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The "Your Normans" page has so much on it that it takes many an hour to get to the bottom!!

This is about "Molegrip", previously "Kingfisher". So named to recognise John's skills with said tool !

John and Jane are completely refurbishing the boat and what follows are John's contributions and pictures.

Only moved the boat once and that was from Castle Marina in Nottingham to Derby Motor Boat Club next to Sawley. Trip was good but boat ran a little warm. Already had raw water pump changed but will be checking to see if engine ports are blocked.
The engine is a Petrol Ford Anglia 1300cc. I do not know what type of drive system its got - may be informed on surveyors report.
I have met a marine mechanic who was very helpful so I will Quiz him to find out more. The Boat is currently named Kingfisher but will be changed to Molegrip which is my nickname since my profession is a plumber/heating/gas engineer and I collect Moles ( not Real Ones only figurines). We have in the past purchased and refitted caravans so hopefully with careful planning and help from people like yourself will do the same with the boat.

Molegrip not moved forward much. Completely striped interior and found a leak on sender unit to depth sounder. Gutted wiring from boat and have started replacing it - together with new fuse board.
Going to boat Saturday afternoon & Sunday to find a second leak.
I can now supply some pictures of the works we have carried out so far. It was in a bit of a state when we had it so we have gutted the inside of the cabin and cockpit. Re-wired completely and fitted new fuse board. Removed unused petrol tank, scraped and sanded old anti-fouling back to GRP and just completed priming and anti-fouling as the pictures show.

Since our last report we decided to re-paint the complete hull (both undercoat and top coat applied). Removed wooden rubbing strakes and replaced with new hardwood version. Removed all existing screws from previous plastic rubbing strake and filled ready for fitting a new one (now completed). Sanded Z drive, undercoated and top coated. Removed steel front protection strip and replaced with aluminium. Finally last weekend we renamed the boat "Molegrip". This weekend some more coats of varnish to wooden rubbing strake (weather permitting), last coat of Z drive together with some general cleaning and an application of Mer polish along with finishing touches of new ventilation grills.

After this weekend the hull will be completely finished and ready to go back into the water next weekend to start on the interior and upper exterior.

These detailed interior pictures are of Chris's "Silver Stream. Good resource for those of you curious about general and typical layouts. Mine seems to be different to most in that my toilet compartment is between the dinette and front cabin but otherwise very similar.

Hoping to get some exterior shots of "Silver Stream" too. Cracking looking canopy too !

This is Barry's Norman 20. Unnamed as yet and a bit to do ! Lets hope we get some more as the work progresses.

Dave Flint has sent these in response to my pleas for inside pictures. Not sure if its a genuine "marine" bottle of ale !

Here we have Ray and Sandy's Norman 23, "Freya". The "before & after" pictures just show what a transformation work on the hull can make.

"Just an update on my Norman 23. this has been one of those projects which seems to have no end in sight, then all at once everything just comes together, and last weekend we took Freya for our first cruise up the Thames through Reading.
It was well worth the 2 1/2 years work, blood, sweat, tears and swearing. One of those rare moments. Thanks to your website she has a new Coverit canopy.
The only original parts not replaced are the rear bulkhead wall and door, Everything else I made. ( Never done woodwork before.) Still more work to do to the exterior though. I will send more pics when done. ( I know, a boat is never finished.)"

This is really impressive, The first photo is a three stage combination and is, therefore, a biggish file but worth a look at. The transformation is amazing and should serve as encouragement for those that are a tad intimidated by the look of the job in hand !!

Marilyn has taken the hint and sent some pictures of the interior nature of "Foxy Lady". If there appears to be a slope, its down to "Mums" sand in the bows!!!

Here are a couple of photo's of the inside. Unfortunately I did not take any before work began. The interior was pretty tidy but it had all been painted with the most awful brown gloss paint. There wasn't a bit of varnished wood left. Without going into a major re-fit I have spent a deal of time in Wilkos and B&Q and have managed to improve things no end. Lemon cupboard paint has covered up the brown gloss and the old vinyl cushions have been covered with lilac fleece fabric -easy to wash and kinder to the bum than plastic. Nothing very clever in the upholstery front, I have just made loose covers that slip on like pillow cases but it seems to have done the trick.

