Why do so many narrow boats have the kitchen at the front ?

[Justin Smith]

Our first two hires/timeshare were Canaltime boats. We loved the kitchen being at the back because of its great convenience with respect to making drinks and meals and communication between steerer and galley slave (whoever that happened to be at the time!). The great downside with these boats, however, is their fixed bed right across the front cabin and thus their lack of access to the front of the boat.

 

Thus the next boat we hired had the kitchen/saloon at the front and proper access to the front deck. Nevertheless we would still have preferred the kitchen at the back but, for us, being able to pop up to the front of the boat quickly and whenever needed was even more important.

 

Stewey

 

I`ve just had a look at the layout of the cruisers from Canaltime, and I still don`t see why the bed needs to stretch right across the boat. Not unless it`s designed for the kind of people you wouldn`t want sitting next to you if you were flying economy....

That said, they probably wouldn`t fit through the canal boat doors anyway !

[magpie patrick]

I get the point about better views if the parlour is at the front, but I reckon that`d be less significant for people hiring a boat.

If you`ve only got a boat for a relatively short time (and let`s face it they`re bleedin` expensive......) you`d probably want to spend as much time as possible actually cruising, so the rear kitchen area is more important.

 

To be honest, If I'm in the kitchen while cruising I want to see forward, so that I can still enjoy the scenery. In the back, you see what is to the side and you see the crews feet. In the front, assuming front windows, you see the approaching bridges, boats and locks

 

 

And yes, it is sometimes me that is in there!

[stewey]

I`ve just had a look at the layout of the cruisers from Canaltime, and I still don`t see why the bed needs to stretch right across the boat. Not unless it`s designed for the kind of people you wouldn`t want sitting next to you if you were flying economy....

That said, they probably wouldn`t fit through the canal boat doors anyway !

Justin, I quite agree. If the bed had been narrower thus allowing room for front access then that would have been perfect.

 

It is said that closing off the whole front in this way was a boat safety idea ie water pouring onto the boat at a lock would not enter the main part of the boat and sink it! If that was the case then better lock training was obviously needed!

 

Nevertheless the boats were well equipped and we really enjoyed each of the two weeks.

 

Stewey

[Teakbank12]

To be honest, If I'm in the kitchen while cruising I want to see forward, so that I can still enjoy the scenery. In the back, you see what is to the side and you see the crews feet. In the front, assuming front windows, you see the approaching bridges, boats and locks

 

 

And yes, it is sometimes me that is in there!

 

Why the need to spend any length of time in the kitchen?? Buy a small slo-cooker (they are low wattage) fill them in the morning & leave to cook, allowing both partners to enjoy cruising.

If HID/SWMBO insist on any length of time spent in the kitchen i suggest a boat with a forward galley so that with kitchen sink facing forward one can view ahead

[bag 'o' bones]

Not really,

 

A true working boat's, boatman's cabin is strictly "reverse layout".

 

Bed at front, living space, including dining in middle.

 

Kitchen at rear!

 

Just it's all squeezed into 8 or 9 feet.

 

(Just don't ask about toilet/bathroom!)

 

I suppose so thinking about it. However you could still argue that the bed is at the back the bench 'bed' opposite the stove! lol

 

So the question remains if the 9' working boat cabin 'original' layout was kitchen/saloon-dining/bedroom, why is it called the 'reverse layout' as in the reverse of the modern 'normal' layout which if you base that idea on the working boats its obviously not?

Edited February 28, 2009 by bag 'o' bones

[sueb]

We have been married 25 years and my next boat is in the planning stage and will have two singles and no double!

 

Charles

I fully agree. Trying to climb over partner whilst keeping your head down, for a call of nature in the night, loses it's funny side quite quickly.

Sue

[Tam & Di]

I`ve just had a look at the layout of the cruisers from Canaltime, and I still don`t see why the bed needs to stretch right across the boat. Not unless it`s designed for the kind of people you wouldn`t want sitting next to you if you were flying economy....

That said, they probably wouldn`t fit through the canal boat doors anyway !

 

Comparison with working narrowboats has been used on this thread. Do modern cruiser versions never think to do the same with the bed - i.e. have one that folds up into a "bed cupboard" when not in use? Gets rid of the clutter and permits through passage with no problem at all.

[charles123]

I fully agree. Trying to climb over partner whilst keeping your head down, for a call of nature in the night, loses it's funny side quite quickly.

