Grit blasting and apply two-pack epoxy

Last week saw us docking a boat for grit blasting and subsequently applying a two pack epoxy rather than the more usual pressure washing and applying a bitumen based product or Comastic.

We blank the dock out for a week to carry out the works as there is plenty of cleaning up to do once the job is complete. Basically we dock the boat on a Sunday and pressure wash it, then on the Monday morning our grit blaster arrives who removes all the coatings off of the boat from the rubbing guard down to the base plate. The following day we apply one coat of two pack and a subsequent coat the day after. We then give it plenty of time to dry before re floating the boat. A week also allows us time to complete any other jobs that the customer has requested or we find following letting the water out of the dock.

After docking the boat last Sunday it soon became evident why the customer was experiencing water ingress through his stern tube. The propeller shaft was well worn, although the boat had only done 900 hours! The type of stern gear that was fitted isn't really suitable for the dirty water of the canals, so after a discussion it was decided to remove it and replace it with conventional stern gear (ie. with a packing gland). It was also necessary to fit a new propeller as the shaft size would be different and whilst we were at it we upgraded the coupling (between the gearbox and propeller shaft) from a standard R&D coupling to a Centraflex. Here's a few pictures as the work progressed...

 

 Original stern gear removed and replacement shaft in place. 

Centre tube and weld in boss sat on the skeg ready for fitting.

 

 Bernard welding in the new boss.

 

 New propeller fitted.

The boat is blacked, counter bands repainted,

new stern gear fitted and ready to be re floated.

For a quote, please contact Simon or myself by email info@norburywharfltd.co.uk or call 01785 284292.

Best regards, David.

Boom in boat sales begins

Boaters and would-be boaters seem to be more optimistic than for several years and, although there are still lots of boats up for sale, there seem to be more buyers entering the market.

Norbury Wharf, reports “phenomenal sales during the last few weeks,” and manager David Ray says they have almost sold out of boats.

He added: “Although there are still many existing boaters who have decided to sell, we are now seeing more people who are trading up to a better boat and a lot more new families deciding that they want to own a boat. There is also an increase in the numbers buying a boat in order to live on it.”

He feels the upsurge is something more than the impact of a lovely spring with a promise of a sunny summer. “You get the feeling that the many buyers now visiting us here on the Shropshire Union have decided the time is right to spend money they have not been willing to spend in recent years.

“Some are judging, probably correctly, that prices for used boats are now probably as good value as they are ever going to be.”

The boom in boat sales may also be linked to Norbury's policy of advising sellers on how best to present their boats before they are seen by the buying public.

“It is important that the broker has as much history of the boat as possible which will allow the broker to do a comprehensive write up,” said David.

“The boat should have all personal possessions removed and have a full inventory. It helps to have the boat clean, beds made up and feeling homely, with cushions on sofas, stove blacked, windows clean. The outside should be clean too with only the essential equipment left on the roof. It helps to have the cabin paintwork clean and maybe polished. If the boat has been docked and blacked it provides evidence that the boat has been well cared for.

“Whilst the boat is on brokerage owners are encouraged to continue to visit to keep the boat clean, tidy and well ventilated especially during the winter months. Potential purchasers will be looking for: dry cabin bilges, clean engine bilges with no oil or antifreeze evident, well kept, absence of leaks from vents and windows.

“Too much clutter makes them feel it can never be their boat, and they want to know they can impose their own style on the vessel if they decide to buy.

“It is basic advice really but you would be surprised how many scruffy, dirty and clearly unloved boats you can find at brokerages and even on sale privately.”

Once an offer has been accepted, expect the purchaser to commission an independent marine surveyor to carry out at least a non-destructive hull survey and if any items are picked up on the purchasers will probably come back with a reduced offer.

Norbury is still in search of boats to sell.

We've given the boat on the dry dock this week a bit of tlc. Firstly he stem post was split - that's the very front of the boat. I imagine this damage has been caused by impact with a number of cills in locks. It had been repaired previously. So Bernard set to with welder in hand and patched it up and completed the job by bending and welding a piece of 2 inch rubbing guard up the front of it. I must say that he made a very neat job, but unfortunately I didn't have time to get back over to the dock and get another picture from the same angle before the lads flooded the dry dock, but here is the before shot!

