locker

knots in a tight turn, but there is plenty of power in reserve to keep the speed up and keep the boat on the plane. At high speeds, the engines do produce quite a bit of noise and, with the back doors open this can become quite intrusive. Drop back to that comfortable cruising speed, however, and serenity returns. You can also shut the wheelhouse doors for the same effect if you want to maintain a faster pace. The hull is very capable of delivering a comfortable ride if driven at sensible speeds and with the correct trim, even

in some quite choppy conditions and, in general, it turns and handles really well.

Get it wrong, however, and, like most planing-hulled boats, it will crash and slam. On our test boat the steering was not quite as light and easy as I would have expected, and there was some evidence of torque steer. I suspect this was a result of a hastily set up test boat, and should be able to be negated by the commissioning dealer. The helm seat offered a good driving position, whether seated, standing or leaning and the twin 200hp outboards

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delivered brisk acceleration, powering the 4+ tons of Beneteau up onto the plane in just four seconds and continuing to push it up to 25 knots just six seconds later.

Conclusion The Antares 9 really does make a great family cruising boat. It may not offer the last word in plush accommodation, being rather stark and simplistic, but it delivers all of the facilities you will need in a boat that is still relatively affordable and, due to its size, cheap to moor. Having two large outboards on the back does mean it can be thirsty, but driven sensibly it returns a very respectable 2mpg. Of course, it’s an Antares

Family friendly, the Antares 9 should fit the bill

so there is still that little bit of fishing DNA in its design, so if you enjoy fishing, it is more than capable of doing that too.

In short, the Antares 9 is exactly the boat you expect it to be and a worthy contender in the market that it inhabits.

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

Jeanneau MF 895

Finnmaster Pilot 8 C

Parker 790 Explorer

LOA: 9.07m Beam: 2.99m Displacement: 3,060kg ex eng Enquiries: Jeanneau See www.jeanneau.com for your nearest dealer

LOA: 8.4m Beam: 3.0m Displacement: 3,000kg ex eng Enquiries: Ideal Boat 01758 703013 www.idealboat.com

LOA: 7.85m Beam: 2.8m Displacement: TBA Enquiries: Parker Poland See www.parkerpoland.eu for your nearest dealer

Available in standard or ‘Offshore’ versions, the latter having an RCD ‘B’ rating, larger fuel tanks and bigger engine options.

PRICE from £120,000

This Pilot range flagship is smaller than the Antares, offers Scandinavian build quality, four berths and similar engine options.

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We are planning to test the 790 soon, and if it is anything like the rest of the range, it will punch way above its size and price.

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Hooked

Squid are becoming a more popular catch, Simon Everett suggests they are worth fishing for

S

quid are one of the most prolific ‘fish’ in the sea, yet here in the UK not so many people bother to fish for them.

On the continent, especially the western Mediterranean countries, and the Atlantic coast of Portugal, Spain and France they are one of the most popular targets for rod and line anglers fishing from small boats or off harbour walls. The reason is, of course, because they are plentiful, fairly easily caught and extremely tasty.

While prevalent along the south coast, squid should be in plentiful supply wherever the Gulf Stream is present, and they can be caught right through the summer over suitable ground. The current thinking is that there are two main runs of squid in the year. The spring run starts about the beginning of April and extends through to the end of May. During that period the first squid will be caught off Cornwall and gradually work their way along the south coast so that by the middle of April they are found in numbers off Brighton and as far east as Folkestone. The autumn run is a reversal and in October the squid head west and during the winter can be caught around the area that surrounds The Lizard and Mounts Bay. At night squid come very close inshore

so they can be caught off harbour walls, pontoons or rocky promontories. You can catch loads from a dinghy within 100 yards of the harbour. Water just 2m deep is enough for night time forays, during the day they will out a bit deeper, from about 10m down to as deep as you like. Squid are found anywhere there is a food source, over banks of shingle, broken ground and against rock ledges at the start of a reef, even over the reef itself in deeper water. When the spawning run is in full swing they will be found in huge shoals and, using a string of jigs, can result in multiple captures, plus by covering more of the water column you can locate them more successfully.

