All Weather River Cruiser

At home on the Norfolk Broads

Fitzwater - A Mk I Four Berth

Glenn Renfrew has provided a host of photos of what, when launched, was Classic Safari, one of the five four berth boats featured in Hampton's Hire Brochure published after the announcement of the MkII boat. By the time Glenn was the owner, the boat had had a complete re-fit and Glenn reports:

I made some nice improvements and upgrades to the boat, and sold it on as an exceptionally good example of the marque. I was aware of its importance as the ‘poster girl’ of the original brochure, and passed on lots of interesting history to the new owner.

The refit and Glenn's improvements means the boat now includes some features that would not have been found when launched, such as ceiling mounted lights, a four ring cooker hob inset in the galley work top, an electric fridge and a Webasto warm air central heating system, but in most respects is very close to what would have been found aboard when launched.

External

Aft Cabin

The steps down into the cabin are quite steep and some owners have fitted additional half-width half-height steps to make ascent and descent easier.

It is notable that the original plan for the three berth boat reversed the position of the dressing table, nothing more than a shelf, and chest of drawers. By the time the MkIII arrived Hampton's recommended layout was as here. It certainly makes access to the stowage space under the port aft deck much easier as it allows for a much wider door. Don't be deceived by the apparently shallow drawers. Most of their depth is under the gunwale. A similar depth is found in the wardrobe, but it's height does not allow for coats or dresses.

You will notice that almost a quarter of the width of the bed falls under the gunwale. Those who enjoy sitting up to read before settling down for the night will find it almost impossible to enjoy that activity unless sleeping alone.

The opening windows to all cabins other than the saloon slide vertically. Other builders often fitted full height hopper windows. The disadvantage with them is the brackets that allow them to tilt 15° inwards is that you can't draw conventional curtains over them.

The Galley

Moving forward we enter the galley with the shower/toilet compartment to starboard. As part of the refit the galley has been significantly modernised. The original would not have had a sink unit and four-ring hob inset into the worktop. However, the general layout is in keeping with Alec Hampton's Original Drawings, although there is a little doubt about the area around the fridge.

Most people will use the drawer under the sink drainer for cutlery and the cupboard underneath for pots and pans. The shelving over the engine is often used for for crockery. In Hampton's drawings there is limited space allowed for provisions, so the cupboard forward of the fridge is often used for those that do not need to be kept refrigerated.

In the photograph, the fridge on this boat appears to hang in mid-air. On most boats you would expect to see it standing on a plinth whose line followed that of the worktop above, this being necessary to provide a level surface clear of the slope of the hull. Interestingly, the Constructional Details drawing, created in March 1968 before any Safaris were built, appears to indicate that this space was to be just another cupboard, although the layout plans for all boats that found their way to hire fleets show a fridge was fitted here.

The drawing also indicates the top of the cupboard forward of the fridge is to be at the same level as the worktop. There is no space for a television. However, Hampton's Hire Brochure, which lists Classic Safari as one of its fleet, says it has a "portable TV point". A TV point with no space for a TV is a clear indication that a change was made to this part of the design during production.

The Toilet/Shower

While the fittings in the shower compartment, including the "Safari Toplet" holding tank, may all have been updated during the re-fit, the general layout is exactly as Alec Hampton designed things.

The four berth loses some space in the shower compartment behind the basin due to the addition of a small wardrobe cupboard to serve those sleeping in the saloon. Beneath the wardrobe and basin is the space where the hot water tank is mounted, heated by the engine cooling water. This accounts for the the cupboard under the basin appearing quite shallow.

The Engine

Emerging from the shower compartment and turning towards the saloon you encounter the shelving unit within the galley area. On this boat the shelf can be lifted off to reveal two hooks on long shanks that allow the three-faced corner unit to be removed. That reveals the aft end of the engine and gearbox. The side of the engine can also be accessed through a removable panel on the end of the L-shaped saloon dinette.

The Saloon

The saloon is where you spend a lot of your time aboard a Safari. It must be said, the dinette does not form the most comfortable seating when more than a couple are aboard. The sideways facing part has no lumber support at all and the forward facing part only has a vertical backrest.

Of course, most owners these days are couples and, with one on the helm, the other can stretch out, with a couple of cushions behind them and, with their feet up on the dinette, they can treat it as a chaise longue, and be perfectly comfortable.

With four people sleeping aboard they'll be sleeping bags and pillows to fill much of the space under the gunwale to help provide more support for people's backs. However, there is less storage provided for clothes and other belongings than those occupying the aft cabin, with just two drawers, admittedly quite deep, and the wardrobe available. The wardrobe, is sited over the hot water tank which should, even if well insulated, keep things warm.

Hampton's design for the four berth boat removed the steps from the saloon seen in the original three berth design. However, the re-fit executed in this example has a practical replacement that relies of using a small footstool normally kept by the helmsman's chair.

In contrast with the later MkIII boats which have the forward well, earlier boats, like this example, have a hatch providing access to the area under the foredeck. How owners use this is very much up to them. From photographs of boats fitted out by other builders it seems some may use this to stow boards that allow a backrest to be created of the saloon seating.