Motorboat Owner December 2019 by Digital Marine Media Ltd

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Motorboat DECEMBER 2019

Owner Affordable practical boating

BOAT TEST

Parker 790 Explorer Jeanneau MF895 Marlin l Essex to Thames Cruise l Princess 330

PRACTICAL Trailer safety checks

Welcome to the December issue.

From the Editor

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

editorial@motorboatowner.co.uk

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hard to believe that another year is nearly over, but it does not need to be all doom and gloom. Winter is a great time to sit and reminisce about last summerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s boating, but more importantly, to start making plans for the next. It only seems like yesterday that we were on our two-week holiday up the Thames, but writing it up for this issue quickly reminded us that it was the best part

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

December 2019

welcome aboard

Sealine F36, Wild Child returning from the non-tidal Thames. See page 42

of three months ago and discussions are well underway as to where we will be going next year. With winter truly here in every sense, it is a time to start thinking about keeping your boat safe and protected from the coming snow and frosts. To that end, we have attached our guide to winterising your boat to this issue, for those that may not have seen it before. If you are putting

your boat into hibernation it only takes a day to do everything you need to do to ensure that, come next year, it will be ready to ‘spring’ into life once again. Of course, you don’t have to lay your boat up for the next few months. There are steps that you can take to protect it while keeping it in commission and available to use, and we cover those too. Despite traditional thinking, winter actually offers some of the best cruising you can experience. The water is quieter (you can sometimes find yourself all alone in even the most popular anchorages), the marinas are emptier (and often cheaper too with winter special rates) and the high pressure weather systems seem to be more reliable. Whether you are a ‘keepyour-boat-in-commission’ or a ‘layup-for-the-winter’ sort of boater, I, and all the team at Motorboat Owner would like to take this opportunity to wish every one of you a very happy Christmas.

Sub Editor, Pam Born Production Editor, John Frew

Subscriptions: 01268 922991 subscriptions@motorboatowner.co.uk

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

Contributors:

Alex Smith, Simon Everett, David King, Charlotte Jones, Andy Potter Cover photo: Parker 790 Explorer on test off Chichester harbour by Claire Frew

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

E 52 S EVOLUZIONE

DISCOVER THE NEXT GENERATION OF CRANCHI YACHTS AT THE DÃ&#x153;SSELDORF BOAT SHOW A celebration of the larger Cranchi models, Boot 2020 sees the launch of the new flagship Cranchi 78 Settantotto, plus the elegant M 44 HT, the stylish E 52 S Evoluzione and the beautiful 60 ST. Come to the show and experience the Cranchi charm for yourself.

01933 551606 | cranchi@tingdene.net

See us at Boot 2020 - Hall 6 Stand A21

CONTENTS DECEMBER 2019

PRACTICAL

REGULARS NEWS page 6 INBOX page 18 CUTTING EDGE page 32 Q&A page 54

Trailer checks Traile r Hitch

GUIDE

Trailer checks

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Breakaw ay Cable

that the F ollowing the news last month Standards Agency Driver and Vehicle to step up checks (DVSA) are planning on trailers under over the coming year it would be a good 3,500kg, we thought what sort of time to look at exactly be carrying out every checks you should your boat on the time you plan to tow road. many as 50% It is reported that as 3,500kg) and of light trailers (under been deemed to caravans checked have be so, can be to be unsafe and, if found immobilised. being subject to a fine or as many as 29% The report states that checked were of these types of trailers

All brake of over d trailers, that are those had an750kg, shou that theycable . The cable ld be fitted with a found to be so dangerous gross them. placed on event that the ’s job is to apply with a break weight immediate prohibition that and trailer the hand away trailers can, the does Worse than that, unsafe brake that may cable is in good become accidents including detached. in the weaken cond have, lead to serious appli toddler Freddie es the brake it and allow ition, with no Check the very sad case of accid killed damage it to s. ddie who wasental ly when Check that it snap befor Hussey #TowSafe4Fre e it is taking disconnected become a tight long enough by a trailer that had turn for so in 2014, and example. that it doesn from the towing vehicle recent drags on ’t apply It shou the the whose death is behind ground ld not be so the brakes serious into trailer safety that though, long that damage government report Lastly, in checks. ensure over even a as this will causeit has sparked this upsurge towing a short it is corre school of ctly attac journey. As the driver of a vehicle to ensure looped thought is hed. One that over the off befor trailer it is your responsibility tow ball, it should not and fit to be on the e opera simply as it a that the trailer is safeMotorboat the sturd it purpose y part ting. If you might also jumpbe for Owner © Digital can, fix of the road, as well as designed should you Marine do? tow bar. Media it secur what Ltd ely to is being used for. So September 2019

32 33

page 70 Project Boat

Fairline Vixen

plus replacing seals on Volvo Penta 290 input shaft

page 76 Hooked

p34 PRACTICAL

The Humble Flounder

Before you hitch up: Trailer checks

Appendix Practical

Winterising guide

p70

p42 CRUISING Essex to the River Thames

p20

p58

BOAT TESTS

p78

Princess 330

CLASSIC CRUISER GUIDE

Jeanneau MF895 Marlin

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

Parker 790 Explorer

NEWS Ocqueteau closure November brought news of the French boat builder, Ocqueteau closing. Owner, Christian Monier, said “The last few years have been quite hard for Ocqueteau. Although Ocqueteau has expanded into new markets worldwide, 2019 has been particularly difficult due to their two largest markets, France and Spain being hit very hard by political issues, seriously affecting new boat sales in this sector, thus making the Factory unviable to keep running. The factory has closed and is unlikely to reopen in the current climate.” Ocqueteau was established at Oléron Island in 1950 by naval carpenter, Guy Ocqueteau and, approaching 70 years on, the company was producing a range of deck boats, cuddies, sportsfishers and cruisers between 5 and 10 metres, with a new flybridge line, called Range due out imminently. The UK importer for Ocqueteau, EC Leisurecraft Ltd, has been associated with the brand for 20 years and will continue to offer support for Ocqueteau boats in the UK, and can be contacted via sales@ecleisurecraft.co.uk.

Eight new satellites to boost Inmarsat network In November, global, mobile satellite and telecommunications company, Inmarsat, began a four-year programme of new satellite launches in order to expand Global Xpress (GX) network, both in coverage and capacity. In response to ‘surging demand for highcapacity broadband from the aviation and maritime sectors’, on the 27th November it launched its new GX5 satellite, which will be positioned over the skies and seas of Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Further launches in preparation for a ‘5G era’ include the GX10 which will complete elliptical orbits of the earth, providing better coverage of the polar regions, which is another response to company research revealing more ‘remote exploration’ in the recreational boating sector. 6

December 2019

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

editorial@motorboatowner.co.uk

Interboat Intender 950 NEW BOAT The Intender 950, the largest tender in the Dutch Interboat range, made its debut at the Boot & Fun Berlin boat show in November. The twoberth model has a spacious cockpit with a choice of layouts, with a steering position aft or centrally on the starboard side. Its cabin is equipped with a separate toilet and shower compartment, a V-berth converting into a double and various storage areas. Inboard diesel engine options are from 65-320hp giving up to 26 knots. The new model is available from UK dealer Val Wyatt Marine priced from £156,020.

St Helier harbour winter works Two major refurbishment works are to be undertaken by Ports of Jersey over the next 18 months to enhance the facilities and services along the berthing pontoons on Albert Pier and in St Helier Marina as part of a Harbour Masterplan. Phase one of the works programme, which is due to start towards the end of 2019, will see the creation of new 24-hour berthing pontoons along the Albert Pier. Phase two of works, due to start in autumn 2020, will see enhancements made to St Helier Marina with a replacement of aged and ‘unfit for use’ piles and pontoons to ensure the marina remains a safe, open and secure environment for local and visiting mariners, with possible layout improvements. Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

NEWS New guidelines launched for marine domestic water facilities New guidelines could bring safer operation and a more environmentally friendly supply of domestic water to our inland and coastal marinas, boatyards, yacht clubs, canals and rivers. The Industry Specialist Consulting Group (ISCG), made up of water suppliers and experts from key marine industry associations, has released a ‘first of its kind’ new Industry Best Practice (IBP), detailing practical guidance in the use and supply of marine domestic water. Aiming to safeguard the public drinking water network, the guidelines provide marine operators with a standard of operations, procedures, and practical advice for equipment for the provision and maintenance of domestic water facilities. RYA Director of Affairs, Howard Pridding, explains “The document advises our affiliated clubs on the best practice of regular activities, such as rinsing off and filling of water tanks. Key elements of the water safety guidance include the correct labelling of water points and allocating designated areas for boat maintenance which involve the use of water.” According to the RYA, Anglian Water, Hyfran Duffyd, Jersey Water, Severn Trent Water and Southern Water have accepted the guidance.

New bar and restaurant at Southampton marina MDL’s Shamrock Quay Marina in Southampton has a new onsite bar and restaurant. The Bistro at Shamrock Quay opened in November and is offering lunch, dinners and takeaways, offering a seasonal a la carte menu, daily specials and Sunday roasts. The restaurant is also offering a 10% discount to on-site tenants and berth holders, which applies to takeaways too. 8

December 2019

NEWS Bavaria SR41 NEW BOAT The German boat builder, Bavaria will be unveiling a new sportscruiser model at the Boot Dusseldorf show in January. The SR41 kicks off a new line of motorboats in the range and its key feature is a large aft cockpit sunbed which converts into a dinette area. It will also have a large bathing platform and large hull windows providing daylight below decks. Inside it offers two double cabins, with a full beam ensuite master cabin, a forward guest cabin, and a central saloon area. The SR41 will be available as a soft top, hard top and coupe version and will be fitted with standard twin V8 355hp MerCruiser petrols, or up to D6-380 diesels. Prices for V8 boats, from Clipper Marine, start at €229,600 ex VAT, ex works.

Co-op store raises £20k for RNLI

RNLI/Donald MacKenzie

During November the Portree Cooperative store on Skye, on the west coast of Scotland, presented the crew of its local RNLI Portree Lifeboat station with a cheque for £20,234. Coop customers with loyalty cards were given the choice of three local charities or good causes to receive money from the Co-op’s Community Fund, and the RNLI station was one of three charities presented with a cheque, alongside Skye Stroke Friends and Cuillin Fm.

December 2019

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

editorial@motorboatowner.co.uk

IMMS to establish survey database of boat faults The International Institute of Marine Surveying (IIMS) has set up a campaign to develop a database of known faults in production boats with the view to helping the surveying profession at large. The Institute is inviting its marine surveying members to provide examples of known faults. IIMS said ‘prior knowledge of known faults before attending a survey is of huge relevance to a surveyor’, and what it is looking for is ‘the same fault that has been observed on two identical boats’. It added ‘this is not a witch-hunt against boat builders and equipment suppliers, rather an attempt to give the small craft surveyor some vital additional information as part of their toolkit’.

Caledonian Canal winter closure The Caledonian Canal will be closed to sea-to-sea traffic this winter to allow essential repairs to be carried out on a number of the canal structures, including Fort Augustus and Kytra. It will be closed to through traffic from 5.30pm Sunday 3rd November 2019 until 8.30am Saturday 28th March 2020. Navigation of some sections of the canal may be possible within normal winter operating hours.

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

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

Thrust-It Remotes Compatible with: Vetus – SidePower – Craftsman £125 plus £5 p&p JC Marine Services Unit 29 Jubilee End Lawford, Essex CO1 1UR Jon 07854009980 info@jcmarineservice.co.uk www.jcmarineservice.co.uk

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

NEWS Silver Viper DCz NEW BOAT

Finnish boat builder, Silver Boats has announced a new day cruiser model in its Z range. Second largest in the range at 22ft, the new Viper DCz has a Swedish Petestep® stepped hull for performance, a versatile cockpit seating up to 6 people and a cabin area sleeping two people equipped with an electric toilet. The new model also has a retractable bow step feature for easier boarding and it is pre-moulded for a bowthruster. Power will be provided by a Honda 200300hp outboard. It will debut at the Helsinki’s Vene Båt boat show in February.

Marine business hub expansion at Turnchapel Wharf Plymouth’s maritime business park, Turnchapel Wharf, has opened five new marine enterprise units, each one is set to provide 220 square feet of workshop and office space for local marine companies. In recent years, under the ownership of Yacht Havens Group, Turnchapel Wharf on Plymouth’s Cattewater has been transformed from an ex-Ministry of Defence site into a waterfront business hub and is now home to over 25 marine businesses. Tenants of the new units include Elec Marine Ltd and Elite Marine Engineering, there is also a boatbuilder, a carpenter and GRP specialists on site. Yacht Havens Group Managing Director, Dylan Kalis, said “We are continuing to develop the site to ensure it is meeting the requirements of a variety of marine business owners. We work closely with all these companies to offer customers a complete solution for their boats.” He added “We’re extremely proud of the maritime business hub it has now become.” 12

December 2019

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

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DIARY DATES Boot Düsseldorf 18th-26th January 2020 Vene Båt Helsinki 7th-16th February 2020 North Essex Boat Jumble 29th March 2020 Horning Boat Show 2nd May 2020 Thames Valley & London Boat Show 8th-10th May 2020 Brundall Boat Show 16th May 2020 Click any of the above for more info

Barke ARC Brothers, Nick and James Barke, of Essex’s Boats.co.uk are currently taking part in the ARC, an annual event crossing the Atlantic, aboard their refurbished Oyster 825, Champagne Hippy. Amongst the team of 8 is also Robin Vaughan of Cambrian Boats.

0800 310 2100

Marine Electronics in stock for immediate dispatch.

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

sales@mdsbattery.co.uk

PARKER 790 EXPLORER IN STOCK & AVAILABLE FOR CHRISTMAS - LYING CHICHESTER MARINA, PO20 7EJ CALL 01243 514292 OR CLICK ŚƚƚƉƐ͗ͬͬǁǁǁ͘ďŽĂƚƐŚŽƉŐƌŽƵƉ͘ĐŽ͘ƵŬͬďƵǇͲďŽĂƚͬƉĂƌŬĞƌͲϳϵϬͲĞǆƉůŽƌĞƌͲϯͬ Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

NEWS Insurer warns of rise in boat thefts this winter Boat insurer, Navigators and General (N&G) is urging boat owners to remain vigilant this winter after seeing an uptick in claims for boat thefts. The insurer, which is owned by Zurich, has seen claims for boat thefts increase almost 20% in the last two years, with average claims topping £8,200. N&G said as many owners bring their boats ashore, they can become vulnerable and easier targets for thieves, saying small craft are most at risk of theft from marinas and owners’ front drives. Theft of equipment and fittings remains the most common theft, with claims creeping up 2% and average losses standing at £1,800. It added that theft of outboard motors has ‘dropped dramatically’, falling 97% over two years, however it remains the second most frequent theft claim. As well as making sure your insurance is up-to-date, the insurer offered the following advice, ‘lock it, store it, move it or mark it distinctly.’ As the harsher weather arrives, N&G is also urging owners to take steps to protect their vessels from storm damage. It said last year claims for storm damage increased by half over the prior year, adding that the average cost of claims for storm damage is £17,600.