Squid are predators and they will follow the shoals of baitfish, so your fish finder will be useful in finding them. Locate the shoals of sprats, sandeels or brit, the squid will not be far away on the fringe of the shoals.

Mackerel and herring will also be preyed upon by the bigger squid, which can grow to 5kgs, although 2kgs is the average size of the larger species. Squid are also very fond of prawns and most squid jigs represent prawns and are weighted so they swim like one when worked correctly. Other lures represent small squid, as these creatures are very cannibalistic. Luminous jigs are very

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Squid are not difficult to catch, and can be had close inshore using a dinghy and some simple kit

effective in deeper water or at night, and modern squid jigs may incorporate ultra violet areas.

You don’t need any special outfits to fish for squid, although special squid jigging rods have a softer action so you don’t bump the squid off. Many specialists use hand lines for a more sensitive feel and gentle, direct control of the jigs. Provided you play the squid smoothly and just maintain steady pressure they will stay on the crown of barbless hooks of the squid jig. If you try to play a squid too hard, or pump the rod, you will shake many of them off, simply hold the rod up and steadily reel in to bring the squid to the surface, or if using a handline just haul steadily, hand-over-hand to maintain even pressure. You will feel the pulsing of the water jet as the squid tries to jet away.

For decent sized squid it is worth using a landing net, that way you can hold the captured squid safely in the net over the side while it jettisons it’s ink. Be cautious of bringing hooked squid in straight away, to avoid them inking all over you and the boat, it creates a filthy mess. Also be aware that if they are just under the surface a rod length out, they can squirt you, like a Jacuzzi with insufficient water over the jet outlet.

Yamashita produce well-respected squid jigs, as do YoZuri, Tronixpro and Lineaffe.

Some jigs have extra spikes on the back of the lure to increase the catch rate, which are useful when the squid are being finicky.

The method is simple, you lower the rig to the bottom and gently lift and lower the rod tip, with occasional jerks to put life into the jigs. At night squid will feed higher in the water so try fishing with a light spinning rod and just one jig attached directly to the line. Cast out, allow the squid jig to sink for 20 seconds or so and then work it back with short, sharp upward sweeps of the rod, each sweep followed by a 3 or 4 second pause to reel in the slack. When a squid attacks, you will feel the resistance as the squid tries to escape with its prize, the needle sharp spikes will hopefully find a purchase and enable you to bring the squid to the boat. Once you feel the resistance keep the pressure on for the entire retrieve. I am sure once you have tried jigging for squid, you will love the fascination fishing for squid provides and it is a great way of obtaining really tasty fresh food. For a bit of fun, use the tender to target squid close inshore and this style of fishing makes a great introduction to youngsters before the mackerel and herring arrive.

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CLASSIC CRUISERS

a complete guide to the best boats on the used market

Nimbus 37/370/380

E

stablished in the 1970s, the Swedish boat builder, Nimbus, knows a thing or two about producing practical and high quality family coupe cruisers.

During the 90s it made a bold move and introduced a new trawler model, but was it a hit in UK waters? You bet. We stepped aboard one to find out why.

Nimbus produced a series of flybridges in the early 90s, and key six-berth, twin engine models included the 42 Mega, 4000 and 4004 Carisma. Then in 1993, Nimbus unveiled plans for a quite unconventional, trawler-style flybridge cruiser using the

4004 Carisma hull. The new 36ft model offered the characteristic flybridge with two driving positions, six berths with two cabins and a convertible saloon area, but it had a separate, US motoryachtstyle pilothouse with additional flybridge access. Perhaps influences came from the neighbouring Storebro stable. Crucially Nimbus defied convention, cleverly maximising interior accommodation by fitting twin shaftdrive diesel engines running in a V-drive configuration. The Nimbus 37 Trawler was born.

