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top tips for maintaining your boat REVEALED

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Contents

31

August 2011

USeD fAmily fiSher

The Sea Jeep 15 from endeavour Boats

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Practical boating at its best

A BOATING

FIRST LOOK

WESTPORT PILOT 6

GUIDE FOR THE DIY EN THUSIAST

ESSEN TIAL ADVICE ON GADG ETS

THE PRO BOAT JO TOOLKIT VITAL BS BOA IMPRO T CARE EASY TWVEMENTS SOURCE EAKS EXPERT S CONTA CTS

top tips for maintaining your boat REVEALED

THE £20K FAMILY FISHER

On board the super tis 26C tough AtlanIsland cuddy The new Channel

Fit a new throttle DIY PROJECT to your boat PUBLISHING EXCELLENCE THROUGH EXPERIENCE

THE TOOLS

GET EQUIPPED FOR A SELF-SUFFICIENT BOAT LIFE

THE MAINTENANCE

INCREASE YOUR RELIABILI TY AND REDUCE YOUR BILLS

THE UPGRADES

MAKE SIMPLE BUT REWARDIN G IMPROVEMENTS TO YOUR BOAT

BOAT SEARCH: Top package deals from £1,000 to £10,000 THE KNOW FIND OUT WHERE TO LEDGE GO FOR EXPERT ADVICE ON

BOAT DIY

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Boats for Sale

111 Narrow Boats 113 Cruisers 116 Fishing 119 RIBs 121 Sports /Speed 126 Sailing Dinghies 126 Trailer Sailers 127 Sailing Yachts 131 Engines 132 Chandlery looking To Sell?

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

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ANSWER WITHIN

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Newsline

Buying Advice

12 UK News

All the latest news from the UK boat scene

31 Used search

16 Boating Accessories Top boating gear for you and your crew

35 Online bargain hunt

The hunt is on for a used family fisher

Is the Web the place to bag a boat deal?

36 Deals of the month

Top boat packages from as little as £179

24 Strange but true Irving Stewart scours the UK for the more unusual boating stories

40 New Boat Profiles

Four new boats get the once over . . .

48 Used tow car test

The merits of the epic Mark II Discovery

52 Atlantis rediscovered The Atlantis Cabin Boat is put to the test

52

96

On the water

Practical Expert

58 Events Diary

72 Correct your corrosion

Take a day out in August and September

The importance of the right metal

60 Readers’ Letters

74 Practical Kit

A mystery Flipper and some clever DIY

Great gadgets from the Force 4 Chandlery

64 Jumble Watch

76 Practical Project

The bargain hunters head for Ipswich

Time to fit the throttle and seats

66 The Good Life

80 Timber time

First day fun on the Editor’s new liveaboard

The expert approach to caring for wood

68 Show Focus

85 Mini Project

The Southampton Boat Show is almost upon us

The perfect crimp terminal explained

DIY

PRO

88 Skippers’ tips The RYA’s guide to greener boating

92 Fishing for food The essential basics of hunting Bass

96 Trailer Advice Keep it simple with some trailer gadgets

JEC

T

Newsline

Kit News - P16

The walkie talkie makes a welcome return

The new Barracuda looks like a seriously capable sea boat

MBE for RNLI man Paul Frost, an RNLI volunteer for 43 years, is to be rewarded with an MBE. Having retired a couple of years ago from his job at British Telecom (we won’t hold that against him), Paul now works full time for the RNLI and has recently qualified as a coxswain, in spite of only having three years left in which he can serve on the water.

Paul said: “A colleague and I started at the age of 14. We weren’t really meant to start until we were 17, but we were allowed to help out with the shore crew until we were allowed to join.

Health and safety wasn’t like it is now.”

Paul worked on inshore lifeboats until 1983, before progressing to offshore boats, working as second mechanic and then radio operator. The age limit for working on the water is 60, but Paul is determined to make the most of it. “People have asked me how I keep doing it, but it’s just the satisfaction of the job”. Now that sounds like an MBE that is truly deserved.

