Galilee Posted January 6, 2020 Report Share Posted January 6, 2020 We've just put a deposit on a boat and I can foresee a replacement kitchen in my future. My question is, how do you ensure that your cabinets are level on a narrowboat? Given that the boat isn't necessarily level, a spirit level's presumably no good, unless you take a level from the floor and mark that on the spirit level maybe... Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchcrawler Posted January 6, 2020 Report Share Posted January 6, 2020 If they look right they are right and remember to have the draining board forward of the sink. Every time you walk rond or sit in a different chair your trim will change 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Mack Posted January 6, 2020 Report Share Posted January 6, 2020 20 minutes ago, ditchcrawler said: If they look right they are right and remember to have the draining board forward of the sink. Every time you walk rond or sit in a different chair your trim will change As will varying amounts in the water, fuel and (if you have one) toilet pump out tank. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan de Enfield Posted January 6, 2020 Report Share Posted January 6, 2020 If you build with a spirit level and then move away to look at it, it will not be level. The simple act of moving your weight will alter the trim (forwards / backwards and side to side) Just accept that the units will never be straight & level. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robtheplod Posted January 6, 2020 Report Share Posted January 6, 2020 40 minutes ago, Galilee said: We've just put a deposit on a boat and I can foresee a replacement kitchen in my future. My question is, how do you ensure that your cabinets are level on a narrowboat? Given that the boat isn't necessarily level, a spirit level's presumably no good, unless you take a level from the floor and mark that on the spirit level maybe... Thanks. I imagine all you can do is use the floor as 'true level' and work from that! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onewheeler Posted January 6, 2020 Report Share Posted January 6, 2020 Don't forget to fit the sink and drainer so that they empty at any normal trim. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plato Posted January 6, 2020 Report Share Posted January 6, 2020 You need to use a large carpenters square. Put the short edge on the floor and place the long edge vertically and adjust your unit to sit against it. Your units won’t be ‘level ‘ in the true sense of the word but will look perfectly ok Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard T Posted January 6, 2020 Report Share Posted January 6, 2020 I have memories of working on a hospital refurb in a mining area. What looked like a normal wing when we put a level on it it was 300mm out over 30m in one direction and 75mm over 7.5m in the other. We had to set every thing out from the floor and window cills. We did put the nurses station in level because we didn't want pens etc rolling onto the floor. All looked good until the guys installed the artwork using a spirit level - needless to say the pictures all looked as if they were on the piss!! They had to come back and refix them. The wing has now been demolished thus giving me membership of the rubble club - an architect/designer who has designed and had a building constructed and subsequently demolished. Working on a boat was easy compared to this job. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slim Posted January 6, 2020 Report Share Posted January 6, 2020 As others have said a large square and work from the floor and use of your 'mark one eyeball' If you're thinking of fitting a washing machine incorporate some form of restraint for the feet. If you don't you'll forever be pushing it back into it's proper place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete23 Posted January 7, 2020 Report Share Posted January 7, 2020 It’s all in the eye........ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Galilee Posted January 7, 2020 Author Report Share Posted January 7, 2020 12 hours ago, plato said: You need to use a large carpenters square. Put the short edge on the floor and place the long edge vertically and adjust your unit to sit against it. Your units won’t be ‘level ‘ in the true sense of the word but will look perfectly ok Thanks all, this is what I figured Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boater Sam Posted January 7, 2020 Report Share Posted January 7, 2020 11 minutes ago, Galilee said: Thanks all, this is what I figured But can I suggest that you make some provision for levelling the cooker after the initial fit especially if you are fitting out on the hard, . Its really annoying baking cakes that are twice as thick at one side and frying eggs in a sloping frying pan is like trying to push water uphill. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan de Enfield Posted January 7, 2020 Report Share Posted January 7, 2020 9 minutes ago, Boater Sam said: But can I suggest that you make some provision for levelling the cooker after the initial fit especially if you are fitting out on the hard, . Its really annoying baking cakes that are twice as thick at one side and frying eggs in a sloping frying pan is like trying to push water uphill. Just half cook the cake and then turn the boat around - simples !! 