Motorboat Owner April 2018

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Motorboat APRIL 2018

Owner Affordable practical boating

BOAT TEST

Rodman Spirit 31 Destination Guide Stern gland greasing l Hardy Seawings 305 l Toilet overhaul

TORQUAY

Welcome to the April issue. The

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

decline in the sterndrive market, particularly in the US, is having a beneficial side effect.

We are seeing a whole new raft of entry level cruisers designed around ‘big’ outboards. This month we have a test of Rodman’s Spirit 31, a boat that surprised me in a good way. Only yesterday I came back from France where I was one of the first to test the new Merry Fisher 1095 and, again, I find myself liking

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

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April 2018

welcome aboard

Dana Stevens

much of what I see. Then there is the new Monaco 110 from Parker, another very interesting 30 odd foot family boat with outboards. This shift seems to be allowing the designers to exercise their pencils and getting their creative juices flowing. The Merry Fisher 1095, for example, has three separate cabins in a 34-foot hull, as well as a host of other features you just would not expect to

Dana from RBS Marine captured this action shot on our Rodman Spirit test

find on a boat of this size. But what about the running costs, I hear you ask? Yes, there is no getting away from it, running a pair of big outboards really is akin to tearing up £50 notes at a rate of up to four an hour but, few of us go everywhere flat out and, used sensibly, boats like the Rodman Spirit can actually return a respectable mpg.

Then we have the CXO300, a 300hp diesel outboard from Cox Marine that is hovering just over the horizon, as well as Yanmar with their new 50hp diesel outboard. If the established outboard manufacturers see a market here, big diesel outboards could not only become more common, they should also become more affordable and, when that happens, I really do fear for the future of the sterndrive.

I will mourn its passing, as for me sterndrives signalled the move from dayboat to cruiser, but the sadness will be countered by finding that I now have an extra cabin, or a large lazarette where there was once machinery.

Sub Editor, Pam Born Production Editor, John Frew

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Contributors: Piers du Pré, Alan Weeks, Graham Owen Cover photo: Rodman Spirit 31 on test off Portsmouth by Claire Frew

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

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CONTENTS APRIL 2018

PRACTIC

PRACTICAL

AL

REGULARS

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April

page 20 My Boat Richard Poat’s project

2018

p54 PRACTICAL

Manual toilet overhaul

page 72 Tested

p40

Casio Men’s Sport Tide and Moon Graph Watch AGlaze Upholstery Cleaner

EnglishRiviera.co.uk

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NEWS page 6 Q&A page 34 CUTTING EDGE page 52 TESTED page 72

page 38 Q&A special Stern gland greasing

7

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HOW TO

TORQUAY Destination Guide BOAT TEST

p60 Hardy Seawings 305

CRUISER GUIDE CLASSIC CRUISER GUIDE GUIDE CLASSIC CRUISER

p76

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

Rodman Spirit 31

5

NEWS Broom to restructure and discontinue boat building The British boat builder, Broom Boats has announced plans to restructure its operations into a leisure operator on the southern Broads. It is a development that will see job losses in Broom’s boat building sector at its Brundall factory. Broom say ‘Over recent years the market to build and sell boats has changed significantly, reflecting low customer demand, overseas competition and rising costs. Against this backdrop, the shareholders have continued to invest, with the company becoming one of the best fleet hire operators on the Broads. This has led to a strategic decision to focus on the growing leisure part of their operations and to discontinue boat building. This will sadly involve the loss of some jobs. Broom, which employs some of the finest craftspeople, along with a heritage stretching back to 1898, remains committed to developing its excellent marina, hire fleet and service operation situated immediately adjacent to the Brundall station, a home to many private boats and its hire fleet, along with workshops performing maintenance and repairs.’ Broom say that all current production will be completed and warranties will be honoured. This development also means that production of the English Harbour Yachts range will be moving from Broom.

The end of an era. Broom has been building boats at Brundall for nearly 120 years 6

April 2018

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

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Beneteau Barracuda 9 NEW BOAT

The French boat builder, Beneteau has unveiled its new flagship of its Barracuda range. The 29ft Barracuda 9 is a stylish walkaround sportsfisher-cum-commuter with a versatile four-seater wheelhouse, converting to a double, and side doors and a full beam patio door aft for access. The forward cabin area provides an offset double berth and a seperate toilet compartment. The boat will be powered by twin outboards delivering up to 500hp, with two fuel tanks available (400 or 600 litres). A ‘fishing pack’ version offers six rod holders, a side net roller, a live bait well with circulating water, a deck wash pump and even a cutting board on the transom.

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NEWS Storm Emma: Catastrophe at Holyhead In early March, Storm Emma was being felt across the UK. After colliding with the Beast from the East, it brought severe weather, gales and freezing rain.

Unfortunately this had catastrophic results for one harbour on the Isle of Anglesey in North Wales. On Friday 2nd March the devastation at Holyhead Harbour and Marina was quite simply heartbreaking.

With the swell reported to be around 5 metres, combining with a huge spring tide and hurricane force, north-easterly winds, boats in the harbour were ‘lifted up’, battered against rocks and beached ashore, while the 450-berth marina was being ripped apart.

The staff at the Holyhead Marina office told Motorboat Owner, when the storm hit, they struggled to protect boats in the

conditions, and by the afternoon, with light failing, a power failure, ice forming on the pontoons, and the wind and swell increasing, for health and safety reasons, the marina was closed. By the following morning, the marina had been destroyed.

Staff added that, in the 18 years of marina operation, they had ‘never seen conditions like these before’.

Holyhead is a commercial and leisure port located on the north-east coast of Anglesey, and is owned and operated

by Stena Line Ports Ltd, who are the statutory Harbour Authority. There is a ferry terminal to the east, with the alltides harbour and marina nestled in the south west corner, behind a 1.7 mile long Victorian breakwater.

It is thought that up to 80 boats have

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April 2018

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been lost. In the aftermath of the storm, boat owners were being urged to keep clear and to the leave the clean up to the experts. There has since been reports of looting from the stranded boats. HM Coastguard said ‘All vessels involved in the recent Storm Emma incident at Holyhead Marina do not fall under the legal definition of wreck and therefore should be dealt with as lost property.’ Holyhead Harbour Authority, Isle of Anglesey County Council, Coastguard and marina are working closely together in the clean up and salvage operation, implementing measures such as specialist disposal bins on Soldiers Quay and booms to contain

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

any polution. Insurance underwriters are currently assessing the damage.

Motorboat Owner visited Holyhead in mid-march and it was immediately obvious that the clean-up and salvage operation was well underway, with a boom in place around the whole of the marina area, work boats re-laying mooring buoys in the outer harbour and damaged boats being hoisted on to the historic breakwater. However, the sheer scale of the devastation was clear to see. Half submerged boats, broken pontoons, with boats stranded on the foreshore where the storm ‘dumped them’, surrounded by debris and white polystyrene ‘snow’. MBO

9

NEWS

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

editorial@motorboatowner.co.uk

Fairline sponsor British GT racing team Fairline Yachts has become the lead sponsor of Rick Parfitt Jnr Racing for the British GT Championship. Sporting the Fairline logo on his British GT Championship Bentley, this season Rick Parfitt will take part in 7 races in the UK and Belgium. Rick has won many accolades and achieved over 20 podium positions in his comparatively short racing career. In his debut year he became the British GT4 Champion and last year, only five years from his first race, he became the first driver in history to win both the GT4 and GT3 British GT Championship titles. Managing Director of Fairline Yachts, Russell Currie, said “We are proud to be the lead sponsor. 2017 was an incredible year for Rick and we look forward to supporting him on the track in the upcoming season. This partnership is a great opportunity for our customers to join us and be part of the action with ‘back stage’ access to the team, drivers and hospitality at each of the events. The team at Fairline Yachts is backing Rick all the way.”

DIARY DATES Thames Used Boat Show 30th March-15th April Beaulieu Boat Jumble 22nd April Horning Boat Show 5th May Barclays Jersey Boat Show 5th-7th May Brundall Boat Show 19th May Northern Boat Show 25th-28th May British Motor Yacht Show 18th-20th May Windermere Boat Show 18th-20th May Click any of the above for more info

Evinrude 10 year warranty The outboard manufacturer, Evinrude, is renewing its promotion of a 10-year factory warranty to all new customers, launched last year, and it is now Europe wide. It is available from March 1st to June 30th on all E-TEC engines (25hp to 300hp). Eligible outboards include all new engines sold for repower, or as part of a package, and is fully transferrable.

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

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April 2018

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NEWS

Windermere Boat Show PREVIEW The 3-day, free-entry Windermere Boat Show is back for a third year and will be taking place between 18th-20th May. ‘Celebrating life on the lake’ and labelled as the Lake District’s only boat show, it promises to be bigger and better than ever, with the lake awash with boats and the shores hosting a hive of watersports and outdoor adventure activities. The show’s Main Arena will once again be at Ferry Nab Marina, located just south of Bowness on Windermere. Here, there is expected to be over 150 boats on display from local and UK-wide dealers, including boats from the Beneteau, Jeanneau, Greenline, Sealine, Four Winns, Brig and MasterCraft ranges. On the shore will be lifestyle, marine and specialist retailers, along with boat clubs and charity organisations, including the RNLI and Sea Shepherd. There will also be family-friendly activities to try on and off the water, including free taster sessions, lifejacket clinics and a new outdoor adventure zone. Bowness Bay Brewery will be offering up their specially-brewed Boat Show beer for the event too. For more information visit the show website.

12

April 2018

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Marine Group acquires Burry Point Marina The Marine & Property Group Ltd has acquired Burry Port Marina in Wales. The 450-berth marina is located on the north side of the Loughor Estuary in South Wales and adjacent to Pembrey County Park. The company hope to develop the marina into a ‘first-class facility’ with a new marina building, toilets and showers and a bar/coffee shop. The dock walls will also be renovated by Carmarthenshire Council. Most recently a dredging campaign was carried out at the marina to improve the access into and around the harbour. The Marine & Property Group Ltd has existing marinas in Cardiff, Aberystwyth and Port Dinorwic.

NEWS

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

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Swanwick Motorboat and RIB Show PREVIEW Swanwick Marina, on the River Hamble, is getting ready to host a free-entry Motorboat and RIB Show over the Easter weekend.

Held on Saturday 31st March and Sunday 1st April, the show is set to showcase new RIBS and motorboats up to 11 metres.

The event will be set against the backdrop of Swanwick Marina’s dry stack facility and will be open daily between 10am and 4pm. Exhibitors will be brokers, boat manufacturers and marine services, including Bates Wharf, Ideal Boat, Mendez Marine, RBS Marine, Sunseeker and Sea Ventures. Event hosts, Premier Marinas, have confirmed new boats at the show will include Invicta boats from Sunseeker, a Rodman Spirit 31 from RBS Marine and a Galeon 305. A Pre-Season Show, 30th March-2nd April, will be running alongside this and focusing on bigger motoryachts from Sunseeker and Princess. Premier Marinas will also be hosting two marine trade show days at its Brighton Marina, to be held on the 28th and 29th April, and The British Motor Yacht Show at Swanwick Marina, 18th-20th May.

‘The Thames at War’ event This April, visitors and boaters on the River Thames will be transported back to 1940s wartime England, with a new event called ‘The Thames at War’. The one-day event will commemorate the Upper Thames Patrol (the River Home Guard), who guarded the Upper Thames during World War II, and will be held at Abingdon Lock (104pm) on Sunday 8th April. Period vessels due to take part include the Dunkirk Little Ships, L’Orage and Anamac, an original 1930s 22ft Thames Conservancy launch used by the Upper Thames Patrol and a 1920s 29ft slipper launch. There will also be a drill re-enactment, a display of military vehicles and wartime talks.

A memorial to the home guard will also be unveiled. See www.thamesatwar.co.uk 14

April 2018

Location, location...

Haslar Marina in Portsmouth Harbour

haslarmarina.co.uk

02392 601 201

NEWS

Camper & Nicholsons Edinburgh Marina

The marina owner and operator, Camper & Nicholsons Marinas, has confirmed that it will be designing, commissioning, managing and operating a new all-tides marina on the east coast of Scotland. Edinburgh Marina will be the focus of the ÂŁ500-million, 28-hectare waterside development close to Edinburgh city centre at Granton Harbour and will comprise of 315 berths, a boatyard and a dry-stack.

The 24,400 square-metre marina will be 2.5 miles north west of the city centre, 7 nautical miles east of the Firth of Forth bridges and 8 miles from Edinburgh International Airport. Granton Harbour is a deep water harbour dating back to the early 1800s, when it was used as a fishing and trading port. The marina will take up residence behind the breakwater in the west harbour. The east part of the harbour is currently home to two yacht clubs, the Royal Forth Yacht Club and the Forth Corinthian Yacht Club, which collectively form The Edinburgh Marina.

Hartford Marina ÂŁ1.2m pontoon renewal The renewal of the pontoons at Hartford Marina in Cambridgeshire has been completed. The marina operator, Tingdene Marinas, acquired the site two years ago and is spending ÂŁ1.2m on its infrastructure. Located on the River Great Ouse in Wyton, the marina now has a new pier capable of accommodating up to 50 motorboats and the next phase will see berthholder facilities upgraded.