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RIB team makes it to the Arctic Circle A team of adventurers has become the first to travel from Scotland to the Arctic Circle over six days in a pair of six-metre RIBs. Seven men and a woman made the journey as part of the GORE-TEX Arctic Challenge, battling rough seas and a ten-hour, 220-mile night crossing from Shetland to Maloy to complete the epic journey.

The team, which took on the task in a bid to prove the capabilities of modern RIBs, arrived in Svolvaer in the Lofoten Islands, having traveled 903 miles. Pete Goss MBE, one of the crew members, said: “This has been a great trip where I have learned exactly what a RIB can do when put to the test. I truly hope it inspires others to get out onto the water and explore.”

Highlights from the trip, which used two 6.3-metre Suzuki-powered Humber RIBs, included swimming in the middle of Norwegian sea at night, 100 miles offshore, surrounded by oil rigs. And organiser, Hugo Montgomery-Swan, said it was so successful he is already planning the next adventure: “Our experiences on the GORE-TEX Arctic Challenge have been among the finest I have ever enjoyed afloat. The Norwegian coastline is more majestic than one can imagine and our boats provided the very best possible means of seeing the mountains and all they hold. There are more adventures on the horizon and I would urge people to keep an eye on www.ribstothelimit.com to see what the team has planned for 2012.”

Well done to all concerned.

Buying Advice

18 PACKED PAGES

P30 P35 P36 P40 P48 P52

An old favourite with a wallet-friendly price Is the web really a bargain basement for boat buyers? op boat deals from ÂŁ1,000 to ÂŁ10,000 Five more boats to tempt you onto the water . . .

A used Toyota might be just the workhorse you need The super-tough cuddy from the Channel Islands

36 52

40

BUYING ADVICE NEW BOAT TEST

Atlantis 26C

Simon Everett braves a Force 5 off Guernsey in the latest cabin boat from Atlantis

T

hose who have boated around the Channel Islands, particularly Guernsey, know all too well it is rarely smooth sailing. With a huge tidal range and a tendency toward a sharp chop, these waters like to keep a skipper on his feet - or even knocked off them for that matter.

However, it is these very conditions that drove Patrick Wheeler of Atlantis Marine to design a hull capable of maintaining a decent cruising speed in sea states most people wouldn’t go out in. The result of his endeavours was the eminently capable Atlantis 26 - an open boat of great potency, space and versatility. And that formidable 26 has now been joined by the inevitable cuddy version - a boat which Patrick claims has even greater seakeeping abilities than the original. Now that sounds like a claim that needs looking into . . .

Built for the chop Heading out for the test, the swell of about 1.5 metres came to meet us as we left the harbour. The flood tide was against the stiff breeze as we made the run across to Brecqhuo and under the Barclay brothers’ new castle. Already, the boat was running with a bow-up attitude that helped her deal with the big holes that appeared every

now and again - and stopped her digging her nose into a trough. The ride was also softened by the steep deadrise and the acute angle of the heavily raked stem. In fact, even in these conditions (and still unaccustomed to the wave patterns and the boat), I was able to maintain an average of almost 24 knots, without even a hint of banging or slamming.

Before the run across the more open channel, we performed the speed trials in a sheltered section of water in the lee of Herm. Here, out of the weather, we got her up to a maximum speed of 41.3 knots, which for a boat that weighs 2.2 tonnes, plus fuel and water, is very respectable. We may have squeezed a little more had we

Boat Mart ● Buying Advice ●

53

Get Hitched

with Paul Guinness

Even with a budget of just a couple of thousand pounds, you can buy one of Land Rover’s most underrated tow cars. Paul Guinness reports . . . manual transmission was totally redesigned to improve both reliability and usability.

