Popular Post Kendorr Posted October 14, 2023 Popular Post Report Share Posted October 14, 2023 Having struggled all year with back problems, I've decided that KenDorR is too heavy for me to handle and will be passed on to my younger brother. I've just taken delivery of Melita as my latest project. She was built in 1985 by Delph Marine, 30 foot long with a cruiser stern. The engine is a Bukh DV10, single cylinder 10hp - quite a difference from KenDorR which has a Barrus Shire 40hp engine. Hopefully I'll be able to enjoy a good few more years on the waterways, although I think my long trips will be curtailed and I'm not sure yet how Melita will handle the tidal Trent. Anyway, for now Melita is an 18 month project. 4 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morris Posted October 14, 2023 Report Share Posted October 14, 2023 She looks really nice, I'm looking forward to seeing your progress. If you need any substandard welding doing give me a shout! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kendorr Posted October 14, 2023 Author Report Share Posted October 14, 2023 (edited) 18 minutes ago, Morris said: substandard welding You're getting to be quite the expert welder now, Mr T would be proud 🙂 Edited October 14, 2023 by Kendorr 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
truckcab79 Posted October 14, 2023 Report Share Posted October 14, 2023 She looks lovely. Having mentioned in the past that there seems to be very few actual owner build threads on here suddenly there’s three new ones. 👍👍👍 Look forward to following Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kendorr Posted October 14, 2023 Author Report Share Posted October 14, 2023 1 minute ago, truckcab79 said: suddenly there’s three Just like busses 🙂 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kendorr Posted October 15, 2023 Author Report Share Posted October 15, 2023 Here's a few more pics showing Melita before the work has begun, there's just over 15 feet internal space, I've got a couple of ideas on how to make better use of the internal space, but will know better once the inside has been cleared. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magnetman Posted October 15, 2023 Report Share Posted October 15, 2023 I like that interior. Clever gas locker ! looks like there might be a little Eberspacher D1 in there. Nice to have if it works and worth getting it working if it doesn't. I'm sorry if you are taking the interior out - thats exactly how I would want a small narrow boat to be inside ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kendorr Posted October 15, 2023 Author Report Share Posted October 15, 2023 6 minutes ago, magnetman said: looks like there might be a little Eberspacher D1 in there There is, but it was sold as non working, but I will be checking it out, well spotted. 8 minutes ago, magnetman said: I'm sorry if you are taking the interior out I'm sure there are many who would agree with you, but it's not how I want to use the space. Hopefully you'll like the changes I make. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magnetman Posted October 15, 2023 Report Share Posted October 15, 2023 It is rather more important that you like the changes ! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kendorr Posted October 19, 2023 Author Report Share Posted October 19, 2023 The engine is a Bukh DV10, oil and filter change to be done in the next couple of weeks. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsmelly Posted October 19, 2023 Report Share Posted October 19, 2023 On 14/10/2023 at 20:24, Kendorr said: Having struggled all year with back problems, I've decided that KenDorR is too heavy for me to handle and will be passed on to my younger brother. I've just taken delivery of Melita as my latest project. She was built in 1985 by Delph Marine, 30 foot long with a cruiser stern. The engine is a Bukh DV10, single cylinder 10hp - quite a difference from KenDorR which has a Barrus Shire 40hp engine. Hopefully I'll be able to enjoy a good few more years on the waterways, although I think my long trips will be curtailed and I'm not sure yet how Melita will handle the tidal Trent. Anyway, for now Melita is an 18 month project. Dont worry about river performance you will be fine. My first narrowboat was a 57 foot job with an ancient knackered lister that was nine hp when new and well below that when I owned it. I did the tidal Trent on that years ago when I was inexperienced with narrowboats and whilst interesting at times we didnt have a major problem. The current method of ever bigger and bigger engines helps cover up mistakes made by bad boating and in most cases engines are now bigger than needed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magnetman Posted October 19, 2023 Report Share Posted October 19, 2023 Lovely engine that. Did you get the instruction Bukh with it ? