Review my fitout plan - Electrics Cabinet

[BoatingLifeUpNorth2]

9 minutes ago, Paul C said:

A good approach would be to go ahead and canvas the shell builders, progress all the discussions etc, in private. But then report back with a time lag (of say, a few weeks or months) of the build progress on here. It would have advantages and disadvantages:

 

Disadvantages

1. You will lose the possible insight of others more experienced and wiser.

 

Advantages

2. Greatly cuts down the amount of drivel you'll have to wade through on the forum. In fact, it could virtually eliminate discussion and it just be yourself posting into an otherwise empty thread (this sometimes happens with build threads on other forums, eg engine conversions where the audience is less skilled and the poster is pretty much the most knowledgeable on the forum). 

3. Long term, its a better reference for others in later months or years - because of less side-discussion which is more than likely irrelevant

 

Of course its a disadvantage to the audience, because this forum is "infotainment" with each thread one or other end of that spectrum, depending on how it goes.

 

Given how the other threads have historically progressed, I would encourage you do think through if you need the forum's insight and how it might end up if you missed it. And an alternate - for example talking to shell builders directly, paying them visits, engaging with other boaters more directly rather than online.

 

Heck, you could even do a Youtube on the build - its the modern way, after all. I suspect it would not prove massively popular and not achieve decent monetisation though, what with the somewhat limited audience. Its not like you're as attractive as "Betty on a Boat" for example (I'm going to guess..)

Good advice on some points to get off here with all these Fitout Threads

 I think @Gybe Ho is at a stage now that no one is taking this build really seriously. He started 6 month ago with how long can I get by on the towpath with a pump out tank and has since had all these fitout Threads, but nothing  seems to have been done in the real world. I know of at least 4x members on here that have had new boats built over the last year to two, who have done nothing like what he has done. They have just discussed it all with their builder and voila they are now on the canals with their new boat.

Now it’s secrecy with the shell builder. 
 Yes get off the forum and put his money where his mouth is and just do, like the majority do when buying a new boat or shell.

 

2 minutes ago, Gybe Ho said:

 I will try one more fitout thread on shell specifications as most forum members should be able contribute unlike a modern electrics cabinet that is likely two generations ahead of what is installed on a typical 20 year old narrowboat. 

But why? You have stated you’ve been in touch with 2x shell builders, didn’t they advise you as professionals to what’s workable and achievable to your budget ?

 To come on here and ask for peoples thought about shells makes no sense if you’ve put your plans forward to a builder and he’s given you a price to budget. Or are just wasting peoples time?

[Gybe Ho]

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Edited January 14, 2025 by Gybe Ho

[Alan de Enfield]

4 minutes ago, Gybe Ho said:

 

My hunch is that most boats afloat would not meet your stringent definition of a good shell.

 

I am not interested in niche definitions of a proper looking hull, I just want a functionally sound shell. In pursuit of lower price I can forego fake plank grooves on the stern deck, fake rivet heads, recessed boatmans cabin side panels that mimic a wooden framed cabin. Even though a boatmans cabin roof beam and cabin side gullies have a functional benefit I would prefer to save £1000+ going without.

 

It sounds as if the Chinese manufacturer of Narrowboats (East West Marine - I jest not !) may be just the hull manufacturer you are looking for.

No conventional (historical) nods to boat design very modern and space maximisation.

 

Check their website.

 

We at East West Marine strive to ensure that all of our boats are at the fore front of the narrowboat industury. Maintaining the highest build quality and after market sales possible. All our boats are examined by an independant third party to ensure all the boats comply with the BS and IWA regulations.

Please contact us to discuss all possible extras on our boat range. Extras can include a:

• Side Hatch
• Bow Thruster
• Washing Machine
• Open Saloon
• 3000kw Inverter

and many more.

[BoatingLifeUpNorth2]

 

58 minutes ago, Gybe Ho said:

 

My hunch is that most boats afloat would not meet your stringent definition of a good shell.

 

I am not interested in niche definitions of a proper looking hull, I just want a functionally sound shell. In pursuit of lower price I can forego fake plank grooves on the stern deck, fake rivet heads, recessed boatmans cabin side panels that mimic a wooden framed cabin. Even though a boatmans cabin roof beam and cabin side gullies have a functional benefit I would prefer to save £1000+ going without.

