Self fit-out: should I?

[Mike Jordan]

Since you are a practical person, equipped with the tools and are prepared to study, I think you have most of the basic advice above. Reading the books on the subject and looking at the work of others will go a long way to put you on the right path. I have seen many amateur fitted boats that exceed the standards of mass produced boats and are truly beautiful pieces of work. These are however normally the result of years of boat ownership and experience allowing the fitter to get it right. It is much better to complete your own wiring, plumbing, and other specialist jobs so that they can be completed piecemeal when needed instead of waiting for a contractor to turn up and allow you to get on with the rest of the work.

Your estimate of well over a thousand hours shows a realistic start but be aware that this may be subject to wild overrun if the boat is a long distance from the workshop, driving time and the location of the correct tools ( if the tools you need at the boat are at the workshop or vice versa ) can wear you down rapidly!

Its worth remarking that the cost of fitting out on hard standing near the workshop is no more expensive as a rule than doing it on the water. The cost of crane and transport is soon equalled by mooring fees, insurance, and fuel charges.

Security is normally much easier to arrange if the shell is near to your home.

I think it's better to use a quality shell ( I agree with the suggestion of Colecraft ) and do the grounds, ballast, and flooring yourself before getting it foam sprayed. In my opinion the worst of all worlds is the lined sail away. They are comparatively expensive, and make fitting bulkheads a difficult job, together with wiring and loads of other jobs. Above all, you can't see what's behind the linings.

 

Not everyone will agree with the above, but most who have done the work will tell you that it's hard work, costly, even while making a saving, its a very large commitment that will take over your life.

 

Best of luck with the project.

 

Mike.

[Arducius]

Sounds like you're taking the right approach, learning as much as you can before starting. I got talked into it by my girlfriend after being against the idea at first because I knew next to nothing about boats and boating. I'm glad I changed my mind though!

Thanks for the comments about the blog, it's mostly aimed at everyone I know who has no idea about boating so I try to make it easy to understand. Also when I was trying to find out stuff about blacking I kept finding blogs that didn't contain the info I needed so have tried to make it almost a tutorial if anyone else wanted to do something similar.

 

Intersting about the gas. We are planning to live aboard once it's done but the gas will be in for a while before we move on to I could argue that it's not a permanent residence at the time of the installation. I shall have to have a think about it.

Not everyone will agree with the above, but most who have done the work will tell you that it's hard work, costly, even while making a saving, its a very large commitment that will take over your life.

This is true, it's not cheap and it's hard work but you'll enjoy it a hell of a lot if you get any sort of satisfaction out of making something yourself and seeing your plans through to fruition.

[Hey Ho]

Great post Mike. Your final comment is actually an incentive, believe it or not. I could do with a large commitment, and I wouldn't mind it taking over my life. For a while anyway... Completely agree with your views on the lined sailaway too.

 

I've been to see Colecraft, and they are in the running. Nothing wrong with them at all as far as I can see, but I'm leaning towards Tyler Wilson at the moment. In fact, it is between the two of them really. I'd be paying a premium for the Tyler Wilson shell, but it might be worth it for the resale value (if that were to happen), and for the warm feeling I'd have inside otherwise.

[dave moore]

Hi

 

Remember that most aspects of boats can be changed relatively easily, except for the shell, unless you are a skilled welder/fabricator. I'd always advise the best affordable shell for this reason, aesthetics are an important element to me too. Good luck with the project.

 

Dave

[OldPeculier]

This is something I am contemplating too. At 6' 4" I am finding it hard to find a second hand boat I can actually stand up in. Having a shell made to measure is an option.

 

For a fit out to aspire to, Look at Siskin in the build blogs. http://www.canalworld.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=32957 If I could do something half as good as that, I'd be pleased.

[Neil2]

This has been a great thread, one of the few I've seen where every comment has been positive and constructive.

 

Having been looking all (last) year for another boat, which would be our third, I'm firmly of the opinion now that most narrowboats on the secondhand market are overpriced, some to a ridiculous degree. On the other hand when you look at the prices of shells/sailaways from well respected builders like Tyler Wilson and Colecraft, anyone with reasonable DIY skills and the time to spare would have to seriously consider the potential advantages of a self fitout,

 

And, the rapid expansion of marinas and yards offering facilities for the DIYer has removed one of the impediments you would have faced a few years ago, ie where to do the work and how to get 240v electricity.

