Water Tanks and Bed around it

[Peter009]

Hi again everyone, I have looked at some of the previous posts on beds and am wondering if there is anyone out there that specifically makes beds for canal boats that has capacity for a water tank inside say a kingsize bed frame etc.  I cannot find anyone out there that manufacturers them and it appears they are all made bespoke but if there is a company out there that has pre made beds please could someone let me know thanks

[Boater Sam]

Where can you put a king size bed in a narrowboat or is it a fatty?

Plumb in a water bed?

There are specialist one off tank makers, usually welded plastic. I would gip at a bag tank inside the cabin, they all leak disastrously eventually

[Peter009]

2 minutes ago, Boater Sam said:

Where can you put a king size bed in a narrowboat or is it a fatty?

Plumb in a water bed?

There are specialist one off tank makers, usually welded plastic. I would gip at a bag tank inside the cabin, they all leak disastrously eventually

It is a widebeam plenty of space

[howardang]

1 minute ago, Peter009 said:

It is a wide beam plenty of space

I can't answer your original question because I suspect most narrow boat beds are built in by the bnoat outfitter. However, with a wide beam may I suggest that there is another option which is to fit macerator toilets and put the tank in the best place for the boat trim, and especially look at having it on the centre line somewhere to avoid an increasing list as it fills.

 

Howard

[Guest]

15 minutes ago, Peter009 said:

Hi again everyone, I have looked at some of the previous posts on beds and am wondering if there is anyone out there that specifically makes beds for canal boats that has capacity for a water tank inside say a kingsize bed frame etc.  I cannot find anyone out there that manufacturers them and it appears they are all made bespoke but if there is a company out there that has pre made beds please could someone let me know thanks

2 minutes ago, howardang said:

 

My biggest concern for a water tank inside a boat, and inside of a bed is that you will get loads of condensation in winter. Fill it up with cold water inside a hot cabin and it will sweat like crazy. My tank does this and I have spent some time trying to insulate it.
If this is the only way for you, maybe sprayfoaming the tank is the way forward.

(Sorry some kind of bug has made me quote two posts at once?)

[Peter009]

Hi the tank will be central to the boat we have thought about the rise and fall of water levels and tilting we have already fitted our bathroom and have had the black water tank removed we are going with cassette toilet only dont like the idea of the pump outs and also they take too much space thanks

[Alan de Enfield]

17 minutes ago, Peter009 said:

Hi again everyone, I have looked at some of the previous posts on beds and am wondering if there is anyone out there that specifically makes beds for canal boats that has capacity for a water tank inside say a kingsize bed frame etc. 

You want your water tank on the centre line (if you are putting your bed on the centre line - then that's fine)

 

Having a 'variable weight' of 'nothing to 1000kg' set off to one side will mean that your boat is never level.

 

Give any tankage (potable, grey or black water) location serious consideration.

 

Just as a comparison all of my tankage is built into the keel, starting from the bow - 600+ litre potable water, then 300 litre 'grey water', then 300 litre Black water, then 1000 litre diesel fuel tank.

[Peter009]

57 minutes ago, catweasel said:

My biggest concern for a water tank inside a boat, and inside of a bed is that you will get loads of condensation in winter. Fill it up with cold water inside a hot cabin and it will sweat like crazy. My tank does this and I have spent some time trying to insulate it.
If this is the only way for you, maybe sprayfoaming the tank is the way forward.

(Sorry some kind of bug has made me quote two posts at once?)

Thanks catweasel you have made a really good point here what are you insulating it with, I did not think about the condensation other than ensuring there is an air gap under an above the tank but of course a hot boat, cold water and condensation we could spray foam it too but am wondering what other options there are for insulation to avoid this thanks

[Graham Davis]

Is there a reason you aren't putting the water tank in the more usual place in and across the bows of the boat? That way stops the side to side movement associated with a tank on one side.