THE FULL RANGE

Launched in 1998, the Discovery II was developed under BMW’s ownership of Land Rover - which meant it was much more advanced than the original. Despite its visual similarities, the body was longer and wider, but it was underneath where the really clever stuff lay. The ladder frame chassis was stiffened up with six crossmembers instead of five, and Land Rover now fitted air springs

Specifications

ENGINE:

2,495cc in-line five-cylinder turbo-diesel MAX POWER: 136bhp @ 4200rpm MAX TORQUE 221lb.ft. @ 1950rpm PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 15.3secs; 97mph ENGINE: 3,948cc in-line V8 petrol MAX POWER: 185bhp @ 4750rpm MAX TORQUE: 250lb.ft. @ 2600rpm PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 11.7secs 105mph MAXIMUM TOWING WEIGHT All models: 3,500kg (braked trailer)

48

● Buying Advice ● Boat Mart

at the rear for self-levelling and extra ground clearance off-road, plus anti-roll bars all round.

The end result was a car that handled better on the road, particularly when hauling a heavy load. Offroad, its ability was upped thanks to Electronic Traction Control and Hill Descent Control. As before, there was a dual-range transfer box, and the five-speed

The Discovery II’s engine was the new 2.5-litre Td5, which used electronic injection and produced 136bhp at 4,200rpm, plus 221lb.ft. of torque at 1,950rpm. And despite the popularity of diesel by then, Land Rover’s legendary 4.0-litre V8 petrol (technically still 3.9 litres in capacity) was also offered, albeit selling only in limited numbers.

Land Rover offered the Discovery II in E, SE, XS and GS models. The latter two came with the all-important ACE suspension as standard (it was optional on the others), while all versions got ABS brakes, HDC and a driver’s airbag. A good compromise though, was the mid-range XS, which added air conditioning, ACE, side airbags, cruise control and part-leather seat trim.

Later on, a new range-topping model (the ES) was launched, boasting even more equipment.

We have a team of Boat crew experts, ready and waiting to reply to your boating queries. So what are you waiting for? If there’s a question you need answering, we have the answers right here.

Reader Mailbox

Perplexing questions, contentious rants or perhaps top tips for other readers and praise for great service - this is the place to share your thoughts with the nation.

The winner of the Star Letter prize will receive one of these fabulous WaveRunner Cooler Bags worth £12.49. They can hold up to two six-packs of 330ml cans, making them perfect for those days afloat when a cool drink and bite to eat are required. For more information about this and many other Yamaha watersports accessories check out www.yamaha-motor.co.uk/accessories.

Email your letters to the Editor: boatmarteditor@ gmail.com

PETER CAPLEN ■ ■ ■ ■

Engines Propellers Repairs Electrics

■ Equipment Fitting ■ Practical Projects

Newly restored Dragon Dear Boat Mart,

My brother has just finished restoring our 1967 Dragon Yacht. It has taken him and his younger son about a year and a half to complete the job. We had previously raced her in the mid to late 80s and had stored her inside since around 1996.

The main work was to renew the fasteners and pelleting, along with a few internal bits. We then had to conduct a total repaint and varnish, sort out the rigging, add a new boom and totally service and upgrade the road trailer.

Boat Mart does not necessarily share the views expressed within letters and accepts no responsibility for any inaccuracies they may contain.

COLIN JONES ■ Equipment ■ Electronics

■ European Boating

Playing with GPS data PETER GREENWELL ■ Small ■ Mechanical Motor Craft Work ■ Electrical Work

IRVING STEWART ■ Used boats ■ Boat Buying

DAVID WEBBER ■ Practical Projects

60

■ Inland Waterways

Dear Boat Mart,

As a result of people taking the proverbial out of the ageing Garmin 12 GPS that I have been using on my boat for a very long time, my wife bought me a Garmin GPSmap 451 Chart plotter.

Excellent - but how was I to transfer my waypoints from my GPS 12 to my new unit. I had transferred the GPS 12 data to my PC but that was an ‘sa.gpx file’.

