Overview Electrics Plumbing Heating Woodwork
As we said in the introduction, we wanted to have a narrowboat that met our needs and was bespoke. Whilst not pushing the boundaries of narrowboat design and creating the minimalist modern designs you can see today, we didn't want a castle and roses traditional replica.
We wanted a narrowboat for holidays and extended periods over the warmer months, possibly for months at a time. So it had to accommodate the two of us in comfort and allow plenty of flexibility for when the children (all teenagers) decide to come with us.
After looking at many layouts and visiting the shows and friendly boat owners we decided on the layout as shown below.
Starting from the stern (right):
The counter is semi trad with lockers built in to each side. The engine (Barrus Shire 40), Mikuni (MX40) diesel central heating unit and weed hatch are accessed thought two hinged access panels.
The utility room is entered through the rear doors covered by the sliding hatch. On the left hand side are the engine controls and the electrical panels (12v and 230v AC) are contained in the cupboard on the right above the calorifier. The inverter (Sterling 2500w Modified Sine Wave) is located low down on the left hand side in the lower cupboard, a general storage cupboard is above. The utility room is also designed to house the washing machine beneath a worktop.
Through the door to the bedroom a standard layout of a lengthways bed on the left with the toilet holding tank (105 gallons) installed beneath the permanent base, also under the bed there are drawers (four in total). At the foot of the bed is a wardrobe and dressing table.
Forward of this is the bathroom, which is a full-width walk-through that can be closed off at both ends for privacy. The double shower with glazed block wall is to the starboard with the wash basin, storage and macerator toilet (Saniflo C43) on the port side.
Forward of this is the galley which is equipped with a standard full-size refrigerator backing onto the bathroom bulkhead with shelving above incorporating the microwave. Forward is a gas oven and hob (Stoves 500 DIT) and the sink to the starboard underneath the galley window, a Houdini hatch provides extra light and ventilation and the side doors are opposite the sink.
In place of the standard dinette arrangement we have a table and chairs, this is a Pembroke style collapsible table allowing the area including the saloon to be used for additional sleeping if required.
At the front is the saloon area with free standing furniture. Shelving and an LCD TV unit are built-in to the port side of the cabin walls between the windows. The stove (Stovax Brunel 1A) sits above a coal drawer to the port side.
The front well deck houses a steel water tank below and has lockers/seats either side. These lockers provide storage as well as acting as a chain locker for the anchor. A forward gas locker houses 2 mid-size bottles with auto changeover regulator.
Lighting is provided by room switched brass / chrome down-lighters, two wall lights in the saloon and LED lights under the gunwhales for mood lighting.
The internal layout design was carried out using a software package called Kitchendraw and this is available as a free download for up to 30 hours use (so far I have only used 8 hours of this time). The package is quite easy to use but does take a little bit of getting used to and does produce nice 3D views including near walk through displays (see below).
Technical Specifications
Hull Specification
Style - Semi trad to include trad
style roof rail, stern lockers and rear doors
Base plate 10mm, hull sides / gunwhales 6mm, cabin sides / roof 4mm
Rubbing strakes 3 off, 1 full length, all fully welded
Bow gas locker suitable for 2 mid-sized bottles
Water tank 150 gallon, coated, inspection hatch on front deck
Diesel tank 150 litre
Weed hatch
Rope posts - stern 2 bollards, centre 'O' ring, bow T/bar
Pole / plank rack
Stove chimney opening / collar in saloon.
Stern doors - double steel with sliding hatch
Bow doors - glazed hardwood doors with side windows
Bow / stern rope fenders
4 off anodes
Misc.
Ballast type – slab
Bilge
protection - bitumen
Insulation
type – spray foam
5 off
mushroom vents
Bow & stern
vents
Windows
Gold anodised Worcester windows SX
type
4 portholes (2 bedroom, 2 bathroom (opening))
5 windows 42” (1 galley, 2 dinette & 2 saloon)
1 side door (galley)
1 Houdini hatch (galley)
Painting
Blacking type, firwood bitumen
Finish
standard, zinc phosphate primmer, undercoat & 2 coats Rylard Navy gloss
Decks /
gunwhales / roof – non-slip
Coach lines /
sign writing - Rylard Magnolia
Roof rail -
Rylard Mercedes Red
Engine
Barrus Shire model 40
Aqua-drive –
CVD 1010
Gearbox PRM
150 hydraulic
Keel cooled
Twin
alternators (50A starter / 110A domestic)
Tray for five
(110Ah) domestic batteries and one (85Ah) starter battery
Engine
control panel – inside starboard of stern door
Control lever
– starboard on stern locker
Fit Out
Lining Material
Floor material ply
Sides and roof ash veneered ply
General construction ash veneered ply
Plumbing
Mikuni diesel heater model MX40
Twin coil calorifier vertical 14
gallon in utility room
Connection to
engine and Mikuni heater
Radiators 3
off 500 x 500 standard + towel rail in bathroom
Water pump /
accumulator / pressure switch
Hot and cold
supplies to bathroom and galley area
Saniflo C43 porcelain macerator toilet & stainless steel 105 gallon
holding tank
12v distribution via 12 way Wylex consumer unit located in electrics cabinet
Five 110Ah
domestic lead acid batteries
RCD protected 230v ring
main, 6 double sockets
Sterling 30A
Galvanic Isolator
Sterling
2500w modified sine wave inverter
Shore line hook up and
manual change over switch
Sterling
Power PDAR advanced alternator regulator
Sterling
Power 50A digital battery charger
Galley
Stoves 500 DIT stainless steel cooker hob and oven