[Sabre 28 - Cruiser - Project]

Hi there, Thanks for your comment!, as mentioned all advice is welcome certainly from people like yourself!

 

Can you just advise though, I can't see although haven't looked too much as its full of stuff! but I think it appears to be just the plastic hull, although do you mean the D foam stringers which are used to strengthen the hull  (If so do you suggest removing and replacing these with dry foam?) or is there other foam right in the centre of the bilge?

 

Thanks in advance! 

 

Good to see yer get on with it...
Well done

Just forgive me to poke me nose in but the bilge in front cabin were on most sterlings were filled with foam is yer the same ...if so we alwsys dug iut some so water collected to evacuagte it use a coolect pot /hole worth a look etc

[Sabre 28 - Cruiser - Project]

Day 6.

 

Arrived at 11am!! (I've had long couple of days.. it took me 12 hours just to wrap the presents!).

 

Hoping to see the insides a bit drying and yup no chance.. still a pond... grr.. Well actually that's not too fair. The windows still leak the canopy was a bit better sealed up, the temporary installed plastic water run offs failed to work. The bilge was almost dry which was good, considering how hard it rained (So we are winning).

 

But thankfully it rained really hard (even hail-stoned!) so we were able to see what was leaking, how and why. The cabin windows appear to be such a tight angle it appears they need screwing down as each time the window slides it opens the joint up (but can't because of the sliding window) as so the sealant can not flex free (I can't explain this really). So I'm going to try and screw down and throw tons of sealant in there, I pulled back the runner liner and tried creeping crack sealant which just poured through so I may see if that works but still think it needs a screw. Although they probably want to come out and be reinstalled but that's a big job (for me and I don't want to do it unless nothing else works)

 

Dave also worked on waterproofing the engine bay so he can get the engine beds glassed in. He planned down one side of the engine beds though and started work on the other.. We both reinstalled the main door into the cabin so we can lock it up in the evenings, it wasn't a job i could do as we had to close the door and the fold down hatch and hold and screw whilst keeping aligned... it really was a pain! I guess if it was a new boat you would make the frame then the door.. joys of rebuilding..  

 

Tomorrows jobs.. Keep "playing" with the windows and install a lock for the door, I want to plan putting the bulkhead (cabin to wheelhouse) back in.. although the glass here is a mess so wont be easy.. I'm thinking cutting some of the interior moulding out to make it easier... Dave will continue working on the engine beds.

 

Also have some interest in the sailing boat so nice dreaming of the money if she sells!!

 

Couple of pictures attached. I'll take more tomorrow though!

[Richardsons 45 flybridge]

It's an amazing and fascinating insight into how you are doing this Clive! You can really see the work and workmanship.. I'd love to be able to do this! Please keep the progress coming..!

[Sabre 28 - Cruiser - Project]

It's amazing what a wash will do, as it looks like a different boat!

 

Keep the blog and pictures coming, I'm enjoying this!

 

Thanks for this! That's why in a way its nice to get boats which look the worst at the start as its easy to see the progress, my sailing boat had a tree growing out of it when we first got it! 

 

Day 5 (Sunday gone).

 

As thankfully it stoped raining for a bit we both really worked on fixing the canopy (someone had put the fixings on the outside so it just funnels the rain water into the boat!) so the fixings are now on the inside. Also filled lots of holes in the superstructure (Its amazing how people can just drill holes and then don't bother filling them! Also has to resort to drastic measures and drilled more holes in the window frames as its apparent that the rain is just getting funnelled (again) into the boat by the windows. (Talking to hadlow marine he suggest it should be fine when its in the water). I do need to get the dremel out and neatern up though. Oh I also went round the frames with creeping crack sealer, Didn't appear to any other leaks..Hopefully when we are back next the windows will be dry. 

 

Unfortunatly/thankfully (Need a rest!) the yard is locked up till the 27th.  More to come. Have a great christmas all!

[Sabre 28 - Cruiser - Project]

Day 5.

 

Parts ordered for this week where; £40's worth of window screws and £30's worth of poly resin.

 

I wanted to unscrew the botched woodern framing around the cabin windows and replace with the alloy flat bar trim, but after I started to unscrew the screws (Which thankfully unscrewed without any problem, I was surprised!). I noticed that the huge pile of spare alloy internal window frames didn't include any for these windows..  it looks like the previous owners just went to a boat jumble and picked up a load of random trims. So that jobs on hold until I can find some new alloy bar.

 

Instead I spent all day cutting the fibreglass around the cabin/wheelhouse door to reposition it as we noticed its off by 4inches!  Its ready to be glassed in for tomorrow though. 

