Fitting an Aga/Rayburn through the doors?!

[Doodlebug]

Hi everyone - long time no speak. 
 

Does anyone know of a solid fuel range which is able to fit through the doors of a narrowboat - I.e one which can be taken the bits and reassembled? 
 

the doors are only 90x56 so no chance of it coming through whole without a hole cutting in the roof. 
 

I’d prefer a proper one to a mini range but I’d be interested in the discussion nonetheless. 
 

many thanks for any pointers. On a previous thread someone mentions heritage stoves but they don’t seem to be flat packed but come whole on a pallet. 
 

cheers. 

 

 

[Tracy D'arth]

They all come to bits but its not for the faint hearted. The insulation between the inner and outer iron panels is very messy.

[agg221]

I dismantled our Rayburn completely to a flat-pack for re-enamelling. It is definitely a job best done outdoors, by shearing off all the bolts rather than trying to salvage them. It took the best part of a day. I haven't rebuilt it yet but that should be less of a filthy job. I will use new rockwool slab throughout.

 

Alec

Edited February 29 by agg221

[MtB]

So from previous posts it appears second hand Rayburns can be dismantled but it is one helluva job. Rust, crumbling insulation and every bolt shearing off.

 

In which case I'd suggest getting a brand new Rayburn, because dismantling a brand new one that has never been heated up would (probably) be a (relative) breeze. 

 

 

 

[agg221]

18 minutes ago, MtB said:

So from previous posts it appears second hand Rayburns can be dismantled but it is one helluva job. Rust, crumbling insulation and every bolt shearing off.

 

In which case I'd suggest getting a brand new Rayburn, because dismantling a brand new one that has never been heated up would (probably) be a (relative) breeze. 

 

 

 

This is true, but brand new ones are very expensive whereas second-hand ones can often be had for under £100, or even less if it is in poor cosmetic condition and you want it re-enamelled in a colour of your choice.

 

Alec

[David Mack]

Aga ranges were originally built in situ from the component parts, and most are dismantled and moved the same way. Other slightly smaller ranges such as the Rayburn were usually delivered assembled as they would fit through a domestic doorway and were not too heavy to move.

The new front doors on Belfast's cabin were deliberately sized to be just large enough to fit the Heritage range through.

[roland elsdon]

We just hung the Rayburn off the railway bridge below common moor , deconverted a bit of boat and swung it in with a chain hoist.

However that was in the days when boats were more diy.

At one point the rayburn was hanging of the bridge mid channel when we lifted it from boat a to boat b.

 

Did enjoy the 80s

[MtB]

10 minutes ago, roland elsdon said:

Did enjoy the 80s

 

Me too. Back in them days we didn't know you had to do anything special to look after the one car battery we used for power. We would put a pint of petrol in the genny and leave it to run out while we went to the pub to escape the noise of it on the cabin roof. Only thing we needed it for was for our new wizzy hi-tech electric water pump, the bedroom light and for the telly. Lasted about a week per charge and a new battery every six months,...

 

Gas lamps in the saloon and galley....

 

 

[Arthur Marshall]

When I got my boat it hadn't even got a separate domestic battery, just the one that did everything. Or rather, didn't, as we found out on the first trip...

[Ex Brummie]

21 hours ago, agg221 said:

 I haven't rebuilt it yet but that should be less of a filthy job. I will use new rockwool slab throughout.

 

Alec

The filthiest part of re-assembly will be your language!

[Tonka]

22 hours ago, Doodlebug said:

Hi everyone - long time no speak. 
 

Does anyone know of a solid fuel range which is able to fit through the doors of a narrowboat - I.e one which can be taken the bits and reassembled? 
 

the doors are only 90x56 so no chance of it coming through whole without a hole cutting in the roof. 
 

I’d prefer a proper one to a mini range but I’d be interested in the discussion nonetheless. 
 

many thanks for any pointers. On a previous thread someone mentions heritage stoves but they don’t seem to be flat packed but come whole on a pallet. 
 

cheers. 

