Motor Boat & Yachting – August 2019

Based on the Norfolk Broads,
Broom dates back to the early
1900s. In the late 1960s the
company started experimenting
with GRP, and the fi rst boat
designed to be built in GRP was
a 37-footer from the pen of John
Bennett. The Broom 37 Continental
launched in 1968, segueing into
the 37 Crown in 1978. The Ocean
37 version launched in 1969
under the Aquafi bre banner
(a joint venture GRP moulding
centre operated by several
Broads builders until it was
bought by Broom).

INTERIOR
The aft cabin layout of the Ocean
37 means the accommodation
runs the full length of the vessel.

It sleeps six in two separate cabins

(one each end of the boat) plus a

converting saloon. Interestingly,

the galley is tucked behind the aft

port corner of the saloon one step

down, keeping it separate but

linked. A lower helm offers

comfortable all-weather boating.

EXTERIOR

The big difference between the

Ocean 37 and the superfi cially

similar Continental 37 is the

continuation of the low side decks

around and behind the aft cabin,

making this an easy boat to work

(on the Continental, the raised aft

deck is full beam). A low fl oor in

the saloon keeps the roof height

down, allowing the exterior helm

to go on the aft deck rather than

needing a fl ybridge, reducing air

draught for inland cruising.

PERFORMANCE

Broom fi tted twin Perkins HT 6.354

shaft drive engines rated from

115hp-185hp each, specifi cally

chosen for their low height in

order to make that low saloon fl oor

possible (in fact the Ocean 37

ceased in 1984 as a result of

Perkins dropping this particular

unit). The largest engines would

push the boats to 20 knots but

were less suitable for low speed

inland running. As a result, the

vast majority got the 145hp

variants fi tted to this boat, which

give about 15 knots fl at out.

SEAKEEPING

Something of a hybrid design,

the Ocean 37 (as the name

suggests) was designed to

venture offshore as well as ditch

crawl. So the hull has a three-

quarter-length keel but also runs

nicely offshore, albeit with quite

a wet ride when pushing into

choppy conditions.

LOA 37ft 0in (11.3m) Beam 12ft 4in (3.8m) Draught 3ft 0in (0.9m)

Displacement 8 tonnes Fuel capacity 757 litres

Engines Twin Perkins HT6.354 diesel

FOR SALE Boat Showrooms; http://www.boatshowrooms.com

BROOM OCEAN 37

FIND ME A SECONDHAND...

BUILT 1975 PRICE £34,950

The saloon dinette converts
into a double berth so six
people can sleep on board

The forward guest cabin

complements an even bigger

master cabin at the stern