Restoring a boat (1): Plans

[Sir Percy]

Hi Everyone,

 

Another would-be boater with a 'project'...!

 

I'm starting out on a boat restoration, the first part of which will be to scrap the old woodentop back cabin and rebuild in steel. It's a fairly small boat (30') and also, the engine sits in the middle of the boat with control linkages running up and across the top of the cabin to the back, so I don't intend to change the layout dramatically.

The exterior is pretty badly rotted so I think the way to go for me is to replace with steel.

I've gone to a boatyard to discuss, and need to go back with some proper plans.

Could anyone advise on where/who to go to for getting some drawn up, and any other relevant advice?

 

Many Thanks,

Percy

[Chris Pink]

Where are you based?

[Sir Percy]

Hi Chris,

 

The boat and myself are both in London.

 

Cheers,

P

[The Bagdad Boatman (waits)]

Post photos if you can and we will all give you some input. Sometimes it is better to do a bit at a time and be able to use the boat. Most boat builders will have their own favorite method of build and design.

[David Schweizer]

Given that you appear to have a traditional working boat layout, I am prompted to ask if this an old tug or an old working boat that has been shortened, in which case you really need to take it to a boatbuilder who can produce a new one that will match the hull. The last thing you want to do is put an inapropriate modern looking cabin onto an old hull, you only have to look at the two photos below of the same boat, the first shows Scorpio with the inapropriate cabin put by BW replacing the original, and the second one showing the replica original cabin put on by Brinklow boats to see what I mean:-

 

BW replacement cabin

 

New replica cabin

 

If you know who built thr hull, it should be possible to find pictures of how the original looked, of course if the rotting wooden cabin is the original you only need to get it copied in steel. Several people who could do this come to mind but all in the Midlands, Brinklow Boats, Warwickshire Fly or Ivy bridge marine (Roger Farrington)

Edited February 23, 2013 by David Schweizer

[Sir Percy]

Post photos if you can and we will all give you some input. Sometimes it is better to do a bit at a time and be able to use the boat. Most boat builders will have their own favorite method of build and design.

Hi, I'm not on board at the moment so don't need to be on it, but am intending to do it Johnny Cash-style.

Starting with the boatman's cabin as that needs attention firstmost.

Can add photos, but can't figure out how to insert in post.

30', trad, boatman's cabin, engine in middle section, 'A-frame'

 

Yep, old working boat (style). Unsure of history, or of maker.

Just want cabin copied in steel, really.

Don't think it has been shortened.

Have found a yard to do the work (West London), but need to get plans drawn up for them to do the work from.

[ditchcrawler]

Hi, I'm not on board at the moment so don't need to be on it, but am intending to do it Johnny Cash-style.

Starting with the boatman's cabin as that needs attention firstmost.

Can add photos, but can't figure out how to insert in post.

30', trad, boatman's cabin, engine in middle section, 'A-frame'

 

Yep, old working boat (style). Unsure of history, or of maker.

Just want cabin copied in steel, really.

Don't think it has been shortened.

Have found a yard to do the work (West London), but need to get plans drawn up for them to do the work from.

I would suggest you look for a yard who is use to doing this work and will know what should be there, like suggested earlier Brinklow, Braunston, Warwick Fly, etc.

[andywatson]

Add Ian Kemp to the list above.

He is very experienced, did most of the work on President (and many othres) and has a historic boat himself.

He is based at Dadford's Wharf, Stourbridge

[David Schweizer]

Add Ian Kemp to the list above.

He is very experienced, did most of the work on President (and many othres) and has a historic boat himself.

He is based at Dadford's Wharf, Stourbridge

I agree, but he is a hell of a long way from London, It took us forty hours to get to Dadfords Wharf from Napton last year, which is less than half the distance from London.

Edited February 23, 2013 by David Schweizer

[alan_fincher]

As this boat is only 30 feet, I'm not convinced we are talking about something that is going to be very much like a shortened working boat or tug in its overall appearance.

 

OK, I know a few got cut fairly short, but those that did didn't tend to retain both "pointy ends" - they typically ended up with a "specialist" front for example to act as a push tug. I'm not aware of many that were "shortened" retaining both ends that were much under about 40 feet, (OK, I know there are some, but not many!).

 

I think OP just wants a "normal" modern day cabin for a short modern day boat?

 

Anyway unless this is an old boat with deep hull sides (say minimum 4 feet) then "plonking" a replica of a cabin that might have been on a "Star" or "Town" class boat is probably not going to do it any favours, is it, quite apart from the considerable price premium you might pay at those more specialist firms.

[Chris Pink]

Hi, I'm not on board at the moment so don't need to be on it, but am intending to do it Johnny Cash-style.

Starting with the boatman's cabin as that needs attention firstmost.

Can add photos, but can't figure out how to insert in post.

30', trad, boatman's cabin, engine in middle section, 'A-frame'

 

Yep, old working boat (style). Unsure of history, or of maker.

