Boat Mart May Preview

NEW BUDGET LOOK BOATING ISSUE

OVER 70 NEW PAGES OF ADVICE, TIPS AND PROJEC

TS

RESTOR AT ION TREASURE On board a classic 1930s

Best buys for £1K, £2K, £5K and £10K

French Neptune sailing canoe

HUNDREDS OF BOATS FOR SALE - SEE INSIDE

The home of affordable boating ONLY £3.50

20

BOAT SHOW BARGAINS

MAY 2011 www.boatmart.co .uk

EAS WEATHYER MASTER CL

FROM THEASS

Highlights of the 50th Birmingham boat festival

INLAND ADVENTURES

Ten great reasons to buy a GRP cruiser

DIY E XPERT

ORK EW URWEEPIP YRIGHYO TID WITH KEND THIS T IT PUT OUR STEP-BY-STEP PROJECT

DIY SERVICE YOUR PROJEC T TDRIVE OU SAVE MONEY WITH OUR DIY GUIDE

EARLY SE ASON NCE MAINTENA ENGINE, HULL & TRAILER SIMPLE TIPS FOR

ANGLING ADVICE ■ FISHFINDERS ■ NEW FISHER PROFILE ■ TOP ANGLING SPOTS PLUS ANGLING NEWS

12K

TEMPTATION THE 17-FOOT FISHER FROM ATLANTIC MARINE

PLUS FANTATSTIC RECEPIE

PLUS JUMBLE WATCH IN SEARCH OF THE UK’S GREATEST BOATING DEALS

PUBLISHING EXCELLENCE THROUGH EXPERIENCE

Contents

May 2011

52 £12K temptation The 17-foot fisher from Atlantic Marine

Boats For Sale

Newsline

Buying Advice

113 Narrowboats 114 Cruisers 118 Commercial 118 Fishing Boats 120 Ribs 121 Dinghies 121 Sports/Speed Boats 122 Personal Watercraft 123 Classic Sail 124 Trailer Sailers 125 Sailing Dinghies 125 Sailing Yachts 130 Chandlery 131 Engines

12 UK News

30 Restoration treasure

Looking To Sell?

If You’re Looking To Sell Your Boat, Then Boat Mart (In Conjunction With Boatandyachtbuyer.Co.Uk) Can Help

Find out what’s happening on the water near you

On board a 1930s sailing canoe

16 Boating Accessories All the latest gadgets for the acquisitional leisure boat skipper

24 Strange but true

40 Five boat buying options

Stewart Suffield scours the UK for the more unusual boating stories

Five new boat profiles to get you thinking

48 Tow car test Picking the perfect used Land Rover

58 Boat Show Bargains Highlights of the 50th Birmingham boat festival

40 88 On the water

Practical

64 Events Diary

78 Inland adventures

Find an event near you in April and May

What to look for in a classic GRP cruiser

66 Readers’ letters

79 Early season maintenance

New gear, mystery boats and outboard advice

Elementary DIY for engine, hull and trailer

70 Jumble watch

80 Practical Kit

In search of the UK’s greatest deals

Four more upgrade avenues for the DIY boater

72 The Good Life

82 Practical Project

Part 1 of our inland liveaboard blog

The perfect outdrive service

87 Mini Project Fix up your pipework like a pro

DIY

PRO

88 Skippers’ tips Forecast the weather with the RYA

92 Angling Advice 74 Show Watch Four more events under the Boat Mart microscope

Learn to fish for the beautiful Wrasse

94 Trailer talk Get the best out of your trailer boat

JEC

T

Newsline

Kit News - P16

From searchlights to rope cutters, it’s all here . . .

Round Britain Blessing The Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy (WPNSA) has played host to the Bishop of Sherborne for the official boat blessing of the Round Britain and Ireland Challenge Dehler Varianta 44 Fleet. The Academy has formed a partnership with this new event, offering people the chance to race around Great Britain and Ireland or join for a single leg. The race will run three times a year, starting and finishing in Weymouth, where the academy will form the base for the training.

