NARROWBOAT SPRAYFOAM

I’ve paid a visit back to the boatbuilders again today to see the result of the sprayfoaming. This was carried out yesterday and although the contractor has finished, Colecrafts team now begin the work on removing the excess foam from some of the steel supports. This is done to ensure the oak plywood fits smoothly to the wooden battens. The job is quite a laborious one and will have taken most of today to complete.

A friendly chap called Len will now lead the internal fitout. The main reason for todays visit was to walk through the boat with Len and mark out (on the sprayfoam) the 12v wiring locations for the lights, switches and tails for pumps etc. You can just make out on the photo the wooden battens in the top corners of the cabin. These are where the 12v wires will run, supported by the cable ties that can be seen attached to the wood. The ‘runs’ will be boxed in using oak plywood with wiring tails hanging through at various points ready for the halogen spotlights to be attached, this will be completed by myself.

Once all the 12v wiring is in place the lining will then start. On H3O this will be Oak with Oak trims as opposed to H2O that has Oak with Sapele (i think thats how you spell it!) trims. This will give a more modern and spacious feel. The basic lining work should be completed by my next visit on Monday and at which point the 240v and bulkheads will be discussed in detail. I am also hoping that the Beta engine will also be in place. Thats it for now but please remember that comments are most welcome, especially from our past or future customers!

NARROWBOAT BUILD CONTINUES

Progress continues well on H3O. Paid another visit to Colecraft today. Picked the perfect day lovely blue skies but very chilly! The batten work inside the boat has commenced and should be completed shortly, ready for the arrival of the spray foam contractor this Friday (26th). I shall then go back and pay another visit next Monday or Tuesday to start discussing in detail the location of the wiring tails etc. As you can see from the picture the windows have also been installed, we’ve gone for the traditional gold finish. I did contemplate a chrome finish, but thought that sourcing chrome mushroom vents and tiller extension might prove expensive! Perhaps on the next boat? The concrete slab ballast can also be seen on this picture, Dom is recommending leaving a couple of floor panels loose so we can easily add additional ballast once she’s in the water and being fitted out.
The outside of the boat has also had an undercoat applied. This really just keeps the boat tidy in the fitout stage. In late March we shall cruise the boat down to MCC boats on the T & M at Stenson for the full paint work to be done.

Since my last visits the pedestal for the throttle control has been welded into place. You can just about see this on the photo opposite. We have upgraded the throttle control to a stainless steel Vetus type as we found the plastic controls don’t hold up to much on a hire boat! We replaced the plastic control on H2O during the second season.

The lid for the hatch as been added too, the doors will be put on later today to make sure is just about water tight, apart from the great big holes in the bow and stern bulkheads! These are covered with sheeting until the doors are fitted.

The boat should be ready to be craned mid-late february. We will be taking her to Blue Lias

marina for her to be put in the water and to be cruised back. This gives a chance to ‘shake’ her in, and saves £500 in transport and additonal cranage costs, but this didn’t have any influence on my decision?! That should just about pay for the stainless steel water tank upgrade…

Narrowboat Layout

Just thought that I’d add the layout for the new narrowboat. The layout has been designed to provide easier access on and off the boat, with sweeping stairs at both the bow and stern entrances into the cabin. The bow deck has been specified with lockers providing additional step that alleviates the need to swing your leg up, over the gunnel and down onto the deck surface. Knee problems, which seem to be quite a common occurance, can make this simple task quite difficult. I shall go into greater detail on the layout when the internal work commences! That’s all for now..

HULL WITH CABIN TOP IN PLACE

Been to visit Dom and the team at ColeCraft today and what a difference a week makes! The cabin has now been fabricated, complete with window and door apertures. Our surveyor will also be paying a visit this week to look at the internal steel work before the boat is sprayfoam insulated. I had a chat with Dom and measured out the location of the waste skin fittings as a couple of these need to be located behind cupboards and wardrobes with not much tolerance. I’m really pleased with result so far and even with a short delay we’re very happy we chose Colecraft, nothing is too much trouble and they’re always happy to show you around.

One surprise were the side doors seen on the picture opposite, I’d totally forgotten that we’d specified a top hatch! This will be great for our hirers during the warmer summer months and always prove a popular place to feed wildlife from. There also located opposite the galley and will provide plenty of ventilation for those smokey fry ups!

The cruiser stern is also taking shape. The engine control/starter panel will be positioned on the left hand bulkhead next to the aperture for the rear doors. The throttle controller will be positioned on a pedestal that will be welded into place just in front of the far upright rail support. We hope to have a canvas apron installed below the rail, as on H2O, to make it a little safer for children and pets although the upright supports are sloped on this boat so this may prove a little difficult – another job to add to my ‘to sort’ list!