The 37 became known as the 370 in

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Built 1993-2011 (200 built) Prices then £212,056 (2003) Prices now £92,000-£150,000 Length 370 36ft 8in / 11.20m Length 380 37ft 8in / 11.50m Beam 11ft 9in / 3.60m Draught 3ft 7in / 1.10m Fuel 166 gallons / 755 litres Water 95 gallons / 430 litres Air Draught to mast 4.59m to windscreen 4.04m Displacement 6800kg approx

1996 and went on to spawn two more models, the 370 Carisma and 370 Coupe.

In 1998 the 370 evolved into the 380 Commander which brought a few minor external and internal changes. The crucial difference being its length, it was exactly a foot larger at 37ft 8in and sported a longer bathing platform. Its sister models also followed suit, becoming the 380 Carisma and 380 Coupe.

In the years that followed Nimbus developed a scaled down, single engine 380 Commander, known as the 340 Commander, which was successfully

delivered to our UK shores in 2005.

The 380 ceased production in 2011 and Nimbus says it built 200 Trawlers and Commanders during the lengthy 19-year production period, telling us that many came to the UK. The long term, Lymington-based, Nimbus dealer and broker, Offshore Powerboats, say that those coming on the market have usually been with their owners for a long time.

So what attracted us to this boat? On paper, it appears to be a clever, practical 6-berth boat, ideal for distance cruising, and, with a moderate air draft, perhaps for

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venturing down to the Med through the inland waterways. So, with prices ranging from ÂŁ92k to ÂŁ150k, we stepped aboard a 2003 example to investigate.

the batteries stored in the aft corner of the dinette seating, with an easily accessible isolator panel in the companionway. The gas-strutted table opens up for family/ group dining occasions and also drops Interior down to provide a decent-sized, guest Main entry to the boat is through a patio double berth. Finally, being U-shaped, its door from the aft cockpit and into the a great space for a couple to put their feet rather impressive, sunken saloon area. up and relax.

Two companionway steps deliver you into Immediately opposite, the galley is the bright and spacious saloon, which perfectly proportioned for long-term provides 6ft standing headroom with cruising, offering oodles of storage and light and ventilation provided by a large excellent worktop space. With plenty of opening, oval window each side. There elbow room for two people to work, it is a raised U-shaped dinette area to port is equipped with a double sink, a large and to starboard, an equally capacious capacity fridge, a two-burner gas hob, U-shaped galley area. The dinette provides grill and oven. Ingenious lift-out panels seating to 6-7 people and there are in the worktop in the forward and aft ample storage areas in the seat bases, and corners reveal a draining freezer chest and outboard under the side deck mouldings a deep, sectioned storage locker. Drawer behind the backrests. You will also find and cupboards offer sectioned storage for 92

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Nimbus branded crockery and cutlery, while additional storage areas have been exquisitely crafted using any wasted space, with slide-front lockers under side deck voids and shelving in the bulkhead recesses. Gas bottle storage may well be found in a plastic locker under the sink. It is unusual for the gas to be stored within the accommodation, so ensure this locker is sealed and vents overboard. It is a safety consideration and may be flagged up for boat safety inspection for the those looking to boat on inland waterways.

Leaving the saloon, the companionway continues forward, where three steps lead up into a pilothouse-style wheelhouse.

The helm console, with its single bucket seat, is immediately to starboard, while there is a two to three person co-pilot bench seat to port, both on raised plinths.

Sliding doors each side provide ventilation and excellent access to the side decks, which is ideal for single handing. Ahead of the co-pilot is a large chart storage area and useful glovebox. The helm console is equipped with the necessary instruments

Evolution of the helm console. Nimbus updated and remodelled the console to take a larger plotter Motorboat Owner Š Digital Marine Media Ltd

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and equipment, but unfortunately on most boats there is no room for flush mounted navigation and radar displays, so bracket mounting is usually the only option.

Original 90s electronics, such as Raytheon radar screens and Shipmate VHFs, are likely to be found, with Raymarine packages coming later. It wasn’t until 2006 that Nimbus remodelled the console, with another angled dash panel moulding added immediately ahead of the driver to accommodate an 8-10 inch chartplotter.

