LiamS
New member
I am looking at buying a Birchwood 336.I know from browsing that the mere mention of Birchwood will hit a few nerves.I would like to here from any owners of their experiences good and bad of this boat.
Birchwood 336
- Thread starter LiamS
- Start date
byron
RIP
Birchwoods are great and don't let anyone tell you otherwise. I mean how many other boats can you get into the engine room, close all the hatches and without a light on read your newspaper by the light of the sun. Then there is the wiring looms, some of the tape used is genuine Sellotape. Just look at the quality of the Chipboard used even MFI would be proud of that.
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Medskipper
Active member
Dont take any notice of Byron! I have now been the owner of two Birchwoods and they are good well built boats! Its true neither of my boats have been as new as the one you are looking at so I cant speak for anything much under 15 years of age but my first boat was a Birchwood 25. It surely has stood the test of time because there are still so many around and are in great demand. My currect boat is a Birchwood 37 mid eighties and is a great boat and on the whole well built. I have had experience of seamasters as well as friends boats like Brooms. I am a real hands on sort of bloke so I really do pull them around to find out how well they are built and I cant see any substantial difference between a late seventies Broom and a mid eighties Birchwood! except that the Birchwood designs are better! I mean how ugly is the european or the Crown!! However as I have said Byron could be right about the more recent Birchwoods! I bow to his experience! ever owned one Byron?
Barry
Barry
G
Guest
Guest
A friend of mine went to the LBS some years back, when I caught up with him a few days later he was telling me about his day out, I could tell he had been drooling all day looking at various designs etc he asked me about my boat how did it compare to the new ones he had looked at, well I went through various names and discussed the goods and bads of all he mentioned, I compared them to cars as he had no basic knowledge of them at all.
We started with sunseeker, now I said to him well if youre a young playboy who wants to fly around the coast then this is the one for you compare it to a hot hatch sports car, not too refined but fairly good value for money.
Next was Princess and Fairline, again good value bit more classy than above better resale value etc, more for the maturer owner with family etc, compare it to a upper class family car/ estate Audi/BMW, oh right he said then that one will be for me.
We also spoke about Sealine, he drew his own conclusion as he thought they were a bit too plasticy, bit more of a Citroen/ Peugeot, yes I said but still a nice boat very up and coming.
Then I said theres Birchwood, he said I know them the factory is only up the road from me, my mate worked there as a joiner, he could not even put a picture frame up at home, let alone build a boat compared to a car well he said they dont make Reliant Robbins anymore!.
Sorry if this offends anyone but it,s true and it came from someone who had never stepped on to a boat untill he went to the show.
Paul js.
We started with sunseeker, now I said to him well if youre a young playboy who wants to fly around the coast then this is the one for you compare it to a hot hatch sports car, not too refined but fairly good value for money.
Next was Princess and Fairline, again good value bit more classy than above better resale value etc, more for the maturer owner with family etc, compare it to a upper class family car/ estate Audi/BMW, oh right he said then that one will be for me.
We also spoke about Sealine, he drew his own conclusion as he thought they were a bit too plasticy, bit more of a Citroen/ Peugeot, yes I said but still a nice boat very up and coming.
Then I said theres Birchwood, he said I know them the factory is only up the road from me, my mate worked there as a joiner, he could not even put a picture frame up at home, let alone build a boat compared to a car well he said they dont make Reliant Robbins anymore!.
Sorry if this offends anyone but it,s true and it came from someone who had never stepped on to a boat untill he went to the show.
Paul js.
byron
RIP
I certainly ahve owned a Birchwood, I had a 35 Sportsman back in 1979. Easily the worst boat I have ever owned. I have also owned a Broom European which is easily the most responsive boat I have ever owned and a Broom Ocean 37. Both Brooms were by far and away the best put together craft I have ever owned. As regards your remarks about the Crown. You picked a wrong one there to criticise, the exterior design is superb and will never date and the interior seems to have as much room as my present craft a Princess 435.