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April 2018

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

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Premier Marinas acquires The Waterfront complex at Sovereign Harbour The marina operator, Premier Marinas has announced it has completed the acquisition of The Waterfront at Sovereign Harbour Marina, Eastbourne. The Waterfront, which is an onsite retail and restaurant property, was acquired from Sovereign Harbour Waterfront Holdings for an undisclosed sum. Premier Marinas CEO, Pete Bradshaw, said ‘The Waterfront is key to our berth holder’s overall enjoyment of the south coast marina and is a popular venue for visitors and residents who enjoy relaxing, shopping and eating by the water. Our aim in acquiring The Waterfront is to provide the support and investment it needs to truly become the heart of what is already a thriving marina. Alongside The Waterfront, we have acquired a small parcel of land, which we intend to use in conjunction with our boatyard operations.’

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NEWS Horning Boat Show PREVIEW The Horning Boat Show is back for 2018. The show utilises the facilities of the picturesque waterfront Broadland village of Horning, with displays of traditional and modern motor cruisers, yachts and launches. Exhibitors will also include marine equipment companies, insurance and finance providers, hire fleets, boat brokers and new car distributors. Exhibitors include Haines Marine, Norfolk Yacht Agency and Norfolk Boat Sales. Exhibition areas will again be in the Recreation Ground, Horning’s Swan Green and the Village’s St Benet’s Green. Among the show features this year will be a fashion show, a display by the Broads Museum, a Boat Show Auction and a classic car display.

A food court will be located on the Recreation Ground, while the village’s pubs and restaurants will be offering special food on the day. Parking will be at the nearby BeWILDerwood, and shuttle buses will be running throughout the day at a ‘nominal charge’. The one-day show will be held on Saturday 5th May from 10am-5pm. Visit the show website for maps and more information.

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April 2018

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RYA member discount on Wightlink ferries The Royal Yachting Association (RYA) has joined forces with Wightlink ferries to offer its members a 15% discount when travelling by car ferry and 20% discount when travelling as a foot passenger to and from the Isle of Wight with Wightlink ferries. Wightlink operates car and passenger ferry services between Lymington and Yarmouth, and Portsmouth and Fishbourne, and also a fast cat passenger service between Portsmouth and Ryde Pier. It is a useful move from a boaters perspective with many events taking place on the Isle of Wight and the Solent. To find out more about the offer visit the RYA website. You can find crossing times and prices via the Wightlink website.

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Richard Poat Fermain Chief

I

f you have been reading Motorboat Owner for a while, you might remember the story we published in the November 2013 issue about Richard Poat, a boat owner who is never content to just buy a boat, he has to modify, rebuild and almost start from scratch each time, just to make sure he ends up with the exact boat he needs. If you haven’t read the feature, it is well worth downloading the issue and familiarising

yourself with it before reading on. I will especially draw your attention to the end of the article, where I discussed the likelihood of Richard building a fourth boat. He shrugged off the suggestion, but then proceeded to sketch me a boat that he thought might be nice for his retirement. In short, this would be a small, outboard powered boat that had a simple wheelhouse with accommodation for one and of course, the boat had to have the

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April 2018

ability to take to the ground for his much loved trips to dry out in Herm harbour.

Well, here we are, just over four years later, and guess what? That fourth boat is now a reality. It all started back in 2014 when Richard got wind of a downsizing operation at his place of work. Faced with the possibility of a reduced income, he decided to grab the bull by the horns and bring forward his retirement boating plans. The main thinking behind the idea Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

MY BOAT

“Richard wanted to build a boat for his retirement. Upon finding the perfect ‘free’ hull, which was too big, some drastic measures were needed to get it right”

was that he could save his annual mooring fee by giving up his marina berth and taking a buoy in one of the bays around his home island of Guernsey. Unfortunately, his then current boat, Honeychile III, would, at 26ft, be too big for many of these mooring buoys, so she was put up for sale and the search was on for a replacement.

I have spoken before in these pages of the graveyards of boats around Guernsey and how, once a notice is placed on a boat,

21

Honeychile III was Richard’s third custom built boat. See Nov 13 issue

they have a short time left before either an owner claims them, and pays all dues, or they are taken away and scrapped. It was during a wander amongst some of these boats that Richard first set eyes upon a cathedral hull with just such a sticker. It really was little more than a hull. There was a small foredeck, the remnants of an outdrive mount on the transom and a hole in the bottom from an old skin fitting that now served as a useful drain to prevent the boat filling with water. What grabbed Richard’s attention was the way the hull was built, with numerous ribs, stringers and supports creating what was obviously a very tough looking craft.

After talking to the guys in charge of the

In 2013 Richard drew us this sketch of his retirement boat. Fermain Chief is very similar

boatyard where the abandoned hull lay, Richard was told that someone else had already expressed an interest in the hull and he would, therefore, have to be second in line. A few months later, Richard noticed the hull still laying in the yard, so went to have another chat with the office staff. This time a deal was struck. Richard could take possession of the hull as long as he started paying for its storage straight away and registered his ownership through the proper channels.

He hadn’t sold Honeychile III at this stage, in fact it wasn’t even up for sale, so this purchase was a little premature, but this sturdy looking base was just what he needed to bring his retirement boat to fruition, and so he, like many of us have at one point, ended up with two boats.

Not being one to procrastinate for too long, work on the hull started almost straight away. The first problem was one that would have put most of us off before even starting. This hull was 21ft long, and Richard’s plans and mooring options called for a 17 footer. If you have read about his exploits previously, you

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April 2018

MY BOAT The unknown cathedral hull had a very sturdy construction, which was perfect for the latest project

will know that this was a small problem that he could easily solve with a hand saw and angle grinder. Strapping the hull together to retain its shape, the aft four feet were simply cut away within days of its acquisition. As soon as the back end was off, a job that Richard tells us took no more than 15 minutes, it was stacked up on top of the boat. Canny Richard then went straight into the office to ask for a reduction in hard standing charges, as the boat was now shorter!

It was just approaching Christmas and Richard used the break from work to build a new transom, which he laid up on Christmas day. Working under a tarpaulin, with the old aft section of hull, minus its transom, turned upside down and placed on the gunwales to form an arch to create a tent, Richard rebuilt the Motorboat Owner Š Digital Marine Media Ltd

transom, added an outboard well, ground out, cleaned up and flow coated the bilge, ribs and stringers, and added a plywood deck that was waterproofed with a layer of fibreglass. In the space of two weeks, the hull was a boat again, albeit a little shorter. Working weekends and evenings

With the addition of some legs, the hull shape would be ideal for drying out in Herm Harbour

23

At 21ft, the hull was too big. This was quickly put right

once back at work, Richard rebuilt the gunwales and finished the deck by the end of January. The next stage required some better weather, so the job was put on hold for a couple of months until the spring weather in March allowed Richard to start work on the cabin. With some donated marine ply, he proceeded to build the bottom half of the cabin while the boat was still on the hard standing. True

to his 2013 drawing, the cabin was going to be just big enough for one, and offset to port to allow a sunken walkway down the starboard side, and easy access to the bow. During this process the foredeck was remade, a bow locker created at the forward end of the starboard walkway, and deck hardware added in the form of some

Working over Christmas beneath a tarpaulin, a new transom and deck were added 24

April 2018

MY BOAT

Within four months the boat was ready to take to the water again, albeit not quite finished

cleats and a Sampson post.

While this was going on, Richard acquired an old 50hp two-stroke Mariner from a speedboat that had been abandoned and that needed to be removed. The deal was, if Richard got rid of the wreck, he could keep whatever he wanted from it. With his angle grinder in hand, the speedboat was cut up and disposed of in a one-ton rubbish bag, which is Guernsey’s version of a miniskip, and the outboard mounted to the hull, to be tinkered with later. He also kept all the steering system, stainless steel work, fuel tank and boarding ladder, although much of this wasn’t ultimately used on the new boat.

After the outboard was mounted, the gunwales were painted, the hull polished and the bottom antifouled. Richard also fitted some aluminium rails that he had made by a local fabricator, choosing plain metal to achieve a more ‘workboat’ look, before the boat was placed on a trailer behind a tractor and taken to the bay where his previously laid buoy was waiting. It had been just four months since he had taken possession of the hull, two of which he didn’t progress at all due Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

to weather and other commitments.

Initially, this was going to be as far as this project got for a while. It was watertight, it floated, it had selfdraining decks, and it could be removed from the yard to put paid to any hard standing charges. It could sit on its buoy mooring until such time as Honeychile III was sold and the retirement boat was required, potentially still a couple of years away, depending upon what happened with his job.

As it turned out, fate had other plans.

No sooner was the boat afloat, Richard heard that his job was likely to go, which

Richard managed to bag himself a free outboard that was fixed to the transom before launching

25

Fermain Chief finally sees the water again, even if she does have to wait until the tide comes in

brought a whole new level of urgency to his plans. Honeychile III was put up for sale and the new boat, named Fermain Chief after Fermain Bay where Richard can often be found at anchor, was immediately brought back into the spotlight. To get the project back on track, and progressed as far as possible while he still had a guaranteed income, Richard negotiated the use of the local rowing club’s storage lockup to complete the wheelhouse. Using melamine as a mould material, Richard laid up the top half of the wheelhouse, complete with radar arch, door and galley

unit. The galley was built around a onepiece stainless steel galley worktop/sink unit that Richard had found while looking around a boat breakers yard for windows.

Unfortunately the search for windows was not as fruitful, although holes were cut out anyway with a plan to install some simple rubber framed laminated glass windows, which would be cut from a single glass sheet by a local company using CNC equipment.

For the next stage, team MBO were able to offer a hand, as we happened to be visiting just as the wheelhouse was leaving

The wheelhouse was built over the next few weeks using moulds made from sheets of melamine 26

April 2018

MY BOAT Looking like a strange micro caravan, the wheelhouse is ready to be mated to the rest of the boat

the shed. Towed down onto the beach at low tide, we hoisted the wheelhouse top in place, leaving Richard to fix it down and start the interior fit out.

The first job was to make it weather tight by installing the windows and wheelhouse door. With these in place, the galley unit was installed before Richard started on the interior woodwork, and helm console. All the Sapele hardwood was cut, shaped and formed at home, with even the instruments fitted into the helm unit in situ, before it was mounted into the boat. In October the boat was towed, as the engine had still not been looked at,

to a marina berth, where she would stay for the winter to allow Richard to carry out the interior fit out with easy access and a ready electrical supply. During this time, the boat was wired and plumbed, the galley was completed, headlining panels were made from ply and covered in vinyl, curtains were sewn and cushions were made to be stored in the bow, which would serve as a berth when laid out in the wheelhouse. He also designed and installed a removable helm seat. Outside, a pair of box seats were added on either side of the outboard well, one to take the boat’s 55-litre fuel tank and the other its

Just an hour after leaving the workshop, the top is temporarily fixed in place Motorboat Owner Š Digital Marine Media Ltd

27

Once the wheelhouse was weather proofed with windows and doors, the fit-out work gathered pace

batteries. Cushions were also made to top these off.

Within a year, the boat was effectively finished, or at least finished in its first draft. Anyone that knows Richard will understand that his boats are never truly finished, with changes, modifications

and upgrades happening on an almost continuous basis. All that was needed was to sort that engine. Here the story takes a turn with some good, and bad, news. The bad news was that the ‘free’ engine was not in a good way. It probably could have been made to run, but it would require lots of

A new outboard replaced the non-running twostroke and Fermain Chief was officially launched 28

April 2018

MY BOAT

In the cockpit Richard made box seats to house the boat’s fuel tank and batteries

money thrown at it and it would still be an old, thirsty two-stroke in which Richard would have little confidence. The bad news was countered with the news that Richard had found a buyer for Honeychile III, freeing up some much needed cash to get around the problem. The solution was a trip to local Suzuki dealer and an order for a brand new 70hp four-stroke. When asked about the choice of engine size.

Richard commented, “70hp was as big as I could get with the money I had available”.

This engine was installed in the spring of 2016, allowing Richard the use of the boat for that season, and its first of many trips to dry out in Herm harbour in July of that year. This, however, was not before having to overcome a little issue. With the new engine fitted, the boat’s trim was far from perfect. The bow was pointed in the air, the top speed was around 10 knots and the whole thing felt very unstable. The answer was a pair of Richard’s trademark, Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

fixed GRP hull extensions/trim tabs. Made oversize, Richard’s approach was that he could gradually trim them back until they worked just right, which as it turns out was when they were cut down to 10 inches. With these fitted the boat ran flat and true. It was no rocket ship, but with a top speed of 18 knots it delivered just the kind of performance he was looking for.

Some fixed hull extensions/trim tabs were added to improve the ride and attitude of the boat

29

Ready for cruising. There is plenty of storage beneath the floor and in the bow. The berth is simply made from cushions laid out on the floor

As I have already mentioned, the boat continues to be improved, the latest addition is a full cockpit canopy, and each time we see it, something new has been added, or something existing modified.

