[Dutch barge style narrowboats]

9 minutes ago, Thames Bhaji said:

I hope it goes well. We chose Reeves in 2006 to build a Dutch barge style widebeam to our own design. It wasn’t something they had done before and there were a few frustrations along the way for both sides… but they did a brilliant job and we are still delighted with the result. I’m not sure which of the brothers are still involved in the company now. 

 

Both still involved and the dad will also be involved due to experience we know of tickety boo  a narrow beam dutch barge that they built, is yours the one in  your profile pic

[Dutch barge style narrowboats]

9 minutes ago, IanD said:

Love steam boats but they don't half get through a shedload of fuel, as I'm sure @DHutch will testify... 😉

 

He has been building steam trains of the rid on variety for 5inch and 7 1/4 inch all his live so this is right up his alley so to say, thought getting suitable coal now is a pain, and gonna get worse due to welsh assembly not extending local mines licence so coal imported.

[Dutch barge style narrowboats]

lol steam powered, I hear trevor the steam boat is up for sale. But next year other half may well be building a steam boat. so battening down the hatches to go tinker with bow thruster whilst await enslaught.

[Dutch barge style narrowboats]

Thanks for warning, hopefully I can counter some of the negativity and perhaps turn that around once the build starts at Reeves who are  longstanding and well respected boat builders

[Dutch barge style narrowboats]

44 minutes ago, Owls Den said:

I’m a fan of the Dutch style.

 

In the process of renovating a Dutch style narrow boat.
 

Good luck with it. Hopefully you can post some pics of the design/ build!

 

thank you, I will defo be sharing pics on the build, may even a video or tik tok too, updates will be on disabledboaters facebook group. At present start date is 29th of this month, but we all know what canal time is like

[Dutch barge style narrowboats]

thankyou. yes always dreamt of a dutch barge, someone once told me that by the time you get your third boat you will know what works for you, and this will be the third one I will live on, cannot wait to be sat in the wheel house looking out over the fields by my mooring in rugby or cruising chatting to folk on the towpath again. whilst reaching the point of saying bucket and chuck it when asked for the umpteenth time in one day about toilets by gongozzlers

[Dutch barge style narrowboats]

1 minute ago, IanD said:

 

Your short post read rather like those of dreamers who come onto CWDF with wonderful but badly-thought-through ideas who simply aren't aware of the compromises necessary on narrowboats -- in contrast you've obviously done your research properly and are well aware of all the issues, I hope you have a successful build 🙂

 

[Dutch barge style narrowboats]

6 minutes ago, IanD said:

 

If you have a narrowboat built with wider walkways for access, you'll have even more restricted space inside for fitting things in than a "normal" narrowboat, which is already bad enough -- and worse still  if you have wider gunwales... 😞

 

I'm not saying this isn't going to work, it certainly does on trip boats, but if this is a liveaboard (or even longer-term holiday boat) it will certainly restrict things...

 

I have done a lot of research on this, visiting many adapted boats and working with lots of folk over the years in my vested interest with many boaters of all abilities with disabledboaters.org. Yes there are compromises to be made, I lived on a former hire boat which we have just sold which restricted me even further meaning when legs not working I was literally trapped at times legs not working.

 

Lyneal trust is one of the organizations that has adapted boats for holidays, (yes I know different to livaboards) and it works well. 

 

I am very lucky to be building from scratch so can incorporate a wheel chair lift into a boot room or boatmans cabin area at about 4 foot long. then in to a galley with narrower cabinets on one side and full side on the other allowing good wide passage through and loads of storage at the same time, saloon will have an already adapted sofa I had made by elite furnishings and lift off tables, then a walk through wet room with appropriate fittings and sliding doors, then 2 bedrooms with single beds so accessible for chair and help if needed to get onto beds. follow through to snug or study come dressing room in the extended cabin. all planned out to leave turning circles in boatmans cabin space, saloon. wet room and bow cabin.

 

If anything this boat will defo have a lot more storage, and more usuable space than my old boat. and be a lot less restrictive, as I can design from scratch to my personal needs.

 

Bottom line is with a bit of research and thought it is extremely doable , no different from bricks and mortar in that respect,

[Dutch barge style narrowboats]

I love them, to the point as now in the fortunate position of been able to have a new boat built it is going to be a Dutch barge style narrow boat, Reeves will start on it on the end of this month. There are a handful on the network, so sure it will draw attention, But is also going to be an adapted boat with a wheelchair lift and wider walk ways for access. Once build starts I will be shareing pics etc on disabledboaters.org