Charlie Walker, MD, Round Britain and Ireland Challenge, said: “We are now in preparation at the WPNSA for the start of race one. The blessing was a time to reflect on all of the team’s hard work in setting up such a popular event that will see three 2,500 mile circumnavigations during 2011 alone.” www.rbic.co.uk

12

● www.boatmart.co.uk ● Boat Mart

Scottish merger Bosun’s Locker has formed a merger with boat dealer and marine engineering company, FYM. This combination of two of Scotland’s top marine specialists is designed to produce one of the most comprehensive boating services in the UK, with clothing, equipment, boat sales and engine repairs.

Together, the companies boast more than 70 years experience and the joint venture will allow them to offer a huge range of brands, including Finmaster, Linder, Nord Star, Orkney, Quicksilver, Regal and Warrior. The combined business will also become a Premier RIB centre for Avon, Zodiac and Rib-X. The merger comes after the announcement that FYM’s Director, Keith

Stewart, is soon to retire. He said: “It was important to join forces with a company that complements what FYM does. A marina location with access to the water and a sailing school on site is the obvious place for our company to be and Port Edgar’s planned new 20-ton boat lift makes the location extremely attractive.”

FYM will make the full move to Port Edgar by the end of April, with the business continuing to operate under the two established brand names. To celebrate the merger, customers are invited to the annual Demo Weekend on 30 April and 01 May at Port Edgar Marina.

01313 313875 www.fym.co.uk www.bosuns.co.uk

NEWSLINE

Engine News Honda superpower

UK BOAT NEWS

The Tohatsus finally arrive . . .

At the recent Miami Boat Show, Honda announced its first new engine at an increased horsepower for many moons - the BF 250. Details are a bit sparse and the engine is not due to hit our shores until the end of 2011, but what we do know is that it will be based on a unique 3.6-litre design, with a “striking and sleek exterior”. It will also incorporate the very latest Honda fuel saving technologies, such as BLAST, VTEC, and ECOmo - and it will be NMEA 2000 compliant, enabling it to be easily integrated with the very latest electronic equipment.

Phil Webb, Head of Power Equipment for Honda (UK) said: “The reason for bringing the BF250 to market is because we’re seeing a definite shift (mainly driven by America) which sees customers with larger boats wanting to make the change from inboard engines to outboards and thus, more powerful outboards are required. Particularly for the European marine market, the financial motivation for running a diesel inboard engine simply isn’t there any more because of the removal of the tax break for red diesel.”

Although official pictures of the new engine had not been released when news of the new engine arrived, we did manage to grab one taken by a visitor to the show on his phone . . . www.honda.co.uk/marine

Suzuki’s new gauges

Suzuki has launched a set of new electronic instruments called the Suzuki Modular Instrument System (SMIS). The new system uses an expandable cable system to transmit graphic and numerical data to the Multi-Function Gauges, which can display real-time readings of a wide range of information, including trim, speed, RPM and fuel consumption.

As the gauges are NMEA2000 compatible, they can also be linked to other electronic devices such as GPS receivers and chart plotters, allowing the user to overlay engine information on the screens of other devices. Easy to set up and install, the gauges are available in two and fourinch sizes and come with grey, white or chrome bezels so you can match them to the console of your boat. The new system can be used with nearly any boat and any of Suzuki’s Electronic Fuel Injection models from the DF40 right up to the DF300.