There is even talk of an engine upgrade

to 90hp, but that will require a new cash injection, so is on the list of possible upgrades for the future. On a personal front, retirement has taken a back seat as Richard has launched into a new selfemployed career, which means that he can

30

April 2018

MY BOAT

keep his marina berth and work hours to fit around his boating.

So with his perfect retirement boat, and his slightly more leisurely lifestyle, you might think that asking him if this was the last boat he would build is a moot point.

Well, actually not. This is not quite the end of the story. While Richard was finishing Fermain Chief, he stumbled upon the abandoned wreck of one of his first ever

boats. Orlando was Seasafe Dandy yacht that was now sitting unloved, in a very sorry state, and with a sign saying ‘take me for free’ on the side. In true Richard style, he was able to look through the mess in front of him and decided it would make a really great little open boat for his growing family to use. Just weeks later, the top was cut off, an outboard well had been moulded, and the story starts again. MBO

Richard’s first boat, a Seasafe Dandy, is now being converted into an outboard powered open boat Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

31

THE POAT PROJECT FILE

BEFORE

AFTER

Project 1: Coronet 24 “Honeychile I”

BEFORE

AFTER

Project 2: Cleopatra 23 “Honeychile II”

BEFORE

AFTER

Project 3: Plymouth Pilot 24 “Honeychile III”

BEFORE

AFTER

Project 4: Unknown Cathedral hull “Fermain Chief ” 32

April 2018

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Q&A

Your Questions Answered

Volvo KAMD43s at 12 knots

Q I am planning to run through London

next year from the non-tidal Thames down to the estuary for our annual coastal foray. A friend who is coming with us has the same engines, Volvo Penta KAMD43s, and he said that he previously burnt out the supercharger clutch running at 12 knots through London. He has since had it repaired and has now disconnected the feed wire. He says there is a rev range that the engine should not be run at for long periods. Is this right, as I can’t find anything about that?

A I have asked the technical guys at Volvo about this before and they told me

that, although the supercharger is designed to operate for short lengths of time while the revs build enough for the turbo to kick in, usually between around 1800rpm and 2600rpm, no harm will come to it, or your engine, if you have to operate it for longer periods of up to an hour or so. This extended running will bring an increased requirement for maintenance, with more regular compressor oil level checks and oil replacement. It will also wear the belt faster too, so you will need to keep an eye on this and replace more often if you do it regularly.

As to turning the supercharger off, the answer is no, it shouldn’t be done. I have heard of people removing the belts, or fitting a switch on the feed wire to turn it on or off with claims of no ill effects, but Volvo were very clear on this point.

The engines are designed to run with a supercharger, and disconnecting it will cause damage through incorrect fuel mixtures in the longer term.

Your trip through London will be limited to 8 knots until Wandsworth bridge, and then 12 knots between there and Margaretness. This 12-knot section is the issue but, in reality, it is only about 15nm, so just over an hour at 12 knots, but with a bit of slowing down as you pass piers, moored boats and the barrier to reduce wash, you won’t be on the superchargers for a significant amount of time as long as you run below supercharger speed before Wandsworth, and above it after Margaretness.

34

April 2018

If you have a question, email us at

editorial@motorboatowner.co.uk

Running costs on a £50k boat

Q I don’t own a boat yet, but am quickly

£

£ ££££ £ ££££ £ £ £ £ £ ££ £ £ ££££££ £££ £ £ ££ £££

heading that way, learning as much as I can as I go. One fact I keep coming across is the figure of 10% of the purchase price as a good guide to annual running costs? How accurate is that? I am looking at spending around £50k, so will £5k really cover my running costs. I have a feeling it may be more than that.

A The 10% figure almost certainly works for some, but for many the figure can

be way off. Take your £50k boat for example. You could easily spend £5k just on a mooring for the year. Add to this servicing, insurance and fuel costs and you could quickly reach a £10k a year figure, or 20%. Equally, I could buy a boat for £100k, moor it on a quiet backwater for £1k and do all the servicing myself and my annual running costs may only be around £4k, or 4%, depending on how much I use it. In an extreme case, the annual mooring could be more than the boat’s value, so annual running costs could easily be well over 100%. In short, find the cost of your chosen mooring, The one stop shop add about £500 per year for each Helpful technical advice engine and each sterndrive you will get professionally serviced, Over 14,000 products (or about £150-£200 each in parts if you are doing it yourself), add Complete systems & spares another £500 or so for insurance, and add the cost of a harbour or Same day despatch river licence if required. Then it’s a matter of how much you use the Competitive prices boat, and therefore how much fuel you buy, and visitor nights you have www.asap-supplies.com to pay for.

Tel: 01502 716993 (Beccles branch) Tel: 01329 277585 (Fareham branch) info@asap-supplies.com Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd 35

Q&A

Your Questions Answered

Diesel price at the pump

Q Is the diesel prices displayed on

waterside fuel pumps usually at the 60/40 rate, or the full duty rate?

A In my experience the rate quoted on

the pump is usually at 100% propulsion, or full duty, rate. The 60:40 rate is a nominal split for boats with diesel powered heating or generators etc, but in reality you can declare any split that is appropriate to your fuel usage. A liveaboard could declare 5:95 in favour of domestic use if the boat rarely moves, although in my experience not all fuel berths are set up to offer ratios other than 100:0 or 60:40.

Drinking water supply for ice maker

Q My boat has an ice maker onboard, which is

plumbed into the boats domestic water system.

The thing is, we don’t drink water out of the taps, preferring to use bottled water as we are not sure just how clean the 15-year-old water tank really is.

Is there a simple way to plumb the icemaker into a separate supply, one that we can easily keep clean?

A I would have thought that as long as you have room for an additional tank,

it would be reasonably easy to re-route the icemaker feed. You will also need to add another deck filler too. Rather than do this, how about ensuring the water reaching your icemaker is clean by fitting a filter system? You could fit one to the whole boat system, which would also allow you to safely drink from the tank, or you could just install one in the supply line to the ice maker. The filter that we like is the Seagul IV from General Ecology, and available in the UK from ASAP Supplies. We showed how to fit one in the August 2014 issue of MBO, which is available from the back issues section of the website.

36

April 2018

If you have a question, email us at

editorial@motorboatowner.co.uk

Trailboat up to 21ft for £10k

Q I am thinking about buying a sporty little cuddy cabin boat, something

around, but no bigger than, 21ft that I can keep on a trailer and tow to different places. My main concern is that all the ones I have looked at I have found a little basic in terms of overnight facilities. I do want to stay onboard, so really need a basic galley and toilet facilities. I have looked at some smaller cruisers, but they tend to be around 22-25ft so are getting a bit too big and heavy for me to tow and keep at home. Any suggestions? I have about £10k to spend.

A You will probably need to decide whether sporty, sleek looks or onboard

facilities are more important to you. It sounds like the latter to me, so I am going to suggest looking at a proper pocket cruiser, rather than a cuddy.

My choice here would be the Sealine 195/190/200 models. These are all basically the same boat, but are evolutions of the model. The 195 being the oldest, which originally morphed Sealine 195 out of the 19 Weekender, and the 200 being the newest incarnation. Standing headroom is still very limited, but you do get a galley, a toilet and, at least with a cockpit cover up, plenty of room to live for a day or two. Other boats of a similar ilk, although in some cases possibly getting a bit bigger than you Fairline Sprint want, are Fairline’s Weekend and Sprint, and Bayliner’s 2155/2255. Another oddity that I have always liked, although I have only ever seen one for sale, is the Aquaviva Frontier. This Italian option has a separate toilet compartment, full standing headroom below and even a Aquaviva Frontier separate dinette, all in a 20ft package.

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

37

Q&A

Your Questions Answered

Stern gland greasing

Q In my engine bay I have a stern gland greaser. It is a brass tube with a T bar

on top and a tube out the bottom that goes to the stern gland. I was told when I bought the boat to give the T bar a turn every now and then to push new grease into the gland, but it has now got to the end and I suspect that means the tube is empty of grease. The question I have is, how do I refill it, and what with.

A You should refill the greaser with an appropriate waterproof grease. The

two that are usually easy to obtain in chandleries are Morris K99 and Ramonol White, which cost around ÂŁ8 to ÂŁ12 for 500ml. A typical stern gland greaser found on a small to medium leisure boat will hold around 200ml of grease.

Now, to get the grease into the greaser there are a number of methods, which are all variations on a similar theme. The way that I was shown to do it is the least messy, and will take just a few minutes.

1

Unscrew the whole body of the greaser unit from the bottom mount.

Tools may be needed if it is over tight 4

With the cap loose, put the bottom of the greaser over the hole and push down.

The plunger will rise as the grease fills the tube

2

Then, with the plunger still left fully screwed in, unscrew the top cap until it separates 5

When the greaser is full, ie the plunger is at the top of the tube, spin the cap down the thread and screw it back on

3

Most pots of grease have an internal plate with a central dispensing hole.

You can do it without, but its not as quick 6

You can then screw the full greaser back into place, doing it up as tight as you can by hand

38

April 2018

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Guernsey Torquay Nestled in the north-east corner of Torbay is a Victorian seaside town with many attractions, shops, a vibrant nightlife and ample berthing to put the visiting boat owner in the heart of the town,

by Claire Frew and close to all the action

T

he south coast of Devon has a wealth of harbours and seaside attractions. With its distinctive red cliffs and sands, Torbay, known as the English Riviera, offers three large seaside resorts in a 3-mile, deep water, east-facing bay. The bay has long been an ancient

maritime anchorage, offering shelter from the prevailing south-westerly winds for centuries. However, as it offered no shelter in an easterly, an enclosed harbour was developed at Torquay that changed the face and fortunes of the town.

Torquay’s habitation dates back

40

April 2018

Destination

TORQUAY

MDL Marinas Plymouth Fowey Isles of Scilly

Falmouth

Torquay

Weymouth

Brixham

Dartmouth Salcombe

Photos by Claire Frew & images courtesy of MDL Marinas/Torquay Marina & English Riviera tourism

centuries, with a fishing town establishing around the 12th century Torre Abbey monastery, still seen today. It wasn’t until 1803 that the inner harbour was beginning to emerge. Before long, the arrival of the railway saw the town grow in popularity, developing into a fashionable resort with its copper-domed Edwardian Pavilion and Baths on Beacon Hill, which is now incorporated into a marine zoo. Trade was another important aspect that shaped the town and harbour in the 19th century, seeing imports of wood and coal arriving

from Australia. Two protective piers were built, Haldon Pier in 1867 and the ornate Princess Pier in 1890.

The two slipways seen at Beacon Quay are also a poignant symbol of the harbour’s history, as these were constructed for the embarkation of American troops for Operation Overlord during World War II, an operation that lead to the invasion of German-occupied Western Europe by British and allied troops in June 1944, now known as D-Day. Today, Torquay remains a resolute

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

41

Riviera Wheel

Harbreck Rock

N

ROCKS

Inner Harbour

ier on P

Hald

A.Weeks

er Pi ss ce

in Pr

Town Dock

Torquay Marina

ROCKS

not to be used for navigation

Torre Abbey Sands

ROCKS

ROCKS

tourist and holiday hotspot in Torbay, with its palm-lined promenade, and a vast array of souvenier and big brand shops, restaurants, hotels, theatres and attractions. Excellent harbour visitor berthing, and a modern 440-berth marina within yards of the town, make it a desirable Devonshire bolthole.

One of the traditional postcard images of Torquay you will see is of the old inner drying harbour. In recent years, this has undergone a real transformation with

The Riviera Wheel is easily recognisable. The entrance is marked by seasonal buoys

ÂŁ21m spent on creating a half tide sluice gate and an imposing public footbridge, followed by marina-style pontoons installed in 2014. The inner harbour now has 173 residents berths for boats up to nine metres, which float at all states of tide. Judging by its long waiting list, it has been very popular with local residents.

Approaches

Torquay harbour offers good shelter in all wind directions and the outer harbour

42

April 2018

Destination and marina are accessible at all states of tide. However, stronger south-easterly winds can make the fairly narrow entrance hazardous, with a swell building in the approaches and felt in the harbour.

The approaches are relatively straight forward, with no off-lying hazards to worry about. Depth is also not a problem when approaching the harbour, but those travelling from the east will need to study the chart carefully and clear south (at least 0.5 mile) of the off-lying rocks that include the Ore Stone, Thatcher Rock (Morris Rogue) and The Magwintons.

The first marks you are likely to see off the entrance are the yellow marks that lie off the shoreline. These indicate control zones were boaters should slow to 5 knots and keep a good look out, in particular for swimmers and canoeists. Yellow buoys also mark the waterski approach lanes at Livermead Beach and Elberry cove.

