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LondonRascal
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Posts posted by LondonRascal
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10 minutes ago, oldgregg said:
What I don't get is who is going to build and develop their hirefleet going forward...
Who knows, but we can all speculate. I recon it would work out cheaper to have 'off the shelf' boats made elsewhere and put in hire. Sure you have to pay for the boats to be manufactured but it is one off not having skilled staff to pay, pensions to worry about, larger site costs, suppliers you name it. I can see the likes of Haines may be the real regional success story.
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Hmm I had wondered when Brooms may close however, I did not expect the decision to expand and invest in their hire fleet so it is mixed news really. Good that Brooms still will be there, but sad for the fact there will be skilled people loosing jobs (and just after Oyster went under too).
It is a shame that after so many years, this once iconic manufacture is to stop building. However, I think the fact is not so much that there are less people buying new boats but those who are buying have a very different idea as to what they are seeking and that was not something Broom could compete in. It is hard these days building boats, keeping to a budget yet offering customers what they want in terms of modern refinements and technology. Keeping up with design changes and trends also costs a lot and your designs soon begin to look dated when competing in the market that Brooms has been. Add into this all the economic uncertainties and overseas competition and cheaper labour and manufacturing costs how can it be viable?
I hope though this may cause a new trend to have more quality boats being out for hire on the southern Broads, already we see the Broads Boating Co. taking on a lot at the former Alpha Craft site, NYA has their charter fleet, Broom are going to obviously put money into theirs.
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Where near here are you going to find the secluded sun kissed beach with a wonderful view of the sea and horizon with your boat resting gently at anchor till sunset, or enjoy a short ride in the wonderful sunshine to a harbour taverna with a quay low enough to be able to get of the RIB?
Wells Next-The-Sea perhaps then off for Fish & Chips lol
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Just now, Philosophical said:
I don't know what plans you for recovering a MOB are, or how you would lift a heavy person plus much heavy wet clothing back on board at sea, but maybe a harness adapter for the hoist is a consideration
Moat boats have no consideration to such an event, some like the Trader have a low down swim platform and extending ladder to aid recovery which would be far easier than to get the remote control for the crane, connect it all up and then wait while the crane slowly but surely moves around. It is very slow and cumbersome procedure so I don't think would help in an emergency trying to get someone out the water.
As to the RIB I think it goes to show how these 'toys' might work in the warm waters of the Med to have a mess about or anchor offshore and zoom into the local harbour for a meal before headed back to the boat, but in the UK - really what is their use? If the RIB had been offered to me at a knock down price I would have declined, but to have taken over the boat and found the last owner decided to include it after all for nothing I am willing to put a little effort into making it clean and tidy and a good runner. It has little practical use but for £60 odd a year to toll it also is not that much of a cost - just found out it is also included in my main motorboat insurance which was a boon so long as after each use it is returned to the boat to which it is normally kept and not kept ashore or at another location.
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Hmm not sure I want to pay $122 shipping for a $16 oil filter - need to find something already in the UK! The part number is an 105041 Oil Filter.
Update: I think I may need to get in touch with a Williams agent.
Update: I call Williams their after service care team is out to lunch
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Ok I have the solution. I need a larger boat with a Tender garage and some crew - then I can simply instruct said crew to ready the RIB and they can faff about with all the mechanical stuff too.
On a serious note, it depends on manual what you get told - they do differ. The PDF version tells you to use 5W40 fully synthetic oil, but my paper manual says 5W40 fully or part synthetic oil. I know there is little thing but just goes to show. The fact is I can't really go round the rivers at 6,000RPM anyway because all hell would be let loose lol.
I have a new idea - I obtain an oil filter for the engine, use a suction pump and take out all the oil from the engine - fit new filter and put fresh oil in. Thus it has had an oil change at a known date - with a known amount of oil going in and then with the new battery and some fuel get the thing launched, run the engine up to temperature take an oil check and top up if required and say 'jobs a goodun'.
Anyone know where I can get a Textron MPE 850 engine oil filter? (Found it here)
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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.
