B & F Letters
Letters & News from Members & Friends
Messages in a bottle
Find here a most interesting correspondence from Visitors and BMC Members.
Publishig Policy:
Publishing will be always at the Club criteria, depending on space available and general interest of the content, that may be excerpted. BMC is not responsible for the opinions of the authors.
Private correspondence is always published with permission.
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You can find correspondence older than January 01, 2006
(All, the way back to Nov, 2000), by clicking HERE
04/April/2016
DAVID MERLOT, from France, tells us he has been more than 40 years working for WAUQUIEZ SHIPYARD and did a complet restoration of the portholes on a BANJER 37 based near Marseille, France. The portholes are made in Italy. Contact: davidmerlot@orange.fr
March 2016
We are delighted to receive the new owners of SULASGEIR OF LORNE as members of the Club. Be very welcome, Adrian & Anne!
So long, Colin & Jay, we'll miss you!
October 2015
We are delighted to receive the new owners of SOCIUS as members of the Club. Be very welcome, Gertrude en Freek!
June 2015.
We are delighted to receive the new owners of BERTHA (Ex-WESSELLINA) as members of the Club. Be very welcome Patrick! So long, Albert!
September 2013
We are glad to receive the new owner of FREIJA (Ex-DAMY III) as a member of the Club. Be very welcome, Robert! So long, Daniel!
July 2013
We are glad to receive the new owner of BANJER II as a member of the Club. Be very welcome, Jan! Farewell Roy & Margaret!
March 2013,
We have received the new owner of ERIDANI, now renamed ALBATROS, as a a new member of the Club. Be very welcome John!
December 2012
We received the new owner of BRIGHTEYES, now renamed GOOSE, as a member of the Club. Be most welcome, Anthony!
August 20, 2012
We have received BRAVOUR's new owner as a member of the Club. Be very welcome Chris!
July 27, 2012
July 15, 2012
From PANDORA:
We are back home for summer and the house is always full at this period of holidays, I am often in my kitchen!
We were onboard Pandora from April 20th to june 20th and we have been sailing in 2 greek islands before heading to Bulgaria. We have been sailing through the Dardanelles , sea of Marmara , Istambul , Bosphorus and the Black sea. We left the boat in Sozopol marina in Bulgaria; it was an interesting and easy navigation.
Best regards
MONIQUE
July 14, 2012
We have the pleasure of receiving today the new owner of Fouly, now renamed as DAME D'IROISE, as a new member of the Club. Be very welcome, J-Y!
June 26, 2012
We are happy to receive the new owners of WANDERER as members of the Club. Be very welcome on board, Al & Lynda!
April 27, 2012
From member Rick Spears
"To the members, Snug is in Pine Island Fla. Saint James City to be exact, getting the topsides finish behind my Mothers house. Life is good and we are planning a trip up the east coast of the United States and into the Great Lakes later in June. Rick.Spears
comcast.net"
February 16, 2012
We received today the new owner of BRIGHTEYES as a member of the Club. Be very welcome on board, Anthony!
November 27th, 2011
After a long period wthout news we have heard again about KOALA in Italy and her renewed crew. Be very welcome back, Fabio and family!
September 12, 2011
We received on Sept. the 8th, the owner of the Banjer WATERGEUS II (Ex-SPINDRA) as new member of the BMC.
We most warmly welcome him on board as well as send our best wishes to the former owners and also mebers of the Club.
September 3, 2011
We received today the new owners of WANDERER as members of the BMC. Be very welcome on board!
Our best wishes for both the new owners and the former ones.
Wanderer has been moved to the Juan de Fuca Strait area, so there is a solid three Banjers Flotilla around there nowadays!
August 30, 2011
We have received today the new owners of JOYCE (Ex-GOMINE) as members of the Club. Be very welcome on board!
We send our warmest wishes to her former owners, also very nice members of the BMC.
August 18, 2011
We have received today the new owners of HAREK (Ex-BUTT) as new members of the BMC and register officially this Banjer in our lists (previous owner was not a member). Be very, very welcome on board!
August 6, 2011
GOMINE in Denmark has changed ownership.
We send our warmest wishes to her former owners, very nice members of the BMC, and look forward to having the pleasure of receiving her new owners as members soon.
July 25, 2011
DUCHESS OF LLYNN changes owner and is renamed again with her original name BOUCANIER.
I would like to inform you of a change of ownership of hull number 37, known as the Dutchess of Llyn on your web site.
My brother and I have purchased the vessel and have given her back the original name found on a bulkhead inside the main saloon, 'BOUCANIER' .....
I would like to take this opportunity to join the Banjer 37 msclub...
Yours sincerely,
K.F.
We warmly welcome on board KF & brother MF, the new owners of BOUCANIER, as members of the Banjer 37 Motorsailer Club and send our best wishes to her former owner Richard.
July 8, 2011
From BRAVOUR owner:
I have a problem with which you or the wider Banjer membership may be able to assist.
An oil leak has developed within my gearbox oil pressure gauge and I have been forced to isolate it.
Of course this unit is very old so I have been unable to locate a replacement in the UK. The only information on the gauge body is: Made in Germany 2.69 39/78
I attach pictures of the unit to assist.
Regards
Angus B.
Guernsey
June 06, 2011
Some correspondence with the new owners of the again named SNUG Banjer (ex-ARAOK).
Hi Guillermo,
............The boat was a dream , the rig was the masterpiece of Ted Duay's work a master rigger , while he owned her and with the limited full use of it we were able to get great performance anyway. We actually pulled a thousand pound speed boat with Genoa and main at 1300 rpms and was doing 6.5 kts Snug didn't know the boat was even behind her. The cars for the Genoa were missing in action due to topside work I was doing. with the light winds it was not a problem. Snug really made great impressions on a lot of people where ever we went , people were drawn to her. We are so glad we ended up with her. We really enjoy the club, and all the sailors and family's that comes with it. ....
I'm happy to know you are happy with your Banjer. They are well mannered and head-turning boats, indeed!
One question: Does it still mount the "mule" sail with a wishbone located between the masts a previous owner (Frank Goleo) mounted and praised its performance?
No, that rig is gone. I believe it has a new mast, because the steps are a stoway type now. Lots of sails and the mule sail is still on board. I have a picture that was displayed on an inter coastal chart book in the 80s that shows that old rig with the wish bone.
May 10, 2011
From PANDORA:
A Banjer 38 years old crossed the Atlantic. !!!!!!
Gros Baloo is now in Salvador de Bahia and had no problem to cross.
Who will be the next one ?
May 09, 2011
Gros Baloo in Brazil!
Bon dia,
Quelques nouvelles de Gros Baloo.Nous sommes amarrés depuis jeudi 05-05-2011 au Terminal Nautico, au pied de la vieille ville de Salvador De Bahia. 18 jours de traversée depuis Mindelo au Cap Vert. Gros Baloo et son équipage se sont bien comportés. Un océan nous sépare maintenant de vous. On attaque ici la saison des pluies, et le temps n'est pas magnifique, mais nos premières ballades dans la ville basse nous ont fait chaud au coeur. Pour plus de précisions tu peux aller sur le site de Gros Baloo, qui est maintenant référencé en première ligne sur Google. Faire une recherche: Gros Baloo. Le bésilien est difficile à apprendre et à parler, mais on va faire des progrès. Les habitants sont sympa, quand même un peu de misère voyante. La caipirinha est exellente et remplace le champagne. Après visite de la ville nous partirons en bateau sillonner la baie de tous les saints. Les pontons bougent beaucoup, c'est normal,puisqu'ils sont flottants. Mais je ne savais pas qu'ils avaient aussi des rues flottantes....non ce n'est pas la caipirinha.
Amitiés
Gilles et Marie-Rose
April 17, 2011
We welcome BOREAS' owner, in Greece, as a new member of the Club, even if for a short time while he sells his Banjer!
April 16, 2011
De Gros Baloo
Salut les Amis,
On ne vous oublie pas, mais le temps passe trop vite. Nous partons cet après-midi de Mindelo au Cap Vert pour 20 à 25 jours de mer, direction Salvador de Bahia au Brésil. Après nous serons des Atlanticos. Nous sommes bien contents d'avoir échaper à l'hiver français. Le Cap Vert est magnifique et les gens trés sympa. Nous avons fait queques balades en montagne sur San Antao, l'île voisine. Dur dur vu les pentes. Nos mollets sont encore douloureux. A trés bientôt, bisous.
Gilles et Marie-Rose
April 13, 2011
And also our warmest welcome to the new owners of KERENSA, in the UK!
April the 7th, 2011
We also heartly welcome the new owners of ASTRO as members of our Club. Be very welcome!
March 26, 2011
We heartly welcome the new owners of (Ex-) QIMMIQ as members of our Club. Be very welcome!
March 20, 2011
Fellowmember Rick S. ask questions about the wipers:
Hi Guillermo,
I found the data plate , sorry I bothered you on that. My wife found it behind the VFH radio, I was really glad to see it. We have been in Fla. since the middle of Feb. working on the Banjer, which we renamed Snug. We are not superstitious but we like to keep the original name on a vessel. I have a question about wiper blades and assembly's, We need the blade length and degree of travel. We have one motor that says SWF on the case. We need another one and two sets of arms and blades. Do you know where I can order what I need. Thanks in advance. Rick.
Hi Rick,
Good that you found the data plate.
I am not superstitious either, but I have also kept the original name of my Banjer, "Marie". I'm glad you renamed your Banjer with her original name. I will update the files.
I have not an instruction book or leaflet for the original wipers, but when necessary I have substituted the blades and even the arms with car ones. If I'm not wrong blades are between 11" and 14" and wiping angle around 80-90 degrees. You can find something similar at the VETUS cataloge: http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/c95187af#/c95187af/144
Anyway I'm going to post your message at the web site, to let's find out if someone knows the precise measurements for the wipers.
All the best.
Guillermo.
March 7, 2011
Henk & Lia de Jong visit Guillermo & Chus
After a long trip in their motorhome around the Iberian península, all the way down from Holland, BMC members Henk and Lia de Jong (HESTIA) made a short stop in Pontevedra to visit Commodore Guillermo and wife Chus, on the last weekend of February. Henk and Lia stayed with their motorhome at the nice little port of Combarro, close to Pontecvedra, and on saturday Henk went with Guillermo and son Fernando for a sailing around the Ria and the meeting with a busy dolphins family. On sunday all four members of the BMC shared a nice lunch at one of the small squares in Pontevedra's old town. Here some images from the nice visit.
February 1, 2011
From friend Dick Jansen
Good evening Sir,
Since about 3 years I am the proud owner of a Fisher 34 motorsailer from 1978.
This after (3 years) some doubt which motorsailer to choose, Banjer or Fisher 34.
Availibility and some other things made me decide to buy our Fisher 34 "Jan Willem".
One of the advantages of the Banjer is the possibility to lower the masts.
On some Fishers this is also possible, but with both masts going down to the stern, with the mizzen a couple of meters protruding and dividing the cockpit in half.....
On a Banjer, on the other hand, the mizzen lowers to the bow and the main to the stern, perfect to sail for a longer time with the masts down !
And this without moving masts in other positions, shrouds to be removed, etc.
But now the $ 100 question, how is this done without the two masts touching eachother ?
Both masts little bit off center ? (e.g. one little bit to SB and the other one little bit to port ??)
Or some other clever trick ?
Thanks in advance for your trouble to answer.
I like to wish everybody happy sailings the coming season and I like to compliment you with a very informative Banjer website !
Maybe we meet some day on the water !
With kind regards
Dick Jansen
F34 "Jan Willem"
Answer for the Commodore
Dear Dick,
Thank you very much for your kind contact and nice words about our web site.