Shigeyuki Masuda, Group Leader for Europe, Middle East and Africa Marketing & Planning Group within Suzuki’s Marine

Having been unable to show their new portable engines at the London Boat Show, Tohatsu Marine managed to get a couple of its new engines to the Birmingham Boat Show a few weeks later. The new 5 and 6hp lightweight four-strokes should be available in the UK from about July 2011. www.tohatsu-uk.net

Division, said: “These new Multi-Function Gauges are an excellent addition to our range of parts and accessories. When fitted to our new generation Lean Burn outboards, customers will be able to see the low fuel consumption figures as well as feel the benefit in their pockets.” www.suzuki-marine.co.uk

Boat Mart ● www.boatmart.co.uk ●

21

Strange but true In the first of a new series on the more unusual side of boating, Stuart Field takes a look at some standout news stories from the last 12 months . . .

The tendency for people to undertake dangerous expeditions has been a perfectly natural feature of human history. We have always strived to discover what lies beyond the horizon and, by and large, whenever we have managed to find it, we have planted a flag and set about subjugating the locals. But this new regular article is not just about swashbuckling adventurers. It is about brave manufacturing pioneers, big personalities, remarkable objects, strange stories and incidents in the boating world that make you sit up and take notice. Here is a selection to get you started . . .

The have-a-go heroes A boat trip from Tampa to London across 7,000 miles of open ocean seems like a hell of an undertaking. But when Ralph and Robert Brown stepped off their tiny fishing boat at London’s Limehouse Marina, they seemed unsurprised by their success. Thousands of experts had said it was impossible and yet in making the trip, they had also made history by setting several world records, including the

d ynoy u e e n e W f you have a

I assing, embarr ive or t instruc stories, ll a w off-the- n touch get i e BM with th w crew no

24

● www.boatmart.co.uk ● Boat Mart

smallest powerboat to cross the Atlantic, the first flats boat to cross the Atlantic and the longest ocean voyage in a flats boat.

A flats boat is designed to run with the engine down in less than a foot of water. This particular craft, built by the Brown brothers in Hudson, Florida, is a tunnel-hulled catamaran filled with closed cell foam, which can run in just four to six inches of water. Called the ‘Intruder’, it is just 21-feet in length and

powered by a Suzuki 115hp outboard, with a 9.9hp auxiliary as an emergency backup. But what really separates this boat from other craft that have attempted the trip is the fact that it has no cabin for shelter, no keel for stability, no sail for extra propulsion and no support boat to carry supplies or to help out. It is essentially a lake boat and yet it took on an ocean.

The two men were completely exposed to the elements for the entire voyage. During that time, they survived massive waves from two hurricanes. They came close to running out of both fuel and money and they narrowly avoided being ‘run over’ by an iceberg in Greenland. But despite all the tribulations, the boat retained its seaworthiness. Trouble is the attached equipment fell apart from the combined impact of an estimated 140,000 slams during the 7,000-mile crossing. It’s a hell of an achievement and one unlikely to be equalled for a very long time . . .

Buying Advice Atlantic Fisher 510

22 PACKED PAGES

P30 P40 P48 P52 P58

The beauty of a classic sailing canoe Five new boat profiles to get you thinking On the road for the latest tow car test Does the Atlantic Fisher 510 really make sense?

The best from the Boat and Caravan Show

Tow Car Used Test Freelander 4 put through its paces

Forgotten Treasures PLUS - find out what you can buy on the£10K and used boat market for £1K, £2K, £5K

Hidden treasure

How nice would it be to cut back the bushes in your overgrown garden and find a nautical treasure just waiting for some TLC? Simon Everett takes a look at a classic 1930s sailing canoe . . .

We all dream about finding a treasure at the bottom of the garden, or coming across a used bargain that warrants a place on the Antiques Road Show. Well the story behind this 1930s sailing canoe fits both of those visions. It was found at the bottom of a garden, in very good condition (considering the length of time it had lain there) and was then given to the present owner to restore for his own use.

An adventurous heritage The story behind this boat is unusually well documented, as the finder was none other than the grandson of the original owner. The canoe was built in 1930 by George Seyler, a well-known boat builder with his yard right on the riverbank at Le Perreux sur Marne.