EA inland waterways consultation opens The Environment Agency (EA) is urging boaters to take part in a consultation, with a view to help ‘protect and improve’ the waterways it manages. The Challenges and Choices Consultation opened on the 24th October, and will be running for six months until 24th April 2020, and covers rivers in England, and the Severn and Northumbria regions which border Wales and Scotland. In the consultation the EA state that, in the last 100 years, the UK has lost 90% of our wetland habitats, and over 10% of freshwater and wetland species are threatened with extinction. The EA also addresses issues such as climate change, river flow and polution. 14

December 2019

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www.sea-ventures.co.uk 2018 winnerswww.sea-ventures.co.uk of the Jeanneau Dealer of the Year award Part-exchange welcome

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

Jeanneau main dealers for power & sail |

2019 2018 winners of the Jeanneau Dealer winners of the Jeanneau Dealerofofthe theYear Yearaward award

NEWS

Best of Boats Awards 2019 winners announced The winners of the 2019 Best of Boats Awards, known to the industry as the ‘BOB awards’, were announced in November at the Boot and Fun Berlin show in Germany. Launched in 2014, the BOB Awards jury panel is made up of 19 boating journalists from Austria, Denmark, USA, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Russia, Slovenia, Spain, Croatia and the Ukraine, with Motorboat Owner Editor, Neale Byart, representing the United Kingdom. The multi-national jury, selected 22 finalists from numerous boats tested by the jury members over the last year and, putting them into the various ‘Best for’ categories, chose their winning boats. A new category, Best for Future was also announced and awarded to the Candela Seven, an electric foiling boat built in Sweden. This year’s Best For Family category was won by the Norwegian Marex 360 Cabriolet Cruiser.

Best for Future

WINNER Candela Seven

Main photo, the 2019 jury and winners. Inset photos, left jury members with Espen Aalrud, CEO of Marex Boats for the Marex 360CC award and right, Jeanneau’s Merry de la Poëze, Motorboat Product Director and Constance Brement, Publications Manager for the MF605 Marlin.

December 2019

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Best for Family

WINNER Marex 360 CC

Best for Beginners

Best for Travel

Best for Fishing

Best for Fun

WINNER Silver Tiger BRz/DC

WINNER Silent Yachts 55

WINNER Jeanneau MF605 Marlin WINNER Frauscher 1414 Demon Air Motorboat Owner ÂŠ Digital Marine Media Ltd

INBOX

Engine information gateway

In the October edition a reader inquired about getting fuel consumption data and you gave a couple of solutions. I recently fitted a widget manufactured by Yacht Devices which links the engine information bus (Volvo D6 in my case) with my chartplotter or any other NMEA 2000 or Sea Talk device. It is currently available for £175, so it is cheaper than buying the Volvo part. It was a fairly straightforward install although it did prompt an errant alarm, which a quick email exchange with Yacht Devices resolved. I purchased the YDEG-04 Engine Gateway, described as a ‘gateway for Volvo Penta and J1939 engines to NMEA 2000 marine electronics network’. It provides engine revs, hours, coolant temperature, battery voltage, warning and alarms, fuel rate and other data on your chartplotter display. It may be of interest to your readers. J. Mark Pullen Editor comments: Thank you for sending in this information, it sounds like an affordable solution and one that I would be keen to explore further.

Nimbus engine access

I wanted to query a comment in the review of the Nimbus 305 Coupe, a boat that I bought new in June 2019. The writer states their ‘only gripe is the labour intensive operation of gaining access to the engine bay’. I am confused by this comment as it is simply not true, the access is simple and couldn’t be easier. You simply remove the rear cushions, lift the rear bench, which then clips into place, the engine hatch lifts hydraulically (with the table attached) once the two deck catches are released. The table is fixed to the deck of the boat and not removable (unless unscrewed). This takes 2 mins to perform and makes daily engine checks very simple. I attach a photo to confirm this. It is an excellent boat and we are really enjoying its ease of use at sea. Kevin Hughes Editor comments: I guess it’s all relative. With many boats having a simple hatch to lift with no other work, removing cushions first may stand out as being labour intensive. Rest assured, if that’s all our tester could fault, you have chosen a very good boat. 18

December 2019

email:

editorial@motorboatowner.co.uk

BACK

TIME

Appearing briefly in the TV series, Howards Way, the Sealine 365 Sportbridge launched in 1988 and was available with twin or triple sterndrives

Discover space to relax at Portland Marina. Marina, dry stack, boatyard. 01305 866190

portlandmarina.co.uk

Jeanneau MF895 By Alex Smith

Marlin

December 2019

BOAT TEST

Length (LOA): 8.83m / 28ft 12in Beam: 2.99m / 9ft 10in Fuel capacity: 2 x 200 litres Water capacity: 100 litres RCD Category: B6/C8 Engines as tested: Twin Yamaha F200s Other engine options: Yamaha F300, twin F150 or F250s Price from £102,987 Price as tested £137,627

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

December 2019

“Jeanneau’s new 895 Marlin is more than just a sportsfisher”

t sometimes feels like Jeanneau’s venerable Merry Fisher has been around since the dawn of time. As a marine journalist, I simply can’t remember a boating season when I wasn’t compelled to talk about the latest exponent of the line at least once. But while we’ve all become pretty comfortable with what to expect from the largely unchanging Merry Fisher fleet, there’s no doubt that the current range is much more diverse than it once was. Yes, the original line still uses the established formula of a long, broad wheelhouse with elevated walkways and bulbous foredeck mouldings to help optimise internal space. But in addition to a range that now goes all the way from the entry-level 605 to the inboard-powered 38 Fly, we also now have four ‘Marlin’ variants to add an extra dash of sport to the mix. While the modern Marlin range exactly mirrors the first four craft in the conventional Merry Fisher fleet, each of them differs most notably in the extra attention they pay to the external spaces. In place of the raked integration of Social and family friendly seating in the bow. The 895’s forward cockpit is simply outstanding

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

The 895 is the flagship of the Marlin fleet, its mixture of talents will appeal to a lot of people

foredeck and superstructure, the Marlin uses a shorter, more upright pilothouse, well offset to port, generating a deep starboard walkway, a larger aft cockpit and a more versatile open bow space for those who enjoy day boating activities as well as cruising. And that’s largely the point. If the base Merry Fisher can be said to combine cruising practicality with the recreational benefits of a fishing-friendly aft cockpit, the Marlin further expands the platform’s potential applications. With its more balanced combination of open deck space, sheltered seating and lower deck accommodation, it is designed to do a little bit of everything. It can cater for long weekends, furnish you with summer watersports, provide alfresco dining for large parties, enable the serious fisherman to pursue his sport and to take you cruising in relative comfort throughout the winter. So exactly how does the new flagship of the Marlin fleet fare?

Outside seating versatility. The aft cockpit uses a trio of folding benches for entertaining and dining

A tale of two cockpits The 895’s aft cockpit is a great place to begin understanding what the Marlin is all about. It has a generous footprint of 2.4 x 1.68m and the versatility of that space is maximised courtesy of a trio of two-man folding benches. You get one built into the mouldings on either side and a third mounted into an angler’s workstation, which can be shifted way back over the engine well to maximise the open space or moved forward to raise the engines. It’s a very effective six-person space, as handy for family diners as it is for committed fishermen. The all-over roof rack on top of the pilothouse is also a lovely touch and very much in keeping with the ethos underpinning the Marlin approach. While it’s an ideal space for extra fishing gear or waterproofed baggage, you could easily mount a set of paddles, a load of watersports equipment or even a 12-foot sea kayak up here. It also makes a great

grabbing point for making your way fore and aft along a starboard walkway, which feels distinctly impressive in its own right. At 73cm deep and 40cm wide with a side gate just aft of the skipper’s door and only a single step, ahead of the helm, to access the bow, it’s a very safe and family-friendly feature. As for the bow itself, that’s equally satisfying. The fact that offsetting the pilothouse makes the port walkway largely redundant means that the forward furniture can be extended right across to the gunwale on that side. As a result, what you get up front is not a set of makeshift seat pods but a properly integrated arrangement of seat mouldings that creates an authentic second cockpit in the bow. In fact, at around 1.9 by 1.7m, the footprint of the forward cockpit only lags behind that of the aft space by around 20% and that brings with it lots of extra usability. You get seating for five at the

December 2019

Wheelhouse visibility is great but its sunroof could be a little bigger. Its dinette converts into a berth

table, or even six if you make use of the broad hatch for the anchor locker. It also offers a large sunbed, courtesy of a robust aluminium (rather than plywood) infill that can be rigged with one hand. And the inclusion of a hatch in the central part of the seat base enables you to gain quick access to the main cabin, so you can drop your bulky luggage directly below without having to negotiate the pilothouseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s internal walkways. Interior design solutions The space inside the pilothouse is arranged around a three-man port diner opposite a helm seat perched up ahead of a starboard storage unit. This unit has been kept very narrow to maximise ease of movement along the staggered walkway from the aft cockpit down to the forward Motorboat Owner ÂŠ Digital Marine Media Ltd

There is a co-pilot seat with a reversible back rest and a sink and stove disguised to port

“The forward master cabin does not feel like a compromise”

Starboard unit deep enough for a microwave

cabins, but it’s still big enough for a compact microwave, and its worktops and storage space are usefully supplemented by a fridge beneath the helm seat and a sink and stove built into the co-pilot’s dash top. There’s decent ventilation if you choose to cook onboard too, courtesy of an opening side window and an overhead sunroof. As regards the light and openness of the saloon, it’s not quite the best in class.

December 2019

True, the panoramic one-piece screen, the narrow mullions of the side structures and headroom of Its guest second double measures 1.38 x 1.96m with a perfectly 1.95m (6ft 5in approx) serviceable dressing area. The toilet is bright and simple lend the pilothouse impressive 360-degree 78cm breadth of aperture for the skipper’s views, as well as perfectly serviceable sliding door, allied to some generous brightness. But the roof moulding is a very substantial piece of work with robust fore-and-aft seat adjustment, gives you excellent access to the broad starboard overhangs all-round so it would be good side deck. On the other side, the coto see Jeanneau increase the scale of the pilot’s seat uses a reversible hinge with single-panel sunroof to bring it more closely into line with boats like Beneteau’s two height settings, one lower down to face the rest of the diners and one higher Barracuda 9. up to maximise visibility when facing That said, the saloon remains a well forward. The light grey fabrics are also thought through part of the boat. The Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

PERFORMANCE RPM

700 (idle) 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000 4500 5000 5500 6000

very practical and attractive and ease of movement both inside and outside on the main deck is exemplary. It’s worth noting though that the test boat is a prototype craft, which we viewed fresh from its appearances at the Cannes and Düsseldorf boat shows. While both the finish and the ergonomics feel very sound, we’re informed that fine tweaks are to be made throughout in readiness for the production craft, and one of the most valuable of those concerns the cabin door. On the test boat, swinging it open means you have to move up and out of the central atrium, so you’re reaching

Knots

LPH

GPH

MPG

2.2 4.1 5.8 7.0 8.5 10.8 14.6 21.9 25.5 29.5 32.9 37.7

3.2 6.2 9.2 14.4 24.4 33.2 44.0 54.2 72.2 100.0 113.0 150.0

0.70 1.36 2.02 3.17 5.37 7.30 9.68 11.92 15.88 22.00 24.86 33.00

3.14 3.01 2.64 2.21 1.58 1.48 1.51 1.84 1.61 1.34 1.32 1.14

Range (nm)

220.0 211.6 201.7 155.6 111.5 104.1 106.2 129.3 113.0 94.4 93.2 80.4

Sound levels dB

54.1 54.2 56.1 58.9 64.2 72.9 76.8 80.1 81.2 83.8 91.0 94.0

down and forward from the access steps. On production models, this has now been changed for a two-part door, which makes much more efficient use of what is inevitably a very tight space. Once inside though, the primary cabin feels pretty impressive, given the flexibility of the 895’s forward cockpit. There’s a

December 2019

Helm access to the side deck is excellent. Our test boat was fitted with twin Yamaha F200 outboards

“Handling is novice-friendly. With twin 200s, this is a composed 38-knot boat” huge amount of natural light down here, courtesy of four windows, two in the hull sides, another facing forward into the bow space and a fourth up above, in the ideal position to cast lots of light onto the big cabin mirror, which then disperses it all around the changing area at the entry point to the cabin. The main double bed is also impressive. It uses an integrated sheet of ply, which slides simply into place, speeding up the rigging process and eradicating the need for any separate infills. When rigged, the bed measures 1.96m in length and 2.0 metres wide at its widest point, which is plenty to keep a committed cruising couple content. And at 1.96 by 1.38m, the port guest bed is also pretty generous. It Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

comes with a changing area with 1.5m of headroom and some useful bench storage. Headroom of 1.8m (less than five foot 10) might be seen as a touch tight in the heads compartment but the key elements here are all well arranged and there’s an excellent curved fold-down hatch, secured with hinges and a couple of rotating thumb fasteners, which gives you full access to the wiring on the back of the dash equipment. Underway Given the scope of the Marlin’s internal facilities, its performance with a pair of Yamaha F200s on the transom is very solid. It planes in just 4.5 seconds, before passing 20 knots in seven and 30 knots in

17 seconds, and the helming experience throughout is very serene. The location and weighting of all the helm gear is very easy and intuitive, there’s plenty of grip at both hull and prop and there’s some useful controllability in terms of fine adjustments to the running attitude. In the turn, there’s a healthy dose of reassuring heel and, when you couple that with a great view and a decent degree of refinement, there’s no doubt that the experience here is very accessible for the novice. There is some launching and slamming if you don’t take a proactive approach at the helm, but if you treat it to a decent bit of trim to pull the waterline further aft, it will prove itself a very capable cruising boat, even when the chop picks up. More than that, rather than feeling tubby and buoyant, like a craft that has to be managed through a seascape, the 895 is actually quite an enjoyable boat to

Featureful. An all-over roof rack, a bow light and a side gate are just a few clever additions

drive. While it doesn’t (and never could) feel urgent and highly responsive, the keen driver will find that a sensitive and engaged approach to wheel throttle, trim

December 2019

and tabs will reward you with a controllable drive, and despite the physical restraints of its scale and type, a remarkably satisfying one. Conclusion According to Jeanneau, the 895 Marlin is designed to take the 4x4 approach and add a little bit of SUV-style comfort. I must confess I have no idea what they mean by that but what I do know is that the Marlin 895 has the capacity to please a lot of people. In addition to communal seating for six in each of its two external cockpits, it offers sheltered pilothouse seating for four, plus a pair of bright, realistically sized cruising cabins. Throw in great

The Jeanneau Merry Fisher 895 Marlin could really be a boat that offers all things to all people

visibility, plenty of convertible furniture, family-friendly inboard security and a very competent driving experience, and the 895 Marlin is a very easy boat to love.

ENQUIRIES: Jeanneau See website for your local dealer www.jeanneau.com YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

Beneteau Barracuda 9

Quicksilver Captur 905

Atlantic Adventure 900

LOA: 8.91m  Beam: 2.96m  Displacement: 3,441kg Enquiries: Bates Wharf 01932 571141 www.bateswharf.co.uk

LOA: 8.88 m  Beam: 2.99m Displacement: 3,100kg Enquiries: RIBS Marine 01202 477327 www.ribsmarine.co.uk

LOA: 9.22m  Beam: 2.78m Displacement: 3,400kg Enquiries: Gibbs Boat Sales 01202 682457 www.gibbsboatsales.co.uk

Good-looking, userfriendly, outboard-powered pilothouse cruiser with massive versatility for the do-it-all family user.

PRICE from £124,486

Single or twin outboardpowered pilothouse boat with seating for ten, sleeping for six and a sliding cockpit workstation.

PRICE from £85,926

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

Polish-built, ten-man utility boat with large cockpit, internal dining area and inboard options of up to 330hp.