 

Just a few posts ago you advised that it takes years between order confirmation and delivery of a new shell. Now you are complaining about a 6 month research phase. I bet @IanD spent years refining the design of his advanced serial hybrid, did he not discuss any elements of the design here prior to the build?

You obviously haven’t got a clue about bespoke shells,

with you budget, I can’t remember the exact figures but wasn’t it something like £60K? With that budget your looking at a basic shell from a lower priced  builder, you’d be lucky to get any of the things you mentioned, good job you don’t want them anyway👍

I said people book there boats years in advance, meaning that’s when they want them, maybe when they retire. The builder will start the build in a timescale so it’s ready for them near the date they want.
 People discuss their builds with the builder, have you seen anyone on here putting as much as you do on here?

 As you say you just want a basic shell, so you’ll get what you want, no point of putting your shell ideas on here if you want basic, no hatches, no nothing, just basic in grey primer👍 I’m sure ABC boat builders are one of, if not the cheapest in the country so have a chat with them for a basic shell👍

Please stop going on about @IanD (sorry Ian) as in reality you don’t have anywhere near that budget, I would also say experience, have you actually been on a Narrowboat yet. You’re chalk & cheese apart. You have no where near the budget for the shell,  systems fitted or quality of interior fit. You have the budget for a basic boat, shell, propulsion system, fitout. Simple as that.

Edited January 13, 2025 by BoatingLifeUpNorth2

[Arthur Marshall]

To misquote the immortal Frankie: "Fantasy, fantasy, they've all got a fantasy"....

[Graham Davis]

34 minutes ago, Arthur Marshall said:

To misquote the immortal Frankie: "Fantasy, fantasy, they've all got a fantasy"....

I think a few of us have been thinking that from the start.

[Gybe Ho]

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Edited January 14, 2025 by Gybe Ho

[Tony Brooks]

55 minutes ago, Gybe Ho said:

Two spreadsheet rows for piping were added, £260 for 110m of Uponor16mm and £100 for 35m of Uponor 22m central heating pipe.

 

That 16mm looks like a custom size to me, so by using it you could be stuck with proprietary fittings. That could turn out to be a problem some time in the future when "up the cut" needing a repair.

[Gybe Ho]

Left forum

Edited January 14, 2025 by Gybe Ho

[truckcab79]

5 hours ago, BoatingLifeUpNorth2 said:

There’s not really any issue all he has to say is I’m thinking about these shell builder, anyone got recent experience with their shell builds:

A: Boaty shells.

B. Canal Boaty shells Ltd.

C. Boaty Canal Sheel R.U’s.

 

Then take in people experience who’ve had shells built in the last 1-2 years. There’s nothing personal or top secret with it, is there?

Will work fine that way if posters can actually restrict themselves to only posting if they have genuine recent first hand experience of having a boat built by the builder in question. Otherwise it’ll just be a load of folk insisting GybeHo doesn’t use Builder X as their cousins, wife’s, dog walkers best friend said they were rubbish.  

[Peanut]

More usually found on boats:

 

https://www.asap-supplies.com/products/seaflow-blue-plumbing-hose-13mm-id-sold-per-metre-512013

 

Food quality hose with non-toxic coating.

 

Also flexable.

[BoatingLifeUpNorth2]

1 minute ago, truckcab79 said:

Will work fine that way if posters can actually restrict themselves to only posting if they have genuine recent first hand experience of having a boat built by the builder in question. Otherwise it’ll just be a load of folk insisting GybeHo doesn’t use Builder X as their cousins, wife’s, dog walkers best friend said they were rubbish.  

Exactly that’s what I would hope, people who have had real life experience of his boat builders selection. Hopefully recent and hopefully they’ve had one built.

 But he’s refusing to name his builder choices. The other issue he’s only after a basic shell, so he must expect the basic of everything and if it’s the very low end of pricing range, don’t expect good steelwork, maybe rougher weld/ fabrication🤔🤔

 

[truckcab79]

3 minutes ago, Peanut said:

More usually found on boats:

 

https://www.asap-supplies.com/products/seaflow-blue-plumbing-hose-13mm-id-sold-per-metre-512013

 

Food quality hose with non-toxic coating.

 

Also flexable.

Plumbing on boats seems a bit behind the times to my mind. That hose you’ve posted looks ideal for many scenarios. Odd then that every pro build I see these days is all done in household pushfit, but then the pumps, accumulators, water pumps all have barbed fittings meaning that you’re compelled to add extra joints and potential for leaks when changing from one to other and then again to connect to taps, isolators etc which are invariably 1/2” bsp or some other ‘household’ type.   