The masts of the Banjers have some looseness at the turning axis in the base, it allowing a bit of lateral movement of the masts when lowering them down. They rest on a wooden seat on top of the wheelhouse when abated, with one groove for each mast. Very simple.
You may see the wooden block in the attached photo. It is used also to rest the main boom when not in use.
Best regards.
Guillermo Gefaell
BMC Commodore.
January 30, 2011
From PANDORA regarding GROS BALOO
Hi guillermo ,
We are just back home . Yesterday we were on board Gros Baloo in Dakar ,Senegal ! We flew to Tenerife on 3rd January and sailed with Gilles and Marie-Rose to Dakar It was a non stop sailing , 100 miles away off the coast .We reached Dakar after 7 days , which was pretty good but Mr Perkins helped us specially for the 2 first days without wind From dakar G. Baloo went in the Sine Saloum ( in the river for some days ) and came back in Dakar ; So we left Gilles and Marie Rose in Dakar : they are preparing the boat and shopping to cross to Brasil with a stop in the islands of Cap Vert first . Gilles sends you his best regards ; he is much busy with the boat that's why you don t have news from him.
Monique.
January 09, 2011
From Mark Brown
Greetings Banjer owners.
I have just visited a Banjer 37 that is for sale and is listed on your web site. The boat lies in Santa Cruz California, U.S.A. Overall I liked the boat very much. The engine hours are unknown but she has had recent service. My big question is how well do these boats sail. How do they preform on wind alone? I would not expect the boat to be very fast but can you tell me if they are comparable to a heavy displacement boat such as a Westsail 32 or Hans Christian 33/38. Speed is not an issue for me, but comfort is. She is a very pleasing boat to look at and I am hoping as owners you can advise me on her qualities at sea.
Thank You, Mark Brown, Morgan Hill, Ca.
Answer fom the Commodore:
Hello, Mark!
Sorry for the delay in answering, but with all the fuzz and "fiestas" of Christmas and New Years Eve, I have been lazy with my e-mail.
Banjers are heavy motorsailers with a distinct emphasis on the motoring side of her job, as said in the home page of our web site, so they perform like that and that's what you shouuld expect.
I hope this can be of help to you. Please don't hesitate to contact me again if you need further help.
Please let me know if you go ahead with the purchase of a Banjer.
Best regards.
Guillermo Gefaell
Commodore.
January 09, 2011
Some correspondence received these days from members & friends.
From Jan & Jopie Mastenbroek:
Jopie and I , wish you all ,happy new year,good health fair wind,plenty off water under the keel , All the best .Jan
From Hein Terwindt.
Dear Banjer Friends,
Thank you for all your best wishes for the year to come.
We wish you and your family(s) good luck, a good health, and succes foor 2011
We decided, at the moment that the Wetserwindt is on a shipyard for an 100% refit, to sell the ship.
We are looking for a good agent.
Well, we hope to see you again, even without our Rogger 14M.
Mans & Hein
From Frank Koorneef
Dear Guillermo,
In the attachment our best wishes. Since they are in Dutch, I’ll give you this translation:
We wish you the best tides for this year.
Best regards,
Frank
From Dirk van Wassenaer
Muchísimas gracias!.
Tambien te deseo un muy próspero ano 2011.
Un muy cordial saludo,
Dirk
From Daniel & Myriam Deroose
Bonne Année 2011
Nos meilleurs voeux Santé, Bonheur et la réalisation de tous vos Souhaits
de bonnes navigations sur une mer agréable
Myriam et Daniel
January 02, 2011
Happy New Year, Banjerites of the World!
Dec 29, 2010
New owners of Banjer ARAOK, in the USA, applied for BMC membership.
We are most happy to have you with us! Be very welcome on Board!
Dec 19, 2010
From PANDORA
Thanks for your Christmas wishes and same to you but in French : JOYEUX NOEL
We had news from GROS BALOO: he was in Tenerife and ready to leave to Cabo Verde
Monique
Dec 19, 2010
Season's Greetins from ELSKERINDE
wensen jullie gezellige kerstdagen en een gezond-goed vaarjaar
toegewenst.crew elskerinde
martin en tineke proost
Dec 17, 2010
From Mike Eurit:
Greeting of the season, Guillermo
For the first time since purchasing Rendezvous, she is off to the dry dock for semi annual maintenance 12/26, the day after Christmas. We are going up the delta to Ladd's Marine in Stockton because a friend who lives up there will do a lot of the work with me. On the agenda is the usual bottom painting, find out why the rudder doesn't turn freely and freeing the stuck bronze through hull fittings for the cockpit drains. The journey is an estimated 10 hours from home port. With the current rains, it could be longer because the whole of California's Central Valley drains through the delta to the great blue Pacific. With enough rain, there can be some very interest changes in the tides. You can have the fresh water ebbing while the salt water under it floods, it can even give the impression of no current during the flood, just an increase in depth. These effects can play havoc with folk who do the predicted log events.
I've also made a facebook page for her, Rendezvous the motorsailer.
nothing much on their at the moment, but I will be filling in some of her history as well as current events as they happen. You may post that on the banjer club site, which I will make also link to.
Dec 14, 2010
Alternative Christmas present - the gift of water
From fellowmember Claire Smith.
Each morning, until recently, a young Cambodian girl got up at 4a.m. and walked for 3 kilometers until she reached the community well. There she waited for her turn at the pump, a wait so long that by the time she reached home with her 2 pails of water, 6 hours had passed. These 2 pails had to meet the daily needs of each member of her family. And like each family member, this young Cambodian girl was saddled with the excruciating burden of poverty. She suffered from constant diarrhea, skin rashes and sores; matted hair with lice. The water she carried home was used sparingly. It was used to cook the family's meagre food, it was used to wipe a body and then another, it was used for washing dishes and then used again for washing clothes. Now this child goes to school because her family received a water well from Tabitha foundation
Its difficult to imagine life without water, but in Cambodia this is reality for too many people.
Cambodia has good weather for six months of the year but during the other six months it suffers from either drought or flood; both situations dramatically impact on a family’s ability to have a sustainable lifestyle.During times of flood families often lose their food, animals and clothing—they are reduced to absolute poverty. During times of drought, the crops and animals fail to thrive and the people are reduced to inadequate food supplies. Whatever debt the family owes during these six months, cannot be repaid, leaving families without land or house or whatever else they used for collateral. The spiritual aspect of unpaid debts often causes feelings of deep depression because, as Buddhists, they believe that if they die in debt they will be reincarnated in a lower life form.
Whether the situation is one of flood or drought, families need to borrow to start again; however, they are usually in debt from previous seasons. It is a vicious and demoralizing cycle.
The combination of all these factors perpetuates the cycle of poverty in Cambodia. To break the cycle of poverty it is important that an innovative program be implemented; one that seeks to rebuild a family’s self esteem and sense of worthiness, that enables hope during times of floods and other disasters and one that bypasses the system of loans and debts but still results in the lifestyle of the people improving physically, spiritually and morally.
Water wells can change lives very quickly. One water well costs $100 and provides water to 3 families. Income is quadrupled through the growing of vegetables, but more importantly, a food source is secured.
The Tabitha Foundation believes that to break the cycle of poverty you must first help the people to believe in themselves. An important aspect of breaking the cycle of poverty is to break a corresponding cycle of debt.
The Tabitha Foundation is a benevolent trust, founded in 1994 to support aid efforts begun and organized by Janne Ritskes. Field activities are centred in Cambodia, whose people were decimated by a regime which promoted enforced starvation, mass executions, slave labour and wholesale dislocation to such a degree that the social, moral and economic fibre of the country was left in tatters. Its integrated development initiatives include work in health care, education, sanitation (water, sewage), housing, small business, micro credit and co-operatives. These efforts enable the poorest of the poor to improve their health status, rebuild shanties into homes, have their own toilets, clean water, and drainage systems, reconstruct roads, develop their own small businesses or become workers in cottage industry programs and learn to work together as a community.
Tabitha is having huge success using micro credit loans to help people start small businesses, as well as using a system of forced savings which creates a financial buffer for times of need.
At the same time they have focused on building water wells. 90% of all our families do not have access to clean water.“We have learned that water is the quickest way to move people from poverty on the road to prosperity.
A group of Bermudians are traveling to Cambodia in February to build houses for those in need. We are self financing the housebuilding project but we are currently fundraising for water wells and would like to offer the Bermuda community an alternative Xmas present, one that has a dramatic impact on people who suffer from abject hunger and despair. Anyone who donates a water well can receive a card that they can give to their recipient. Money can be deposited into Butterfield account 20030060351011200 or dropped off at the newly opened Bay Grape shop in the Washington Mall next to the ATM.
Cambodian house building team leader, Claire Smith says “What I like about Tabitha is that the families receiving water wells, or houses have to contribute 10% of the cost themselves. This may take them a long time to accomplish but it gives them a sense of achievement and teaches them that they are in control of their destiny.” Clearly Tabitha’s work comes under the famous Chinese proverb, “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.”
For more information please contact Claire Smith 2367854
Dec 14, 2010
From Banjer LONTANANZA, in Venezuela
Navegando entre las palmeras ... el surrealismo mágico de mi Venezuela maravillosa ...
Las más felices Navidades para todos.
Isabel y Jose
Nov 17, 2010
Banjer SOCIUS has been bought by a BMC member relative.
We are waiting for such relative to become a member too.
In the mean time here a couple of videos from the trip from the UK to Holland:
Sept 19, 2010
From Angus B., owner of Banjer BRAVOUR
Hi Guillermo
At the Middleburg meeting I agreed to provide you with some material.
I attach:
- My piece on why/how I bought a Banjer, "Falling for a Banjer"
- Suggestions on how a trouble-shooting section might work and
- The first bits of a Banjer songbook which, in time, might incorporate a CD of the suggested songs. It might become a group effort to develop the most popular and easiest of sea songs for use at member gatherings.
....................
Bravour is now laid up in Inverness having made a successful transit of the Caledonian Canal.
Best regards
Angus B
Note from the Commodore:
I heartly thank Angus for the nice job with the Songbook and the very good idea of a Troubleshooting section.
I will create two new additional pages to that end but, as my editing program is very poor and slow, it will take some time. Please be patient.
Sept 10, 2010
We received this most interesting and welcome information from Brigid R. regarding Banjer SARBRI:
My grandfather, Commander Peter Du Cane, was a well respected naval architect and, at one time, Chairman of Portsmouth shipbuilders, Vosper. He had a particular interest in high speed craft and, amongst his designs are several MTBs including the wartime MTB 102 and the slightly more modern Brave Class, Don Cobb's "Crusader" and Malcolm Campbell's "Bluebird". He also designed himself a motor yacht, "Dimarcha". The name "Dimarcha" was an amalgamation of the names of his three children, Diana, Margaret and Charles. When my grandfather retired, however, "Dimarcha" proved too big and costly to keep (she required a full time crew), and she was sold. My father, Nigel Tunnicliffe, was tasked with finding a more suitable replacement. As luck would have it, my birthday coincided neatly with the London International Boat Show so, as always, my father took me along. By this time, Vosper had become Vosper Thornycroft, and my father was a Director. He seemed to know practically everyone at the Boat Show, so I wasn't in the least interested when we clambered on board the Banjer 37 and he proceeded to have a long conversation with the salesman. I was, however, extremely surprised when, some time later, my father showed me "SARBRI" for the first time. Following family tradition, my grandfather had named the boat after his two grand-daughters, Sarah and me, Brigid. Sadly, we didn't keep her long. Although we enjoyed many happy weekend trips and my parents and grandparents took her up the Seine and into Paris, my grandfather did not altogether approve of his son-in-law's choice of boat. It wasn't fast enough and he was not fit enough to handle the sails. I was very young, but I remember feeling so cheated when I was introduced to Mr Mantle as the potential buyer. I think I was rather horrid to him and sat on the foredeck in a sulk for the whole afternoon ...