PRICE from £POA

CUTTING Simrad

Simrad’s revolutionary HALO radar is now available for smaller vessels, bringing pulse compression radar to the masses. Available in two versions the HALO20 and HALO20+ are both 20 inch domes with the plus model offering higher levels of performance including longer range options and extra modes. Both versions offer ‘instant on’, MARPA target tracking and harbour/offshore/weather modes that auto tune the radar in a variety of environments. HALO20 and 20+ will work with a range of Simrad multi-function displays. Price from £1,750 www.simrad-yachting.com

Cruising Association Anyone planning a cruise through the inland waterways of France or Belgium next year should probably put the Cruising Association book ‘Cruising the inland waterways of France and Belgium’ on their Christmas list. With useful information on all the routes through these two countries, the book includes essential information such as air draft, depths, fuel availability and mooring options. It also advises mooring costs and type of mooring with information such as whether bank stakes are needed. Price £25 theca.org.uk

Fusion

Fusion, the Garmin owned mobile entertainment equipment specialist, has launched a replacement for the popular MS-RA205 head unit. The MS-RA210 has a new design, uses Fusion’s digital signal processing technology, has a built-in class D amplifier and comes with a fullcolour, optically-bonded 2.7” colour LCD display. With IPX7 water resistance, the RA210 is designed to withstand the toughest environment, including at the helm of small open boats. Price £399.99 www.fusionentertainment.com

December 2019

the latest boating gear and technology

Ocean Safety

Ocean Safety’s new Jon Buoy Glo Lite uses retro reflective technology that significantly enhances the visibility of the man overboard buoy by using highly reflective, high-visibility fabric that glows when a torch or spot light is aimed at it. The Jon Buoy Glo Lite should significantly help find a casualty in the dark and is a must for anyone who regularly cruises at night. Price £TBA www.oceansafety.com

Scanstrut

Scanstrut has a new range of IP68 waterproof, hard wearing cable seals made from UV stable black impact resistant plastic. The range offers both horizontal and vertical seals, with the vertical one able to be installed without removing the cable connector. The seals are available in a variety of sizes to suit many applications. Price from £TBA www.scanstrut.com

Safetics

Safetics is a pocket sized checklist book for boaters. Offering a range of aircraft style checklists to go through in the event of an incident, such as structural damage, GPS failure, medical emergency, man overboard etc, the book is also full of useful reminders of such things as buoys, sound signals and weather information, In short, the waterproof and tear proof book is a very useful aide memoir for anyone who goes boating.

Gill

If your boating carries on right through the winter, some thermals are almost certainly going to make it more enjoyable. Gill’s new Thermal Zip Neck and Leggings retain all the performance features from previous garments with some added innovations and improved design for extra comfort. The soft, stretchy thermal fabric not only provides warmth, but also wicking and breathability. Price Top £70, Leggings £50 www.gillmarine.com

Price £19.90 www.safetics.com

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

PRACTICAL

GUIDE

Trailer safety checks

F ollowing the news last month that the

Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) are planning to step up checks over the coming year on trailers under 3,500kg, we thought it would be a good time to look at exactly what sort of checks you should be carrying out every time you plan to tow your boat on the road. It is reported that as many as 50% of light trailers (under 3,500kg) and caravans checked have been deemed to be unsafe and, if found to be so, can be subject to a fine or being immobilised. The report states that as many as 29% of these types of trailers checked were

found to be so dangerous that they had an immediate prohibition placed on them. Worse than that, unsafe trailers can, and have, lead to serious accidents, including the very sad case of toddler Freddie Hussey #TowSafe4Freddie who was killed by a trailer that had become disconnected from the towing vehicle in 2014, and whose tragic death is behind the recent government report into trailer safety that has sparked this upsurge in checks. As the driver of a vehicle towing a trailer it is your responsibility to ensure that the trailer is safe and fit to be on the road, as well as designed for the purpose it is being used for. So what should you do?

December 2019

Trailer Hitch It is difficult to put faults into any kind of order, as ultimately they are all quite capable of resulting in a serious incident. Having said that, the first, and most basic, thing to ensure is that the trailer will stay attached to the tow car. Ensuring that the hitch is well maintained, is in good condition and free to operate as it should is the absolute minimum. When attaching to the tow vehicle, ensure that it locks in place. Some hitches are better than others in this respect, with a positive locking action that can be easily confirmed. If in doubt, try lifting the trailer off. You can lower the jockey wheel and wind it down a little to do this. The back of the tow vehicle should rise too.

Breakaway Cable

All braked trailers, that are those with a gross weight of over 750kg, should be fitted with a breakaway cable. The cableâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s job is to apply the handbrake in the event that the trailer does become detached. Check that the cable is in good condition, with no damage that may weaken it and allow it to snap before it applies the brakes. Check that it is long enough so that it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t apply the brakes accidentally when taking a tight turn for example. It should not be so long that it drags on the ground though, as this will cause serious damage over even a short journey. Lastly, ensure it is correctly attached. One school of thought is that it should not simply be looped over the tow ball, as it might also jump off before operating. If you can, fix it securely to a sturdy part of the tow bar. Motorboat Owner ÂŠ Digital Marine Media Ltd

PRACTICAL

Brakes

Braked trailers should, of course, have working brakes. A breakaway cable is not going to work if the brakes themselves are faulty, plus without some braking effort from the trailer, the whole rig is far more likely to jack knife under braking, as well as take much longer than expected to stop. Testing brakes is not that simple, but with the handbrake pulled the trailer brakes should be able to hold the trailer stationary on a moderate slope. If you try to pull away with the trailer handbrake applied, you should be able to feel significant resistance. If neither of the above applies to your trailer, it almost certainly requires a brake service.

Secondary coupling for unbraked trailers Trailers with a gross weight of 750kg or under do not require brakes, but this brings a different set of problems. A trailer approaching Âž of a ton is still a very dangerous thing to have on the loose. Without brakes, if it does break free there is no way of slowing or stopping it. Ensuring it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t, therefore, becomes even more important. Unbraked trailers should be fitted with a secondary coupling. This is usually a chain, or strong wire, which will keep the trailer connected to the tow vehicle if the hitch should become detached. It obviously needs to be strong enough to take the weight of the trailer, and it should be short enough that it does not allow the hitch to touch the ground if it becomes detached. Ideally the secondary coupling will, like the breakaway cable, be attached to a fixed strong point on the car or tow bar, but it can be slipped over the tow ball if there is nothing else suitable. 36

December 2019

Tyres

All trailer tyres must be road legal and, like those on the tow vehicle, they must display at least 1.6mm of tread across the central Âž width of the tyre all around the circumference. In practice, unless something is amiss with the axle alignment, trailer tyres very rarely wear out. They are more likely going to need replacement due to age or general deterioration. You should check the tyre for any damage or bulges and as they age, any cracking of the rubber. If you find any, replace them immediately. Also, always ensure that the tyres are correctly inflated. Under inflated tyres are a common problem and will result in them overheating and possibly blowing out. Another factor to consider is age. Trailers get used so little that it is easy to forget how old the tyres are. It is recommended that all tyres, whether they are on a vehicle or trailer, should be changed 10 years from manufacture. You can find the age of yours by looking for a four digit code on the sidewall. The first two digits are the week (01 to 52) and the second two digits are the year. Pictured below, a 2001 tyre. Right, table of load ratings

LOAD INDEX

LOAD (KG)

LOAD INDEX

LOAD (KG)

265

500

272

515

280

530

290

545

300

560

307

580

315

600

325

615

335

630

345

650

355

670

365

690

375

710

387

730

400

750

412

775

425

100

800

437

101

825

450

102

850

462

103

875

475

104

900

487

105

925

Motorboat Owner ÂŠ Digital Marine Media Ltd

PRACTICAL

Another, very important, check to carry out with tyres is their load rating. From new, all trailers will be equipped with suitable tyres but as they age and are passed on to second and third owners, it becomes more likely that an incorrect tyre has been fitted. The load rating can usually be found after the tyre size information on the sidewall and comprises two or three numbers and a letter. The letter is actually a speed rating and not so important for trailer tyres where a 60mph maximum is The tyre load rating, 83, is on the side wall. all that is required. The numbers should range from 60 (250kg) up to 104 (900kg) for lightweight trailers. Then it is just a matter of doing the sums (see table of load ratings). If your trailer is rated to 2000kg and has four wheels, each tyre should have a load rating of at least 84 (500kg). For a two-wheeled trailer with a 1500kg rating, each tyre should have a minimum rating or 98 (750kg).

Vehicle tow rating

When it comes to loads, there is another, very important, factor to consider. The towing rating of your tow vehicle. For unbraked trailers the trailer must not exceed 50% of the weight of the tow vehicle. For braked trailers the rules are a little more complex, and will require you to dig into your vehicles Vehicle tow ratings can usually be found on the specifications. It used to be the VIN plate. Take the first figure from the second case that all vehicle manufacturers would supply a simple â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;maximum trailer weightâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, but nowadays these figures are hard to come by and instead we get maximum axle weights, maximum vehicle weight and maximum weight of vehicle and trailer combined. If you look on your vehicles VIN plate you can normally just take the first figure, which is maximum vehicle weight, away from the second, maximum vehicle and trailer weight, to get the vehicles towing limit. Do not exceed this. 38

December 2019

Trailer capacity While on the subject of weights, it is worth pointing out that an overloaded trailer is one of the most common faults found during checks. Most trailers should have a plate, normally on the left hand side of the drawbar The trailer plate will provide the gross weight near the hitch, which displays its limits. This will normally include the manufacturers name, possibly some data regarding model number and age, but most importantly, the gross weight, net weight and individual axle weight. The gross weight is that of the trailer and its load and is the one that is checked when the trailer is placed on a weighbridge. Go over this and get stopped and your journey is likely to end there and then. The net weight is how much the empty trailer weighs and, taken from the gross weight, provides the weight of the boat and equipment that you can put onto the trailer. Remember that boat brochure weights are usually far below what the same boat will weigh in real life, so if in doubt go heavier duty on the trailer, or get the whole rig weighed to be sure. Many trailers are missing this important plate, so if unsure speak to the manufacturer who may be able to advise and possibly supply a replacement. Without it, any roadside check is going to take longer and be more thorough. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t confuse the plate that is mounted on the tow hitch for the trailer plate. This purely relates to the specification of the hitch alone and should indicate that the hitch is capable of dealing with a weight equal, or in excess of, the gross trailer weight.

A weighbridge removes any guess work. The plate on the hutch indicates the hitch rating only Motorboat Owner ÂŠ Digital Marine Media Ltd

PRACTICAL

Secure loads and load spacing Unsecured loads are another common problem found during inspections. Never rely only on the winch strap to hold the boat on the trailer. Ideally you should have a fixing holding both the back and front of the boat down onto the trailer, as well as two more fixings holding the boat fore and aft. Ratchet straps are the fixings of choice, but make sure they are sturdy enough to deal with the forces involved in everyday driving, including emergency braking. Go heavier duty if in doubt and use ratchet straps each individually rated to the weight of the boat or more. Check straps and replace any showing signs of damage or wear. Load spacing is not normally an issue with boats, as they sit in the same spot each time, but ensure that the amount of weight on the hitch is within the tow vehicles specifications. There should always be a positive weight on the tow hitch to avoid, or reduce, snaking, with a typical figure of up to 100kg, some say 5-7% of gross trailer weight, but do check that you do not exceed the vehicle specifications. The YouTube video below provides a good demonstration of the importance of a positive tow hitch weight.

PLAY

Check your hitch weight with bathroom scales. A well balanced set up will reduce the possibility of snaking and loss of control.

December 2019

Final checks A few final checks before you set off should ensure that you arrive at the slipway without incident. Lights are a common problem, but luckily they are an easy thing to check. As well as checking the individual function of tail, stop and indicator lights, check them together, braking while indicating often shows up poor earth connections with brake or taillights If you are on your own, check your lightboard before attaching it to the trailer flashing along with the indicators. Check that wheel nuts are all tight and finally check over the framework of the trailer and the supports for the boat. Boat trailers, above all others, are more prone to corrosion due to being dunked in saltwater. A snapped trailer frame is not only dangerous; it is going to ruin your day and possibly your boat. Other items that may contribute to a safety related incident cannot always be easily visually inspected. Wheel bearings are one such example. If possible, jack up one side of the trailer at a time to ensure that the wheel runs free and is devoid of any noticeable movement on the hub. Alternatively, regular maintenance to ensure that they remain in good working order may be a better bet. You will notice that we havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t gone into towing law in much detail, licences, size and weight limits etc. The reason for this is that there is another whole feature on the subject of laws, rules and regulations when it comes to towing and we hope to cover that soon, just as soon as we have completed the complex task of picking through them. This feature is all about ensuring that your towed rig is safe, and we hope that it helps you speed through any checks you may be subject to with a clean bill of health.

Keep an eye on corrosion, it can seriously weaken your trailer. Check bearings and hubs regularly Motorboat Owner ÂŠ Digital Marine Media Ltd

CRUISING 42

December 2019

CRUISING

Essex to the River Thames

Once upon a river

Associate Editor, Claire, takes a trip down memory lane, joining family and showing friends a very special river

he River Thames holds a special place in my heart. I spent much of childhood boating and based at Harleyford near Marlow, with years spent

memorising and exploring the stunning upper reaches and visiting favourite towns such as Wallingford, Henley and Abingdon on summer school holiday

Motorboat Owner ÂŠ Digital Marine Media Ltd

Enroute to the Thames, Wild Child and Seven Heaven passing the Buxey cardinal in the Crouch

jaunts, weekends and even after school. Consequently, the then Thames-virgin, Neale, and myself have ventured from our base in Essex a few times over the years. Twice on our comfortable but basicallyappointed Bayliner Ciera 2450 and several times on TLSea, our Sealine S28, the last time spending the 2011 season based at Penton Hook Marina. Eight years later you can imagine my excitement to hear a two-week Thames trip in August was planned for our boat club. For me, August could not come quick enough. With TLSea readied and loaded to become the MBO HQ for two weeks, at

high water on the 2nd of August we pulled off our tidal mud mooring on the River Roach and headed for the River Crouch and our local all-tides marina, Burnham Yacht Harbour, accompanied by two other club boats. The 10-mile move to Burnham-on-Crouch was necessary to get us in position and give us the tidal scope to get around and into the estuary as, unfortunately, our local shortcut, Havengore Bridge, was inoperative. The plan for the next day was to get onto the tidal Thames, pass through London and reach the non-tidal section of the river, a journey that is approaching 90 miles. The aim was to get to the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Whittakerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, a buoy at the eastern tip of Foulness Sand, for low water in order to carry the tide into the

Passing through the Thames Barrier London bound 44

December 2019

Busy to calm. Postcards from the journey through London and upstream on the tidal Thames

estuary and upstream through Richmond half tide lock and barrage. At Burnham, a quick walk into town resulted in us all devouring fish and chips on the riverfront in the evening sunshine, before turning in ready for the 7am departure. The next morning our three boats snaked through the morning mist and out of the Crouch. There was a long day ahead but fortunately the Thames Estuary was kind to us, with mirror-like conditions, perfect sunshine and the ability to make 18-20 knots with the other two boats, Wild Child, a Sealine F36 and Seven Heaven, a Princess 330. Passing the remnants of a mulberry harbour and Southendâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s historic pier, the industrial dock landscape of the meandering lower reaches followed and we were soon ticking off the major landmarks, such as the QEII bridge,