He built various types of picnic boat for river cruising, one of which was this Neptune class sailing canoe. It was a very popular model

30

● Buying Advice ● Boat Mart

in the 1930s and George built quite a few of them for wealthy Parisians who came to the country for relaxing weekends. He offered storage in his boathouse at the yard and put them in the water on request - essentially running an early ‘Park and Ride’ scheme.

By and large, these boats were used for picnic trips down the river, but this canoe was destined for far bigger adventures than that.

She was built for a merchant navy captain, who took her all over the world on the deck of his ship and explored the waters around the ports he visited. These excursions were pretty exotic for the time - North and West Africa, Canada, the near East and the Malaysian

Peninsular were all waters that saw the captain visit in this little boat. In fact, he even named her after one of the little villages he visited in Nigeria - ‘Le El Oued II’.

You can imagine him letting go, with a basket of supplies and some goatskin bags of water, possibly a few bottles of wine and some cheese wrapped in muslin. The sail would have taken him quickly along the coast and then he could furl the rig and paddle

BUYING ADVICE USED BOAT TEST

Boat Mart ● Buying Advice ●

31

Used Advice

BUYING ADVICE EXPERT TIPS with David Greenwood

- Is that boat too far gone?

The question of whether a used boat is too far gone is one only you can answer. After all, Joshua Slocum (the first man to sail single-handedly around the world) bought a run-down old boat called ‘The Spray’ for his voyage. He set about renovating her in

preparation for the feat and by the time she was ready, there was only one original timber left. So was she too far gone? Well not for him.

He was a professional 19th century sailor, accustomed to making and mending his way around the world on commercial sailing ships.

By the time he embarked on the big trip, he knew all there was to know about wooden boats and their repair.

Unfortunately, we can’t all be like Joshua Slocum. Instead, we need to take a realistic look at ourselves as well as the boat. For many of us, polishing and painting may be the only skills we can apply but some people may be able to go further, especially if they have developed special skills in the day job. Could you rebuild an engine? If not, do you know someone who could do it for you? Could you estimate the cost of getting this done?

In short, the secret of happiness is to be realistic about your skills, your budget and your time, but here is a thought. For the past two years I have been watching a young couple renovate a Channel Islands 22 built in the mid 1970s. They bought her for a song and she now looks better than when she was first launched all those years ago. Her hull and topsides are gleaming. All the wood has been stripped back and re-varnished, the old heads are now a wet-room with shower and the berths are sprung and recovered. It took two years of evenings and weekends but the results are outstanding. They now have a vessel that turns heads wherever they go - and I guarantee, the moment you see what can be done, it will get you thinking about just how much you’re capable of.

KEY STEPS TO BUYING PRIVATELY ● View the boat and make your offer subject to survey. ● Pay the deposit and receive a receipt and signed Sale Agreement, agreeing dates for completion. ● Ask for proof of ownership before paying out for a survey. ● Request Confirmation of Recreational Craft Directive Compliance or Exemption. ● Instruct your surveyor and await the report. ● Negotiate on work to rectify material defects and agree an adjusted price if necessary. ● Arrange your boat’s insurance before handing over the balance due.

● Ask to see all equipment and gear not currently on the boat but which is included in the sale price before handing over the balance payment. ● When you give the final payment, make sure you receive a Bill of Sale, previous Bills of Sale if possible, Certificate of Registration or letters or statutory declarations from previous owners relinquishing further interest in the boat, Builder’s Certificate, original receipted VAT invoice and all other relevant documentation.

● A broker will provid e a sale and purchase agreement ● Sort out all the fin ance ● Advise what docum entation is required ● Negotiate between the parties ● Provide a Bill of Sal e and advise about reg istration ● Provide the marke ting and viewing of the boat ● Help discussions wit h the surveyor For more information about buying and sel ling a boat see www.abya.co.uk or ww w.rya.org.uk. ABYA is the Association of Brokers & Yacht Age nts and is a good por t of call for anyone buying or selling a boa t.