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Deleted User YDKXO
Guest
Liam, I've never owned a Birchwood so I dont have any particular axe to grind. However you should know that the company went thru a bad patch in the early '90's before it went bust during which some shoddy boats were built which served to damage the company's previous reasonable reputation. Birchwood has been ressurected by an entrepeneur with no previous experience of boat manufacturing and they have attempted to regain a little of their previous market share with reworkings of some old designs and some dubiously styled new ones. A pre 1990 Birchwood might be a sound buy but a relatively new one may not be a wise buy because reselling it could be difficult. Best to stick to one of the more established builders IMHO
LiamS
New member
HHmmmm. Quite a few conflicting opinions.Just to clarify the boat I am looking at was constructed in 1974.She appears to be very comfortable and has plenty of room.I am more interested in a cruiser that can spend extended periods away from home port than the fashionable "sports" boats.It is my first venture into motor boating so my budget is fairly limited yet I can aquire this cruiser for £24000.Any further opinions are much appreciated.
hlb
RIP
Afraid I dont know much about birchwoods, although everything above, I've heard before. Boat seems to be getting on a bit for extended trips though. Or do you mean, just down the river a bit. Dont get me wrong if it's on shafts and every thing has been looked after, then maybe ok.
If staying away from home, you need extra battery power or generator, mainly to keep the heating going, and loads of ropes, fenders and a plank. Cors it all depends where your going. You havent said. Much more info required before commenting more.
Haydn
If staying away from home, you need extra battery power or generator, mainly to keep the heating going, and loads of ropes, fenders and a plank. Cors it all depends where your going. You havent said. Much more info required before commenting more.
Haydn
NickT
New member
Liam,
A 1974 Birchwood 33 for £24,000 needs to be viewed in perspective. A) you get a lot of boat for your money and as they built over 300 of this model in various guises and a huge number of people thought it was an OK design. B) It will always be worth about £24,000. C) There will always be people looking for this sort of boat at this sort of money.
Is it shaft or outdrive and diesel or petrol. Clearly shafts and diesels are best. If outdrives ask to see maintanance receipts. Parts for very early omc or volvo units may be difficult to obatain - well worth checking this out. also what sort of boating do you intend doing? Sea or river - if river at 5kts petrols with old (but serviceable) outdrives is not necessarily a probelm but for sea use diesels on shafts again the best option. MBM did a 'Test of Time' on the 33 some time ago. When buying a boat of this age some history maintenance is essential. If buying privately does the current owner seem to know what he is talking about and seem someone who is likely to have maintained the boat?
A 1974 Birchwood 33 for £24,000 needs to be viewed in perspective. A) you get a lot of boat for your money and as they built over 300 of this model in various guises and a huge number of people thought it was an OK design. B) It will always be worth about £24,000. C) There will always be people looking for this sort of boat at this sort of money.
Is it shaft or outdrive and diesel or petrol. Clearly shafts and diesels are best. If outdrives ask to see maintanance receipts. Parts for very early omc or volvo units may be difficult to obatain - well worth checking this out. also what sort of boating do you intend doing? Sea or river - if river at 5kts petrols with old (but serviceable) outdrives is not necessarily a probelm but for sea use diesels on shafts again the best option. MBM did a 'Test of Time' on the 33 some time ago. When buying a boat of this age some history maintenance is essential. If buying privately does the current owner seem to know what he is talking about and seem someone who is likely to have maintained the boat?
longjohnsilver
Well-known member
Plank?
What's this plank for; starting the beach bbq, mutinous crew members, getting ashore. Anyway didn't see any planks on your boat, seem to remember you didn't want to get anywhere near those that were floating by, you could have got yourself fully stocked up.
Ah it's just come to me, it's to keep all those nasty dirty fender thingies well away from the boat. ;-))
What's this plank for; starting the beach bbq, mutinous crew members, getting ashore. Anyway didn't see any planks on your boat, seem to remember you didn't want to get anywhere near those that were floating by, you could have got yourself fully stocked up.
Ah it's just come to me, it's to keep all those nasty dirty fender thingies well away from the boat. ;-))
hlb
RIP
Re: Plank?
Oh yes I've got a plank John. Must admit since they've done away with Pool harbour it dosen't come out much these days. Ireland used to be a problem with no plank though. Hanging on to it for the boarding party for when I catch up to your ship. Get some proper glasses first though. Dont plastic ones melt when you put whiskey in them!!
Haydn
Oh yes I've got a plank John. Must admit since they've done away with Pool harbour it dosen't come out much these days. Ireland used to be a problem with no plank though. Hanging on to it for the boarding party for when I catch up to your ship. Get some proper glasses first though. Dont plastic ones melt when you put whiskey in them!!
