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Jackofalltrades

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Posts posted by Jackofalltrades

  1. New Narrowboat shell in build. What do you think of this?

    in General Boating

    Posted · Edited by Jackofalltrades

    Hello all.

     

    We've had a reply to the email that we sent to the boatbuilder. In short, and to paraphrase heavily, they effectively said, F Off - the boat will be ready on Wednesday - but if we don't want it then "as a gesture of goodwill" they'll refund our deposit and "progress with the build" themselves. We are both shocked by their we-don't-give-a-toss response.

     

    A bit more back story...

    As I've said before our shell build was delayed from our original build slot in February. We accepted this (what else could we do?) and just went with it. When the build finally started at the end of March there were exchanges of emails and occasional phone conversations to clarify things and nothing was done as far as we know without our prior knowledge. So as far as the build itself was going we had no cause for concern, until reviewing the photos from our visit on Tuesday, which is where this discussion thread starts.

     

    Apart from the picture in my original post in this thread, what the builder has also done without our prior knowledge is fit full length engine/motor bearers from a few inches forward of the 'V' at the back of the swim all the way forward to the cabin bulkhead. This will compromise the usable space at floor level forward of the electric motor.

     

    Also, from reviewing our photos taken on Tuesday, although I can't be absolutely sure due to poor light in the workshop, it appears that the builder may have fitted a full length keel cooler - cutting into the port-side motor bearer (as per the pic in post 1) and going as far forward as we can see - possibly up to the bulkhead.  On Tuesday we were discouraged from going into the cabin as there was no ladder down and as the stern was greasy, wet and slippery we didn't try. But as the cruiser stern is slightly shorter than standard (7ft in length - to get slightly more cabin space) I have a feeling that the keel cooler *might* extend through the bulkhead into the cabin.

     

    The builder knew from the outset the exact electric motor that would be fitted. Despite this, we've ended up with inappropriate full length motor bearers and almost certainly a way-oversized keel cooling tank that has been badly shoehorned in. It's almost as if the builder forgot about the electric motor and installed engine bearers and a keel cooling tank for a Beta 43 or something, and now expects us to pay for his mistakes.

     

    We are livid. But what can we do? We are not prepared to pay the builder extra to rectify his mistakes. But it looks like they have dug their heels in. We are livid. Think I just said this. You get the picture.

     

    How much would we have to pay a boatyard (typically) to grind out the keel cooling tank and motor bearers and install more appropriate replacements?  £1,000 ?

     

    We are tempted to tell the builder to stick it where the sun doesn't shine, accept the offer of a refund of our deposit, and walk away, but then we'd be back to square one and be facing a delay of many months before we could start again. The builder of course will know this and thinks they have us over a barrel. I really do feel quite angry at the moment. Sorry about the length of this post.

     

    What would you do?

     

    • Horror 1

  3. New Narrowboat shell in build. What do you think of this?

    in General Boating

    Posted

    8 minutes ago, Thames Bhaji said:


    What design are the builders working to tho, or are you leaving it to them? It sounds like this is is non-standard set-up, so it might be unrealistic to expect a NB builder to come up with the best design for something new first time. If you were expecting something different, did you give them some direction? 

    The builder specialises in bespoke builds. We specified some things from the start but made clear we are new to narrowboating (but not 'boating') and steel boats and have never had a boat built before so there has been some handholding along the way. But we had no input into the keel cooling tank and motor bearers - we are (or were) relying on their skill and judgement. As I said above, an email was sent to the builder last night and we are waiting for a response.

  4. New Narrowboat shell in build. What do you think of this?

    in General Boating

    Posted · Edited by Jackofalltrades

    With regard to the queries concerning scale - the photo was taken with a smartphone, which will have picked whatever lens it thought appropriate. In the workshop the proportions of the swim look normal to me, as do the other aft sections of the boat, and the draught, so please assume everything is OK in this area. The back of the workshop where the stern of the boat is was quite dimly lit and we didn't notice the V cut out on the port-side engine/motor bearer, etc until viewing the photos when we were back home. On the upside I'm impressed with the phone's camera in such low light!

     

    To my mind, the keel cooling tank has been poorly located and/or poorly sized, necessitating an acutely angled inlet spigot and a deep V cut into the motor bearer. This is shouting poor design and/or workmanship to me. Not happy. An email was sent to the builder last night. We await the response.

  9. Gas & water pipe removal question

    in Boat Building & Maintenance

    Posted

    12 minutes ago, Jen-in-Wellies said:

    Thirteen and a half years like that so far. How long do you think it will take? When should I start worrying?

     

    Thirteen you say. Unlucky for some. I used to be a bingo caller.

     

    Not all of the above is true.

     

    When did you last check your nuts? And pipe? How lucky do you feel (punk)?

     

  10. Lurking in a new lair

    in General Boating

    Posted

    If we were playing a game of word association I'd say Carbuncle. That's for the front end. For the rear end I'd say Why? The middle bit is... Different, but OK. But not OK enough for me to want to copy it. Still, life would be boring if we all had the same taste in everything.

