H.C.Astell & Co

Thank you for your genuine post. Yes agreed it did look great, but it was only after time that the issues started to show themselves, then I started to realise why. Anyhow, I'm going to start by doing my rear deck and front deck at some point this year, and I will show photos and video of the process and outcome. Im no painter, so I may well get someone professional in to do that part properly.

Funny you should say, my unit neighbour Adrian has a classic cortina Mk1 and has asked me to strip it, once I'm up and running, it was loaded with too much paint 20 years ago and he never done anything about it. It will be my test..

Hi Neil mayby I expected too much, it was my first time I had the boat repainted. I did actually have a few quotes and this one seemed about right, but I guess/hope you get what you pay for..

Hi Neil you are very close, however sand blasting comes with a few issues, 1- being its dust is harmful (silicosis) and requires the area to be tented off. 2- sand blasting warps panels through heat created by friction. 3- sand blasting is extremely aggressive and pits metal my process is dustless and is encapsulated in water, we use recycled bottle glass, the panel temperature is reduced by 10 deg from ambient, and such no friction and no warping is guaranteed. it is in fact a dustless blasting system i purchased new for stripping my customers gates, ive never used it as its still in crates, and i have to now build it into a mobile trailer with compressor water tank etc. i haven't got all the answers, however i would like to see if this process, is viable to use and maybe offered to others who require it some day. i dont think its a cheap alternative, but the process is extremely good, setting a high standard and getting the perfect result i expect, if i was a paying customer. early days yet..

I will give you some pictures of the machine build and description and process next week to look at, once im back in the workshop.

Sadly our first paint restoration was a complete disappointment. We have many areas leaking, that had now damaged window frames and cladding in side cabin. I wanted perfection as I was the paying customer, what I got was a half cocked effort. This has lead me to open the possibility of creating a mobile unit to help create a perfect preparation finish, in or out the water, windows in or out, live on or vacant, I think it could be doable. Im currently off work with a virus, but will build this over the next few weeks, and show anyone who it intrigued or interested. It is eco friendly, it produces 92% less dust than conventional processes, can be completed on the side of the cut if required, as long as I can get close enough with truck and trailer, however there is a chance of flash rusting because of the humidity and conditions being raw metal exposed, so it is vulnerable. Im looking to find a anti rust inhibitor to give me 48-72 hours of work time to give a chance of coating it with a base coat or primer. Thanks for the replies so far.

As a traditional boat owner for nearly 10 years we found one of the most difficult and time consuming taskes was boat paint preparation. 4 years ago, Our boat cost the best part of £6,000 to be stripped to bare metal and repainted. One of the major contributors to the costs was labour and how time consuming the paint removal was, this took over 2 weeks and still it wasn't done to my fussy standards. I found areas around screws and such you could only get in so close, same as getting into tight areas even with with special tools, it was almost impossible. and I wanted perfection, as I was paying top dollar. Sadly because some of the original paint was left and surface preparation could have been better, we feel the boat will require more work as it's starting to show signs of rust and paint flaking, where the substrate had not been correctly keyed to take the new paint. So I may well have come up with a plan to produce a perfect paint preparation application that is eco friendly , dust free, and completely mobile, I can strip my complete boat in less than three days, and I mean complete, down to bare metal in all the nooks and crannies as well. The system was initially created for my Gate business in my workshop but I may make it mobile to take on my boat restoration again this year. the benefits I can see are substantially reducing the prep time, speeding up turnaround of boat being painted by the company, ensuring a complete and proper strip to bare metal, and leaving a good key for new paint to adhere too . but most importantly having my boat back in the water up to two weeks quicker than the last time. i would be happy to advise/help on anything to do with paint surface preparation. if I can save time, it must be a good thing? getting my wife to agree is another..

Thanks so far for replies. I would removed shelve and cupboards,I would like one of those centre stand mounted tables if possible? We have no where to Moore it so it's staying on dry doc till end of December. In the meantime I'm trying to coordinate this and a new cratch cover Including woodwork,again not knowing anyone I hope for recommendations on here. I am too busy to do work myself. Cheers all

Hello all, My boat is due in dry dock for 7 weeks from next week (Crick area), and I would like the chair area copied so we can convert it to a double bed of a evening. What we have is a single bed that converts from the seated area on the left, what I would ideally like is the framework copied the opposite side, then someone to make the seating fabric and cushions, and a table to be fitted in the centre for meal time, I wonder if my ideas are doable? if so I would like some trusted tradesman to work on my boat while I'm not there. any help with recommendations would be great.

