57ft NB Dutch Barge

[MtB]

18 minutes ago, Owls Den said:

If I install these to the roofboxes will the boxes walk themselves onto the towpath for really low bridges?

 

Yes deffly. 

 

If they don't, demand a refund. 

 

Hope that helps....

 

 

 

[Silent Flight]

30 minutes ago, MtB said:

 

Yes deffly. 

 

If they don't, demand a refund. 

 

Hope that helps....

 

 

 

If they don’t I will know something is afoot.

 

And demand a refund!

 

[MtB]

3 minutes ago, Owls Den said:

something is afoot.

 

Yes, and I keep it in the yard...

 

 

[Silent Flight]

Got the bulkhead stripped back and found 4 leaky holes. 

 

These holes the are culprit for so much damp. 
 

Cleared any rotten wood and used wood hardener on the rest.

 

Wire brush and rust paint next!

 

Will bung the holes up.
 

Getting the square recess for a old tunnel light cut out and welded up. 
 

 

Edited April 7, 2023 by Owls Den

[Silent Flight]

Going in for some welding work!

[Silent Flight]

Welding work done, leaky recessed tunnel light cut out. Old bilge holes on hull blanked.

 

Expanding foam round decom bow thruster tube. Found a water stopcock buried in crap underneath tube.

 

Battens and insulation board.

Rockwool and I.board around old cess tank, painted inside and sealed with laminate underlay and plywood on top. 
 

Wiring inspection hatch. 
 

Anti mould paint applied. 
 

 

 

[Mike Hurley]

Good space for some solar panels on the roof boxes.

[Silent Flight]

Defo! Think that will be something in a couple of years time.

 

Plan for now to use the old canvas off the wheelhouse once that’s replaced.

 

 

[Silent Flight]

Cabin taking shape now!

 

New laminate floor laid.

 

Plywood lined the bulkhead, will become hanging wardrobe.

 

Constructed new bed frame. Rolled up mattress to be delivered.

 

Used leftover granite from changing the fireplace as bedside table.

 

Grooved ply as extra touch, will paint in with bed frame legs.

 

Cupboard at foot of bed to become shelving. Boxed in water pump and shower pump.

[Alan de Enfield]

39 minutes ago, Owls Den said:

Cabin taking shape now!

 

New laminate floor laid.

 

Plywood lined the bulkhead, will become hanging wardrobe.

 

Constructed new bed frame. Rolled up mattress to be delivered.

 

Used leftover granite from changing the fireplace as bedside table.

 

Grooved ply as extra touch, will paint in with bed frame legs.

 

Cupboard at foot of bed to become shelving. Boxed in water pump and shower pump.

 

You are getting there - but you haven't forgotten to build floor hatches in (to give access to pump out the bilges) have you ?

[Silent Flight]

14 minutes ago, Alan de Enfield said:

 

You are getting there - but you haven't forgotten to build floor hatches in (to give access to pump out the bilges) have you ?

Thanks! So in the bulkhead I have an inspection panel that lifts up which gives me access to the bilge and stopcock on the the water tank feed. 
 

I’ve also been doing some bits in the saloon and created a inspection hatch.

 

Effectively now have a inspection hatch right at the front and right at the back of the boat. And also the engine bay bilges.
 

Hoping that will be sufficient? However have thought of making one in bottom of a kitchen cupboard if needed. 

[Alan de Enfield]

23 minutes ago, Owls Den said:

Thanks! So in the bulkhead I have an inspection panel that lifts up which gives me access to the bilge and stopcock on the the water tank feed. 
 

I’ve also been doing some bits in the saloon and created a inspection hatch.

 

Effectively now have a inspection hatch right at the front and right at the back of the boat. And also the engine bay bilges.
 

Hoping that will be sufficient? However have thought of making one in bottom of a kitchen cupboard if needed. 

 

 

As boats generally 'slope' from 'front to back' you need an inspection hatch at the rear of the cabin bilge (not to be confused with the engine bilge) On a typical narrowboat this lowest point is at the rear of the saloon against the engine room bulkhead. and the inspection hatch is usually / typically under the steps.

 

If you have it further forward then you will never get the water out.

[Silent Flight]

26 minutes ago, Alan de Enfield said:

 

 

As boats generally 'slope' from 'front to back' you need an inspection hatch at the rear of the cabin bilge (not to be confused with the engine bilge) On a typical narrowboat this lowest point is at the rear of the saloon against the engine room bulkhead. and the inspection hatch is usually / typically under the steps.

 

If you have it further forward then you will never get the water out.

I believe I am covered then as the one at the back is as far back in the cabin as possible. My bottom step is the engine diesel tank, next one up a lil cupboard. 
 

The hatch at the front is there for the stopcock initially but that is right down in the bilge anyway so can look at the front also. 

 

 

 

[Silent Flight]

Water tank has been stripped back to shiny steel in any rusty areas.

 

Then coated in two pack epoxy paint ‘Acothane DW’.

 

Its a 1000 litre tank so a decent amount of water.

 

In a heatwave I can open the lid and have a dunk!
 

 

[Silent Flight]

Amidst all the renovations getting out cruising sometimes! Welford arm 

[IanD]

1 hour ago, Owls Den said:

Amidst all the renovations getting out cruising sometimes! Welford arm 

Nice pub at the end of it... 🙂

[Silent Flight]

New wheelhouse / hood design installed! Folds down in couple of minutes. Kept similar look of wheelhouse for style but also practical having forward sloping windscreen for sun glare and rain. Front screen is made from Strataglass. It’s like glass but rolls up, tough with high clarity. Hood splits in half for shade in diff areas. All widows can zip out. Bug nets can be zipped in! Very happy with it. Titan boat canopies understood the assignment!

[Bob Chamberlain]

I'm sure your deposit will brush off once it's dried......

[Silent Flight]

Ripped out a cupboard in the wheelhouse. It had a gap at the bottom so stuff would fall into the engine bay. Also very hard to access weedhatch. Not ideal!

 

Had some metal plating cut out and welded back in the corner. Suspect water was pooling here from the leaky wheelhouse.

 

Boxed in the header tank and galvanic isolater on the left. Moved the stern greaser to the cupboard on left. On the right is a cool drinks cupboard.

 

Bench lifts up and comes away, to give access to weedhatch and engine. New panel for the gap at bottom also lifts out. 
 

Cushions on order for the new bench!
 

 

 

Engine serviced!
 

Thanks to @robtheplodfor the link to his informative video on this one.

 

Most helpful!

 

Edited July 25, 2023 by Silent Flight