Haydn
longjohnsilver
Well-known member
Glasses
Ah but we do have glass glasses, Mrs LJS gave me a set of glass whisky type tumblers for Christmas quite a few years ago. So far only one of them has been used due to me not drinking Scotch!!
Ah but we do have glass glasses, Mrs LJS gave me a set of glass whisky type tumblers for Christmas quite a few years ago. So far only one of them has been used due to me not drinking Scotch!!
ToMo
New member
Re: Glasses
Haydn, the crafty wotsits got a bottle or 3 hidden away though, I reckon when he next heads down this way we'll need the plank to board him! a couple of cuttlasses might be usefull too - you know what a shifty character he is from his pic!
TôMö
Haydn, the crafty wotsits got a bottle or 3 hidden away though, I reckon when he next heads down this way we'll need the plank to board him! a couple of cuttlasses might be usefull too - you know what a shifty character he is from his pic!
TôMö
Medskipper
Active member
Just winding you up Byron!! Yes the Birchwood 35 Sportsman was an odd one wasnt it! I can see how that would colour anybodys opinion of a mark! The Crown is indeed a lovely boat, I saw Zonnebloem up for sale about 12 or so months ago and fancied it but things just didnt work out! You have to admit though the older Brooms are looking a bit dated now, I mean the European might be a good boat but for gods sake you have to be a midget to get in it from those side doors and the exit to the bridge isnt much better! the late Brooms are very nice looking, in fact the Broom 37, well they could almost have swiped the plans from Birchwood!!!
Barry
Barry
tcm
...
Re: engines
What engines does it have? Didn't B'woods they have probs with BMW engines, tho probly later than this. Need to see a lot of TLC on a boat this old.
What engines does it have? Didn't B'woods they have probs with BMW engines, tho probly later than this. Need to see a lot of TLC on a boat this old.
luckyjimbo
New member
Hi Liam
as you can see there is alot of b...sh.. to your post ,but the birchwoods are not bad boats , I owned a 25 executive about seven years ago, before all there financial troubles, watch the water leaks, through rails, and my boat had the very early signs of osmosis in the rear quarters of the hull, if you have got the money go for a newer Birchwood, but you never know, mind thats life, you take your choice.
Good luck mate
James
as you can see there is alot of b...sh.. to your post ,but the birchwoods are not bad boats , I owned a 25 executive about seven years ago, before all there financial troubles, watch the water leaks, through rails, and my boat had the very early signs of osmosis in the rear quarters of the hull, if you have got the money go for a newer Birchwood, but you never know, mind thats life, you take your choice.
Good luck mate
James
byron
RIP
Yo Jim, I agree, the old Birchwood 25s were of good quality as were many of the old aft cabin 33s. BUT! among those 33s there were many that had to have the aft cabin roof strengthened because they would flex to a ridiculous extent if anyone put any weight on them, even a child's weight and one could see it flex.
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LiamS
New member
Thanks Nick for your comments.The boat in question is a 1974 Birchwood 336 (enclosed steering position) she is powered by twin 120 hp Ford diesels on shafts.The current owner used to live aboard her and as a result she appears to be comfortable and cared for.She is fitted with radar,GPS and quite a good array of navigational equipment.I am living on the East coast of Ireland and am hoping to take her around the East and South coasts of Ireland with an occasional trip to Britain and the Isle of Mann.Am I being a bit ambitious for a boat of her age?At the moment exchange rates mean that for the asking price of £24000 sterling I am paying about £30000 Irish punts or 39000 Euros.So taking into account the cost of keeping a boat in Britain until the weather is suitable for a crossing and related charges my budget is dwindling quite quickly.I can often be led by dreams and I would appreciate a neutral opinion on this purchase.Again many thanks for your help
Liam.
Liam.
LiamS
New member
Just a quick one !! Nick ,you mention that MBM did an article on the Birchwood 33 in the past .Do you have any idea how I could lay my hands on a copy?
hlb
RIP
Liams. Cant comment on Your Birchwood but yes if it's in good order, should be fine for around East, South Coast of Ireland. My P33 did it many times. Loads of harbours and all short hops. It's not so much the boat as the green thingys in the cellar thats the problem and the filter thingys. and the mucky thingy in the tank that cause all the trouble. Give all this a good going through and should be OK. It's just the comment once about Birchwoods being Biodegradable, that once got my worried. Maybe just a wind up!!!
Haydn
Haydn