Providing excellent forward visibility, it is a comfortable helm position for all weathers. However, with the flybridge coaming and saloon bulkhead behind, visibility is very restricted aft. Despite this one owner admits to not helming from the flybridge at all, fitting rear cameras for added piece of mind and a larger shockabsorbing helm seat for comfort.

Two steps down from the wheelhouse delivers you into a cabin lobby with doors leading off to the two cabins and a toilet compartment. Immediately to port is the well-proportioned guest cabin. Inside its thwartships double berth is a really good size, at 6ft 2in by 4ft 7in, and is easily accessible with good seated headroom too.

Beside the bed is a small seat with integral storage and a two-tier storage unit. For a couple cruising distances, this cabin is excellent for storage, the bed is ideal for stowing fold up bikes in bags. It also has the bonus of a full-length hanging locker.

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The side cabin’s thwartships double is an excellent size

On the starboard side is a good size toilet and shower compartment offering 6ft headroom. The moulded compartment is split into two areas, with a separate shower cubicle on the left and toilet/wash basin area on the right, both with teak slatted floor panels. The shower cubicle has a small hinged teak seat, a shelf for shower potions, and a concertina door or curtain. In the toilet section, a moulded L-shaped worktop incorporates a wash basin, integral storage and access to the boats holding tank, if fitted. There is also a large mirror, a slide front cupboard under the side deck coaming and an eye-level cupboard giving access to wiring looms feeding the helm.

The two cubicle toilet and shower compartment is great for long-term cruising with good headroom

2003 380 £114,500 (featured) Twin Volvo KAMD43 230hp Boatshed Essex 01621 744842 www.boatshed.com

2006 380 £149,950 Twin Volvo D4-260 Solent Motoryachts 01489 886663 www.solentmotoryachts.com

2001 380 £95,000 Twin Volvo KAMD43 230hp Boatshed Portsmouth 01983 869203 www.boatshed.com

1994 37 £92,000 Twin Volvo TAMD41 200hp James Dickens Marine 01425 483264 www.jamesdickensmarine.com

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

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The forward master cabin is a generous size, has 6ft headroom and delivers a US motoryacht feel. Again, Nimbus’s exquisite joinery provides excellent storage solutions, and attractive tongue and groove hull panelling oozes quality. The cabin’s clean and traditional twin V-berth format is comfortable, and converts into a double with an infill. On the port side is a two tier storage cupboard, with hanging space at the back and a shelf with cupboard storage below at the front. A fixed double was also available in here, which saw a large berth offset to starboard, and a small seat added to port.

Optional extras such as a holding tank and heating are serious cruising essentials worth looking out for. A holding tank with

a deck fitting was a £500-£600 option, with an underwater outlet a further option.

Diesel heating and demisters could be added for £3k. Nimbus achieves its clean, yacht-like interiors by using high quality and hard-wearing American cherry wood joinery. This is usually combined with practical blue alcantara upholstery. Cabin soles are lined with teak with holy stripes and edged, clip-on over carpets are added to high wear areas.

On deck Step through the transom’s deep cockpit coaming and the boats sunken cockpit area immediately feels secure. There are two integral cockpit bench seats running fore and aft each side. Each has a clip-on

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The canvas-covered cockpit is an extension to the saloon with space for additional deck chairs

seat cushion, while the moulded bases have integral steps to move out onto the side decks and provide deep vented storage for larger items such as buckets.

Enclosed by a full height canopy, the aft cockpit provides a conservatory-like space for crew to convene or dry wet clothing with easy-enough access to the fly. However, on the 2003 380 viewed, its owner had customised a wood-panelled hardtop over the aft cockpit area which will certainly save on costly canvas repairs or replacement in the long run.

The 37/370 has an integral bathing platform, while the 380 has a longer, larger bolt-on platform. The deep, fullwidth bathing platform makes boarding a breeze, but it is also full of clever features.