Tilbury docks and the Woolwich ferry. Passing through the Thames Barrier, the easily-recognisable skyscraper-studdedskyline of London was in sight. From this point famous features, monuments and sights come thick and fast. The O2, Canary Wharf, Tower Bridge, HMS Belfast and the Houses of Parliament, all compacted together and blurring past quickly due to the concentration needed in the busy, and sometimes bumpy, waters. However, as many times before, clearing Westminster Bridge the serenity returns as the high rises dissolve into a tree-fringed waterfront, with elegant properties, pubs, rowing clubs and parks. Carrying the strong spring tide, we limboed under Hammersmith Bridge with height to spare and arrived at Richmond half tide barrage slightly ahead

The chartlet guide from the Port of London Authority is invaluable. Richmond tide sluice lifting Motorboat Owner ÂŠ Digital Marine Media Ltd

of schedule. Opening twenty minutes later, our three boats proceeded under the dripping sluice gate, passing historic Richmond and onto Teddington Lock where we bought our visitor river licences. For our 28-foot Sealine, it was a ÂŁ58 per week. We had now been on the go for around nine hours and the two other boats were keen to stop at the busy town of Kingstonupon-Thames. However, with Windsor on the horizon for the next day Neale and I wanted to push on a bit further. Two locks later we found tranquility at a mooring that was new to us. Bypassing the welltrodden Desborough Cut and following the original river, we tied up on the grassy bank at Shepperton with the green parakeets chirping overhead and the sun going down. With over 11 engine hours and 97 nautical miles clocked up, we were absolutely flaked so, after a quick meal onboard, it was early to bed. The sun shone for our 12-mile leg to

One of our new favourite moorings, TLSea rests at Shepperton after the long passage from Essex

Windsor and, as we traversed the six locks we were delivered with some shocking news. Our close friends, who were due to join us a day later, had experienced a fire onboard their boat before departing. Luckily no one had been hurt and the boat had been saved by the fire brigade, but it would be subject to an insurance claim and some lengthy repairs. That night we squeezed onto the 24-hour EA mooring just downstream of Windsorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Eton Bridge, with our companions catching us up and finding moorings on the island further

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

December 2019

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

upstream. In town we enjoyed a late group dinner, but under a bit of a sobering cloud. The next day brought great news that our friends, Jamie and Julie, with the fire damaged boat, would be joining us on the Thames after all. They had hired a replacement from Caversham Boats the day after, giving us a day and a half to reach Reading to join up with them. Today we would all make for Hurley. It was here, on arguably the shortest stretch of the Thames, that I spent my childhood aboard our Powles 33, messing around in

tenders and rowing around what we called the ‘Amazon’, the back of Hurley Island. On this occasion we had arranged to stay on the revitalised lock moorings and, after a walk into the village for an ice cream and a few beverages in the Rising Sun pub, the barbecues came out for some cockpit cooking in the early evening sunshine. Of course I had to row our Valiant RIB around the ‘Amazon’ for nostalgia’s sake, which I can report has become very overgrown but still doable. The plan for the next day was to

Visiting Hurley, which was another new mooring to us, brought back many childhood memories Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

head for Reading for early afternoon to intercept ‘Thames virgins’ Jamie and Julie on their hireboat and venture on to Pangbourne, where I had also arranged to meet up with my parents onboard their boat, Penny Lane. I was now on my old home turf and the journey upstream was just as pretty as I remembered, but the river seemed noticeably quieter for August. Henley and Wargrave passed by all too quickly and, after stopping briefly for fuel at Better Boating, we were soon at Reading and watching the handover of a 1970s Seamaster 27 Caversham Duke to an excited Jamie and Julie. Traditional in every sense, the Perkins-powered Seamaster had an ‘as original’ interior complete with a shower, a TV and a cruising speed of 3 knots flat out. It wasn’t their Bayliner, but I could not have picked a better, archetypal river Thames cruiser for them. It was Thames boating in its purest form. After shoehorning and rafting our growing fleet of five boats into gaps on Pangbourne Meadow, we all feasted in the Elephant Hotel’s modern bar in Pangbourne as heavy rain fell outside. Pangbourne was a new Thames milestone for Tony and Jane aboard Wild Child, who had only been as far as Sonning before.

Thames time. Our friends hired a Seamaster 27 from Caversham Boat Services at Reading

The Thames was completely new territory for Darren and Anya on Seven Heaven, who admitted they were exhausted, but were now getting to grips with the locks. Tomorrow they would both turn around to start heading slowly downstream, while ourselves, Caversham Dude (as we had now christened it) and Penny Lane continued upstream. Despite the weekend weather outlook showing storms and strong winds, we were still keen to push on to reach Abingdon. Waving goodbye to the two other Essexbased boats, we set off upstream as a trio heading nine miles to one of my favourite moorings, Wallingford. After leaving Whitchurch Lock we passed through what is possibly my favourite stretch of the river, Beale Park. With meadow moorings in abundance, an old lock island and easy access to a fantastic water and wildlife

December 2019

park, it carries many happy memories. The town moorings at Wallingford were busy but we were lucky to find just enough space to squeeze ourselves in, rafting ‘the Dude’ alongside TLSea. The historic bustling market centre of Wallingford beckoned and, while the girls browsed its lovely shops and gathered any food essentials needed from the convenient Waitrose supermarket, the boys did a spot of fishing. That night we ate at Wallingford’s great value waterfront pub, the Boat House. The next morning my sister and her kids joined us for the day and, after some playtime in Wallingford’s brilliant waterfront splash park, we all moved off upstream. My parents aboard their Sealine F37 were keen to weather the forecasted storm at the Shillingford Bridge Hotel. This is one of only a few places where you have visitor moorings with shorepower on the upper Thames. After topping up Caversham Duke and TLSea’s water tanks at the Le Boat hireboat base at Benson, for a nominal fee, and devouring ice creams from its busy Waterfront Café, we soon passed my parent’s boat, now happily positioned for a couple of nights at Shillingford. Jamie and Julie were now getting to grips with the locks, and were grateful of the many lock keepers who offered to

Going up. I was in my element back in the locks

take their lines when necessary. Being fairly new to boating, Julie did a sterling job on the foredeck of the Seamaster, despite having no pulpit rail for security and a horribly prickly and short floating bow rope. Three locks later, we arrived at picturesque Abingdon to find the moorings below the bridge full. However, by chance a narrow boat was just pulling off, so we quickly rafted up in its spot on the high, man-made bank. Whilst growing up, Abingdon had the excitement of a fantastic indoor swimming pool set in the old town jail and a waterfront outdoor swimming pool further upstream, not to mention the array of shops. So once again I was keen to show Julie my old haunt and

A bridge view, Wallingford is picturesque. Passing Penny Lane at Shillingford Bridge, pictured right Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

Bathed in sunshine, Abingdon was as stunning as we had remembered and still has plenty to offer

we hit the town, leaving the boys fishing from the back of the boats. That evening as light rain began to fall we emptied our fridges, fired up both boat ovens and ate dinner aboard TLSea. Waking up to a sunny morning in Abingdon, we could not resist a great value Wetherspoons full English breakfast in town before casting off and heading back downstream. With high winds forecast for the afternoon and overnight, we needed to find a secure mooring for the night. A plan was hatched to aim for Goring and its EA moorings. Sure enough, mile by mile and through every lock we traversed, the wind strengthened and the rain began to fall. Arriving at Goring Lock

and seeing that the downstream moorings were already busy, we spoke to the lock keeper and paid to stay on the lock mooring up stream, which incidentally has shorepower. Sheltered a little by the high concrete bank, we battened down for the night and listened as the wind roared and the ropes snatched right through until the morning. The next day saw the shortest of legs and only one lock, as we were booked in for a Saturday night dinner at the waterfront pub, the Swan at Pangbourne. Tying up outside the busy pub a kidâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s party was in full swing and I stood on the back of TLSea fielding questions from inquisitive youngsters, fascinated by the

December 2019

Real Thames boating at Shiplake. There is nothing better than tying up to an island and barbecuing

boats, from the other side of the railing. A quick restock of fridges at the Pangbourne Co-op before dinner and we were ready for the next day. With Caversham Duke due back in two days, there was just enough time to venture downstream of its Reading base to show Jamie and Julie Henley and Shiplake. Six locks downstream we arrived in Henley, the home of the annual Royal regatta. Being a Sunday it was extremely busy, but we managed to secure a mooring on the Park well upstream of the bridge and the Rowing Museum. Unfortunately, this meant the heavy downpours could not be avoided when walking back from town. Determined to show our companions ‘real Thames boating’, the next day we headed back upstream to one of our favourite spots, the islands above Shiplake Lock. Here, between overhanging trees, we eased TLSea over the weeded shallows into an island mooring with Caversham Duke once again coming alongside. With a barbecue and re-used camp fire lit, it was a perfect spot and the perfect way to spend our last evening together. Caversham Duke had to be back at Reading for 10am, so alarms were set

for an early start. I also had made an appointment to review a Sealine S43 at Tingdene’s Thames and Kennet Marina (see September 2019 issue). At Sonning Lock we waved goodbye to Jamie and Julie, and I spent a few hours crawling over the S43 at T&K marina, before we headed back downstream. With bad weather now forecast for our final weekend, we knew we had to cover some miles to meet up with the other two Essex boats, and get ourselves positioned for a possible early return trip home. Nine locks later we tied up at another lovely mooring that was new to us, downstream of the Brunel’s Maidenhead Rail Bridge. Here we were joined by my parents by road, their boat now being back on its

I was told at a young age, saying ‘Goodbye Isis, hello Thamesis’ (faces on Henley Bridge) is lucky

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

A London bound thumbs up, Wild Child and Seven Heaven limbo under Hammersmith Bridge

home berth at Reading, delivering a takeaway curry feast, it was a real treat after what had been a very long day. Under cloudy skies, another long but enjoyable day on the quiet river followed. Negotiating eight locks, several of which were unmanned, we found ourselves back at the lovely Shepperton mooring. It was now Wednesday of week two and the weather outlook for the weekend was still unchanged. With a Force 4-5 westerly forecast and stronger winds predicted for the early hours of Friday morning and beyond, we now had to look for a diminishing weather and tidal window

to get back to Essex the next day. After a quick reconnaissance of Shepperton village and a supermarket visit, Neale and I spent that evening passage planning, concluding that we needed to leave Teddington at 1330hrs. In order to achieve favourable wind and tide in the lower Thames and estuary, we had to punch the tide from Teddington, limbo under Hammersmith before high water and, as before, aim to be at ‘Whittaker’ for low water ready for the change of tide to carry us up the Crouch. After discussing our plan with the crews of Wild Child and Seven Heaven, who were moored at Kingston, we turned in for an early night with a view of meeting up with them at Teddington. The next morning we were underway by 9am and made our way back down through Sunbury and Molesey Locks, passing Hampton Court Palace and Kingston. Waiting for us at the moorings above Teddington Lock were Wild Child and Seven Heaven, ready to join us for the passage home. Leaving Teddington Overnighting for the first time in the shadow of Lock as a trio at 1336, we were punching Brunel’s iconic Maidenhead bridge was pleasant a 2-knot tide through Richmond 52

December 2019

Sunny skies for our busy passage back through London. Wild Child passes the Tower of London

half tide barrage and down towards Hammersmith Bridge. Here our careful clearance calculations paid off and, with everything lowered, we all limboed under the decorative green bridge with 4 metres showing on the height gauge. By London Bridge the tide had turned and we had 2-3 knots of favourable tide through the sloppy Friday rush-hour waters of London, and out through the Thames Barrier. In the millpond-like conditions of the lower Thames, we made best speed when and where we could, to gain some miles whilst it was still daylight. Soon enough we were unleashed out into the remarkably flat estuary and by 7pm were speeding back past Southend Pier. The light was now fading fast and by the time we were rounding the Whittaker the sky was a picture of sunset colours,

distracting us from the slightly sloppier conditions. The darkness of a moonless sky surrounded us, but reassured by being back in ‘our river’, we slowed to buoy hop up the Crouch and overnighted at Burnham Yacht Harbour. Sure enough we awoke to a howling wind and the clanking of masts. Yes our Thames adventures had been cut short, but with the extended forecast looking windy for the foreseeable future, we were reassured of a good decision. With Seven Heaven and Wild Child staying on at Burnham for the weekend, we made our way back in the blustery conditions to our mud mooring on the River Roach. We had covered 360 nautical miles in total, traversed 29 locks each way and had used 102 gallons of fuel, that is an average of 3.5 miles per gallon. TLSea, as always, had done us proud. MBO

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

Q&A

Your Questions Answered

RCD capability

Q My boat has an RCD category of C, which I understand

means ‘Inshore Waters’, but what does this mean in terms of how I use the boat. Am I really limited to sticking to these types of waters, and where does inshore end and offshore begin? Could I, for example, cross the Channel or would I be committing an offence of some kind?

A The RCD category is, for the end user, largely advisory. Obviously a

category D boat (sheltered waters) is not designed for open sea crossings, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be done. You certainly won’t get any problems from ‘officialdom’ for doing so. I would start with your insurance company. If they are happy to cover your boat for the kind of use you have in mind then you are good to go. The categories designated by the builder are not always the best indicator of a boat’s capabilities, particularly between B and C class boats where often you might find a more competent boat with a C rating than others with a B. While D are usually best kept to inland and very sheltered waters, and ocean crossings best left to those with an A rating, a cross Channel passage is definitely doable for just about any B or C classified vessel. Just choose your weather window to suit your experience and what you know of the boat’s ability and enjoy. As for where inshore ends and offshore starts, the official dividing line is usually understood to be at 12nm from land, although the RCD uses wind strength and wave height to define the difference between the two categories, regardless of the fact that these in no way respect any distance limits.

Channel Islands 22 engine

Q I’m looking for my first boat and have spotted a lovely

Channel Islands 22 for sale but I’m struggling to find information about it. It is fitted with a ‘mint’ single 140hp Mermaid diesel. Will this be the original engine, and do you know what sort of speed it will achieve?

A Yes, that will be the original Turbo4 engine, which suggests a later build. It

should be capable of 17-19 knots. See our ‘Classic Cruisers’ guide in Dec17 issue. 54

December 2019

If you have a question, email us at

editorial@motorboatowner.co.uk

V8 fuel economy

Q My first season with my V8-powered

Searay has just come to an end and I have had a thoroughly brilliant year, with just the small matter of the fuel bill to spoil the party. I admit I may have been a bit throttle happy this year as I got to grips with the boat and have promised myself to try and be a bit more conservative next season. The question is, just how conservative do I need to be to keep fuel costs to a minimum?

A Your Searay, like just about all planing hulled boats, will have an efficiency chart that starts off well, tails off rapidly as you get the boat going faster than its hull speed, reducing to its most uneconomic as it ploughs a big hole in the water, before improving considerably as the hull gets up and on top of the water and then tailing off again as you use more power to increase speed towards its top end. In short, this usually means the best mileage will be achieved at full displacement speeds. Unfortunately planing hulled boats are not designed for this and can be rather uncomfortable in anything but flat seas. It also sounds like you wouldn’t be happy at these slow speeds either, so I would suggest that for best efficiency at a faster speed you should get the boat up on the plane fully and then back off the throttle, but not so much that the boat drops off the plane. This will result in a speed of around 18 knots, give or take a little depending upon your specific boat, and will return the best mpg.

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Q&A

Your Questions Answered

Coastal cruiser for £100k

Q I have around £100k to spend on a pre-owned boat

and am looking for some recommendations to help start me off with a shortlist. I have only ever owned small sportsboats kept on trailers before, so cruising in a larger boat is all new to me. I have no preconceived ideas of makes or styles of boats, just looking to buy something that will keep the two of us safe, be comfortable in choppy seas, able to deliver a turn of speed and come with all the facilities to stay onboard for anything up to a few weeks at a time.