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Robin
The Williams rib? When you are down next or if you know, can you let me know which engine it has. I believe its a Weber MP750 engine if it is, it does not have a wet sump, its a pump and scavenge system
I believe this is it. And have the manual now myself and see how things seem to work. As Pete said it could have been the violent motion the RIB went through that caused the oil and fuel to be ejected out of places it should not have been ejected from. All I could see (and you will see this in a forthcoming video) was the top of the oil reservoir - and only this - had milky oil, you know when you mix oil and water and it turns to that yucky milky state. But this was as if you split a little - what about 3 odd litres of the stuff? The RIB has a bilge pump and I duly gave it a go, but no water was ejected let alone any oil and since the engine cover has a big rubber seal around it short of flying out the air intakes under the seat I am at a loss. Not to mention of course the RIB has a cover over it.
So what my plan is this Friday I will pop up to Brundall in the morning fit the new battery and check the oil and hope it is where I left it bang on between min and max. If it has fallen at all I know I have a leak somewhere. The RIB had no oil in when we got her ready in Plymouth and now I am wondering if this may be why it was left with the boat and cost nothing to me, it might have its own checkered history. One thing it has only ever clocked up 1.7Hrs of use in 8 years!
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Wished I had know you were in the market for selling, would have taken it off your hands having just bought a smaller (albeit newer) boat for more than you may be asking for.
If it was me I would go down the route of selling it myself (or at least trying to) after all, many Brokers will place adverts on classified websites as well as their own website and then talk about how well they market someone's boat and this all is part of their service (costs.
What I like to see is plenty of good quality photos - the dinette, don't just take a single photo we want to imagine, see around, picture how it is if we were there type thing so photos are crucial. Present it as clutter free as possible, clean and tidy it makes all the difference (to me anyway) engine, outside etc all ned to be shown and plenty fo descriptions - technical things from engine type, horsepower to extras like the bow thruster and so on. Take your time to drawer up things before you post an advert and picture yourself buying and how you would feel reading and looking at it.
Not everyone is going to be really interested, they may want a style of boat, and just go trying as many people selling aft cockpit boats as they can to see how desperate they are to sell. Some will waste time, put in silly offers you name it. For me with the Sheerline she was up for £29,950 - I put in an offer of £26,500 which was rejected and we agreed on £28,500. Thing is it had only ben on the market for 5 days - the owner had paid over £30,000 in 2014 and put in a lot of money to the boat since and was not in the mood to loose out too much now. If it was on the market for longer, had some time wasters and silly offers I recon he would have gone for my first offer - but it is how you see it when the time comes. I still think I paid over the odds to a degree as there are things I feel it needs to - I would have spend out on an Inverter and new fridge rather than a bow thruster being installed and electric winch and remote spotlight but everyone has their preferences.
Keep us informed whatever route you go down be it brokerage or private.
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20 hours ago, riyadhcrew said:
Hi Robin,
Thinking of it getting a good run
1 questions - how far is Breydon from you?
2 - how far will 28 litres get you?
Breydon from Brundall is about 14 miles and how far will 28 litres of petrol get me? Well I have no idea but at a 'slow' 6MPH probably a good distance. I would not mind doing it in the RIB, she has a very comfy seat and helm storage for lunch and a drink an I could keep some spare fuel in a jerry can too. That said it is a bit like a hill and a bicycle. You spend ages and a lot of energy getting up it, only for the trip down the other side to be so short lived if exciting. Taking the RIB to Breydon to have a short play with at speed only to then slog it all the way back home after is not so much my cup of tea.
However having the experience and use of it makes me pleased the boat came with it, and I am looking forward to the fist launch and trip. New battery ordered, oil got now I just need some petrol and a nice day.
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What a well written, truly immersive story of courage and endeavour. Sometimes a face can tell you a thousands words and when I got on the boat at Yarmouth I did not need telling what they had been through - with legs like jelly connected to lead weights they were all exhausted, but despite it all there was also pride and achievement shining through.
Indy was like a dog that had dragged her owner up and down dale through mud and cold streams - a mess, soaking wet but not the worse for wear. We lost the auto pilot, two wine glasses and a couple of tie down straps for the RIB. She has proved what a well built and capable safe boat she is and mechanically ran faultlessly through it all.