 

Dave struggled too as the boats like a sieve and with the heavy rain meant he couldnt glass the new engine beds in nd the bilge are too wet.. but they are all ready to go in and hopefully the rain will have stopped by the morning so he can glass in tomorrow. He also noticed most of the structural beams were rotten and will need to come out and be replaced too.. more work!

 

Today fells like one of those days where nothing much happened (although the weather was really bad so at least something happened!).

 

[Private Mooring Help]

Thanks again for showing interest  

 

I think this is the thread I've started, hope everyone finds interesting!

 

[Sabre 28 - Cruiser - Project]

Day 3 and 4...

 

Dave, took the sterndrive (thing) out and on day 3 finished preparing the hull for the new transom. Day 4 saw the new transom put in (2 x 3/4inch Marine ply and interzone resin).

 

I stripped the boat down completely so its all now a bear hull .. only 5 cuts on rusty screws (Think thats a new record! (normally i'm covered in cuts and bruises).. I certainly love this bit though! Oh and I managed to get the windows to slide after they had little plants growing in them.

 

Next weekend, Dave will get the engine beds in and hopefully the other structural beams (although means I have to walk round the timber yard to get some hardwood and i'm like a kid in a candy shop in there). For me I need to remove the wooden trim on the windows and replace with alloy trims as it looks strange having half wood and half alloy, although means I've had to spend £45 on screws.  (If i have time, need to reinstall the timbers which the headlining screw into, as they are either rotten or missing).

[Sabre 28 - Cruiser - Project]

Day 2 - Today we got there nice and early.

 

Dave (the mechanical one) was straight in the engine room.. (He is soo happy he can stand up and has an engine room!). He noticed that the engine beds are missing though and the transom and some other structural timbers are rotten too, so he just took the transom out and readied it for replacement. Plus he inspected the engines and all look good but they will need running for a bit at some point and seeing how they behave.

 

I simply washed the boat! Although it took all day... pics attached of a nice shiny boat.  Thankfully it looks like we may get away with painting (I really cant be a perfectionist with this boat otherwise it will never make it to norfolk!)..

 

[Sabre 28 - Cruiser - Project]

Hello,

 

Again sorry for spamming the forums! but I thought it would be nice to do a thread for our new project as we are only just starting. (and I was encouraged by some fellow members ).

 

This is the fifth project we have done in 10 years, So I'd like to think we have some idea of what we are doing, however certainly welcome any suggestions! (And of course all and any help!). The first project was a CB 19, which was a classic little speed boat, the second was "Jessica" a falmouth gypsy, the third was a 55ft steel houseboat (still in progress!), forth a little timber sailing boat which make I've forgotten.

 

To introduce us (Encase richardsons have any boatbuilding jobs going!). I'm Alan, I work in IT, so do the planning, research and most woodwork (I'm a perfectionist though  which makes jobs harder, (except my grammar and spelling!)) . My partner in crime is Dave and he is an ex-mechanic and does all the mechanical jobs, electrical, plumbing etc etc etc

 

Back to the project!, We acquired the boat as an unstarted project and the unnamed boat had been standing for a fair few years.  As you can see in the pictures below the boat was very green!

 

So when we got the boat, it came complete with as pictured. Thankfully she has the option of two engines (Although only one can be used), 1 x 1.5cc bmc in good condition. 1 x Peugeot (70hp) diesel car engine which had been tidily marinised.

 

The plan is really to make the boat comfortable as quick as possible (although we only work on the boat on the weekends so it will take about a year, plus the cost is always a struggle!), then once Jessica has sold, get this boat up to Norfolk. (although thankfully in the meantime my parents have a cruiser based in brundall so we can "borrow" as and when!).

 

I'll try to take pics every weekend and keep this updated (although mods if I'm using too much server space just shout at me!) but I've already left my phone at home once.

 

So below are pictures from purchase day.. I'll follow on day 2, 3 and 4 below.

 

Hope you enjoy following the progress! (Professionals please be gentle on us!)

[Private Mooring Help]

Hi,

 

Apparently it had a single v6 petrol but that's long gone! I've seen sale adds with some chunky twins in there..That would be nice! But a bit unusable on the broads and a tad expensive!

 

I think we are going with a baby (in comparison); 70hp marinised Peugeot diesel engine (Its what came with the hull). I'm only aiming on using it on the broads but hopefully this will give us the option to take her out (Or bring her round) if we chose. It came with a 1.5 BMC but I think thats a tad "boring".

 

I did think of doing a restoration feed actually as it will be nice to keep tabs on the rebuild. I normally use facebook but I think friends get a bit fed up!  I'll get one up and going if people will find an interest.

 

Regards, Alan

[Jessica - Falmouth Gypsy]

Hi All,

 

Sorry to bombard the forums on my first week!

 

However I'm hoping someone on the forum may like to give "Jessica" a new home.

