Trixie (Rascal's Fleet)

[Hylander]

When we sold through St Olaves Marina (biggest con of all time) we were told that as soon as the money was in their account the boat would be winging its way to Sussex.  

[Guest]

24 minutes ago, Hylander said:

When we sold through St Olaves Marina (biggest con of all time) we were told that as soon as the money was in their account the boat would be winging its way to Sussex.  

Why was it a con? If its the Bounty in your avatar pic they usually sell easily if in good condition

[Guest]

13 hours ago, LondonRascal said:

Monday cometh and the call was made . The reply was sharpish and to the point, lots of things to catch up on and they had not had time to check the bank account but would do so after lunch and call me back.

I had no call. I did however get a two line email confirming all funds had been received and that now I should have the boat insured in my name as the seller was cancelling his policy. Well, I guess that was good to know however I still am no further forward as to when the boat can be collected or having a bill of sale. I am somewhere in between in a strange place having paid for a boat in full but not yet having got the boat. Let's see what Tuesday brings.

 

I agree that if you have paid in full and been told to insure then you should be able to take it away, it's yours. As a seller I certainly wouldn't cancel my insurance until the money was in my account.

 

[Maxwellian]

Looking at fb I think Robin has picked it up.

[Hylander]

24 minutes ago, 40something said:

Why was it a con? If its the Bounty in your avatar pic they usually sell easily if in good condition

Ours was and included bow thrusters,  electric mud weight ,  stainless steel mud weight,  brand new top range marine gas cooker.  Brand new fridge.  Large solar panels,  bespoke curtains just made and had not even come out of the package.  Was immaculate,  looked after by Moonfleet.   So yes.   Trouble is Brokers beat you down,  make you feel anything but good to get a good sale.  We sold just to get it over with

 

[Siddy]

On 15/03/2018 at 20:00, 40something said:

I have seen air conditioning fitted to a small boat, a Freeman 26, it had a river water heat exchanger so there was a constant stream of water coming out of a hull fitting which would get annoying, especially all the people telling you your bilge pumps are running lol but it did work.

I like this option did it use the same ducting from the heating by putting on fan only.

Only point I see using a proper A/c unit is the air off is normally around 13c so on a small boat could be a issue if sat in the air flow. (thinking your mum here). Another month and this will be 60% of our calls from staff as the call centre's warm up as the chillers ramp up.

Other option would be natural draft from the window on the shade side or over night riverside which would leave at the highest point which would be the cooker vent that's alway open. Further mod would be a 4" fan that clips in the window. Filter media next to nothing to stop the flys etc.

Last option don't go boating on hot days so in the UK you'll lose a few days.

[LondonRascal]

Well that was a surprise!

I had a pretty restless night sleep and come the morning but get up and go was no longer evident, blurry eyed in my bed I checked my phone - BBC News, Facebook, Emails as usual and not much to report. Got up, made a coffee and thought I might give the Broker a call in a bit. 

I then got side tracked trying to find the right size battery with the correct terminal layout for the RIB. I managed to find one usually used in mobility scooters for a good price and then an email arrived from the Broker - I could collect the boat and the paperwork was ready for collection in the office. Blimey! Rush to get ready but wait how long would it take to get to St. Olaves from Brundall and back via river. A quick question on the NBN Facebook Group and answers were soon to be had. I could do this, so it was off to the Marina office to confirm where I could bring the boat and then a cab to St. Olaves.

I don't want to appear rude, and I have only dealt with three Brokers previously when I was making enquires about Traders and of course the Broker who I went through to purchase Independence. I had a good idea of the processes and what I should be doing and be expected of me, but conversely what I expected from the Broker. Well I arrived at the office and went in "Hello" I said in a cheery manner, and the look I got was not a very warm one. I explained that I was here following their email to collect the boat, very little was said an A4 envelope was handed over to me and then the keys - and I am not making this up they were dropped into my hand in a rather abrupt way.

I had no thanks, or congratulations on the purchase and a hand shake and was told I could make my way to the pontoon and I was about t go I suddenly remembered the pontoon have code locks - what as the code I asked? They wrote it down and other than being told to check for tube heaters left in the engine bay that was that.