 

[Guest]

8 minutes ago, Peter009 said:

Thanks catweasel you have made a really good point here what are you insulating it with, I did not think about the condensation other than ensuring there is an air gap under an above the tank but of course a hot boat, cold water and condensation we could spray foam it too but am wondering what other options there are for insulation to avoid this thanks

I have used some polystyrene sheet siliconed into place, and expanding foam in areas where I can't easily get to (i used some 1/4 inch pipe from aquarium shop to make extension on spray foam can to get into awkward areas. Best to use the fire rated stuff if going down this route, cheap at Toolstaion.) I expect kingspan board or cellotex would be better than polystyrene.
I would estimate that i have manged to insulate two thirds of the tank so far, and the difference is amazing. I used to get a couple of litres of water in the bilges each week, and now get next to none (similar conditions.) I thought it was a leak for a while, but glad to say it was condensation.

Edited March 10, 2019 by Guest

[Bee]

We have a double bed, sorry no pics, that is constructed of ply / chipboard (only a bit) and pine slats and is built into a sloping and tapering space. It is built over a window cleaners water tank (lots on Google) and is wrapped in some pvc foam that I filched from a skip. the whole thing is strapped down to the floor by a couple of ratchet straps. it also has a 10" dia. screw on lid so it is cleanable if you have to.  Its absolutely fine, no taste, no condensation.

[Guest]

1 minute ago, Bee said:

We have a double bed, sorry no pics, that is constructed of ply / chipboard (only a bit) and pine slats and is built into a sloping and tapering space. It is built over a window cleaners water tank (lots on Google) and is wrapped in some pvc foam that I filched from a skip. the whole thing is strapped down to the floor by a couple of ratchet straps. it also has a 10" dia. screw on lid so it is cleanable if you have to.  Its absolutely fine, no taste, no condensation.

Brilliant idea. I might look into this for extra capacity.

[Peter009]

9 minutes ago, Graham Davis said:

Is there a reason you aren't putting the water tank in the more usual place in and across the bows of the boat? That way stops the side to side movement associated with a tank on one side.

 

The bedroom is at the bow of the boat and the bed is not being put on one side it will be central to that room 

[Guest]

Just now, Peter009 said:

The bedroom is at the bow of the boat and the bed is not being put on one side it will be central to that room 

My friend did something similar with a narrowboat. There was no cratch and the cabin went right forward. He built the dinette over the water tank, and it seemed to work very well.

[nb Innisfree]

1 hour ago, catweasel said:

My biggest concern for a water tank inside a boat, and inside of a bed is that you will get loads of condensation in winter. Fill it up with cold water inside a hot cabin and it will sweat like crazy. My tank does this and I have spent some time trying to insulate it.
If this is the only way for you, maybe sprayfoaming the tank is the way forward.

(Sorry some kind of bug has made me quote two posts at once?)

I had tanks made from 12mm polypropylene for Innisfree, boxed in with 18mm ply there s never any condensation. 

 

I also put the holding tank on the opposite side to the water tanks which were 2 in number, one mounted centrally the other to the side, water level was gradually increased as holding tank filled. 

Edited March 10, 2019 by nb Innisfree

[Guest]

16 minutes ago, nb Innisfree said:

I had tanks made from 12mm polypropylene for Innisfree, boxed in with 18mm ply there s never any condensation. 

 

I also put the holding tank on the opposite side to the water tanks which were 2 in number, one mounted centrally the other to the side, water level was gradually increased as holding tank filled. 

Probably polypropylene is better especially with plywood around.  Our tank was bare stainless and really bad for condensation. 

[cuthound]

36 minutes ago, Peter009 said:

Thanks catweasel you have made a really good point here what are you insulating it with, I did not think about the condensation other than ensuring there is an air gap under an above the tank but of course a hot boat, cold water and condensation we could spray foam it too but am wondering what other options there are for insulation to avoid this thanks

 

I have a stainless steel water tank under the well deck. It is insulated with 3M Thinsulate (as is the rest of the boat). There is zero condensation.