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kendorr Posted October 19, 2023 Author Report Share Posted October 19, 2023 37 minutes ago, mrsmelly said: I did the tidal Trent on that years ago Thanks, with the Pennine problems, the Trent is my preferred way of getting out and about 🙂 30 minutes ago, magnetman said: Did you get the instruction Bukh with it ? I didn't, but I've downloaded and printed the 32 page owners manual and also downloaded the 300+ page workshop manual Duhhh, I've just realised your joke 🙂 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stroudwater1 Posted October 19, 2023 Report Share Posted October 19, 2023 Hope you keep that gas water heater, if not there’s I believe a market for them. I like the interior as well, and would be inclined to just get boating rather than spend an expanding period of time without. But obviously it’s your boat! I’ve admired it in the flesh, it’s a nice one, and a decent price too👍 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sea Dog Posted October 20, 2023 Report Share Posted October 20, 2023 A lovely little boat now destined to become steadily more lovely. Good luck with your new project. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kendorr Posted October 20, 2023 Author Report Share Posted October 20, 2023 10 hours ago, Stroudwater1 said: and would be inclined to just get boating rather than spend an expanding period of time without. Luckily, I still have KenDorR for my boating trips and with it being in the same marina now, I'm able to work on Melita but use KenDorR as my living and relaxing space. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Francis Herne Posted October 20, 2023 Report Share Posted October 20, 2023 My 30ft boat has a 20hp engine but the last few aren't really much use. Hull speed of the boat (not helped by her very short swims) is 6-7mph which is reached at a bit over half throttle. Adding more power makes the bow wave bigger with a negligible increase in speed. Based on that 10hp should be fine within reasonable limits. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kendorr Posted October 26, 2023 Author Report Share Posted October 26, 2023 Well, I've made a bit of a mess today!! Not sure why the images are showing in landscape, the were taken portrait! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kendorr Posted November 20, 2023 Author Report Share Posted November 20, 2023 Anybody seen this before? I've been taking the shower apart looking for a bilge pump, but this is what I found. Difficult to see, but the red circle is around the drain pipe from the shower, it drains straight out into the engine bay!! I suppose the idea was that the engine bilge pump would then get rid of the water!! The refurbish will have a gulper pump fitted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Mack Posted November 20, 2023 Report Share Posted November 20, 2023 I've come across this before , where the shower, sink and washbasin all drained to the bilge and the waste water could flow back into the engine bilge (no separate bulkhead at bottom plate level). I think the idea was that it simplified the plumbing, and the soap in the waste water would deal with any oil in the engine bilge. But the practical result was a smelly mess of soap residue, food bits and hair coating the entire bilge. Fit a proper shower drain pump! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magnetman Posted November 20, 2023 Report Share Posted November 20, 2023 Also one wants to have a bulkhead between engine bay and cabin in case of weed hatch problems. Below engine air intake height. Hopefully one would become aware of engine bay flooding before it all got dangerous. Unusual noises. and if the leakage was minor one would want the auto bilge pump to deal with it rather than filling up the whole under floor area in the cabin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
truckcab79 Posted November 20, 2023 Report Share Posted November 20, 2023 Nice to see it moving on. Even stripped out its got more in than ours. 😂 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kendorr Posted November 23, 2023 Author Report Share Posted November 23, 2023 It's taken a couple of days to finish stripping the shower room, the wall covering was 3mm ply, but underneath was steel plate about 2mm thick, this had been put on before the side wall and door, so to get it off they had to be demolished. The shower base and the front area is solid concrete, which looks like it will take some removing. I managed to break through one area or rotten wood and there's about an inch of standing water - the last survey does say that an inspection hatch should be cut near the stern, but that hasn't been done. I'm thinking my next task is going to be taking all the sub floor up as it's been patched and bodged many times, I'll get it all up and start again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kendorr Posted January 27 Author Report Share Posted January 27 (edited) A good bit of progress made, removed all of the ballast and chopped the shower tray out. The steel at the stern was a bit rusty, but it has been cleaned and treat with Fertan. The rest of the baseplate had surface rust, but the original paint was still mostly intact. This has been cleaned and a new coat of blacking applied. The Fertan hadn't cured enough before I came home, so that will be blacked next time I go. The baseplate thickness is between 4.8mm and 5.9mm, I'm happy with that for a 38 year old boat. Edited January 27 by Kendorr corrected spelling! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
truckcab79 Posted January 27 Report Share Posted January 27 Looking good. 👍 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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