Sphinx123

Thanks for the recommendation!

Agreed, that's why I'm asking for electrician recommendations on a canal forum and not a house building forum. There are no electrics on the boat currently so it needs a full system. And no cladding on the walls so now is the time for it.

Hi all, Can anyone recommend a boat electrician / 12v electrician in the west midlands area? Looking for someone who can hopefully install an entire new system for me. I'm wary about doing it myself but could give it a go if necessary. However that's my last option and I'd like to try and find someone first. I didn't think it would be hard to find an electrician but it seems to be!

Ballast bricks are mostly on the baseplate. The big cement ballast is on rubber strips. Some of the ballast was in there for 33 years without rubber under it and it’s been fine all that time so I’m not worried about it Does anyone have any solutions for insulating under the floor then or do people just not do it? one idea I have is putting foam boards down without the tape around the edges so that it can breathe more but still at least have some insulation. Or I’m thinking I could use an insulation blanket (like https://www.screwfix.com/p/ybs-thermawrap-general-purpose-insulation-10-x-1-05m/9691P?tc=RT9&ds_kid=92700065972061640&ds_rl=1249407&ds_rl=1241687&ds_rl=1245250&ds_rl=1245250&gclid=Cj0KCQjwk5ibBhDqARIsACzmgLTEZZ6qaYkUBM7I9ujdapSPy4XJj-JUDbC710z7bUcoVAyRWDDUVvMaAth9EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds ) but simply not cover all of the bilges? any alternative ideas for insulating (or recommendations to not insulate) are welcome. I’d like to get it right so I can proceed with the project. Thanks all.

The foam is on top of the ballast. So, suspended above the baseplate

Hi, I recently saw a few boaters insulate their bilges, underneath the subfloor, like the photo attached. I like the idea of insulating down there as it would help keep the heat in the boat. But is it okay to do so like in this photo or advised against? I've seen some people say that you shouldn't insulate under there because it'll trap condensation. Any advice from experienced people is welcome.

It's grey oxide primer by Premium Paints: https://premiumpaints.co.uk/products/paintmaster-anti-corrosion-metal-oxide-primer-heavy-duty-20-litre?currency=GBP&variant=14649009307690&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=Google Shopping&gclid=Cj0KCQjwyOuYBhCGARIsAIdGQRMV5-yJA4qBfbVonNYbFN0ANeTE40w5fg1HoNexVgMxqfW3G1p1IWYaAk1YEALw_wcB

Hi, I've painted my boat in grey oxide. I can't paint the undercoat and top coat on for another 6 weeks or so... How long can you leave your boat in the elements with grey oxide on? Will it be okay? The plan is to take it back under cover in about 6 weeks, sand it, undercoat it x2 then top coat it x2. It has to come out from under cover tomorrow so I only have today to paint it with the final coat of oxide (it has already had one coat, plus filler/stopper in areas.)

Good to know about the pitting. And thanks for all your advice! I appreciate your balanced viewpoint and common sense approach.

Yes, to confirm, it corresponds with the area of 2mm plate loss. OK, thanks for your input on the ultrasound reflecting the sound steel and not the rust.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. They seem to have used blocks of cement as ballast and it isn't sitting on top of anything like roofing felt. I plan to replace all the ballast as I read that cement is not a good material to use as ballast in a boat. The area where I found this particularly rusty spot is where the bathroom was, so I assume water was somehow leaking under the flooring.

I understand, and don't worry, I'm wary of what advice I take. I mainly asked this question to get a general consensus on whether this was alarming and an ultrasound would be worthwhile. However, yesterday I asked the boat builder I hire for the odd job if the ultrasound was worthwhile and he said if the surveyor did one then it should be ok, and that an ultrasound from the inside while the boat is on water could give false readings, but he's advised me to speak to his boss to be sure. I'm also going to contact the surveyor today to show him photos, ask for his opinion, and also ask him to rectify the typo in the survey. Thanks to everyone for pointing out the survey typo!

He walked us around the boat for an hour after the survey and explained that there is barely any pitting. The boat has also been blacked every two years since new (it was built in '89.) This particularly rusty area is where the bathroom used to be, and I was told that the previous owner used to have washes in a tub and the water would go everywhere... so I'm assuming that may be one reason why this area is notably worse than the other areas so far on the boat.

Thanks for your comment, I'm definitely going to consider it. It's a nuisance and they will probably say what I was told in the previous post (as someone offline also said the same thing) but I'm going to inquire about getting one whilst the floor is up I think.

Wow, that's great to know. Thanks!