Integral step lockers each side, are useful for boarding the boat and for storage. The platform is also equipped with a bathing ladder and transom shower, while extras included davits and a stern anchor.

Eight-inch one-level side decks, sturdy double-height guardrails and a large, scalloped, shallow foredeck make it easy to move about on deck. Teak decks were a £3k in-build extra, and a popular choice.

At the bow there is the distinctive bow sprit platform, used for boarding in rocky Scandinavian archipelagos, and this is equipped with an electric windlass as standard, with the chain under a hatch.

The boat’s attractive teak plaque model name panels, sidedeck toerails and guardrails are features that will need seasonal attention.

Flybridge The flybridge is one of three areas on this boat where a family and crew can come together to eat, enjoy the sun and socialise, the other two being the saloon and the cockpit. It is accessible two ways, the aforementioned steps from the wheelhouse, which delivers you through a sliding clear door, or a series of vertical wooden steps lead up from the aft cockpit.

As you climb aloft, high stanchions and canvas dodgers provide good security.

There is seating for four or more with an L-shaped bench seat to starboard and a single pedestal bucket helm seat sits aft of the quite compact helm console to starboard. The windscreen echoes the front edge of the cabin roof and, being set

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

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so well forward, it leaves un-adorned roof space which later evolved, with a cushion pad, into a lovely sun or kids crash pad.

High quality teak flooring once again was an option up here and, being slightlyvaulted, there are no concerns regarding blocked deck drains. Other extras on the fly included a pedestal co-pilot bucket seat or table, and a bimini.

Set well back, the view from the flybridge helm is commanding, albeit a little limited when seated, which is fairly typical of this style of wheelhouse cruiser. The windscreen does however give really good protection. The helm itself is compact yet fully equipped. However, with no space on early examples for a flushmounted chartplotter, this helm evolved the same way the internal helm did, with Nimbus adding another dash moulding to accommodate an 8-10-inch chartplotter during the late 00s.

The first 37/370 models have a stainless radar arch hoop that sits within the windscreen on the wheelhouse cabin roof. 380 Commanders have a metal radar pillar mast, either stainless steel or a white, powder-coated metal, which is supported by three forestay cables and topped by a mast light. Both options usually hinge at the base and therefore

There is good access between the helm stations.

Ensure canvas covers are in good condition

should be removable, which may be useful for cruising on inland waterways. With the mast up, its air draught is 4.59m and lowered or removed its windscreen height is 4.04m. Examine the surfaces around the arch or heavy mast base for stress cracking, which could be the result of a pounding at sea.

Hull and Handling Nimbus pride themselves in delivering efficient cruisers and the 370/380 is no exception. It is a semi displacement boat with a flat, rounded underwater profile with a shallow V, and a keel running approximately two thirds of the hull.

The keel also protects the sterngear in shallow depths and provides stability. Its performance is highly regarded. Despite the weight of the shafts on V-drive configuration, the hull shape still provides plenty of lift for good performance across a broad spectrum of speeds, displacement or semi-planing, making it a good chameleon crossover for inland and coastal boating.

While the keel and shaftdrive Alfresco aloft, its flybridge is an impressive space configuration gives excellent directional 98

October 2019

response and stability, it is a fairly high sided boat that will be susceptible to the wind. A bowthruster will provide that added piece of mind when manoeuvring at close quarters and was an in-build £2500 extra.

Standard models have a white hull.

However, a navy gelcoat hull proved popular and was available across the model guises, as a £2k extra. The navy hull is extremely attractive but will need annual attention to keep its lustre. A white hull may prove easier to maintain and to keep looking good. To protect from impacts, the boat is equipped with heavy duty D-fendering along the gunwales and around the bathing platform.