Just want cabin copied in steel, really.

Don't think it has been shortened.

Have found a yard to do the work (West London), but need to get plans drawn up for them to do the work from.

 

If they need plans then unless there's another good reason (they're mates for instance) I don't think they are the best people to do the job.

 

We have done this thing before and would be happy to quote for the work or, if that's not needed, share our experiences. We're based near Bradford-on-Avon so a way from London. If you want to see a photo of the cabin we built recently get in touch by message or the contacts on our website.

[the grinch]

i'd agree with Chris any decent boatbuilder should be able to template and cut replacement panels

[Sir Percy]

Hi again,

 

Thanks for the responses.

Just to back over the original post, I'm based in London and have already spoken to a local boatyard (Oliver's - http://www.msomarine.co.uk/) to get an estimate for replacing the back cabin. I showed them photos, and they asked me if I could get them some drawings of what I wanted (where the windows, flues need to go, etc.).

 

Thought I'd get some plams drawn up (which I could then take round to other yards as well), but from what you guys are saying, maybe I should just go back to the yard with some freehand sketches and talk over the design (all I want is a copy in steel, really) with them...?

 

Anyway I still haven't found out how to attach photos, so have uploaded them to a host site:

 

 

 

[Athy]

Interesting-looking boat - which looks, at least from the top photo, a bit longer than 30 feet. Does Jim Shead's site (assuming that it is back on the internet) provide any clues as to the boat's origins?

[Sir Percy]

Oops.

40', not 30'.

It's on there: SIR PERCY Built by OTHER - Length 12.192 metres (40 feet ) - Beam 2.07 metres (6 feet 9 inches ) - Draft 0.01 metres ( ) Metal hull, power of 35 BHP. Registered with British Waterways number 74898 as a Powered. Last registration recorded on 20-Apr-2012.

[alan_fincher]

Interesting-looking boat - which looks, at least from the top photo, a bit longer than 30 feet. Does Jim Shead's site (assuming that it is back on the internet) provide any clues as to the boat's origins?

Looking at the visible bit of a boat index number at the base of the back of the cabin on the right hand side, (near the land-line connector) it could have the digits "898" in it.

 

If the boat is now called "Sir Percy" rather than "Percy", (as in the first picture), maybe it is this one......

 

SIR PERCY Built by OTHER - Length 12.192 metres (40 feet ) - Beam 2.07 metres (6 feet 9 inches ) - Draft 0.01 metres ( ) Metal hull, power of 35 BHP. Registered with British Waterways number 74898 as a Powered. Last registration recorded on 20-Apr-2012.

 

If so that claims it is licensed as 40 feet, not 30 feet.

Edited February 24, 2013 by alan_fincher

[Sir Percy]

Well spotted! There's also the licence in the porthole if you can zoom in on it...!

[Athy]

Looks more like it to me, but then I have not actually seen the boat.

Granny Buttons mentions a boat called Percy on sale in London but his link to the (Apollo Duck) advert for it no longer works. He says that the boat is worth only £5,000 but that the sale price is £30,000 because it has a desirable Lisson Grove area mooring.

[ChimneyChain]

Looking at the visible bit of a boat index number at the base of the back of the cabin on the right hand side, (near the land-line connector) it could have the digits "898" in it.

 

If the boat is now called "Sir Percy" rather than "Percy", (as in the first picture), maybe it is this one......

 

 

 

If so that claims it is licensed as 40 feet, not 30 feet.

 

Inspector fincher strikes again !!!!!

 

 

Darren

[Phil Speight]

Looks to me like it could be a cut down Ricky motor.That is, just in case you are new to such things, a 72ft.working motor boat built for the Grand Union Canal Carrying Co. by Walkers of Rickmansworthin the mid thirties and , much ,much later shortened ( possibly by B.W. ). This is written without the benefit of me reading glasses - it looks to be a wooden hull. If it isn`t I`m talking out of that part of me which did for said spectacles a couple of days ago.

[David Mack]

Hi again,

 

Thanks for the responses.

Just to back over the original post, I'm based in London and have already spoken to a local boatyard (Oliver's - http://www.msomarine.co.uk/) to get an estimate for replacing the back cabin. I showed them photos, and they asked me if I could get them some drawings of what I wanted (where the windows, flues need to go, etc.).

 

Thought I'd get some plams drawn up (which I could then take round to other yards as well), but from what you guys are saying, maybe I should just go back to the yard with some freehand sketches and talk over the design (all I want is a copy in steel, really) with them...?

 

Anyway I still haven't found out how to attach photos, so have uploaded them to a host site:

 

 

 

 

 

Looks to have had a well made wooden cabin which is now showing signs of age. If its just the ply and panelling thats rotting, and the frames are good, I would be tempted just to renew the ply and panelling. Go for a good quality marine ply, pay attention to keeping water out of the edge grain and you could easily get another 20 years out of it.