A With so many styles of boats it is difficult to know where to start without

some pointers as to what you like, but I’ll give it a go. What springs immediately to mind, given your criteria, is something from the Broom stable. £100k should see you on the water in an aft cabin 345 or 36. This ticks almost all of the required boxes except perhaps the speed requirement, with a cruising speed of 16-18 knots and maxing out in the low 20’s. If you want something a bit sportier, then a sportscruiser like a Fairline Targa 34, a lovely looking boat with good performance if you pick one with the larger engine option, would be a decent choice. It won’t offer Broom levels of onboard comfort and space, and won’t be as sea kindly if you get caught out in the rough, but that applies to most fast, planing hulled boats over the Broom’s typical semi displacement hull. One fast boat that might be an exception in this respect, is one of the other Targas. Botnia Targas are known for their exceptional seakeeping in the rough, and will keep you and your partner safe and warm whatever the weather thanks to its wheelhouse. They don’t deliver sumptuous and palatial accommodation but are, like the Broom, very safe and easy to crew, with their walkaround decks. These boats don’t come on the used boat market very often, but you should be able to buy a used 27 or 31 in budget. As I seem to be covering all styles of cruiser here, it would be an oversight if I didn’t mention a flybridge model. For your £100k budget you have a good choice, but you won’t go wrong with a Sealine F37, Fairline Phantom 38 or Princess 360 or 380. This shaftdriven British built group are all excellent boats, and more than capable when the going gets rough. 56

December 2019

If you have a question, email us at

editorial@motorboatowner.co.uk

Perkins and Enfield parts

Q I have just purchased a ‘project’ Project 31 with twin

Perkins 4107 engines and Enfield drives. This is my first boat and I have some work to do on the interior, but when it comes to engines and drives I have no idea where to get parts from. Are there Enfield and Perkins dealers around?

A These old mechanicals are still well catered for and

you should be able to find most things quite easily. ASAP Supplies offer quite a range of consumables and common spares for the 4107 but if you need something more serious, try Parts 4 Engines who appear to offer most of the engine’s internal components, including complete rebuild kits with new pistons, liners, bearings and gaskets. For your Enfield drives, the best place to start is Chertsey Meads Marine, who should be able to point you in the right direction whatever your requirements. Good luck with the project.

Hull anode bolts

Q I am replacing my hull anodes on my Solent-

based Broom and wondered if I should use stainless steel or galvanised bolts. The ones on there now appear galvanised but are showing some surface corrosion. Surely stainless would be better.

A Hull anodes are usually fixed with galvanised bolts although stainless can

be used. The reason why galvanised work in this particular below-the-waterline use is that they are protected against corrosion by the anodes themselves. Some surface corrosion may be evident, and because of their cheapness I would replace them if this is the case, but they should not suffer so bad in the lifetime of the anode for it to become an issue. Stainless steel bolts, on the other hand, can suffer something called crevice corrosion. This is where a lack of oxygen, where the bolt passes through the hull, breaks down the stainless layer and can cause premature failure of the bolt. Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

Parker 790 Explorer

December 2019

BOAT TEST

Length (LOA): 8.44m / 27ft 8in Beam: 2.87m / 9ft 5in Displacement: 2,450kg (ex engine) Fuel capacity: 230 litres Water capacity: 100 litres RCD category: B8 C10 Engines as tested: 1 x Mercury 225hp Other engine options: 1 x outboard 200 to 300hp Price from ÂŁ68,799

Motorboat Owner ÂŠ Digital Marine Media Ltd

ere at Motorboat Owner, we are big fans of the Parker range. We have tested around six different models and have always come away impressed by the way the boats handle and perform, as well as the way they are designed and put together. This, of course, means that any new boats from the range have a great deal to live up to if they are going to continue the theme. On this basis we were very happy to find ourselves heading south just after the boat show to test one of Parkers newest models; a boat that has received many favourable remarks from other boat testers, so much so that it made the shortlist of the 2019 Best of Boats award. Would the 790 Explorer live

up to expectations? Parker has a wide range of boats, most of them crammed into the 6-8 metre range, and it is borderline impossible to work out where and how many of the models sit together. With the 800 Pilot house and 800 Weekend both coming in at 7.9m, you may well question why another sub 8m boat is needed in the range, especially given

December 2019

the similarities of the layouts of the three boats. For the benefit of this test, we’ll put the other models to one side and judge the 790 Explorer on its own merits. If, however, the Explorer looks like the sort of boat you might like, it is probably worth ‘exploring’ the options provided by the two 800 models. It may be difficult to choose between them, but at least you are safe in the knowledge that a bad choice will be very difficult to make. The first thing to note is that the 790 is a handsome looking craft. The forward raked windscreen, often a feature that works against the look of a sports boat, combines with an in-hull window/design strip to deliver a practical look, but one Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

“Time to explore. MBO steps aboard the latest 28ft Parker”

that doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t detract at all from the sporty appearance of this model. I would go as far as saying that the 790 is, quite possibly, the sexiest of the wheelhouse equipped range currently offered by the Polish builder. That aside, is it as practical as it looks? Well starting with boarding, and things

could not be easier. From the pontoon a small step onto the bathing platform from either side, leads you directly into the cockpit through a walkway on the starboard side. Unlike some outboard boats, boarding from the port side does not mean stepping across an outboard well

A double navigatorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s seat flips to create a proper four-person dinette. The cabin door is an option 62

December 2019

As standard the galley is basic, but tick a few options and you get true weekending ability

or straddling the outboard itself, as there is one-level access all the way across the transom. The bathing platform also has two hatches. Below the starboard one you will find a sturdy boarding ladder housed in a self-draining locker, and below the port one is a large self-draining locker. Both of these hatch lids are assisted and held open with stainless steel gas struts. Moving into the cockpit and you will find an almost full width transom seat that should comfortably house three, maybe four at a squeeze. The backrest of this seat flips to allow the seat to become aft facing, a useful feature when undertaking any waterborne activity or just to take in the view when sitting at anchor. In the cockpit sole there are three hatches. The two outer ones provide access to bilge storage while the centre hatch lifts to reveal a reasonable sized lazarette. To move forward you Motorboat Owner ÂŠ Digital Marine Media Ltd

need to negotiate one of the raised side decks. These are asymmetric, with the port deck being around 16cm wide and the starboard deck around 20cm. From the cockpit, three steps lead up to the starboard deck, while there are no aids to help scale the not inconsiderable height up to the port side-deck. The reason for this is that there is an option to have a further, removable, seat/locker pod in the cockpit along the port side. If fitted, this ÂŁ1,134 option would act as a stepping platform should you need to venture forward on this side, but without them you might want to think about installing a foldaway mast-type step or similar here. Whichever side you choose to use to reach the bow, your way will be aided with copious grabrails and handholds and chunky guardrails. Once on the side decks, access to the bow is one-level and

flat all the way forward. At the bow, an anchor locker hatch lid forms a large, flat crewing deck with a gap in the guardrails making an entrance or exit over the bow an option. The anchor locker is cavernous, with an opening big enough to allow for fender storage. Below the hatch, a small platform has been moulded in to allow an optional anchor winch to be installed out of site. Access to the wheelhouse from the cockpit is via a three-part sliding door, which fixes in an open, closed and partially open state. In the latter, the middle section remains free to flop back and forth, which is a common gripe of mine on this style of boat, but should be easily solvable with a little bit of thought. The doors themselves are protected from the worst of the weather by a nice

big overhang that also houses a light to illuminate the cockpit when boarding or disembarking at night. The wheelhouse layout is standard fare for this size and style of boat with a dinette immediately to port, with a navigatorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s seat in front, and a galley opposite, behind the helm. The navigators seat offers two comfortable positions and, with a flippable backrest, can also be used for dinette seating. This makes the dinette a true fourperson affair and, of course, the dinette table drops to create an occasional double berth. The galley is a compact and fairly simple unit but still offers some good facilities for dayboating and overnighting as long as you tick a few options. As standard you get a basic unit with sink and storage. The diesel powered hob, stone worktop and electric fridge are all

December 2019

options, but ones worth having if you want to spend serious time onboard. Galley storage comprises two drawers in the galley unit itself and some open storage above and behind the worktop. This can be supplemented with additional storage found below both dinette seats, as well as some further open storage outboard of the dinette on the port side. A hatch on the floor provides bilge access, but on our test boat this space was taken up with tanks. The helm of the 790 comes equipped with a single bucket style seat that offers plenty of support and has a lifting bolster to deliver a choice of helming options. At the floor there is a lifting section to allow skippers of all heights to have a good view forward when standing. Likewise, the seat swivels, slides and is height adjustable so just about anyone should be able to find the perfect driving position. The helm console is simple, with just a few switches and a couple of engine instruments Motorboat Owner ÂŠ Digital Marine Media Ltd

mounted around the periphery, leaving a nice large blank space centrally for a multifunction display of up to 12 inches. A small open fronted glove-box style storage compartment alongside the helm seat provides a space for the skipperâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s personal bits and bobs. Storage for the crew opposite comes by way of a lidded glovebox in front of the navigatorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s seat

Everything you need in the toilet compartment

PERFORMANCE

As tested 90% fuel 25% water 2 crew Force 1 RPM

600 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000 4500 5000 5250

with a convenient charging point located inside. Headroom in the wheelhouse is excellent, at almost 2m, and with a sliding window on either side, plus one opening and one fixed skylight in the roof, light and ventilation are plentiful. Continuing forward, a sliding companionway door and two steps lead down to the boatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s accommodation. Here, you get a small area with full standing headroom, an offset double berth forward, a separate toilet compartment to starboard and a further single berth going back under the dinette on the port side. The toilet compartment has the option of a sea toilet and comes with a sink and shower. Storage is plentiful and provided by two

Knots

LPH

GPH

MPG

2.1 4.4 5.9 7.4 8.4 9.1 14.9 22.8 29.9 36.1 38.0

1.3 4.3 7.7 14.1 22.0 27.3 38.6 42.3 59.6 76.8 84.0

0.29 0.95 1.70 3.10 4.85 6.00 8.50 9.30 13.1 16.9 18.5

7.24 4.63 3.47 2.39 1.73 1.52 1.75 2.45 2.28 2.13 2.05

Range (nm)

366 234 175 121 87 77 88 124 115 107 104

eye-level units and a single cupboard beneath the sink. There is a hull window for natural light, but no opening port. The boatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s main berth is the offset double, which is rather an odd shape but delivers around 6ft by 3ft of usable bunk. The single under cockpit berth is around 7ft long and just over 2ft wide. The only storage in this forward section is that which is accessed by lifting the main

December 2019

The Mercury 225hp may be at the smaller end of the recommended power range, but has plenty of poke to blow the cobwebs away

“Responsive, easy to drive and effortless power” bunk’s mattress to reveal the three lift out locker lids. Although not the easiest space to access, this does provide lots of volume, as well as access to the boat’s bow thruster, if fitted. There are fixed hull windows along both sides of the forward cabin, with an opening deck hatch overhead offering additional light and the opportunity for some fresh air. Underway It is refreshing to test a boat with an engine nearer the smaller end of recommended power, as it shows that you don’t always need to pack the transom with as many horses as you can. The new Mercury 225 four-stroke was a great match for the 790 and delivered Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

performance that was very good indeed. Yes you could put a 300 on the back and see speeds way in excess of 40 knots, but the 38 knots we saw delivered more than enough fun and excitement and realistically a boat like this is really a mid 20’s cruiser which, even with the 225 leaves us with plenty in reserve should we want to blow the cobwebs away. It also delivers a very good economy of around 2.5nm per gallon at modest cruising speeds which, rather impressively, only drops away to just over 2nm per gallon at full speed. At the helm, the boat is responsive, easy to drive and comfortable to helm. Turn the power on, and it will deliver the ‘grin’ factor you may be looking for with acceleration to 20 knots taking

just over 10 seconds. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not the fastest to plane, taking around 7 seconds to get up and going, but once there the engine delivers its power effortlessly and further acceleration comes quickly, with 20 to 30 knots achieved in just 9 seconds. The new stepped hull is certainly partly responsible for those impressive fuel figures, but also delivers excellent grip, with no notable slip in high speed turns, and excellent slow speed stability, tracking straight and true without any helm input at displacement speeds. Engine noise levels at high speed were quite intrusive if you had all the doors and window open, but batten down the hatches and everything becomes quiet and serene once again, even at top speed. Our test day was blessed with particularly flat seas, so apart from our own, and the photo boatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wake, we had little to test the hull. What we did throw at it, it simply shrugged off, with a little spray coming over the front being about the worst thing to report. The double pantograph wipers do a good job of clearing any rain or spray, although the gap in the middle is perhaps larger than we would have liked.

The cockpit can be fitted with extra seating and a table. The transom seat can face fore or aft

Elsewhere, visibility is good with the usual exception of tight turns to port, where the wheelhouse roof blocks your view. A good look before commencing the turn is all you need to negate this issue. Conclusion We think it is fair to say that Parker has done it again. In the 790 Explorer, they have produced yet another brilliant compact family weekender. I would go as far as to say it is quite possibly the pick of the whole range, although that may depend upon planned usage. It is clear that, although sportsfisher in design, the 790 is more of a family cruiser than a

December 2019

fishing boat, although it would be perfectly suitable for the latter. Spec it up right and it has everything you could need for an extended stay on the water and, despite its diminutive size, is genuinely capable of accommodating a family of four. The new stepped hull has done wonders for the handling and makes the 790 a fun and exciting boat to helm. When all is said and done, size for size and like for like, the 790 must be right up there when it comes to the best buy as a multi-purpose family boat. It may not have snatched the Best of Boats Award this year, but that is more to do with the quality of boats it was up against than any shortcoming of the 790. Just the

The 790 is a great family weekender with good manners and a punchy performance

very fact that the Jury of 18 European boat testers put it in a finalist group with boats considerable larger and more expensive tells you that the 790 punches way above its weight.

ENQUIRIES: Boat Shop Tel: 01243 514292 www.boatshopgroup.co.uk Other UK dealers: SCOTLAND - Stirlings Marine & ESSEX - Boats.co.uk YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

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LOA: 7.17m Beam: 2.8m Displacement: 1,750kg ex eng Enquiries: Jeanneau See www.jeanneau.com for your nearest dealer

LOA: 8.1m Beam: 2.55m Displacement: 2,200kg ex eng Enquiries: Ideal Boat 01758 703013 www.idealboat.com

LOA: 7.85m Beam: 2.7m Displacement: 3,200kg Enquiries: Sargo UK 02380 453245 www.sargoboats.co.uk

The 795 is a more fishing orientated option, with a bow cockpit, second helm option and a more basic fit out.

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The baby of the Sargo range offers all the usual walkaround features, great performance and still squeezes in four berths.

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XO 270 Cabin

Motorboat Owner

PROJECT BOAT

PROJECT Fairline Vixen

tâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been a funny old month for the project boat. Just when you think you are making great strides on a project like this, you are brought back down to earth by the realisation that there are still a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;thousandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; little things to be completed before moving on to the next stage, as well as the odd unforeseen problem to overcome. I started the month thinking I would be nearing the end of the engine and drive rebuild, but have ended realising that the

light I thought I could see at the end of the tunnel was, in fact, just a train coming the other way ready to derail me. I have moved a little further forward with the drive, in as much as I have stripped the input shaft and housing down to allow me to replace the seals, and I have detailed the process for that on these pages. This has required the purchase of a top end seal kit as well as a new pre-tensioning sleeve, an item that must be replaced whenever the input shaft housing is overhauled. The

December 2019

A carburettor rebuild kit, which contained everything needed, was sourced and put to work

rebuild didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t go quite according to plan. Another item delivered this month was my pair of carburettor overhaul kits. As you may remember, one Solex carb has been completely stripped down, ultrasonically cleaned and left in pieces, while the second was left in its original state, so that I had a reference in case I needed help with reassembly. With the kit delivered I set about rebuilding the cleaned carb using all new seals, washers and gaskets, as well as a new fuel pump diaphragm, idle mixture screw and float bowl needle valve and seat. As it turned out, rebuilding was simple enough without reference to the second carb and with the first one all back together, I stripped the

The rebuilt first carb alongside the, as this time, untouched second.