The new unit reads an ‘.adm’ file from an SD card. The answer to this issue was to use a programme called GPS Utility (see www.gpsu.co.uk for details). This can read GPS in a number of different formats and convert it into the format you need. So all I had to do was run the programme, load the ‘.gpx’ file and save it as an ‘.adm’ file. Transfer that file to an SD card and load it into the new unit. The free version only handles 100 waypoints at a time but you can do them in batches and merge them onto the plotter. Other programmes I have tried with good results are Qlandkarte and easygps, though these won’t do the conversions. It’s great and best of all, it’s free!

● On The Water ● Boat Mart

He has put a good sailing team together and the first event is next week at the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta. Mrs T15 and I will be going down as trolly dollies. Isn’t she beautiful . . .

dpb101, Poole Another one of these translaters is GPSBabel (check out www.gpsbabel.org). If you are really into charting and have a combined GPS/Sounder with either an NMEA output or card reader/writer, you could also try DrDepth and make some impresive 3D charts. Just be aware that this is not free. You would have to buy a licence to get the full features (www.drdepth.se).

Keith, Lancashire

Events Diary Two more months of events are about to take hold of the UK boating scene.

Here are some of the standout dates in August and September . . .

11 - 14 Aug 2011 Eastbourne Airborne

Find a jumble near you

This is quite simply the biggest seafront air show in the world, incorporating classic WW2 planes, cutting edge military jets, helicopters, air-sea rescue and wing walkers. You can also expect ground displays, arena events and trade stands, with evening concerts. And it’s free! www.eastbourneairshow.com

August 05 - 07 Aug 2011 Nottingham Riverside Festival, Victoria Embankment This is Nottingham’s biggest free festival weekend. Set alongside the beautiful River Trent, around 100,000 people come for music, arts, river activities, street theatre, street fair and steam engines. On site parking is available.

06 - 13 Aug 2011 Skandia Cowes Week, Isle of Wight Yes, it’s that time of year again.

The largest sailing regatta of its kind in the world comprises 40 daily races, plus more than 1,000 boats and 8,500 competitors from world class to weekend sailors. With around 100,000 spectators, it’s about as selfindulgent as a boating event gets.

07 Aug 2011 British Crabbing Championship, Walberswick, Suffolk Expect 1,250 kids, armed with line and bait, hunting for the heaviest crab over a 90-miute period. Refreshments will be available at the RNLI stalls.

13 - 20 Aug 2011 Dawlish Carnival One of Devon’s largest events includes a free international airshow on the seafront.

11 - 14 Aug 2011 Beached Festival, Scarborough

14 Aug 2011 Lewes to Newhaven Raft Race Annual race, with spectators throwing eggs and flour bombs, and a water canon blasting away. The finish line is at Newhaven Bridge.

01825 722225

13 - 14 Aug 2011 Worthing Birdman

14 - 20 Aug 2011 Fowey Royal Regatta

11 - 12 Aug 2011 Lowestoft Seafront Airshow

13 - 15 Aug 2011 Aldeburgh Regatta and Carnival, Suffolk Swimming races, children’s sports, and a lifeboat launch, plus an afternoon carnival, a fun fair and fireworks on the beach.

August September 2011 There are still plenty of boat jumbles left in the UK calendar. To find an event near you, visit ww.boatjumbles.org.uk. And to find out what a modern jumble is all about, turn to our regular Jumble Watch feature on page 64.

14 Aug 2011 Mumbles Raft Race, Swansea Fancy dress raft race starting at 1100 near West Cross and finishing at Knab Rock. Expect 50 rafts, 20,000 spectators and lots of fundraising efforts for the Mumbles lifeboat crew.

01792 402359 15 - 20 Aug 2011 Ramsgate Week, Royal Temple Yacht Club

16 - 25 September Southampton Boat Show, Mayflower Park It’s the biggest and best show in Britain (and possibly the world), with 2km of pontoons, 1,000 boats, 500 exhibitors and more than 122,000 visitors. See page 69 for more.