 

 

But what are you going to use for cooking on in the summer. Surely not the range

[Doodlebug]

8 minutes ago, Tonka said:

But what are you going to use for cooking on in the summer. Surely not the range

In the summer the oven would just become storage for pots and pans! 

 

I’m going to look into whether it’s possible to get someone to help me reassemble one. 
 

Does anyone know if the overall heat output will be too much for a boat? I note that some are rated well over 20kw! 
 

So is there no version of an aga that is smaller but not so small as to be one of the mini boatman cabin range style stoves? 
 

thanks! 
 

[zenataomm]

1 hour ago, Arthur Marshall said:

When I got my boat it hadn't even got a separate domestic battery, just the one that did everything. Or rather, didn't, as we found out on the first trip...

Mine had two batteries.

Both 6 volt and wired up in series.

[agg221]

10 minutes ago, Doodlebug said:

So is there no version of an aga that is smaller but not so small as to be one of the mini boatman cabin range style stoves? 
 

thanks! 
 

Aga - no. Rayburn - look at the No.1 or the Regent, e.g. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/285729306911?itmmeta=01HQXX2K1NREMSRZRKP70TH0M0&hash=item4286cb391f:g:Ta4AAOSwqNJl2hu9&itmprp=enc%3AAQAIAAAA4CPi3LjA9nJsPSuA9WkqHwcRKh7xIuzTVTevMOXPWM38wk4zBHfpZq7WwoaJr7INN0NP7jP4lAGtuC51%2BjFcuFB%2FaW91eM1FP1%2BEj68ObuQ9F09NMT0k%2FifXRDMWjz5FT9r6eN5MxM5%2BS5Zpe8TUEMHdywcI92Wz3oG2VlD7%2F2Y0Q2Fn9WcFgIj%2FB4F7mT%2FvO67eGmBks8SzaeEPau2zzSKIV%2B8KozGBcMZpkIn%2F3J7KL%2F6M81g3ihy%2BBC31vdu47tye1iwA%2FIsmvbfpGtn%2FkuKv9ExlKSaeqDFuKNAYTj4f|tkp%3ABk9SR_awir2_Yw

 

Finding someone to help reassemble one is nothing like as difficult as finding someone who will help you dismantle it in the first place!

 

When looking at them, I wouldn't worry about them being scruffy, just complete and not cracked. Whilst it is in bits you can always get the parts re-enamelled. Kingfisher specialises in this - https://www.kingfisherenamelling.com/. I have not yet used them but it's where mine will be going. I have spoken to them about other enamelling work and found them very helpful and genuine.

 

Alec

Edited March 1 by agg221

[Tacet]

13 hours ago, MtB said:

 

Me too. Back in them days we didn't know you had to do anything special to look after the one car battery we used for power. We would put a pint of petrol in the genny and leave it to run out while we went to the pub to escape the noise of it on the cabin roof. Only thing we needed it for was for our new wizzy hi-tech electric water pump, the bedroom light and for the telly. Lasted about a week per charge and a new battery every six months,...

 

Gas lamps in the saloon and galley....

 

 

You were fortunate!

 

The upgrade from the zinc-carbon system was a discarded car battery.  Charged at home, when it went flat you either went without or carried it to a garage and begged an overnight charge.

[David Mack]

15 minutes ago, Tacet said:

You were fortunate!

 

The upgrade from the zinc-carbon system was a discarded car battery.  Charged at home, when it went flat you either went without or carried it to a garage and begged an overnight charge.

At the risk of sounding like one of four Yorkshiremen, my first boat, a cabin cruiser that could (and did) sleep two, had no battery and no electrics. A pull-start outboard motor, with magneto and no generator, the front light off my bike used as a tunnel light, a torch used in the cabin after dark...

[roland elsdon]

Ive only put together the old one.

It was very difficult and messy. Rust dust frozen bolts warped panels.

In the scheme of things not too bad , Given that the whole boat was by then in kit form.

At one point we had no bottom no footings, no gunnels no conversion.

The Rayburn was by then on the dockside where I made new back plates and put it back together, cleaned out the boiler and rebuilt it.