And here the continuation of the history from Jamie, her current owner:
'SARBRI' has been in our family for the past 28 years. My father bought the boat off Mr Mantle back in 1982 and the boat is currently residing in Malta, where I live most of the summer. The boat was purchased in a bad condition. Osmosis had infested the hull and a year was spent getting her back in to a fit state. Since then she has been around most of the Med- Tunisia, Greece, Croatia, Sicily, Gibraltar, Lipari islands and so on. The boat was never in her berth! However, my Father passed away 8 years ago and the boat was hardly used. When I turned 18, I took a Gap year and decided to give the boat some much needed attention! That is now 2 years ago, and since then she has had a lot done to her. She is mostly used only in the summer, as I study in London throughout the year, however when my father was using her, she was out all year round. She is an extremely safe and durable boat. I have not been able to take her foreign as yet, however we are on her most of the time pottering around local waters. We had thought of putting her up for sale, however as for now we are trying to hold on to her as she is really part of the Family.
Sept 6, 2010
From PELICAN, in San Francisco, a very interesting information:
Barnacle Busting News
Posted on August 19, 2010 by PSPYC
Fouling of hulls is a major problem for world shipping and for private leisure craft as well as large cargo ships with barnacles being a major culprit. It reduces the performance of vessels and increases their fuel requirements. Medetomidine has proved effective in preventing fouling of ship bottoms and now researchers attempting to develop new, environmentally friendly methods to limit marine fouling have identified the gene that causes barnacles to react to the substance, opening up the possibility of an antifouling paint that is gentle to both barnacles and the environment.
Medetomidine is a veterinary medicine that has been shown to prevent barnacle larvae from attaching to ship?s hulls. In cooperation with colleagues at the universities of Turku and Helsinki, Professor Anders Blomberg at the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology at the University of Gothenburg has succeeded in identifying and describing the gene that controls how barnacles sense and react to medetomidine.
When the barnacle cyprid larva encounters a surface containing medetomidine the molecule enters the octopamine receptor in the larva. This makes the larva legs start kicking and it cannot settle to the painted surface. This is a reversible effect that disappears when the larva swims away from the surface so it regains its function and can settle somewhere else.
The results, which are published in the scientific journal Molecular Pharmacology, explain how it is possible to develop an environmentally friendly and effective antifouling paint which instead of killing barnacles acts as a deterrent.
Understanding how the substance works when it binds to the receptor also makes it possible to develop selective agents that only affect barnacles and not other marine organisms, says Professor Blomberg.
Aug 29, 2010
From the Commodre
My good old Banje "MARIE" has been subject of the interest of our regional television at a gathering of classic boats this weekend.
Here the video:
July 27, 2010
DE GROS BALOO A NOS AMIS
Bonjour,
Le départ approche enfin. Nos nouvelles coordonnées se trouvent sur notre carte de visite ci contre.
Notre adresses e mail : gv74@free.fr a toujours court, mais nous ne pourrons la consulter que lorsque nous auront un accès internet au port.
Notre adresse gvmonde@gmail.com arrivera sur le bateau par satellite ; svp ne nous envoyez pas de fichiers lourds(photos…).
Par contre vous pouvez nous envoyer des SMS gratuitement en vous connectant à : http://messaging.iridium.com/
On va essayer de tenir notre site web à jour, pour vous faire participer à notre voyage.
Notre N° satellite : 00 8816 316 68523. Vous pouvez nous appeler mais c’est très cher, environ 15 la minute. Il vaut mieux appeler ce N° aux USA : 00 1 480 768 2500, puis entrez notre N°. Au bout de quelques secondes, le terminal sonne. Vous ne payez alors que la communication entre vous et l’Arizona, nous payons entre l’Arizona et notre iridium. Attention au décalage horaire, et pensez que notre téléphone satellite ne sera pas toujours en veille. Le mieux est de nous envoyer un SMS, nous demandant de vous rappeler.
Suivez notre voyage, et peut être qu’une escale vous plaira assez pour nous rejoindre.
Bisous à tous
Gilles et Marie-Rose
May 23, 2010
From Angus Bodman
Hi Guillermo
While over-wintering in Scotland the Vaillant gas water heater on Bravour suffered frost damage because I had not drained down the unit correctly.
If anyone wants a copy of the operations manual for such a unit, I have now located it and can scan it in due course.
Spares are now difficult to obtain but I located the correct items, which were despatched very promptly, at LP Gas Services, www.cookersgalore.com . This is a small outfit in Chichester, W Sussex, England and I can commend them for their speedy and knowledgeable service.
Bravour is now near Oban and will be cruising the west coast of Scotland and the Western Isles this summer. While refitting I came across Crawford Dick of Kiskadee who was very helpful and welcoming.
I wish you a very happy summer and look forward to seeing you again in August.
Best regards
Angus Bodman
Guernsey
May 22, 2020
Gilles and Marie Rose Vergnes depart for Brazil
Hello,
We celebrate our departure with Gros Baloo, on june 12 at noon, in the nautical yard where we have worked so hard: www.foselevmarine.com/ in La Seyne sur Mer.
You’ll be ours? We would be very happy, before our departure with for pupose Brazil in February and its carnaval.
Amitiés
May the gods of the sea bring gentle breezes and fair weather to Gros Baloo!
Happy sailing, Marie Rose and Gilles!
May 17, 2010
We have received today Capt. Christos P. Meligonis and his son Pierros Ch. Meligonis, in Greece, as new members of the Banjer 37 Motorsailer Club with their Banjer ITILON, presently for sale. This Banjer was initially named INAE II and owned by Gérard Borg himself, so we asume this was the first unit performing the "Transoceanique" rig developed by Borg. It seems some variations have been added later, as the roller reefers at both Main and Mizzen.
Be very welcome on board, Christos and Pierros! We would like very much to see you "keeping on Banjering" for many years to come!
ITILON and her Transoceanique sized rig
May 16, 2010
More from Mike Euritt:
Greetings Guillermo
I am needing to do the cap rail on Rendezvous, would you happen to know what kind of coring was used uner it, from the deck up?
I don't know enough to understand what I am looking at here:
but it is the area I need to work on. I have a lot of cracks that need tending to.
Thanks
Mike
Answer form Guillermo:
Mike,
I have not done repairs in my Banjer's cap rail, but some of the members have. As far as I know one of them was the previous owner of Bright Eyes and the other was Brian Hull (Duck Soup). Maybe there are more. I'm not sure, but perhaps Colin Whimster too.
I'm copying this message to Brian and Colin, as probably they can be of help to you.
Best regards.
Guillermo.
Answer from Brian Hull:
Guillermo et al,
In 1991/92 I cruised to Auckland, New Zealand & had extensive works done on Duck Soup including a new vinyl ester bottom. We removed 5mm of damaged polyester & replaced it with 7mm of structural vinyl ester.
When I arrived in New Zealand we noticed both the cap rails were weeping salt water.
Upon inspection it was found they were filled with a mulch of wood shavings & other rubbish.
Salthouse & Archer’ shipwrights removed this mess from both cap rails & I think replaced it with sawdust saturated with epoxy & then resealed the them.
The problem has never returned after all these years & another forty thousand nautical miles.
Also my vinyl ester bottom is still pox free & as fair as the day Duck Soup was relaunched in 1992 at Greenhithe, Auckland.
I am still living on Duck Soup after nearly twenty two years.
Unfortunately the screen of my Furuno 500 Mk11 GPS became unreadable & I have just replaced it with a Furuno GPS32 & upgraded my navigation software to the latest Maxsea Time Zero Navigator.
Apart from that all my Furuno electronic equipment is working perfectly after twenty one years in the tropics.
Nice hearing from you.
Answer form Colin Whimster:
Hello Mike
My rail was just the two hull and deck mouldings bonded together. For many years there was slight movement up near the bow which I repaired with resin each time. In 2007 I had a teak cap rail fitted which looks much better.
Having seen your pictures I am glad to say I never had to get inside the two mouldings like that: I would have had to hand the problem to a boat builder!
Colin
March 02, 2010
From Mike Eurit on his first sailing aboard "RENDEZVOUS" with her new rigging.
Our first sail with Rendezvous was quite interesting, Jamie, the rigger, and I took her out on a shakedown with 10k winds predicted and a fierce ebb flowing, We left half an hour after high slack, 6.6' and returned half an hour before low, -0.7, with a predicted current at the Golden Gate 3.4, plus all the rain from California's Central Valley push the ebb even more. I didn't expect much from her with the light breeze, but was more than pleasantly surprised. I do not have any means to measure our speed through the water, but the GPS reported close to 6 knots before we hit the real currents. With all sails set, we balanced the rig and found ourselves sailing happily across San Pablo Bay, the smoothest passage of all the crossings we've done. Having the sails up makes a huge difference. We kept a close watch for debris from the previous day's storm, there was a lot of old pilings being carried out, but we otherwise had the bay to ourselves until we started to head back.
I would have bet anyone that she wouldn't tack except in the strongest conditions with the wind and current helping, and I would have lost that bet. However she was more of a circus elephant on a pedestal than a race boat, coming to a complete halt every time, rocking back and forth being helped by both mizzen and waves until the jib finally back winded and carried us through. But she tacked. A jib that is not 38 years old would probably help a lot. The first time we tacked, we actually sailed backward a bit, having changed rudder position to help swing the stern where we wanted it. It really helped on this shake down cruise that Jamie knows his way around boats that don't point like an America's Cup Challenger, he has captained several of the worlds square rigged ships, his working of the sails demonstrated a patience with wind and tide that would not come naturally to me. A newer head sail is in our future, I expect that will help tacking.
Trying to sail against that ebb with only 10k wind was futile, especially since the wind was also against us so we did what seemed right at home for a Banjer, we motor sailed. Jamie thought that motor sailing would be best if we took the jib down, I set the 4-236 up at 1200 rpm and kept the sails pulling, close hauled as she'd go. We made headway against that current, found the 30' depth line on east bay and tacked back and forth between that line and the tide rip until we reached the channel to take us home. Jamie was quite enthused about the Banjer and how well she sailed even under 25 year old main and mizzen and old blown out jib.
A couple of questions for you experienced Banjer sailors.
When do you reef, assuming about 100% jib and original size marconi? 20k, 30?
What sequence do you reef? Conventional wisdome of ketches seems to be reduce main first, maybe even sailing under jib and mizzen to keep it balanced. Jamie feels that the pilot house changes all that. He thinks dropping mizzen completely early on, then reducing main and jib. I am sure I will experiment, but I would sure like to hear from the voices of experience. Especially since in spring we have 25k+ winds almost every day.
Mike
December 19, 2009
The Banjer 37 Motorsailer Club wishes all its members and friends a Merry Christmas and a wonderful 2010, full with nice sailings.
Keep on Banjering!
(We have sent this message to all members and some friends by e-mail, but unluckily it didn't pass through in all cases)
08/09/2009
Hans Havers, Chairman of the Roggers motor Club informed us about the decease of the Baron Maurits Van Wassenaer, the man who began the EISTA WERF saga and thanks to whom Banjers were designed and built. The Banjer 37 Motorsailer Club mours for him. Down here an article written by our Honorary Member Frank Koorneef for the Waterkampionen magazine.
Translation:
Maurits Barons of Wassenaer passed away
Past Tuesday, 8 September 2009, Maurits Baron of Wassenaer passed away. Mr. van Wassenaer was founder and manager of the Eista Werf in Nederhemert,' in the 60’s and 70’s of the previous century one of the most wellknown shipyards in the Netherlands. Wellknown boats like Krammer, Rogger, Banjer and especially the Doerak (Hollands best known and most built motorboat) were built there.
