Cruiser International Vee Express 267                            

We have carried out a Pre Purchase Survey of this well presented offshore express cruiser, the brokers being the Norfolk Yacht Agency (NYA) Brundall, inspection at their well equipped Service Centre – where their staff are always on hand to help.

The Express 267 is a great coastal going motor boat with an excellent sea keeping record.

This one is powered by twin 170hp petrol Volvo Penta engines and outdrives, so plenty of power to have fun and be back on time for gin & tonic at the local pub. It will also be very enjoyable to cruise the Norfolk broads in style.

This boat is designed with a front V cabin and aft cabin under the aft cockpit, as well as the classic push down table to add extra berthing. The helm station offers a good all round visibility and there is a nice comfortable cockpit.

The main findings of this inspection was that one of the engine mounting studs were not tight thus the engine could move when under load. This could lead to some problems if not corrected.  The steering installation needs attention / servicing but nothing that cannot be fixed for minimal expenditure. As with all engines of this vintage (1980s) we always recommend a mechanical inspection to protect the buyer’s investment

The underwater section didn’t show any evidence of osmosis or whicking; and as long as the engines are secured, this boat should be great fun to drive around.

For more information contact European Marine Services Ltd   

Inc European Marine Surveys          Tel :  01603 327 123        

www.europeanmarinesurveys.com

Sealine S42 – Pre Purchase Survey / Review         

Last week we inspected an excellent example of a 2007 Sealine S42 at Brundall Bay Marina. The brokers being Norfolk Boat Sales selling from their new dedicated Brundall Sales Office & Marina, where some 50+ boats are available for viewing in very pleasing surroundings

This Sealine S42 was a very nice example of this offshore luxury express motor cruiser boat and very little used. Being built in 2007 she offers a large aft cockpit (teak flooring) and sun area with an island bed forward, a very spacious aft twin bed cabin with ample headroom and en-suite toilet / shower and a large central saloon with a great dinette feature plus decent galley space with all features including electric cooking and microwave

The power package is a pair of Volvo Penta 350 hp diesels with duo prop outdrives, which will make this boat perform well.  The standard of installation was second to none being maintained to a very high standard with no apparent problems, other than very limited access to inspect the steering installation

We undertook a Pre Purchase Survey & Valuation and found very few problems. Being limited to the usual degradation of anodes on the outdrive units. The internal and external presentation was excellent appearing to be little used. There was no hull osmosis or whicking

For more information contact European Marine Services Ltd.  Marine Surveyors & Consultants 
EMS also undertake Boat Safety Inspections & Engine Inspections

www.europeanmarinesurveys.com
Tel: 01603 327 123  

Birchwood 370 Commander – Pre Purchase Survey & Valuation                                

Last week we inspected this fine example of a Birchwood 370 Commander at Brundall Marina. The brokers being Norfolk Boat Sales selling from their new dedicated Brundall Sales Office & Marina, where some 50+ boats are available for viewing in very pleasing surroundings.

This Birchwood 370 was a very nice example of this offshore luxury express motor cruiser boat and very little used. Being built in 2002 she offers a large aft cockpit (teak flooring) and sun area with an island bed forward and a central saloon with large dinette plus decent galley space with all features including gas cooking and microwave

Birchwood Boats based in Sutton in Ashfield, Notts designed, moulded and built a range of offshore motor cruisers from 30′ – 60′ in-house. The distinctive flaired bow is typical of the Birchwood 37 being one of the best aft cabin boats ever built with excellent sea keeping qualities.

A pair of (hardly used) Volvo Penta diesels with outdrives propulsion provide economical cruising at around 18 knots completes the package.