For information on buying a used boat, check out the RYA’s ‘Buying A Second Hand Yacht’.

The Yacht, Power & Small Craft Specialists For professional yacht brokers and agents visit

34

● Buying Advice ● Boat Mart

www.abya.co.uk

For professional marine surveyors visit

www.ydsa.co.uk

Intender 770 It might be a super-plush tender, but as a standalone boat, the new 770 has plenty to offer . . .

So what’s the 680 all about?

While the 660 and 770 are of particular interest because of their blending of traditional shapes and modern, coastal, sporting capabilities, the very newest Interboat craft on the market is the 680. It is identical to the 770’s smaller sibling, the 660 in almost all respects (including price and spec). But where it differs is in the stern, where (in place of the striking configuration you see here) you get a more conventional closed transom.

40

● Buying Advice ● Boat Mart

Interboat’s latest craft is described rather boldly by Director, Jerry Schuiten, as “a new type of open boat”. The Intender 770 (and its smaller sibling, the 660) are apparently designed to get the Dutch boat builder into a new area of distinctly sporty and modernlooking tenders. They can be equipped with Volvo inboard diesel engines right up to 220hp, enabling speeds of up to 27 knots.

But it is not the pace (or the stable handling characteristics) of the new Intender that are particularly notable but the extremely unusual open transom. This is designed to allow easy access to the water for divers, skiers and watersports enthusiasts. With the top spec engine, the boat easily tows a waterskier and as a general sports boat it makes a very classy alternative to a RIB. Notwithstanding the extraordinary transom shape, another striking aspect of the boat’s appearance is the fat rubbing strake, which essentially replaces the more traditional rope fender. The central steering position is the focal point of the boat, with great views and easy access to all quarters of the craft, while the broad instrument panel allows the latest nav aids to be fitted.

The Intender features secure, shoulderheight, inward-facing seats for up to eight people, which is great for family boaters and the features list is also very useful. You get a full galley with a 40-litre fridge, single burner, sink and cold water system, plus a full spray canopy and tonneau cover. You even get a toilet room in the bow with a

black waste tank, which is dischargeable via the deck or through the hull. You get cockpit lights, twin batteries, a spayhood and rear cover, plus a solid teak bathing platform.

The shallow draft and low bridge clearance are both big bonuses for navigation on inland waterways and the decent turn of speed and stability will be useful assets on Europe’s coastal waters.

It may be marketed as a posh tender but if you are tempted, give Val Wyatt Marine a call and find out if it suits your needs as a very striking standalone boat.

Specifications Length overall: Beam: Weight: Fuel capacity: Water capacity: Power: People capacity:

7.7 m 2.8 m 2,500 kg 67 litres 50 litres 52 - 220 hp eight

660 Price:

33hp - £42,300 110hp - £55,800 170hp - £60,200

770 price:

52hp - £60,900 110hp - £73,230 170 hp - £77600 220 hp - £85,000

Contact Val Wyatt Marine 01189 403211 www.intender.nl

Events Diary Two more months of must-see events are about to take hold of the UK boating scene. Here are some of the standout dates in April and May . . .

17 April - Beaulieu Boat Jumble

13-15 May - RIBEX

National Motor Museum, Beaulieu SO42 7ZN With around 1,000 stands to rummage through, plus a ‘Boat Mart’ section, with a wide range of used boats, from classics to nearly new and those in need of restoration, the Beaulieu event remains the pinnacle of the UK’s annual jumble calendar. ● Entry - £9.20 ● 01590 612888 ● www.beaulieuboatjumble.co.uk

April 03 April - Norfolk Boat Jumble Royal Norfolk Showground, Norwich NR5 0TT ● Entry - £3 ● 01485 541566 10 April - Irish Boat Jumble Carrickfergus Sailing Club, County Antrim BT38 8BE ● Entry - £3.50 ● John Dillon - 07721 888789 10 April - Gloucester Boat Jumble National Waterways Museum, Gloucester Docks GL1 2EH ● Entry - £3.50 ● 01425 318200

24 April - Plymouth Boat Jumble City College, Devonport PL1 5QG ● Entry - £2.50 ● Dean Reynolds - sbba. ● boatjumbles@blueyonder.co.uk 30 April - 02 May International Beach Kite Festival, Weymouth Over the May Bank Holiday weekend, Weymouth beach plays host to Britain’s biggest kite festival.