Purely by coincidence Mr. van Wassenaer, originally a farmer, came in the yachting bussines. Through this background he had a total different view on the building of yachts then customary at that time. This resulted in building in large series, which was totally new in these days, to produce cheap boats, for the common man. An approach that, in light of the fact that it more than 2000 Doeraks were made, appeared very succesful.
Past August Mr. van Wassenaer celebrated his 80th birthday. For a long time he contended with healths problems, which were the cause of his passing away this past Tuesday. The funeral will take place on Saturday 12 september, at 11.30 in the Grote Kerk in Zaltbommel.
August 19, 2009
A message from Dave Smith, ALDEBARAN II's owner
Thank you very much, good boats obviously attract good people.
A brief history of hull #62 as I understand it; Purchased in 1972 and shipped to Puerto Rico where she was commissioned, spent most of the 70's and 80's cruising Venezuelan and Caribbean waters. Moved to Florida in the 1990's where she has been since, the past 8 or 9 years moored in the Indian River where she has been somewhat neglected until this year when Chuck Reed, an old family friend, passed her along to me.
I had her hauled and trucked to my backyard here in Merritt Island, where she now sits behind a stand of bamboo.
It would be modest to say she is in need of some work.
I have removed all deck hardware (all leaking) and am currently digging water soaked foam out of the bulwark and toe rail where she was damaged on the port side. (hurricane 2 years ago)
A lot of work ahead but such a great boat makes it all worthwhile.
I will send pictures soon.
Thanks again.
August 16, 2009
Stig Jansen, from Denmark, has become a member of the Club, with his Banjer "GOMINE" (Ex-"Joyce").
Be very welcome Stig!
"GOMINE" August 2009
July 31, 2009
New member
We have recently received David Smith (USA) and Ivar Solstrand (Norway) as new members of the Club, with their Banjers ALDEBARAN II (Ex- MARIBE II) and SVANHILD (Ex- MY HAVEN).
We heartly welcome them as new Banjerites!
July 01, 2009
From Cheryl
Hi, I wonder if you can help me. My partner and I have just bought a 1970, 18' wooden canal boat which we have been told was called Banjer. The boat was hand made from plans bought from boat builders in Poole. Did Banjer do other boats than the 37? Could our boat have originated from the same stable? If not, can you tell me what a banjer is?
Kind regards, Cheryl.
Answer from the Commodore:
Dear Cheryl,
As far as I know both Stangate Marine and the Eista Werf never manufactured wooden boats, but steel or GRP ones. Banjer 37 was the only series boat from their premises to be built under that name. The Eista Werf produced also a wealth of models, but none in wood. You can find more info at:
https://banjer37msclub.tripod.com/techs.htm
Tha name "Banjer" is a Dutch word for wich I have been told a couple of meanings. One of them is "toff" or "swell" with an associated verb (banjeren) meaning to "swagger". The other meaning is "nutty boy".
I hope this can be of help.
Best regards.
Guillermo Gefaell.
BMC Commodore
July 01, 2009
From RESPITE's new owners:
Hello! We have just bought "Respite" which was for sale in Charleston, SC, and we would love to join the club. We also want to thank the club for helping us find her; we first found her for sale on the club's website. (You may kindly remove our "looking to buy a Banjer" message from the site. ) In 1971 we visited Estiawerf and sailed a Banjer with Frank Ellsberg. Unfortunately, we didn't buy one at the time, but we've wanted one ever since. Respite may even be the very boat we sailed, as she is a 1970 Banjer! We think it's a destiny thing :0)
Lambert (Sam) and Lucy Block
Be very welcome as new Banjerites, Sam and Lucy!
June 10, 2009
More from Frank Goelo
I don't recall the name of the vendor in Panama, other than he was a canal pilot and was selling because of Parkinson's disease...
On this pic you can readily see some of the changes I made:
The stainless plate under the winches is screwed (tap and threaded) into the bronze fitting of the existing fairlead and is angled in such a way that a pulley flat below the plate allows to route the staysail sheet to the winch on the other side, thus negating the need for additional winches...
I made a new heavy stainless steel fitting to support the mizzen mast on top of the cabin, which I raised 3 feet: you can see the set of belaying pins right at the foot of the mast. If I'd raised higher, as first contemplated, I would have had nowhere to tie the mule roller furler line and wishbone sheet.
I replaced the main back stay with a much heavier one attached on the mizzen mast support and run a steel strap from that fitting all the way down the aft engine room bulkhead to take the additional loads.
The wishbone hinged on the main backstay at right angle to it and had a fixed line to the main masthead to hold it in place: it then sheeted atop the mizzen mast and the mule sail added at least a knot of speed no matter where the wind came from.
It took no time to unroll the sail and it would work great upwind with its clean leading wire edge and down wind in combination with the spinnaker and was perfect to stop any rolling motion underway or at anchor.
Lastly, you'll see on this pic a mahogany top cap I made to cover the hull/deck joint that tended to open up...
Regards,
Frank
June 7, 2009
Frank Goelo was the second owner of ARAOK, previously named SNUG
I have owned a 37' Banjer that I bought in Panama and extensively customized, including a bowsprit - the jib became a staysail and I made my own furler for the genoa - a roll furling mule sail subtended by a wishbone hinged on the backstay and sheeted on top of the same mizzen mast raised 3' and a storm spinnaker from a larger vessel. I sailed her full time for 7 years, including 2 transatlantic crossings and she was the sweetest vessel I have ever owned, averaging 5.5 to 6 knots under sail on long passages and doing once 12 knots under spinnaker and full main in a blow...The mule sail, in particular, with its clean leading edge and wishbone, added another knot of speed no matter where the wind came from: it was the first sail up and the last one down...
Feb 25, 2009
Would you like to join Angus Bodman for a trip to Ireland?
Dear Members
I have been a member of the Banjer club for a number of years and in 2005 bought a Banjer in Hellevoetsluijs, near Rotterdam.
Since that time she has been based in Guernsey. I have substantially upgraded her and have cruised annually in the Channel Islands and Brittany area.
In 2009 I plan to cruise from Guernsey along the west coast of Ireland. A number of friends from Guernsey and the UK have indicated that they will join the cruise but there are still some legs unfilled so I would like to extend an invitation to Banjer owners to join me in this fascinating sailing area.
If you would be interested in this opportunity to cruise on Bravour, please send me an e-mail and I will reply with details of the itinerary, possible costs and planned dates.
Kind regards
Angus Bodman
angusbodmanNOSPAMgooglemail.com (substitute NOSPAM with @ )
Feb 01, 2009
Lynda Y. Young wanted to search for her father's Banjer BEENDEREN.......
Jan 21, 2009
Would I need to have the hull number to find a previously owned Banjer? My father owned one back in the 70’s and we just loved the ship. Just thought I might be able to find her again. Her name back then was Beenderen.
Thanks for any help you can provide.
Lynda Y. Young
Jan 22, 2009
Dear Lynda,
Thanks for your contact.
Unluckily we do not have any registered Banjer in our records with Beenderen as a previous name. What was the name of your father? Where did he bought the Banjer? Did he keep the Banjer in UK waters or then somwhere else...? Did the Banjer mount any special and characterizing equipment, rig, etc ? Perhaps we can trace it back having an answer to such questions. I can post a message at the 'Letters' page in the web site, to try to find out with members and visitors.
I'm copying this message to Colin Whimster and Ton Koot, our honourable Secretary and Treasurer respectively, as welll as to our Honorary Member Mike Ingle, nephew of Alec Ingle, the founder of Stangate Marine. Perhaps they can be of some help.
I look forward to receiving the answers to my questions, or whatever other info you consider of interest, to post a message at the web site.
Kindest regards.
Guillermo Gefaell
BMC Commodore.
Jan 23, 2009
Thank you so much for your response. My father’s name was Lowell C. Yund and he purchased the boat from a boat show in Annapolis, Maryland from a broker named Tom Tirion. I do know for sure that the boat was never in UK waters, but we did sale her to Bermuda from the Chesapeake Bay. I can almost move around the boat in my mind, but can’t think of any particular equipment she may have been equipped with – just things that were probably standard – gimbled stove/oven, huge ice box in the galley. I also know that he sold it to a couple by the name of Jim and Tonya Horowitz who apparently did quite a bit of world traveling until their children were of school age. I will look and see if I can find the hull number in any of my old files.
Thanks again for responding. I guess it’s possible that she was never registered. Have a good day.
Lynda
Jan 23, 2009
Dear Lynda
Tom Tirion was the Banjer agent for W Coast USA. He would have imported the boat direct from Holland before the time that we started building, so the hull number will be quite low. I recall news of the boat in Chesapeake Bay but we never saw her in the UK
Best regards
Mike Ingle
Ex Stangate Marine
Jan 24, 2009
Dear Lynda,
I've found the name of Jim Horowitz in our records!
So the Banjer is still in the USA, new owners live in Maine and they are members of the BMC.
Sorry I can not give you their contact data without their previous permisssion, but I'm going to forward them this message, for them to know about you and contact you if they want so.
I look forward to knowing more from this Banjer history, then getting yours and tthe owner's permission to post all these correspondence at the web pages (without contact data, of course).
Best regards.
Guillermo.
P.S. thanks for your kind help, Mike.
Jan 24, 2009
Hello Lynda et al-
To start with, I want to repeat something that I mentioned to the Banjer Club people, and that is that the hull number of Magus is 50, not 86 that they had in their records. At least, that's what the builder's plate on the vessel shows.
And yes, Magus is Beenderen.
Jenny and I bought Magus in April, 2008 from Vern and Patricia Morey. They had lived on her since some (short) time after they bought her in 1985, travelling throughout the Caribbean; I know they got down to Venezuela at some point. They had moved off of her in July, 2007, and moved on to an old "trawler yacht" at the dock in Salinas, Puerto Rico. Magus was on an anchor in the harbor, and they wanted to sell her. The boat was well worn, and needed some serious updating, but the hull and engine were in excellent condition. I could go into more detail, but the short story is that we are planning to visit her every winter/spring for several weeks, until some year we may move onto her for longer, and perhaps bring her back up to Maine. No schedule for that, though.
So, looking at the Abstract of Title from the USCG, it looks like Vern and Patricia bought Magus from the attorney for Jim and Tanya Horowitz in February, 1985. I don't know what that means about the Horowitz's at that time-- were they sick or dead, or just letting the lawyer take care of it?; I don't have any idea. Anyway, they bought the boat in April, 1982 from Lowell C. Yund and Ruth F. Yund. I know that the boat was named Magus when the Moreys bought her, so apparently the Horowitz's changed the name from Beenderen.
I also see that the Yund's had her registered with the USCG in November, 1979, but the abstract lists her as being built in 1971 at Eista Werf, N.V. for Lowell C. Yund. I see another reference to "ex-MD 5945 P" that was probably the Maryland registration.
Other than what I mentioned above from the documents I have, I know nothing about the history of the boat from before the Moreys owned her*. I'm fairly certain that they bought her in Florida, but I would have to talk to Patricia to confirm that. (Vern died early in the summer, 2008, and Patricia is still living on their trawler in Salinas, Puerto Rico.)
*Actually, there were still good records for most of the equipment, much of which seemed likely to be original; including a blueprint of the wiring arrangement. No logs, though (or not that we've found, yet.)
So Lynda, I'd love to hear any good stories you could tell me about Beenderen, and it sounds like you heard something about the Horowitz's travels.
-Albert
Jan 25, 2009
Thanks a lot, Albert.
