Thanks for posting the photo of the barge build, gives me some ideas.... I have some tugs in progress, but no barges. I like the way you framed the hull. Joe

This boat developed a very noisy stuffing box even though it had marine grease. After a more careful inspection I discovered the gentleman who built it 25 years ago, had mounted the motor in a way that was not inline with the shaft. After running the boat for awhile the inner noise became more like annoying. The older universal used a flexible spring between the couplers. See photo.

I cut a nylon dog bone which was then inserted into a brass tube. Glued with super glue to make an extended universal. Next will be aligning the motor with the shaft and creating a new motor mount.

Many thanks Guys, yes we did a trial business in 2016, to test the market 'Broadland Classics'. The initial runs sold with real enthusiasm, and reported back to us the best they had ever had as kits, however, sadly, my own failure was being far to fussy on getting every kit out more than perfect, and treating the kits as so individual to every customer per real commissions, that I slowed down the production process massively, thus creating self worries on demands, which I became concerned if we could not keep up with supply. We were so lucky to have gained the original lines plans from these classics life sized craft, but I had to make a decision, and following our one year trial, ceased, which I recognise broke many potential customers hearts. I was simply not prepared to do mass production in the sense of same, same. Every customer to us had to have their kits as though the real thing, beyond perfect,a commissioned kit if you like. I know perhaps crazy, but there you go, it is what we strived for and just took far longer than any other kit manufacturer to produce.
We are looking at way of perhaps re-producing the kits that people may enjoy, or even do commissions, but just need to carefully think it all through one final time. Being we have the complete rights to the designs in model form, there is no rush from our part against competition, and of course only we know every real detail imposed on the real Broads craft to relay to every kit.
Lots to think about all over again, but it has finally come to light following lots of enquiries of our kits, that we simply wanted to show them in their pride and glory here.
Cheers to you all.

I have only just come across these build photos and must say I really do admire both yachts the one shown sailing with the dinghy behind it particularly. I am not surprised that you were overwhelmed with request to buy the kits, to me they are simply lovely. I have a friend who purchased a real one some years ago and had it shipped to Leics and it was on the River Soar, lovely thing with a cabin roof that could be raised for headroom and canvas cabin sides.
I am sure there would be lots of interest if you resumed production.
Best regards Chris G

Many thanks Richard indeed. Yes, decades of knowing these craft in real form and the designers and builders right back has hugely helped us of course gain such a first class reputation of precise detail. However, like all these things, such has not come without heartache, where in running up a one year purposeful trial as a manufacturing business for these, I simply failed in being far too much of a perfectionist, and this took too long in getting every kit out. Although we perfected the trial run on time for every customer, we realised it could not continue without mass stress for a sustained period of years, and so sadly had to pull the plug on the purposeful trial, much to the disappointment of many potential customers. Broke our hearts too, but then, what were we to do, our pride told us to pull back before running up a full production.

Just wondered if you had come across the Sanderling cabin cruisers build by sander brothers of Readham. I hired one in 1990 for a week on the broads. I don’t think the brothers are now in the business anymore.Beautiful little boat.

Hello,
Really nice looking build, great detail. Did you make the rope fenders?

Very inspiring, I may have to give a cabin cruiser a try.
Joe