 

One thing no-one has mentioned, and it's on my mind because I'm on with a project at home at the moment which involves a lot of timber and sheet materials, - I really miss my van. It seems so much easier to do building/DIY projects when you have a transit or similar, and if I decide to go down the self fitout route myself I will seriously consider getting a cheap van just for this purpose.

 

 

[Arducius]

We don't even have a car! I've taken timber on the train and cycled with smaller bits, but we have to rely on friends' and parents' vehicles for transport of larger items. Some places are happy to deliver to the canalside if you can give them a post code and good directions. Obviously it's best to meet them there so you can load everything on straight away. A van would definately make the job easier though.

[rjasmith]

 

 

Interesting that the man from the BSS makes no mention of working to those safety standards instead of the RCD.

 

If you don't intend to sell the boat within 5 years and follow the BSS Essential Guide 2nd edition then it's all fairly simple. It only becomes a minefield when you decide to follow the RCD and other unnecessary standards

 

http://www.boatsafetyscheme.org/media/180428/bss%20guide%202005%20complete%20web.pdf

 

 

(snipped a bit)

 

I'm not quite sure what you meant in this bit.

 

The BSS Essential Guide quotes most of the RCD standards in the preface to each of its chapters as examples of best practice. Not sure this makes them "unnecessary standards" does it?!

 

I accept that the RCD requires all relevant bits of each standard to be worked to but the BSS Guide doesn't because boats not built to the full requirements of the RCD have still got to pass a BSS inspection.

 

As I understand it there was an exercise done by BSS a few years ago to make sure that its requirements would not exceed the RCD in any part of it but equally as much as possible would be aligned with it.

 

If this is wrong, maybe Rob will correct me.

 

Richard

[peterboat]

I have a Tyler Wilson shell and the am very pleased with it I had it extended 7 foot when it was 3 years old and they did that as well I also did major alterations at the same time inside all well worth the work as it makes the boat mine. And that is what you will achieve with your self build it will be your boat and the compromises that are made will be yours and not somebody elses which always happens with boat fitters. Enjoy your build and I agree paint the boat as soon as possible and have it shot blasted it gives it a long life

 

Peter

[dave moore]

Hi. Just a thought about painting, from one in the industry. Shot blast certainly, prime promptly, but remember that the finished paint job may well be damaged during the fit out process. Some put a coat or two of gloss, known as a maintenance coat on, fit out then flat down later and apply final coats. If you are lucky enough to be under cover you could go to top undercoat stage, fit out then gloss. I recently decorated and lettered a new boat so treated. Don't, please, leave it in primer outdoors for a year!

 

Cheers

 

Dave

[narrowboatmick]

I completed my first fitout on a sailaway almost 2 years ago.Prior to that I had not a clue about most of what I had to do and remembering the feeling of fear and dread of the unknown as I stood inside the empty sailaway wondering how to batten it out ready for the spray foamers.But with the internet available and plenty of thinking time I managed a modest fitout. It can be seen on youtube under my account 'narrowboatmike' living on a narrowboat. I sold that first boat and about to take delivery of my 2nd sailaway.I hope to complete this one by early next spring and then after selling it have a go at a widebeam.Good luck with your build.Your sure to learn a whole bunch of new skills and knowledge along the way.If Feel free to ask as many questions as you need along the way.I will do my best to answer them as im sure many others on this site will too.

[narrowboatmick]

 

I don't intend to sell the boat within 5 years. However, I have no way of knowing what my needs are going to be by then, or even next year really. I haven't looked into this in detail, but I'd hoped that by building to BSS standards I'd be on the right track & it would be possible to employ a company/surveyor or whatever to do the paperwork & the manual & the RCD certification.

 

I thought if I could get that service for under £1,000 all in, then it would be worth it to me as a kind of insurance against having to sell. Does that sound like a plan or am I being a bit naive? Serious question - I honestly don't know.

 

 

ETA - have realised that sounds like I'm not bothered about blowing £1,000. Nothing could be further from the truth - I would just be trying to protect a much bigger investment. In fact the thought of spending thousands on something I don't know much at all about is the biggest barrier to this whole thing for me.

I paid about £550 for my inspection and RCD certification and paperwork that comes with it.He was a very helpfull chap and told me to make a few small alterations to vent hole size and a few other bits. I emailed photos of the changes and all was well.Build to the BSS standards like you say and your definitely on the right track.