Magus' building number is 50, of course. Number 82 (not 86) is the number of the BMC membership, which is a different thing. It's just the registering number when a given Banjer enters first time in our records.
I'll love to know more about Magus' history from Lynda.
All the best.
Guillermo.
Jan 26, 2009
WOW!!!! Thanks so much to everyone for taking this full circle. I can definitely give you some of her traveling history, such as we took her to Bermuda in 1980 from the Chesapeake, but can give you many more details. I think we may still have the log book, I'm not sure. My father was a stickler for documentation. My mother is still living and I'm sure she will love to hear this news and be more than willing to contribute stories. Let me get some thoughts and pictures and stories together.
Will be in touch with you very soon.......
Lynda
Jan 07, 2009
BONNE ANNEE
2009
Meilleurs voeux , de la joie et de la bonne humeur
et tout et tout ...... le reste suivra
BANJER DAMY III, MYRIAM et DANIEL
Dec 27, 2008
An unknown Banjer in far away waters has been brought to the Club's attention, thanks to one of its members.
Here the correspondence.
(JC)
Mon cher Guillermo,
Lors d'un voyage en Nouvelle Calédonie au mois de Juin 2008, j'ai trouvé à Nouméa un Banjer, "GERTOUNE" amarré au Club Nautique Calédonien.
Son propriétaire le possède depuis je crois 1980. Il s'agit d'un gréement aurique de la première génération, sans bout dehors, mais avec pont en teck, et très bien entretenu.
Le propriétaire assez agé habite Nouméa, je pourrais te donner son adresse si tu désires entrer en contact.
Ces renseignements te permettrons de compléter j'espère le recensement de la flotte
Cordialement
JC Capt "KRISMA II"
(Guillermo)
Thanks a lot JC!
I will be most grateful if you give me the name and address of GERTOUNE's owner, to get in touch with him and invite him to become a member of the Banjers Club.
Being in New Caledonia, this Banjer is close to where Brian Hull lives (only 1342 nautical miles, what's that?), so I'm copying this message to him for him to know. Perhaps someday they can meet each other with their Banjers, so doing the first 'down under' Banjers Gathering!
Best wishes.
Guillermo.
(Brian Hull)
Guys,
Back in the nineties I did a celestial navigation course in Southport Queensland Australia.
Part of this course was to participate in a race to Noumea in New Caledonia from Southport on a retired maxi yacht belonging to the navigation school.
While in Noumea on the marina I saw the Gertaune.....................
It will be interesting to learn how she came to New Caledonia.
This gives us one Banjer37 in South Africa, one in New Caledonia & one in Papua New Guinea. I know of none in Australia or New Zealand.
I don't know how many are in South America.
Brian Hull
Dec 25, 2008
From MAGUS' new owner.
Hello Club people-
I have been meaning to write since my wife and I bought Magus, Banjer #50 last April in Puerto Rico. I really appreciated all of the information I was able to get from the website before we decided to buy her, and now I notice that a lot of it is only for members. We would love to become club members,...
For your info, we are planning to keep Magus in Puerto Rico for a few years, anyway. We will be staying in Maine except for the one or two times a year that we will go down there, which of course, will be during the winter/ early spring. Here is a link to a blog with photos from out trip last year: http://alpeaks.blogspot.com/
(We will be visiting again for all of March, 2009.)
We would be happy to correspond with other members, especially if any are going to be cruising in Maine in the summer; or Puerto Rico when we're there, too, of course.
Thanks,
Albert.
Nov 16, 2008
From Hans Ekdom.
Amazing...!!!!
Nov 08, 2008
From Rob and Jacqueline
Dear Guillermo,
Hope you are well….regret to report we now sold Albatros....
We will surely miss the contacts and do hope we are allowed to show our face at the Banjer meeting 2010….
We have now joined the Schottel boat club, it is nice, but not a similar feeling like the Banjer club.
Albatros will remain in the Netherlands, her new owner may move her to Italy within a year or 2.
Many, many thanks for all you have done and are still doing for the club and suggest to stay in touch.
Take care!
Rob and Jacqueline
Oct 25, 2008.
News from Mike E.
We've been working hard on Rendezvous these last weeks, though we did take a day and go motoring down to Sausalito.
All interior surfaces are being scrubbed of 36 years accumulations.
The fresh water pump has been replaced, the fresh water tanks have been treated with chlorine, found a leak in the aft one, took the inspection port off and manually cleaned it but found the leak to be external, probably part of the fill hose.
One bilge pump replaced, plans of adding two more higher capacity pumps.
Steering problem addressed, mainly a lack of lubrication accounted for the stiffness
280 feet of chain removed from boat, cleaned and painted at 25 foot intervals, should be back on the boat this coming weekend.
It seems though, the to-do list is longer now than when we first looked at the boat, and it's growing!
Sept 28, 2008
(Received Sept 9).
Hello all,
I should let you know that Pax Mercerium (formerly Huntress) has been sold......
It was a very difficult decision to sell my Banjer. It has been a wonderful boat – both in calm waters and of course in the ocean in storm conditions. During my ownership I put about 1400 hours on the 1994 Perkins Diesel (85HP). I had made several improvements, esp. the Bowthruster, larger holding tank, and davit. New owner has removed the davit I had installed on the stern. I did not like the looks of the davit but it made handling the Avon 3.10 much easier, but this is a matter of taste,
I will be moving onto a different boat, more of a small off-shore long distance ocean cruiser....
I wish to thank the Banjer MoterSailer Club for all your advice and assistance during the four years I owned Pax Mercerium, ex Huntress.
Cheers and best wishes on the sea and land,
Don.
Sept 27, 2008
From the Commodore
Dear all:
I have received lately several letters form members, telling me about you and the visits you have paid to or have received from other members within the last months. Also several letters saying thanks for the usefulness of these web pages for the selling or buying of your Banjers. This is most encouraging and fully justifies all efforts done to keep the Club alive and kicking.
I want to thank all of you for your kind support and enthousiasm.
Keep on Banjering!
Guillermo.
|
Sept 25, 2008
Banjer TIJDVERDRIJF's owner send us this link to several images fro the building of SULASGEIR's beautiful model. An outstanding realization!
Sept 24, 2008
The interesting story of Banjer SUMMER RAIN from her new owner, Matt G.
She is hull number 51 and her year of construction is variously listed as 1970 or 1971. Her original owner was apparently Dominic J. Daly, a property consultant, auctioneer and estate agent based in Pembroke Street in Cork, Ireland. Mr. Daly's firm is apparently still active and has a website at http://www.dominicjdaly.com/ . On this website, his professional history is described as follows:
Dominic Daly has over 30 years auctioneering experience. He is a member of the IAVI (Irish Auctioneers and Valuers Institute) and a former chairman of the Cork Harbour Commisioners as well as a member of the Cobh & Harbour Chamber of Commerce.
President of the Munster Agricultural Society and Honorary Belgium Consul for Carlow, Cork, Kerry, Kilkenny, Tippeary, Waterford, & Wexford.
The BOKMA (as hull #51 was then named), was registered in 1971 in Littlehampton, West Sussex, England. Unusually for a Banjer, she was fitted with an 80 H.P. Gardner & Sons diesel. According to her UK registration documents, this engine was manufactured in 1948. I do not know if this engine was fitted by the manufacturers at Eista Werf or was subsequently installed by Mr. Daly. However, Mr. Daly mentioned this engine as a major selling point in his letter to her second owners, Dana M. Sheldon M.D. and his wife Dorothy Sheldon, of Spruce Head, Maine in the USA.
Dr. Sheldon evidently placed an advertisement in Yachting World seeking to buy a Banjer 37. Mr. Daly responded to this ad in December 1985, which resulted in the subsequent sale of the BOKMA to Dr. Sheldon in April 1986. The BOKMA was thoroughly surveyed in February 1985 by I.M. Nicolson of A. Mylne & Co., naval architects (http://www.mylne.com/). At the time, BOKMA was lying in the Crosshaven Boatyard, in Crosshaven, Cork, Eire. Dr. Sheldon (who was or is a psychiatrist) took possession of the BOKMA in June 1986, and renamed her the BONAVENTURE.
According to the memorandum prepared by Dr. Sheldon as he was offering BONAVENTURE for sale "due to health reasons," he sailed her down the West coast of Ireland, then through canals in France, Belgium and Holland into the Mediterranean. He then crossed the Atlantic to Antigua ("taking only 4 days longer than average passage, with original short rig") and subsequently sailed her from Florida to Maine and Nova Scotia.
During the years of his ownership, Dr. Sheldon made a number of significant modifications and enhancements to the BONAVENTURA. Among these changes were the following:
Replacing the Gardner with a new Lugger 62 H.P. diesel engine, based upon a John Deere block marinized by Alaska Diesel Electric Installing a taller Hinckley spar in place of the mainmast with a Cruising Design roller furling system abaft the mast, and adding a 4' bowsprit with a used Hood roller-furling jib, doubling the sail area to 824 s.f. (76.6 m2), effectively converting her to a 'Transoceanique' model
Installing a Faryman 1-cylinder 3KW generator mounted on the port side of aft hold
Installing a Dickinson diesel cabin heater
Rewiring the boat.
Gene W. purchased the BONAVENTURA in June 1994, and subsequently used her a live-aboard in Boston. Over the years, Gene sailed her down the Intracoastal Waterway several times and cruised in the Bahamas.
(Note from the editor: Gene changed BONAVENTURA's name to her present SUMMER RAIN)
September 15, 2008
New Baner owners at last!
Hi Guillermo
We did it, about 10:19 the last paper was signed. DaKine / Pelerin /Lexie MacDonald, now US Coast Guard Documented Vessel "Rendezvous" is ours, Mike and Celeste. We are on the Alameda Estuary, Grand Marina, across from Coast Guard Island. We are spending our first night aboard, with a nearly full moon to light the evening.
On our arrival, the current owner, George, was waiting with gifts, a bottle of champagne and a car full of "stuff", more oversized line, lots of blocks, a few spares for the motor, with promises of more tomorrow. I sorted through some of that, as well as what was on board, with special attention paid to out dated safety items, making a list to go shopping at West Marine tomorrow.
Celeste spent some of the day going through the monumental stack of paper, every bill of sale, piece of equipment, present or not, from LoranC Document to VHS owners manual. She is hoping to assemble a biography for the ship.
Monday she is hauled, bottom painted, some of the survey items tended to, and next weekend she powers across the bay to San Rafael, Lowries Yacht Harbor.
Mike
September 12, 2008
More from Mike:
....Saturday morning at 10 am Pacific Daylight Time, I sign the papers and Rendezvous will be mine. A romantic side note, the well known American Author, Jack London, has a shopping/tourist area named after him, Jack London Square, where he used to hang out drinking beer and writing about his adventures, some of which included sailing boats on San Pablo Bay, and complaining about the conditions that the Banjer excels in. Appropriately, the signing will take place at Jack London Square, where he probably walked over the very ground....
Next week she is hauled, bottom painted, seacocks serviced, prop balanced and then the following weekend, she comes home to Lowries yacht Harbor, where she will take her place as one of the most interesting boats on the San Rafael Canal.
Side note, I kayak on the Canal and have admired a number of boats in the past years, including a 30 foot Fisher. Every time I looked at that boat I wondered what it was, thinking it was a boat that I would certainly love, so, seeing the Banjer, I was predisposed to liking it.
When I arranged for the survey, I told him that she was like a Fisher. He told me during the survey this was built far heavier than Fishers are, having surveyed several, he thought the build quality was commercial, for a boat that could be used every day. In the engine room he tapped on one of the small braces between the fuel tank and the engine stringer and said "keep an eye on this one, it is not as solid as the others, but don't worry, even if it was removed, you have far more bracing than required", pointing to all the other stringer, and the steel plate the engine is mounted on.