I consider myself fortunate over the years to have met and become friends with such genuinely good men who do so much and yet ask for so little for which I will always be grateful. You know though, one way or the other Charlie and I seem to get involved in some of the most interest adventures and mad cap escapades - being on Broad Ambition off the coast with a couple of Navy fast patrol boats, to the first time I mentioned about the Trader and where she was lying and how we may bring her to Norfolk. Things like this are to be savoured and no doubt there will me many more boating themed things we get involved in one way or the other but it is also nice to have a community like this, to talk to an share these times with too and whose support and help is equally always remembered.
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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.
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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...
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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.
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I must be mad. Oh, yes actually I am.
Cold windy day today and there i was jet washing the flybridge and and area around the RIB - I even cleaned the crane.
Then it was hands on wish hand washing and getting to grips getting all the years of green algae, dirt and and general decay off the RIB (to be called Picca). I then polished the gel coat and it has come up a treat - not bad for something that has been atop a boat for 8 years under a canvas cover. I Need petrol, oil and a fresh starter battery and she is good to go.
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Saturday morning it was off to the Marina office to ask if they had a mooring we could use should we need to for Trixie - they did and since I was a berth holder already they would do a reduced rate for a short term mooring, transferable to a full time mooring should we wish. Or, I could if I moved Independence along and if I could fit Trixie on the quay without causing any issue to the boat astern of Independence moor Trixie there - well that did sound like a perfect solution. The only thing was, I had not actually completed on Trixie.
We duly arrived at St. Olaves Marina and it seemed twice as cold as Brundall - the exposed nature of the Marina and the biting wind cut right through you. We duly went in the office and a chap who I think may be the owner took us to the boat. She is small, but there was 5 of us onboard and despite the cold outside, she was so cosy inside. Dry, not a touch of mildew or 'musty smells' it was immaculate inside and out. We started the engine up and despite the cold fired to life with no smoke, and the gear box was silky smooth too no clunking and jerking into gear.
My Mum was very excited and keen, Simon was too - Shilea and I were a bit more 'laid back' and I was keen to wrap things up, I asked my Mum and Simon were they happy, to which they said they were and so it was back to the office. It all went a bit 'Norfolk' though, In that I mean I was told I could have a trial or survey but I had said I needed neither, I then asked could I pay the balance now and complete everything there and then, but was told I could do this whenever I wished - in a few days, a week it really did not matter to them. Gosh if they had been any more laid back over things they would be laying down lol what a difference to the 'cut throat' speedy completion on Independence where the Broker was sending me all I needed and pushing for payment.
So I singed the Contract and transferred the balance which you might think meant it was all sorted - urm no, as things stand I have paid all the money over and legally own the boat yet don't have the keys and don't know when I can collect her, I am hoping I can on Monday or Tuesday just as I am hoping that having paid for the boat I am not going to have an issue getting the keys or even a receipt and bill of sale. Talk about living by the seat of your pants.
Anyway the boat is insured in my name as of Saturday and I can get all the administration sorted easily from tolls to moorings on the northern rivers and know I have somewhere I can keep her for the time being. She really is a cute and comfy little boat we took some footage so when I am back home I hope to be able to share this with a long awaited general update as to Independence which I have also been working on this weekend but the cold is really stopping me doing a bunch of outdoor things and she really needs a good wash as the snow we had previously seems to have left a sort of dirty dusty residue everywhere.
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As a new 'Brundall' regular I have been impressed with the food in the Yare, and very much so with the food, ambience and cheap prices of the East Hills Bistro. I like how many people, even on cold days like today are in these come day or evening so for that I recon it has things covered but it does need something between the two and you know what the area is crying out for? A way for visiting boats to easily moor and enjoy this little eccentric part of the Broads.
But I also think the Bistro idea could be used elsewhere up on the northern rivers so you have choice - not just another pub - to go to. It of course does feel a bit 'Norfolk' slow, dated and odd but take that away and you loose the charm I just think how it once would have been when the Riverside Estate was home to so many hire yards.
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Independence has a twin compressor 65,000 BTU system. I can't run the system from the shore power even if I wanted because it draws over 16Amps. But with Indy she just has so much space so you could easily run a portable one on wheels in a cabin and use as needed and as I have one at home I plan to bring it down in the summer to have more economical cooling.