The rebuild kit included all washers, gaskets and seals, as well as a new fuel pump diaphram and float bowl valve

Motorboat Owner ÂŠ Digital Marine Media Ltd

The second carb was in worse condition than the first, but has now been ultrasonically cleaned

second down to its component parts for the start of its treatment. All the parts of the second carb have now been through the ultrasonic cleaning regime and are currently drying out ready for rebuild. On the boat I realised that, with winter coming, the rebuilt engine was not as protected as it could be. I had used engine assembly lube on all the moving parts when I was putting it together, but that still leaves a few exposed metal parts with

little, or no, protection and with open exhaust and inlet ports there was a danger that moisture could get in and cause problems. With that in mind I installed an oil filter and added the required quality of engine oil to the motor. I then removed the spark plugs and sprayed some fogging oil into the cylinders, as well as into the The engine has been filled with oil and spun over to protect the internals over winter

More prep and painting. This time the tube for the dipstick gets the treatment 72

December 2019

inlet and exhaust ports. Then, using a spare battery, I turned the engine over on the starter motor for a minute of so, just to ensure the engine oil had been delivered to all the important parts. We seem to be a long way off from trying to start it, so I hope that this will see it through the coming cold months unharmed. The process of filling up with oil reminded me that the engine still did not have a dipstick. Sure enough, in the pile of bits that I have yet to work on, I found the rusty dipstick tube. This was mechanically cleaned, then treated and painted using the same paint system used on the rest of the engine. It still requires its red topcoat, but that’s another small step nearer completion. While we were on the boat we noticed that the weather has taken its toll on the canopy, with one of the side windows almost completely lost and flapping in the

A temporary repair was need on the canopy after a window fell out due to bad weather

wind. The canopy is just about serviceable, although it will end up being replaced, but for now Claire got to work on the sewing machine and carried out an excellent ‘temporary’ repair using some left over clear PVC from our previous project boat canopy.

Replacing the seals on the VP290 input shaft HOW TO IN 16 STEPS

Having already removed the housing (Sept 19), undo the Allen head screw and remove, together with the tapered washer

Then, using a drift, gently tap the U joint and shaft assembly out of the bearing housing

If you are working vertically, like I was, keep one hand on the U joint assembly to stop it from falling

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

Remove the washer from the input shaft, the O ring on this will need replacing upon reassembly

Using some snap ring pliers, remove the large circlip that holds the seal in place

Using a drift that is large enough to cover the end of the input gear shaft, but small enough to fit inside the bearing, tap the input gear out of the housing 9

Again, be careful that the input gear does not fall out and damage itself. Keep one hand on it at all times

Slide the pre-tensioning sleeve, also known as the clamping sleeve, off the gear assembly and discard. A new one must always be used

With the parts separated, they were all put through a parts washer to ensure all dirt, grime and debris was removed before the reassembly process

The first step in reassembly was to change the main O ring on the bearing carrier

Then, the new pretensioning sleeve was slid over the main bearing carrier

Having warmed it up first to make fitting easier, the outer bearing was drifted into place

December 2019

A new seal was then placed in position and carefully drifted into place, ensuring that the circlip groove was then visible

Using snap ring pliers, the seal retaining circlip was re-installed. This is where things started to go awry

The next step was to replace this washer over the end of the bearing carrier and tighten it to the correct specification

That was until I realised that the very rough and corroded edge was, in fact, the seal running surface

A SKF Speedi Seal might solve the problem

A replacement washer can be ordered for an eye watering £57, but I am going to investigate alternatives first, including the possibility of using a Speedi Sleeve. Once I have fixed this problem, I will be able to finish the rebuild of the input shaft housing and set up the pre-tension before reassembly. Once that is done, the drive is all but complete bar a bit of cosmetic tidying. The light at the end of the tunnel may have got a bit dimmer, but I think I can still just make it out.

Spend so far

Motorboat Owner

PROJECT BOAT This month’s spend

Top end seal kit for stern drive £36 Input shaft pre-tensioning sleeve £11.04 2 x carburettor overhaul kits £68.40 Engine oil filter £3.89 Engine oil £11.00

Balance from last month

£1,482.45

Total to date: £1,612.78

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

Hooked The Humble Flounder by Simon Everett

lounder must be one of the most obliging fish we catch. Many a youngster has cut their teeth on this ubiquitous flattie. They can be caught close in, in shallow water, precluding the need for long casting or specialist tackle. It has to be said that most flounder are caught on tackle way too heavy for them, so they are not generally thought of as a sporting species, but targeted on light tackle they can really give a good account of themselves, they are a small version of a halibut after all. As many modern, light lure anglers are discovering, the flounder has plenty of muscle and a powerful tail to transmit strength through to the water and, provided it isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t anchored to the seabed by a 4oz lead, it can lead you a merry dance. I remember a two pound fish that turned my kayak and towed me 10 yards up tide before I got it to the net.

Flounder fishing is possible from an inflatable and the engine is a good perch. Bright, winter days are perfect and live ragworm is a good bait

I fish extremely light for flounders, using a light spinning rod in the 7g-28g casting weight range and 2000 sized reel loaded with 10lb braid and just a 10g ledger weight. Fishing this light gives even a mediocre flounder the chance to put up a scrap and really bend the rod, or even take line off the reel at times. My own rig is simplicity itself; a running ledger with a 16â&#x20AC;? hook length of 12lb fluorocarbon and just a couple of beads close to the size 4 Aberdeen, fine wire hook. This very simplistic rig has served me well for years and I see no reason to change it, generally if there is a flounder in my arc of operation, this approach will catch it. Bait varies from place to place, but the most widely used is the harbour ragworm, you can dig your own, or if you prefer to keep clean just buy some from your tackle shop. For youngsters, the activity of digging worms is a great part of growing up, and the satisfaction of catching fish on bait you have sourced yourself is hard to beat. Another really good bait for flounders, especially in the West Country estuaries and the channels of Poole Harbour, is peeler crab. Most of the bigger flounders caught each year fall for peeler crab fished at the edge of the channel in the couple of hours either side of low water. They lie in the low tide pool over low water and when the tide starts to flood again come on the feed, following the tide into the creek where they fan out over the mud flats as the water covers the intertidal zone. Where the rivulets across the mudflats meet

December 2019

The simple flounder rig. Flounder are predatory so baited spoons work well

the channels is always a good spot. Flounder are inquisitive fish and will investigate movement or glints, hence the addition of some kind of attractors. My fluorescent beads stand out in the coloured water, whilst the flash and vibration of spinner blades are other well tried attractors that provide something for the flounder to home in on. To give my simple rig more chance I never leave it sat for longer than a couple of minutes. After casting out across the tide I let the weight settle and if I get no interest I gently lift the rod to drag the weight out of the mud and then let it roll around a bit in the tide, then leave it for a minute or so. Once the bait has been in a spot for a couple of minutes I will slowly retrieve a little line, literally just a yard or so to try and encourage any nearby flounder to come and investigate the bait. This action results in a diagonal retrieve with the weight kicking up puffs of mud and sending the scent of the bait out in a wider cone. A flounder bite is quite distinctive as a fierce rattle, it is important to keep contact with your bait by holding the line taught enough that movements can be felt through the rod, with such light tackle you can actually feel crabs on the bait. Flounder are quite predatory and will outcompete the crabs, provided they have seen the bait, which is why moving it occasionally is important. When you hook a flounder you will

know all about it and it is imperative you set the drag on the reel to allow line to give, a flounder can put in a sudden burst of energy that has been known to even break 12lb line. A friend once lost his rod overboard from our dinghy, when the fish hit his baited spoon so hard. We retrieved his gear on the following low water and the fish was still attached, a 2lb flounder. Be prepared, and set the drag so that the reel starts to let line off when the rod arches over to about 60-degrees of bend. If I need to exert more pressure I simply dab my finger on the skirt of the spool and feather the spool to increase the friction. To decrease the tension during the fight you can simply change the angle of the rod to the fish, if you lower the rod tip the fish can take line more easily. One of the joys of fishing a quiet corner of the estuary though isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just the fish, it is the special surroundings. Even in the heart of the city, there are the plaintiff cries of the oystercatchers and curlews, the gentle lap of the water and the personal attention of the half tame swans.

Motorboat Owner ÂŠ Digital Marine Media Ltd

CLASSIC CRUISERS

a complete guide to the best boats on the used market

Princess 330

ritish boat builder, Princess Yachts, currently produces the smallest, traditional style, flybridge in the UK, albeit 46ft and coming in at a price tag of around half a million pounds. However, it was a very different story back in the 80s when all the big four British brands, Princess, Fairline, Sealine and Sunseeker, were building flybridge boats under 35 foot. Today, such cruisers provide affordable entry into flybridge ownership. Princess was arguably the longest serving and possibly the most prolific in this category, with its 33ft-35ft

flybridge lines in particular extending back to 1975, running for 22 years. During this time there was one fairly rare and striking model that is now much sought after. Priced now at around ÂŁ50k, that boat is the Princess 330. While its roots may lie in the John Bennett designed 33 Mark I and II models, realistically the 330 was the smaller sister of the Olesinski-designed Princess 35. In the wake of the success of his first Princess, the 30DS, designer, Bernard Olesinski, went on to pen a new wave of Princess flybridges during the

December 2019

Built 1987-1991(210 approx) Prices then £58,017 (1988) Prices now £43,000-£57,000 Length 36ft 1in / 11m Beam 11ft 9in / 3.58m Air Draught windscreen 3.12m appx GRP arch 13ft 4in / 4.06m Draught 2ft 8in / 0.81m Fuel 150 gallons / 682 litres Water 53 gallons / 240 litres Displacement 5500-7000kg

1980s, crucially appealing to both the UK and the Med market. The Princess 45, launched in 1981, proved incredibly successful, with 400 built in its nine-year production, and through foreign export sales alone it saw Princess come through the difficult recession of the early 1980s. Next in the Olesinski flybridge line was the 55, which was closely followed by the 35 in 1984 and then the 415 in 1985. Meanwhile, over in the Fairline stable, the fellow British builder was seeing success with the launch of its 33ft flybridge model, the 31 Corniche, which, like the Princess

30DS and the Bennett-designed 33 MkII, were available with stern or shaftdrive configurations. So looking to bridge the gap between the 30DS Flybridge and the 35, Princess sought to replace the existing 33 MkII flybridge with a new model. The Princess 330 broke cover in 1987. Like its larger sister, the 35, it offered accommodation for 6 people with three double berths. Its sharper, streamlined exterior did not have the bluff, curved bow of the 35 and 415. Also, unlike the 35, it was available with twin sterndrives or shafts, with diesel and petrol options

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delivering speeds up to 32 knots. Princessâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s newest flybridge had landed, and its striking looks were no doubt a taste of what was to come. In 1989 Princess launched a smaller flybridge, the 315. Again, like the 330, this was available with a choice of twin sterndrive or shaftdrive engines. Princess ceased production of the 330 in 1991, with both the 35 and 315 continuing until 1993. Princess did revisit the entry-level flybridge category again in 1995, with the sterndrive-powered 34, which remained in production until 1997. According to David King, the founder of Princess Yachts, between 200-210 330s were built over the 5-year production. He added that no more than 10 of these would have been sterndrive versions, which make them a very rare boat to find.

Interior As you step through the patio door into the light and airy, 6ft 2in headroom, saloon it is important to know that there were two variations of saloon layout available. The standard layout sees you entering the saloon on the starboard side via a single patio door. Inside is a shallow C-shaped settee-cum-dinette area to port, capable of seating 5-6 people, and a sideboard storage unit along the starboard side. In addition a pair of nesting stools allow seating around the table for larger dining parties. Princess later offered a bench seat and corner cocktail unit in lieu of the starboard sideboard unit. Consequently, this layout upgrade has a centrally-opening set of alloy-framed patio doors and a more conventional L-shape settee dinette area to port. As you can

December 2019

imagine there are pros and cons to each, the C-shape is comfortable for a couple to lay out of an evening, with a television positioned on the useful sideboard storage unit, while the bench seat provides better social seating, as well as storage in its base. Both dinette settee areas convert into a double berth, measuring a snug but lengthy 6ft 5in long by 4ft wide, using the hi-lo table and an infill cushion. Moving forward through the saloon brings you to the starboard helm position. Set on a raised plinth with a battery switch panel built into its base, it has a cosy-fortwo double helm seat that offers comfort and good visibility out of the tall, threepane windscreen. You will note that the 330â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s windscreen, as well as other 80s Princess models, have large upper panes with a separate small pane below. We

suspect for the purpose of mounting the three wipers. A compact tiered console, displaying depth and speed gauges, is ahead of the skipper, while a good size folded chart storage area lies ahead of the co-pilot. Engine dials and switches

Visibility from the inside helm is impressive. It is ideal for inclement days or winter boating

Motorboat Owner ÂŠ Digital Marine Media Ltd

are displayed either side of the steering wheel on a lower panel. The console is well designed but crowded, and unfortunately leaves no space for flush mounted navigation displays, so you may well find electronics, old or new, bracket mounted. Alternatively, as Princess did, owners may have mounted equipment in the pelmet above, which offers space for an 8-inch display or two. To the left of the helm console lies a useful sideboard, with a music system mounted in a pod above, that divides the lower level galley from the saloon. A central set of cleverly-shaped but fairly steep companionway steps lead down to the galley lobby. Here, the wellcrafted wood joinery incorporates grab handles for the descent, which is useful as the bottom step is tapered to allow the opening of the mid cabin door. The 330â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

shaped galley is set to port, while doors lead off to the forward and mid cabin, and toilet compartment. The light-coloured veneered galley is dominated by a shaped and spacious worktop that incorporates a central full gas oven with concealed two-burner hob and grill. Twin round metal sinks can be found in the forward section. Below the worktop is a large fridge, a cutlery drawer and various storage cupboards. There is also plenty of eye-level storage above too, with shelved units echoing the shape of the worktop, a deep central shelf and sliding storage locker. Here, in front of the opening port, there is space to perch a microwave. One owner told Motorboat Owner that the 330s galley was better than their previous Princess 385, saying they liked the fact it was more open and accessible.