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drayke Posted January 7, 2020 Report Share Posted January 7, 2020 You could try taking a datum line across from one gunwale to the other then measure from there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchcrawler Posted January 7, 2020 Report Share Posted January 7, 2020 8 minutes ago, F DRAYKE said: You could try taking a datum line across from one gunwale to the other then measure from there. And measure to see if both gunwales are the same height from the floor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drayke Posted January 7, 2020 Report Share Posted January 7, 2020 3 minutes ago, ditchcrawler said: And measure to see if both gunwales are the same height from the floor Now that's a silly thing to do? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan de Enfield Posted January 7, 2020 Report Share Posted January 7, 2020 59 minutes ago, F DRAYKE said: Now that's a silly thing to do? Not if its a Liverpool boat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MHS Posted January 8, 2020 Report Share Posted January 8, 2020 On 06/01/2020 at 17:17, Onewheeler said: Don't forget to fit the sink and drainer so that they empty at any normal trim. One of the few mistakes made by our boat fitter. Easily sorted by one a Joseph Joseph drainer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bizzard Posted January 8, 2020 Report Share Posted January 8, 2020 (edited) I do my washing in the sink and use the corrugations in the drainer as a rubbing board for cuffs, collars and socks and things, so it needs to be around the right way to drain into the sink. I do have a homemade rubbing board for when I do a mega wash, but for small quick one offs use the drainer, Initial rinsing is by swirling the garment around in the river by hand, but only when there's a bit of a current running so cleaner and at night so there's less chance of horrible polutants chucked in the river by neighbour boaters contaminating my washing also so folk don't see me doing it because the only laugh and think I'm nuts. Second rinse is in a bowl under the tap outside to save a mess onboard. I then wring them by hand and peg em out on the line. When dry in the winter I drape them around the stove to make sure they're dry. If in winter the river is frozen and the tap outside is frozen up I don't bother doing any washing at all. I just stink, and stink and stink until a thaw arrives. Edited January 8, 2020 by bizzard 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boater Sam Posted January 8, 2020 Report Share Posted January 8, 2020 2 hours ago, bizzard said: I do my washing in the sink and use the corrugations in the drainer as a rubbing board for cuffs, collars and socks and things, so it needs to be around the right way to drain into the sink. I do have a homemade rubbing board for when I do a mega wash, but for small quick one offs use the drainer, Initial rinsing is by swirling the garment around in the river by hand, but only when there's a bit of a current running so cleaner and at night so there's less chance of horrible polutants chucked in the river by neighbour boaters contaminating my washing also so folk don't see me doing it because the only laugh and think I'm nuts. Second rinse is in a bowl under the tap outside to save a mess onboard. I then wring them by hand and peg em out on the line. When dry in the winter I drape them around the stove to make sure they're dry. If in winter the river is frozen and the tap outside is frozen up I don't bother doing any washing at all. I just stink, and stink and stink until a thaw arrives. Way too much information. To each their own, I put mine in the washer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bizzard Posted January 8, 2020 Report Share Posted January 8, 2020 Wheeze. There is an even easier way to do your washing not requiring much effort at all. Here's how. Next time you go to a motor car car wash to wash your car take your dirty washing with you. Drape it about all over the car, dangle socks and knickers from the aerial and drive through the wash. On emerging your washing will be washed, rinsed and half dried by the warm blower. Warning!!! Its best to lash the washing down with string or the roller brushes might sweep it all away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bizzard Posted January 8, 2020 Report Share Posted January 8, 2020 If you have a roof rack so much the better. You can peg your washing all around that whilst passing through the car wash and they will dry nicely in the wind on the way home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackrose Posted January 8, 2020 Report Share Posted January 8, 2020 Also if the boat has a Lister engine it is notoriously difficult to get the trim right for obvious reasons. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
restlessnomad Posted January 8, 2020 Report Share Posted January 8, 2020 28 minutes ago, blackrose said: Also if the boat has a Lister engine it is notoriously difficult to get the trim right for obvious reasons. why? genuinely curious coz I dont know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rusty69 Posted January 8, 2020 Report Share Posted January 8, 2020 (edited) 4 minutes ago, restlessnomad said: why? genuinely curious coz I dont know. Cos the boat will be on the brahms and liszt-er. Edited January 8, 2020 by rusty69 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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