Jump to content

Apollo

Members
  • Posts

    14
  • Joined

  • Last visited

Posts posted by Apollo

  1. 4 hours ago, Smoggy said:

    I'd use some fine grinding paste to lap the prop to the shaft and if the faces look even after lapping not worry about it, once tightened the taper should do the work not the keyway, it's maybe been loose at some point to do that.

    Thanks, I’d love to get away with this and I would probably do that if I stayed on the canals but I’m planning on a channel crossing in summer so I need the drive train ship shape!

    9 minutes ago, OldBerkshireBoy said:

    The key is the drive point not the taper as seen by the condition of the coupling keyway.

    What is the threaded section for?

    Agree, I have made custom keys where one part is bigger than the other to suit shaft and coupling.

    The threaded section has a thick washer and a bolt that push the coupling along the taper of the shaft as it gets tightened so both Smoggy and petersjoy are right. The taper creates a nice tight fit once tightened but as the bolt loosened a little the key did all the work and the wear happened…

  2. Thanks a lot to everyone for the suggestions! Sorry for taking so long to respond, I actually live on a broads cruiser full time (but in London) and I've had my hands full of grease and oil for a week as I am doing some extensive repairs.

    The fact that we already live on a boat is also the reason why we are looking for a bit of comfort, we'd like to not feel like we're going on a busman's holiday :default_blush:

    YnysMon, I'll definitely have a read of your holiday tales for inspiration!

    Best wishes to all of you for 2022!

    • Like 3
  3. Hola team,

    I am doing some repairs on my engine and while decoupling my gearbox I noticed that one of the couplings on my prop shaft had quite a bit of wobble in it. The last coupling to the gearbox is one of those flexible ones with the spider so I don’t think any damage would have gone upwards to the gearbox or engine mounts from the vibration.

    This being said I’ve read some alarming posts online about the kind of damage that can happen when keys go. It actually looks like most of the wrong fit comes from the keyways on the shaft and on the coupling. The edges have become tapered from probably years of wobble. Shafts and shaft couplings are expensive so I’m wondering wether:

    - I can ignore the issue as if I tighten the center bolt hard enough the wobble goes away as my prop shaft is tapered.

    - I can get the keyways on the shaft and the coupling re-machined for a bigger key and if that would be cheaper.

    If you think I need to go for re-machining do you know anyone trustworthy?

    Thank you for reading!

    3F4A2B2D-E632-42C9-A42E-0436D4298ADD.jpeg

    5EF9AF6C-9FD0-4325-916B-F5B41358FD3A.jpeg

  4. Hi Broads crew!

    My friend’s girlfriend is looking to charter a classic sailboat on the broads in the 30’ range for his birthday.

    We’re thinking of a whole week and looking for a vessel with 2 double berths (or at least convertible as such). Budget is around £800 for the rental, probably in April or may.

    Does anyone have any recommendations, reservations, advice for us?

    Thank you for reading!

  5. 37 minutes ago, oldgregg said:

    The spec will vary depending on who fitted them out - Aquafibre only ever built the mouldings apart from a few models.

    A lot will have had a BMC and Borg Warner, but equally they could have had a Perkins depending on the particular yard's preference.

    Quite a few of these boats were fitted out by the Thames yards such as Cheeseman Rollo, and many of the Broads yards were building them too including Aquafibre's sister company Broom.

    Also, I don't think any of the 38 were built after around 1983. The 42' moulding was updated to the MK2 (like Brinks Symphony), but I don't think the 38 was. This is probably because the Pearl 38 was launched in around 1987, and that was seen as the replacement.

    Thanks! I wish I could keep editing my original post to add these details. Feel free to amend if you feel so inclined :)

  6. Hi everyone!

    I am looking for anything technical  or historical regarding this particular model:

    http://www.broads.org.uk/wiki2018/index.php?title=Style_Details&style=Af38C

    I have been living aboard one for about 3 years now. I love this boat and I would love to find original design drawings or information regarding the type of epoxy, type of core, mechanical infos, etc. Anything really that can help me be a better owner :) I am aware that there is a sub-forum dedicated to technical stuff but I am also interested in historical photos and stories so I posted this thread in general discussion. I'm happy for it to be moved to the sub-forum if the moderators think it's better.

