Planning
In some ways this bit can be the most fun! - you can spend hours trying to achieve that unique layout without being so wacky that a). its not practical and b). if you ever come to sell, you'll wait a long time before you find someone with the same tastes you have.
So, the big question - how long should your narrowboat be - well someone pointed out on another website, (my apologies, I forget where), that the narrowboat length is pretty immaterial. The big question is how much cabin space do you need - after that just decide how long a foredeck and stern you want and add it up!
Well this isn't such a bad idea! - So what do we want the boat for? -
So lets add this up - Hmm I reckon an 82 ft cabin should be sufficient - no - oh well lets start with a nominal 30ft cabin with 7ft 6inch foredeck & stern - ie a 45 footer - a convenient go anywhere size (we had hired this length before and found it good for two people)
This is where Bev the interior designer stepped in and just about managed to squeeze what we wanted into a 31ft cabin - that's ok we'll just shave 6 inches off the front and rear. Fine - we're all sorted then! - Errm I know we said we wouldn't have a side hatch but it would be nice to feed the ducks - as Bev mutters some strange incantation to herself, I feel my ears burning - any way mark II has a 33ft cabin - now I know I said we could shave bits of the front and back but I think a 6ft foredeck might look a trifle short - Oh hang the expense - its got to look in proportion - we'll stretch it to 48ft. (We went to 50ft at first but just ended up with a longer lounge - wasted space really)
So what does this look like:
Well something like this - from the stern (cruiser style) we have a wet locker with electric panel above and wardrobe behind (this will pull out above the bed for access). Then a double berth before the bathroom. We had a Thetford cassette for convenience (pardon the pun) as by keeping a spare cassette we hope never to be caught short (happened on a hire boat with a pump out after 3 days just after 5pm - crossed legs until 10 the next morning). We originally were going to have a shower tray but discussion with various owners convinced us that a bath was more enjoyable.
To break up the corridor down the one side feel, we fancied a crossover galley - it will no doubt give me some problems with plumbing etc but we think its worth it as it will give a more balanced feel.
An L shaped seating area with the ubiquitous Desmo legged table finishes us off in the lounge. The base of the seating will pull out to make a second double berth, which with this layout means all parties can get to the loo and the galley in the night without disturbing each other.
Storage
Well we have the rear wardrobe, 4 drawers beneath the bed, kitchen storage, storage beneath the seating and a large space beneath the foredeck. No doubt we could do with more, but we'll survive!
Heating
A solid fuel stove in the lounge and a diesel fired heating system in the engine compartment (Eberspacher, Mikuni etc) should take care of this and the hot water via a calorifier
Electric
12V lighting with 600VA inverter/charger for the fridge, secondary 1500W inverter for microwave, tv/video. Supplemented with 240V landline capability. Two inverters are not greedy - the 600VA is special low standby inverter with hi surge capability for fridge use as it will run continuously when not on the landline. The second is for 'on demand' use only.
Gas
Twin bottles for Valor GG7000 oven and gas hob.
Update!
All of a sudden we had a play with a crossover bed idea (we were thinking that 4ft width is a bit skinny - not that we're fat you realise - just both 6ft or more and 'big boned' !) so the fixed berth will now probably look like this:
Bev - is very fond of this new layout as we've managed to fit a small dressing table in the bedroom and two bedside tables. We do of course now have to fold the foot of the bed away in the day time but there is now room to have storage cupboards above the bed. Having the crossover bed, we have chosen to remove the window that is above the bedhead. At the end of the day we don't need two windows into what is a sleeping area. The corridor side window will be increased to 36" x 21" to help compensate.
No doubt things will change before we fit TCW out - but we are pretty happy with the general layout now. - Now heating - there's a question - we are still deciding between Eberspacher, cold furnace stoves and Alde - the layout can accommodate any of them at the moment. Watch this space!
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