Book For Someone Fitting Out A Narrowboat?

[Porpentine]

Oops, sorry, double post. Mods, please feel free to delete this one!
 

I know someone who is fitting out a new narrowboat, or at least will be once it’s finally delivered (many delays due to Covid, etc.) I’d thought of buying him a copy of “Boatowner’s Mechanical and Electrical Manual: Repair and Improve Your Boat’s Essential Systems” by Nigel Calder. I haven’t seen the book myself* so I’m not sure how useful it would be, especially as the boat he’s getting is a serial hybrid. I think it’ll be coming with electric engine installed but I don’t know whether the generator will be and I don’t think the solar panels will be. Any thoughts as to whether this book could still be of use or interest? Any other recommendations?

 

* OK, even if I had seen a copy firsthand it wouldn’t mean much to me. He on the contrary is very handy. 

Edited March 8, 2022 by Porpentine
Double post!

[Tony Brooks]

I don't like to push this again, but it would be far cheaper to give him this address www.tb-training.co.uk and he can get email advice if he wants. A bit different to a "fitout" book but it covers a lot.

Edited March 8, 2022 by Tony Brooks

[Slim]

There were a couple of books published in the 80s -90s on the subject. Can't recall their titles but someone will come along soon who can. The name Booth seems to ring a bell. I had them when I started fitting out VS in 1996. Even then they were somewhat dated but still helped. Not so sure now. The two golden rules to remember are that it will take much longer than estimated and cost far more 😊

Against which the sheer satisfaction at the end has to be experienced. 

[pete.i]

Another vote for Tony Brooks's website assuming you or him/her have internet access.

[Tony Brooks]

Waterways World I think published a similar book with a title like "The narrow boat book" or some such and it was updated. I think that one may have been by Booth

[Bod]

10 minutes ago, Slim said:

There were a couple of books published in the 80s -90s on the subject. Can't recall their titles but someone will come along soon who can. The name Booth seems to ring a bell. I had them when I started fitting out VS in 1996. Even then they were somewhat dated but still helped. Not so sure now. The two golden rules to remember are that it will take much longer than estimated and cost far more 😊

Against which the sheer satisfaction at the end has to be experienced. 

The Narrowboat Builders Book 3rd edition (isbn 1-870002-71-7)

Doesn't cover electric propulsion.

 

Bod

[Tony Brooks]

2 minutes ago, pete.i said:

Another vote for Tony Brooks's website assuming you or him/her have internet access.

and if not see if a friend will print it out section by section or email me for a CD of the  notes in .doc format. I can probably email the notes if you give me the email address.

2 minutes ago, Bod said:

The Narrowboat Builders Book 3rd edition (isbn 1-870002-71-7)

Doesn't cover electric propulsion.

 

Bod

 

That's the one I was on about.

[Porpentine]

6 hours ago, Tony Brooks said:

I don't like to push this again, but it would be far cheaper to give him this address www.tb-training.co.uk and he can get email advice if he wants. A bit different to a "fitout" book but it covers a lot.

Thanks very much Tony - that link looks very useful and I’ll forward it to him. He definitely does have internet access, so no need to take you up on your kind offer.

6 hours ago, Bod said:

The Narrowboat Builders Book 3rd edition (isbn 1-870002-71-7)

Doesn't cover electric propulsion.

 

Bod

Thanks for the suggestion. I’ve had a look but will probably pass as it looks like it might be somewhat out of date.

[syd]

Fitting out a narrowboat, not easy, there again not that hard either. Depends on what you know and how handy you are with tools.

Kinda jack of all trades.

[Awayonmyboat]

Another vote for TBs website - it was highly helpful when I first got my boat and I still occasionally refer back to it.

 

The gift of the Nigel Calder book is likely to be also useful and appreciated if the recipient has a technical bent. Whilst not narrow boat specific there is a huge amount of relevant general battery / wiring/ inverter etc info in it. The Narrow Boat Builders book is both badly outdated and far too much a description of the writers own fit out, with his own likes and dislikes, to be of much value.