 

Thinsulate is a material which is glued to the tank. It has almost as good insulating properties as spray foam.

[Peter009]

1 minute ago, cuthound said:

 

I have a stainless steel water tank under the well deck. It is insulated with 3M Thinsulate (as is the rest of the boat). There is zero condensation.

 

Thinsulate is a material which is glued to the tank. It has almost as good insulating properties as spray foam.

Hi where did you buy this thanks

[Guest]

1 minute ago, cuthound said:

 

I have a stainless steel water tank under the well deck. It is insulated with 3M Thinsulate (as is the rest of the boat). There is zero condensation.

 

Thinsulate is a material which is glued to the tank. It has almost as good insulating properties as spray foam.

My neighbour is using this on a project aboat and Early signs are very encouraging.  Had I been able to access more of my tank I would have tried it.

[cuthound]

5 minutes ago, Peter009 said:

Hi where did you buy this thanks

 

Mine came with the boat when I bought it.

 

A quick Google has identified this supplier.

 

https://www.marineindustrial.co.uk/Catalogue/Thermal-Acoustic-Insulation/3M/Thinsulate

Edited March 10, 2019 by cuthound
Clarification

[Peter009]

On 10/03/2019 at 11:45, Peter009 said:

Hi again everyone, I have looked at some of the previous posts on beds and am wondering if there is anyone out there that specifically makes beds for canal boats that has capacity for a water tank inside say a kingsize bed frame etc.  I cannot find anyone out there that manufacturers them and it appears they are all made bespoke but if there is a company out there that has pre made beds please could someone let me know thanks

We are struggling a bit with this bed and am wondering if anyone has any images of bed bases that have been made with tanks inside, have searched google and to be honest have not really found much at all that I can work with, we have lots of ideas but am worried we will not get it right with our lack of knowledge and am hoping someone out there will have an image of a design for this that we can work off as a start and try to customise it with our setup, it is really difficult for us at times with this boat so any help would be really appreciated 

[max's son]

this what your thinking of

 

[blackrose]

On 10/03/2019 at 12:06, Alan de Enfield said:

You want your water tank on the centre line (if you are putting your bed on the centre line - then that's fine)

 

Having a 'variable weight' of 'nothing to 1000kg' set off to one side will mean that your boat is never level.

 

Give any tankage (potable, grey or black water) location serious consideration.

I put a tonne of coal right on the port side of my roof at the beginning of winter. It only lowered that side of my 12ft widebeam by about an inch and a half in the water. I couldn't really feel much difference inside the boat. Didn't make any difference to the handling either.

[blackrose]

For me, one of the advantages of a widebeam is that you can just put regular household furniture inside so you have a much greater choice and don't need to have built in furniture.

 

I'd just be looking for a bedstead of the right dimensions and maybe modify the legs to raise it high enough to get the tank underneath. Don't forget about airflow to the underside of the mattress. It's a common mistake on boats and often leads to mildew and mould.

 

Edit: The other thing to mention is ensuring the tank is held in place properly. You probably only need 2" aluminum angle on all 4 sides very well screwed into the floor. You might not be intending to take the boat out onto any waves but you never know. I've been in tidal waters many times when the last thing I'd want is a loose water tank weighing over a tonne shifting about inside and smashing the place up!

 

 

Edited March 12, 2019 by blackrose

[Alan de Enfield]

8 minutes ago, blackrose said:

I put a tonne of coal right on the port side of my roof at the beginning of winter. It only lowered that side of my 12ft widebeam by about an inch and a half in the water. I couldn't really feel much difference inside the boat. Didn't make any difference to the handling either.

I find I am very 'sensitive' to listing - particularly when in bed.

Dropping one side by 1.5", and obviously increasing the other side by 1.5" would be totally uncomfortable and unacceptable for me (I have a 14 foot WB)