58

● On The Water ● Boat Mart

with David Greenwood

Tech Talk - Joining the nobility

David Greenwood looks in greater detail at what your choice of metals means for your boat . . .

Last month we considered corrosion and touched on the standard way of categorising metals. You may recall that the term ‘noble’ was mentioned. This rather archaic term is used to describe metals in terms of their inert qualities.

The more inert they are, the more resistant to corrosion they are - and therefore the more ‘noble’ they will be.

of other metals. Put two dissimilar metals together and the salt water between them creates an electro-magnetic cell (a battery). Electrical current will pass from one metal to another through the salt solution and, as a result, one of the metals (the least noble) will corrode.

Interaction between metals The problem for a boat owner when looking at metal fittings is knowing what metal he is looking at. Just like plywood comes in different grades and qualities (domestic interior, exterior and marine quality), so too do metals. There are, for example, various grades of stainless steel but you can’t tell what you’ve got simply by looking at it.

Under the surface of the water, it is not just a question of which metal is used.

You also have to consider the proximity

If you allow dissimilar metals to coexist in close proximity under water, corrosion will quickly occur

The DIY maintenance checklist

Your boat might have been perfect at the start of the season, but even in midsummer, ongoing maintenance remains a vital part of the fun. David Webber outlines the key jobs . . .

isdom s Pearl otafleW Webber’an from the powert water tellThe all-import itoring, quires constant mon head of outboards re d easily become blocke as some engines can nylon is. A short length of with tiny bits of debr gently ry Ve eal for cleaning. strimmer cable is id ile end of the tell tale wh prod up through the y neutral to release an running the engine in n ca is th as ing steel wire debris - and avoid us . se ho ncture the tell-tale cause damage or pu

Engine (1) Check that the seawater filter on any inboard engines are clean and sediment free.

(2) Check your engine’s fluid levels before every trip.

(3) Check the primary fuel filter on inboard engines and drain off any water.

(4) Lubricate the clamp screws and steering swivels on outboard engines with waterproof grease on a regular basis.

(5) Occasionally check the bolt security of any outboard engines that are permanently secured onto the transom.

(6) Check propellers for damage and file off any nicks or burrs to restore them to peak efficiency.

72

● Practical Expert ● Boat Mart

Smartwave Fit-out Part 4

D P IY ROJ

ECT

Having fitted the console, helm unit and steering cable, it is time to fit the engine control lever and connect it up to the engine. Peter Caplen

Having taken the engine off my previous RIB to fit onto the Smartwave, I also intended to use the single lever control, as it was in perfect working order. Unfortunately, when I came to dismantle it for servicing prior to installing it on the Smartwave, I found that the stainless steel bolts used to fit it onto the RIB had seized into the holes in the control. Despite copious amounts of penetrating oil, the alloy castings broke as the bolts were unscrewed.

I thought about drilling fresh holes, filling the old ones and then painting the unit (as it has been okay from a working point of view), but it was never going to look good on the shiny new Smartwave, so I decided to treat myself to a new control. As they can often be found new for a lot less than £100 on eBay, it seemed a worthwhile expense. With this decided, I had to uncouple the cables from the control. These were still in excellent condition and running freely so they didn’t need replacing, which saved a few bob without spoiling the job.

Fitting the single lever gear and throttle control

As you can see, the bolt holes in the old control are broken.

Once it is free, the circlip can be lifted off and stored for later use.

If it is found to be corroded or otherwise damaged, it should be discarded and a new one fitted. The same procedure is used to remove the gear cable circlip.

The first step in disconnecting the cables is to remove the circlip that secures the cable end fitting to the small spigot on the control. The circlip is removed by using a small screwdriver to prise it out of the groove, taking care that it doesn’t spring off and disappear.

76

● Practical Expert ● Boat Mart

The next stage is to undo the bracket that holds the outer cables in place. On this control, it is held in with two machine screws.