We undertook a Pre Purchase Survey & Valuation and found very few problems. Being limited to such as battery terminals and the usually degradation of anodes on the outdrive units. The internal and external presentation was good appearing to be little used. There was no hull osmosis or whicking

For more information contact European Marine Services Ltd    (inc European Marine Surveys)          Tel :  01603 327 123        www.europeanmarinesurveys.com

Herbert Woods Gaff Rigged Half Decker 1937                                                               

This 20′ gaff rigged broads yacht is a classic and was built by Herbert Woods of Potter Heigham at the same time as the early YBOD (White Boats) that currently race on Wroxham & Barton Broads

To all intents and purposes this yacht is actually a White Boat with some small changes, such as there is no horse with a block fitted for the mainsheet on the aft deck.  The keel is also slightly longer and possibly a fraction deeper however everything else is the same.  Herbert Woods may well have experimented with this yacht and YBOD sails will almost certainly fit

She has been kept in a garage for the last couple of years and being unused is in very good condition, being re-planked in 2006.

We undertook a pre purchase survey and found only minor problems such being easily remedied. The seams being sikaflexed have done well although there is a risk of taking on a lot of water when next launched, but the seams will quickly take up.

For more information contact European Marine Services Ltd    (inc European Marine Surveys)          Tel :  01603 327 123        www.europeanmarinesurveys.com

Classic Hire Boat (1938) – Project Rebuild                                                                        

This ‘stylish’ wood motor cruiser is one of the very first broads hire motor boats being built in 1938 by AO King of Wroxham. Being a perfect example of the historic 1930s – British Railway Poster – “The Broads – It’s Quicker By Rail ” images that we see reproduced today.

This fine vessel has been languishing out of the water at St Olaves Marina for some considerable time awaiting a kind buyer whom will spend the money and take the time to restore to its original beauty.

 Aft Stateroom typical of the 1930s era

This boat has an elegance all of its own

The buyer was originally looking for additional accommodation in his garden and thought that a boat-annex in the garden would serve the purpose, but in the event was so struck by this classic that he is undertaking a project rebuild

Louis Bodmer has undertaken a comprehensive pre purchase survey and as one can imagine she is in need of overall restoration with such as daylight showing through planks with rotten planks, plus lifting decks, replacement cabin sides and the list goes on. Plus all electrics and fuel system need to be renewed.

Should you need advice, guidance on undertaking such a project or introductions to boatyards with the expertise and professionalism to undertake such a product – Call Us

For more information contact European Marine Services Ltd    (inc European Marine Surveys)          Tel :  01603 327 123        www.europeanmarinesurveys.com

Speeding on the Norfolk Broads – Do Not Speed it can be Expensive                     

A few months ago we provided Expert Evidence for a private boat owner of a very nice 37′ single screw motor cruiser whom had the misfortune to be photographed with a mobile phone camera at 4 + mph ?  in a  4 mph speed limit.

How you can possibly register the speed of a vessel on a mobile phone camera from the bank is beyond us but in the event !

The Broads Authority decided to proceed to court with this case on the basis that the client was travelling at around 8 mph, despite the fact that the only evidence available were photographs taken with a mobile phone camera from the shore

Due to lack of magistrates amongst other factors this case went to court three times and at the end our client was found not-guilty on two out of three counts, but apparently ? there was sufficient evidence to support a case of travelling in excess of 4 mph

The fine for this major offence was some £ 200, however the legal costs involved were between £20-30K, with the Broads Authority share of costs being paid by you – All boat owners and waterway users on the Norfolk Broads. The Broads Authority were not prepared to see sense and ‘mediate’ and insisted on going to court with expensive Barristers and Lawyers

The purpose of this blog it to make all boat owners aware that the current penalty for exceeding the speed limit on the Norfolk Broads & Rivers is nothing simple like a £60 fine plus 3 points, but is  MEANS TESTED

Consequently you could possibly face a fine of several thousand pounds       £££££££

For more information contact European Marine Services Ltd    (inc European Marine Surveys)          Tel :  01603 327 123        www.europeanmarinesurveys.com

Hampton Safari 25  – Survey for Insurance Purposes                 

Louis Bodmer – This week undertook at Eastwood Whelpton – Upton Yacht Station (home of one of the few dedicated sailing hire fleets on the Norfok Broads) – An insurance survey of this 40+ year old Hampton 25, being probably an ex hire boat, but now in private hands

The Hampton Safari originated on Oulton Broad in the early 60s (initially in wood) being a forward drive hire boat.  Subsequently GRP mouldings were made and many other builders (including Dawn Craft Wroxham) produced this very popular inland waterway boat, both as private and hire craft.

