Brooms - Which one

[nickyg]

I have been looking at the Broom 35 European, Ocean 37, and Broom Continentals which one is best ie engine access, comfort etc.
Most of the time is spent on the river so do not need big engines, and sooting up probs.
Spending up to 60k
Look forward to the replies.
Nick

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[enob]

Hi Nick,
All the models listed are great all round boats designed for cruising the continental waterways - hence the names. Most have turbo charged diesels which give reasonable performance at sea - around 15 - 17 kts. Which rivers will you use her on? Thames has painfull 4 kts speed limit which can give you problems. Do you want a smoking or non smoking boat? The 37s mainly had turbo Perkins 145/175 hp which are great but smoke like hell so not popular at Henley! Best bet if not worried about speed is the 35 european with 120 hp Fords. Watch out for ex-hire boats fitted with smaller engines (There is currently one 4 sale with 80s) as hull is not designed for sea use etc. A few were fitted with Volvo tmd 40s which dont smoke but costs a fortune in spares!

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[Renegade_Master]

Nicky, enob's comments generally wise, would just say that my Broom 37 Crown (currently up for sale if you could stretch some) has twin HT6354 150hp perkins, when I brought her down to the sea after previous owner had her on the river for 16 yrs, fully expected glazed bores or something like that.

Had no probs, and she is a good sea boat, a bit wet on the nose.
The Perkins like a lot of engines smoke on start up, but once warm no real problem from smoke. Dont think the previous owner would have survived for 16 yrs had there been.
Excellent river boats, handle brilliantly, I could go up and down through locks single handed, the aft helm making it so easy to step over to the stern rope, and the boat grips the water so well cos of the large keel and shafts.



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[blueglass]

Hi,
Also interested in Brooms for the semi displacement low windage etc advantages in close manouvering, yet reasonable turn of speed at sea. I would be looking at something in the order of 75% seaboat and 25% inland waterways. Would you recommend them for that kind of usage?

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[Renegade_Master]

Re: Blueglas

Hi Blueglas, I have owned a Brown Crown 37 for several years now, and clocked up over 3000nm. The points you make are most valid, i.e. the keel / semi dis makes low speed manouvering a doddle, plus accomodation and build quality excellent.
My 3000nm were mostly at sea on south coast, probably 90%, and yes they are very good river boats, due to semi-dis/keel, and ease of use in locks via the aft helm. Less restrictive than a flybridge and of course lower air draft.

As it so happens I have moved abroad and I am selling the Crown. She is known to several forumites if you need a reference. Seriously if your interested please PM me. CGN

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