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Cpt JakBrown
Ireland
9 Posts |
 Posted - 05 Nov 2012 : 17:36:06
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| Hi everybody, I bought a NC 23ft as a project and have consequently got it ready for launching next season. I have had the transom rebuilt in order to house the new 60hp 2 stroke mariner engine. I am planning on using it in the Galway Bay over on the west coast of Ireland, and was wondering how seaworthy this boat is. I am not planning to use it in rough conditions, but I would just like some advice and knowledge from other people. Thanks in advance, Sincerely Jak Brown. |
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df
United Kingdom
5994 Posts |
Posted - 05 Nov 2012 : 18:39:43
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Welcome to the nuthouse Jak, I would stick to very calm conditions only with a good weather forecast in a norman 23, I'm not sure the light coastal description realy covers the irish west coast, I would imagine it can get pretty lively out there even in the relative shelter of the bay, they were realy built for canals and rivers.
The other question to remember to ask is how seaworthy is the skipper/crew?
NBAS--The communal colostomy bag of the boating community.
Visit leomagill.co.uk |
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Cpt JakBrown
Ireland
9 Posts |
Posted - 05 Nov 2012 : 19:09:46
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| Thanks for your reply :) I was looking on the page "A brief history of NOrman Boats", an on there it says engine recommendations for using the boats on coastal waters! I know the Hull is not the most suitable shape for seagoing, however in calm waters do you think it will be ok with a confident skipper, and no intentions of going too far, I would like to use her for leisure and inner coastal fishing without venturing out of the bay really, except a possible trip over to the islands! Is there anything that I could do to perhaps make her more seaworthy (ballast weight etc) ? Any help greatly received, thanks a million |
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df
United Kingdom
5994 Posts |
Posted - 05 Nov 2012 : 22:47:23
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Should be ok in calm water, ballast would be a thing for experimentaion.
Someone on here (I forget who) did take one out in the thames estuary with no problems, I nearly got knocked over in my rlm earlier this year going into wells next the sea, I recon a norman 23 would have been flipped right over.
Have plenty of safety gear, life jackets/vhf/flares/clean underwear and the like.
NBAS--The communal colostomy bag of the boating community.
Visit leomagill.co.uk |
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Peter Walker
United Kingdom
58 Posts |
Posted - 06 Nov 2012 : 13:21:40
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Jak
Apart from absolute stability, and all the safety gear and a sea-worthy crew, I reckon the next issue is the seaworthiness of the fit out both in the cockpit and below decks. I don't mean to scare you but the guy who taught me to sail used to say, "Go below decks and ask yourself what would happen if this cabin was turned upside down, everything needs to be fixed or locked, people have been killed in storms by tins of food that flew out of the lockers!" Even without going to sea in a storm you really need to look at your fit out defensively. Folks rarely bother even to tie down their batteries until the BSS examiner is coming, but if you get into rough weather at sea everything needs fixing (don't forget the sole boards on the floor, and the porta potti!). The same applies in the cockpit, my N22 has loose sole boards in the cockpit and loose locker tops along the sides, I have a loose anchor under one of the seats etc.
The other issue in rough weather is what you do about large amounts of water chucked onto and into the boat. Could your windows withstand the force of somebody repeatedly chucking buckets of water? And how would you get rid of water that ended up in the bottom of the cockpit. There is quite a lot of room under the sole in most cockpit fit outs, you could get a very large weight of water down there before the boards even floated. It would take a major rebuild to form a self draining cockpit! So you would have to rely on (multiple) bilge pumps (manual and electric) plus some buckets.
Finally I would suggest you need to include some strong anchor points to allow the crew to clip on safety lines for those bits like crossing a harbour bar where you know there is risk of being thrown overboard.
Having said all of that I would be happy enough to try a Norman in less than force 3 winds and only a slight swell in sheltered water.
Peter
Norman 22 on the river Avon, Warwickshire |
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Cpt JakBrown
Ireland
9 Posts |
Posted - 17 Nov 2012 : 15:54:46
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Thank you so much for your reply, sorry I have only just checked the page again. Ok so I have had the back of the boat rebuilt in order to prevent any waves from entering the boat at the rear and getting any further than the engine bay. I will definitely ensure that everything is securely fastened down including floor boarding, batteries, anchor, table, toilet etc etc. I will definitely experiment with ballast weight as I have heard from a friend with a similar cruiser that this has greatly benefited his 22 (on the sea). Are there any other considerations I should look at before launching the beauty in March? It will have a VHF radio and all other fittings aswell. It does not however have any bilge pumps, essential I am sure? Finally, does anybody have any idea as to how much a NOrman 23 could sell for.
Also, any ideas how fast it would be withe the 60hp 2 stroke running at full compression.
With a newly built transom and extension to prevent any water entering from the rear, a 60hp mariner engine, reasonably nice cabin, newly painted outside, with a canopy, with a decent trailer etc etc..