It was also necessary to replace the propeller shaft as the keen eye will spot that the end of it has rotted off. I would hazard a guess that some one fitted a steel nut which has rotted off and subsequently the end of the stainless steel shaft has decayed some what. 

To remove the propeller it is necessary to disconnect the propshaft in the engine space. For those of you that know Bernard will know that he isn't the smallest person and it still amazes me how he manages to squeeze in to spaces as big as this...

That's it from me today.

Best regards,

David

Narrowboat Avenger

We sell somewhere between 50 and 80 boats a year, depending on the market at the time. The majority of these boats are what we class as conventional narrowboats. By this I mean with flat bottoms, a modern diesel engine and living accommodation. These boats usually come in three classes as shown below:

Cruiser stern - large rear deck with the engine below.

 

Semi traditional stern - similiar to a cruiser stern but with cabin sides that extend to give more protection.

 

Traditional stern -  Small rear deck with the engine enclosed within the cabin.

On rare occasions we get specialist boats in that some may class as tugs. These boats aren't everyones cup of tea as they usually have a traditional boatmans cabin at the back (similar to that on the traditional working narrowboat) followed by an engine room where a traditional type engine stands to be admired followed by the main living cabin and a long deck on the front, either raised to the level of the gunwhales or lowered to form a well deck. We have one such boat for sale at the moment. Her name is Avenger and she is 60 feet in length. We have had her on the dock this week for pressure washing and blacking and we have also put some paint on the counter bands.

As you can see from the picture above she does require painting to tidy her exterior up, but the shape of her hull is just delightful. She has a long swim at both front and back which makes her glide effortlessly through the water.

She is powered by an amazing Kelvin K2 engine which design dates from the 1930s. These engines were originally fitted to fishing boats and are unique as you start them on petrol and once the ignition chambers are warm you change them over to diesel. Below is a video of the Kelvin fitted in the narrowboat Owl.

They sound just superb when they are ticking over with a maximum rpm of just 750!

She has a boatmans cabin at the rear, followed by the engine room and basically a blank canvas in the forward cabin to fit out as required.

She is available for viewing daily between 8.30am and 5pm here at Norbury. Further details can be found on our website www.norburywharfltd.co.uk.

Regards,

David

It's been typical bank holiday weather today. Rain, rain and more rain...Which has given us time to catch up on some work and reflect on a busy weekend.

We had three dayboats out on Friday morning, six hire boats in the afternoon and finally the trip boat in the evening. Saturday was very similar with three dayboats out in the morning, seven hire boats and the holiday cottage in the afternoon and the trip boat in the evening. Yesterday was busy also with the trip boat running four 1-hour long trips throughout the day. Full details of all the trips that The Shropshire Star can offer can be found here.

Our main season is nearly over, so I suspect this week will be the last week that we have all the boats out, but nows the time to grab a bargain if you are thinking of hiring a boat. Our hire boat discounts can be found here. There's even a ten berth boat for a week at £500!!!!

Have a good week.

Regards,

David.

Well what a busy weekend that turned out to be...

Friday saw us turning round five boats and Saturday saw us turning round six boats plus the holiday cottage. Ofcourse we have also had three day boats out each day and the trip boat was out Friday and Saturday evening on her normal Fish and Chip cruise and she has been out today doing 1-hour long public trips. That's kept us all busy!

The weather has been changeable too, one minute the suns out and the next it is raining. As I write the heavens have opened, but no doubt by the time I post this blog the sun will be out, although it is also quite windy.

Best regards,

David.

It's been a busy weekend here at Norbury. All three dayboats have been out over the weekend and we turned 5 boats round on Friday and 6 boats and the holiday cottage on Saturday. That kept everyone busy!

Lee has finished painting Caernarfon and Trevor has put the finishing touches to her. Here's a few photographs that Simon took earlier in the week once she emerged from the paint dock.

And he has started on the next which he has taken back to bare metal. In this photograph the first coat of primer is being applied to the cabin side.

Best regards,

David