Broom as a live aboard/solo cruising boat

[Greg2]

Interesting about Yanmar although I found this https://www.yanmar.com/marine/service/repower/ so I might investigate further if I get serious about a Yanmar powered boat.
Also been doing searches on rebuilding the Perkins Sabre engines on the other boats I'm interested in. Am I right in saying the whole saloon floor comes up for major work whereas the hatches are for routine checks/maintenance?
Anyway, I'm going to have to put this on hold for a week or so as I've come down with flu!

Yes, the saloon floor and any furniture is all removable to give access and most Brooms have a sealed hatch in the saloon roof to facilitate removal of the engines if necessary. Not many leisure boat builders include that.

Our Hardy is similar and last winter I did a lot of work to improve the boat and removed the engines so that I could do work in the engine bay and give the engines a little TLC by removing some corrosion and painting. Worth saying that what I did is unusual and wasn’t essential but I am an idiot who likes to improve our boats and this one is intended to be a keeper

Also worth saying that engine removal is relatively straightforward but many fellow boat owners looked alarmed when I said what I planned to do, probably because it sounds like a big deal. This is the second boat we have removed the engines from for a bit of TLC.

Some pics as the engines went back in:

 

[jrudge]

Those above who live aboard I assume are in one place with a job / sense of community. This is quite different to moving about as an inexperienced boater single handed round Europe.

There will be little social interaction and anything the goes wrong ( most weeks ) will require the op to find someone new.

Those that live aboard I assume you have been boating for a long time and decided to do it as it worked for you.

The op is in a different position. Not my issue of course but the choice of boat to me is close to academic given his lack of experience. Can it be done ? Sure. Will it be a great way to live ? Personally I would suggest that after a few months no.

The challenge of continual single handing are also considerable in unknown waters

 

[TK Blue MAX]

Our Hardy is similar and last winter I did a lot of work to improve the boat and removed the engines so that I could do work in the engine bay and give the engines a little TLC by removing some corrosion and painting. Worth saying that what I did is unusual and wasn’t essential but I am an idiot who likes to improve our boats and this one is intended to be a keeper

Top marks for that job, fantastic , you must be very pleased with what you have done with that !

 

[Greg2]

Top marks for that job, fantastic , you must be very pleased with what you have done with that !

Many thanks. Yes, very happy with what we have done with the boat over three winters but a little less so with what we have spent!
.

 

[Aardee]

A bit left-field but how about a Viki34 Aft Cabin (not that I'm selling mine or anything...)

 

[Alicatt]

Thanks for this but nothing that I haven't already considered.
The aim is to be able to travel about Europe without living in a suitcase/living in airports as I have done. I'm not saying I will live 8 months a year all the time and won't be doing it in one stretch. I won't be living on it in winter in Northern Europe.
And before anybody mentions the whole Brexit embuggerances, I have a Dutch passport courtesy of my mother and will work around the 18 month thing.

Taking a UK boat to the EU and using your Dutch passport to stay in Europe could leave you open to having to pay btw (vat) in the EU as you would then be an EU national importing a 3rd country's goods to the EU.
Just be careful how you do it.
I got questioned on my car today at Newcastle ferry terminal as I had a UK passport and my car is registered in Belgium, car was originally UK registered and imported to Belgium when I took residence there in 2020.

 

[Whopper]

The 38cl will have a lower freeboard than the older 36 or planing hull 37/39/41 mentioned earlier which makes life a bit easier. Personally I’d avoid full teak decks if you can. Keep an eye on any signs of window leaks. At their age I’d expect that the saloon windows and probably the front ones to have been taken out and re-sealed.

I agree the with comments around heating a fibreglass boat in the winter. A hydronic heating system would be an excellent upgrade for your use case.

 

[Tranona]

Taking a UK boat to the EU and using your Dutch passport to stay in Europe could leave you open to having to pay btw (vat) in the EU as you would then be an EU national importing a 3rd country's goods to the EU.
Just be careful how you do it.
I got questioned on my car today at Newcastle ferry terminal as I had a UK passport and my car is registered in Belgium, car was originally UK registered and imported to Belgium when I took residence there in 2020.

That is not correct. Nationality is irrelevant, it is residency that counts. If he is UK resident he can make use of Temporary Admission that allows him to keep the boat in the EU for 18 months at a time. However his cruising plan may make it difficult to comply with the requirement to leave the EU and re-enter every 18 months.