We are actively looking for a new marina along the GU, i think we have left it too late as it seems everyone has booked themselves in for winter, we have seen pictures of Heyford and it seems nice, we have not seen or been along any part of this canal yet, and wonder if there is a member who has some video footage of this section. is there anyone moored at Heyford?

Yes RA = Rheumatoid arthritis comes with Fibromyalgia, and the two combined is just very painful. Peter X, I sense a very slight whiff of sarcasm from your post #18.. :-(

I cant bare neglect and it not being used properly. I have made my mind up thanks to you all, and now I just need to speak with my Wife and contact ABNB. Thank you

Thanks LM. Thanks for the replies so far, it's a tough call and your all absolutely right, we are worried about dog hairs on carpet, let alone some real damage caused by someone else.

Dear All My wife and I bought a beautiful 50ft Trad canal boat built by Keith wood narrow boats. we have had many a fantastic time on her over the last 4 years of ownership, but the last two years my wife's health has deteriorated due to having RA, and having to self inject recently, she can not manage the boat anymore. So we are talking about either selling or renting it out? I don't know enough about life on the canal to know if its a viable idea, so I would ask the knowledgeable of you for some advice. we tried to sell it last year, and only got as far as the office of ABNB and my wife broke down in tears, so I said we would keep it another year, but since then we have only been up to the boat once. Im not sure if my wife can go through with a sale, so my other idea was to see if we can long term rent it out, to responsible couples with experience? if this is something that has been done, can someone please help with information to do such a thing? Kind regards H.C.A

Martin, that's great! I will send you details and the contact in office to get keys, I can also send you payment via BACS if that helps. please could you get it done as soon as you possibly can. kind regards HC Astell

a very good and valid point, however it does have a auto bilge pump in the same area,

Hello Martin I am interested in your offer, please contact me via Pm, with a estimate for supply and fit of a baking tray or similar, we look forward to your reply. Regards Mr Astell

No Judder at all, Removed 1-1/2" of metal and its perfect now, thought id better update this. Thanks all

Hi all, and good day to you. I wonder if I may be able to get some advice? I own a 2004 Trad, and it required boat safety, however ive been advised we need a drip tray under the 6kva inbuilt generator to stop any oil contamination. I not sure why its required now, and yet all previous BS certs have been issued ok, however im happy to get this sorted, but would like someone who can take on this job for me, the boat is Near Crick, and keys can be obtained from office etc, im undergoing treatment so unable to go up and meet you, so I need someone reliable I can trust to take on the job and forward me the invoice for payment. KInd Regards Mr Astell

We have just had ours completed. All windows removed All mushrooms and fittings removed and re polished (if brass) Complete bare metal stripdown 3 primer 3 undercoats 3 main top coats bottom blackened all art work 4 colours boarders £6500 inc vat

Our first journey after picking boat up from the painters.

Our first journey took us down Watford Braunston and Foxton, 10 weeks ago taking our boat to be painted, whilst we both admired the lovely condition of most of the locks we went through, Foxton was where the wife broke both her fingers letting go of the handle with the ratchet disconnected, she still can't fit her wedding rings on..

My boat has just been in for a bare metal repaint, I will see if I can get picture from my iPad on here.. No it won't let me download them from my tablet, it looks like they have to be hosted first

Wishy washy is spot on, there is no feed back at low revs, almost like its just a tiller bar and no rudder. Top bearing is nice and tight. the other bit you mention is far out of my capability, but thanks all the same. I can cut and weld no probs. I like the idea of self centering, that must be a real nice feeling.. Im not sure if you thought Aldebaran was this boat, take a Look at my sig for more images of boat in first stages of paint, to see if it was..

What happens if i cut too much off? let say i removed 1" past line, would it have a affect on reversing or steering? Im not sure what you mean? Sorry can you be more specific? Are you saying a different size prop, if so what size should i go for? is there too much astern as well? if so should i cut that down??