TORQUAY

Distances

Approximate distances in nautical miles from Torquay: • Brixham 3 miles • Dartmouth 12 miles • Salcombe Bar 24 miles • Weymouth Harbour 51 miles • Braye Harbour 73 miles

Weather

• Shipping Forecast Portland • Shipping Forecast Plymouth • Inshore Waters Lyme Regis to Lands End inc the Isles of Scilly • Torbay NCI actuals & gauges • Wave data Torbay • Brixham Weather Station • WindyTV Torquay • NCI Weather Exmouth, Teignmouth and Prawle Point

Webcams • • • •

Torquay Harbour Master Webcam Harbour (Inner Harbour/cill) No 7 Harbour entrance webcam Torbay Webcam

Charts & Pilot Books

• Imray 2300 Dorset and Devon Coasts Chart Pack • Imray 2300.8 Teignmouth & Torbay • Imray C5 Bill of Portland to Salcombe Harbour • Admiralty SC5602 West Country Falmouth to Teignmouth • West Country Cruising Companion Fernhurst Books • Imray The West Country • Reeds Nautical Almanac • Shell Channel Pilot Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

43

??????

Boaters are also advised not to stray into the bay, Torre Bay Sands, to the north east of the harbour as, despite its sandy appearance, off-lying rocks, known as Harbreck Rock, lurk in the depths.

Like most harbours at night, Torquay is cluttered with many street lights. You will note that it also does not have any leading lights. However, during the high season the 16-metre Riviera Ferris wheel, set back on the Princess Pier side of the harbour, is quite a distinctive lit landmark to look for on the horizon. By day the harbour skyline is recognised by its many conspicuous white buildings, and also the netted structure of the Living Coasts marine zoo on the peninsular to the east.

The overlapping high piers make it difficult to see into the harbour, or what is departing. Port and starboard lit beacons, and white painted areas at the end of each pierhead, indicate the entrance. In addition, two seasonal (May-September) lit starboard markers are placed just under a mile to the south west of the pier

heads, which provide an approach line for the break in the two piers. Stay over to starboard in order to scout the entrance, giving yourself plenty of room upon clearing the eastern end of Princess Pier before turning north-north east, into the middle of the harbour. The harbour speed limit is 5 knots.

The NCI Torbay station can supply forecast, live weather and sea state information via VHF Channel 65, call sign ‘Torbay NCI’ or telephone, 01803 411145, or via its online weather station and webcam. The station is located on Daddyhole Plain to the east of Torquay, providing 180 degree views into Torbay.

Where to moor

Entering between the two piers you will find the resident and harbour berthing to starboard and Torquay Marina, which is operated by MDL Marinas, to port.

The ‘Town Dock’ lies immediately in front of you as you enter the harbour. This small marina area is occupied by local

44

April 2018

Destination

TORQUAY

Transport

Local bus routes, the centre and shopping street, Fleet Street, pictured, are just a short walk away

resident berth holders. Running between this and the inside of Haldon Pier is a fairway with a large slipway at the end. A 96-metre walk-ashore visitor pontoon is positioned on the starboard side, close to the slipway, each year May to September by the harbour authority. This pontoon is ideal for short (2 hours free) or overnight stays for smaller boats. Here overnighting visitors over 7 metres are charged £1.94 per metre, with a daily charges of £10-12 for boats under 7 metres. Also, visitors staying more than three nights get one night free. Be aware that this is quite a busy area of the harbour, with regular ferries departing to Paignton and the slipway in regular use. The pontoon is very popular and can be booked out for events, so it’s always advisable to radio ahead on VHF Channel 14, call sign ‘Torquay Harbour’ or by calling the office on 01803 292429 to check availability.

Visitors will need to be prepared to raft or be rafted upon, as at busy times the harbour office will stack boats up to three deep here. Access ashore is via a ramp at the eastern end, onto Haldon Pier, which can be steep at low water.

There are water and electric points on the pier, so access may be restricted to

Torquay has really good bus routes operated by Stagecoach that depart from bus stands at ‘Harbourside’ on the Strand, on ‘Cary Parade’ and outside the ‘Pavilion’. Useful routes include the number 22 from Harbourside Stand I which goes to Paignton Zoo and Kents Cavern and westbound to Teignmouth from Stand F. The 12 from ‘Pavilion’ Stand A goes to Paignton and Brixham. See website for routes and timings or pick up a map at the tourist office. National and international flights are available from Exeter and Bristol airports. Torquay station is just over a mile west of the marina and a 20-minute walk. Here, Great Western Railway branch line services go to Paignton and Newton Abbot, with connections to Cornwall, Bristol and London.

Where to fill up

Petrol and diesel are available at the harbour’s fuel berth, Riviera Fuel Torquay (07786 370324) on South Pier. This has a pontoon to the south and fuel is dispensed via hoses running from the pier head itself.

Food supplies

There is a Tesco Metro supermarket store in Fleet Street. It is open MonSat 7am-11pm and 11pm-5pm Sun and a 7-minute, half a mile walk from the marina. Bay Bakery in Fleet Street offers fresh bread, sandwiches and naughty cakes and McColls newsagent on the corner of Strand and Fleet Street stocks some food essentials.

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

45

Marina Office & facilities

F E

G

D Inner Harbour

C

N

A

B

A e Pi ss ce

in Pr

Town Dock

Torquay Marina

Harbour Office & Facilities

r

certain states of tide and long cables/ hoses will be needed. Access to electric is on a first come, first served basis, with pre-pay cards available from the Harbour Office. It is always worth speaking with the Harbour Office on arrival, as short stay or overnight berths, with direct access to water or electricity, may also be available on the south side of V pontoon on the Town Dock. The Torquay Harbour Office is inside a silver turret building (marked ‘Harbour Master’) that overlooks the Town Dock at Beacon Quay. Here you will also find toilet and shower facilities.

On the opposite side of the harbour is Torquay Marina. This does not have a dedicated area for visitors, so berths are allocated subject to resident berth availability. Visitors need to call ‘Torquay Marina’ on VHF channel 80 on approach or contact the marina office on 01803 200210 in advance.

Pontoon A forms the eastern edge of the marina and this is usually occupied by large yachts and motorboats. The rest of the pontoons, B to F, are the other side of this, extending out at right angles west from A, and can be accessed by passing along the inside of Princess Pier. There is just one entrance ramp and gate to the marina. At the top of the ramp you will find a marina security hut and the Marina Office with its shore facilities, which include a launderette, toilets and showers.

There are plans to install an events area within the marina, which will be a rendezvous point for rallies and events, with seating and a barbecue area. Marina berthing, which includes electricity, is charged at £3.80 per metre per night. Free nights and/or discounts on berthing are available to MDL Marinas and Passeport Escales berthholders.

V V r Visito

on

Ponto

ier on P

Hald

Harbour berthing is to the east in the outer harbour, with the 440-berth marina to the west

In the north east corner of the harbour, is a footbridge, with distinctive silver buttresses, spanning between the north and south piers. This marks the entrance to the half tide inner harbour, which is mainly used by residents and has an opening cill gate below. Access into the inner harbour, controlled by traffic lights, is approximately 3½ hours before to 3 hours after high water. The latest cill timings are available via the harbour website and, for those who cannot limbo under it, the bridge opens on demand between 7am-9pm May-Sept, and 8am5pm Oct-Apr.

Trailboating

Torquay is well set up for trailboaters and has a large, moderately steep concrete slipway in the south-east corner at Beacon Quay, which is accessible at all-states of tide. The slipway is administered by the harbour master, and you are able to self-launch two abreast with a suitable vehicle and conveniently lay alongside the seasonal visitor/events pontoon inside Haldon Pier. We would always advise making contact with the Torquay Harbour Masters Office, telephone 01803 292429,

46

April 2018

Destination

TORQUAY

Marine supplies

There is a large, all tides slipway at Beacon Quay inside Haldon Pier, close to Living Coasts

prior to arrival, as the slipway is extremely popular during the high season.

By road with a boat and trailer, we would recommend coming into Torquay via the A3022 and Torbay Road from the west, and from the east via the main A379 road, following Babbacombe Road and Torwood Street, both lead to the harbour where you can follow the waterfront to Victoria Parade and onto Beacon Quay.

Entry to the quayside road and slipway is via a lifting barrier close to the Harvester restaurant, which is controlled by the Harbour Masters Office. From here you will be asked to report directly to the office before launching/recovering.

Trailer parking, which is subject to availability, is at the end of Haldon Pier and charged at £5 per day (£25 per week). Slipway charges echo the visitor berthing rates, £1.94 per metre for boats over 7 metres and daily charges of £1012 for boats under 7 metres. A months launch and recovery pass is also available at the Harbour Masters office priced at £37.86. Note, personal watercraft (PWCs)

Torquay Chandlers (01803 211854) at Beacon Quay is a general chandlery offering many essentials in store and online. Also at Beacon Quay is Birchell Marine (01803 214305), an agent for the brands Evinrude, Mariner, Mercury and MerCruiser, and for the new boat brands Quicksilver, Bayliner and Regal. It also offers a marine engine workshop, antifouling services and works closely with Torbay Seaways & Stevedores (01803 296570), which offers lift outs and limited hard standing on the South Pier. Torquay-based firm, Coast Marine Services (07860 831531 Dave Bullock), offers repairs, trailer and engine servicing, anti-fouling and launch and recovery services.

Riviera Boats (07557 105997) supplies propellers, MerCruiser engine spares and maintenance services. Volvo Penta service agents and supplier, Marine Engineering (Looe) has a base in Plymouth (01752 226143) and covers the Torbay area. Based at Dartside Quay, AK Marine Services (07765 001784) offers engine related services and are Volvo Penta and Yanmar specialists in Torbay. Torquay Marina does not have any lifting and storage facilities on site, it does however have these facilities at its 7-acre sister site, Dartside Quay (01803 845445) upstream on the River Dart. This offers hardstanding for up to 300 boats with a 65-tonne hoist and a 16-ton trailer hoist operating on a slipway.

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There’s plenty of waterfront restaurants in Victoria Parade, including chain fish restaurant, Rockfish

are charged differently. These must be registered with the office and require proof of insurance. Registration is £15 and launch and recovery is £18 per day, or £80 per week.

The office is no longer issuing parking permits for tow vehicles, which need to be parked up separately in one of the public long stay pay and display car parks, the closest to the slipway being the two in the road behind, Beacon Hill, which has a 24-hour charge of £5 and offers payment by mobile phone. Weekly (£35) and threeday (£20) permits are available via Torbay Council. Note there are 1.93 and 2 metre height barriers on these car parks.

There is an abundance of accommodation available in Torquay, including Victorian hotels and bed and breakfasts in the streets to the north west of the harbour, as well as self-catering cottages and waterfront four-star luxury hotels. If required, the friendly team at the Tourist Office (01803 296296) next to the inner harbour can help, or visit the English Riviera website.

Where to eat & drink

Being a seaside resort, fish, of course, features in many of the waterfront and town eateries. However, being a family resort you will find both chain and independent restaurants to suit all ages.

These include a harbourside Harvester, Prezzo and Pizza Express, with many more fast food and chain restaurants in the main shopping street, Fleet Street.

For those looking for fine dining on crisp white table cloths and that special meal ashore, it is well worth heading up hill to the east of the harbour. In Beacon Terrace you will find The Elephant (01803 200044) and the No 7 Fish Bistro (01803 295055) in close proximity, and, set further back, in Park Hill Road is The Orange Tree (01803 213936). All three offer daily specials and you are advised to book to avoid disappointment.

If you find yourself walking west of the harbour along the promenade towards Torre Abbey Sands, you will find several restaurants and cafes, many of which with outside seating. The restaurant, On The

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April 2018

Destination

TORQUAY

Mooring charges

You will find more great restaurants, including On the Rocks, west at Torre Abbey Sands

Rocks (01803 203666) is recommended, as the name suggests sizzling local seafood, fish and meats feature on the menu. On Sundays it offers a roast, and hosts a steak night every Sunday and a mussel and prosecco night every Wednesday.

If your tastes extend to all corners of the globe you should definitely head to Torwood Street, which conveniently leads up from the east corner of the Inner Harbour. Here you will find a choice of Mexican, Italian, Chinese, Greek, Turkish, American and Indian restaurants. These include two grill, burger and steakhouse restaurants, The Shack (01803 294400) and the American-style Smokey Joes (01803 214444), two Italians, Amici (01803 201770) and Biancos (01803 293430), and two curry houses Maha Bharat (01803 215541) and Simla Spice (01803 295556). Another curry house in town is the Gurka’s Inn (01803 213011), in Abbey Road, which has been recommended to us by visiting boaters.

If you are looking for a cheeky breakfast bite, then there is a choice of cafes along Victoria Parade, including the Americanstyle diner, Jack’s Restaurant, serving a full english. Conveniently placed for the

Torquay Harbour • Short stay 2 hours £Free • 10m Overnight £19.40 • 10m Week £116.40 Torquay Marina • Short stay 4 hours £9.25 • 10m Overnight £38 • 10m Month £663.50 • 10m Annual £POA

Further afield

Heading south across Torbay is another popular seaside town, Brixham, which has a 485-berth MDL marina and harbour visitor pontoon. Further west you have the River Dart and picturesque town of Dartmouth, which has plenty of marina and harbour moorings.

Further west still, is the sheltered Salcombe estuary, again offering all-tides moorings. Lyme Bay, to the east, has a few short-stay and overnight opportunities at Exmouth Marina, Teignmouth, Lyme Regis and Bridport Harbour. Further east you have Portland Marina, Weymouth Harbour and Marina.

