Broom hulls and seagoing performance

[paul salliss]

I have no experience of off shore cruising at all in these boats, but does anyone have good experience of the performance of the hulls in slightly dodgy conditions, has anyone cruised extensively off shore in one, I am aware that Broom make boats for both inland waterways and off shore use, and am keen to find out if the off shore models are up to the job out at sea.

 

[stuartwineberg]

Good Boats

Broom are high quality semi-displacement boats with good seagoing qualities. In the Hardy and Aquastar class as a very broad generalisation. The only thing to watch is that, as you say, many were made for inland use and have smaller engines. For offshore work you need the bigger engines that will get them up as far on the plane as they can go.

The main character of them from an internal design point of view is that they always have just one steering position from a semi enclosed flybridge and that creates massive space down below. I have looked at them many times and my only hesitation is that it seems a heck of a long way down from the steering position to the waterline at the aft end - I always feel I need a rope and crampons.

As always just my opinion and if an owner comes on here their thoughts will carry more weight

 

[aquapower]

Broom are high quality semi-displacement boats with good seagoing qualities

Planing hulls as well, ask for a sea trial you won't be disappointed

 

[paul salliss]

Thank you Stuart, good advice

 

[Greg2]

Paul,
There is another thread about boats in Force 5 + conditions, which mentions Brooms. In short good boats for sea keeping. Ours is a 41 with a planing hull and early indications are that it is a very capable boat.

 

[Elessar]

I have no experience of off shore cruising at all in these boats, but does anyone have good experience of the performance of the hulls in slightly dodgy conditions, has anyone cruised extensively off shore in one, I am aware that Broom make boats for both inland waterways and off shore use, and am keen to find out if the off shore models are up to the job out at sea.

According to my next berth neighbour, a broom 36 uses 2.5 times more diesel than my sealine 37. Yes it's heavier and more spacious, but even so that's a huge differential.
There is something I like about brooms though, and my wife loves them.

 

[tico]

Doesn't 'ocean froggie' poster hereabouts have a Broom?

 

[oldgit]

Older boat comment.

Comparison is between my present boat which has the old Broom 37 hull and a previous early Princess 33.
The Broom definately gives a more comfortable softer and predicable ride in both a long swell and a steep sea chop.
At slower speeds the fuel consumption between the heavier Broom and the Princess was not that significant, comparing the fuel logs,2 years for the Broom and the 8 years we owned the Princess.
We do not tend to go anywhere quickly

 

[mersey]

I've been out in my Broom in a F6+, no problem at all..

 

[Wavey]

PM me your email address Paul and I'll send you the full report on the Broom I've got. It's about 5Mb.

What era of Brooms are you thinking about or are you asking about Brooms in general? I could bore you silly with the story of my baptism of fire on board a 37 crossing the channel in a F8/F9 when I was 14

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

We cruised our 1991 37 (planing hull) all over the E Channel and she was an excellent seaboat in all conditions. As I mentioned in your other thread, Broom planing hulls tended to have a vestigial keel which Broom designed in to aid tracking at inland waterway speeds. I found that our 37 wandered a little in a big following sea which I put down to the keel. Nothing to worry about only that I preferred to steer by hand rather than leave it to the autopilot in these conditions. On the other hand, the keel and the relatively low windage made our 37 a doddle to handle in a marina. I also think that the relatively heavy weight of Broom boats helps them feel more secure at sea
Somewhere in the MBM/MBY archive there is a feature on 2 Brooms (37 and 39 I believe) doing a circumnavigation around the UK and that's worth a read if you can get hold of a copy

 

[Imperial One]

Don't forget to look at the Atlantic 42 and other models in their range. These are very good boats and are excellent in big seas. Yes, I am a bit biased as we used to be the UK main dealer for them but we also sold a lot of them to owners who had migrated from Brooms. Nothing wrong with Brooms at all, good solid boat with the larger engines very capable at sea in most conditions. I have sold many after taking them in part exchange.
Speak to an Atlantic owner about rough weather conditions rather than take my word for it......brilliant!
Atlantic level of fit out and general behind the scenes equipment is above average as well. I currently have 2x38, 1x42 and a 444 on offer so see my website, PM or call me for more info.

 

[DTIM]

NYA have a nice nearly new 450/455 for sale at moment. Seems well discounted although I havent compared prices. Looks the ideal boat for UK cruising.

