Fairline Carrera & Hinging the Radar Arch

[RCKWilson]

I have just purchased a Carrera 24 1989 with a radar arch. I believe that it will need to be hinged for some low bridges. Does anyone have experience of getting this job done and to costs.
I would like also like to know from anyone that is familiar with the Nene if they could advise me if it is still the case and where the bridges are located.

Any advice on this is very much appreciated as it is our first boat!

Thanks.

 

[TrueBlue]

B1 - I think he's asking about the Nene (buried deep in the post).

Being (boating wise) vertically challenged, and so not concerned with scraping the top, my recollection of that river two years ago that it is the guillotine bottom lock gates that are the concern?

My guide is on the boat (or lost) at the moment so I can't check.
The EA does a map of the river, but it says no more than there are height gauges where appropriate (norra lot of help!).
I have a copy of their plan for the future fronted by a picture of a N*****B**t with a nice low stone bridge in the background.

Not much help I'm afraid.

 

[joejo]

I spent 8 years on the Nene between 1990 - 1998 moored at Peterborough Yacht Club. It is indeed a very unsopilt , in many places very pretty, and little used river [compared to the Thames]
You do need a low air draft boat though. From memory Fotheringhay bridge is the lowest at around 2m but a bigger challenge is probably the locks. Their are 39 of them and most, if not all, are of a guillotine type which in effect makes every one a bridge as well.
Again from memory Yarwell lock is very low, and it is a river where levels can change many inches in a few hours, again affecting air draft at locks. I had a Seamaster 23 at this time and have memories of having to drop the screen at times to get under the guillotine lock at Yarwell.

Good luck with your new boat, and if you are going to be River Nene based approach one of the clubs, or the Association of Nene River Clubs [ANRC] who will provide you with a wealth of information.

 

[boatone]

Deleted my previous - really must try to read things more carefully !

River Nene Bridges

 

[TrueBlue]

Deleted my previous - really must try to read things more carefully !

River Nene Bridges

DUH!

Wonder why that (logically named site) didn't come up when I googled it earlier in the year!!

Thanks B1, I've now bookmarked it.

 

[oldgit]

I have just purchased a Carrera 24 1989 with a radar arch. I believe that it will need to be hinged for some low bridges. Does anyone have experience of getting this job done and to costs.
I would like also like to know from anyone that is familiar with the Nene if they could advise me if it is still the case and where the bridges are located.

Any advice on this is very much appreciated as it is our first boat!

Thanks.

My chum had the glass fibre arch hinged on his Fairline Bravo,total cost was around £1000,give or take some hinge/ram modifications as the job progressed.
He tried in quick succession lowering the arch by hand,then finally with some proper electric rams.

 

[coliholic]

I'm not too familiar with the Nene but if you don't feel up to carrying out the hinging mod yourself Jones's at St Ives on the Ouse and Crosshall Marine in St Neots, again on the Ouse could do the work for you.

Although if you're mooring at Fairline in Oundle, they might have a vague idea how to do the job. Not sure what their charges are like though.

Just a thought though, do you really need radar on the Nene?

 

[RCKWilson]

No don't need the radar arch but is useful for holding the canopy up!

Perhaps I could unbolt it and replace with some other fixing.

 

[TrueBlue]

Don't forget that the height is the highest point of the bridge, and some of the ancient bridges are quite "curvy".

it might be quite tight on either side - if the hinge point is high up on the superstructure....

 

[JKay]

I have just purchased a Carrera 24 1989 with a radar arch. I believe that it will need to be hinged for some low bridges. Does anyone have experience of getting this job done and to costs.
I would like also like to know from anyone that is familiar with the Nene if they could advise me if it is still the case and where the bridges are located.

Any advice on this is very much appreciated as it is our first boat!

Thanks.

I've got a Carrera and the radar arch is about 2.75 metres so I would get it hinged for the river where you are
With regard to your fuel consumption question elsewhere,if you go over the hull speed about 6 mph then you'll waste a lot of fuel stick to 5-5 mph and I'd think about a gallon to a gallon and a half per hour
use a gps to check your speed and be aware how flow affects your revs/speed

 

[yacht surveyor]

There may be some ideas in this (rather flash) and neat solution to the problem.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_4Z8Lne_dE

A bit spendy I would guess!

Martin

 

[oldgit]

Only bought half a boat ?.... ask for your your money back.

Shame they are up top freezing their bits off.....had they bought a half decent boat it would have come with a downstairs steering wheel as standard.
Still suspect before long one of the Thames tent makers will get a call requesting the erection of hideous tangle of chrome pipe complete with a blue canvas yurt held togther with velcro to keep out the worst of the winter winds.