Now okay, I am just a buyer but it was through me that they will have made a nice bit of commission on the sale - maybe I want to have things done to her, improvements, service work etc they cater for such things so I would have thought they may want to have built on the new owner (me) having been introduced to the boat through their brokerage to undertake such works perhaps? But no, it was as if I had popped into The Carphone Warehouse and bought a new phone, you'd never believe we have just completed a transaction worth nearly £30,000.

Down at the boat all was well - until my memory card ran out of space on my camera so over to using my phone. Onboard, engine cover up and check oil and coolant and weed filter etc all was good. Start engine to warm it up and fired up first try - water was coming freely out of the exhaust so we were getting set for departure. I opened up rear of the canopy and secured it in the rolled up position and undid the sides so later on when I came to more at Brundall I coudld easily get out and tie her up - next up was get used to the DC distribution board and turn on what I need and turn off what I did not some of the breakers are a bit stiff and the layout and style is of its time so a new distribution panel could be in the offing.

Things set, lines let go we were off. Out the Marina, turn right and down the New Cut. I then got a live broadcast going over on the NBN Facebook Group and somehow managed to make the New Cut interesting and talk all the way to Reedham.  I was also pleased to note at high tide (and I know they have been higher than usual) between 7.5ft and 8.5ft of depth under the boat - I could get Independence down here should I need to then.

Today was a bit breezy, nothing too bad but goodness she handles like a pig. Being so lightweight and especially so at the bow, any wind gust catches it and so you really need to be on the ball with little corrections to keep her in a straight line.  Larger, heavier boats are better in such conditions.

Turn left at the end and there was Reedham Swing Bridge - closed. I had no idea what my air draft was, and with the canopy up I decided to give it a go anyway - we got through with about a foot to spare. I have a fuel gauge it was telling me it had some, but not a great deal so I stopped off at Sanderson Marine and John came out and I gave them £50.00 - and that almsot filled the tank. What a difference to Independence eh? I could get used to this economical small boating lark.

Back underway I was right into an ebbing tide, after Cantley I was having to do 2,000RPM to maintain the speed limit. This was interesting as overground I was doing 6MPH but the paddle wheel 'through the water speed' was only 4.5MPH. Being a small, narrow boat she does make a larger bow wave, but she has a more gentle rise to the Transom so the stern wave was not too bad. With 42HP under the floor she managed the ebbing tide well. Also with the wind now on the bow and the going against the current her handling was improved markedly Very little corrections to course was needed.

Now you might thing that the power she has for her size and weight would make her a 'sporty' boat - but no, at 2,100RPM the prop suffers a lot of cavitation - vibrations through seat become very noticeable and although you have several more RPM in the bank she will already have reached her maximum hull speed so its just masses of vibration, lots of wash and no more speed. I recon a 28HP or 35HP would be far better but heyho it is what it is. She has 2,300 odd hours (since 1992) the problem is being alight boat 1,200RPM and you are heading up to 5MPH in still water. She has spent all her life pootling along, very little load on her engine and at those speeds she struggles to reach 70c coolant temp. Today,s journey agaisnt the tide did her some good and she happily sat at 83c with decent oil pressure and no smoke. I will have a full engine service, coolant flush and then administer a dose of ZX1 which has proved beneficial to Broad Ambition.

I arrived in Brundall at 3:45pm and headed down the dyke passed the old hire yards such as Willow Cruisers, Fen Craft etc and kept on going all the way to the end almost - it was a tight and interesting trip and if Independence ever had to come down here to get to NYA's lift it would be a close run thing if there would be enough with in places for her, but on the Sheerline she slipped through no issue. Found a nice berth and slipped her in. I had the heater run for a couple of hours, it works reasonably - very small vents one in cockpit one in saloon just a little 2Kw unit. I recon fine for chilly days but not going to cut the mustard for icy cold nights. The mooring has no shore power and with the engine off the hater note changed, then did a weird thing and I was shocked to see the DC voltage was at 10v - I got the engine on again turned the heater off and shut off all DC loads before I shut down - I will be amazed if she starts again but new batteries are going to be the first thing to get.

So although this is really for my Mum and Simon to enjoy, she is a really nice cute little boat and I am sure they will enjoy her I think perhaps we should have waited to get something just a tiny bit bigger -27ft to 30ft maybe 10Ft beam. Simply because I think this is a great little runabout, weekender but you'd not want to spend a week onboard there is very little space to swing a cat, not much in the way of storage and I think we may well we outgrow here, the good news is these boats are popular, do not cost much to moor, insure and run and go everywhere on the Broads, so they will always a have a market. I like the fact I can pop down and use her from time to time as well, but if I go doing something crazy like get another boat in a year don't fall off your chair just yet.

