She said it would be better if it were bigger

[RichM]

Hello fellow boaters,

 

I have a 55ft Narrowboat, it's perfect except one thing. - It would be helpful to have another fixed double bed and some extra space. So I would consider extending it to 10ft, to make the boat a total length of 65ft.

 

Does anyone know of any boat builders who do this kind of thing? Not sure if it would be practical, but we're just considering options at the moment.

 

Thank you

[GoodGurl]

That depends what part of the country you are in.

[dor]

It's not common, but it is an acceptable practice. Just google "boat stretching" to get several options. Streethay are probably the best known for doing it.

[GoodGurl]

Paul Barber ( sheet stores ) on the Erewash canal, but like I said depends where you are.

[RLWP]

Kedian, of this forum does that sort of work

 

Richard

[RichM]

I live in the South.

 

 

It's not common, but it is an acceptable practice. Just google "boat stretching" to get several options. Streethay are probably the best known for doing it.

Thank you, that's most helpful.

[Richard T]

Sileby Mill did one earlier this year.

[Martin Megson]

Wharf house Narrowboats at Braunston

Edited November 29, 2015 by Martin Megson

[The Bearwood Boster]

She said it would be better if it were bigger-snigger,snigger.Don't we all love,don't we all ?

Trina

[sharpness]

R W Davis at Saul did mine.

 

Steve

[keble]

Pinders at Stoke Prior (on the Worcs and Bham canal) did mine 3 or so years ago.

Long established boat yard/builders. PM me if you want more info.

[dmr]

57 foot is generally seen as a desirable length because you can go anywhere.

62 ish is seen as a length that will go anywhere but it will be so difficult that most people won't go anywhere but like the idea that they could if they wanted to.

65 is that length where only super heroes just might be able to go anywhere but won't

69 or 70 goes anywhere that a 65 foot is likely to go but has 5 foot more space.

65 is not a good length, neither one thing or the other?

 

.............Dave

[Batavia]

Wharf house Narrowboats at Braunston

Actually Roger Farrington (Ivybridge Marine) at the Bottom Lock at Braunston - Wharf House being fitters-out.

 

He did ours about 12 years ago, having originally built the boat.

 

Chris G

[Phil Ambrose]

She said it would be better if it were bigger-snigger,snigger.Don't we all love,don't we all ?

Trina

Trina, you're a norty , norty girl (I had the same thought, snigger)

Phil

[John V]

Trina, you're a norty , norty girl (I had the same thought, snigger)

Phil

 

I thought the same but wondered about posting.

With all the padlocks appearing lately I'm not sure what I'm allowed to say (looks furtively over shoulder)

[Athy]

Padlocks? Aren't they Irish rastafarians?

[GUMPY]

Actually Roger Farrington (Ivybridge Marine) at the Bottom Lock at Braunston - Wharf House being fitters-out.

 

He did ours about 12 years ago, having originally built the boat.

 

Chris G

Is it only 12 years ago? Parglena was 10 years ago and yours seemed ages before that.

Another + for Roger from me he did my barge and that was a big job......

[RufusR]

Sorry this is a genuine question but I assume stretching an existing boat is both expensive and very disruptive so why not just sell up and buy a bigger boat ?

[peterboat]

 

I thought the same but wondered about posting.

With all the padlocks appearing lately I'm not sure what I'm allowed to say (looks furtively over shoulder)

oh dear oh dear it only needs one more to get us all

[Peter X]

I live in the South.

 

I couldn't produce any real evidence to back up this assertion, but I would expect there to be fewer places available in the South to do this sort of serious metalwork, and that they will cost more. As a wild generalisation the south is good at making money, the north is good at making things and that's how it's always been. If you can find someone in the south to stretch your boat, I suspect you'll do well to compare the costs, and may find it worthwhile to do a return trip up the Oxford or the GU instead.

[Peter X]

It's worth mentioning that if you do want to take your boat north to have this work done before the Spring, you'll need to study CRT's planned winter stoppages carefully and schedule your trip to avoid them.

[Athy]

Sorry this is a genuine question but I assume stretching an existing boat is both expensive and very disruptive so why not just sell up and buy a bigger boat ?

Affection.

[DeanS]

I suspect that if the OP visited a widebeam builder, their "affection" would quickly change

[RufusR]

I suspect that if the OP visited a widebeam builder, their "affection" would quickly change

 

 

I think he was thinking of adding length not girth lol

 

 

I understand the affection thing but will it still be same boat with a dirty great plug added to it ? I have a lot of affection for Mrs Rufus but wouldnt want to chop of her nose and add an extension as it would change things ( after typing this I realised that in fact many people actually do this ( nose job ))

 

Gets Coat

[RichM]

Sorry this is a genuine question but I assume stretching an existing boat is both expensive and very disruptive so why not just sell up and buy a bigger boat ?

 

Fair question.

 

The reason is because we're looking to perfect what we've already got. The boat is perfect for us in every other way but could do with another berth and some storage space to go with it

 

My view is that I will always find a flaw with whatever boat I've got, if it's not a lack of a berth & storage then it would be something else. So it makes sense to spend money on perfecting what we've got rather than end up with another boat that may fall short in other areas.