The beige colour of the galley units and loo door was chosen by the previous owner and is done in Ronseal paint and grain. This is not a bad product but it hasn't been top coated with a clear varnish and so it is a bit chipped. The colour may change, we'll see.

The galley worktop and splash back have been tiled. At first sight this seems like a good idea until winter comes and you get lots of condensation on the tiles - stands to reason. You only have to steam your bathroom up to see what happens. Taking this lot out would involve major work and I want to use the boat so it is going to stay. I have taken some of the "cold" off by using that lovely, rubbery, not slip matting.

I have started to introduce some varnished wood into the interior again but in the form of accessories. The little drawer unit on the worktop and the tall unit adjacent to it on the floor are beech ply office bits and bobs. They have come up really well with 3 coats of dark oak gloss varnish and I am very pleased with them. The tall drawers are big enough to store tee-shirts, knickers and socks etc when on the boat for a few days. Easier than having to lift the seat cushions to access the stowage beneath.

The large under worktop cupboard beside the standing drawer pack houses some shelving and my portable power unit. The little black and white TV plugs into this with another socket available. 27amp hrs will power the telly for a week with some power to spare and the pack has an inbuilt 3 pin socket with inverter as well. I have no electrical skills what so ever so this is my solution for a simple domestic supply in the cabin.

The interior is not exactly traditional any more and is rather more "modern" but it seems to work well and it feels warm and cosy. The colour scheme is sort of "Asda" by default because mum bought the little check cushions from there and then, by some strange coincidence, I found that one of the local shops a similar fabric in stock! Voila! New curtains, Tablecloth and colour scheme decided for me.

Guess what though - no fridge! Next year, maybe

Marilyn has sent these of "Foxy Lady" wearing a new frock!! Very tasty with a shapely stern to boot!!

Paul and Julie have sent a couple of pictures of Honey Pie with more to follow

We have finally found some photo's of Honey Pie to include on the Norman Web site. The first photo was taken approx 2 weeks after purchase, when we took her out of the water to check and antifoul the hull. I was also given a good wash down !!!!! The second photo was approx 2 weeks after the first as she was returned to her mooring in slightly better shape. We then used her as she was for a couple of months, in an attempt to feel like we owned a boat and that it really had been a good idea to buy her in such poor condition !!!! The current situation is that she is out of the water again and undergoing a total refit from a bare hull upwards. If all goes well, she will go back on to the Monmouth & Brecon canal sometime in July to join the other 2 Norman Swallow's that reside at Goytre Wharf.

I've fitted T&G on ceiling and seat backs/floor well and done an oak floor anyhow pics show it to date just little more to do in cabin I.E. paint /varnish etc then onto cockpit.....

The boat is now at 3rd stage primer after flatting and filling, its all grey and I'm sure if i fitted a 12 inch downspout pipe either side it would pass for a miniature Motor Torpedo Boat [:)]anyhow its starting to come together now and i just need a few days to let the primer harden off properly and "cure" then i can move on to the undercoat stages, weather permitting ........Mac2

And now, at last, we have a photo of "Happy Wanderer" back in the water and looking superb!

Phil has sent me these two pictures of "Chantmarle", a Norman 23 which looks to still be in mint condition.

"Until a year ago we owned a Norman 23 which we eventually moved to the Norfolk Broads and to our knowledge is still there, She is called Chantmarle and was one of the very last Normans to be built. She has a fibreglass hard top - this was factory fitted - the boat was originally used on the River Thames but after we brought her we moved her to the Trent & Mersey berthed at Sawley our local marina.