Expect competitions, a trade village and free children’s kite workshops, plus a funfair on the pavilion forecourt and a firework display. ● Entry - free ● www.visitweymouth.co.uk

30 April - 02 May - Canalway Cavalcade, London The Canalway Cavalcade at the end of April in London is a unique community and waterways festival at the heart of the capital. It will see more than a hundred boats gathered in the pool, with working and traditional boats in a colourful procession. It will also involve trade shows, live bands, lots of kids’ activities, a real ale bar and a variety of snacks. ● Entry - free ● www.waterways.org.uk

64

● On The Water ● Boat Mart

APRIL MAY

May 03-07 May - Festival of Harbour Walks ● Entry - Free ● 01243 512301 ● www.conservancy.co.uk 07-08 May - Plymouth Sail and Power Show Queen Anne’s Battery, Plymouth, Devon PL4 0LP ● Entry - free ● 01752 671142 ● www.sailandpowershow. co.uk 14-15 May 2011 Rickmansworth Festival Batchworth Lock, Rickmansworth You can expect canal boats, a

Cowes Yacht Haven, Isle of Wight The UK’s only dedicated RIB exhibition will be showing more than 80 boats afloat in the event marina, ready for public sea trial, plus a whole tented village of special exhibits, food outlets and interactive displays. There will also be an open air public concert on the Saturday night. ● Entry - £4.50 ● www.ribexhibtions.co.uk

boating ‘tug of war’, boat trips, guest speakers, an environmental fair, live music and an animal farm for the children. ● Entry - free ● www.waterways.org.uk

ON THE WATER DIARY OF EVENTS 28-29 May - Southend Airshow

Event in focus Festival of Harbour W alks

Southend Seafront Thisis one of Europe’s largest free air shows, with an attendance of around half a million people, providing nine hours of flying over two days. There will also be more than 30 mobile caterers and ice-cream vans, plus three military areas, more than 20 exhibitors, a market and ground attractions covering more than a mile of the seafront. ● Entry - free ● 01702 390333 ● www.visitsouthend.co.uk 27-30 May - Fishguard Folk Festival Pembrokeshire Concerts, dance, busking, real ale and guided ● Smugglers walk. ● www.pembrokeshire-folk-music.co.uk

28-30 May - Crick Boat Show Crick Marina, West Haddon Road, Northants ● Entry - £10 ● 01283 742971 ● www.crickboatshow.co.uk

21-22 May - Sports Boat and RIB Show Ocean Village Marina, Southampton, Hampshire SO14 3TG ● Entry - free ● 02380 229385 ● www.sportsboatandribshow.co.uk

If you love walking an d love coastal views then the Festival of Harbour Walks could be the mi ni-Festival for you. Taking in more than 40 miles of coastline over four days, it promises to be an event to remembe r.

Now in its seventh yea r, it uses mainly shoreline paths around both Langstone and Chichester Harbour, en abling you to get a feel for wh y this area is so special for boaters.

Walkers complete a cir cumnavigation of Langstone Harbour, cro ssing the entrance by ferry. The walk inc ludes parts of the old Hayling Billy Line, vie ws of the old Oyster Beds and the nature res erve of Farlington Marshes.

Moving into Chichester Harbour on Wednesday 04 May, the walk will start at the top of the Thorney Ch annel and then follow the shoreline clockwise around Thorney Island. Then it’s on thr ough the thriving village of Emsworth an d along the shoreline to the day’s end in the pretty farming village of Northney.