As for Trixie, I think while it would be nice she is just too compact to sensibly have a unit and associated parts that go into a proper marine system - if I was going to look into such I would use JPC in Brundall as I have now had three people talk to me about their services and come highly recommended for heating and how they have dealt with after sales support.
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Plus points for leaving at Yarmouth is straight forward ease - one river down from Brundall, over Breydon and you are there. Going out at Lowestoft means you need to head down the New Cut and take more river miles to Mutford Lock you also have to think about what time to arrive to for the Bascule bridge in Lowestoft has timed lifts.
So, if it was myself I would go from Yarmouth. I would give http://www.eastportuk.co.uk/bridge-lifts.aspx Peel Ports - plenty of advanced notice as to the bridge lifts (should you need them) for Breydon Road Bridge and Haven Bridge. You will also need to get through Reedham and not only myself but others have found VHF calls to Reedham bridge being met with silence, that said if it is closed and the LED notice is saying 'request to open' I would still call them over the radio (Ch12) but be prepared to moor at the waiting pontoon which in your case will be almost opposite Reedham Quay or hold station waiting for the bridge to swing.
You asked about the state of tide to best use. I would think more about what sort of time you will be leaving Yarmouth Harbour and what the state of tide is doing at sea as if you can get some assistance there this will help your fuel economy and passage time a great deal. If your boat is capable to make the passage to Ramsgate I suspect she will have some grunt and as the speed limit on the Yare is 6MPH even if you were pushing a flood tide you would not notice that as much so what the rivers are doing would not be something I would be looking at more what my passage plan and tidal streams were once at sea and using them to my advantage if possible.
As for a good place to moor Berney Arms Reach - the BA 24hr moorings along there are well made up and you cant get much closer to Breydon.
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48 minutes ago, scaniaman said:
Would the Dometic freshwell 3000 aircon system be an possible alternative?
I thought it may be, but no - I could use it if I wanted to have a hole in the hull which in a boat, is not a popular choice. Basically they are meant to vent the heat through the a hole cut in the floor of your caravan/motorhome. Found an interesting series of videos where a chap in Germany installed one - very compact and powerful and I think reasonably priced.
So it looks like I will need a bigger boat if I want to go down that route or have a 'proper marine' system put in, which I am not so keen on as I have experience with the one on Independence. So looks like I'll just use a fan.
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Mossy nets/blinds on the hatches?
As long as they are remote open and close ...
And they do! - Great I can keep the 'tech' coming
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Jocave - I know the windows let in very little having taken the same boat for a spin last weekend. There are only two windows that open one by the table, one by the sink - then you have the front 'escape hatch' window but that is not on gas struts so will not stay open. The windows are pretty small and the amount they open is small too so your overall ventilation is limited.
I agree the galley area is a let down, along with the upholstery, but a new oven, inset hob and fridge will help. The moment you begin changing veneers though well, where do you stop? Before you know it you have a full internal refit underway and I find the wood rather cosy and nice as it is.
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Boats get hot and at night in the summer you have all the Mosquito's and other insects that cannot wait to get in to the boat drawn to it with the cabin lights. Also the windows are tiny and let very little breeze in which often is virtually non-existent on a summer night on the Broads. I find that uncomfortable, and the 'thick' humid hot air is anything but nice so If I can turn that in a cool, fresh dry air - oh what bliss.
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Good to see some new boats coming on stream in time, not so sure about the looks in profile the bow and forward part looks a bit 'Alpha Craft Lowliner' to me but reimagined for today's market.
Independence - Updates | Maintenance & Care
in General Discussion
Posted
You might, but I would just wait for the tide to come back again and float it. Now granted this may mean having to head back to your boat at night - not usually a problem, but in a popular spot you'd need to play 'find your boat' among the many anchor lights. But Williams thought of night time use so have navigation lights that are stowed under the engine cover usually.
In the alternative most Marina's have a 'dinghy dock' where you can come tie up on a pontoon and head off and come back to it.
Most boaters seem to have a Tender - I think many will have great ideas of it's use - from fishing in it, to a handy shuttle between anchorage and shore and if all that fails to convince the wife it really is a good idea, it is a ready to go life raft with engine. In reality they sit upside down on fly bridges, dangling on Davits generally forgotten and unloved. I hope Picca at least gets some use even if it is only down to Surlingham Ferry and back.