Finally, Alderney (Braye Harbour) is approximately 73 miles crossChannel from Torquay.

Events

Torbay Airshow 2-3rd June 2018 Torquay Marina Day 9th June Cowes Torquay Race 25th - 26th August 2018 For more information visit: www.tor-bay-harbour.co.uk www.englishriviera.co.uk

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High Street Footpath

£

17

£

18 16

Cashpoint

C 1

Chandlery

+

Bus Stop Post Office

1

£ £

14 13

£

Slipway Tesco Metro

1 2

McColl’s

34 3

The Bakery

+

Chemist Fuel

15

KEY 1 Harbour Office 2 Birchell Marine

3

Rop

eW alk

2

£

3 Torbay Seaways & Stevedores 4 Torquay Marina Office & Facilities 5 Living Coasts 6 No 7 Bistro 7 The Elephant 8 English Rivera Wheel

9

+

19

8

11

4 de

9 Princess Theatre

Par a Vic to

ria

11 Torwood Street Restaurants 12 Torquay Pavillion 14 Riviera Centre 15 On The Rocks 16 Central Cinema 17 Union Square Shopping Centre

3 1 7 2 6 C

18 Gurka’s Inn 19 English Riviera Tourist Office 20 Torquay Museum

20

12

10 AMF Bowling Alley

13 Torre Abbey Museum and Gardens

10

5

Facilities, shops, restaurants and attractions at a stones throw.

Princess Gardens and Riviera Wheel, Harbour Masters office and the marine zoo, Living Coasts

harbour visitor’s pontoon and slipway, there are also a couple of café/restaurants along Beacon Quay, Below Decks and Quay Reflections.

views of the bay. The zoo has various daily talks and feeding times scheduled for visitors. An adult ticket is £13, children aged 3-15 years are £9.80, seniors are £11.10 and under 3s go free. It is free to enter the Living Coasts Café, which has a There is plenty to do and see in Torquay. waterfront terrace. Paignton Zoo is also For animal lovers, a visit to Living an easy 30-minute bus ride from Stand I Coasts, Torquay’s marine zoo, is a must. outside Hoopers on the Strand (No 22).

Located on the east side of the harbour In the summer time the 60-metre high at Beacon Quay, the outdoor/indoor zoo Riviera Wheel, which dominates the and aquarium is home to many marine waterfront at the pretty Princess Gardens, species, including otters and penguins, provides spectacular views over the and its peninsular site offers panoramic harbour. Tickets are £6 for adults, £5 for concessions and £4 for kids. There is a 20% discount if you book a ride online.

Kents Cavern is another good attraction to the east of Torquay. Here visitors can walk through breathtaking stone age caves, passing million-year-old rocks, and spectacular stalagmites and stalactites. It is easily accessible with a 15-minute bus ride from the Strand (No 22).

Keen walkers will love the South West There are photo opportunities from Rock Walk that overlooks the harbour and Princess Gardens Coastal Path, which you can pick up

Places to visit

?????

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April 2018

Destination from Parkhill Road heading east, and the Torbay Road heading west. For the shoppers amongst the crew, Torquay has two department stores, Debenhams and Hoopers, the newly extended, pedestrianised Fleet Street and upper level Fleet Walk, which offer many high street brands, and, further uphill, there is the Union Square Shopping Centre.

Regular ferry services to Paignton and Brixham are available from North Pier, via operators Western Lady Ferry and WeFerry. Tickets are priced at £2 for a single and £3 for a return.

If you are staying in the harbour for a few days we would recommend a slow jaunt around and into Babbacombe Bay. This popular day anchorage is open to the north east, so it is sheltered in westerly winds, and here you will find the waterside inn and hotel, the Cary’s Arms. Fishcombe Cove and Goodrington Beach are also popular local anchorages.

For those looking to relax on a beach in the sunshine, Torre Abbey Sands is just a short walk west along the promenade from the marina waterfront. Just across the road from this is the captivating Torre Abbey Museum and Gardens. Dating back to the 12th century, Torre Abbey became part of a Georgian mansion where, it is said, Horatio Nelson was once invited to dinner. Now, beautifully preserved, it houses a museum and hosts seasonal exhibitions and events. A ‘House & Garden Ticket’ is £8 (under 18s go free). For family fun there is the Jungle Journey Adventure Golf area and Waves Leisure Pool, a swimming pool with a wave machine and flumes, in the Riviera Centre, set within the Abbey Gardens.

For a rainy day, Torquay has its own

TORQUAY

Where it all began. Torre Abbey and the Riviera Centre are great visitor attractions to the east

museum, which charts the history of the town, and also tells the story of Poirot, a character invented by local writer Agatha Christie. The town also has an AMF Bowling Alley, and both of these attractions can be found by following Torwood Street into Babbacombe Road from the inner harbour. There is also the 4-screen Central Cinema in Abbey Road, at the top of town, (via Fleet Street) and theatre lovers should check out the programme at the historic waterfront Princess Theatre. You will find more town attractions on the English Riviera website.

There are a few important events in Torquay’s boating calendar. Firstly, each year in August, the harbour becomes a rendezvous point for a famous powerboat race that dates back to 1961. The Cowes Torquay Race sees superfast offshore powerboats race to markers off the harbour, and berthing at Beacon Quay, before racing back to Cowes the same day.

Another major event for the town is the Torbay Airshow, which sees pilots perform in the skies above the bay each June. Both are great spectacles and you will find harbour navigation notices for such events on the Torbay Harbour website. MBO

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CUTTING Garmin GVC20

Garmin has introduced new, high-definition, scanning sonar technology that will be available on new purchases of all GPSMAP products, as well as some ECHOMAP Plus models. It will also be available as an upgrade to some existing products already out in the market. The product comes as a standalone black box and transducer, which uses frequencies ranging from 0.8 to 1.2mHz, with an output that can be shared across a network. Offering both high-def Side Vü and Clear Vü, the product is promising superior clarity down to depths of up to 200ft. Price from £649.99 www.garmin.com

Genius Boost

If you have a single engine with one battery bank, then some form of jumpstarting capability should be high on your priority list. Luckily there are compact and lightweight solutions like the Genius Boost that means you don’t have to lug around an oldfashioned lead-acid jump starter. The IP65 waterproof rated Genius Boost is available in two versions, the GB20 with a 400A rating for diesel engines up to 2-litre and petrol engines up to 4-litre, and the GB40 with a 1000A rating for motors up to 4 and 6 litres respectively.

Both have an inbuilt light and USB port, and can be charged from a USB or 12v outlet.

Price from £99 See www.meridianzero.co.uk for local stockists

Suzuki Watergrip

Three new ranges of WATERGRIP propellers from Suzuki are said to offer the ultimate in performance from its four-stroke range of outboards.

WATERGRIP Standard will benefit from a new, easily-changed, interchangeable bush system that has been designed to reduce slippage and protect the outboard from prop impacts. WATERGRIP Dual are a range of twin props for its DF325 and DF350 motors, and WATERGRIP Sport promise improved steering stability. Price £TBA www.marine.suzuki.co.uk

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April 2018

the latest boating gear and technology

Mastervolt Alpha Pro III

Mastervolt’s new Alpha Pro III regulator is said to transform any alternator into an advanced three-stage battery charger. Compatible with any battery type, the temperature-controlled regulator will optimise the battery charging capability of the engine’s alternator, while reducing noise and wear. It can also be connected to a Mastervolt MasterBus system to share data, which can be controlled on an EasyView 5 touch screen display. The Alpha Pro III is compatible with both 12 and 24v systems. Price £307.00 www.mastervolt.co.uk

Henri Lloyd Shadow

The Henri Lloyd Shadow waterproof leather boot is designed to offer high levels of comfort and excellent grip, thanks to its ‘blade’ technology, which cuts through the surface tension of any water. Inside is a four-layer laminate, constructed into a fully taped sock. The boot also has a stretch panel for different calve sizes and a pull loop for ease of donning.

Price £210.00 www.henrilloyd.com

Torqeedo 403C

Kayakers and canoeists can take it easy with the latest launch from Torqeedo. The 403C is a longer running version of the 403, with a 915Wh battery providing 2.85 times the capacity of the existing motor. The 403C weighs just 11kg, it is said to offer speeds of up to 5.3 knots, and a range of up to 54nm. It comes with builtin GPS and a digital display for consumption, battery state and range information. It has a USB socket for phone charging, and an optional solar panel can charge while on the move.

Dometic BP124

A new Lithium Ion battery pack from Dometic is said to offer up to 60 hours of run time for one of its electric coolboxes, allowing users to run a compressor cooler for days without an external power source.

The 2.5kg BP124 works on Dometic’s 24V range of CoolFreeze CRX, CDF and CF compressor coolers and freezers and can be charged in just five hours. Price £332 www.dometic.com

Price £1,699 www.torqeedo.com

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PRACTICAL

HOW TO

Manual toilet overhaul

YOU WILL NEED TOOLS • 2 x 13mm • Tools spanners • Flat head screwdrivers • Bucket • Pliers or pipe wrench

T

he humble manual flush sea toilet has been a staple on board leisure boats since forever. Advances in electric and vacuum flushing may have seen many top end boats cast the manual flush aside, but for most of us it is still the most likely option we will find onboard any potential purchase, either new or used. For me, the simplicity of the design and the reliability that brings is a very important factor, and the reason why I have always resisted going electric. The other benefit, that I don’t think can be overstated, is the fact that you can flush a manual toilet in the middle of the night

CONSUMABLES • A suitable overhaul kit • Rubber gloves • Disinfectant • Paper towels

DIFFICULTY RATING

ooooo without waking the dead.

Despite their simplicity, they do sometimes start to play up. Importantly, they rarely completely and instantly stop working, so even with faults, you still have the use of a toilet onboard, but problems such as failing to bring flushing water into the bowl, failing to evacuate the bowl, back filling or even just a stiff or squeaky

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April 2018

flushing mechanism mean it is time to give your WC some TLC. While toilets are not overly expensive to replace entirely, all of the above problems can be solved with a simple overhaul kit.

A mid-way option between these is to replace just the pump mechanism, which on a Jabsco toilet is around ÂŁ70, but today we are going to look at the pump overhaul, as it is the most cost effective, if not the

most pleasant, repair option. Not all toilets will need a complete kit. For example, if bringing flushing water into the bowl is the problem, you may only need to replace the top valve gasket. If you have an issue with backfilling, you probably need to replace the joker valve. We are doing the whole lot, so you can see the processes involved and the different parts of the pump mechanism.

HOW TO IN 30 STEPS >

1

Make sure you get the right kit for your toilet.

There are different kits for each generation of Jabsco manual toilet 4

Pull off the pump to bowl hose. This does not normally have any form of hose clamp so should be easy to remove

2

Whenever I have to work on a toilet I start by mixing up a strong disinfectant solution in a bucket 5

Turn off the inlet seacock and undo the raw water inlet hose from the pump body and remove it

3

I then pour this into the toilet, slowly dry flushing to spread it around as much of the mechanism as I can 6

Undo the two screws that connect the pump body to the outlet hose connection flange. Some water may leak out

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PRACTICAL

7

8

9

Undo the four screws that connect the pump unit to the toilet base/mounting plate. More leakage may occur

Lift the pump unit away and drop it into a bucket.

There will still be water inside

Remove the old joker valve from the end of the outlet hose. You should definitely be wearing gloves by this stage

10

11

12

Remove the base valve gasket. The weight on mine had become displaced, which explains its inability to hold water in the bowl

Wipe clean the sealing surfaces of these two areas to ensure that the new gaskets seal properly

Install the new joker valve and new base valve gasket.

Note that the weight of the latter is on the top

13

14

15

Moving on to the pump, undo the six screws that fix the top cover onto the pump body

Carefully pull the top plate up and away, bringing the piston with it. There will probably be water inside

Remove the old top valve gasket. Versions newer than 1998 have a spring inside here, so look to see how it fits

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16

17

18

Remove the old top valve seat. A new one comes with the kit and can only be fitted one way

Again, this is a good time to clean up any sealing surfaces, gently scraping away any lime scale build-up

After replacing the top valve seat, fit the new top valve gasket, which again can only be fitted in the correct orientation

19

20

21

On the bottom of the piston, use a pair of 13mm spanners to remove the lower nut and then the O ring assembly

Unscrew the handle, remove the upper buffer washer and withdraw the piston down through the top seal assembly

You can then slip the old lower buffer washer over the top and replace it with the new one from the kit

22

23

24

Using pliers or a pipe wrench, unscrew the top seal assembly from the top cover and discard

When you fit the new top seal assembly, just screw it hand tight. Tools are likely to cause damage

Using a screwdriver, gently prise the old piston O ring from its housing and replace it with the new one

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PRACTICAL

25

26

27

The piston seal assembly can then be fixed back onto the shaft, ensuring that the washers on either side are refitted

The kit comes with a new O ring for the flush control lever. Unscrew the lever and remove to replace this

The piston can now be slid in place and the two halves screwed back together.