We moved her to the Broads two years ago, as with the hard top, we were very restricted because of headroom, she has a mariner 25hp 2-stroke fitted and has the luxury headlining (buttoned foam & vinyl). Before us, Chantmarle had only one owner, an elderly couple and when we eventually sold her she was still in factory condition - in fact a number of people could not believe her age, they thought she was nearly new.

I have enclosed some pictures of Chantmarle in case you are interested. We spent many hours of trouble free cruising aboard her, but have now had to move to a Seamaster 30 as we needed a bigger boat.

This is Chris and Meg's Norman 23 recently christened "Bee-Lay-Zee". Its clear from the pictures how much work you two are doing !!

Ken's "Pikachu" is a Norman 24 is near Lancaster. Ken reckons there is some work to do but it looks quite good as it is to me !

This is JW's Norman 23 "Moet", says its "bog standard" ! Looks a bit better than that to me !

Dave paid £2900 for "Rose Robellen", a Norman 20 which, from looking at the photos, looks a very good buy.

Moored on the Thames near Windsor, Dave only had a few "cosmetic" bits to sort out to have her looking pristine again.

Here we have a point of debate and discussion ! Gerard has registered "Alwiso2" as a Norman 30. He has owned the boat for three years. I reckon its likely a 29 if it is indeed a Norman. If you look at "Silver Link" you will see she is a Norman 266 ! With a beam of 9' 3". So Norman did actually make other wide beams apart from the 22 mentioned in the "Thirty Years of Motor Cruisers" book. Also "Current Liability" looks to be a wide beam too.

Whatever, I'm pleased that someone like Gerard in France is looking at our site and contributing despite a language barrier. Have to say its a good looking engine !!

The only history I have is that she spent most of her life on the Thames but the last five or six years she's been down on the River Stour in Sandwich Kent. She is now at Twyford Bridge Marina and now has a 4 stroke 15HP Mariner outboard. There is the usual fittings (head with Portapotti, sink with pump action cold water, twin burner grill & oven etc). The Console which the steering wheel is fitted to has been modified at some stage since there is the shadow of a ‘Norman’ badge under where a fuse panel is now fitted (fuses for navigation and anchor lights, horn, and windscreen wipers which are non existent). No other info other than I think she's a 23 not 24! I don’t think she’ll be boat of the week but the engine might!!

Colin and Christine were one of the first to register their Norman 20 "Jigsaw" with the site. They were good to their word and have now sent me some pics. They have had "Jigsaw" for seven years moored on the Erewash.

Nigel and Kath have just bought "Wonderful Wednesday", a Norman 32 which they say "is not in very good condition"!

Now I know pictures only tell you so much but, considering age, she looks not half bad to me and what a project to work on. I'm envious.

I bought my Norman a couple a years ago here in Oslo, Norway and am enjoying the boat in the Oslo fjord. However I do not know anything about the boat, and would appreciate if anybody could give me some information. The previous owner called the boat Norman Viking, and claimed that it is app. 21 feet. I am now in the process of buying a new motor, is there any certificate on the boat saying max .or recommended Hp ? I have enclosed a rather poor picture, but your knowledgeable members will probably be able to recognise the make.
Best regards,

Leif

David has just bought his Norman 23 "Comfort". He sent these two pictures asking us to identify the year and model. I suggested it was a Mark l and was likely built between 1972 and 1975.

"Croi An Loca" (Heart of the lake) was bought by me in august 01, the previous owner bought her new in the UK back in 1982.he sailed her back to Eire, down the grand canal, up the Shannon

When I found her the bilge was full and she was lying in 5ft of water and a total mess but I could see possibilities, unlike my wife and family.

Firstly I had her lifted and i spent the 1st winter drying out, exterior cleaning and antifouling. then in the spring I started on the interior, new floor, wall panels and replaced the head lining with ash t&g panels which I also did to the hard top of the cockpit.

She was then restained and varnished and reupholstered. and fancy lined curtains supplied by my lovely wife {she's taking an interest now}

Now, after six months of constant work it was time for the first weekender, off I go, brilliant, I decide to do nothing but fish and enjoy, and it was pucca.

