Jamesb4uk Posted May 1, 2013 Report Share Posted May 1, 2013 Hi everyone, I'm seriously considering selling forest & getting boat number 2. Living on forest has been great for nearly 2 years however its very restrictive finding residential moorings on the Medway for a 42ft boat. I'm booked in to view a Broadland Swan - 1946 build (wood hull & cabin) coming from a narrowboat I realise maintenance will be very different & more regular to keep on top of her. What would be needed though? she has a survey from 2011, repainted 2012. first thing would be a new hull survey, BSC work & repair engine's I believe she has an inboard Lister. Thanks for any help James Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Puddlejumper Posted May 1, 2013 Report Share Posted May 1, 2013 Wooden boats= very HIGH maintainance and costs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlt Posted May 1, 2013 Report Share Posted May 1, 2013 (edited) I don't think the boat you are looking at is Broadland Swan Wooden boats= very HIGH maintainance and costs Yes that old myth makes me weary too. Broads cruisers are pretty easy to maintain and, if in good order, cost little more than a steel boat to keep on top of. If it needs a lot of work, though, then it can be a money pit (just like a knackered steel boat needing loads of plating). Edited May 1, 2013 by carlt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlt Posted May 1, 2013 Report Share Posted May 1, 2013 Looking again it may well be Broadland Swan but what is one of the loveliest classes of Broads Cruiser has been truly chopped about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamesb4uk Posted May 1, 2013 Author Report Share Posted May 1, 2013 I don't think the boat you are looking at is Broadland Swan Yes that old myth makes me weary too. Broads cruisers are pretty easy to maintain and, if in good order, cost little more than a steel boat to keep on top of. If it needs a lot of work, though, then it can be a money pit (just like a knackered steel boat needing loads of plating). From what I can find on her history she's a Ripplecraft Broadlands Swan, more info will be gained on Saturday & i'll be booking a survey should I even think about it seriously. tbh the wood side worries me a bit but along the Medway boatyards aren't really setup for narrowboats - mine was craned & loaded on a flatbed last year so that cost a fair amount! In stead of 4 year blackings I'm guessing that's cut to 2 in wooden boats? James Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlt Posted May 1, 2013 Report Share Posted May 1, 2013 I do know that the boat has had shedloads of work done to it. The owner back in 2009 was interested in buying my lifeboat and I was sorely tempted to offer a swap for his boat but he stood me up for a viewing after I'd travelled all the way to Essex to meet him so we lost touch. From what I can find on her history she's a Ripplecraft Broadlands Swan, She's a Ripplecraft Broadland Class and her original name was "Broadland Swan". Her immaculate sister that I have posted an image of is "Broadland Swift" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamesb4uk Posted May 1, 2013 Author Report Share Posted May 1, 2013 ahh thanks for that Carl nice to see a similar class to get ideas.if I do go ahead I'll be removing the white top coat & try & bring her back to the original look....James Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlt Posted May 1, 2013 Report Share Posted May 1, 2013 (edited) In stead of 4 year blackings I'm guessing that's cut to 2 in wooden boats? I'd antifoul on the Medway, rather than black...every 2 or 3 years. This was her at Benfleet in October 2010: As you can see there is a fair lump of new wood in her. Edited May 1, 2013 by carlt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlt Posted May 1, 2013 Report Share Posted May 1, 2013 Took some hunting (The Norfolk Broads Forum search function is worse than ours) but I found this restoration thread that I read way back (and pinching the photos off)... Clicky and some of her history is listed here... Clicky Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamesb4uk Posted May 1, 2013 Author Report Share Posted May 1, 2013 wow thanks for that Carl, I was going to havea trawl round the net after work tonight! looks like she's had a lot of work done on her recently. James Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Ambrose Posted May 1, 2013 Report Share Posted May 1, 2013 Try looking at www.horning.org for broads boats Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamesb4uk Posted May 2, 2013 Author Report Share Posted May 2, 2013 Thanks Phil, There seems to be a bit of confusion as to what she is I've seen an advert from 2005 stating she's 35ft- I'll find out for sure Saturday not I know what to look for . James Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bagdad Boatman (waits) Posted May 2, 2013 Report Share Posted May 2, 2013 Wooden boats are beautiful but they do own you. Whereas you can ignore a steel boat for some time wood needs protecting all the time. 9 coats of varnish are the norm with scraping back to bare wood required to keep pristine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamesb4uk Posted May 2, 2013 Author Report Share Posted May 2, 2013 (edited) see this is what I'm unsure off, I'm prepared for more maintenance, but boat yards on the Medway are more geared towards cruisers than Narrowboats, even smaller ones like forest. So antifouling every 2/3 years instead of blacking every 4 should be reasonable. Varnishing the top decks & above waterline shouldn't be too bad as I can do those afloat. I have a mate who's a carpenter by trade and can teach me what I need to know.. James Edited May 2, 2013 by Jamesb4uk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlt Posted May 3, 2013 Report Share Posted May 3, 2013 So antifouling every 2/3 years instead of blacking every 4 should be reasonable. Varnishing the top decks & above waterline shouldn't be too bad as I can do those afloat. I have a mate who's a carpenter by trade and can teach me what I need to know.. This is the beauty of wooden boats, especially Broads cruisers. If you have reasonable woodworking skills or the ability and willingness to learn then you can do all the work yourself. The Bagdad Boatman says that a wooden boat owns you but,in my opinion it is a far more equal relationship than that and so much more pleasant than being owned by the boatyard that maintains your steel boat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamesb4uk Posted May 7, 2013 Author Report Share Posted May 7, 2013 (edited) I'm seeing that as a general rule Carl - could be a long term project! There is conflicting information as to if she's Falcon or Plover - length in the 2011 survey seems to suggest the later at 35ft. I've asked for a hull survey as there was some concern over the transom and she's had a GRP shell over the original wood deck - like you said truly chopped about. but still more character in my eyes & worth taking a closer look at. James Edited May 7, 2013 by Jamesb4uk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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