December 2019

1990 £49,950 (featured) Twin Volvo Penta TAMD41B Private sale 07910 874511

1989 £56,000 Twin Volvo Penta TAMD41A Waterside Boat Sales Gosport 02392 985688 www.watersideboatsales.com The toilet compartment is tight on headroom but has everything you would need for stay-aboard cruising

Opposite the galley is the toilet compartment. This is a little tight for headroom, at around 5ft 8in, but is well appointed with a shower mixer tap, sea toilet and wash basin unit with a fairly large integral locker. There are an additional two lockers at eye-level for storage of vanity items. Some boats may well have an 80s peach-coloured sink unit, which may not be to everyones taste. One owner painted the surrounding worktop white, leaving the inner basin the peach colour, which is a clever idea. The mid cabin is a good-size second cabin, ideal for young children or a couple. It is almost identical in layout to the Princess 286’s mid cabin, albeit bigger. There is a decent entrance area to dress, with 5ft 11in

1990 €49,950 Twin MerCruiser 220hp diesels Boats.co.uk Cala D’or +34 628 54 27 42 www.boats.co.uk

1990 £45,995 ex VAT Twin Volvo KAMD43 diesels New Horizon Yachts 01481 726335 www.newhorizonyachts.com

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Room for guests, its sportscruiser-esque mid cabin double is surprisingly comfortable

headroom, and a small settee, with the 6ft by 4ft crawl-in double berth extending thwartships under the helm seat moulding. There is sitting headroom at the headboard end, which has a useful sideboard and reading lights. When it comes to hanging storage, like the 286, there is a clever locker set between the headboard bulkhead and the hull. At the inboard end of the berth is a hatch into the hull space, which is a useful storage area for bags or other bulky items. This area could also be utilised for a holding tank. The boats 53-gallon water tank is located under the mid berth. The cosy master forward cabin offers an offset double and headroom of 6ft. The shapely berth, measuring well over 6ft long by 4ft wide, is set to port and has a headboard arrangement in the bow. At

December 2019

the foot of the bed is a useful curved-front shelved locker, while on the starboard side is a dresser unit with a televisionsized sideboard and a couple of storage compartments. Set aft of this there is a full-length hanging locker. The bed base has two hatches under the mattress that provide access to bow hull space and the bow thruster if fitted, these are often lined with neat removable vinyl storage bins. Whilst exploring the interior there are some general checks to carry out. Check in as many lockers as you can for signs of damage or movement. The windscreen rubber seals, if original, may well have shrunk, so it is a good idea to check for signs of internal leaks. The same goes for the forward cabin escape hatch. Its portholes are high quality and heavy duty, but again do check around them for signs of leaks and check that the clasps are working, as these can become loose. Due to the boat’s age, you may find interiors that have been kept original, like the boat featured here, or upgraded with

new carpets and upholstery. The interior woodwork of the 330 is teak, which is very hard wearing but will usually need some seasonal attention. A coat of furniture polish to maintain its coating, or wax to protect it from moisture, is usually all that is required. Diesel heating was available as a factory option, namely a Eberspacher D3L with outlets in the saloon and the two cabins for £1,195. For petrol-powered boats, an additional 25-litre diesel tank was supplied at £50. Such units will be either mounted in the lazarette or behind the saloon settee. Flybridge Access to the flybridge is via an almost vertical stainless steel ladder, with wooden treads, and through a weatherproof hatch. Climbing up and through the hatch is relatively easy and unhindered as the GRP radar arch is mounted well aft. The hatch cover is normally roller canvas, but we have seen one example with a hinged plastic hatch. Up here you feel secure

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behind good-height guardrails and you will find a twin helm seat, with a reversing backrest, and L-shaped bench seating for four people in the starboard corner. Sadly the seat bases do not offer storage, but there is certainly space for 5-6 people. The helm position, which is offset to the port side, is sheltered by a good size windscreen deflector. The moulded console is compact and features all the necessary engine dials and shut offs under a clear Perspex cover, as well as depth and speed instrument repeaters. Again, with little room for flush mounting, nav equipment will require bracket mounting.

The secure aft cockpit is big enough for entertaining and has a large, lazarette

On deck Out in the secure aft cockpit, an upholstered bench seat extends across the transom to offers seating for 5-6 people, with storage in its moulded

December 2019

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base. On shaftdrive models, a large gasstrutted hatch in the cockpit sole reveals a lazarette, offering storage space for a deflated tender or other larger items, such as a valise liferaft. You will find a set of storage lockers in each side of the cockpit coaming, with the necessary gas locker, housing two 907 Camping Gaz bottles, recessed into the port side. A central gap in the transom guardrails leads down a ladder to the boats bathing platform. Extending almost full beam, the bolt-on platform is moulded GRP and has two large teak slatted sections. Be sure to inspect this wood as unfortunately this can rot if not properly maintained and protected. Princess offered nylon coated davits, priced at £220. However, sturdy stainless steel ‘of the era’ Whittall winch davits proved a popular option. Moulded steps lead out onto the side

decks, under which are storage lockers. However, a grabrail on each coaming would be useful for this, and also for getting on and off the boat. Cutting an access panel in each side bulkhead provides the necessary access to bolt these in place, and can be seen in the picture above. As the boat is fairly high sided, owners may also have fitted a folding metal step below the gunwale for easier

This 1990 330 has a clever extending hoop for the cockpit canopy and a hinging radar arch

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side access. The 8.5-inch side decks, together with a low profile sloping foredeck, make it easy for crew to move about. There is slight slope in each deck, but with its sturdy stainless rails running all the way aft to the cockpit, you feel quite secure. The decks are also well equipped with three sturdy cleats each side. At the bow, an electric anchor winch was fitted as standard and, with no chain locker access or bow storage, fender baskets can be mounted on the guardrails or on the transom.

into shallow tunnels, thus reducing the shaft angle for better efficiency and decreasing the boatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s draught. Shaftdrive versions are praised for their seakeeping, particularly for their ability to maintain speed in choppier head sea conditions and its performance downwind. Good acceleration, trim angle and an easy-to-plane indiscernible hump are also aspects celebrated by owners. Being rare, MBO was unable to gauge opinions of the sterndrive version, but can assume that the handling is comparable to similar-sized flybridges, with pronounced Hull and Handling leaning at speed, and responsive but The Princess has a modified planing slightly skittish handling at close quarters. hull, with a deep V entry reducing to a Overall, the shaftdrive boat will offer more moderate V aft. The hull also incorporates sure-footed handling, however, being high a longitudinal spray and chine knuckle sided, both versions will be susceptible to promote efficient planing and deflect to windage and would benefit from a spray downwards. With an 18.5-degree bowthruster. transom deadrise, its reverse sheer shape, Inspect the hull carefully for damage, extending the waterline, provides grip, paying close attention around the bathing better efficiency and stability. platform and recessed engine vents. The With the two different drive systems, 330 rolled off the factory production line there were two hull variances. Sterndrive with stripe decals along its waterline, hull models have the hull as described above. and superstructure. These may well have However, on the more common shaftdrive deteriorated, and consequently have been version the shafts and rudders are recessed replaced, painted or removed completely. 88

December 2019

Engines The Princess 330 was factory fitted with Volvo Penta engines with a choice of two drive configurations, stern or shaftdrive, with petrol or diesel sterndrive options and diesel-only shaftdrive options. In 1988 Princess was offering four petrol and two diesel sterndrive options, priced £58-75k. Petrol options were 120hp AQ131s, 146hp AQ151s, 167hp AQ171s or 210hp AQ211s on 290 drives. The AQ211s option was also available with duo props for £1k extra. Diesel options were 130hp AQAD31s or 200hp AQAD41 running on 290 drives with duo props. Two conventional shaftdrive turbocharged six-cylinder diesel engine options were also available, 150hp TMD41s priced at £73,312 or 200hp TAMD41As at £76,187. In 1989, with prices rising to £67-£84k, Princess simplified its engine sterndrive options, with only two petrol and two diesel options. Petrol options were AQ151s or AQ211s (with DP option), while diesel options remained the same. The two shaftdrive options also remained the same. However, Volvo Penta engines were evolving, with the TAMD41A becoming the TAMD41B in 1989.

By 1991 just the larger sterndrive options remained, namely AD41 diesels and Volvos uprated 210hp 500s, but crucially there were now three shaftdrive options, TMD41s, TAMD41Bs and the latest 230hp KAMD42s. According to Princess, the most common engines fitted were the shaftdrive 200hp TAMD41 diesels. We also have come across a 1989 example with 220hp 4.2-litre MerCruiser D-tronic D254 turbo diesels, which, according to a previous owner, were factory fitted and provide 27 knots. These were almost certainly custom specified in-build, as we have been unable to find any records of MerCruiser options for the 330. The more common TAMD41 examples will be capable of a top speed of 27 knots

Hull mod. On shaftdrive versions the shafts and rudders are recessed into tunnels for efficiency

Motorboat Owner © Digital Marine Media Ltd

Volvo Penta TAMD41As, (pictured), and TAMD41Bs have an excellent reputation

at 3800rpm. The boat is also comfortable at 3500rpm where it can maintain 2223 knots. However, it is at its most economical at 3000rpm which delivers a cruising speed of 18-19 knots. Be aware that the older generation TAMD41As have the reputation to smoke a little more than the evolved Bâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s. We have come across one instance of re-engining, a 1989 example that was reengined in 2005 with 230hp KAMD43s,

An unusual MerCruiser installation for this 1990 boat, 220hp D254 diesels cruising at 19 kts

which are almost identical to the KAMD42s Princess offered in late 330s. Like many shaft-driven boats of this era, accessing the engines is not the easiest endeavour, with the starboard engine being the most readily accessible. The saloon floor has three large, long rectangular hatches running fore-andaft, so, due to the layout, when rolling back the carpet the starboard hatch is removed first, then the other hatches which require the movement of the table and wooden seat bases. With the hatches out, the engines are fully exposed, which is excellent for servicing and maintenance, and in most original installations you get good access to the outside of the engines as well. A section of metal treadplate can be mounted between the engines and longitudinal bearers for additional comfort. Inspect the sound proofing in the engine bay, which is normally fitted to many surfaces including the two 75-gallon fuel tanks outside of each engine, as this can deteriorate. If you can, check the fuel

December 2019

tanks for corrosion, as finding such on boats of this era is quite common and replacement a complex job. Fuel filters are mounted to the aft engine bay bulkhead, and in the same vicinity you will find the engine seacocks and raw water strainers. However, these also may be accessible via dedicated hatches in the lazarette bulkhead. Note, earlier boats may have a larger central hatch just big enough to squeeze through into the engine bay. Also inspect the bilges for water, as this could indicate a leaking sterngland. The boats three standard 100Ah batteries reside in moulded boxes on the port side in the lazarette, or engine bay on sterndrivepowered versions. Inside the lazarette you will also find the calorifier. The 330 is surprisingly ecomonical for a shaftdriven flybridge boat, offering 1.5+ miles per gallon at best cruising speeds. At approximately 7 tonnes and carrying

150 gallons, it should offer a range of up to 180nm with a 20% safety margin. However, rare sterndrive versions should prove even more economical, but, with drive servicing to take into account, will be more expensive to maintain. Conclusion The 330 is an affordable flybridge that has certainly stood the test of time, and still has an awful lot going for it. It is attractive and comfortable, yet compact and economical. It delivers good performance but combines this with sea kindly manners. It is ideal for a couple with occasional guests, or a family. Pound for pound it is, perhaps, one of the most versatile pocket flybridges on the used boat market.

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

Family 33 Flybridge

1975-1980

Prices £25,000-£35,000

Length 33ft Beam 11ft 3in Classic Bennett fly available with two hull types, stern or shafts, that later evolved into the MkII. Buy one (pictured) 1979 £25,000 www.clarkeandcarter.co.uk

1984-1992

Prices £45,000-£60,000

Length 35ft 9in Beam 12ft 1in Popular twin shaftdrive diesel 6-berth fly, with lower dinette or bunk bed cabin versions. Buy one (pictured) 1986 £46,995 www.farndonmarina.co.uk

1992-1996

Prices £69,950-£89,000

Length 35ft 8in Beam 12ft Modernised 36ft flybridge fitted with sterndrive diesels and moulded steps to the flybridge. Buy one (pictured) 1996 £89,000 www.lovellyachts.com

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New and Used

Boats for Sale 01189 403211

Princess / 25

Popular cruiser, single Volvo diesel, 2 double berths, BSS until 2023

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

Seamaster / 813

Spacious cruiser, 6ft headroom in cabin, bowthruster, heating

Antaris / RB18

Open day boat, spacious seating for 8, cockpit table, canopy

Corsiva / 570

Classic look, enclosed 15hp engine, sprayhood & tonneau cover

1979 | £10,700 | 25ft | 7.6m

1979 | £14,995 | 26.7ft | 8.1m

2007 | £18,500 | 20ft | 6.1m

Interboat / 17

Moonraker / Super 36

Sheerline / 950 Tri Cabin

Haines / 320

2009 | £23,500 | 18.7ft | 5.7m

1989 | £40,000 | 36ft | 11m

2000 | £79,000 | 31ft | 9.5m

2009 | £125,000 | 32ft | 9.8m

Ideal day boat, solid teak floor, 2017 16hp engine, BSS until 2021

Versatile cruiser, twin diesels, 2 double berths, shore power

4-6 berths, equipped galley, heating, folding arch & windscreen

FROM

£346,680

400 AFT CABIN

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

British built since 1980

2019 | £18,500 | 18.7ft | 5.7m

Remote bow & stern thrusters, 2 WC’s, inverter, hydronic heating

FROM

INTENDER 820

£48,570

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

Premium Dutch Quality

CRANCHI M44HT £499,950 INC VAT EW

2019 Cranchi T43

Volvo Penta IPS 500 Diesel Engines £799,950 INC VAT Lying Brixham

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

Beta Marine Diesel Engine Lying T&K £174,500

Glatron GT229 Cuddy

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

Lying T&K

2004 Cranchi 33 Endurance

2X Volvo Penta KAD 300 Diesel Engines £69,950 Lying Windsor

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

Thames & Kennet Marina 01189 477770

Tingdene Colecraft 66x10

Glastron GT185

TINGDENE SALES OFFICES

Yamaha F40 Outboard Engine £49,950

2019 Viking 24 Highline

2018 Viking 24 Highline

2019 Cranchi E26 Classic

Volvo Penta V6-280 Petrol Engine FROM £105,000 Lying Windsor

2019 Cranchi E26 Rider Mercury 250hp Outboard FROM £109,000 INC VAT

“LARGEST BOAT SALES ON THE RIVER THAMES” Portishead Quays Marina 01275 397277

Racecourse Marina, Windsor 01753 851717 Hartford Marina 01480 454677 Walton Marina 01932 221689 Broadlands Marina 01502 440238

Upton Marina 01684 593111

tingdeneboatsales.net e. boatsales@tingdene.net

Lying Windsor

2014 Jeanneau Merry Fisher 755 £34,950 VAT paid

2008 Four Winns V258 Vista £35,950 VAT paid

ES3701

ES3617

Essex Marina, United Kingdom

2019 Parker 690 Day Cruiser £78,738 VAT paid

Salterns Marina, Poole, United Kingdom ENPA08

2015 Regal 28 Express £74,950 VAT paid

Essex Marina, United Kingdom

Salterns Marina, Poole, United Kingdom

2019 Parker 790 Explorer £97,313 VAT paid

2016 XO 270 Front Cab £119,950 VAT paid

ENPA09

ES3542

Salterns Marina, Poole, United Kingdom

ES3691

Essex Marina, United Kingdom

E&O

Essex: 01702 258 885 - essex@boats.co.uk Poole: 01202 797 777 - poole@boats.co.uk

2012,

2016,

Outstanding Service Winner:

2018!

2012,

2016,

Outstanding Service Winner:

2018!