KAMD42s were also available. By 1996 the 370 was available with either 200hp Volvo Penta TAMD41Ps providing a top speed of 25 knots or 230hp Yanmar 4LHSTE giving 27 knots. Then in 1998 the UK dealer, Offshore Powerboats, was offering the 370 with only the Yanmar engines priced at £179,742. By 2002/03 Nimbus was fitting twin 230hp Volvo Penta KAMD43s as standard costing £212,056, giving the boat a new top speed of 28 knots. With the evolution of Volvo’s new electronically-managed D-series engines, the 380 Commander was being offered with 260hp D4s (UK price of £258,869).

There are also references to 300hp D4s in a 2009 brochure.

Engines The boat is powered by twin shaftdrive engines running in a V-drive configuration and, despite a Yanmar option, many UK-spec’d boats will be fitted with Volvo Penta engines.

When the 37 was introduced it was fitted with 200hp Volvo TAMD41Ps priced from £167k. Supercharged 230hp

TAMD41 boats are fitted with 4-bladed 18x20 inch props, and KAD42 versions with 18x22

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Twin Volvo 230hp KAMD43 are fairly common in UK-imported examples

When it comes to cruising speed, early boats fitted with the TAMD41s should cruise at around 16-18 knots. Nimbus performance tables for this era confirm 25 knots at 3900rpm, and an economy of 3.15 litres per nautical mile, while at a reduced pace of 22 knots (3500rpm) it is 2.64 litres/nm. The 230hp KAMD42 and upgraded KAMD43 are based on the same TAMD block, with the superchargers providing slightly quicker acceleration, running at the same RPM these should consume 3.35 litres/nm at full speed and 2.84 litres/nm at around 25 knots. Models fitted with the marginally heavier Yanmar engines should cruise happily at 18-20 knots, and achieve similar economy to

Twin Volvo D4-260s fitted to a 2006 380

the Volvos at faster speeds. Overall, like most shaftdriven boats, you should expect around one nautical mile per gallon (4.5 litres).

There is no need to peel back saloon carpets and remove floor hatches on this boat as, being V-drive, the engines are immediately accessible under the aft cockpit floor via two large gas-strutted hatches. The hatches reveal a wellengineered bay, with the front two thirds of each engine readily accessible, and a useful storage tray area aft of them. A calorifier is mounted on the port side, with a generator also seen positioned on this side on one example. Deep channels around the hatches ensures rain water drains away, but a central drainage bearer does somewhat restrict access between the engines. There is additional ‘back end’ engine access through the narrow step in the aft saloon companionway.

This is useful for visual checks but also provides access to the fuel filters which are mounted on the forward bulkhead.

Another hatch under the dinette aft seat gives access to the port engine. We noted that while the starboard sea cock

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was readily accessible, the one for the port engine is not, so ensure that this is in good condition and operational. The boats single, stainless steel 755-litre fuel tank is located under the saloon floor and is accessible via a large hatch that also reveals the fuel sender.

Regardless of hours, ensure routine maintenance has been carried out. Both Yanmar and Volvo Penta engines are highly regarded, with good availability of spares and a widespread service network. On boats fitted with the older, non-electronic engines, savings can be made by sourcing spares, fault-finding and conducting servicing tasks yourself.

The modern Volvo D-series engines will require an engineer with a computer to diagnose any problems and conduct some maintenance tasks.

While engine noise is normally barely

negligible from the flybridge, at the lower helm station the noise levels are reported to be slightly intrusive. With engines extending under the saloon floor and voids forward, it is important to inspect any sound proofing. On its later 340 Commander model, Nimbus attempted to ‘box in’ the engine, which was easier in terms of space as it was a single engine.

Conclusion Nimbus should be congratulated for packing so much into this 37 footer.

It is a very clever trawler, although its ‘up and down’ layout, and its abundance of steps, may not be for everyone. However, step aboard and its comfort, quality, performance and versatility far outways this.

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 340 Commander 2004-11

380 Carisma

Prices £120,000-£180,000

Prices £120,000-£200,000

Length 33ft 9in Beam 11ft 1in The 37/380’s smaller sister is almost identical in layout, offering 4-6 berths with 2 cabins.