[Porpentine]

4 hours ago, Awayonmyboat said:

Another vote for TBs website - it was highly helpful when I first got my boat and I still occasionally refer back to it.

 

The gift of the Nigel Calder book is likely to be also useful and appreciated if the recipient has a technical bent. Whilst not narrow boat specific there is a huge amount of relevant general battery / wiring/ inverter etc info in it. The Narrow Boat Builders book is both badly outdated and far too much a description of the writers own fit out, with his own likes and dislikes, to be of much value.

Thanks for this - that’s the sort of comment on the Calder book that I was looking for. (Also useful comments on the Narrow Boat Builders book.) 

[jonathanA]

Mike Jordan does a good book on boat woodwork projects. 

[LadyG]

I think the book is a nice present, but also offer to help out, as there are times when two persons make the job easier, and times when motivation has drained, and a trip to the pub with a mate is required. 

As for buying materials, avoid mdf at all costs, its neither damp proof, not is it easy clean, both proclaimed attributes of the B&Q cupboard doors I purchased. They were very cheap, as in warehouse sale stock, but the damaged ones will be replaced with solid wood at another sale, probably not B&Q! 

Edited March 9, 2022 by LadyG

[ditchcrawler]

34 minutes ago, LadyG said:

I think the book is a nice present, but also offer to help out, as there are times when two persons make the job easier, and times when motivation has drained, and a trip to the pub with a mate is required. 

As for buying materials, avoid mdf at all costs, its neither damp proof, not is it easy clean, both proclaimed attributes of the B&Q cupboard doors I purchased. They were very cheap, as in warehouse sale stock, but the damaged ones will be replaced with solid wood at another sale, probably not B&Q! 

The correct grade of MDF is more stable than timber I wouldn't expect B&Q doors to meet that specification but your boat must be quite damp, because my B&Q doors were still solid after 16 years but the "plastic" veneer had failed.

[Tony Brooks]

WWW, I think, published a test a good few years ago that involved imersing samples of the various building sheets in water and then drying them. The MDF apparently dried out with the least distortion and damage. However I doubt the plywood sample was  decent marine ply and  also l doubt it was water and boil proof.

[Ray T]

Graham Booth’s book on building ROME.

[Alan de Enfield]

17 minutes ago, Ray T said:

Graham Booth’s book on building ROME.

 

I thought it was Nero who rebuit Rome

[OldGoat]

At the risk of 'some-clever-clogs' accusing me of not answering the question -

Wharrabout looking at youtube videos  as well? There's a huge amount of stuff there - good as well as bad to direct your mind.

(FWIW - and that may be not worth a lot) to my mind self fitouts seem to be going down to B&Q / Wiches  and worse, cutting down small fittings / firniture and stuffing them under the gunnels. Looks awful and probably costs a lot, but what can you do if you don't have a workshop - so who am I to criticise.

 

Best advice is spend many hours looknig at YT including what some of the better brokers have on sale and choose the fratures that you think you can incorporate??

 

Must go the Warder has summoned me...

 

[LadyG]

17 hours ago, ditchcrawler said:

The correct grade of MDF is more stable than timber I wouldn't expect B&Q doors to meet that specification but your boat must be quite damp, because my B&Q doors were still solid after 16 years but the "plastic" veneer had failed.

No, my boat is very dry, the cupboard doors below the sink must have got water splash,  they absorbed moisture and swelled up before I noticed. They are kitchen unit doors, one might expect them to get damp in a kitchen environment. The veneer is intact, though not easy clean as it looks like woodgrain, the dampness got in at the junction twixt panel and stretcher, if that is the correct term on cupboard doors. 

[Jen-in-Wellies]

On 08/03/2022 at 09:35, Porpentine said:

Oops, sorry, double post. Mods, please feel free to delete this one!
 

