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!
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[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.

 

[oldgit]

Do know of clean Broom 36 for sale, however, price is not at the "distress sale" end of the market but you could save on brokers fees ?
Fitted with pair of the desireable and reliable Perkins, no "aquaphobic electronics" here

Brooms of all flavours must be just about the most the common boat on inland waterways in the UK especially the Thames, so they must be doing something right.
We have about a dozen Brooms on our moorings ranging from Europeans to a couple of 450, most will have seen on the Thames at some point and many, across Le Manche.
Do know of one Broom 37 re engined with pair of 150 Hp Nannis,

 

[Greg2]

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.

A very good point about freeboard - our 41 was very high and whilst it was no issue for me as I am a tall chap it was a different matter for SWMBO and is one of the reasons why we now have the Hardy, which is an easy step down from the side deck to the pontoon.

Also agree on teak decks - avoid if possible but sometimes it isn’t possible (I said never again after the 41, which was full teak, but you can’t find a Hardy without it).

Not sure about the windows though - the Crown/Continental/Ocean are renowned for leaks but I have not come across issues in the 38 and other models of that era (Brooms were built locally to us and there are a lot around here). I stand to be corrected though
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[oldgit]

Not sure about the windows though - the Crown/Continental/Ocean are renowned for leaks but I have not come across issues in the 38 and other models of that era (Brooms were built locally to us and there are a lot around here). I stand to be corrected though
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Every single one of my previous boats had leaky windows, no names no pack drill, Princess, probably simply due to the sealing materials available at the the time.
The latest boat has bonded windows, the rest of the boat might consist of Fablon held together by Evostick but deep unalloyed delight in my water tight windows on the odd day it rains in UK.
The value of a working toilet, working heater and a dry bed should never be under estimated in the world of boating.

 

[Greg2]

The value of a working toilet, working heater and a dry bed should never be under estimated in the world of boating.

That made me smile!

 

[ingenious]

A very good point about freeboard - our 41 was very high and whilst it was no issue for me as I am a tall chap it was a different matter for SWMBO and is one of the reasons why we now have the Hardy, which is an easy step down from the side deck to the pontoon.

Also agree on teak decks - avoid if possible but sometimes it isn’t possible (I said never again after the 41, which was full teak, but you can’t find a Hardy without it).

Not sure about the windows though - the Crown/Continental/Ocean are renowned for leaks but I have not come across issues in the 38 and other models of that era (Brooms were built locally to us and there are a lot around here). I stand to be corrected though
.

Yeah, I noticed the high freeboard and the funny little inset step. There are a few which have a ladder there and I was worried that might get damaged in locks but it does fold up.

 

[oldgit]

Chum is just in the process of changing his boat, any Broom was dismissed purely due the the agro of getting on and off.
Loves the Broom concept, so buying a Haines which has the steps on stern of boat.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

Chum is just in the process of changing his boat, any Broom was dismissed purely due the the agro of getting on and off.
Loves the Broom concept, so buying a Haines which has the steps on stern of boat.

Haines seem very much like rehash of recent Broom designs, maybe they use the same mouldings. Noticeable that more recent Broom boats have much lower side decks and also rear platforms with stairs, both much easier than older designs, although I guess the OP’s budget may not run to these later models.

 

[Whopper]

A very good point about freeboard - our 41 was very high and whilst it was no issue for me as I am a tall chap it was a different matter for SWMBO and is one of the reasons why we now have the Hardy, which is an easy step down from the side deck to the pontoon.

Also agree on teak decks - avoid if possible but sometimes it isn’t possible (I said never again after the 41, which was full teak, but you can’t find a Hardy without it).

Not sure about the windows though - the Crown/Continental/Ocean are renowned for leaks but I have not come across issues in the 38 and other models of that era (Brooms were built locally to us and there are a lot around here). I stand to be corrected though
I’m

The earlier 38s are headed for 28yrs old now so it’s likely the mastic is near the end of its life now. We’ve had most of the mid and forward windows out in our 38 in recent years. Rear windows seem fine. We got ahead of any potential water damage.

 

[Whopper]

Chum is just in the process of changing his boat, any Broom was dismissed purely due the the agro of getting on and off.
Loves the Broom concept, so buying a Haines which has the steps on stern of boat.

39kl and 42cl solves this issue similar to Haines

 

[ingenious]

Chum is just in the process of changing his boat, any Broom was dismissed purely due the the agro of getting on and off.
Loves the Broom concept, so buying a Haines which has the steps on stern of boat.

Funnily enough, I was talking to a friend about my plans and he was saying I should just go and buy a new boat from Haines, they are only about 25 miles away from where I live!

 

[Greg2]

Funnily enough, I was talking to a friend about my plans and he was saying I should just go and buy a new boat from Haines, they are only about 25 miles away from where I live!

We are in the same neck of the woods then. We know Haines boats (and the family) and they build very nice boats along the same lines as a Broom. Norfolk Yacht Agency at Brundall are a dealer for them and are well worth a visit. Very friendly and knowledgable about both Broom and Haines boats.
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[oldgit]

Funnily enough, I was talking to a friend about my plans and he was saying I should just go and buy a new boat from Haines, they are only about 25 miles away from where I live!

Gentleman thinking about purchasing a Haines has a Greenline 33 ? at the moment , not a hybrid but a single VP diesel .
However he needs now something to take him a bit further afield for longer and a bit quicker.