Mike
September 07, 2008.
Some correspondence with Mike E., who is purchasing Lexie McDonald (ex Da Kine) and kindly allowed us to post it.
Sent: Sunday, August 31, 2008 5:03 AM
Subject: Re: possible new Banjer 37 owner UPDATE
Guillermo.
The offer was accepted! Financing has been arranged, insurance being held up until sales paperwork and survey is in order.
Friday we shall have a sea trial and haul out, and assuming all goes well, she will stay out of the water long enough for new bottom paint, and maybe a new forward looking depth sounder and any other underwater work that may be required, such as through hull servicing.
Ellie and George came by this morning and gave their blessings, then invited us to their yacht club, we took them to lunch then they took us out on the Bay for about an hour. I took the helm through the most active water and was quite pleased with its handling. Since all my current time on the water is on a sea kayak (I am getting lessons in the Eskimo roll Monday) it was very interesting for the seas to be so active, we took water over the bow once and a number of big splashes, and yet the boat handled it quite well. Ellie said they've been in some very rough stuff, but Pelican has never scared her.
George thinks the steering stiffness is entirely within the hydraulic system, he felt the bearings were in good order. We found the source of the water below the port V-berth, that is where the hawse pipe leads, or rather used to lead the anchor chain. When she had an electric windlass installed, the house batteries were used, and a large pair of cables were run up the hawse pipe from the pilothouse, which helps lead the water below the berth. While it is a neat and proper installation, I much prefer the idea of all that chain being as low as possible, it used to run into the bilge, so I will rewire the windlass, with its own battery probably in what is now being used as a chain locker, with much smaller wire for charging. I also plan to install a separate starting battery, but I did find the second house battery, one on each side, forward in the pilot house, on the fuel tanks.
I spoke to the man who has been the maintenance man of record for the last 15 years, he thinks, even though the current owner has had her for 9. Within the last five years he has replaced the heat exchanger, exhaust system and fuel oil filters, and indeed the latter is spotless. He feels the boat is in excellent condition with only a few small area requiring attention, he mentioned a small bit of dry rot.
Two questions, if I may
The water heater is apparently French, a Valiant Geyser. Is the company still in business? I can't find anything on google except for a plumber in Austrailia looking for information. Oddly an identical heater was on sale on Craigslist last week.
It has a Sharp & Company "Auto Mate" autohelm. It is a rather odd looking unit, very nautical looking, and with the blanket statement of "everything works" from the current owner, I assume it does. It is British, and again a google search turns up nothing. Do you know anything?
Looking forward to becoming a member of the Banjer Motorsailors Club, I guess within the month I will be a full fledged member, I can hardly wait.
Mike E.
Sent: Sunday, August 31, 2008 10:44 AM
Subject: Re: possible new Banjer 37 owner UPDATE
Dear Mike,
Congratulations for the acceptance of your offer! I hope everything will run smoothly and soon you can become the proud new owner of Lexie McDonald, ex-Da'Kine, as well as receiving you as a member of the Club. I'm also very happy to know about your acquantancy with Ellie and Gearge. It will be very good for all of you to have another BMC member close to you and so be able to share experiences and maintenace tips and may be even sharing sailings in the future. THis will make the Banjer ownership more enjoyable.
Regarding your questions.
The water hetaer you mention is probably a Vaillant Geyser (like my own) from Germany, and not a 'Valiant'. Here you have their web pages: http://www.vaillant.com/ Here their representatives in the USA: http://www.vaillant.com/usa/. Unluckily they are no longer producing that Geyser model anymore, but you can ask them where to get parts over there. I think Banjers mounted any of these models: the MAG 125, the MAG 250 or the MAG 325 (there were several versions of those, depending on the gas to be burnt). Here you have some spare parts for the MAG 125: http://www.leisureshopdirect.com/Caravan/gas/Vaillant_water_heater.aspx
I know nothing about the Sharp Auto Mate autopilot, so I cannot be of help here, sorry. You may search internet for 'Sharp autopilots' for some more info or then post a query at any of the cruising forums.
I look forward to receiving you as a BMC member soon!
My best wishes.
Guillermo.
Sent: Saturday, September 06, 2008 3:22 AM
Subject: Lexie MacDonald Survey
Hi Guillermo
When I left today at 8 am I wondered if I might need a long sleeve something for the sea trail, I thought, it's always cold on the water. t was 100°F. I am miserable, I didn't bring enough water and, of course, a boat such as Lexie has no need of A/C, so we sweltered....
Aside from that, it was a great day. When we arrived, Kent Parker was up the mizzen looking at the standing rigging with a magnifying glass, something he used repeatedly on any small, important bit, even some big ones, like the rudder fittings. Lexie now has no secrets, except maybe with the engine, which I've decided not to survey because Chuck's Marine has had fifteen years of supervision of it and says its fine.
Only things found amiss were fairly minor, in no particular order
A) mizzen bracket does not spread the load across the cabin top very well, the fitting has compressed the spot where attached. When we get serious about sailing I will have a new, heavier duty bracket made that has better distribution.
B) Through hull for the raw water intake for the engine is poorly done, an old type fitting that Kent doesn't like, the installation itself is sub-standard. Kent says he has done a number of survey for boats sunk at docks because of installations like this. It will be repaired when we haul for the paint next week.
C) Kinked hose in the plumbing, another poorly done job to be taken care of next week.
D) Battery boxed required to contain the battery acid and secure the batteries in worse case scenario.
E) cooling water intake hose (?) flopping around a bit, secure and another spot of interference with a batter cable.
Kent tells me that nothing major has shown up, and should be no problem with financing or insurance. So now it is submit the survey that I should have Monday or Tuesday to both the financial institutions I am applying with and the insurance companies, have the boat hauled and the above repaired and the boat polished and hopefully, within two weeks I have possession of Lexie, probably to be renamed Rendezvous!
and only 3 or 4 small blisters that will wait for the next haul when the old bottom paint will be removed and start again with a fresh coat.
Mike E., almost owner
August 27, 2008
IMPORTANT NOTICE!
The site has been remodeled in accordance with what was agreed at the BMC's 2007 General Meeting, as follows:
"Workshop", "Forum-Improvements", "Hydrostatics", "Gear & Equipment drawings", "Old Letters", "Lines & Sailing", "Eistabanjerguide"and "Check List" are now in the private section of the site, available to members only. If you are a member, please ask Guillermo for the username and password to access such pages.
August 24, 2008
Da Kine has been found!
A Banjer named Lexie McDonald came for sale in San Francisco, and she happened to be Da Kine. Here the message form Mike E., who informed us about her:
"Da Kine has been found! There appears to be fairly complete records dating back at least to 1979, since I don't have the papers with me we shall make do with my memory. Kermit Parker Yachts, of San Rafael, California (now NorPac and having moved to Richmond California) sold the boat named Da Kine. I am not at present clear whether that owner renamed her something else, we did see she had a name something like Persius, but are not clear of the time line. The current owner bought her about 1999 and named her Lexi MacDonald, after his Grandmother."
July 25, 2008
From Da Kine's ex-Banjer owner, Jerry McGregor
Hi Guillermo, here are a few more pics of Da'Kine if you want to post them. The colorful genoa sail I had made in England so it still may be in the sail inventory on the mystery boat. Other pics were taken in Tenerife I think. Outhaul shot, don't know.
Aloha, Jerry
Note: The 'mistery boat' could be PELICAN, in San Francisco. We are trying to find out if Da Kine is nowadays Pelican or not. See Da Kine's special page.
June 28, 2008
From fellow member Maarten J.
Hola Guillermo,
Hope all is well,
Few weeks ago I was in Athens for Posidonia and had dinner one evening in the old port of Piraeus. Found this Banjer over there and took some pictures with my mobile phone, hence the bad quality. I think it is the Banjer from venezuela, but I am not sure.
Best regards,
Maarten.
(Anybody knows which Banjer is this one? I don't think she's "Lontananza")
June 16, 2008
Has someone heard about Banjer "DA KINE"....? We received this message from Jerry McGregor in Hawaii:
Aloha, yes I live in Hawaii.
In 1971 I bought a Banjer from Stangate Marine in England. My wife & I took 2 years sailing her back to San Diego where I regretfully sold her.
The name we gave her was "Da Kine" meaning 'the best' in Hawaiian. I know she ended up in Dana Point Harbor & I don't know if the name was changed.
Is there any way you might be able to track the boat down. After all these years it would be fun to see what happened to her.
Thanks, Jerry
May 11, 2008
From friends Eileen and Peter, who own a Claymore motorsailer
Buon Giorno, Guillermo!
........my husband, Peter and I are living in the United States with 'Olivebank', Massachusetts East Coast on Cape Cod.
However, I know our boat is European and was built in England and that there are quite a few Claymore's in Scotland and the British Isles.
I would be pleased to add the Banjer Club's website address to the links on our page and would appreciate if the favor is returned!
Just let me know what the url (address) is and I'll take care of that.
And....if you folks know of any Claymore owners send them our way! :-)
Happy sailing -
Eileen, on M/S 'Olivebank'
May 4, 2008
From Martin F., through our web site's form processor.
I really, really appreciated your extensive information on anchors as I've had a tough time getting any answers on my situation and needs. I've got a WWII Sea Mule tug. 40' long, 12' beam and displaces about 50,000 lbs. I have a 1500 lb stockless anchor which I was given but haven't used yet.
Here's my question: What do you think about using wire rope instead of chain or nylon rope? I'm working this boat on a very deep lake 300-500ft.
Thanks for any advice.
Answer from the Commodore:
Dear Martin,
Thanks for your contact through our web pages. I think you are the same person who asked similar questions at boatdesign.net forums, aren't you?
I think there should be no problem to use wire for your ground tackle because of the big depth (otherwise not good for an small one because of the lack of elasticity). It can even be beneficial in your case, as I think 1500 lbs anchor weight is low for the permanent mooring of a 50000 lbs boat in rocky bottoms (as I have told at the forums): the wire's weight (against nylon) can partially compensate for the lack of weight at the anchor.
All the best.
Guillermo Gefaell
BMC's Commodore.
April 29, 2008
More from PANDORA
Hi guillermo,
I just want to tell you about the banjermen friendship . We are now at home and we had the pleasure to meet ventvers , damy and gros baloo several times in march and april ,always around a good meal and a good bottle so it s time to stop eating so much, therefore Daniel and I are leaving france on the 14th may to go to cyprus where pandora is . We got 4 new silent blocks( mountings ) for our engine thanks to Frank de Visser who was able to find the spare parts in Holland and send them to france .Thanks again for creating this big family .
April 2, 2008
Another very kind message from Taylor I. Cook:
At present my wife and I plus our crew (two Labrador retrievers) cruise the US East coast usually from May to November on our Krogen 44 named "Water Dog". Home port is Charleston,S.C. Will welcome any Banjerites passing through.
March 30, 2008
We have received this message from Taylor I. Cook:
"Looking for info on Banjer 1970/71,open aft cockpit, closed pilot house named Dakine. Bought by me in California 1972. Was in Navy at the time. Orders to East Coast ship required unfortunate sale in Newport, CA. 1974."
Any help?
Please contact the Commodore: commodore@banjer37.net
January 3, 08
Wishes from QIMMIQ for 2008:
Carpe Banjeriem !!
(We'll do that, Frank, we'll do that!)
Dec 10, 2007
From the BMC's Honourable Secretary.
.....I thought you would be interested in the attached photo. About 2 weeks ago I was 70 and six months ago, in secret, 11 of my friends - calling themselves the 'Friends of Sulasgeir' - commissioned a model of Sulasgeir which they presented at a party here in Scotland.
