Last night we decided that we should go to Jonathan Wilson’s yard to have another look at a Trad bow. We can get to Sheffield by train easily at the moment, so a phone call to make sure a suitable boat would be at the yard for us to look at was made. The answer was, “Yes, I’ve got everything here”. So we plan on heading there on Monday to compare boats again, this time with our heads and not our hearts! We will go along with one of our Brompton bikes to check that it will fit in a bow  thruster locker without too much adaptation.

With a couple of questions for Ken answered I was ready to start again with the layout.

Our latest version of drawings started in June last year seem to have gone AWOL, nowhere to be seen! But with NB Oleanna version H plans in the boat box I had enough information to start again. Being able to look at it a fresh was good.

Since version H quite a bit has changed, no longer a cruiser stern is the main difference. I decided to start with the dimensions of a 58ft 6inch Trad bowed semi trad. Taking away 9ft for the bow, 7ft 6inches for the stern deck I already had more space than version H had had!

Working from the bow I traced in the bedroom (10ft), leaving which side the bed would fold out until other areas were sorted. This was so that the washing machine can be on the right side for pipe runs. After marking out the basic dimensions of each area I set too to try and work out the galley.

With the calorifier being in the engine bay, that frees up a lot of space in the cupboards at the back bulkhead. Our current boat NB Lillyanne has things that we really like in the galley, others that are plain daft. But the general layout works for us. There is a cupboard by the back steps that currently houses a bike, folding chairs and our wheelie shopper. These all will have other homes so the equivalent spot could be used for maybe a dishwasher. Sketches and head scratching went on for quite a while until a layout seemed to work.

Version on version, sketches and notes.

The space taken is the same as on Lillyanne, 10ft. The only thing I didn’t manage to fit in was a freezer. We only need a small one and would happily have a counter top one with a 30 litre capacity, but there is no counter top spare. So Mick spent some time trying to find one that could live in the base of the dinette. Somehow, some way I managed to have enough space to fit a full width cooker! The best thing in Lillyanne’s galley is the draws that we use to store food. These are the same height as a large bag of flour and can store an incredible amount if kept tidy. In Oleanna’s layout these are wider, which may end up being too heavy and therefore be better being halved making four draws. On Lillian there is a narrow larder unit that pulls out, it has two baskets and is quite a waste of space, but with a similar space left on Oleanna a better version wasting less space might be achieved.

The galley is an L shape, the last unit that crosses to the centre will be on runners so that you can pull it out to get at the corner cupboard with ease and then lock it back in place when finished with, a very good idea from Ken and Julia.

Next comes the L shaped dinette, this needed an area for me to store my drawing board, drawing equipment and model making bits and bobs. These are all currently stored under the dinette seating, earlier versions of Oleanna had the drawing board stored under the floor of a raised dinette. But getting it out would put me off doing work, it needs to be in an easily accessible place but not in view. So a 6 inch slot between the dinette and galley should do this and give some space to store model materials too. Under the dinette there will be the usual storage, mainly for spare bedding and work things.

Now came the hard bit, the saloon. There is enough space for a three seater sofa, so therefore a single bed. This however would give us seating in a straight line as we had on our shareboat NB Winding Down. Fine when it’s just the two of us. Our current configuration is with a 4 ft sofa with it’s back to a bulk head which makes for a more sociable space. But the positioning of a stove is also hard. Regulations now dictate the size of hearth around a stove, how far away they have to be from the sides of the boat and a double skinned flue.

With three versions of the bathroom and saloon drawn up for discussion, we have narrowed it down to two. More work needs to be done to see just how the stove will impact on the saloon before we can make a final decision.

Mick has been collecting information on white goods, bow thrusters, engines and travel power, measuring things and checking on dimensions on the internet as I’ve needed them all day.

An intensive day of work really, at least I can still read a scale rule after not doing so for work for a year. I’m hoping that this weekend we’ll be able to choose which layout to go for and then do some elevations to show Ken and Julia. On the main I’ve managed to keep the plumbing to one side and keep the toilet out of view. Then if there is time I won’t be able to help myself but to make a model.

Old and new plans

Ken and Julia came to visit us on NB Lillyanne today to get the ball rolling on the layout for NB Oleanna.