I have a list of items already, upgrade all sea cocks - they are not the usual style, but a hand screw to close type affair, much like a stop cock. Update the brass weed filter to a clear Vetus style one, fit an auto greaser for the shaft gland, replace the steering wheel with something not trying to be out of a sports car, replace all lighting with LED, get some nicer carpet for the forward v-berth and dinette area and maybe have something (Holly & Teak) for the galley area where you may spill things and be easy to clean up. Full compound, wax and polish, the new batteries as I said previously, an Inverter, and some new upholstery to bring her out of the 90's and she will have made the 'Rascal grade'.

Lots to do then, places to go, things to film - more as it happens...

 

 

[BroadAmbition]

Maybe you could find out the prop / size / pitch etc. Changing to a 4 x blade slightly 'overpropped' will increase load / running temp and make her more fuel efficient too

Griff

[LondonRascal]

Quote

Maybe you could find out the prop / size / pitch etc. Changing to a 4 x blade slightly 'overpropped' will increase load / running temp and make her more fuel efficient too

I am sure it would, add some low down torque - thing is when (time will come) you give her a go at the helm, this is the boating equivalent of a Go-Kart. Tiny input = big reaction. Trust me having seen how my Mum is with a throttle, she makes Linden look like a Miss Marple on a Sunday afternoon drive. I gotta keep things slow and steady not make them even more responsive and punchy lol.

[Guest]

Firstly, I'm glad you picked the boat up ok, that broker, well lets just say they are not the best around! Viewed a boat there once and will never darken their doors again.

 I think the boat is well overpropped already, if you were doing 6mph SOG against the tide you were actually  doing 7+ through the water, not 4.5 (your paddlewheel is reading wrong), that is why you are getting vibration as you are pushing past hull speed but not yet getting to the engines recommended revs so 'lugging' the engine and drivetrain. 5mph at 1200rpm is further confirmation. The good news is the correct prop will transform the boat.

 

 

[Guest]

34 minutes ago, 40something said:

Firstly, I'm glad you picked the boat up ok, that broker, well lets just say they are not the best around! Viewed a boat there once and will never darken their doors again.

 I think the boat is well overpropped already, if you were doing 6mph SOG against the tide you were actually  doing 7+ through the water, not 4.5 (your paddlewheel is reading wrong), that is why you are getting vibration as you are pushing past hull speed but not yet getting to the engines recommended revs so 'lugging' the engine and drivetrain. 5mph at 1200rpm is further confirmation. The good news is the correct prop will transform the boat.

 

 

Totally agree with the paddle wheel it should be higher not lower than GPS into tide , possibly stuck a little from lack of use , prop wise its a fine art and a very good idea to oncecyiu know the existing prop size contract a specialist company for advice , you can of cause just guess it but your chances of being right  are minimal .

Regarding the broker there are I'm sure plenty of member's here that have had a bad experience there I'm one of them n for the sake of asking the question you would have least known what to expect if yiu chose a boat from there , you got off lightly really they wanted to charge me for lifting my trade in boat  for them to inspect and also for the lift of the new boat for trials , I did get built into the deal 1 month's free storage as I wanted to repaint the hull on the new boat , n guess what I got for a leaving present ? Only an invoice for storage which was filed under B for bin and I didn't pay the lifting charge's , had that been NYA you would have found the experience a whole lot more pleasant and courteous .

[Vaughan]

I am just wondering whether your prop vibration at high revs might be a worn cutless bearing, rather than cavitation.

[grendel]

or maybe even an out of balance prop?

[Guest]

30 minutes ago, Vaughan said:

I am just wondering whether your prop vibration at high revs might be a worn cutless bearing, rather than cavitation.

Much more likely Vaughan .

[vanessan]

Or perhaps you are just going too fast!!

[Vaughan]

In my experience cavitation often happens on a big prop when making sharp turns and shows itself by a high pitched whistling noise, rather than vibration.

