Alethea Price

Hi. Yes sorry didn't bother attempting to re-upload the photo as I realised it was coming from the wrong direction, but yes the steel bearers are behind the wood. Not sure about the fastenings to be honest though. Hadn't thought to investigate that but will happily report back when I've taken a look!

That's an interesting point. I'm inclined to say no. I did measure the distance from stern to the bulk head, and bow to the bulk head and it's approximately 1/3 of the way along the boat (from the stern) telling me that it's not likely to be the centre line point, but I can't guarantee that. Will take a look this evening.

Oh sorry about that maybe the forum doesn't like the format. But saying that I've just remembered there absolute are steel beams. I know because I messed up all my insulation measurements measuring from wooden beam to wooden beam and had to cut them all down to size again to accommodate the steel beams sitting next to the wood. Panic over! ?

Let's assume that's the case (although I'm not convinced from the attached image from my phone). Appears to be just wood to me. Checking will now be top of my list for this evening. Roof beams

Very interesting thanks. I think I can follow you. I must say from my minds eye I don't recall much in the way of steel supports for the roof, and having just looked at some photos I have of the roof with ceiling taken away, it's all just timber supports. Would that be common, or something to worry about?

You know someone else suggested it could have been for plumbing. From what I can see there's nothing going through the gap anymore, but I know a lot of the plumbing got switched around sometime before I bought it, so it's certainly possible. It looks to be in good condition either way so as long as I'm not interfering with anything by removing the bulkhead above this bearer then I think I'll just make note that it's there and carry on as normal.

Thanks for that. Being total transparent I don't recall the thickness of the cabin steel off the top of my head but it had a recent survey I can refer to that this evening. Saying that I'm not totally understanding what you mean re: "1" box section rolled/curved @ 2' centres (ish)" Could you clarify in layman's terms for me? Many thanks!

Very possible. TY

Its a Veneered Ply bulkhead - no steel so it sounds like I could be on the right tracks. It also occurs to me the the old shower unit was supported by this wall, so the thickness could have also be support for that. Sounds like I'm safe to move the bulkhead then, sad news for the horrible old shower - great news for my new galley. Thanks for the input.

That's very helpful thanks. This dilemma aside it would be great to track down the original makers for my own knowledge. Will try both of those thank you. It is a full steel welded cabin. As you say I am assuming it offers no structural support was just unusual to find one varying from all the others. Thanks for the feedback sounds like we all generally agree.

Hi Flyboy. That's probably the best logical next step. Annoyingly I've already put the ballast and floor back in but I'll see if I can quickly get it up tonight and take some pictures. Can easily get on of the Bulkhead at a minimum. Has also occurred to me that I might be able to track down the original maker and see if they can shed some light on things. Disappointingly all the paperwork I have refers to the Company it was manufactures for (Anglo-welsh) but I can't find anything to suggest who made her. I'll keep hunting thought. Could be my best bet. Will update with photos asap.

Hi Canal community. I've got an interesting one at the moment. Over the past few months I've been stripping out the interior of my 1990 holiday boat built narrowboat, cleaning up and treating the hull and then replacing the floors and walls. There were a lot of pointless cubby holes and thus a huge number of unwanted cabin bulkheads so as I've been going I've also been removing a lot of them to create more spacious rooms and practical storage. So the pondery... In my strip out I came across an unusual bearer. As would be expected there are bearers that traverse widthwise throughout the boat. However, about 1/3 of the length from the stern, separating the galley from the rest of the cabin, there is one bearer that is different from all the others. Rather than running the full width of the boat, it is sectioned into two separate pieces, one on either side and appearing more like a girder (I shaped) than any of the other bearers (which are more like an upside-down L in appearance). This bearer is also unusual in that the Bulkhead directly above it is double the thickness of all the other cabin bulkheads. Still made of veneered marine grade MDF, but supported by wooden roof frame beams on both sides. The rest of the cabin bulkheads were half the thickness, and only supported by one wooden beam, with bolt fixings. My inclination is to say that the thicker bulkhead could be a firewall. Although this wouldn't explain why the bearer is also different. Ideally I want to move the bulkhead back 4ft to extend the size of the galley, but at the same time I don't want to remove anything that could be part of the structural support of the boat. I won't take any action until I have better knowledge but would love to hear the thoughts of others. So my question is - have you ever come across a bearer like this? And why do you think this bulkhead is so much thicker and supported differently to the others?

Hi thanks for the input and I understand your concern. However, as I've mentioned to others on the forum she only rejected it because she had no budget for repairs (I have spoken with her personally) and was looking for something ready to go. I'm however looking for something that needs work and am willing to put that work into it hence my request for engineer recommendations. If you know someone that would be great, thanks.

The Suveyor has not found lots of problems, the original buyer was simply being asked to pay more than she could afford. She didn't have the money to do repairs. That was the only reason she pulled out. I have spoken with her personally and can confirm that the boat is just needing some minor welding above the water line in the gas locker. Thank you and everyone else for the advice it's all appreciated. Having spoken with the Surveyor I'm aware of the work needed and the possibility for increased work along the way. I'm taking on a challenge because that's very much what I'm looking for and am prepared for the tears. That said I'm asking for recommendations as it's only sensible to cover my back. Hopefully some people will be able to offer some valuable suggestions. Thanks so much that's great. Thank you. That is of course why I'm looking for an engineer (welder if you prefer) to join me to take a look at her. If you can recommend one that would be really great thank you.