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Inland Boater Emma Slater of the RYA explains how to get involved in the inland waterways.

There can’t be many more enjoyable boating pursuits in the world than those offered by the UK’s inland waterways. With peaceful surroundings, a new place around every corner and a heritage-rich backdrop, meandering through the countryside in a classic canal boat or motor cruiser is one of life’s greatest pleasures.

The inland waterways are also the perfect place for first-time boating. Lowspeed limits and the reassurance of a bank just feet away mean there is always time to take a deep breath and have a think about what you’re doing. And with 3,000 miles of inland waterways in Britain alone, you’re bound to find something to tickle your fancy.

How to get started . . .

Exploring Britain’s network of canals is inexpensive and easy to arrange. There are plenty of travel companies on hand to help you plan your ideal trip, so you can tailor your trip to exactly match your needs. Some popular inland waterways regions include the Norfolk Broads, the Lake District and Scotland’s Lochs - and you can discover plenty more by looking online or enquiring with travel companies.

How about some training?

If you’ve never set foot on a boat, don’t worry. Inland boating is your perfect chance to get started and it’s a relatively safe environment. While anyone can hire a canal boat in Britain, it’s good to know the basics before you set off. If you’re a first timer, or you fancy mastering some new skills, the RYA’s Inland Waters Helmsman’s Course will be ideal.

This course is for anyone wanting to cruise the UK’s inland waterways or Europe’s extensive network of lakes, rivers and canals. It deals specifically with the requirements of the inland boater, whether they are into narrow boats or cruisers. It’s a real hands-on course, with minimal theory, and includes instrcution on how to handle a canal boat, so you can really get the most out of your time on the water. It also covers collision regulations, the operation of locks, vital safety procedures and general waterways etiquette.

88

● Practical Expert ● Boat Mart

Most courses take place over one or two days and can be taken either on a centre’s boat or your own. You’ll be surprised how much you can learn in just one day but if you don’t have the time for a full course, most hire companies will run you through the basics when you collect your boat. Once you can park, tie up and operate locks, you’ll be ready to set off.

Angling When it comes to eating fish, bass (or sea bass as they are often called) are a top choice. From now until early October and maybe even a bit later, bass can be caught almost anywhere around the UK, from reefs to sandbanks and wrecks.

As ever, the right bait is half the battle, and while there’s often debate over the perfect choice, there’s little doubt here. The best options are sandeel and launce, the latter preferred, as it is bigger and can be caught on shrimp lure, often close to the fishing mark. So how do you catch and keep your bait alive?

Launce is the best bait for a successful bass session

NEW FISHER PROFILE Trophy 2102 LOA Beam Weight Fuel capacity Baitwell capacity Max power

6.57 m 2.46 m 1,516 kg 196.8 litres 60.6 litres 175hp

More Information Bates Wharf Marine Sales 01202 679421 www.bateswharf.co.uk

Not everyone wants a dedicated fishing boat.

Some prefer to do a spot of fishing in addition to the rest of their general boating activities and it is this majority of non-specialist family boaters that Trophy has in mind with the 2102.

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● Practical Expert ● Boat Mart

Ted Tuckerman explains how to hunt down one of the UK’s favourite eating fish . . .

Managing your bait A live bait tank is an absolute necessity - either connected to the boat’s water system or with a battery operated aerator. The larger the tank, the better, but make sure it is securely anchored to prevent it moving in adverse sea conditions. Bait caught early on in a fishing trip will happily survive all day and a child’s small shrimp net is ideal for dipping the next bait.

Other popular baits are joey mackerel from six to eight inches, small scad, small pout and pollack, all of four to six inches in length. Finding a shoal of joeys is not always easy and the same applies for scad, but small pout can be caught around harbours at dusk with ragworm. They will survive through the night if the tank can be left on or in a curdge over the stern. Alternatively, buying sandeels from a bait dealer is more convenient.