I know someone who is fitting out a new narrowboat, or at least will be once it’s finally delivered (many delays due to Covid, etc.) I’d thought of buying him a copy of “Boatowner’s Mechanical and Electrical Manual: Repair and Improve Your Boat’s Essential Systems” by Nigel Calder. I haven’t seen the book myself* so I’m not sure how useful it would be, especially as the boat he’s getting is a serial hybrid. I think it’ll be coming with electric engine installed but I don’t know whether the generator will be and I don’t think the solar panels will be. Any thoughts as to whether this book could still be of use or interest? Any other recommendations?

 

* OK, even if I had seen a copy firsthand it wouldn’t mean much to me. He on the contrary is very handy. 

May I suggest doing searches and asking questions on this forum? A wealth of experience here from people who have owned boats for many years and know what works and what doesn't. Both from professional and self fit outs.

I did read the Graham Booth books for the fit out of my boat, but they were starting to look out of date in some respects back in the late naughties and are even more so now.

[Porpentine]

On 09/03/2022 at 16:28, jonathanA said:

Mike Jordan does a good book on boat woodwork projects. 

 

Thanks for that suggestion. Looks good!

[Porpentine]

On 09/03/2022 at 20:48, LadyG said:

I think the book is a nice present, but also offer to help out, as there are times when two persons make the job easier, and times when motivation has drained, and a trip to the pub with a mate is required. 

I live a bit far away to be able to help out, which is probably just as well as I suspect I’d be more of a hindrance than of assistance! I have been very helpful in suggesting names though (most of which, if used, would probably result in his license being revoked. Or worse.)

Edited March 10, 2022 by Porpentine

[reg]

On 08/03/2022 at 09:43, Tony Brooks said:

I don't like to push this again, but it would be far cheaper to give him this address www.tb-training.co.uk and he can get email advice if he wants. A bit different to a "fitout" book but it covers a lot.

I used this extensively when fitting out a bare shell. Excellent resource and much appreciated.

 

I'm actually in the process of clearing out my old documents and have come across some old costing and purchasing spreadsheets,  it's frightening just how much was spend on the small but important items together with various specialised tools, some of which maybofbonly even used on one job. To this end I found that hard copy Trade catalogues were a great resource.

 

Plumbing

B E S Mail order plumbing and gas supplies

 

https://www.bes.co.uk/request-a-catalogue/

 

Acorn Engineering

I had a hard copy Trade catalog which was very useful, not sure if still available. Web site 

https://www.acornengineer.co.uk/

 

Screwfix 

Toolstation.

 

Cable ties Direct

Useful for all sorts of small things other than cable ties 

https://cableties-direct.co.uk/

 

 

[Bod]

Screws and glue are remarkably expensive, if you haven't budgeted for them.

Reasonable quality tools, wood saws, planes, chisels, pipe cutters, drill bits, never mind electrical crimping tools, are all much more costly than you might think.

If progress is to be maintained, then waiting for a good tool at carboot sales, cannot be done, do you know what difference is between a usable tool, and rubbish?

It's easy to budget for the larger items, it's the sundries that get forgotten.

 

Bod

[Murflynn]

23 hours ago, reg said:

I used this extensively when fitting out a bare shell. Excellent resource and much appreciated.

 

I'm actually in the process of clearing out my old documents and have come across some old costing and purchasing spreadsheets,  it's frightening just how much was spend on the small but important items together with various specialised tools, some of which maybofbonly even used on one job. To this end I found that hard copy Trade catalogues were a great resource.

 

Plumbing

B E S Mail order plumbing and gas supplies

 

https://www.bes.co.uk/request-a-catalogue/

 

Acorn Engineering

I had a hard copy Trade catalog which was very useful, not sure if still available. Web site 

https://www.acornengineer.co.uk/

 

Screwfix 

Toolstation.

 

Cable ties Direct

Useful for all sorts of small things other than cable ties 

https://cableties-direct.co.uk/

 

 

 

not forgetting Vehicle Wiring Products for all things 12 volt related.