Once the footings and bottoms were in it was dropped in to the boat.

I then had to put the floors back in and used trolley jacks and rollers to shove it into the right place.

 

Then I put a new top on the boat.

Fitted it out. and finally -

lit Rayburn. Endless hot water  cooking and central bleating, from september to may.

Still miss it 28 years on.

[TheBiscuits]

1 hour ago, Doodlebug said:

So is there no version of an aga that is smaller but not so small as to be one of the mini boatman cabin range style stoves? 

 

Yes there is.

 

@casper ghost's parents had one on their boat, but I don't know what it was. He might!

1 hour ago, agg221 said:

Aga - no. Rayburn - look at the No.1 or the Regent,

 

Must read down the thread before posting ...

[Jen-in-Wellies]

9 hours ago, David Mack said:

At the risk of sounding like one of four Yorkshiremen, my first boat, a cabin cruiser that could (and did) sleep two, had no battery and no electrics. A pull-start outboard motor, with magneto and no generator, the front light off my bike used as a tunnel light, a torch used in the cabin after dark...

You had a cabin? Luxury!

My first boat was a canoe. No motor, no cabin, no battery, no lighting, no beds.

[peterboat]

11 hours ago, Doodlebug said:

In the summer the oven would just become storage for pots and pans! 

 

I’m going to look into whether it’s possible to get someone to help me reassemble one. 
 

Does anyone know if the overall heat output will be too much for a boat? I note that some are rated well over 20kw! 
 

So is there no version of an aga that is smaller but not so small as to be one of the mini boatman cabin range style stoves? 
 

thanks! 
 

I have a Rayburn royal in my widebeam, it has a oversized boiler which means it can run the central heating with ease. Sometimes when stripped the panels can warp making the whole Rayburn scrap! I have loved my Rayburn and I had doors big enough to fit it with ease and when I sell Joyce this year I am sure the new owners will love the warmth that the Rayburn can provide in a widebeam, so your narrowboat will be warm

[magnetman]

I put a Rayburn MF in my narrow Boat in 2005 and it went straight in through the front doors in one piece. No problems. Normal sized doors not wide. 

 

It is a nice thing to have and I plumbed in a 28mm primary flow circuit from the boiler then tapped in radiators and a hot water tank. All worked lovely. 

 

A LOT of fuel and ash going in and out of the Boat. I don't think I would do it again although it was pleasant to he fair. When I sold that Boat the buyer broke it up on site and scrapped it. 

 

Worth checking the boiler is a small side only type rather than a saddle. It might be difficult to use the heat from a saddle boiler on a narrow. 

 

The older Royal type Rayburns seem to be slightly smaller. Mine was an MF which is the same as a 216. 

Edited March 2 by magnetman

[agg221]

49 minutes ago, magnetman said:

The older Royal type Rayburns seem to be slightly smaller. Mine was an MF which is the same as a 216. 

The older Royal became the 212, which was useful for me as I needed a new side firebox casting for a 1950s one and they are still the same part.

 

Alec

[casper ghost]

14 hours ago, TheBiscuits said:

 

Yes there is.

 

@casper ghost's parents had one on their boat, but I don't know what it was. He might!

 

 

My parents have an Esse. It's like an Aga but a bit smaller.

[peterboat]

3 hours ago, casper ghost said:

My parents have an Esse. It's like an Aga but a bit smaller.

More the size of a small Rayburn.

[blackrose]

On 02/03/2024 at 00:39, David Mack said:

At the risk of sounding like one of four Yorkshiremen, my first boat, a cabin cruiser that could (and did) sleep two, had no battery and no electrics. A pull-start outboard motor, with magneto and no generator, the front light off my bike used as a tunnel light, a torch used in the cabin after dark...

 

We lived in shoebox in't middle of road....

 

 

I'm sorry but what on earth possesses anyone to want an Aga or Rayburn that can't fit through the doors of their boat without major surgery of either the heater or the boat? It sounds totally unsuitable for the boat. Life's too short, just get something that will fit through the doors!

Edited March 3 by blackrose