BOAT STRETCHING

[kackara]

We are considering sometime in the near future having our boat streched, we thought of having another 10-20ft put on.

Only trouble is we have a v shaped bottom and a wooden top.

Does anyone know of someone who can do the streching on a boat like ours and is it costly???

Or does anyone know of anywhere where they do part ex when buying another boat?

[John Orentas]

You must do your sums on this and work out whether the lengthened boat will have a value of the boat as it was, plus the cost of the extension, with a timber cabin it probably won't stack up.

 

I suspect in your case in pure economic terms you would be better fitting a steel cabin. You would be looking at around £3,000 - £4,000 for each of the jobs for a 40 foot boat.

 

Remember your existing engine may not be up to the job pushing a bigger boat, that's another cost.

 

Ring round your local boat builders and general fabricators.

[Gary Peacock]

We stretch boats.

 

Take a look here:-

http://www.ledgardbridge-boatcompany.com/h...ing_a_boat.html

 

Gary

[Paul Evans]

I agree with John - do the sums carefully. If you follow John's suggestion and go for stretching the hull and putting a steel cabin on, you will also be into a complete refit. It might just be quicker and cheaper to sell the boat and buy a bigger one.

[timboharticus]

We all get attached to our boats but I think you would be better to consider another boat rather than stretch yours.

[zimmer4me]

We all get attached to our boats but I think you would be better to consider another  boat rather than stretch yours.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I heard somewhere that stretching can have an impact on the swim of the boat and that put me off considering it as mine handles just fine. The thought of it handling like a lead ballon did not appeal.

JK

[kackara]

I have read everything you all have said and reported it back to my partner...

We have now decided to do it up and leave it for a while then sell and buy bigger...

 

Thanks for the warning guys cos we didn't think what actually went into it.....

[Bones]

I am interested in learning more about boat stretching. The people who have had it done think it is wonderful. Does anyone know the approximate cost per foot and has anyone had any bad experiences from stretching their boat?

[casper ghost]

I know a boat that was stretched, cost approx #800 per foot, which included the lining out inside too.

[Albion]

I am interested in learning more about boat stretching. The people who have had it done think it is wonderful. Does anyone know the approximate cost per foot and has anyone had any bad experiences from stretching their boat?

 

Streethay Wharf claim to be the boat stretching specialists. Their ad goes something like 'Have a Streethay stretch'. Can't say what they're like as I don't know anyone who has had it done.

Roger

[sueb]

We worked out that the money would buy us a longer newer boat. This was 20 yrs ago. As we ould still have had an old boat and old engine, as well as old everything else we went for the new option. We bought a shell and did a self fit out.

Sue

[Denis R]

Two of my friends have had their boats stretched recently and I think the decision to go this route over buying a different boat was more to do with an attachment to their existing vessel than a purely financial calculation. One was done at Streethay the other by Dave Roberts at Braunston (which was a steelwork only). Both report total satisfaction.

Why not give them a ring and see what they can offer?

I enquired about having my Peter Nicholls boat stretched 12ft with a revised bathroom, an extra bedroom and changes to the heating and electrical systems for which Peter was quoting I think £17K or so. But of course Peter isn't the cheapest and works to a quality level not a price.

[blackrose]

I am interested in learning more about boat stretching. The people who have had it done think it is wonderful. Does anyone know the approximate cost per foot and has anyone had any bad experiences from stretching their boat?

 

A couple I know had their old 55' Colecraft stretched recently by 15' at Bulls Bridge (GU junction with the Paddington arm).

It looks like a really good job and you wouldnt know unless someone told you it had been done. I think they paid £7k but that was just for the steelwork - they've done the lining etc themselves.

 

Unless you're planning to refit the galley or bathroom, the best place to stretch a boat is where you'd cause least disruption to plumbing, electrics and internal fit out. The other thing to think about is whether the engine will be powerful enough for the extra length.

Edited June 23, 2009 by blackrose

[Bones]

The power of the engine is an important point. The engine is a BMC 1.5, is there a max length or do other things need to be considered too?

[Chris Pink]

I am interested in learning more about boat stretching. The people who have had it done think it is wonderful. Does anyone know the approximate cost per foot and has anyone had any bad experiences from stretching their boat?

 

I think 'per foot' is a bit of a red herring as the fixed costs are, um, fixed and steel is cheaper than labour. My experience in the yard at Bradford is somewhere between £3,000 and £7,000 to do this so the wise bunny stretches as much as possible in one go.