I'm also looking for a recommended and reasonablly priced engineer in London who'd be willing to come and look at the boat with me this week, with the intention that if all goes ahead they might work with me on the boat following purchase. I know she needs some welding work so if someone could recommend an engineer to come with me and be able to quote on the cost that would be brilliant. Thanks everyone.

Hi, yeah dont' know but I've actually spoken to the original surveyor myself today and he seems reasonable and well knowledged to me so I'm not concerned about him. I'm jsut looking for good recommendations to get my own survey don't. If anyone can recommend that would be great.

Hi everyone, I'm looking to buy a boat that was recently surveyed in London. It was surveyed by a previous potential buyer who decided not to go ahead following the survey - so I'm already cautious and not rushing into anything. I'm looking to get the boat surveyed myself and the previous potential buyer has kindly offered to let me see the survey in the meantime. However, they have provided the survey via the seller who is not letting me view it before meeting with him to discuss it together - all sounding alarm bells to me! He has suggested that the surveyor in question is not well trusted in London, and has in-fact been black listed by many and can often make the boat appear to be in worse repair than it actually is. I don't want to name names to cause any problems but would appreciate your advice. Are there any surveyors in London you would highly recommend, or would you avoid and why? Thanks.

Hi All, thank you for the concern. Just wanted clarify despite my being new to narrow boating I am not so inexperienced in the boating field having sailed yachts (a very different creature of course) for over 20 years. With that in mind, and with no disrespect as I'm hugely grateful for all the support everyone is offering, I hope no one thinks I'm naive enough that I would being my plans on a boat I've not seen, although I'm sure you may have come across people doing this before. I have indeed seen her in the flesh and had a little jaunt down the canal and back. She is a real vessel and although I have no doubt the seller is trying to calm some of my concerns - ultimately to make a sale, I think he is a genuinely nice member of the community and means no ill will. He owns many a boat but this is his first time selling and he didn't have the paperwork together at the time - a story I believe to be honest. We are also in daily contact with responses to my queries as I wait on a full survey to be conducted and will be going to view her again at the end of this week hence why I am so thankful for all your responses as I will be fully equipped to investigate the boat in full this time. That said some of your comments are all correct. It is indeed an old boat, built in 1970, and although I don't have the spec for the engine I can tell you it is a BMC. I am of course insisting on all the information before I make any big moves and will pass on information as soon as it comes to me. Thank you all again for the on going help.

Thank you for the advice. I was planning on also having 4 batteries, and will looking into your advice regarding replacing the diode pack. Very helpful thanks

Just to add to my original query I now have some more details regarding the alternator and batteries. The following information has been provided to me by the seller: "There is a single, new, alternator, it is 120 amps ....the charging is through a diode which splits the charge to both the domestic and engine start batteries. The three batteries are all about 100 amps, two are for domestic use and one is dedicated engine start - this is common to most boats - Voltage on the generator is 240, 2.2 KVA, petrol (four stroke) and it's portable. Both 12 and 240 volts run throughout the boat The seller tells me he's never heard of a boat to have two alternators which seems to contradict some of the advice I've been offered on this forum. Any further input would also be much appreciated. I will clearly need more batteries - Although I had already calculated for this, but the good news is that 12v and 240v run throughout the boat. Regarding the generator - I'm disappointed that it is Petrol but beyond the fumes, does anyone have any input as to actions you would recommend? i.e. would you replace this with a diesel? Would you keep the petrol? Thanks all!

Thank you too for the advice. My approximate was not including an inverter which I image would increase this time quite considerably, however my approximate came from all of my other electrical usage when calculated using the tb-training power audit. Of course I am perfectly willing to be wrong and will be preparing as much as possible in order to accommodate for a much larger charge time. Thank you also for your information on charge time, rated output reduction and avoiding over discharge of batteries - Although I am sure some new comers do make this mistake this is something I am already fully aware of and am taking into consideration with all my planning so thank you for reinforcing my understanding. I also already have intentions to buy a battery monitor. Thanks again.

Thanks for the advice and support! It's great to find so many helping hands ready to assist and advice new comers. I am very much taking a back to basics approach so your guidance makes absolute sense. The advice to hope not to charge for two days is particularly valuable I will plan with that always in mind thank you.

I haven't explored that avenue yet so I will certainly consider the option thank you.

Hi thanks for the comments yes the 4 hours does not yet calculate for an inverter as I have yet to have chosen the best one for my means in order to calculate in. The 4 hours was an approx prior to inverter. Have also requested details from the seller regarding mains charger already. Many thanks.

Thanks again this is really helpful and reflects much of what I've been reading. As you say I'm not concerned about storing more batteries my queries today have been regarding the purchase of an inverter and keeping the generator. In general principal all have agreed to the need for an inverter - my next plan will be to determine on what scale I need one, and it would seem the best option to keep the generator. I have done some rough estimates for power usage and I believe the required charge would be approx. 4 hours. Beyond the LED lighting I don't use a huge amount of electric. I imagine however the rule for not using the engine between 8pm and 8am would also apply to using a generator which then raises a problem of how I would do this during the week without damaging the batteries. I'm sure solutions exist however as so many people do live on the water ways. I will continue my research and thanks so much for the in-depth assistance (and pointers re PSW, MSW) No need for sorry's, the more information the better. I don't plan on doing this half heartedly so your advice is greatly appreciated. I am and will be putting great thought and research into everything including the water heating system, there will be no afterthoughts. Regarding the alternator - thank you for the advice I am still waiting on the specs for the engine and alternator(s) from the seller, but as soon as I have them I will update the thread.