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Enclosing forward deck

Neil Coker

By Neil Coker
in General Boating

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  • 1 month later...
zenataomm Veteran

zenataomm

Posted
Posted

My little 35 ft boat was changed by a previous owner exactly as OP is describing.

The conversion maintains the original water tank, allows for a permanent double bed and front emergency exit.

Now I'm not normally easily bruised nor a shrinking violet, but I love my little boat and consider it very characterful

 

However as they are apparently ............

 

- it would look clumsy and horrible

- Looked awful.

- not particularly good looking.

- be concerned about ability to sell

- Ugly..ugly....ugly

- is fugly, fugly, fugly.

 

I don't feel in the mood to put it up for comment at the moment. In fact if anyone said anything like the above about it I'd probably cry you bunch of rotten swine. As it happens I don't like Clone Craft nor Washer Joshersangry.png

 

Oh sod it! I can't keep a straight face any longer.

 

IMG_1739.jpg

 

Here's the ugliest little cheeky boat on the cut, not taking herself at all seriously. Built 1969 and still chugging along on her original SR2.

Don't worry about turning your nose up at her, she knows her worth to me. wub.png

  • Greenie 1
Neil Coker Contributor

Neil Coker

Posted
  • Author
Posted

No, the boat is moored about 50m from the drydock so they move it back and forth as required. Work started a year ago frusty.gif but can't complain about the quality of the work. They are pretty busy so it is taking a while to get done

Jim Batty Proficient

Jim Batty

Posted
Posted

A couple of thoughts here:

  • We spend a lot of time on the Thames, where lockkeepers often do the 'work' for you. Having an open bow deck has been very useful when we enter a lock because it means Karen can stand out there and get a rope over a bollard the minute I stop the boat, and I can do the same at the stern. If there are other boats in the lock (such as £300k+ plastic cruisers) , it is a VERY wise move to have good control over your narrowboat at both ends! Not sure this will be relevent to your circumstances
  • If you are essentially re-fittng your boat out, you may be able to build in a small 'vanity closet' (decorated in an appropriate style, with a modern porta potti, framed prints, small library, ...) against the forward bulkhead and still retain a door to the bow deck to one side?
  • If you were resigned to blocking off forward access (but having a side window hatch as a safety exit) you could centre the bed against the forward bulkhead and have free access at either side of it. I've seen some really nice versions of this.

Ultimately I really like our open bow deck. We sit out there in the sun, in the lee of a wind on a blustery day. It's easy to get on and off (with its partially raised deck). We can stand two bicycles there, to one side, when cruising (they're locked to a fencepost or tree otherwise). And the deck balances the look the (53-foot) boat.

ditchcrawler Veteran II

ditchcrawler

Posted
Posted

 

Ultimately I really like our open bow deck. We sit out there in the sun, in the lee of a wind on a blustery day. It's easy to get on and off (with its partially raised deck). We can stand two bicycles there, to one side, when cruising (they're locked to a fencepost or tree otherwise). And the deck balances the look the (53-foot) boat.

That is why we went for a tug deck, would be a boring old world if we were all the same.boat.gif

  • Greenie 1
Dharl Rising Star

Dharl

Posted
Posted

My little 35 ft boat was changed by a previous owner exactly as OP is describing.

The conversion maintains the original water tank, allows for a permanent double bed and front emergency exit.

Now I'm not normally easily bruised nor a shrinking violet, but I love my little boat and consider it very characterful

 

However as they are apparently ............

 

- it would look clumsy and horrible

- Looked awful.

- not particularly good looking.

- be concerned about ability to sell

- Ugly..ugly....ugly

- is fugly, fugly, fugly.

 

I don't feel in the mood to put it up for comment at the moment. In fact if anyone said anything like the above about it I'd probably cry you bunch of rotten swine. As it happens I don't like Clone Craft nor Washer Joshersangry.png

 

Oh sod it! I can't keep a straight face any longer.

 

IMG_1739.jpg

 

Here's the ugliest little cheeky boat on the cut, not taking herself at all seriously. Built 1969 and still chugging along on her original SR2.

Don't worry about turning your nose up at her, she knows her worth to me. wub.png

 

That is a nicely proportioned boat, really like the camber on the cabin sides too. I like boats which are a bit different to the norm!

  • 4 weeks later...
  • 5 weeks later...
  • 2 weeks later...
Neil Coker Contributor

Neil Coker

Posted
  • Author
Posted

The windows are going to be trimmed in Beech as will the joinery everywhere else. We are putting Karndean Warm Oak down throughout. Looking forward to the finish and being able to get on the water boat.gifboat.gif

NickAndAnne Engager

NickAndAnne

Posted
Posted

The windows are going to be trimmed in Beech as will the joinery everywhere else. We are putting Karndean Warm Oak down throughout. Looking forward to the finish and being able to get on the water boat.gifboat.gif

 

When do you think that will be Neil?

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