Im Baaaaaack!

[Nige1912]

 

 

 

 

Hi Everyone,

 

Well after a 5 year gap, i've taken the plunge again and am coming back to the waterways.

 

Having owned a 62ft narrowboat called "Discovery", which I sold in 2007, I always promised that when circumstances would allow, I would be back!

 

Well just this week the circumstances allowed and I purchased a 27ft Norman cruiser called "Alicia", which is sitting on a hard standing "darn sarff", just outside London.(See above pictures).

 

Shes tired and needs some TLC but otherwise sound as a pound - and I cant wait to get my hands on her and get back onto the water. First thing to be changed will be the name and colour scheme. As im curator of the Titanic In Lancashire Museum in Colne, her new name will be "White Star" and she will be put into the colours of the old white Star Liners (Black hull sides, red below the water line, Yellow band just below gunnels right around and as she does not have four 75 foot funnels, the superstructure will be white Star Light Buff).

 

Thats one of my first questions actually - has anyone any experience of painting GRP???? Please share your thoughts or point me to any relevent areas!!

 

 

 

One of the things that was difficult with Discovery was single handed cruising - she was just too darned big. And up here on the stretch of the L&L that I was using there are some pretty tight almost 90 degree bends. Cruising was NOT the nice relaxing past time I wanted it to be!!!!!

 

Then I got the "It's me or the boat" ultimatum, and Discovery had to go.

 

Well 5 years later the person stating "It's me or the boat" has also gone - so now I have a free hand again !! YIPPEEEEEEE!!! LOL

 

I really missed the waterways these 5 years so am like a kid on Christmas eve at the thought of getting back and "Messing about in boats".

 

Look out for me if your around Lower Park Marina at Barnoldswick when she arrives there in about 6 weeks time.....

Cheers everyone,

Nige

[luctor et emergo]

If ever there was a good example of why the "it's me or the boat/bike" ultimatume has only one answer, this is it.

 

 

 

As I said, years ago, 'shut the door on your way out'.....

[Travis]

Hello Nige! pm sent.

[cereal tiller]

 

 

 

 

Hi Everyone,

 

Well after a 5 year gap, i've taken the plunge again and am coming back to the waterways.

 

Having owned a 62ft narrowboat called "Discovery", which I sold in 2007, I always promised that when circumstances would allow, I would be back!

 

Well just this week the circumstances allowed and I purchased a 27ft Norman cruiser called "Alicia", which is sitting on a hard standing "darn sarff", just outside London.(See above pictures).

 

Shes tired and needs some TLC but otherwise sound as a pound - and I cant wait to get my hands on her and get back onto the water. First thing to be changed will be the name and colour scheme. As im curator of the Titanic In Lancashire Museum in Colne, her new name will be "White Star" and she will be put into the colours of the old white Star Liners (Black hull sides, red below the water line, Yellow band just below gunnels right around and as she does not have four 75 foot funnels, the superstructure will be white Star Light Buff).

 

Thats one of my first questions actually - has anyone any experience of painting GRP???? Please share your thoughts or point me to any relevent areas!!

 

 

 

One of the things that was difficult with Discovery was single handed cruising - she was just too darned big. And up here on the stretch of the L&L that I was using there are some pretty tight almost 90 degree bends. Cruising was NOT the nice relaxing past time I wanted it to be!!!!!

 

Then I got the "It's me or the boat" ultimatum, and Discovery had to go.

 

Well 5 years later the person stating "It's me or the boat" has also gone - so now I have a free hand again !! YIPPEEEEEEE!!! LOL

 

I really missed the waterways these 5 years so am like a kid on Christmas eve at the thought of getting back and "Messing about in boats".

 

Look out for me if your around Lower Park Marina at Barnoldswick when she arrives there in about 6 weeks time.....

Cheers everyone,

Nige

Welcome back to boating nigel.

 

Painting grp is not too difficult provided the boat has not been painted too many times already.

 

Should you seek true 'hero ' status you could re-gel the entire boat,it would only require approx. 500 man hours of work.

 

Check the window seals before you do any interior re-fitting,the rubber sections may be perished,how old is the boat?

ETA oops!i added the photo's ,'hope no cognoscenti' of forum ethics takes offence?

Edited May 16, 2012 by cereal tiller

[nicknorman]

As im curator of the Titanic In Lancashire Museum in Colne, her new name will be "White Star"

What was wrong with Titanic II?

[carlt]

What was wrong with Titanic II?

Surely that would get scarily close to u-boatman territory?

 

Great boat, Nige.

 

I had loads of fun as a single bloke on my Dawncraft.

 

Little GRPs are somehow more liberating than big narrowboats.

[saltysplash]

Sorry to hear that it all came to an end, the narrowboat that it is,

 

I used to paint the hull of my old boat Funnel Yellow, It was Johnstons gloss which i used to have mixed at the paint centre in Chatham, do you have a scource for the white star Buff?

[Nige1912]

 

 

Welcome back to boating nigel.

 

Painting grp is not too difficult provided the boat has not been painted too many times already.

 

Should you seek true 'hero ' status you could re-gel the entire boat,it would only require approx. 500 man hours of work.

 

Check the window seals before you do any interior re-fitting,the rubber sections may be perished,how old is the boat?

 

 

 

Thanks for the message.

She has only been painted the once in the obvious areas shown in the pics. Not sure if its age or that it wasnt done right the first time, but it's peeling.