I am sure you will agree its a fine model and something to treasure - particularly if I have to give up sailing! Which I don't intend to do for some time!
Regards
Colin
Dec 07, 2007
Letter from member Brian Hull to Steven K.
Steven,
I have owned my Banjer37 "Duck Soup" since 1984 & lived aboard for more than twenty years. You will find details of Duck Soup on the website as with many other Banjers. The various layouts are also posted on the website.
I have just turned sixty nine & have no difficulty single handing Duck Soup. Over the last twenty three years I have completed about sixty thousand miles cruising. This cruising included a number of voyages in the waters of Papua New Guinea & to North Queensland. One four month trip down the east coast of Australia as far as Port Davey on the west coast of Tasmania, a twelve month staggered trip to New Zealand via Southport Queensland, Lord Howe Island, the Bay of Islands & Auckland where I had a total pox job done. We returned via Tonga, Fiji & Vanuatu. Another extended cruise was to Darwin via Thursday Island, Gove & various other anchorages. From Darwin we proceeded to Ambon in Indonesia, then due North to the Halmahera group, South to the equator, due East to Biak in West Papua & then to Vanimo in PNG. From Vanimo we proceeded leisurely back to Port Moresby in home waters. Most of my cruising has been done with one crew.
...........................
Nov 26, 2007
From friend Hans S.:
As a super coincidence we were at Terschelling with our Dartsailer 38 and there we were together with two other royals: the Banjer and the Fischer.
I think you would like to have this picture.
Kind regards
Hans S
(Banjer is ANNE MARIE)
Nov 25, 2007
From PANDORA
We are arrived in Hurgadha were is a new and beautifull marina we will go back to France 3 weeks while our guest continue 150 miles further and we will join them the 30 of december to continue to Sudan..
Nov 10, 2007
From friend Steven, in Australia.
Dear Mr. Gefaell,
I was really impressed with the Banjer 37 when I accidentally stumbled on your web site. I had never heard of Banjer until last week.
I was looking around for a Nauticat 33, preferrably on the Mediterranean, where I had intended to buy a boat and travel around my country of birth, Greece.
Since I am 58 years old, I thought I should not delay it any longer.
To be truthful, I thought a Nauticat 33 would do the job for me, easily and safely. Then I saw your web site, and I must confess, I am having second thoughts about the Nauticat until I fully investigate The Banjer. I also considered the Fisher 30, but I think it is too small for me.
I am a competent sailor of many years, and the waters around Melbourne, Australia, can get fairly rugged, especially the Tasman Sea and Bass Straight.
I currently own a Columbia 27 (based on American Coronado 26 by Columbia USA). I sail single handed usually, and my small boat suits the time I spend on it, and the destinations I take it to.
If I am going to visit Greece, and adjacent countries, during the European summers, over the next few years, I would like to do it comfortably and safely, over 3 month intervals, regardless of weather, hence my attraction to "heavy duty" Motorsailers, especially for the Maltemi winds of the Aegean and the Bourini squalls of the Ionian, which I experenced once and could not believe the ferocity of the winds and the boiling sea.
I think you are the same Guillermo, who takes part in forums regularly on the web, am I correct? If so, I would appreciate a little advice and Information from you as I am sure you would know how to compare both vessels ( and perhaps the Fisher 30?) in a helpful, if not critical way.
Further, I have scoured the net for technical information on both alternatives, but I have not really found any discussions on weak points and strong points.
I have not yet found any really good interior photos and Interior layouts of the Banjer. Perhaps you can guide me a little on this.
Osmosis would be a point on both I think. But I am generally seeking reliable advice on handling, reversing, poor design, quirks that could surprise if one does not know about them etc.
The Nauticat looks quite attractive and seems to have very well thought out accommodation, but the timber decks and superstructure worry me because of probable deck and house leaks and therefore rot.
The Banjer appears to be a no nonsense rugged design, but at the same time, beautiful. Truly a timeless craft, I thought.
The Banjer apparently is all fibreglass, but what about hull to deck connection? Are the spars alloy or timber?
It seems Banjers have tabernacled masts and less draft ....... handy for canal cruising?
Sorry for rambling on and appearing to be answering my own questions, but I have only one chance at this ....... If I get it wrong, it may overturn my plans.
And finally, I don't mind if a little work has to be done to get whichever craft up to standard. I am an engineer by profession, but with a good understanding of woodwork, epoxy laminating and treatments, and a reasonable mechanic and electrician. But of course, I don't want to rebuild a boat. I would rather use it for travel and accommodation.
I think I have intruded into your time more than I had intended. I would love to get your opinions or a guide to sources of information, where I can make a good decision.
Very best regards and congratulations on the Banjer web site.
Steven K.
Australia.
Nov 14, 2007
From friend Perry in the UK:
Hello Guillermo, Are any Banjers fitted with Bruntons Autoprops?
http://www.bruntons-propellers.com/
http://www.autoprop.com/
If so, do you have any feedback?
Best regards,
Perry
Email: perrydebellNOSPAM@blueyonder.co.uk (remove NOSPAM from address)
Perry would appreciate any info from any of our fellowmembers who has installed this kind of propellers in his/her Banjer.
If you can be of help, please contact him.
Nov 07, 2007
From PANDORA
We are once more in Egypt. But this time we are not on our boat Pandora we are crew on a catamaran called MAILYS.
We met this french couple in Larnaka and we talked about Egypt and Red Sea. They were a bit afraid about Suez Canal and Red Sea.
The vascodagama rallye going till India was at this time in Larnaka, and they decided to go with this rallye. But the day after they asked us to go onboard with them!
We threw our bag on their boat and the day after we are sailing to Port Said.
Now our captain ... thinks to go to India.
Hope to see you again
Daniel & Monique
Sept 30, 2007
From PAX MERCERIUM:
Just a note to let you know the bow thruster, a Vetus 75, was installed, and has worked very well especially in docking on tight, difficult spaces. We had a great summer on Pax Mercerium. Interestingly, at Chatterbox Falls, Princess Louisa Inlet, we anchored and, surprise, the other Banjer in BC, named Island Rover, arrived to anchor a boat over from us. She had just been purchased by a new owner; ...... Later on when we went into Gibson’s (a days 7-knot motor from Vancouver), we heard from the wharfinger that he lives in ..... and had just been into Gibson’s a few days before. Many people notice the fine lines of the Banjer and noticed Pax Mercerium and Island Rover as “sister ships”, so to speak.
Sept 22, 2007
We welcome the new owner of PHILEAS (Ex- LE RESOLU) as a member of the Club.
Be very welcome aboard!
June 29, 2007
A most funny letter received by a member of the Club:
Dear Dear XXXXXX,
Thanks. I think I will like to have the banjer for my retirement and I am ready to pay the 67,000Euros but it is based on condition.
XXXXXX, I am a civil servant and I need to do things with protocol and I want you have an idea about my personality.
My name is Prof. Charles Soludo, I am the Governor*Central Bank of Nigeria *,
Due to my position as the Governor, I will not be able to pay you directly, because of the political under tone in my country, moreover, we have a new Government in placed and which is seeking my termination, in view of this, I am preparing for my retirement also, and that is why I am interested in buying the boat.
I want you to buy the boat in my wife's name on my behalf and you will be handsomely paid for your services, my wife will be coming over to meet with you upon receipt of money.
You will receive the payment by applying to Automated Department as one of the Contractor I owed while in office.
It is a new payment scheme and right now we have started paying foreigners that worked with us as a contractor and my intention is to have your name inputted into the database and all you need to do is to apply to the payment department for the release of your contract payment and which I as the head of the central bank will sign and it shall be paid to you accordingly.
You will make nothing less than 250,000Euros working with me on this project.
If you are interested get back to me.
I am using this medium because of my position and to make you feel secure, I am ready to provide you with some personal details about myself that is only if you are ready to work with me.
Thanks
Prof.Charles Soludo
June 26, 2007
From Anne-Ilse, searching for Banjer 'LAST LOVE'
Name: Anne-Ilse placke
Email: Anne-ilse@web.de
Comments: i am looking for the banjer "last love" in monastir/Tunesie, which belong to Ludwig and Resi. I would like to sent them a note and greetings, but I dont know how. Please can you help me???
May 17, 2007
From DOUWE WILLEM's former owner
Dear Guillermo,
(Chairman) and to all Banjer members,
With this message I want to let you all know that DOUWE WILLEM is now/on this moment on his way home to Danmark with his new owner Lars. I want to thank you Guillermo, Chus for missing him so many times, Mr. Ton Koot and wife and all the other people , who gave us so many nice memories being a member of your excellent club. Especially Mrs. Ineke de Grijs who made us so a nice Chinese meal on our trip to the 2e meeting in Rotterdam in 2004. I want you all thank for everything it was realy UNFORGETTABLE. I wish you a very good continuation keeping your Banjers in excellent shape. and keep allways water under the keel.................................
And you have to remember that OLD BANJERS NEVER DIE.......
Your Banjer-lovers for ever LYDIA and TOM ZWIJNENBERG.
Fare well and good luck.
April 9, 2007
From friend Phil Ellis
The Banjer 37 Motorsailer Club mourns for the sudden death
of our fellow member Alan, former owner of PELICAN OF BIRDHAM.
Our sorrow to his wife, family and friends.
Dear Guillermo,
You will recall that some time ago I sold "Pelican of Birdham" to Alan W-J and you will know what an enthusiastic owner and contributor to the Banjer cause he became.
It is is with great sadness I have to tell you that Alan died suddenly at the end of March whilst exercising at his local Gymnasium, his death is a great loss to his wife and family and his many friends. Alan and I became quite good friends and shall miss our many talks. This year he was planning a summer cruise with Pelican to the West coast of Scotland which he was looking forward to enormously.
.......................................
Best regards
Philip Ellis
Falmouth
Ex Banjer Owner
Feb 17, 2007
From new owner of PAX MERCERIUM (Ex-Huntress)
Hello Commodore Guillermo Gefaell and Club Members,
.....here are some pictures of my Banjer, Pax Mercerium, formerly Huntress....
You will note wooden name plates removed and addition of davit for Avon 3.1 on stern. Boat has updated hydraulic steering, autopilot, reworked 1994 Perkins Diesel - 4 cylinder, 85 HP, reworked electrics with North American direct current cigarette-style plugs and updated AC system with AC and DC switches coordinated in wheelhouse on single panel, large black water holding tank, Diesel furnace (Espar), added teak cup holders in wheelhouse, cooler/freezer in wheelhouse (where is fold-down seat – top of cooler is now seat). Also two auto bilge pumps in addition to the manual pumps.
Sail plan is in Canada described as ketch-rigged, with 4 sails available.
Boat (to clarify) first purchased in Chicago 1972 by an American (built 1970), brought to Tacoma (not Seattle – the two cities share the same airport), then sold to second American owner in Seattle area (Bainbridge Island) who brought her to Campbell River on Vancouver Island as he now shares a small nearby island with others, the reason he sold the boat to me, the third owner, a Canadian resident in Vancouver. Boat is registered in Nanaimo on Vancouver Island where we have another property.
Incidentally, the type is A-4 (rear cockpit, full wheelhouse); I had not noticed your types when I filled in the form.
I have to go to the Boat to obtain the Boat number; I will send that to you in due course.
Please also advise of post 2007 get-together. I come to Sweden/ Norway and Belgium, every two years, and could join you (but likely not with the boat) after 2007. The year 2007 is circumnavigation of Vancouver Island (3 weeks +) and trips up North on this coast.
Feb 2, 2007
From the Commodore:
I have had my home computer out of work for a long time, so no updates of these pages have been done from last December till today.
Now everything's correct again and I will continue updating the site as usual.
Thanks to all for your patience.
