Birchwood 33's

[boatone]

Birchwood 33\'s

Anyone got one? Any pros and cons. (not you Byron....I know your views!/forums/images/icons/laugh.gif)

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[pheran]

Re: Birchwood 33\'s

We had a Viceroy, the flybridge version of the 33, for nine years and absolutely loved it. Put over 7000 miles on the log in that time, making numerous trips to France, Belgium and Holland as well as the south coast here. Byron is right that some of the quality aspects are a bit iffy but this applies mainly to fitting out rather than structure. Many 33s were fitted out by yards other than Birchwood and a number were sold to home constructors so you do need to look carefully. Good sea boat, we got caught out in 'unwelcome' conditions once or twice but the boat never gave us a moments worry, even when the props kept coming out of the water!! But like all blunt sterned, aft cabin cruisers they can be a bit twitchy in a strong following sea unless you has the power to run with it. Lots of boat for the money these days

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[MLBURGE]

Re: Birchwood 33\'s

A friend on the berth opposite got one about four years ago and he loves it was the non flybridge wheelhouse version, i dont think there were any major problems there was a small overheating problem at one time which was easily fixed , it had the twin 120 mermaid diesels and i believe it did just over 16 knts flat out and handled fine at sea - well serviced the engines should'nt give problems.

P.S
He got me to make him a custom made easy to clean, maintenance free rectangular fibreglass table to fit in the wheelhouse area dims - 16"W, 30" L , 6mm fiddle rail I made two from the mould and still have the second one, if of interest at some time let me know.

P.S P.S

A grp raked radar arch would look the bizz too - sorry for the plugs but couldn't resist

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[miket]

Re: Birchwood 33\'s

As you say 33, I assume you mean the 33 "classic - full width rear cabin and open sided centre wheelhouse? c. 1973 to 1980. There is also a GT33 that has non full width rear cabin.
If so: Freind has had one for about 10 years and loves it. Good on both river (Thames) and sea. Brokers seem to agree too.

With any boat of that age though a nice one is super, but a shabby one is just an old boat.

Freind had 2 x 120hp fords which with help from Lancing Marine he turbo'd and now gets around 20 kts max'!

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[mike_kolling]

Re: Turbocharging Fords

Mike

I am interested in the turbocharging of the Fords, as I am contemplating it myself but lots of people keep telling me:-
1. Not to trust the conversion by Lancing
2. That the 120hp Ford was not designed for Turbos and hence could damage the engines.

How long ago did your friends turbo charge the engines?

Do you know if they have had any problems with them since the Turbos have been on there?

Sorry to pile on the questions, its just that its rare to here of someone thats actually done it!

regards

Mike

(PS I will beat you at next years TVR!!)

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[miket]

Re: Turbocharging Fords

Conversion done some years ago (say 5 years).
He is very competent amateur mechanic and took a lot of advice from Mike Bellamy at Lancing of whom he thought very well.

Most of his boating has been done at very low speed on non tidal Thames but I have been with him on 2 occasions at sea and the performance was impressive. The only further mod he has added is a small scoop on the water inlets to encourage a greater flow of raw water.

As for the strength of this engine to take the extra power? Apparently Bellamy had taken the same engine up to 350 hp, although he did say that he would not recommend it for recreational use!!

Talk to Mike Bellamy at Lancing.

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[mike_kolling]

Re: Turbocharging Fords

Mike

Thanks for the feedback, planned to talk to Lancing anyway.

regards

Mike

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[byron]

Re: Turbocharging Fords

ORTON?

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