Catching launce in some areas is easier than others. Sandbanks are their feeding ground, but trial and error will eventually bring results and if you make a note of the numbers for future reference, it will be time well spent. Launce shoal up in the water and can be seen quite clearly

The 2102 is a walkaround design with a full cabin, rather than a centre console. The foredeck is fine for anchoring and mooring duties but, being raised, it is not somewhere you would want to spend much time while underway. The flip side is the below decks accommodation, which has room for four to sit or for two to sleep on the convertible berth. It also buys you a bit of privacy to operate the portaloo.

Out in the cockpit, you get lots of room, with forward pedestal seats that are injection moulded for ease of maintenance. The seats in the quarters can also be removed to enable you to fish for bigger species but it’s the build that really surprises you. This is a heavy, well planted boat with the emphasis on ride comfort and stability - and with economy of around ten litres per hour at the 20mph mark, it’s also quite affordable to run.

It’s not so much a specialist fisher as a versatile knockabout leisure boat

The bit at the back Editor’s comment Quiz - Lifeboat facts Rule Brittania

We all know how valuable the RNLI is - but how much do we really know about the charity that saves lives at sea?

Questions 1 - How many people did RNLI lifeboats rescue from around the coasts of the UK and Ireland in 2010?

2 - The RNLI also performs a function as beach lifeguards. But did they rescue more or fewer people from the beaches than from around the UK coast?

3 - How Many Lifeboat launches were there in 2010?

4 - When it comes to assisting small boat crews, what was the problem the RNLI was most called out to deal with?

5 - Which was the busiest coastal lifeboat station in the UK in 2010?

Answers 1 - Last year RNLI lifeboats rescued 8,313 people around the coast of the UK and Ireland.

2 - More. RNLI lifeguards assisted an amazing 18,775 people during the summer season on more than 150 of the UK’s busiest beaches.

3 - There were 8,713 launches in 2010 - and more than a third of those launches (37 per cent) were in the hours of darkness.

4 - ‘Machinery failure’ accounted for 20 per cent of call outs in 2010.

5 - The busiest coastal lifeboat station in 2010 was Poole in Dorset.

It’s been a seminal month. We have proof that Vladimir Klitshco is tougher than David Haye, Rafa Nadal is better than Andy Murray, and almost everybody in the world is more gifted at winning than we are.

But as I sit here in my Tilley Hat, navigating the English waterways on a boat built from prime Sheffield steel, sipping my English Bitter and munching on a pasty, I can’t help ruminating on how splendid we are in other ways.

Take our boats. From the Atlantis plant in the lumpy waters of the Channel Islands right up to the Stormcats factory in the wilds of West Scotland, British boats are genuine world beaters. Throw the likes of Ribcraft and Cheetah into the mix and it becomes plain that while the rest of the world fannies about with lake boats, sun loungers and punctual trains, we build and operate proper boats of stoic, unspectacular substance.

And it’s precisely what you would expect, because we ourselves are built from a potent blend of fatalism and ingenuity, Marmite and merriment. We are the crusty cheddar cobb to the world’s garlic pannini. We are the anvil to the world’s artifice. There is just something profoundly, irresistibly real about a Brit. Yes, we’re politely second rate on the sports field, but in a head to head clash between a shiny Riva helmed by an Italian lothario and a 20-tonne tug helmed by an out of work miner, I know who I would back.

Pub of the Month by Paul Antrobus The Ship, Quayside, Lymington, Hants

This is a lively, well-run, nautically themed pub right on Lymington Quayside.

Popular with locals and weekend sailors, it offers London Pride, Old Speckled Hen and Staropramen on draught. There is an above average ‘seasonal’ food menu and wine list, but the house wines are decent and well priced. Food is served all day every day from 1200 to 2230 (2130 on Sunday). Tables are for a maximum of six, except by prior arrangement as a ‘party’. It’s a popular spot in winter too, with a good offering of winter warmers, scotches, hot toddies and mulled wines.

01590 676903 www.theshiplymington.co.uk 144

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