I dont think im cut out to be "SUPERPAINTER", and I certainly wont be re-geling the whole boat, time and finances (and my inherant CBA attitude!!!) simply wont allow for that.

Thanks for the heads up on the window seals, I will give them a good check.

 

Not sure of her age and I havent got the paperwork yet - does anyone know how to date a Norman????

 

Re painting - what sort of paint system is ok for use on GRP?

 

Cheers,

Nige

[carlt]

does anyone know how to date a Norman????

 

Just walk up to him and ask him if he'd like a drink.

[mickspangle]

Just walk up to him and ask him if he'd like a drink.

 

But don't go back to his motel. And definitely don't take a shower.

[nicknorman]

 

I had loads of fun as a single bloke on my Dawncraft.

 

 

Doesn't bear thinking about!

[Guest]

Doesn't bear thinking about!

 

Single hander...

[Nige1912]

 

See above chart which is British standard 381c. Light buff is outlined. It's the closest we can get to what all the white Star Liners - including Titanic, would have had their funnels painted. Any decent paint dealership should be able to mix it up for you.

 

It's a common misconception that WSL ships had yellow funnels, we think this arises as for some reason a lot of postcards show them with yellow funnels - we can never definatively know for sure unfortunately. But there are original WSL documents in existance which actually mention WSL funnel colours as being "Light Buff" (No mention of "Yellow") and fortunately this shade has changed very little over the last century.

 

Hope this helps!

Cheers,

Nige

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sorry to hear that it all came to an end, the narrowboat that it is,

 

I used to paint the hull of my old boat Funnel Yellow, It was Johnstons gloss which i used to have mixed at the paint centre in Chatham, do you have a scource for the white star Buff?

[Nige1912]

What was wrong with Titanic II?

 

 

Too tacky and dont want to tempt fate!

 

Just walk up to him and ask him if he'd like a drink.

 

 

 

Ok ok - stop the wisecracks already!!! lol I asked for that........................

 

I shall rephrase the question.......Does anyone know how to work out how old the Norman style of cabin cruisers are?

[Rod a mod from Tod]

Just walk up to him and ask him if he'd like a drink.

 

 

But don't go back to his motel. And definitely don't take a shower.

 

If its Norman Scott he'll just bite the pillow and get on with it!

[magpie patrick]

What was wrong with Titanic II?

 

Clearly you are no fan of "The Beautiful South"

[Ray T]

What was wrong with Titanic II?

 

Hasn't Titanic II, two attempts, already been mooted?

 

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Replica_Titanic

[nicknorman]

Clearly you are no fan of "The Beautiful South"

 

No, however a quick google and I see where you are coming from!

 

Hasn't Titanic II, two attempts, already been mooted?

 

 

Alright then picky, Titanic III (or IV)

[twbm]

Not sure of her age and I havent got the paperwork yet - does anyone know how to date a Norman????

 

I was going to say cut it in half and count, erm, something - but that would be crass. Congratulations on returning to the water, you have 100% more boat than I have.

[nbfiresprite]

 

 

Hi Everyone,

 

Well just this week the circumstances allowed and I purchased a 27ft Norman cruiser called "Alicia", which is sitting on a hard standing "darn sarff", just outside London.(See above pictures).

 

Shes tired and needs some TLC but otherwise sound as a pound - and I cant wait to get my hands on her and get back onto the water. First thing to be changed will be the name and colour scheme. As im curator of the Titanic In Lancashire Museum in Colne, her new name will be "White Star" and she will be put into the colours of the old white Star Liners (Black hull sides, red below the water line, Yellow band just below gunnels right around and as she does not have four 75 foot funnels, the superstructure will be white Star Light Buff).

 

 

Nige

 

March in the Fens is hardly just out side London (87 miles). As for sound as a pound, They said the same thing about the Titanic. The boat has been sat in the yard for some years.

 

Firesprite

 

In the Fens

Edited May 17, 2012 by nbfiresprite

[Barry]

March in the Fens is hardly just out side London (87 miles). As for sound as a pound, They said the same thing about the Titanic. The boat has been sat in the yard for some years.

 

Firesprite

 

In the Fens

 

My goodness! Talk about raining on somebody's parade

 

I bet you feel better now

[magpie patrick]

March in the Fens is hardly just out side London (87 miles). As for sound as a pound, They said the same thing about the Titanic. The boat has been sat in the yard for some years.

 

Firesprite

 

In the Fens

 

These things are relative, for someone from Colne, March is near London, just as for someone from the fens, Frome is near Bristol (and Chorley, where I hail from, is near Colne). In fact, travel from March to a London Terminus is probably easier than Frome to Bristol.

 

Going back to the OP by Nige, the short term option if any window frame is leaking is Duck Tape, but it must be the proper stuff, and the repair only lasts about six months. The long term option is take the window out of it's frame and reseal it. Before painting, touch up the gell coat especially below the waterline.

 

Beyond that it's a boat and it floats, the rest is detail

[Graham Bowers]

Not sure of her age and I havent got the paperwork yet - does anyone know how to date a Norman????

Cheers,

Nige

No idea about the hull but I remember finding something about how the markings on the window glass implied a date. Sorry I can't point you at the code, buy having that clue maybe you could search - or better still - somebody more knowledgable on here may know.

Graham

[Nige1912]

Cheers for the information everyone. Fear not - My enthusiasm shall not be dampened!!!!!!