Sue

 

 

And its more convenient if you go to bed earlier or later than the other and get up earlier or later than the other. Plus if you are on the boat alone one bed can be set up as sofa converting to a bed when you are both there

 

Another advantage that fits in with us is one likes to watch telly in bed the other likes to read, separate singles works best for this

 

Charles

[twocvbloke]

Hmm, just reading through this, and as a non-boater (for the moment), I personally would like the "reverse layout", but with a few modifications to the idea, in my mind, I'd have it in this layout:

 

{| Kitchen | Bath/Loo | Bedroom | Living room |->

 

All within 57 feet of narrowboaty goodness...

Edited February 28, 2009 by twocvbloke

[Dominic M]

Of all the people who ask for a reverse lay out - and I get a fair few - without fail none has owned a narrow boat before. Of all the people looking to buy a narrow boat who have owned one before, none I have encountered is looking for a reverse lay out. Read into that what you will, and I know what I prefer for my own use, but it must tell you something.

 

Now I must get back to the putting the finishing touches to my well-advanced design for the first pump out cassette toilet.

[twocvbloke]

Of all the people who ask for a reverse lay out - and I get a fair few - without fail none has owned a narrow boat before. Of all the people looking to buy a narrow boat who have owned one before, none I have encountered is looking for a reverse lay out. Read into that what you will, and I know what I prefer for my own use, but it must tell you something.

 

Now I must get back to the putting the finishing touches to my well-advanced design for the first pump out cassette toilet.

 

What would you say to this layout then?

 

[Dominic M]

What would you say to this layout then?

 

I've seen exactly that layout on boat - I think it was the boat built for the Crick Show a couple of years ago by Bluewater Boats (apologies if I am remembering wrongly). Everything has its pros and cons - in your lay out plan if you fancy a cup of something whilst in the living area, or want to eat off your knee whilst watching telly, you've got to cart everything through the bedroom.

 

I think much depends on what you are going to use the boat for. For longer term cruising I am convinced that the conventional lay out works the best. But, if somebody is very happy with a different arrangement, then fair play to them.

[twocvbloke]

I've seen exactly that layout on boat - I think it was the boat built for the Crick Show a couple of years ago by Bluewater Boats (apologies if I am remembering wrongly). Everything has its pros and cons - in your lay out plan if you fancy a cup of something whilst in the living area, or want to eat off your knee whilst watching telly, you've got to cart everything through the bedroom.

 

I think much depends on what you are going to use the boat for. For longer term cruising I am convinced that the conventional lay out works the best. But, if somebody is very happy with a different arrangement, then fair play to them.

 

Well, living in a house at the moment, if I wanted a cup of tea or eat in the living room, I'd still have to cart it all from the kitchen, past the stairs and into the living room round the ginormous sofa my mum insisted on having here, so, my layout idea is probably a lot better in terms of freedom of movement...

 

Plus, I'd have a wood stove in the living space with a kettle or coffee pot to sit on top of the fire, so the brew making can be done in there, aswell as some careful stove cooking...

 

And for the boat's purpose, it'd be my home, if I could ever afford it...

[Justin Smith]

Hmm, just reading through this, and as a non-boater (for the moment), I personally would like the "reverse layout", but with a few modifications to the idea, in my mind, I'd have it in this layout:

 

{| Kitchen | Bath/Loo | Bedroom | Living room |->

 

All within 57 feet of narrowboaty goodness...

 

Would that include the dinette in the kitchen ?

If so that`d be perfect, apart from the fact it`d be 57ft long, i.e. pretty pricey.....

[Naughty Cal]

I fully agree. Trying to climb over partner whilst keeping your head down, for a call of nature in the night, loses it's funny side quite quickly.

Sue

 

You think thats bad, try having the other half climb over you in the dead of night from the midships cabin. Sitting headroom only and access from a small hole next to the steps!! It isnt an easy exit

[twocvbloke]

Would that include the dinette in the kitchen ?

If so that`d be perfect, apart from the fact it`d be 57ft long, i.e. pretty pricey.....

 

Yep, see my doodled plans, though personally I wouldn't need the use of a dinette, but you never know who'll be staying for dinner...

 

As for price, well, being an eco-friendly person, I'd buy an existing shell as it's greener to buy second hand than new, and where possible I'd use recycled materials, including the wood needed for frames or internal walls...