Do not over tighten as the plastic hosing can split

28

29

30

The pump can then be installed back onto the toilet, ensuring that the bottom valve gasket and the joker valve stay correctly located

Then you just need to connect up the raw water intake hose and the flushing water hose

The kit comes with a few extra spares, including one of each type of screw. The spring is for later toilets and the O-ring appeared to be surplus to requirements

COST £ Overhaul kits for the various Jabsco toilets from the 1980’s right through until today are around £30. Finding kits for some of the earlier toilets is becoming more difficult but sourcing a kit for any toilet produced since the early ‘90s should not prove difficult. The Jabsco range changed notably in 1986, 1998 and 2007, so you will need to buy the appropriate kit. Our toilet was in the 1986-1998 range and while spares still seem to be widely available, they are usually clearance items, so buy while you can. We got lucky and picked up a spares kit for just £10 on eBay. Jabsco toilet spares are widely available and easy to find in store and online. Some good websites for finding toilet spares for Jabsco and other makes are: www.vetus.com www.asap-supplies.com www.leesan.com/shop/toilet-spare-parts

TIME TAKEN If the pipes come off and go back on easily, the complete job should only take about an hour. If you have a specific problem and only need to change top or bottom end parts, you could be done and dusted in 15-20 minutes.

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CLASSIC CRUISERS

a complete guide to the best boats on the used market

Hardy Seawings 305

T

he name Hardy has become synonymous with tough and rugged wheelhouse cruisers, easily recognisable by a characteristic blue stripe and rope fendering. However, during the late ‘80s and early ‘90s the UK builder entered into, as it describes, a ‘new dawn’ of design with the evolution of a hardtop sportscruiser range.

In 1989 John Hardy approached designer Andrew Wolstenholme to create a series of fast planing, hardtop sportscruisers to expand Hardy’s ‘Seawings’ range, first introduced in the

early ‘80s. Fresh from designing the Falcon range of sterndrive-powered sportscruisers, Andrew penned the 285, a stylish and fast 30ft, four-berth sportscruiser with a canvas-topped hardtop. It was a planing hull boat powered by single or twin petrol or diesel sterndrives, offering speeds of up to 35 knots. The hardtop-sportscruiser concept was not a new one in the ‘80s, with Scandinavian builders arguably leading the way, but the 285 was certainly the first of its kind to be built in the UK. Some might say it was ahead of its time.

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Built 1991-1999 Prices then £64,991 (1991) Prices now £41,000-£53,000 Length 30ft 10in / 9.4m Beam 11ft / 3.35m Draught 3ft 2in / 0.97m Air Draught 9ft / 2.74m to HT Fuel 105 gallons / 477 litres Water 40 gallons / 181 litres Displacement 4350kg approx

Building of the 285 commenced in 1990 and, priced from £64k, the boat was launched at the London Boat Show at Earls Court in January 1991. The main dealer at the time was Broadland Boat Centre, which was based at Brundall Bay Marina on the Broads.

In 1993 the 285 was renamed the 305.

The new model name was not only now more representative of its size, there were also some significant changes made to its bathing platform and transom. The bathing platform was a separate moulding on the 285 but became part of the hull

moulding on the 305, a development that unusually saw no changes in its overall length.

The 305 was a success, and went on to inspire several more Wolstenholmedesigned Seawings models, the 254 for weekending, then the mid-range family 277 and, finally, the two-cabin 355 flagship, which was introduced in 1995.

When Hardy Marine changed hands in 1997, production of the Seawings range continued, albeit for a transitory two years. The new owners, the Funnell Family, did however introduce a

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new Seawings 314 model. This was a development of the 277, but was an open sportscruiser. We understand only a few of these boats were built. Hardy Marine say 28 305s were built between 1995-1999.

It seems the 305 mould tools were used again in the ‘00s, in the guise of the Barnes Royale 305.

Despite its low volume production, the 305 remains popular on the used boat market and much loved by its owners. It

is competitively priced and, with most examples being twin diesel, economical to boot. We went to a view one of the last built, a 1999 example, to find out more.

Interior A two-part companionway door, and a set of three angled steps on the port side, lead down into a saloon lobby area.

With 6ft headroom, this cabin area feels spacious and inviting. The use of rich

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There is plenty of room to stand and work at the galley. Quite a few 305s have two fridges

glossy solid woods, walnut or cherry, also bring `Scandinavian-style’ warmth, sophistication and practicality.

Immediately on your left is the galley unit, with a small fridge cleverly fitted at the top of the stairs. The Corian-style laminate worktop conceals a three-burner hob and single round sink. Underneath this is a full gas oven and grill, usually a Smev, a deep cupboard with a bin on the door and shelved storage. Above the worktop, three large cupboards utilise the space under the decks and offer sectioned storage for plates, stackable glasses and

mugs. What is noticeable, when you are stood at the galley, is that there is plenty of space for others to move around and behind you, space that is sometimes lacking in rival boats.

Forward is a raised, circular dinette area capable of seating up to eight people around the pedestal table. The table drops down to convert the dinette into a large double, measuring 6ft 6in at its widest, with three infill cushions. Unfortunately storage under the seating is limited and unlined. With the bolsters fixed, the centres of the seat cushions lift out to

Up to eight people can gather around the dinette. The seat upholstery is sectioned and pulls out for hull storage

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A double or seating? The mid cabin has a U-shaped convertible settee, echoing some US-style cruisers

reveal the hull cavity, but, being board backed, these are fiddly to remove and insert, so look out for rips and tears in the seams. We think that drawers at the end of each seat base would have been useful, and utilised some otherwise wasted space.

Another area of potentially wasted space is on the starboard side between the dinette backrest and toilet bulkhead. Removing the backrest cushion reveals this cavity, which in turn provides through-bulkhead access to the plumbing under the toilet washbasin.

On the starboard side is a curved door leading to the moulded toilet and shower compartment, which is a really good size.

Inside there is a unit with a wash basin, shower mixer tap and integral storage, and a sea toilet with a lifting seat cover for showering. There is further storage

below the window with moulded open shelves and Perspex-fronted lockers. With headroom of 6ft 2in and a decent size draining liner, there is plenty of space for showering. The optional holding tank was factory fitted in the engine bay on the starboard side, but one is sometimes retrofitted under the saloon floor.

On the 285, and standard 305, models the mid cabin is divided off by a privacy curtain. An optional bulkhead and door was available on later boats, priced at between ÂŁ600 and ÂŁ800. Inside the mid cabin you are greeted by what appears to be a U-shaped settee area, with a sunken footwell in between. In this format it is perhaps useable as berths for two children, but makes the most sense converted as a thwartships master double, with its infill in place. One owner of 20 years had made

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1999 £ 44,950 Twin Volvo 170hp KAD32 Burton Waters Ipswich 01473 225710 www.burtonwaters.co.uk

1998 £52,500 Twin Volvo KAD32 170hp diesels Private sale See Hardy Owners Club website www.hardy-owner.org.uk

There is over 6ft of headroom and plenty of elbow room for showering in the toilet compartment

it a permanent berth by adding a customised sprung mattress. The double is 3ft 10in deep and 6ft across, with additional length available by removing the three saloon infill cushions that stow neatly in a void at the end of the bed. You will find shallow storage under the berth, with the 40-gallon water tank under the port side bunk.

This cabin offers seated headroom over the bed, and full standing headroom of 5ft 10in.

With the cabin curtain or door closed, there is also a decent amount of space for one person to dress, with access to a full height wardrobe with two drawers at the bottom. You will also find the boats main electrical switch panel at

1997 £44,950 Twin Volvo AD31 150hp diesels Network Yacht Brokers Lefkas 0203 051 0525 www.networkyachtbrokers.com

Its water tank is under the mid berth

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the top of this unit. A locker and open shelves provide more storage at the head of the bed. Finally, a panel in the ceiling headlining provides access to the helm electrics.

Overall the interior layout is perfect for a cruising couple, and unlike many boats of this size it doesn’t feel cramped. If you are a family, or intend to have guests, having a mid cabin door makes sense, but as a couple this will probably be open most of the time, so a curtain may suffice.

Cockpit & Helm Up in the cockpit everything is offset to starboard, which provides an easy, onelevel passage from transom door to cabin companionway. It has a raised double helm position, and a large U-shaped, 6-8 person seating area aft, with a single

pedestal table.

The fact that you can step aboard and cast off without having to wrestle with covers is a real plus for owners. These boats are quite conducive for seated helming, where you feel comfortable and protected. The combination of a raised helm, a large double helm seat and good visibility, fore and aft, is a perfect package for a hardtop boat. There is also a large sliding window on either side for ventilation and crew communication.

We noted that later boats have a comfier bucket-style double helm seat with chunkier armrest bolsters.

There is a ‘wind in your hair’ driving experience to be had by rolling back or removing the sunroof and sticking your head out of the top. Owners are quick to praise its sunroof design, saying

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The windscreen may not be particularly tall but the helm position is very comfortable

the twin hatches are very well finished with no sharp edges and offer plenty of room to stand up, unlike some modern roof designs that don’t open wide or far enough. The central roof pillar does however restrict this experience for the copilot. Be aware that the sunroof attaches from the outside, so its not that quick or easy to open or close as the weather changes. One owner admitted that they rarely use the sunroof, and go out all year round in hardtop guise. Ensure that the roof is in good condition and attached properly, as this is prone to shrinkage and could prove costly to fix or replace.

The helm console was modified during the build process, with a much more complex moulding seen on earlier boats, and a simplified version seen on later models. The latter provides a little more visibility and any navigation equipment, if fitted, is now mounted closer to the skipper in the panel ahead of the chart storage area, and in front of the co-pilot.

The later one also has a flatter mid chart area and a line of switches to the right of the wheel.

These boats can lack storage in the

cockpit, particularly under the seating, and this was something that the builders addressed in later boats. There is a useful porthole-fronted locker each side, with the port side housing the battery switches.

With the aft seat lifting with the large engine bay hatch, a larger base moulding was developed for the forward bench seat, providing much needed storage inside. We have also seen a useful lined locker fitted to the solid cockpit coaming aft of the cockpit fridge. A two-bottle gas locker can be found in the cockpit companionway, close to the cabin door. This may have been modified inside with either a false floor, or an additional integral vented locker with lid for storing items on top.

A party boat. Making use of the large side step to port, the aft cockpit can seat up to eight people

Motorboat Owner Š Digital Marine Media Ltd

67

The aft seating area is enclosed by a full height canopy, with a telescopic hoop frame pulling out from the hardtop and canvas sloping down to the transom. The slope of the aft canvas is a little restrictive for those seated aft, so owners may have modified this to create a more vertical angle. Ensure that the canopy is in good order. Leaks at the transom often result in a saturated aft seat cushion pad.

The 305’s full beam bathing platform gives sideon access, unlike some other Seawings models

On Deck Stepping out from the cockpit on the side decks is easiest on the port side, due to a long seat-sized step in the cockpit moulding. The decks themselves are impressively wide, at 10-12 inches, and enclosed by a smooth-edged toerail.

Guardrails, with a wire mid rail, enclose the foredeck and extend back to the windscreen, leaving a vulnerable gap between here and the cockpit. Luckily there are grabrails on the roof to help, but a vertical grabrail fitted to the hardtop upright is a useful addition here, and may also come in handy when boarding from the side. On one 305 the decks had been completely enclosed by adding guardrails around the aft sections, and joining these to the existing forward rails by wire stays, which form a gate for side-on boarding.

Boarding, whether alongside or stern to, is easy via the full width bathing platform

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April 2018

????????????????????????????????????????????????

and the transom gate on the port side. The bathing platform is fitted with a swimming ladder and fender storage. Its shapely transom was also designed to be davit ready but snap davits with stand-off arms are practical and popular on this model.

The earlier 285 is easily identified by its ‘bolt-on’ full width bathing platform, and also by its grey superstructure. Brochures say the ‘sea mist grey’ prevents glare in excessive sunlight but, as all 305s seem to be white, it appears that the grey didn’t catch on.

bow, this is usually to help 305s, normally with smaller engines, ‘get over the hump’ and up on to the plane.

Examine the hull for damage, particularly around the bathing platform, engine vents and its grey rubbing strake.

Ensure the latter is in good condition, looking out for shrinkage.

Engines The 285 was offered with a choice of Volvo engines married to Volvo duo-prop drives, either twin petrols, or single or twin diesels. Twin 205hp 4.3 GL petrols Hull and Handling were fitted as standard (£64,991), with an These boats are praised for their solid option of a single 200hp AD41 (£65,797) build quality and reassuring handling. The and twin 130hp AD31Ls (£73,356). A 305 has a variable deadrise hull running year later the 205hp OMC Cobra diesels from a medium to deep-vee, 21 degrees to were an option, priced at £79,995, and 15 degrees at the transom. delivering 33 knots.

A 3kW bowthruster was a £3,700 By 1996, nine Volvo-only options were option. However, one owner said that the available, and these included a modern, boat responds very well at close quarters supercharged KAD diesel engine. Petrol and hasn’t needed to fit a bowthruster in choices included a single 275hp 5.8FI and 20 years of ownership. twin options of 205hp, 235hp and 275hp.