The first Hamptons with sliding forward roofs were produced in 1968 followed by sunshine roof versions.  The hull has a long central box keel giving good manoeuvrability and versions produced as 2 / 4 berth with a single central engine

This particular boat needs quite a lot of cosmetic attention plus improvement to services installations.  To include battery electrics, fuel system and LPG installations

The painted hull has been subject to impact damage especially in the bow area and gunwale fendering bolts show evidence of external corrosion.  The mild steel extended skeg arrangement supporting the single semi balanced rudder shows evidence of corrosion

No boat has sunk as a direct consequence of osmosis – and as always in the majority of broads based boats of this vintage there is intermittent osmosis. The extent is not too severe and structurally this boat should continue for many more years to come

More information, findings and practical recommendations for boat owners to follow in due course or call us to discuss

For more information contact European Marine Services Ltd    (inc European Marine Surveys)          Tel :  01603 327 123        www.europeanmarinesurveys.com

Tonnage Measurement of Yachts Under 24m  (Form SUR59D)

Merchant Shipping  (Tonnage) Regulations, 1997, Part 111

Pre-registration Certificate of Survey/Tonnage. The yacht / motor cruiser must be surveyed and measured to obtain details of size, and other descriptive particulars necessary for the registration of British Ships under the Merchant Shipping Acts. This is carried out by a Surveyor of one of the approved classification societies or a Surveyor appointed or authorised by the Administration. The Surveyor issues a Certificate of Survey and a Tonnage Certificate (British or International).

EMS are approved to undertake tonnage surveys for yachts / motorboats up to 24m for Certifying Authorities – YBDSA  &  IIMS

For information Tonnage Surveys are required for Marine Finance – By Banks and most Financial Institutions.

Examples of tonnage surveys undertaken in the last few months……

Broom 395 / 3x Broom 28 / 2x Broom 35 Coupe / Broom 30 / Broom 38 / Broom 430 / Haines 360  /  Targa 37 / Fairline 43

For more information contact European Marine Services Ltd    (inc European Marine Surveys)          Tel :  01603 327 123        www.europeanmarinesurveys.com

Nautor Swan 441 – Blue Water Offshore Cruising Yacht                                              

The Swan 441 is a great blue water cruising yacht being a classic Ron Holland design, being versatile and very well built if slightly heavy in construction

European Marine have been asked to undertake a Valuation of this yacht for VAT Importation Purposes and to provide assistance with documentation, the yacht being berthed in Malta.

Initially a Walk Through Inspection will be undertaken followed by a report detailing the yacht to its present specification and  current condition – being a 1979 construction an area to be looked at would be the (old) teak laid decks which are very expensive to replace

More information, findings and practical recommendations for boat owners to follow in due course or call us to discuss

For more information contact European Marine Services Ltd    (inc European Marine Surveys)          Tel :  01603 327 123        www.europeanmarinesurveys.com

County Court Judgements  CCJ’s   ……………………..   NAME  &  SHAME

To:    All Yacht Brokers, Boatyards and Marine Service Providers  –  BE  AWARE

European Marine Services Ltd have the following Marine Services – Bad Debts  ….

Despite CCJ’s and issued Warrants we regretfully have been unable to secure payment from the following parties for marine services provided

Warrant #  0A021983     Seamaster 813    ‘Thrifty Six’      £ 429.00          (#781)                              Mr Stewart Rogers of   7b Market Place, Bungay Suffolk

Warrant #  0A021999      Bourne 30          ‘Tipple Too’       £ 449.80           (#749)                             Mr Peter Gray of   3 Stockmen Field, Bishops Stortford, Hertfordshire.   We believe the party is converting this boat to live-aboard

Should you know of these parties or have any current address we would be pleased to hear from you   –    Please share / circulate

For more information contact European Marine Services Ltd    (inc European Marine Surveys)          Tel :  01603 327 123        www.europeanmarinesurveys.com