New and Used

Boats for Sale

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01189 403211

Corsiva / 500 Tender

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

Interboat / 17

Nimbus / 2600

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

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

Spacious interior, cockpit galley, bowthruster, winter cover

NEW | £13,100 | 16.4ft | 5m

2007 | £21,950 | 18.7ft | 5.7m

1989 | £25,950 | 27.1ft | 8.3m

Broom / Continental

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

1970 | £26,000 | 37ft | 11.3m

Interboat / Intender 700

Discover space to relax at Portland Marina. Marina, dry stack, boatyard. 01305 866190

Interboat / Intender 820

Broom / Ocean 40

Intercruiser / 29

Luxury dayboat with triple back sundeck & unique folding transom

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

Beautifully finished, perfect for extended cruising, fully equipped

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

2019 | £49,000 | 23ft | 7m

NEW | €79,196 | 26.6ft | 8.1m

1989 | £85,000 | 40ft | 12.3m

2018 | £199,950 | 29.5ft | 9m

FROM

portlandmarina.co.uk 400 AFT CABIN

£346,680

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

FROM

INTENDER 820

British built since 1980

Lying

£48,570

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

Premium Dutch Quality

Glastron GT185

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

See us on berths M012, M300 – M303

Enjoy the life you live

2019 Viking 24 Highline

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

TINGDENE SALES OFFICES

Thames & Kennet Marina 01189 477770

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

Racecourse Marina, Windsor 01753 851

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

tingdeneboatsales.net e

Walton Marina 01932 221689 Broadla

All adverts are clickable

Boats.co.uk........................................................................................ Page 94 Boat Shop Group.............................................................................. Page 13 Dean & Reddyhoff Marinas............................................................. Page 19 JC Marine Service............................................................................ Page 11 MDS Battery....................................................................................... Page 13 Parker Poland.................................................................................... Page 9 Sea Ventures...................................................................................... Page 15 Tingdene Boat Sales........................................................................ Page 93 Tingdene Boat Sales / Cranchi....................................................... Page 4 Val Wyatt Marine.............................................................................. Page 92 Vetus.................................................................................................. Page 55 Wakering Yacht Club....................................................................... Page 95

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

December 2019

Classified

1953 63ft RAF Pinnace ‘1387’

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

£45,000 ONO 07591 343750

Motorboat Owner Affordable practical boating

1997 Haines 31 Sedan

1980 Fairline Mirage 29

Single Perkins Sabre M135L diesel. 2-4 berth sedan cruiser. Bowthruster, microwave, Webasto heating, television. Lying Reading

Twin Volvo Penta AQD32A diesels. Popular British-built 5-7 berth cruiser. Garmin GPS, BSS until 2020, TV and aerial. Lying Wargrave.

£59,950

£17,000

0118 947 7770 thamesboatsales@tingdene.net

01189 403211 info@valwyattmarine.co.uk

Wakering Yacht Club BOATING HIP MEMBERS RING,

O TOON MO INC.PON T LIF * ANNUAL ANDING S HARDST & 4 WEEK FROM

£791 PA

ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP • VISITORS, SOCIAL & NEW BOATING MEMBERS WELCOME AVAILABLE Contact us for details • Licenced Clubhouse (Bar open Fri 8-11pm & Sun 1-3pm) • Friendly atmosphere & regular events • Lifting facility (limits apply) Wakering Yacht Club • On site fuel facilities

www.wakeringyachtclub.com / Enquiries: wakeringyc@gmail.com Motorboat Owner

Rochehall Way Rochford Essex SS4 1JU

Owners Directory i Arvor Boat Owners Club

Dawncraft Owners Club & Forum

www.arvorboatowners.co.uk

www.dawncraftowners.com

Aquastar Owners Club

Dell Quay Ranger website

www.aquastarclub.co.uk

www.dellquayranger.supanet.com

Atlanta Boat Owners

Electric Boat Association

www.atlantaboats.co.uk

www.electric-boat-association.org.uk

Bavaria Owners’ Association

Elysian Boat Owners

www.bavariaowners.co.uk

www.elysianboats.co.uk

Bayliner Owners Club

Fairey Owners Club

www.baylinerownersclub.org

www.faireyownersclub.co.uk

Beneteau Owners’ Association

Fairline Owners Club

www.beneteau-owners-association.org.uk

www.fairlineownersclub.com

Birchwood Classics

Fjord Club

www.birchwoodclassics.com

www.fjordclub.com

Broom Owners Club

Fletcher Owners Group

www.broomowners.com

www.facebook.com/groups/4011883149

Chaparral Boat Owners Forum

Freeman Cruisers Forum

forum.chaparralboats.com

freemanboats.forumer.com

Classic Motor Boat Association

Freeman Owners Club

www.cmba-uk.com

www.freemancruisers.com

Classic Offshore Powerboat Club

Freeman Cruisers

www.classicoffshore.com

freeman-cruisers.forumotion.co.uk

Cleopatra Owners Club

Haines Owners Club

mycleopatra.ning.com

www.hainesmarine.co.uk/owners.php

Coronet Cruisers

Hampton Safari Boat Club

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

hamptonsafaribc.webplus.net

Corvette Motorboat Association

Hardy Owners Club

corvettemotorboat.wordpress.com

Cranchi Owners Club & Forum cranchiownersclub.com

www.hardy-owner.org.uk

Jeanneau Owners Network

www.jeanneau-owners.com

December 2019

Owners Club missing? Contact us at

Marex Owners Club

editorial@motorboatowner.co.uk

Sea Ray Owners Club

www.clubsearay.com

www.marexownersclub.co.uk

Sealine Forum

Mariah Owners Club www.mariahownersclub.com

www.sealineforum.co.uk

Maxum Owners Club

Sealine Owners Club

www.maxumownersclub.com

www.sealineowners.com

Microplus Boats

Seamaster Club

www.microplus.dk

www.seamasterclub.org

Monterey Fourm

Seaward Owners Club

forums.montereyboats.com

www.seawardboat.com/club.html

Moonraker Owner’s Club

Shadow Boats - Victoria Shadow Association

www.moonraker.dk/eng_index.htm

www.victoriashadow.co.uk

Nauticus

Shetland Owners Association

www.nauticus.co.uk

www.shetlandowners.co.uk/shetland/

Nelson Boat Owners Club

Star Craft Owners Club

www.nelsonboatownersclub.co.uk

www.bates-starcraft.co.uk

Nimbus Owners Club UK

Storebro Passion

www.nimbusowners.co.uk

www.storebropassion.de

Norman Appreciation Society

Sunseeker Owners Club

www.normanboats.co.uk

sunseekerownersclub.com

Classic Princess facebook group

Viking Owners Club

Click here for Facebook group

www.vikingowners.org.uk

Regal Owners Forum

Warrior Boats Owners Club

www.warriorboatsownersclub.co.uk

www.regalownersforum.com

Relcraft Boaters Group

Advertise with us

www.relcraftboatersgroup.co.uk

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

Rodman Owners Club

www.facebook.com/rodmanownersclub

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£39,950 01603 396607 email address

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December 2019

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Winterise

YOUR BOAT

www.stuhaynes.co.uk

PRACTICAL

HOW TO

W interising is the act of protecting your

boat and its equipment and contents from the ravages of the winter weather. Failing to carry out any preparation for winter can result in expensive damage to the engine, domestic water system and even your soft furnishings. The requirement to carry out any winterising will depend largely on whether you keep your boat in fresh water or salt and how far north you are in the UK. If you keep your boat in fresh water I would say that it is almost imperative to carry out some basic

If we get another winter like this, will your boat be protected?

winterising. With salt water the need isn’t quite so great because salt water freezes at a lower temperature than fresh, typically around –2°C. Damage is caused by water expanding as it freezes, and this expansion can crack even a solid iron engine block. I know that many people on the south coast who keep their boat in salt water do not carry out any winterising at all, and for the most part will get away with

1 First published December 2013, updated Nov 19

BY NEALE BYART

Motorboat Owner

Paul & Sandra Field

it, but is not unheard of for damage to occur even here, so I would suggest a little bit of preventative work is well worth doing to save the worry and, even remote possibility, of a large repair bill. The complete process of winterising and protecting the boat can be broken down into a number of different jobs. The most important is winterising the engine as this is where the most expensive damage can occur. Next comes the domestic water system which, because it is full of fresh water, is the most prone to damage when the temperature dips. Although tales of engine damage are thankfully quite rare, possibly because most owners do take some precautions, stories of damage to the boats freshwater supply are far more common and I have personally been caught out with this one. Next comes the interior of the boat. There are some simple steps to take to ensure the soft furnishings see it through the winter unscathed. You can simply take them home and store them, you can ensure the boat has good ventilation to keep mildew at bay or you can go the high tech route and use some form of dehumidifier. The last section is the boats exterior. It is a good idea to give the boat a wash and a coat of good quality wax at the beginning of winter as it will protect the gelcoat from airbourne contaminates and any UV over winter, meaning re-commissioning in spring should require nothing more than a quick wash and a recoat of wax. While you are on the boat and in your work clothes you may want to consider carry out some servicing. This is not strictly winterising but fits in well with it and will, in a small way, help to protect the

Freezing water can split metal, this is a damaged tap, but it could be your engine

boat over winter. A freshly serviced engine means that the boat is ready to go in the spring, it has nice clean oil protecting the engineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s inner workings, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a great opportunity to use up your existing engine spares and order some new ones for next season, but most importantly, it gives you lots of time to deal with any problems that might show up during a service. The sort of thing we are referring to is finding water in your outdrive oil, or worse still in your engine oil. Find a problem like this in the spring and you will be hard pressed to secure the services of a decent engineer as this is their busiest time, so you are likely to start eating into your season while waiting for repairs. Find a problem before Christmas and, expense aside, getting the repair carried out should be painless and most importantly, completed in time for the start of next season. So, how do you winterise a boat? Simply follow the steps detailed on the next few pages, or at least the ones that are relevant to your boat, and you can relax knowing that regardless of what mother nature throws at us in the coming months, your boat will remain safe and serviceable as soon as spring has sprung.

PRACTICAL

HOW TO IN 9 STEPS

PART 1

The Engine

If your engine is fresh water cooled the block itself should be protected with antifreeze already, so you just need to displace the raw water that is trapped in the heat exchangers with an antifreeze mixture. Raw water engines will need an antifreeze solution run right through the engine so will need running up to temperature first. 1

On a freshwater cooled engine the captive antifreeze mix should be changed every two years. Change it, or if it not due, check the strength to ensure it is up to the job.

On a stern drive boat you have a choice of feeding the antifreeze mix through the leg via a set of muffs, or by removing an inlet pipe inside the boat. Check first that the hose is not below the waterline if still afloat.

Mix a solution of antifreeze and water at a ratio of 1:1. Around five litres of mixture is usually enough per engine so a 5 litre container of antifreeze should be enough for most twin engine boats.

Outboards often have a flushing port which you can use to introduce an antifreeze mix. Alternatively use a pair of muffs or simply lower the leg into a container filled with an antifreeze mix.

On a shaft drive boat close the seacock and remove the raw water strainer cap. Pour the mix into the strainer with the engine running and shut the engine off just as the mix runs out.

Antifreeze is toxic so it should not be allowed to enter the water or soak into the ground. Try and catch the expelled antifreeze mix in a bucket. If this is not possible consider using nontoxic polyethylene glycol.

3 First published December 2013, updated Nov 19

An alterative to inhibiting an engine with antifreeze is to drain it. Check your ownerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s manual for the drain points on your engine and follow the instructions carefully to ensure you remove all of the raw water.

Once the engine is inhibited remove the impeller and store it for the winter to reduce distortion. Replace the pump faceplate if the boat is staying afloat to reduce the chance of water entering the engine room.

Place a sign on the helm to advise that the engine should not be started due to winterisation. This could also remind you to replace the impeller and open the seacock if required.

HOW TO IN 9 STEPS

PART 2

Domestic water systems

As previously mentioned the domestic water system is most prone to frost damage. You can inhibit it with a non-toxic antifreeze but we recommend simply emptying the system completely to remove any threat of expansion damage. 1

Drain your domestic water tank to remove as much water as possible by running a tap. There will always be a small amount of water remaining in the bottom of the tank but this wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t cause a problem. Motorboat Owner

Remove the connections from your domestic water pump. Using a dinghy pump blow back through the inlet hose to ensure there is no water trapped in the hose from the tank to the pump.

Open one tap at a time and blow water through the pumps outlet pipe until only air comes out of the tap, then close the tap. Do this to each tap, both hot and cold not forgetting any cockpit or transom mounted taps.

PRACTICAL

Remove the water pump filter and empty any water trapped inside. This is also a good opportunity to clean the filter element. Now open all of the taps and leave them open.

Manual toilets should be pumped on the dry setting to remove any water from the pump body, as these have been known to crack when water inside freezes.

If your calorifier has a drain cock, open it and drain the last of the water out. If you have a gas water heater open the drain valve on this to empty it.

To keep the seals and valves lubricated you could pour a little vegetable oil down the pan as you are excavating the water in step 7.

If you have any shower sumps on board, ensure they are empty. If necessary remove the lid and mop it out. Again this is a good opportunity to clean the pump filter inside.

If you have grey or black water tanks, pump them out and leave them as empty as possible.

Many owners like to bung up exhaust and ventilation ports. This is fine but make yourself a note to remove them in the spring.

5 First published December 2013, updated Nov 19

HOW TO IN 9 STEPS

PART 3

Other jobs

These jobs are really more a mixture of preventative maintenance, servicing and good practice rather than strictly winterising, but it makes good sense to consider doing them while you are on a roll. 1

Using a corrosion protection product, give the engines, mechanicals and any exposed electricals a good spray. You can also grease any movable linkages and squirt some grease into any grease points.

A dehumidifier will help to keep the boat dry. You can use chemical ones if you have no power, but an electric version does a much better job. One with a builtin timer, set for 6 hours a day, will save electricity. Motorboat Owner

Diesel tanks can be filled to the brim, to reduce condensation problems, or left empty. Petrol fuel tanks are best left empty, or if this is impractical, add some fuel stabiliser to keep the fuel fresh.

Change the engine oil, so that the internal components of the engine are coated in clean contaminant free lubricant. It is also an opportunity to check for major problems such as water in the oil.

A good coat of wax all over the boats exterior should help see it into the new season with a shine, and will certainly make the first wash of the year much easier.

It’s the same with gearbox oil on sterndrive and outboard legs. It’s not uncommon to find water in here and you don’t want that water sloping around your gears all winter.

PRACTICAL

Check your props for damage. Like good engineers, the people who refurbish propellers get very busy in spring, so get in early if required.

Inspect your safety equipment. Items such as lifejackets, liferafts, PLBs, EPIRBs and fire fighting equipment all have service requirements. Winter is a good time to get this done.

Check the electrolyte levels in your batteries, top up if required and ensure that the batteries are fully charged if they are going to be left idle for any length of time.

What about leaving the boat in commission?

Q&A

If you are planning on using the boat throughout the winter, inhibiting the engine and domestic water supply after each use is going to be costly and time consuming. The easiest thing to do with the domestic water system is simply not use it. Take bottled water on board and use the marina facilities. If you do need to use it, perhaps see if you can decommission the most susceptible parts such as transom and cockpit outlets. If you have reliable shorepower you can put some greenhouse tube heaters in the engine room to keep frost at bay and prevent engine damage. Rather than simply running them 24/7, consider plugging them into a thermostat set at around

3Â°C so that they only come on when the temperature is getting close to freezing. You should consider blocking up the engine room vents too to help keep any warmth in. Just remember to remove the plugs before starting up. If you are going to be reliant on electric to stop your boat from freezing, it is a good idea to invest in a shorepower monitor that will alert you if someone unplugs your boat, or if the power supply fails. The Envirotxt from Tekview Ltd will not only alert you to a power loss, it will also monitor temperatures on board, and alert if they fall outside of the preset parameters. tekview-solutions.com

7 First published December 2013, updated Nov 19