They had with them some basic sketch plans and some hand drawn visuals of parts of the interior for us to look at and discuss. It is quite a while since we met with them in Sheffield which meant that we needed to retrace our steps a bit.

We worked our way from the stern to the bow talking about layout. With still quite a few decisions to be made we couldn’t pin the layout down totally today.

The main decision would be on the bow of Oleanna. When we had gone to Sheffield for the open day we had seen both Traditional bows and Josher bows. The trad bow is a lovely shape, but the Josher is beautiful. But beauty costs, an extra £4,000 and another foot of boat length at least. Trad bows are 9 ft long, Joshers at least 10 ft but better if 12 ft. At Meeting 1 we had decided to go for a Josher, adding 6 inches to Oleannas length which would help inside but not hinder us in short Yorkshire locks.

Having lived on board NB Lillyanne now for 18 months we know how we live on a boat and how much space certain areas need. The galley is important and living on board full time requires for me a fully equipped kitchen. We eat out once every so often, but I enjoy cooking, so space for ingredients (including winter emergency stocks) is needed. So the plan of the galley needed re jigging. Ken had given us a bulk head and door between galley and dinette, this wouldn’t suit us. When people are visiting it’s nice to be able to chat to them as you cook or make drinks. Being able to see down along the boat also helps keep the boat open and appear more spacious. So an extra full height cupboard was discussed to be added to the back of the galley by the electrics cupboard. On Lilllyanne we have a small cupboard at the end of our galley high up above a worktop, but I find it impossible to reach the top shelf of this, so a cupboard that you can stand in front of  would be better.

White goods were discussed. A double oven (although there are not many LPG options available), 4 ring hob, a +++A rated fridge, a dishwasher. Originally we had looked at draw dishwashers, as we have one at home, these have a smaller capacity to the slimline ones, but are wider, however the space below one could be utilised elsewhere. But the difference in price between the two is quite large, saving a few pennies here and there may add up to a reasonable saving or money towards something else.

On our first visit to Sheffield we had changed our mind from a Pullman dinette to an L shaped one. When I have work to do I need quite a bit of space and being able to stand as I model make means that an L shape would work best. It also opens up the space more. Somehow Ken must still have had our original spec where a pullman was mentioned. Both options take up a very similar amount of space so this had no effect on the general layout.

Saloon, well that is where everything gets squashed somewhat. We want somewhere to sit and relax, a stove, hopefully that I can cook on, possibly a back boiler, and some shelving for books. At Oleanna’s current length this area is very tight, a sofa bed an impossibility. So various options were talked over. A more comfortable dinette where we could sit to watch TV, chairs, a sofa with out a bed. The most people we have had to stay has been three, my nephew being one of them, he could sleep on a blow up mattress or the floor. Having a sofa where one person could layout lengthways might be possible, so more thought there.

Bathroom. We have made the decision to have a composting toilet. Various reasons, not having to empty a cassette every couple of days is one, the other £15 a time to empty a tank and the timer might run out on you all adds up. The idyll of your waste composting and you being able to dispose of it in nature doesn’t quite work on a boat, but visiting an elsan every six weeks for free is attractive. This means that as long as the toilet can be vented it can go anywhere and isn’t reliant on water or holding tanks. Shower, towel rail, and a sink just need positioning so the toilet can’t be seen whilst eating tea at the dinette.

Having a cross bed gives us back 18 inches that an in line bed would eat up. The best solution for the layout is still our original from about three years ago. Many things have changed with Oleanna since then, but not this. I had made a 1:25 scale model so was able to show Ken and Julia our solution.

Adding the areas up we were still extreamly tight. A compromise on either the interior or bow is needed.

Then discussions on a Travel Power  were had. Mick is of the opinion that Travel Power is the way to go when you have a washing machine on board (in the bedroom). Ken talked through the different options for power, a generator, working off the 3KW invertor as Travel Power is nearly as expensive as an engine.

Then the numpty/girlie button discussion was had. Ken is of the opinion that electric bow thrusters are not worth the money, they run out of power quickly and charging the battery is problematical. Hydraulic is the best but costly and do we need it anyway. However having said that he is of the opinion that having a boat built you should have a bow thruster tube installed for future. We wouldn’t use it often as some do, but in emergencies it would be good to have.

