Battening and Pannelling

[Gnasher]

I’m about to embark on a new adventure refitting a Spits Barge. Much of the specialists work will be carried out by professionals but I’m loooking to get involved as much as I can and I’m eager to learn as many skills as I can on the journey. Mistakes will be made and that’s all part of the process. I’ve yet to hire my work force but I’m trying to learn about the options available to me for battening out and pannelling onto the steel after I’ve spray foamed the insulation. Google has not been my friend so far. Can anyone direct me to a good book , blog , thread that covers this subject in depth ? 

 

 

 

 

[Boater Sam]

Battening AFTER spray foaming? Really? What are you going to fasten them to?

 

Waterways World published some good books on fitting out canal boats.

[LadyG]

There is beauty on AD https://barges.apolloduck.co.uk/boat.phtml?id=579601

 

[Joe Bourke]

Whereabouts are you based gnasher?

[koukouvagia]

The battening has to be done before the boat is insulated.  I had tags welded to the sides so that the battens could be screwed to these.   I used slab insulation rather than spray foam.  However, you need a secure framework for fixing the panels (or tongue and groove) whichever method of insulation you choose.

 

 

[Boaty Jo]

and cover the battens with parcel tape before you spray foam.

[Chewbacka]

I suggest a min thickness is agreed before the spay foam is applied, thicker foam uses more material and time so some sprayers will be looking to go thin.  I ensured ours was just about flush with the battens in most areas and it makes a big difference in summer as the boat is not much warmer than the outside air.  But I needed a big sharp bread knife to trim back the foam in a lot a thick spots.  

[cuthound]

Also check the thickness after the sprayfoam has been applied, to ensure it is even.

 

A nail driven through a flat piece of wood, so that it protrudes exactly the specificstion depth is handy for this.

 

Don't forget to fill the test holes with an aerosol of sprayfoam.