 

Shes a Falmouth gypsy. 25ft long. Built in the 70's. She has undergone a complete restoration and its longing for a new home.

 

We are selling her as we didn't really get into sailing and miss the broads. And rather stupidily now have acquired the replacement boat.

 

I notice the forum rules about advertising so I won't link to the brokers but if you google "Jessica Falmouth Gypsy", you should easily locate the broker with more details and pictures.

 

Shes' located in Rochester, Kent, although I can provide details of companies to ship up to the broads (or elsewhere). (It should only cost a couple of hundred pounds)   

 

We are looking for offers of around £4k. (Please note she has been fitted out as a sea boat, so no BSC, and has a sea toilet).

 

Thanks for looking,

 

Regards, Alan

[Private Mooring Help]

Thanks the way I look at it is I need to tidy up once so why not just once at the end!

 

I am guessing/hoping on the 8' air draft.. I'll find out for sure on the first try at ludham bridge.. gulp!

[Private Mooring Help]

Thanks again, we do have some problems down here on the Medway, and it is generally just outboards(Or dingy's) but we have had some 120hp outboard go too including the transom.. Its a huge shame what selfish people do

 

(I think) I've attached some pics.

 

She was a bit green after standing for many years (Before we got her) so the first is after I gave her a wash.. As you may see the gel coat looks OK and I'm hoping to get away with not painting her.

 

The second picture was the day after I washed her and I got inside to tear the insides out (I work tidily!)... We are on day four and the transom has already been replaced and the engine beds are going in on day 5.

 

From the googling I've done it appears sterling sabres where built in cambridge but used by harvey eastwoods quite a bit and I think there's still a couple on hire (Perhaps Richardsons?).

[Private Mooring Help]

Like all things, you get what you pay for!!!! There are plenty of moorings I would not go near because of position/lack of facilities but if you are not fussy then cheap moorings with no facilities are around.

 

But if you value your pride and joy and you want to be somewhere more central, then perhaps £1500 a year may seem a bargain!!!!

Good point! Although I'm far too trusting of people so maybe... But I'll try and remember to consider security although I'll make shes all insured as I guess nowheres safe, even the backwaters of norfolk and suffolk. 

[Private Mooring Help]

Hi Alan ,

 

Many thanks, I've just stumbled across that list actually and I'm smiling here to think there really are moorings for £850 which is about the same as what are paying at the moment for both boats!  But it seems like they maybe hard to come by.

 

Thanks for doing this list though it's very helpful. I'll spend some time looking at detail and getting in contact with people! Shame we have to refit and can't get straight up there!

 

I wouldn't worry about the old username but thanks for the offering.. I quite like this Username its a bit more nautical!

 

Thanks again,

 

Regards, Alan

[Private Mooring Help]

Ok Thanks again Clive, I'll guess I'll have to try my luck closer to them time!

 

But you have reassured me that I'm not going to end up paying thousands for a mooring!

[Private Mooring Help]

Hi Clive,

 

Thanks for the reply. £41 isn't too bad and Stalham would be nice.

 

Do you have a waiting list or could we arrange a mooring closer to the time without too many problems?

 

Thanks again, Alan

[Private Mooring Help]

Hello,

 

Although I'm newly signed up I've been on the broads for many many years! and I follow the forum frequently (Liking the new format too) (and also my old Id appears to have gone walkies!)

 

Anyway, after owning a sailing boat for the 8 years I've finally acquired a cruiser! "Orca" is a sabre 28 and will be perfect for the broads! We have a years work ahead of us though to refit and make her into a modern cruiser (And shark proof - although hopefully there's not many opportunities for great white fishing on the broads). I'm looking for some advice on private moorings.

 

I'm wondering whether I need to start panicking now on finding a suitable mooring for the boat considering we will likely will not be bringing her up until Easter 2015? I hear stories of long waiting lists and wonder if these are true or if there are ample mooring available and we really can "turn up and moor" (withing a couple of weeks notice)?

 

I'm also struggling a little to locate details of private moorings on the broads so I'm finding it hard to gauge prices. Ideally I'd like to pay no more that £1foot/week, do you think there are moorings for this? (Considering my sailboat costs me £500 a year on a swinging mooring in kent £1foot/week sounds a lot!!).

 

 Can you suggest any suitable/cheap! moorings for us? (The boat is 28 feet long with a swim deck with an air draft of 8feet so wouldn't get under PotHam. deepvee hull (3feet I guess)). I'm not overly fussed on location as long as its relatively secure but would maybe prefer northern rivers.  I've heard some stories of £800pa moorings but I really can't find details on theses, Perhaps I need to get up there in the car and have a good drive round?

 

Hope someone can help any many thanks in advance for any help! 

 

Kind regards, Alan