     

     

     

     

  11. Couple allegedly pushed into canal by fisherman

    in General Boating

    Posted

    31 minutes ago, Sea Dog said:

    Of course, they were really pushed in by an asshole who also goes fishing. Assholes are also to be found engaging in other pastimes, sadly including boating. :(

     

    Mostly they ride jetskis. When they're not fishing, obviously.

     

    Apologies to the considerate jetski jockeys out there. There must be one or two but I haven't met one yet.

     

  12. Two pack Hull coating

    in Boat Building & Maintenance

    Posted

    21 minutes ago, Sea Dog said:

    Well, yes, but only if they can get the steel...from China.

     

    * Other sources of steel are available.

     

    But my point stands - boatyards (and builders) are only too happy to NOT black baseplates (probably because it's too much like hard work and not profitable enough) so they say it's "not needed" and just do the easy bits (the sides) until such time that overplating is needed and the five figure sum involved makes it worth their effort.

     

  16. Two pack Hull coating

    in Boat Building & Maintenance

    Posted

    5 minutes ago, blackrose said:

    But I'm not sure where the idea often espoused on this forum comes from, that working boaters and carrying companies did everything correctly? The implication always seems to be that we should be trying to emulate them. The truth is that they knew about some things, but we have far more knowledge on many more things including science & technology these days.

     

    But most people seem to have lost the knowledge that untreated steel immersed in water rusts.  Who knew?!  Still, I suppose it keeps the steelworkers in gainful employment.

     

  20. Headroom on Rochdale Canal

    in New to Boating?

    Posted

    1 hour ago, Lynna said:

    Hi again everyone - really appreciate the replies and I've learned a lot! I've decided to go for it...I'll keep you posted on whether we make it to Hebden Bridge with the roof intact! And if you see me looking puzzled by a lock or bridge somewhere please say hello :)

     

    Looking on the bright side, it's the right time of year for an open-top ?

  23. Show us your bowtruster locker lid. Go on. You know you want to.

    in General Boating

    Posted

    15 minutes ago, David Mack said:

    No. They are just suffering from we've-always-done-it-that-way syndrome. I can't see why you can't have a flush lid as long as there is sufficient room to fit the BT gubbins in below. Except putting a channel around the opening and the drains is extra work they haven't priced in.

     

    I find this worrying. Businesses like boatbuilders have been open since 12 April as long as masks are worn, social distancing observed etc. If they still won't let you visit with reasonable precautions I would be a bit  worried about not knowing what is going on. The photos they send you won't show everything you could see for yourself on a visit.

    Yes I agree about the likelihood of we've-always-done-it-that-way syndrome. If they wanted paying more they should have said so.

     

    I can't say I'm not concerned about not being able to visit. It seems they are now, as of today's date, taking extra Covid measures. Or it could just be an excuse so we can't visit and possibly see other boats being built as ours is now a month overdue for completion 'due to Covid', apparently...

     

    10 minutes ago, Alan de Enfield said:

     

    He could even be sending the same photos to 10 different customers, all seeing THIER boat coming to fruition and all paying the stage payments.

    You might laugh, but it has happened.

    That thought has crossed my mind. We paid approximately a third deposit with the remainder due on completion - no interim stage payments. The builder is a fairly well known and well-established builder. Not that that necessarily means anything, I know.  The balance will not be paid until we physically see the boat and confirm all is OK (as best as we can).

     

    • Happy 1

  25. Show us your bowtruster locker lid. Go on. You know you want to.

    in General Boating

    Posted

    Our narrowboat shell is progressing well. It's only a month late due to 'Covid' apparently [cough]...  Today we received more photos of build progress (they won't let us visit due to Lockdown restrictions). The cabin sides & roof are now on. The front & rear bulkheads are tack welded in place. Maybe (yet) another week to go...

     

    But the builder wants to make and fit a bowthruster locker lid that stands proud of the welldeck floor by about 3/4". This will obviously be a trip hazard and will make use of the welldeck floor space at times awkward. I requested that the bowthruster compartment opening and lid are made the same way as the cruiser stern engine compartment - i.e. with a U-shaped channel around the perimeter with drains in the port & stbd hull sides + a locker lid that is level with the surrounding floor. His first response/excuse was "I'll never get in there to weld the channel" (this was before the welldeck floor had even been put in place). As if he didn't know he could weld the channel on from underneath with the floor plate upside down on the workshop floor before it is fitted into the welldeck. The next conversation we had about this he rolled out an excuse about RCD and having to talk to his surveyor. I mentioned my RCD cat A lumpy water boat with a large deck hatch forward of the mast that is flush with the surrounding deck. Again he said he'd have to talk to his surveyor.

     

    Is it me being an arse or is there something peculiar about narrowboats that makes it necessary to have a sticky-up bowthruster compartment locker lid?

     

     

     

     

     

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