On Thursday it begins again at Nutbourne but heads in the oppo site direction around the Chidham Peninsul a and into the picturesque village of Bosham for lunch. Th e afternoon stretch run s through countryside and reedbeds to finish at Fishbourne.

The final day takes in the one of the popular harbour routes from the sand dunes of East Head right up to Fishbourne. Lunch is at the historic Itcheno r Sailing Club, with an afternoon stop for tea at Dell Quay providing plenty of time to enjoy the views.

The Festival of Harbo ur Walks is organised

by Chichester Harbour Conservancy and Langstone Harbour Bo ard. Judi Darley for Chichester Harbour sai d: “All the walking is virtually flat and can be accomplished by anyone with a reason able level of fitness.

Each day, we visit sailin g clubs for breaks and always get amazing cof fee and cakes. We loo k forward to welcoming lots of walkers to this year’s Festival.”

The event is funded by the Chichester Harbour Conservancy but donations are welcome. ● Date: 03-07 May ● Entry: Free ● Tel: 01243 512301 ● Web: www.conser vancy.co.uk

Boat Mart ● On The Water ●

65

with David Greenwood

Tech Talk

GRP Cruisers

Is there a case for low-tech sailing?

When you’re looking in chandler’s shops or leafing through magazines, there is always something exciting about new gadgets. Technology that tells you more, does it quicker, offers greater accuracy or makes your life more comfy is always a big draw. But if you want all the comforts you enjoy in your own home, some hesitation begins to creep in. Sure, it’s good to have on board refrigeration, stereo systems, microwave ovens, TV and DVD, but they come at a price . . .

Buying Used Classics Part 1

In for a penny You don’t just have to buy the gadgets themselves. You also have to fund a beefier battery bank and a shore-power hookup, which suggests the need for an expensive marina berth rather than a tidal mooring. That brings with it a greater risk of electrolysis from stray current, and the chances are that your vessel is more vulnerable due to the increased number of through-hull fittings some of this technology requires. When it comes to cruising, you will need to cruise from marina to marina in order to hook up to shore-power if you want to enjoy all your toys, so the romantic idea of slinging your hook in a sheltered and secluded anchorage for the evening will become nothing more than a distant memory.

So where do you draw the line? How much technology do you need and what can you do without? Everyone’s answer will be different but the question is still worth asking, because technology is both a liberator and an enslaver. Your answer to the question will determine the sort of boating you can do.

The vital basics Here is a starter for ten. I wouldn’t venture out of the harbour without VHF and a depth sounder. With regard to VHF, I also carry a handheld backup, which does not rely on the boat’s main power source. I also carry GPS (once again with a handheld back-up) but I plan and plot my trip on paper as well, so I can always revert to the tried and tested old-fashioned navigation methods if necessary. Everything else is a luxury, which has to justify its place on board before it is considered.

For me, if the purchase requires me to spend my evenings in a marina, it is a non-starter. What about you?

In the first of a four-part series, David Webber takes a look at buying a classic GRP cruiser . . .

Classic GRP cruisers are wonderful creatures, offering bygone beauty, style, panache and breeding - and they don’t have to be expensive. There are literally hundreds of them around in the UK at good prices and the Freeman range of cruisers, now considered a classic, is a prime example. It may sound obvious but what you buy is dependent on what you want. You can either have a true classic boat or a vessel with classic style. There are some lovely looking replicas around and both the original and the reproduction craft have their fans in the boating fraternity.

True Classics There are two ways to buy a true classic boat. You can buy it in pristine condition (with all the restoration complete), in ‘as-new’ condition, or as a project, needing partial or complete renovation. This latter (and most daring) course of action may take several years to complete, dependent on her condition and size. However, in most cases, you can bring her quickly up to a level of mechanical decency and enjoy using her while you complete the remainder of the work.