Guillermo Gefaell
BMC Commodore
Nov 19, 2006
From BANJER #12 & CHAPEAU, regarding PANDORA's problem
(A very nice example of collaborativeness among members)
....I was in Vietnam last week and spoke to a guy from Promac. He told me that all parts should still be available.
Please let me know if you still require the parts. I can talk to him and maybe arrange something. If so let me have the parts numbers.
(BANJER #12)
....(PANDORA) has asked me for help. He had sent me money by mail. Last week I phoned Promac and paid the spares.
So Promac will send the spares to (him) now.
(CHAPEAU)
Nov 08, 2006
From ANNE MARIE ex-owners
Dear Guillermo,
I would like to inform you, that we have sold our banjer 37 three weeks ago. We were contacted via your web side, and found very nice people who will take care of our boat as well as we did over the last 26 years.
Never the less we will also in the future visit your web side seeing all these beatiful fotos of other banjers, because for sure we will miss our boat very much.
Kind regards
Karl and Anne Marie.
Oct 30, 2006
From BANJER (#12) to PANDORA:
About 30 years ago my father bought one of the old canal barges in Holland and it had the same Seffle steering gear as on the Banjers. We also had a problem with the ball joints one day. I guess you mean with these the four flexible connection points on the steering gear foundation and the rudder yoke.
If I remember correctly we exchanged them with the ball joint from the steering system of the volkswagen bus model of that time. (Early seventies) This solution has been working for 20 years. I am not 100% sure but I am quite sure that this type of VW bus must be still driving around in Jordan.
Good luck and best regards.
From PELICAN OF BIRDHAM to PANDORA
I have talked to my engineer over in the west of Scotland.
He has talked to a UK company that are the UK agents for Promac in Holland. We are giving then full details of our steering to see what they can do to replace parts in my steering box. If I have to get a new box I will let you know but it maybe sometime before my engineer has time to work on it.
By all means contact them with your problem. They are:
Martin Saer
Euromarine Ltd
++44 238 058 0020
m.saer@eiromarine.com
Good luck! I hope they can help.
Oct 28, 2006
From PANDORA
Hi guillermo,
Here are some news from PANDORA . Since we last met in Rotterdam in 2004 , Pandora left Turkey .We reached Israel after a stop in Cyprus. Last november (in 2005 ) we joined a rallye heading for India: www.vascodagamarallye.nl
We didn’t want to go so far so quick , so we stopped in Eilat , in the north of the gulf of AQABA . We are now in JORDAN , enjoying our stay here with 30 degrees .BUT ALL IS WELL THAT DOESN’T END WELL!! In fact we have a problem with our SEFFLE steering wheel : one of the four balljoints is damaged and a bit loose .We managed to repair this problem by adjusting a washer above the balljoint but we would prefer, of course, to change the balljoints .We sent a mail to PROMAC : info@promac.nl which is supposed to replace SEFFLE, to order the spareparts but no answer at the moment . Do you know where we could find this ? On our hydraulic steering gear system we can read TYPE HL 44O number 522 . Thanks for your help even if you can’t help us !!! We’ll be there at the next club gathering
from D. and M. onboard PANDORA
(As I have not better info about Seffle than the constat in the Workshop page, I forwarded the letter to several members to find out if somebody can be of more help. Guillermo)
October 22, 2006
From ALBATROS owners:
Dear Guillermo
Although a bit late, please find some pictures of the mini-Banjer meeting in Falmouth July/August.
By copying .... you will see our 3 banjers (Albatros, Young Banjer and Dutchess of Lynn) laying together in Falmouth.
......
Hope you can do something with these pictures on the web site!
Best regards,
R & J
October 18, 2006
From BRAVOUR owner:
I have now assembled my summer photos and send you a selection and a list of what I have done to Bravour over the last nine months.
I bought her in Hellevoetsluijs in November 2005 and then she went to Jachthaven Numansdorp where the following work was undertaken:
engine out for rebuilding,
gearbox split and refurbished
new fuel pump
new alternator
new starter-motor
new prop
new prop-shaft
new flexible engine-mounts
new flexible coupling
main-mast support fabricated and fitted,
seacocks replaced,
anchor-winch refurbished,
Sea-Me radar transponder fitted,
radar serviced and repaired
new depth and speed transponders fitted
Yeoman chart plotting system fitted
This year I have cruised along the N. Brittany coast and she is now back in .... UK where additional work is being undertaken:
Fit new heads holding tank
Fit new autopilot
New rubbing-strakes
Repaint shear-line
Here are some photos of boat, work and cruise.
October 18, 2006
From Rik, in The Netherlands:
Is it possible to put a banjer 37' on a bank with low tide?
Answer from the Club:
Dear Rik,
Sorry for the delay in answering, but I've been out of town for several days.
Answering your question: Yes, it is posssible to lay a Banjer on her keel with no problems at all. The only thing you'll need is a pair of 'legs' to keep her upright when the tide comes down.
All the best.
Guillermo.
October 03, 2006
Even more info from Jan:
Jan tells us his father's Banjer was named NINA II
We know this Banjer has been seen sailing east Med not a long time ago.
We would be delighted to receive her owners as members of the BMC.
September 06, 2006.
More from Jan:
Dear Guillermo,
....My father´s Banjer was berthed in the harbor of Jachtwerf Tjeukemeer in Lemmer/Ijsselmeer/Holland from 1972 until 1978, and in Marina Stavoren from 1978 until 1983/84. It was a "standard" Banjer, cockpit, wheelhouse, no aft cabin. Ketch-rigged (no gaff sails), with a Perkins 72 hp engine. It was equipped with a non-standard bowsprit (an own drawing of my father, fitted by Eista in Nederhemert around 1976): rather short (about 100 cm), massive teak, rectangular shape, treadmaster on the top, railing around it, with integrated anchor roll. Maybe that helps to find the boat. I do not know whether the new owners kept the name, but as far as I remember, the boat was sold to a retired engineer and his wife and they wanted to sail the mediterranean...? Maybe I can contact de Valk and find out more about it, I will let you know....
Kindest regards,
Jan.
September 03, 2006
From Jan B. willing to own a Banjer:
Dear All,
when I was little, my father owned a Banjer, "Nina II", built in 1972, which he sold with de Valk in Hindeloopen in 1984/85. My whife an I are now looking for a new boat, and I have to admit I have always been dreaming of owning a Banjer myself. I wonder whether anyone might know where the hull molds of the Banjer ended up. I know that some years ago there has been a "startup" shipyard in Germany, advertising a "Bose 37" which must have been a Banjer. I have never heard of them again, and Google seems to be of no big help here. Do you have any idea who I could contact?
Kindest regards, Jan B.
(Contacts with Jan through the Club. If you know something about the Banjer moulds, please tell us. Contacts)
August 29, 2006
From KITTYHAWK's owner:
Dear Chuck,
Removing the rudder is simple.You first have to remove the hydroulic cylinder from the ruddershaft, then unthighten the ring that is placed around the rudder shaft , then you just have to lift the rudder (including the shaft) up a bit out of the lower bearing .Then you lower the complete rudder.
On the Kittyhawk the bearing is not made of tufnol but of copper outside and rubber inside. The same as the bearing of the proppelorshaft.
When you remove the 4 bolts of the little square on your rudder , you can take the ruddershaft and the rudder apart.
It seems to me unlikely that the 6 centimeters thick ruddershaft is broken unless it is corroded.
For this i have placed an annode of zinck material around the shaft.
It looks like the inside metal strips of your rudder (inside the polyester hull of the rudder) are broken.
In that case the rudder and the hydroulic cylinder can move seperately as well.
Sorry for the english.
Kind regards, Dees.
August 24, 2006
From MARIBE's owner:
Dear Guillermo:
.................................
I do have a problem I would like some input on: A few years after the boat was new, the rudder developed so much friction in the tufnol (?) bearings that it could not be turned with the emergency tiller, only the hydraulics had enough power to overcome the friction and damage was done to the plywood shelf where the upper flange secures the top of the rudder post.
We removed the rudder (In the boatyard) and relieved the bearings by grinding with a cylinder honing tool, reassembled it and had no further trouble until now, when the rudder shaft has apparently broken inside the grease tube, between the upper and lower bearing, as the rudder moves freely and the steering quadrant moves freely, independently of each other.It may be that the period of heavy friction stressed the rudder post to a fatigue failure mode.My immediate problem is the removal of the rudder, while the boat is in the water, (vastly inconvenient to move to a boatyard) My memory does not suffice to recall the details of the previous rudder removal, but the rudder itself has a flange about four inches square which is attached with four bolts to an identical flange on the bottom of the "stub" rudder post which extends up through the grease-filled tube to the upper bearing and quadrant. These flanges are just below the water line and easily accessible, but if I remove those bolts, can I swing the rudder out and away from the heel bearing, or do I have to push the upper part of the ruder post up to get enough clearance?
Maybe others have had similar rudder problems, but our experience with the tight bearings is a caution for any Banjer owner, easily checked if you open the hydraulic bypass valve and try the manual emergency tiller for excessive resistance to turning the rudder.
Well, such a spiel, and nothing said about the marvelous qualities of Banjers, their comfort, seaworthiness, and the surprise many "old tropic hands" displayed when they discovered the "north sea pilot house" is actually a luxury in the tropics!
With thanks,..........
Chuck R.
Answer from Guillermo:
Dear Chuck,
Thanks for your most interesting message. With your permission I'll post it at our web pages, for other Banjer owners to know about the rudder stock problems.
Personally I do not have experience dismounting the rudder, as I had not the needing to do it until now, but I think dismounting can be safely done afloat. In my opinion, after removing flange bolts, you should lift somewhat the rudder stock with its flange before taking off the rudder, just not to force the base pin and bearing.
I would be happy to receive a nice photo from MARIBE whenever you get one.
Let me know if I can be of further help. I recommend you to post technical questions, as this rudder stock one, at the Maintenance Forum you can access from our Home page. Maybe other members can also be of help to you through that Forum.
All the best.
Guillermo.
11.06.2006
From Oscar Alstede, BMC's Secretary:
The 1,476 photos have been viewed 45,405 times since January 17th 2004
Regards,
Oscar Alstede
06.05.2006
Great help from friend Tad Roberts, a boatdesigner from Canada with lovely designs:
Guillermo,
I attach a scan from the Perkins sheet on the 4236M. Hope this is of some help. No fuel use mentioned! If you would like the other pages just let me know.
Pity there is no specific fuel use curve. My thought was that at your reported consumption of 1.08 lts/mile at 6 knots which I put at 1.71 US gph the engine is producing somewhere between 26.6 and 34 HP? That’s specific consumption of .35-.45 pounds of fuel per HP hour.
All the best, Tad
Tad Roberts Yacht Design
PO Box 33
Gabriola Island, BC
V0R 1X0 Canada
250-247-9315
email tadroberts@shaw.ca
www.tadroberts.ca
www.passagemakerlite.com
www.shipyardraid.ca
(Find more info at Workshop page)
02.05.2006
From member Brian Hull:
Guillermo,
Last Sunday the Royal Papua Yacht Club had its annual sail past to signal the opening of the sailing season.
I gave the club the option to consider Duck Soup as either a motor boat or sail boat as Banjers are 50/50 motor sailers.
Duck Soup won the prize of PGK500 for best dressed motor boat.
I will be coming to Europe for three weeks at the beginning of July.
I am flying from Port Moresby to Singapore/Bangkok/Helsinki/Brussels and will be staying with friends at Waterloo just outside Brussels.
My plans are very fluid and should there be something of interest to Banjer owners occurring whist in Europe I may be able to attend.
Keep in touch.
14.01.2006
Good old Marie and the BMC in the Spanish newspapers...
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