[LondonRascal]

Thanks for all the input people

I have made a list of items that need to be attended to and a separate 'wish list' of things that can be done in time like a new steering wheel which is just for looks.

I just need to get a permanent mooring sorted (very close to this) and then find a suitable place for the boat to be lifted and works done so will be making esquires on both fronts today.

The main things to be done are:

• Replace batteries
• Service the engine
• Anti-foul and anodes
• Change sea-cocks
• Auto greaser for shaft gland
• Inspect shaft/cutlass/prop and advise
• Vetus 'see thru' weed filter
• Compound polish of hull and superstructure

And then bring her to the Forum Meet in May. Oh, hold on I have just been advised this is Norfolk. Between now and May I recon therefore I might get the batteries changed and the hull and superstructure washed.

[ZimbiIV]

Robin, to help you in your new hobby of renovating boats. I willing to donate Zimbi for you to practice on.

Nice boats them we nearly got one until on second look I realised nearly all the wood in the cabin was rotten. How?

paul

 

[Guest]

11 hours ago, LondonRascal said:

Thanks for all the input people

I have made a list of items that need to be attended to and a separate 'wish list' of things that can be done in time like a new steering wheel which is just for looks.

I just need to get a permanent mooring sorted (very close to this) and then find a suitable place for the boat to be lifted and works done so will be making esquires on both fronts today.

The main things to be done are:

• Replace batteries
• Service the engine
• Anti-foul and anodes
• Change sea-cocks
• Auto greaser for shaft gland
• Inspect shaft/cutlass/prop and advise
• Vetus 'see thru' weed filter
• Compound polish of hull and superstructure

And then bring her to the Forum Meet in May. Oh, hold on I have just been advised this is Norfolk. Between now and May I recon therefore I might get the batteries changed and the hull and superstructure washed.

What is the issue with the wheel type seacocks or is it just a preference? I only ask because my boat has one

[SteveO]

39 minutes ago, 40something said:

What is the issue with the wheel type seacocks or is it just a preference? I only ask because my boat has one

When we had our boat surveyed, we were advised to change the wheel type (gate valve) sea cocks for ball valve ones, on the grounds that the gate valves are supposed to be more likely to sieze up.

[ExSurveyor]

6 minutes ago, SteveO said:

When we had our boat surveyed, we were advised to change the wheel type (gate valve) sea cocks for ball valve ones, on the grounds that the gate valves are supposed to be more likely to sieze up.

Thats another job added to the list

[LondonRascal]

1 hour ago, 40something said:

What is the issue with the wheel type seacocks or is it just a preference? I only ask because my boat has one

The gated sea cocks due to the fact they screw in and back out tend to get corrosion occur around the threads, meaning you are no longer able to open or close it and while all sea cocks can suffer from becoming seized, the gated variety are more susceptible to this.

I am going to go with composite Marelon sea cocks. These are known more typically as 'plastic sea cocks' although their make up is actual material is more complex, they are very tough and unlike their metal cousins can never corrode or suffer from electrolysis - something I have going  on one of my valves on one of my fuel tanks on Independence.

 

[Guest]

1 hour ago, 40something said:

What is the issue with the wheel type seacocks or is it just a preference? I only ask because my boat has one

Its preference there is nothing wrong With the,wheel type valves , OK they they arnt as quick to turn from of to on but 99% of the time they are on so I really don't see a problem with them ,  thing is everyone is following this thread thinking that every upgrade is necessary and it is not , if it works reliably and in good condition then leave well alone there ain't no point in change for the sake of change .so before every member gets their boat lifted to change something that's works thinks about it  , OK they would not be the first choice but they do work just fine , ignore any part of a boat and it will bite you all those seacocks require is a  little lubrication that's all .

[Guest]

1 hour ago, psychicsurveyor said:

Thats another job added to the list

Ball valves are just quicker to turn off there's no way they are any more reliable they cease just as much if you don't look after them   n given the fact that they can and on many boats have been the difference between afloat or sunk only a fool would not look after them . 

[ExSurveyor]

5 minutes ago, Ricardo said:

Ball valves are just quicker to turn off there's no way they are any more reliable they cease just as much if you don't look after them   n given the fact that they can and on many boats have been the difference between afloat or sunk only a fool would not look after them . 

Apart from regular opening and closing, and turning back a bit from full opening what other maintenance should be done whilst afloat.?