Five vital considerations for GRP cruiser restoration 1 - Be aware of the amount of work and money involved in any restoration project you take on; 2 - Take into account the cost of any professional help required; 3 - Be honest about the length of time it will take to restore her; 4 - Spend as much time as you can, looking at as many boats as possible; 5 - Remember, the Inland Waterways Safety Certificate does not take into account the condition of the hull.

Finally, a classic boat can be a beautiful thing to own and use, so don’t be put off by the implications - just be aware of them.

Next month we consider some examples and prices . . .

78

● Practical Expert ● Boat Mart

PRACTICAL TECHNICAL TALK

Practical Diary The nights are drawing out and the priority is getting back on the water. Here are some key DIY tips to help avoid the pitfalls . . .

If you have planned properly for the new season, you should already have bought your new oil and filters, as well as any new anodes, belts or impellors that you need for your engine. It may also be prudent to order any trailer parts before the last minute rush to get on the water. This will avoid you having to wait for out-of-stock accessories to arrive.

Much depends on the weather as to when you start work on your rig for the new season. It may be best not to commission the engine until you are sure your rig will be back in use within a few weeks, but even so - the trailer and boat can be checked, cleaned and prepared beforehand.

The engine Ensure everything associated with the engine is satisfactory before starting for the first time. Correct fluid levels, belts and impellors that are in good condition are critical to your engine’s longevity. A modern marine engine craves clean oil and fresh fuel that is free of water. This may have entered the fuel system through condensation over the winter months, especially if the tank was not full during lay up. If necessary, drain and clean the tank, filter the fuel, and mix a fuel additive to absorb any remaining water.

Specialist filter funnels such as ‘Mr Funnel’, will separate water from diesel or petrol before returning it to the tank.

What does it all mea n?

Four key Honda Marine buzzwords The hull Start the season with a clean hull, prepared with a suitable marine wax or other product used previously. If you are going to anti-foul, keep in mind the recommended immersion times after applying the final coat. If the weather is fair, check (and oil or varnish) any woodwork and apply a product such as WD40 to hinges, locks and other moving parts. Use a specialist product such as Starbrite plastic scratch remover on any acrylic-type windows or hatches to remove fine scratches and to restore the surface lustre. It’s amazing what a difference these products can make.

BLA

ST - (Boosted Low Speed Torque) During perio ds of rapid acceleration, Honda’s BLAST system boosts performance by adjusting the air/fuel ratio for ma ximum torque, while advancing ignitio n timing to its maximum pre-knock level to increase torque under full-load conditions.

VTEC

- (Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Contr ol) This varies the lift and duration of the intake valves to provide optimum pe rformances at both low and high revolutio ns.

NMEA

The trailer Your trailer may already be back on its wheels with the bearings and brakes checked, greased and adjusted. Before you take her out on the first run, check everything is satisfactory. Every nut and bolt should be tight and secure, the winch, strap and keel rollers should also be in satisfactory condition. Stop after a few miles on the first outing and check that the wheels and bearings are not unduly hot, and that everything else is as it should be.

2000 - (National Marine Electronic Associatio n) This is the on board marine commu nication standard of boats and vessels and is based upon a CAN bus network. Th e communication standard of boat equip ment (navigation, sensor and display) ha s been unified so that lots of devices ca n be connected together (and intera ct) on the CAN bus network.

RCD - (Recreational Craft Dir ective) As far as outboards are concerned, this is the governing standard , which dictates acceptable levels of no ise, vibration and emissions. www.honda.co.uk/m arine Boat Mart ● Practical Expert ●

79

SUBSCRIBE TO BOAT MART

TODAY AND RECEIVE

THREE ISSUES FOR £1

WHY SUBSCRIBE? NEVER MISS AN ISSUE AGAIN DELIVERED DIRECTLY TO YOUR DOOR BEFORE IT’S IN THE SHOPS CALL THE SUBSCRIPTION HOTLINE 01442 879097