Enclosing forward deck

[Neil Coker]

Also had the floor supports and roof steel frame reworked to give me another 4" internal height

[Neil Coker]

One year on from purchase, paint finally going on

[zenataomm]

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 Joshers

 

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

 

 

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.

[Ray T]

I like the colour coded air vents.

[ditchcrawler]

One year on from purchase, paint finally going on image.jpegimage.jpegimage.jpegimage.jpeg

Unfortunately haven't a clue how to turn these pictures the right way up

You did all the work in a dry dock, how long have you been in there?

[Neil Coker]

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

[DHutch]

Very nice.


Which is the Drydock? Looks good.




Daniel

[Neil Coker]

Diglis at Worcester, Jason Pinder's

[Jim Batty]

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]

 

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.

[Neil Coker]

Some new pictures as the work progresses

[Tonka]

Someone messed up an Ian Kemp built boat by doing this to a boat. Personally I would get a different woman

[Neil Coker]

Each to their own, personally I intend keeping both my better half and my rebuilt boat

[Dharl]

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 Joshers

 

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

 

 

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.

 

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!

[Neil Coker]

Interior now begun

 

[Sea Dog]

Coming along nicely! Don't forget the lift up section in the flooring for your bilge cooled wine cellar ;}

[Neil Coker]

You mean like this one

[Sea Dog]

Hehe, that'll do nicely Sir!

[Neil Coker]

A few more pictures of the lining going on

[Neil Coker]

Some more interior shots, slowly moving along.

[Neil Coker]

Interior finishes now started

[NickAndAnne]

Wow! That is taking shape very nicely!

[Neil Coker]

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

[NickAndAnne]

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

 

When do you think that will be Neil?

[Neil Coker]

Well we did hope for Easter but not sure which year