Buy one (pictured) 2005 £119,950 www.rpaboatsales.co.uk

1998-2011

Length 37ft 8in Beam 11ft 9in Full-fledged-flybridge 6-berth sister of the 380 Commander with moulded flybridge steps.

Buy one (pictured) 2004 £127,850 www.jamesdickensmarine.com

310 Coupe

1997-2001

Prices £65,000-£70,000

Length 30ft 6in Beam 10ft 4in Two-cabin cockpit cruiser, ideal for coastal cruising for two. It evolved into the 320 Coupe later.

Buy one (pictured) 1999 £127,850 www.networkyachtbrokers.com

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

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New and Used

Boats for Sale 01189 403211

Seamaster / 813

Spacious cruiser with 6ft cabin headroom, bowthruster, fridge

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

Corsiva / 590 Tender

Open day boat, social seating for 6, sprayhood & tonneau, table

Interboat / 20

Well maintained with solid teak floor, seating for 9, table, bimini

Interboat / 6.5

Stylish open day boat, seating for 10, Esthec floor, bowthruster

1979 | £14,995 | 26.7ft | 8.1m

2016 | £15,000 | 18.7ft | 5.7m

2008 | £25,500 | 20.8ft | 6.4m

Interboat / Intender 700

Jersey / 30

Interboat / Intender 820

Haines / 32 Sedan

2015 | £49,950 | 22.6ft | 6.9m

2014 | £65,000 | 31.2ft | 9.5m

NEW | £77,950 | 26.6ft | 8.1m

2016 | £180,000 | 32ft | 9.8m

Luxury day boat with trailer, 75hp Volvo engine, bow thruster, 18 kts

Striking cruiser, 2 double berths, electric toilet, BSS until 2023

Eye catching boat, teal hull, toilet, fridge, Esthec deck & teak floor

FROM

£346,680

400 AFT CABIN

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

British built since 1980

NEW | £47,950 | 21.7ft | 6.6m

Luxurious cruiser with double island berth, walnut finish, heating

FROM

INTENDER 820

£48,570

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

Premium Dutch Quality

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

CRANCHI Z35 2x Volvo Penta D4-260 Engines FROM £270,000 INC VAT NE

W

NE

W

NE

W

Narrowboat Tingdene/Colecraft 52

Viking 275

Cranchi E26

Beta Marine 38 Diesel Engine FROM £139,950 INC VAT

Mariner 40EFI ELPT Outboard Petrol Engine FROM £49,866 INC VAT Lying T&K

Volvo V6 280 Petrol Engine From £86,950 EX VAT

NE

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NE

Glastron GT185 Volvo Penta V6 -200C Petrol Engine £36,950 INC VAT Lying Windsor

NE

Lying Windsor

W

Glatron GT229 Cuddy

2015 English Harbour 27

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

Volvo D3 Diesel Engine £110,000

1996 Broom 345

2010 Bayliner 315

Lying Walton

W

2019 Viking 24 Highline Mariner 20hp Outboard Petrol Engine From £41,887 INC VAT

Lying T&K

TINGDENE SALES OFFICES

Portishead Quays Marina 01275 397277

Racecourse Marina, Windsor 01753 851717

tingdeneboatsales.net

Lying T&K

2x Mercruiser 4.3 Petrol Engines £79,950

“LARGEST BOAT SALES ON THE RIVER THAMES”

Thames & Kennet Marina 01189 477770

Walton Marina 01932 221689

Volvo Penta D6 Diesel Engines £99,950

Hartford Marina 01480 454677

Broadlands Marina 01502 440238

Upton Marina 01684 593111

e. boatsales@tingdene.net

Lying Windsor

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

104

www.hardy-owner.org.uk

Jeanneau Owners Network

www.jeanneau-owners.com

October 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

2003 Doral 250SE

£32,500 01189 403211 email address

105

Classified

1953 63ft RAF Pinnace ‘1387’

Original twin Rolls Royce 6FLM engines. Many original fittings such as two Baby Blake toilets. Presently used as a liveaboard. Lying Southampton

£45,000 ONO 07591 343750

Motorboat Owner Affordable practical boating

1972 RLM Bahama 31

1989 Nimbus 2600

Twin Perkins 4108 48hp shaftdrive diesels. Immaculate condition. Two doubles and a single berth, hot and cold running water, heating, recent engine service.