You may find fixed ballast built into the Diesel options were a single 200hp AD41 Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

69

The 305’s engine bay hatch lifts from aft.

On this ‘99 KAD32 boat the electric ram gives 45 degrees of access, with room to get down in front of the engines. A single diesel was available

(£89,288), a 230hp KAD42 (£91,644), twin 150hp AD31s (£98,217) or twin 200hp AD41s (£106,367).

In 1997 Hardy offered two single MerCruiser diesel engine choices, a 250hp 4.2-litre D-tronic £91,848 or a 300hp 7.3-litre D-tronic V8 at £97,836, and three twin options, 165hp MerCruiser 2.8-litre D-tronics and 170hp Volvo KAD32, both priced at £102,253, and twin 200hp Volvo AD41P at £106,596.

Ensure that engines and drives have been serviced regularly. Engine access

Volvo engines are married to duo prop drives

is quite unusual, in that the large engine hatch opens from aft and requires the removal of the table and aft cushion, but with the aft seat attached. It is extremely heavy, so strong gas struts or the inbuild optional electric lifting ram (fitted between the engines only on twin models) operated from the helm, are something to look out for. One owner went as far as cutting out holes in the aft seat base to help save some weight for lifting. The hatch opens to 45 degrees and reveals the engine, or engines in their entirety.

Removing the ram pin provides 90 degree access and, for this, owners may have made a separate support. With the hatch all the way back, on boats fitted with AD31s or KAD32s there is room to stand or squat down in front of the engines. But on boats fitted with the larger, six cylinder engines, there is very little room to get down into the engine bay to work on them. Three 125AH batteries are fitted in the engine bay on the port side, which can

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be rather tricky to replace. You will also find the boat’s calorifier on this side.

Twin KAD32s were possibly the most popular and common installation, providing cruising speeds of 22-25 knots and a top speed of 33-35 knots. Twin AD41’s are also quite attractive and, by all accounts, go ‘like a rocket’, giving nearly 40 knots. The downside being the lack of space in the engine bay. Twin 150hp AD31 models should hit 28-30 knots lightly loaded, achieve 25 knots flat out when loaded, and offer cruising a speed of 1820 knots. Typically a KAD32 boat will be fitted with A5 duo props, or with Volvo’s new equivalent J series.

The boat’s single 105-gallon/477-litre fuel tank forms a bulkhead in front of the engines. Access to the top of the tank and sender involves the removal of the

midships cockpit seat, which reveals a large floor access panel. One owner told Motorboat Owner that the twin KAD32s provide an economy of two litres per mile at a cruising speed of 22 knots. That gives a range, with no safety margin, of 238 miles. One 305 fitted with 150hp AD31s has had an additional 22-gallon/100-litre ‘wing tank’ fitted for extended cruising.

Conclusion The 305 is a great boat for UK waters.

Its hardtop provides the best of both worlds, come rain or shine. It’s got space and pace, it’s affordable to maintain and economical in its diesel guise. If you can’t stretch to a modern hardtop, it is a fantastic alternative.

The Hardy Owners Club is a resource for owners and potential buyers. Before buying any used boat, always employ the services of a YDSA or a IIMS accredited surveyor and, if you have any doubt about the engines, a separate engine survey by a suitably qualified person is recommended.

Family 277

1993-1999

Prices £30,000-£45,000 Length: 27ft 7in Beam 10ft 6in Stylish, fast mid range hardtop with an open plan cabin with twin pilot berths for families.

Buy one (pictured) 1995 £44,950 www.clarkeandcarter.co.uk

254

1996-1999

Prices £15,000-£25,000 Length: 25ft 3in Beam 8ft 1in A two-berth, hard-topped weekender powered by a single diesel or petrol sterndrive.

Buy one (pictured) 1998 £21,995 www.watersideboatsales.com

355

1995-1999

Prices £70,000-£100,000 Length: 35ft 10in Beam 12ft Stylish flagship with a spacious cockpit and a two double cabin layout, giving 4-6 berths.

Buy one (pictured) 1999 £69,000 www.euroyachts.com

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

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tested Casio Men’s Sport Tide and Moon Graph Watch

PRICE from

£19.99 RRP £40

I have tested many watches with boating related functions over the years and the one thing that they have all had in common was that they were not exactly cheap. With the risk of damage, or even loss, I really wanted a cheap disposable watch that delivered some useful nautical functions. Cue a visit to the Casio website and the selection of their 2926 model, also known as ‘Men’s Sports Tide and Moon Graph Watch’ or model W-753.

If, like us, you keep your boat somewhere tidally restricted, tide times are never far from your mind. I have tide tables pinned on notice boards, on my office desk, saved on my phone and tablet and downloaded to all of my computers. There is barely a day goes by when I am not wanting to know when and how big the next tide is. Despite this, I wanted more. I wanted to be able to see instantly, without opening an app or thumbing through a paper booklet, whether our local tide was high, low, rising or falling. An indication of its likely height would also be useful. This is where Mr Casio and his 2926 comes in. For around half the price of an almanac, the watch provides me with exactly that information, courtesy of a small tide graph and moon phase symbol that is on display all the time without the need to press any buttons. OK, I still need to resort to one of the other methods for complete accuracy, but I can gauge, as quickly as finding out the time, what the tide is doing and whether we are at springs, neaps or somewhere in between. Press one button and it will give you the exact moon phase and press another and you enter bearing Basic direction finding and moon age screens are useful mode, which provides a basic 72

April 2018

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

navigational tool, as long as you can see the sun. Another function also allows you to toggle through the day’s tides on the graph. Of course, none of the tide and bearing functions would work without telling the watch where you are. This is done by setting the ‘home site data’ and only takes around five minutes when you first get it. If you travel extensively, and want the watch Motorboat Owner to provide local tides and bearing info, The tide graph and “Cheap, cheerful you will need to reset this data for the moon graphic provide an and very useful” instant feel for what is new location. happening in local waters The display is not the easiest to see Value 5/5 Usability 3/5 in some light conditions, and you need Performance 4/5 to use the illumination button more than you really should to help this, even in daylight sometimes, but despite owning some of the aforementioned expensive watches, this is the one you are most likely to find on my wrist on a day-to-day basis. Apart from its usefulness, it is great to literally not worry about losing it. If I caught the strap on something onboard the boat and it popped off and fell over the side, I wouldn’t even consider getting wet trying to retrieve it, despite it being water resistant to 100m. I would nip into the local Argos, pass over a £20 note and replace it without a second thought.

Battery life is phenomenal, I have had this watch for five years and it is still on its original, and it comes with a choice of stainless steel bracelet or resin strap. I chose the former. It also has other useful functions, such as dual time, alarms, stopwatch, and a countdown timer.

Enquiries - Casio www.casio.co.uk

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tested

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

Marine AGlaze Upholstery Cleaner

PRICE from

£15.59

This is a multi purpose, multi surface cleaner for Vinyl, leather, fabrics and carpets. We gave it a try on a number of grimy problems. On vinyl it worked a treat, removing marks with a simple squirt and wipe. Inside the cabin I had a couple of tough tests. The first was a curtain with a water stain from an old window leak. Being lazy I didn’t remove the curtain, instead just squirted it on and rubbed against my hand. The initial application made a difference, but didn’t completely remove the stain. I would expect better results if I took the curtain off and scrubbed against a hard surface.

The last test was on the carpet. Here we had some unknown dark spots that had been there a while.

A quick squirt and rub, and the first of these just melted away. This was pretty impressive. The only downside, if you can call it that, is that it also cleaned the whole scrubbed area, making a small patch that was obviously cleaner than the rest. This shows it works, but means you may have to clean the whole thing if there is a general background grubbiness to the fabric being cleaned.

In short, it appears to be a gentle, non-damaging, Motorboat Owner easy-to-use cleaner that “A useful weapon can be safely used on a in the battle wide range of materials, against grime” including alcantara, and Value 3/5 for that reason it deserves Usability 5/5 a place in your boat Performance 4/5 cleaning armoury.

Get 10% off using code MBO10

Not only did it remove this stain, it also easily removed the background grime

Enquiries - Marine AGlaze www.marineaglaze.com

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April 2018

BAVARIA S30 OPEN

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Rodman Spirit 31 Outboard

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April 2018

BOAT TEST

Length (LOA): 9.48m / 31ft 1in Beam: 3.36m / 11ft 0in Displacement: circa 5,900kg Fuel capacity: 600 litres Water capacity: 110 litres RCD category: B8 / C10 Engine as tested: Twin 200hp Mercury Verado Other engine options: Twin outboards 150hp -250hp from Suzuki, Yamaha or Mercury Price from ÂŁ130,800

Motorboat Owner Š Digital Marine Media Ltd

77

I

f you were to look on the Rodman website, you might be surprised to see the variety of craft that they manufacture. You probably already know of the Spanish builder for its wide range of sportsfishers, and you may have seen their move into more leisure based designs with their Muse (launched in 2006) and Spirit (launched in 2010) ranges, but did you know that they are also very prolific builders of some serious commercial stuff? Yes that’s right. The same company that builds top notch flybridges, practical sportsboats and weekenders, and sturdy leisure fishing boats also produce working and passenger catamarans, commercial fishing vessels, coastguard boats and even government and military patrol boats like their latest, 40 knot, 35-metre Rodman

111. If you ever needed any reassurance about their ability to build a decent boat, you will find it on their website by the bucket load.

The boat we are looking at today is one of four Spirit 31 models. The same hardtop boat is also available with single or twin shaft drive diesel engines, and there is also an open, sportscruiser style, version available with inboard

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April 2018

???????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ????

“The movable seating makes for a versatile cockpit space” or outboard options.

The immediate benefit of choosing the outboard version of either model is the space that it frees up inside the boat.

While the inboard versions are effectively 2+1 berth boats, the outboard models offer a full four berth, two-cabin layout.

Boarding at the transom is easy, thanks to a large, split bathing platform on either side of the engines. Moving into the cockpit requires a bit of effort as what appears to be a single U-shaped seat wrapped around the aft end is, in fact, a three-part seat with sections on either side that slide forward to create a walkway Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

Access onboard is easy, whichever side you moor

79

Wide sidedecks and cockpit steps make light work of crewing

through. The beauty of this design is that you slide either one of the seats to give you a transom gate on the most appropriate side. The middle section of seating is fixed in place but hinges forward to allow the outboards to be fully tilted. With the boat being designed as an inboard vessel,

and the transom being set some four foot or so back from the edge of the bathing platform, the motors are fixed onto sturdy metal mounting brackets to push them aft.

In the cockpit, with the seats pushed aft, you get a sociable layout for a family, with space for a cockpit table.

You can, of course, chose to move the seats forward to deliver a more circular seating arrangement if you wish. In the cockpit sole a hatch lifts to gain access to a huge lazarette while further, more easily accessible storage, is available inside both of the moveable cockpit bench seats. In the forward corners of the cockpit are steps leading up to the side decks, which at around 23cm are plenty wide enough and easy to navigate. Over knee height The central seat moulding hinges for engine access guardrails and grabrails set into the 80

April 2018

Versatile living space. Inside the wheelhouse you get all of the facilities that a family boat needs

wheelhouse roof down each side make progress forward nice and secure. Once at the bow you have to step up onto the raised foredeck before reaching the flat section forward where you will find a nice deep anchor locker with an opening just big enough to get a fender or two through for storage.

Back in the cockpit, twin sliding aluminium framed doors lead into the wheelhouse. Here you will find a small galley unit to starboard, with a sink and two-burner hob located beneath a lifting cover. If you are using the hob, worktop space is very limited, although the dinette table is located just behind you. In the unit below you get a reasonable amount of storage, with a couple of lockers and two drawers. An electric fridge is fitted Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

“You can step aboard, close the wheelhouse doors and go”

The compact galley lacks workspace when the hob is in use, but offers good storage below

81

This cavernous midships double berth is one of the benefits of choosing outboard motors on the transom. The inboard version has a single, small, fore and aft pilot berth here

into the unit just forward of the galley, beneath the helm seat, and with no lockers beneath the dinette seating to port, the galley unit is the total sum of all storage in the wheelhouse. Headroom in here is pretty impressive at 6ft 5in and with large windows, overhead opening hatch and use of light materials, this area feels airy and spacious. The dinette seating is a bench seat along the whole port side of the wheelhouse with a small return on the forward end to create an L shape.

This seating arrangement, and the dinette table’s position doesn’t make the best use of the area for family meal times, but you should, at a push, be able to set four places. As well as the sliding roof hatch and aft doors, the wheelhouse also has an opening sliding window on either side, the starboard one being particularly useful for communication between helm and

foredeck crew.

At the helm you get a single, nonadjustable bucket seat with a lifting bolster.

All other crew will need to take a seat in the dinette, either facing aft or side-on.

If you need an extra pair of eyes forward, your crew will either need to stand in the companionway next to the helm or kneel up on the forward section of dinette seating. The helm console is neatly and simply laid out, with space for a good sized multi-function display right in the middle,

“Its layout will suit a couple or a family, or, if you are friendly, two couples”

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where it is easily seen and, importantly in these touch screen days, easily reached.

