[NEW BOAT ARRIVED]

it was your boat i looked (in  there workshop)at when ordering mine both boats side by side ithink you would agree with me when i saw your boat then mine arrived lees have said they will sort the boat out  thats fine as to giveing them a slagging off dead right wouldnt you the boat reqs new windows ,new paint job no not a fancy job but a proper job it also requires new doors internal joineryand finishing off how satisfied would you be if it was your boat as i said lees are prepared to do this and have not tried to fob me off but it still has to be said  so the next time you post a reply make sure you know what you are talking about  ta jeff miller i will post some pics when i sus out how to do it

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I have the advantage over some others here, in that I have seen the boat. Only externally, so beyond that I'd be commenting only on what I read.

 

As to making sure I know what I'm talking about... If I'm missing out on some relevant fact, then tell me. I'm not too proud to admit if I make a mistake.

 

Wouldn't I give them a slagging off? Well;

 

If I'd bought a boat that wasn't up to scratch, and they weren't going to fix it, then yes.

If I'd bought a boat that wasn't up to scratch, and fixing it was going to seriously delay delivery, then yes.

If I'd bought a boat that wasn't up to scratch, but the builder was going to fix it, and do so without putting delivery back (and ultimately did so), then no.

 

For me, it's the end result that matters.

[Who are the real boaters]

Who do you consider to be the real proper boaters?

 

Is it the hardened 52 weeks a year live aboard types?

 

Is it the Saturday and Sunday plus 2 weeks a year plaything owners?

 

Is it the I've spent the kids inheritance on a real flash boat and a very expensive mooring and if the weather improves next year I might think about using it type?

 

Is it the it's a completely knacked skip, but messing with it gets me away from the wife type?

 

Or the it's going take me a few more months/years before it's finished or the interest runs out type?

 

Or the I don't actually own a boat but--- type?

 

Or the every holiday for 15 years we've hired a boat types?

 

Is it the eco warrior type living in the rust bucket hidden under the bridge somewhere?

 

Or is it a rarer yet to be discovered breed?

What do you fall into? I suppose all of them can lay claim to the title of PROPER BOATER.

Gary

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There was a time when I'd have said this was a silly question, because I've always regarded all of them as proper boaters, and assumed that that they felt likewise.

 

I was put right on that one a couple of years ago by somebody who assured me that he was a proper boater, and I wasn't!

 

Coming down Marple locks, we encountered a boat mob-handed just about to turn a lock on us. I say we encountered a boat, but that isn't quite true. We actually encountered the lock team. The boat was nowhere to be seen, and was actually 3 locks further down. This was just the advance lock-setting party!

 

Upon gently suggesting that it might be more considerate not to set four locks ahead, and certainly not to turn a lock in the face of another boat, I received a tirade of abuse from one of the party, who assured me that he had been hiring boats for 30 years now, cruised for 3 weeks every year knew everything that there was to know about boating and wasn't in need of any advice from a Bloody Weekend Boater

 

Well, that told me!

[sacrificial anodes]

advice please, we are still designing our narrow boat (she will be  a 70ft cruiser stern liveaboard due to launch May 06), we are being advised to fit sacrifcial anodes during the build - we would like to know others opinions on these additions - do we/don't we? do they work? are they worth the money? do they have to be renewed at each haul out?  your opinions would be appreciated

 

Lynda

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Opinion - fit them

 

Do they work - Yes.

Some suggest that they only protect the area of hull immediately adjacent.

 

This is only partially true. As the anode works, it deposits metalic zinc at any corrosion spot within six feet of the anode.

 

So initially the protection is limited.

 

HOWEVER, as they work, each spot where the zinc has been deposited becomes a mini-anode itself, and the zinc migrates to other corosion spots further away (whilst the original spot gets replenished from the main anode). It's a kind of cascade effect.

 

Provided you keep the anodes renewed, it stays in equilibrium, and they will protect the whole boat.

 

Are they worth the money - Yes! The cost in comparison to the cost of rectifying hull corrosion is insignificant.

 

Do they have to be renewed at each haul-out - Depends how often you haul out. You renew them when they are over 50% wasted (in fact you usually fit another set and leave the old ones to completely waste)

 

Oh, and as another poster suggested, fit a galvanic isolator if you have shore power. They are another thing that it is false economy to leave out.

[NEW BOAT ARRIVED]

The surveyor that turned up prior to my visit was very thorough, he pulled up a floor panel which is best quality 0.75" plywood to reveal the floor beams which look like hardwood, he pronounced that all the floor panels should be lifted and the suppot beams should be "Tannalised" or replaced with pre-treated timber.

 

The floor removal also revealed that the steel down there was painted with twin pack epoxy.  Bear in mind his estimate included for a complete paint job and a  rewire which he apparently considered necessary , the story is which I heard second hand was that he considered the wires to be too thick.

 

Anyway I feel a bit uncomfortable discussing some one else's boat in this way, I will wait for Miller to respond.

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Sounds like the surveyor was over-egging the pudding a little!

 

I can't see that tanalised softwood would be an improvement over the existing hardwood bearers. Indeed, I'm not too keen on use of tanalised wood in an enclosed environment. Tanalising means seriously nasty chemicals

 

Paint Job - yes it needs a complete repaint, but how much is he allowing for that? The spec for these boats is for a single colour with coachlining, not some fancy 2/3 colour job.

 

As to a rewire, I just don't see it. You can't have the wires too thick, and as a sailaway superior, a jumble of loose wiring tails is what you get. Making it look nice is down to you as part of the fit-out.

 

Before: http://www.mr-jinks.org.uk/fit24.jpg

After: http://www.mr-jinks.org.uk/fit31.jpg

[NEW BOAT ARRIVED]

been to see lees today they are being very good about the problem they have given me 3 choices

1 money back

2 new boat

3sort out my boat

 

i have gone for 3 i like the hull and if they sort out all the issuse with mine it will be fine they can turn out a very good boat and seem to be getting on track in morrocco fitters back next week and they say andy russell is to repaint it

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Which would seem to be the outcome you want, and an outcome that you would have got without giving them a slagging off here.

 

As a (satisfied) customer of Lees' I did find your initial reaction somewhat over the top.

 

As I see it, the boat;

1) Had suffered damage e-route to the UK

2) Had a poor paint job

 

The builder has never tried to avoid responsibility for rectification of these faults, so I have some difficulty seeing what your beef was.