Motor Boat & Yachting - January 2016 UK

1

My nav gear still works – does it need

replacing regardless?

The last three years have seen a huge

leap in user-friendly software and hardware so

it may be worth it even if you usually follow the

‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ school of thought.

Think how often you upgrade your phone!

2

Can I add a new chartplotter to my

existing electronics?

You can usually integrate your existing

instruments and autopilots into a new

chartplotter but may need to replace older

analogue radars with a digital one.

3

How often should I update the chart

in my plotter?

Ideally every year but first it’s worth

asking your yacht club or marina whether there

have been any significant changes in your local

cruising area. Most software manufacturers offer

a heavily discounted rate for updating charts –

making it a handy annual stocking-filler!

4

What if my AIS stops working?

Make sure you haven’t switched it on

to silent mode then check the power

breaker, the transceiver connection, the

dedicated VHF antenna and the splitter. If the

AIS is not receiving, an SWR (Standing Wave

Ratio) check should show loss of resistance in

the antenna or cabling, the mast base being a

weak point where the cable may rub.

LONDON CALLING

My wife and I are thinking of coming down to

the London Boat Show at Excel for the first

time next month – can you give me

some tips? Can I get a hotel for

under £120? Stephen Stoker

Go during the week to avoid the

crowds and try to be there for

the late opening on the

Thursday (January 14), which

always has a great atmosphere.

The nearest hotel to Excel with

rooms still available at the time of going

to press is the IBIS at Victoria Dock but rooms

start at around £145 per night. For £100 per

night you can stay at the North Greenwich

Holiday Inn, it’s on the wrong side of the

Thames but you can cross over to Excel via

the Emirates Air Line cable car. If neither of

those suit, then the London Boat Show’s

official partner http://www.miceconcierge.com can

offer plenty more deals.

However, if you are prepared to look

beyond the obvious, you can get great value

by renting a Docklands apartment through

http://www.airbnb.co.uk. Prices start at £102 per

night, many properties will let you book for

just the one night and you have the flexibility

of cooking in if you prefer.

One more tip – if your credit card can make

contactless payments, you can now use it to

ride the DLR, cable car, tube and buses

without needing to buy an Oyster card.

Chris Jefferies

BOATING BASICS

We’ve sold our sailing yacht and I’m feeling

bereft, so am considering buying a motor boat

but know nothing about them.

I’d be looking for something to cruise the

West Coast of Scotland on, doing about 20-40

miles a day then anchoring for a few days and

being aboard for stretches of two to three

weeks at a time. It needs space for the two of

us plus the dog, occasional guests and decent

galley facilities too.

I’d like trips to be quicker than on our

sailboat but still have time to look around so

a cruising speed of around 12 knots or so

(semi displacement?) and don’t want

anything bigger than nine metres. The killer

is the budget – around £30-40k. Any ideas

please? Bill McGonagle

With your list of requirements and budget I

would be looking at either the Jeanneau

Merry Fisher 925 or Bénéteau Antares 9. Both

have dependable semi-displacement hulls,

solid single D4 Volvo Penta diesel engines and

a fine reputation for reliable, cost efficient,

year-round cruising boats.

Both have two cabins and deep, safe

cockpits plus upper driving positions so you

can helm outside if the weather is right or

drive from the wheelhouse if it isn’t.

Ones you’re looking at will be around ten

years old and still may a be a touch over

budget, though I did find one in Jersey for

£39k. The build quality is more functional than

flash but these are solid boats. Jack Haines

Visiting the London boat show; motor boat suggestions

YOUR QUESTIONS

ASKMBY

Top tips to make the

most of your visit to

the London Boat Show

NEWTECH TRIED&TESTED OURBOATS BOATSKILLS USEDBOAT FINDME A USED

GOT A

QUESTION?

EMAIL US!

[email protected]

It’s much cheaper to

change your dated

nav gear (above)

than buy an all

new-boat (right)

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Updating nav gear

Visit

http://www.mby.com/berthon

or contact Berthon’s

Electronics Manager, Henry

Castledine, to arrange a consultation:

+44 (0)1590 647411

BOAT MASTER ASKMBY

JANUARY 2016 77