Any estimates would be greatly appreciated
Jak |
Edited by - Cpt JakBrown on 17 Nov 2012 16:24:09 |
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Knighty
United Kingdom
654 Posts |
Posted - 17 Nov 2012 : 18:21:46
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On prices for a 23 i think an older boat is all about condition and whatever you can get for it, if you look on eBay they vary from 99p start with no reserve, buy it now for £800 for a boat wanting a refurb and a sorted boat for £4500.
Other sites anything up to £7,500.
http://motorboats.apolloduck.co.uk/boats.phtml?id=16&mi=1355
There is a rogue Colomn Craft in there though 
edit...rogue not a red/rouge boat  |
Edited by - Knighty on 18 Nov 2012 08:15:58 |
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adi-n-chez
United Kingdom
1980 Posts |
Posted - 17 Nov 2012 : 21:18:15
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quote:
http://motorboats.apolloduck.co.uk/boats.phtml?id=16&mi=1355
There is a rouge Colomn Craft in there though
Oops - Spent a minute looking for a reddish purple Callum  
Also a teal disguised as a Norman in there.
Adi
Sewer Tubes ? I'd rather have a D**ncr*ft (Only Kidding) |
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Peter Walker
United Kingdom
58 Posts |
Posted - 17 Nov 2012 : 21:32:50
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Jak
My only other suggestion is, if you want to go to sea for the first time, go and do an RYA course (Day Skipper Motor Boating theory and practical would be where I would start.)
Enjoy it
Peter
Norman 22 on the river Avon, Warwickshire |
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Cpt JakBrown
Ireland
9 Posts |
Posted - 19 Nov 2012 : 16:16:56
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Thanks for all your help and suggestions, really appreciate it!! Just wondering if anybody has had any experiences of using them on the sea at all? (IE coastal waters). So would this boat be more usable if I transferred her to Lough Corrib (a vast Lough on Irelands West Coast).
Cheers |
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df
United Kingdom
5994 Posts |
Posted - 19 Nov 2012 : 18:47:46
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quote:
So would this boat be more usable if I transferred her to Lough Corrib (a vast Lough on Irelands West Coast).
Sounds much more like norman territory, I've just had a quick google and it looks like some fantastic boating to be had there, I bet there will still be times you will prefer to stay well and truly moored in high winds.
I'd love to get mine on the shannon and loughs for a season but don't fancy the trip around the coast to get there or the lorry hire.
NBAS--The communal colostomy bag of the boating community.
Visit leomagill.co.uk |
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Cpt JakBrown
Ireland
9 Posts |
Posted - 19 Nov 2012 : 19:19:27
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| The only issue is, that I do not have a mooring for the Corrib, and I am sure it is expensive, whereas on the sea it is free to moor the boat in "The Claddagh" (a small dock a little bit up the river corrib, protected from a great deal of the weather). It would mean really only being able to use the boat when I could get somebody to drive the boat to a slipway on the Lough, and moving that boat is not the easiest of tasks!! Ahh I wish I had known more about hull shapes before buying her specifically for sea use! I guess its a lesson learned, and I am still going to make a go of her in the Galway Bay next season, I will just have to be highly concious of the weather and potential weather moving in. It has cost quite a few thousand Euros now to get her to the 'ready' stage, although now shes there I am certainly looking forward to using her for fishing and pottering! Do you have any idea about hull speed for a Norman 23? Is it a planing hull also? |
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Cpt JakBrown
Ireland
9 Posts |
Posted - 19 Nov 2012 : 23:46:48
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| Hi everybody, sorry to be constantly asking questions but I am just trying to find out as much valuable information as possible, so I can keep improving my beautiful "Big Baba". I was wondering if anybody knows where I would be able to pick up a full outfit of cushions for my Norman 23. I have all of the ones that came with the boat (fake black leather) however they got wet and the previous owner just let them get mouldy and smelly, and even after a good clean I still feel as though it would be greatly benefit from some new ones, Could anybody please reccommend me a place for New / good second hand ones in UK or Ireland... Much appreciated |
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df
United Kingdom
5994 Posts |
Posted - 20 Nov 2012 : 07:42:06
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You'll be talking to your local upholsterer then, sit down when he gives you the price....
Go for fully synthetic materials if you can as they hold the damp less.
NBAS--The communal colostomy bag of the boating community.
Visit leomagill.co.uk |
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Sonny
United Kingdom
191 Posts |
Posted - 20 Nov 2012 : 13:26:01
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| we have just replaced all the foam in our 23 using E-foam on the net the price approx for the front three base cushions came to £150 in extra firm 4" thick foam and another £100 for a 3 seat plus back rest for the Port side seat. I have been quoted £25 per seat plus materials to cover them but we haven't got that far yet.(Christmas pressy for the wife/captain !) |
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Cpt JakBrown
Ireland
9 Posts |
Posted - 20 Nov 2012 : 15:02:04
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| Thank you Very much for your useful and helpful reply.....Going to continue to being a costly venture ay. Its never ending is it! what about the seats on the starboard side where the table / 2nd bed is? or was that included there. So your basically looking at around 400-£500, a bit more than I was expecting, just like everything else to do with owning a boat :) Does anybody ever make their money back on investments in boating? :D |
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Topic |
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Help with my Norman Cruiser 23 please :)