[Peanut]

Just now, truckcab79 said:

Plumbing on boats seems a bit behind the times to my mind. That hose you’ve posted looks ideal for many scenarios. Odd then that every pro build I see these days is all done in household pushfit, but then the pumps, accumulators, water pumps all have barbed fittings meaning that you’re compelled to add extra joints and potential for leaks when changing from one to other and then again to connect to taps, isolators etc which are invariably 1/2” bsp or some other ‘household’ type.   

More likely found on Lumpy Water Boats, rather than canal boats, which are more like homes on the water.

[truckcab79]

2 minutes ago, BoatingLifeUpNorth2 said:

Exactly that’s what I would hope, people who have had real life experience of his boat builders selection. Hopefully recent and hopefully they’ve had one built.

 But he’s refusing to name his builder choices. The other issue he’s only after a basic shell, so he must expect the basic of everything and if it’s the very low end of pricing range, don’t expect good steelwork, maybe rougher weld/ fabrication🤔🤔

 

You can hope but I can’t see all the experts on here being able to hold back on their opinions just because they have no actual  knowledge of the particular shell being discussed. 😂

 

On that basis I don’t blame him. Nothing really to be gained. Would be better going on some of the bigger FB pages and asking if anyone owns X  and minds him popping over to look and discuss their build one to one. 

[Gybe Ho]

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Edited January 14, 2025 by Gybe Ho

[truckcab79]

9 minutes ago, Gybe Ho said:

 

Already part of my plan.

 

At this stage I don't want to get into brand loyalty and famous name debates. In the new thread I am about to start I will upload my check-list of things to discuss with any narrowboat shell builder.

Looking forward to it.  

[Gybe Ho]

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Edited January 14, 2025 by Gybe Ho

[BoatingLifeUpNorth2]

48 minutes ago, Gybe Ho said:

In the new thread I am about to start I will upload my check-list of things to discuss with any narrowboat shell builder.

 

I thought you had already discussed your requirements with shell builders and have already had a quote off a shell builder, look at what you wrote yesterday. So why start a new Thread on things to discuss when you’re already in discussions with builders. You make no sense.

23 hours ago, Gybe Ho said:

Talking to a couple and have a quote off one for my extras. In terms of build slot availability, industry supply & demand has swung sharply in my favour.

 

Edited January 13, 2025 by BoatingLifeUpNorth2

[truckcab79]

6 minutes ago, BoatingLifeUpNorth2 said:

 

I thought you had already discussed your requirements with shell builders and have already had a quote off a shell builder, look at what you wrote yesterday. So why start a new Thread on things to discuss when you’re already in discussions with builders. You make no sense.

 

Enjoy the thread for what it is or don’t take part. Does it really matter if some people don’t believe it’ll never happen?  It’s still just about the only ‘build’ on here and as such has already given plenty of opportunity for discussion. Far more than any other threads.  I’d rather read that than ‘ooh. But yesterday you said this’ posts to be honest.  
 

Keep going with it I say.  👍👍👍

[Gybe Ho]

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Edited January 14, 2025 by Gybe Ho

[BoatingLifeUpNorth2]

1 minute ago, Gybe Ho said:

 

I might talk with other shell builders, the discussions with existing shell builder will be require a further round of questions. Have you purchased a shell before?

No, but I watch them being built every day and know how they work, I think they would suss you out straight away and not deal with you or take you seriously.

[Gybe Ho]

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Edited January 14, 2025 by Gybe Ho

[truckcab79]

9 minutes ago, BoatingLifeUpNorth2 said:

No, but I watch them being built every day and know how they work, I think they would suss you out straight away and not deal with you or take you seriously.

Are you a narrowboat shell builder then?  Curious how you watch them without being hands-on and building them. Sounds like a great job. 👍

[BoatingLifeUpNorth2]

Just now, Gybe Ho said:

 

Conversely they might decide that someone who wants to talk about the schedule of stage payments or a prospective customer who is already wondering who pays for the crane to lift the completed shell into the low loader, is very serious and not a tire kicker.

You haven’t a clue to how it works, the top builders don’t need customers like you and they don’t alter their tried and tested shell design for you, maybe go and actually talk to them.