    It would be amazing if this kind of thread became an archetype so all the infos regarding a particular craft were centralised in a post named after the style and years of production according to the wonderful broads.org.uk (with a very warm thought to Craig Slawson and his family).

    Anyway, here is what I know, (in part thanks to some of you!) hopefully someone has things to add!

    Technical:

    Material (hull and superstructure): GRP

    Length: 38ft

    Beam: 12ft

    Airdraft (canopy lowered): 7ft

    Engine: BMC 1.5 or 2.52

    Gearbox: Borg-Warner Velvet Drive

    Historical:

    Also known as: Broom Seafarer

    Produced from 1972 to 1990

    Boatyards: Herbert Woods, Richardsons, Broom, Southgates, Heart Cruisers

    Family photo from the 70's on this model : https://forum.norfolkbroadsnetwork.com/topic/16482-looking-for-vintage-brochure-pictures/?do=findComment&comment=281139

    Brochure as Gleaming Light (Herbert Woods): https://forum.norfolkbroadsnetwork.com/topic/16482-looking-for-vintage-brochure-pictures/?do=findComment&comment=281156

    Brochure as Dawning Light (Herbert Woods): https://forum.norfolkbroadsnetwork.com/topic/16482-looking-for-vintage-brochure-pictures/?do=findComment&comment=281159

    ...

    Big thanks to Broads.org.uk, NBYCo2124, Turnoar, Captain, Vaughan, Broads01, Seagypsy, Davydine and Malanka for the info so far.

    I'll update this post as more comes in...

    • Like 2
  7. On 19/07/2021 at 09:08, simonR said:

    Many thanks for replies  - I saw one of these on the Regents Canal  in Little Venice over the weekend, was wondering how far along the canal route it would be able to go. 

    Hey there, I'm sorry I just saw your messages. Feel free to contact me directly if you're still looking for info. The AF 38 is an amazing boat, though it can be too chunky for some areas as was already said. There is another one in London which is for sale I believe, I can't vouch for its condition as it's been left unattended for a while. I have the details of the owner if you're keen.

     

  8.  

    On 09/03/2019 at 09:39, Vaughan said:

     I have just noticed that your boat has s/s handrails and an aluminium windscreen, but those in the earlier photos have wooden ones. These may have been changed in later years but may also indicate that your boat is a later build. The side window profiles seem to be the same.

    I did notice as well, having done some repairs I’ve noticed that there are different screw hole patterns under our current rails which seem to indicate that they have been changed. I guess the wood didn’t stand the test of time!

    On 09/03/2019 at 10:41, w-album said:

    Are you sometimes moored on the Lea near Ware? Saw two ex Broads boats on a walk at the beginning of the year both with old reg numbers visible. Was one you? Liz

    We have never been that far north so it must have been someone else. I have seen anotther Aquafibre 38 just like ours headed north on the Lee. I don’t think it is lived on though.

    On 09/03/2019 at 17:15, Broads01 said:

    I'm pretty sure the brochure has the size wrong and it's 38 foot. 

    Our survey concurs :)

    Thanks to everyone for the interest and the interesting facts and pictures!!!

  9. Hi everyone!

    My girlfriend and I are the lucky owners of a 1972 Aquafibre 38 that we’ve moved to London and are converting into a houseboat.

    Currently named Apollo it has gone through a few name changes and has been a rental for most of its life according to broads.org.uk, starting as Gleaming Light 2 at Herbert Woods.

    http://www.broads.org.uk/wiki2018/index.php?title=Boat_Details&BoatId=3704&BoatHistory=49462

    I’ve emailed HW to ask if they had any vintage doc but no cigar so far. I also checked a couple of other threads here as well as broadlandboats.co.uk. I was wondering if anyone around here had 70’s pictures / brochure featuring our baby. Would be lovely to see her in her prime !

    Thank you for reading!

    AE33E941-9223-4A08-9211-367BB4DE0FA1.jpeg

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

For details of our Guidelines, please take a look at the Terms of Use here.