Woodwych

Yardarm is booked into dry dock this summer. It had 2 pack epoxy (Jotunmastic 87 I think) applied when built and this will be the first time out the water. Use has been gentle since the build. The dry dock don’t do 2-pack so it’s a DIY situation. I’m wondering what to expect and what to plan for with regard to paint supplies? Will it likely be patches that need redoing or is the whole hull going to need re-coating? Are there photos online of what looks ok and what doesn’t? I appreciate its very unpredictable but would value the experience of others

Not a sign, but funny anyhow

Overall I think you are pushing your luck. We have a very similar setup on Yardarm. A Beta 38, 3KW Victron and a 510AH AGM battery bank. We too only do short trips and don't do roast dinners! We have a Siemens induction hob which has a useful power control setting where you can alter the maximum power draw ( we have this set to 1500W) and this works well. Boiling a kettle for a cup of tea uses 2% of the 510AH. Initially we experimented with an electric oven but found the power consumption too high- using 20% for a 30 minute ready meal. Our solution was to fit a diesel Wallas oven which is superb but expensive. We also upgraded the standard Beta alternator to a Bosch 200AH one with a Mastervolt controller- this is fantastic and has halved the battery recharge time - and associated pollution and noise.

With all the material cost increases how much is a new Bickerstaff boat at the moment - and what sort of waiting list is there ?

Am wondering how others approach solo mooring? Assuming you’ve got to the bank and are about to step off holding the centre line, do you carry a pin/ mallet with you? Throw them onto towpath? Or do you get the boat pulled in and stationary first, then hop back on for them? And what knot do you use with a mooring pin and centre line temporarily? grateful for any tips!

Our flexible panel is attached using exterior Velcro. A strip all round the edge- it does leave a little air gap under the panel which maybe useful to reduce the heat problems

I used a hefty bead of window frame sealant ( acrylic) which bonded well to the ply walls and filled any gaps. Needed bracing whilst it set. Cutting the liners depth was a faff - they are a mm or two from the window frame.

Like most things involved in a self fit-out you’ll need to be creative. I watched a lot of van conversion YouTube videos and many of the principles and techniques are transferable to boats. Greg Virgo and his Sprinter conversion was especially useful

You are quite right, you can certainly hear it- but that noise is reassuring as it means heat is on it's way! Its similar I think to a fan that you'd use in the summer. Mine is wired into a room thermostat which is at the far end of the galley/saloon once temperature is reached the fan cuts out.

I have just fitted a Wallas oven ( and will also have a 2 ring induction hob) It heats up quickly and can be turned off whenever you want. And of course you have simplicity of having a large diesel tank already there. It makes loads of sense in a gas free boat but is very expensive. I have no links with Kuranda but bought mine from there. Darren is incredibly helpful.

They are designed for the purpose and look neat. Not too expensive.https://www.kuranda.co.uk/product/kalori-silencio-fai/

Consider a blower box. My Thermotop C system has only 2.5KW or radiators so I added a Kalori Silencio FAI blower box under the stern steps (it blows warm air into the cabin) It adds 1.7KW of load and they make larger ones if needed.

Some great stories on this thread. Mine too a labour of love and probably not one to repeat too soon as it's exhausting. I think I'm 2/3 of the way through. Bought as a spray foamed sailaway we now have all the electrics, Webasto heating, a Wallas oven in a temporary kitchen and all the walls lined out. I think I've spent 1000 hours so far and that's with the dream combination of - end of garden mooring, garage and screwfix 5 minutes away.. It has been a wonderful and all consuming project, nothing ever fits without some adjustments and working out the sequence of jobs is the perfect hypnotic! Wish I'd filmed it all.