 

It's a relatively easy operation (the steelwork) so as long as the existing structure is strong and straight there should be no unforeseen consequences as long as a quality welder is commissioned.

[alan_fincher]

The boat that moors immediately next to us has, apparently, been stretched twice.

 

I say this only because the owners told us - I could never spot it otherwise. It's been done really well.

 

On one of those stretches a new engine was deemed necessary, greatly inflating costs.

 

Once upon a time a BMC 1.5 was considered adequate for a 70 foot boat, though these days people seem to expect more, particularly if the river is regularly your thing.

 

What might you be considering stretching from and to, please ?

 

The other two things I can think of are....

 

1) Even if your engine can handle it, (by using a bit more revs), has the skin tank been sized sufficiently to dissipate the extra heat.

2) I think you are "windows" rather than "portholes" ? Can you match them if it means extra ones are required ? The anodising on ours has failed spectacularly - we can live with it, but a brand new one in the same style would stick out like a sore thumb..

 

Is this to get the extra buoyancy to get those front desck drain holes a bit higher above the canal ?

[Albion]

The power of the engine is an important point. The engine is a BMC 1.5, is there a max length or do other things need to be considered too?

 

One of the first questions that you need to consider is whether you'll be sticking to canals, doing light tidal work or heavy tidal work. If canals only then the 1.5 should be plenty. Probably OK for light tidal too but maybe inadequate for heavy tidal. Of course, there are other considerations before going tidal; is the engine cooling adequate for the additional revs and stress that you will place on the engine for example?

Roger

[Bones]

One of the first questions that you need to consider is whether you'll be sticking to canals, doing light tidal work or heavy tidal work. If canals only then the 1.5 should be plenty. Probably OK for light tidal too but maybe inadequate for heavy tidal. Of course, there are other considerations before going tidal; is the engine cooling adequate for the additional revs and stress that you will place on the engine for example?

Roger

 

 

Bones does not do tidal. Bones does do river (Thames) and canal but only non-tidal bits. The Keel cooling system has already been doubled up and the paper work is somewhere!

[Albion]

Bones does not do tidal. Bones does do river (Thames) and canal but only non-tidal bits. The Keel cooling system has already been doubled up and the paper work is somewhere!

 

Sounds to me that the 1.5 should be fine then, assuming you're not stretching to 140ft of course.

Roger

[MoominPapa]

Two of my friends have had their boats stretched recently and I think the decision to go this route over buying a different boat was more to do with an attachment to their existing vessel than a purely financial calculation. One was done at Streethay the other by Dave Roberts at Braunston (which was a steelwork only). Both report total satisfaction.

Why not give them a ring and see what they can offer?

Another thumbs up for Braunston. Our next-door-but-one neighbour just get back from having a stretch done there and is very happy. I assume it was done by Dave Roberts but I don't know. He reports on time and on budget and no hassle. I can't see the joins.

 

MP.

[casper ghost]

I am thinking of stretching mine, but i'd do it where the side doors are and then put extra side doors at the other joint, therefore no joins in the side. The other option i'm toying with is to cut across the front deck where it is straight and extend, putting a cabin under cloth, therefore no need to alter the cabin sides atall and again no joins.

[Batavia]

We had Daedalus stretched by 10' by Roger Farrington at Braunston about 8 years ago - and you can't see the joins. Whilst it is a relatively simple process, it does require care and a good eye to get things looking right. I have seen one stretched boat where you can't see the welds per se, but the whole boat had a definite kink.

 

With the benefit of hindsight, the stretching was the cheap bit - we ended up replacing the engine (it was previously a 1.4 litre engine, and the boat now weighs about 24 tonnes) and completely re-fitted about 20' of the interior - so define the scope of the project before you start!

 

Would we do it again? Yes, in that it avoided starting from scratch with a new hull. Friends who have had their boats stretched just to add an extra "room" have found the whole process much simpler (and cheaper) than we did.

 

Chris G

[blackrose]

I think you should all get your boats widened!

[alan_fincher]

I think you should all get your boats widened!

Nah,

 

I can guarantee to stay away from Phylis with current arrangements!

[Martin Kedian]

Another thumbs up for Braunston. Our next-door-but-one neighbour just get back from having a stretch done there and is very happy. I assume it was done by Dave Roberts but I don't know. He reports on time and on budget and no hassle. I can't see the joins.

 

MP.

 

 

The man at Braunston is Dave Thomas not Roberts