Three steps down through the companionway lead you to the lower accommodation. Here on the port side, where the inboard version had just a single short pilot berth, there is now a double mid-berth. It is not separated off from this lower lobby, so privacy is compromised, but I don’t think it would be difficult to add a curtain across the entrance if privacy is required. This cabin offers a bench seat, with a locker in its base, a small top opening storage unit aft of this, and a large double berth thwartships beneath the wheelhouse. This berth offers sitting headroom at the port end and, like most midships berths on boats of this size, Motorboat Owner Š Digital Marine Media Ltd

just lying room over the rest of it. There is a single small opening port within this cabin area for ventilation and light, but being open plan means there is plenty of

The spacious toilet compartment offers 6ft headroom and lots of useful storage

83

PERFORMANCE As tested 50% fuel 90% Water 3 crew Force 4

*the following fuel figures are calculated using generic data for the specific engine, and may not provide an accurately representation of fuel usage for this combination

ambient light from other areas. The lobby area, including the entrance to this berth, offers just over 6ft standing headroom.

On the starboard side of this lower area is the boat’s toilet compartment.

Headroom is again very good, at 6ft, and there is also a generous amount of lateral elbow room. Facilities here include a toilet, sink and shower, as well as a decent amount of storage space, with two cupboards below the worktop. A single opening port allows the compartment to be aired and a blind over it delivers privacy.

Moving forward brings you to the boat’s separate master cabin. In here you get an offset double berth, a half height hanging locker to port, a small amount of floor

RPM

Knots LPH

GPH

MPG

700 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000 4500 5000 5500 6000 6200

2.2 3.5 5.8 7.3 8.2 9.3 12.7 18.9 23.2 26.4 28.7 31.3 35.1

0.66 1.08 1.98 3.48 4.80 6.47 7.96 10.34 15.97 20.94 25.76 29.25 33.08

3.33 3.24 2.93 2.10 1.71 1.44 1.60 1.83 1.45 1.26 1.11 1.07 1.06

3.0 4.9 9.0 15.8 21.8 29.4 36.2 47.0 72.6 95.2 117.1 133.0 150.4

Range (nm)

439 427 386 277 225 190 211 241 191 166 146 141 140

Noise (dB)

63 65 68 70 72 74 78 85 88 89 91 91 92

space with over 6ft headroom, an opening port on either side and a hatch above the berth. Beneath the double berth there are access hatches to a large area of bilge for additional storage and you get a fiddled shelf down either side of the cabin for your personal bits and bobs. Despite the lack of glass, this cabin, like the rest of the boat, is spacious, light and airy.

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Twin 200hp Mercury Verado outboards deliver a surprisingly sprightly drive

“Push the throttles and the engines will entertain you with their lovely soundtrack” Underway Despite the lack of seat adjustment I found helming the 31 comfortable in seated, leaning or standing positions. Visibility is good in normal cruise but, like other hardtop boats, you are particularly blind on the port side when turning tightly to port as the boat leans and the hardtop blocks your view. The roof hatch helps a little here, but a second pair of eyes on the port side is useful in these manoeuvres.

During our test we experienced some typical Force 4 Solent chop off Portsmouth, the kind of conditions that can create an unconformable ride and some loud slamming in boat’s whose hull is less than perfect. Here, the 31 surprised us as, although the boat is 31ft overall, Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

the hull length is actually only 26ft, with the rest of the length being made up with bathing platform overhang. This, we understand, is something to do with Spanish tax and boats with a hull of over 8m, so the smooth and slam free ride in these choppy conditions was all the more impressive. There was quite a bit of spray thrown up and onto the windscreen, but the double pantograph wipers maintained good visibility and, of course, the hardtop with all windows hatches and doors closed meant we stayed nice and dry, as well as warm on the cold February day.

The twin supercharged 200hp Verados proved to be a great match for the boat, providing good acceleration from standstill, getting onto the plane

85

in just 3 seconds and reaching 25 knots just 9 seconds later, but also the torque throughout the rev range meant that pickup from any speed was instant, whenever a throttle forward command was input. Drive the boat enthusiastically and it feels nimble, yet solid and reassuring, and the engines will entertain you with their lovely soundtrack. Throw the boat into a turn and it responds precisely and quickly with just a hint of ventilation of the props. If, however you want something more peaceful and serene, then drop back to somewhere in the low 20 knots and, with the wheelhouse doors closed, the driving experience is quiet and refined. If our generic fuel data is correct, maximum efficiency can be found at a relatively modest 19 knots, but the boat feels just about perfect cruising at 23-25 knots.

Conclusion I was prepared to be under whelmed with the outboard powered version of the 31,

Apart from a section of bathing platform, the 31 doesn’t lose anything for having outboard motors, in fact it gains quite a bit

but I was proved very wrong indeed. It is a particularly competent boat for its size, and one that delivers a good all-round family solution. Twin supercharged 200hp outboards are never going to be cheap to run and, if you get throttle happy, you are going to get through fuel at quite an alarming rate, just over £3 a minute at today’s price at full throttle. Having said that, as a cruiser you can achieve a pretty impressive 1.8mpg at around 19 knots and, with a bit of ‘man maths’, you can convince yourself that this is not

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too dissimilar to a boat of a similar size running twin diesel sterndrives. It’s actually a bit of a conundrum, because this boat and engine package is great fun to drive vigorously, and it’s hard not to push those throttles forward. Another way to look at it, of course, is that it offers you a competent, quiet, relatively efficient, modest-speed cruiser when you want to head for the horizon, and a growling responsive bundle of fun, albeit at a high hourly rate, when you just fancy blowing the cobwebs away.

I have tested quite a few boats and there are not many where these two extremes are quite so pronounced, and that’s no bad thing. It’s a bit like combining your

An enjoyable and solid ride in some choppy seas

everyday family estate with your weekend sports car in one single package. When you look at it like that, a few extra quid in fuel every now and then is a small price to pay.

ENQUIRIES: RBS Marine Tel: 01243 512101 www.rbsmarine.com

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MARINAS AND BOAT SALES LIMITED

New and Used

Boats for Sale 01189 403211

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 / 520

Full canopy, table, sundeck, 20hp.

Newly antifouled & polished

Aquatico / 19

Great starter boat with 15hp outboard & full canopies

Interboat / 22 Xplorer

Immaculately maintained. Fridge, sink, toilet, teak floor & full canopy

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2013 | £10,500 | 17ft | 5.2m

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Haines / 31 Flybridge

Intercruiser / 28 Cabrio

Broom / 450

2006 | £44,950 | 30ft | 9.0m

1993 | £54,995 | 31ft | 9.5m

2013 | £97,995 | 28ft | 8.5m

2007 | £345,000 | 44.9ft | 13.7m

Fantastic river boat, one owner, bow & stern thrusters, 300hrs

The layout of the award winning 320 with Nanni 60hp

Fantastic cruiser, lightly used, winter cover, heating & bowthruster

1983 | £37,000 | 28.4ft | 8.7m

One meticulous owner. Highly specified boat in great condition

Get the boating life.. come and join us for our

Open weekend April 28th -29t h everyone’s welcome!

...with Val Wyatt Marine.

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

01189 403211

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

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

Open seven days a week.

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

Owners Directory i Arvor Boat Owners Club

Dell Quay Ranger website

www.arvorboatowners.co.uk

www.dellquayranger.supanet.com

Aquastar Owners Club

Electric Boat Association

www.aquastarclub.co.uk

www.electric-boat-association.org.uk

Atlanta Boat Owners

Elysian Boat Owners

www.atlantaboats.co.uk

www.elysianboats.co.uk

Bavaria Owners’ Association

Fairey Owners Club

www.bavariaowners.co.uk

www.faireyownersclub.co.uk

Bayliner Owners Club

Fairline Owners Club

www.baylinerownersclub.org

www.fairlineownersclub.com

Beneteau Owners’ Association

Fjord Club

www.beneteau-owners-association.org.uk

www.fjordclub.com

Broom Owners Club

Fletcher Owners Club

www.broomowners.com

fletcher-boats.co.uk/your-fletcher/owners-club

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

Dawncraft Owners Club & Forum www.dawncraftowners.com

90

www.hardy-owner.org.uk

Jeanneau Owners Network

www.jeanneau-owners.com

Mariah Owners Club www.mariahownersclub.com

April 2018

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

Princess Owners Club

Viking Owners Club

princessownersclub.com

www.vikingowners.org.uk

Regal Owners Forum

Warrior Boats Owners Club

www.warriorboatsownersclub.co.uk

www.regalownersforum.com

Relcraft Boaters Group www.relcraftboatersgroup.co.uk

Owners Club missing?

Rinker Owners Club

Contact us at

editorial@motorboatowner.co.uk

www.rinkerboats.com/owners-club

Rodman Owners Club

www.rbsmarine.com/rodman-owners-club

Sea Ray Owners Club

www.clubsearay.com

Advertise with us

Classified adverts from £25 1990 Falcon 23 SPC

Sealine Forum www.sealineforum.co.uk

Contact us at

advertising@

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

Single Volvo Penta V6 AQ205 petrol. Ideal starter cruiser

£10,995 01753 851717 email address

91

Classified

Motorboat Owner Affordable practical boating

1998 Sealine S37

1978 Freeman 24

2002 Barnes Royale 305

Twin Volvo Penta KAD43 diesels.

Raymarine E127 plotter, HD Radar, autopilot, DSC/AIS Radio. Cockpit reupholstered 2017, new canopies 2016. Holding tank, Eberspacher diesel heating. Regularly serviced and anti fouled.

Single Watermota Sea Tiger. Ideal classic river cruiser offering four berths in full height cabin area,.

Cockpit fridge, chemical toilet, hot water, full gas oven and grill, twoburner hob. BSS certificate. Ready for the season

Wolstenhome-designed hardtop sportscruiser. Single Mercruiser 4.2 D-Tronic 250hp diesel engine.

4 berths in spacious and social cabin, four burner hob & oven, sunroof, large cockpit, bowthruster, radar. chartplotter, heating

£84,950

£8,500

£54,000

07885 362 889 Rogp@me.com

01189 403211 info@valwyattmarine.co.uk

01684 593111 penny@tingdene.net If you any have news from your region, please email us at

editorial@motorboatowner.co.uk

Advertisement Index AGlaze...............................................................................................

ASAP Supplies...................................................................................

Cambrian Boats................................................................................

Clipper Marine..................................................................................

Craftinsure.........................................................................................

Dean & Reddyhoff / Haslar Marina.................................................

Evinrude / BRP...................................................................................

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

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

Sea Start..............................................................................................

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

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

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

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

Yacht Havens / Yacht Haven Quay Plymouth..............................

92

CRANCHI ENDURANCE 30 Volvo Penta V8-300 Engine FROM £124,000 INC VAT EW

EW

N

N

2018 - Cranchi Z35

2018 -Cranchi E52 Fly

Lying Windsor

EW

N

2017 - Glastron GS259

x2 Volvo Penta D4-260 Diesel Engines Volvo Penta V6 -280C Petrol Engine £299,950 INC VAT Lying Windsor £99,925 INC VAT Lying Walton

x2 Volvo IPS 700 Diesel Engines FROM €854,680 EX VAT

EW

N

2017 - Glastron GT185

Volvo Penta V6 -200C Petrol Engine £39,035 INC VAT Lying Walton

2002 - Sessa Oyster 35

x2 Volvo Penta KAD43 Diesel Engines £79,950 Lying Portishead

TINGDENE SALES OFFICES

2004 - Regal 2665 Commodore

Yanmar 4LHA-STZP 240hp Diesel Engine £39,950 Lying Walton

2006 - Sealine S34

x2 Volvo Penta D4 Diesel Engines £92,950 Lying Windsor

2009 - Bayliner 285

Mercruiser 350MAG Petrol Engine £47,950 Lying Walton

2012 - Broom 35 Coupe

x2 Nanni 170 Diesel Engines £189,950 Lying Thames & Kennet

“9 sales offices throughout the UK”

Thames & Kennet Marina 01189 477770 Pyrford Marina 01932 343275 Stourport Marina 01299 827082 Racecourse Marina, Windsor 01753 851717 Hartford Marina 01480 454677 Upton Marina 01684 593111

MARINAS AND BOAT SALES LIMITED

Walton Marina 01932 221689 Portishead Quays Marina 01275 397277 Broadlands Marina 01603 396608

tingdeneboatsales.net

All adverts are clickable

Page 13 Page 35 Page 39 Page 75 Page 19 Page 15 Page 33 Page 10 Page 59 Page 17 Page 88 Page 4 Page 89 Page 73 Page 7

April 2018

L K what I saw

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

@

send your images to us at

editorial@

motorboatowner.co.uk

Poole silhouette

Sunshine silhouettes at Poole Quay entrance SPOTTED! by Claire Frew

Wallingford at night

Reflections and lights at the Boat House pub at dusk SPOTTED! by John Frew

Fish ‘n’ trips

Play on words for this fishing boat at Abersoch SPOTTED! by Tyler Benn

Teddington Lock sunset

A sunset view from the footbridge upstream SPOTTED! by Sue Sharp Motorboat Owner

93

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