[honey ryder]

mines a reverse layout.

I looked at many many boats before buying. I was looking at trads. one day out of frustration i looked at the cruiser stern reverse layout and the light came on, yes, thats the layout for me.

entry from the back, cruiser stern, kitchen, living room, wash room, bedroom, cratch

this means, when we cruise and want a beer, we can nip inside grab one and come out to carry on steering if we are single handing.

this also means, if peckish, we can nip in grab the nibbles and straight back outside.

we have our wet cupboard and washer next to the kitchen, and the kitchen floor is washable, so we dont walk wetness and mud all though the boat, its kept to a washable area.

the living room is next to the kitchen so perfect when serving food. the toilet is between the bedroom and livingroom, so if we have friends to sleep over, we dont have to pass each other to go to the toilet in the night. our bedroom is kept private up front and we can have the front doors open for fresh air in the summer.

all in all, i think its great layout, the only downside is the lack of view from the living room. we dont really sit in very much, we prefer to sit out the back and drink, eat socialise there.

 

the plus side of a cruiser stern is space to park a motorbike.

[david and julie]

though personally I wouldn't need the use of a dinette,

To me the term "dinette" is a misnomer, they are so much more and personally I wouldn't be without one. Ours is the raised type and I enjoy being able to look out of the window, we also use it for reading papers etc, lap-top,ironing and as an extra area for preparing meals. Personally I find it one of the most useful areas on the boat.

[barney]

To me the term "dinette" is a misnomer, they are so much more and personally I wouldn't be without one. Ours is the raised type and I enjoy being able to look out of the window, we also use it for reading papers etc, lap-top,ironing and as an extra area for preparing meals. Personally I find it one of the most useful areas on the boat.

i agree david I would not be with out one now and a spare bed for me James

regards

[Spoons]

Of all the people who ask for a reverse lay out - and I get a fair few - without fail none has owned a narrow boat before. Of all the people looking to buy a narrow boat who have owned one before, none I have encountered is looking for a reverse lay out. Read into that what you will, and I know what I prefer for my own use, but it must tell you something.

 

Now I must get back to the putting the finishing touches to my well-advanced design for the first pump out cassette toilet.

 

Maybe not the first but maybe the first on water as my boat is still in the garden (launch about june this year) I have designed and built a vacuflush unit with a pump to transfer it to a holding tank or if pumpout is not available I can just use one of the two cassettes, good luck with yours it was quite challenging.

[magpie patrick]

all in all, i think its great layout, the only downside is the lack of view from the living room. we dont really sit in very much, we prefer to sit out the back and drink, eat socialise there.

 

Good point HR, and the reverse layout boats I've cruised extensively in have only really worked if the back deck is the social area rather than the front deck (Odana, hope Nicki doesn't mind my saying so). On Ripple and Skitty Kitty, you'd sit out with a beer/scotch on the front deck, not the back, despite Ripple being Semi Trad and SK being cruiser and SK being reverse layout.

 

Nice to see you're still here HR, is the move seaward still on, or has it stalled?

 

 

To me the term "dinette" is a misnomer, they are so much more and personally I wouldn't be without one. Ours is the raised type and I enjoy being able to look out of the window, we also use it for reading papers etc, lap-top,ironing and as an extra area for preparing meals. Personally I find it one of the most useful areas on the boat.

 

seconded: the "dinette" on Ripple has seen many a report drafted on it! In fact, the papers to HLF considering maintaining the grant for the Cotswolds were prepared there! Perhaps I should fit a plaque...

[twocvbloke]

I guess my view of the Dinette is somewhat stuck in the past, after all, the first time I saw one was probably on Rainbow!!!

 

- Part 1

- Part 2

 

(says it's from '85, the year I was born, so it was probably set in my memory then!!! )

[RLWP]

We must have something wrong somewhere. Our galley is right in the middle. So from the bow we have: front cabin, bathroom, convertible table/bed, galley, convertible table/bed, bathroom, rear cabin.

 

Richard

 

Can you tell Tawny Owl was a hireboat?

[twocvbloke]

Can you tell Tawny Owl was a hireboat?

 

Nope, cos the last narrowboat I was on was the widebeam tourboat that lives in Foulridge wharf...

[david and julie]

i agree david I would not be with out one now and a spare bed for me James

regards

 

Hi Mr Barney - I trust the family are keeping well.