Right, time for bed, decided to make up the "v" bunk all for me, {thank god it was only me} .settled down listening to 5live on the new radio/cd player and drifted of to sleep.

Unfortunately I had a silent but deadly problem in the shape of a gas fridge that wasn't vented to outside and no vents to the cabin {and me a gas fitter} .thankfully I came around at 6pm the next day to the sound of my mobile, I struggled to answer it, just couldn't get up of the sick and bile covered bed, then my wife spoke, sensing from my slurred speech that something was wrong, she forced me of the boat just with the power {and fear} of her voice. off to hospital where they confirmed how lucky I was,

So, just before Easter off I go again, this time to clean up and get ready for the Easter family weekender. I arrive to find the mess i left and the windows open {presumably my wife had told me to open them} so I clean up and start drying the three weeks of rain, my next stupid mistake I put a electric fan heater in one of the storage cupboards!. yes you guessed it after 30 minutes the fire burst in to flames, thankfully I managed to grab it by the lead and throw it overboard.

so, now I start cleaning up the soot, installing new fridge {vented and vents plus co2 alarm} cushty, up and running again ready for Easter.

Easter weekend, we decide to head for lovely Lough Ree,16miles long and 5miles wide beautiful place, yes yes you guessed it 12miles in and off goes the engine, so out goes the anchor but the force 254 gale was making the anchor slip, no VHF, ha ha the mobile, but who do I phone, I was slowly drifting out of the navigation channel and not a sinner in sight. thankfully the police gave me the number for the local sub-aqua club and within 30 minutes I was under tow.

Right the engine was completely overalled,3 new batteries, no1is 100ah plus 2 140ah for no2 with marine regulator to keep them in shape.

But after everything we love the boat, we've had great times including a three week trip to Dublin and we are at the stage now nothing really needs doing, and if it does can it get much worse.

When is a Norman not a Norman?? Who's to say. This is Kevin's "Blue Dolphin" and a fine looking craft it indeed is.

"I wonder if you could shed a bit more light on the make of my boat! When I bought it, it was advertised as a Norman 266 wide beam aft cockpit cruiser.
After some research I found it was a Bates Astral built on a Norman hull. The length is 27ft with a 10ft beam, 1.8 BMC diesel shaft drive, built around 1979.
Great boat, my pride and joy,"

Gordon contacted me about his Conquest, "After You" asking how to get rainwater out of the hull!! Look at these pictures and you'll get the idea!

"Osprey", a Norman 20 belonging to John and Helen. The photo's are quite large on this page just to show what a pleasant mooring Osprey was inhabiting.

This is Adi and Cheryl's "Guinevere", a Norman 22 looking in remarkably good nick. More pics to follow we hope??

"Jester" is Jims Norman 20 which is in for a bit of work. More pics to follow as work progresses

After the Easter meet the bug bit me again and I have made a start on the Wheelhouse. I used the original pattern that I cut last year just changed the radii in the window cut outs as suggested in the forum. This gives me full standing head room (6'4" +)I can say that I am more than happy with the look of it now the plan for the rest of it is :- MAKE IT UP AS I GO ALONG... Well its worked so far so why change it. Have attached some pics of the sides in place. The wood I am using is beech ply 3/4 inch and this has 14 plys will be interesting to see the boat back in the water again with the extra weight I may have to rethink the water line

Now Bob's "Dancer" may not be a Norman but, if Normans had never been made then, neither would have Atlanta. Atlanta and Shetland have used the Norman moulds for their range including the 32 of which "Dancer" is a fine example.

"I'm quite pleased with the interior now as I've had to re-upholster the roof of both cabins and fit new lights, vents, etc."

Garry has trailored his 23 down to the Norfolk Broads of which I am envious. Some good pics from Garry including a windscreen he made himself.

Here's dedication for you ! Kevin was chest deep in water taking some of these pictures of "Red Mist", his Norman 18.