Single Volvo Penta TAMD 31 shaftdrive diesel. Centre cockpit aft cabin cruiser offering 5 berths with two doubles. Bowthruster, holding tank, calorifier.

£17,950

£25,950

01932 221689 waltonboatsales@tingdene.net

01189 403211 info@valwyattmarine.co.uk

New and Used

Boats for Sale

Advertisement Index

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Corsiva / 500 Tender

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

Interboat / 17

Nimbus / 2600

Modern look with social seating, teak effect floor, up to 60hp engine

Perfect day boat, seating for 8, teak floor, serviced & antifouled

Spacious interior, cockpit galley, bowthruster, winter cover

NEW | £13,100 | 16.4ft | 5m

2007 | £21,950 | 18.7ft | 5.7m

1989 | £25,950 | 27.1ft | 8.3m

Broom / Continental

Vast accommodation with berths for 4, heating, inverter, current BSS

1970 | £26,000 | 37ft | 11.3m

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Intercruiser / 29

Stylish new boat, solid teak floor, sink & toilet, bowthruster, bimini

Beautifully finished, perfect for extended cruising, fully equipped

Stunning boat, high spec, bow & stern thrusters, Volvo 220hp

2019 | £49,000 | 23ft | 7m

NEW | €79,196 | 26.6ft | 8.1m

1989 | £85,000 | 40ft | 12.3m

2018 | £199,950 | 29.5ft | 9m

*Discount applies when bought as a package

FROM

£346,680

400 AFT CABIN

T: 01869 363690 marine.chandlery@barrus.co.uk www.barrus.co.uk Talamex � Quicksilver � SunSport - Supported by Barrus

Broom / Ocean 40

Luxury dayboat with triple back sundeck & unique folding transom

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

FROM

INTENDER 820

British built since 1980

Lying

EW

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£48,570

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

Premium Dutch Quality

Glastron GT185

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

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See us on berths M012, M300 – M303

Enjoy the life you live

2019 Viking 24 Highline

Suzuki 30hp Outboard Petrol Engine £59,966 INC VAT Lying Thames &

TINGDENE SALES OFFICES

Thames & Kennet Marina 01189 47777

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

Racecourse Marina, Windsor 01753 851

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

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Walton Marina 01932 221689 Broad

All adverts are clickable

Barrus (Glomex & Barrus Chandlery)............................................. Page 13 & 37 Bates Wharf Marine Sales (Beneteau)........................................... Page 75 Dean & Reddyhoff Marinas............................................................. Page 7 Ideal Boat (Capelli RIBS)................................................................. Page 41 JC Marine Service............................................................................ Page 11 Marine AGlaze.................................................................................. Page 19 MDS Battery....................................................................................... Page 15 Parker Poland.................................................................................... Page 17 Sea Dek.............................................................................................. Page 39 Secure Marine (Hurricane Mouldings fenders)............................. Page 73 Simrad Yachting............................................................................... Page 9 Tingdene Boat Sales........................................................................ Page 103 Tingdene Marinas............................................................................. Page 4 Val Wyatt Marine.............................................................................. Page 102 Vetus.................................................................................................. Page 71 Volspec............................................................................................. Page 71

106

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

October 2019

L K what I saw

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@

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Sparkes skies

Colourful skies over Chichester Harbour SPOTTED! by Ross Young

Leap for joy off Padstow

Magic moments with dolphins off Cornwall SPOTTED! by David Bagshaw

Spring Phoenix

Southend’s Mulberry Harbour at low water SPOTTED! by Claire Frew

Crashed companionway canine

Can this be comfortable? It’s all too much for some SPOTTED! by Sue Bennett Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

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