 

[stuartwineberg]

Keel

We cruised our 1991 37 (planing hull) all over the E Channel and she was an excellent seaboat in all conditions. As I mentioned in your other thread, Broom planing hulls tended to have a vestigial keel which Broom designed in to aid tracking at inland waterway speeds. I found that our 37 wandered a little in a big following sea which I put down to the keel. Nothing to worry about only that I preferred to steer by hand rather than leave it to the autopilot in these conditions. On the other hand, the keel and the relatively low windage made our 37 a doddle to handle in a marina. I also think that the relatively heavy weight of Broom boats helps them feel more secure at sea
Somewhere in the MBM/MBY archive there is a feature on 2 Brooms (37 and 39 I believe) doing a circumnavigation around the UK and that's worth a read if you can get hold of a copy

Interesting comment about the keel. My Hardy 36 had the same configuration and my actions were the same as yours. In a head sea the autopilot kept her on course in a way I couldn't but with a following or quartering sea, I was able to predict the slight swerve before it happened and so always steered by hand

 

[oceanfroggie]

We have cruised the exposed Atlantic south west coast of Ireland for the past 7 years in a Broom 38 CL, as well as inland on the vast Shannon loughs. Copes well with the Atlantic swell. The hull has proven economic for our purposes at 10gph for 16kt economic planing speeds and 2gph for 7.5kt displacement speeds inland. She's happy at 22kt but we never use her at that speed unless there is a very good reason.

We have cruised around the Irish coast many times and always felt very secure in all weather. An F6 wind against tide passage back in 2005 convinced me this boat was the one for our family. Twice she has traversed lough Derg in F8, and once in Dingle bay. Unpleasant but felt secure the hull would ride it safely. Generally we set the bar at F4-5 but on some of our long 12hr passages but we've got caught in unforecast worsening weather the odd time. Most our trips though were planned for 3-4.

The hull suits this coast and the boat layout our weather. Huge internal living space with an aft cabin rivalling many 50ft'er master cabins. We have twin Yanmar 250hp. When buying we explicitly ruled out volvo powered variants. The hulls are heavier but worth it for our chosen cruising area and weather. If on the med I'd have a different type of craft but for here the strong SD hull has proven well. She can take a thumping in her stride, but is bliss in fine weather and at low speeds.

 

[Elessar]

The hull has proven economic for our purposes at 10gph for 16kt economic planing speeds and 2gph for 7.5kt displacement speeds inland. She's happy at 22kt but we never use her at that speed unless there is a very good reason.

That's brilliant - 2.8 litres mile. Better than my S37 and rather better than the 10 litres per mile the broom 36 that was next to me - on yanmars - reports. Your D speed figures are spookily low though - is that not per engine???

 

[oceanfroggie]

Both engines. The advantage of larger engines (ie for that hull size) is very economic at low revs and D speeds. The yanmars wot is 4000rpm so phutting along at 1400 rpm with 6cyl engines, she is soooo quite. Even on some long coastal runs when the WX was particularly nice we enjoyed some really amazing passages at D speeds. By contrast barreling along at 20kt atop a beam on F6 southerly sea felt like she was on hilly railway tracks. That's where the SD hull design helps as well as low speed maneouvering.

 

[SaltyCod]

I have no experience of off shore cruising at all in these boats, but does anyone have good experience of the performance of the hulls in slightly dodgy conditions, has anyone cruised extensively off shore in one, I am aware that Broom make boats for both inland waterways and off shore use, and am keen to find out if the off shore models are up to the job out at sea.

Paul.

We have a Broom 415OS, she has proved to brilliant boat in heavy seas the small skeg keel makes for very soft ride and gives plenty of grip in marina's in windy conditions. Similar to a Nelson but much dryer ).

We have had larger fly bridge boats eg. Fairline Phantoms and F43 which we also found to be good rough weather boats but find the Broom more comfortable easy to handle when single handed (no steps).

 

[paul salliss]

I am interested in the detail of why Ocean Froggie did not go for Volvo. If I could speak to Ocean Froggie that would be good. you can get me via Paul.salliss@btinternet.com

 

[Wavey]

I'm curious to know the reason too. When we were looking for a CL last year there wasn't a single boat for sale with the Volvos. In fact I didn't know they were an option until I managed to get hold of an original price list. I still haven't seen any 42CLs for sale with Volvos. They've all got Yanmars with most opting for the 350s.