Julia gave me some websites to look at regarding finishes for the galley, bathroom and furnishings and a link to some radiators for us to look at.

We have quite a lot of homework to be getting on with. The drawing equipment will be out and new versions drawn up over the weekend until we are happy with what we have, hoping that we haven’t done anything foolish with the plumbing. The hope is that we can finalise the layout in the next two weeks, at that point CAD drawings will be done and then Jonathan will slot the hull into his build schedule. We have mentioned that we would like to be in Sheffield for the base plate being laid. I have a feeling there will be “The” photo of us standing on it before work is commenced.

Time is passing quickly, It’s nearly two months since the broad terms of our contract with Tyler Wilson were agreed. Since then due to various things not much progress has been made. Canal time has taken hold, but with the new year we hope to stop the flow passing us by.

Glass worktops and splash backs.

With a meeting planned next week to progress the layout and design more we headed to Nottingham to refresh our minds on some finishes that we had seen. Castle Meadow retail park provided us with various manufacturers of kitchens. Looking round the show rooms gives you an idea mainly of what you don’t want. New fashions seem not to be to our taste much.

Pale granite

Five years ago we had lots of work done on our house, giving us a very nice big kitchen. Light coloured granite worktops with dark red gloss cupboards and draws is what we went for there. The paler granites are nice, but glass worktops are also very attractive. My brother has recently used a company for very affordable glass splash backs, sadly they don’t do a thicker worktop.

Small dishwasher on sale

Looking round John Lewis we came across several dishwashers, washing machines that they do. A draw dishwasher was on sale with £80 off, it was a shame that we haven’t finalised the layout yet!

30 L the right size

Sadly no cookers matched our spec and there were no +++A fridges or freezers for us to look at. There was however a table top freezer with 30L capasity. This should be all that we’d need, just a shame it wasn’t +++A. How many times do I see deals on food that we can’t take up due to no freezer. Having a larger store of food would mean shopping less and we’d be able to cruise longer should we choose.

Bathroom a similar feel to this

At the moment our feeling for the bathroom is that what units we have may be a grey blue colour with the shower staying white. Flooring will be an Amtico maybe with a bit of movement in it.

We are looking forward to getting the ball rolling. Ken and Julia are coming to visit us on board NB Lillyanne. This will be good as we can show them the things that we really like about her, like the lockable control panel and it’s position, so you can see all the dials whilst cruising rather than having to bend over to see them. Things like this that we never thought would make a difference would be missed.

The canal in Nottingham

Today we have headed from Marple on the train to Jonathan Wilson’s boatyard in Sheffield.
This was to be a meeting with Ken and Julia Warriner who are acting as consultants on the boat builds. Ken and Julia founded Fernwood Boats and built 90 bespoke boats until they sold the business a few years ago.

Julia was very welcoming, introduced us to Tracy who deals with all the paper work. They confirmed that they had received our deposit. We’ll get a receipt once the hulls identification number is set, this will appear on all paperwork throughout the build and importantly on the hull. Ken was quite busy in the yard, but was around for questions should they arise, as was Jonathan.

Today’s first meeting was to run through the general layout of the boat and style of hull. Regarding the hull we had already discounted various types of boat. A 58 ft semi trad is what we are after. On Sunday we had seen two Josher bows and 2 Trad bows. The Josher has more curves to it, giving the bow a rather lovely shape that we like, it also is meant to handle better in the water. However it costs more than the Trad. Julia had to check how much space would be needed for the engine we want, which would dictate the semi trad stern length. Also the Josher bow takes up that bit more space than the Trad bow, 2 foot more! This is to keep the lines and curves true. Jonathan came through to explain from a craftmans point of view and suggested we could add 6 inches to the length of Oleanna to help.

We have managed the two shortest locks on the network in NB Lillyanne, she is 59 ft 6 in with her fenders lifted, doing the Salter Hebble locks last year was a squeeze and the top two we had to do backwards with half an inch spare! We don’t want to avoid these locks, so an extra 2ft is not an option, but we can manage an extra 6 inches.

Then we started running through the basic layout of the boat with Julia. Before buying Lillyanne we had always liked the idea of reverse layout, but had only spent two nights on a hire boat with galley at the back. Now after a year living with reverse layout on Lillyanne we wouldn’t have it any other way. We like being sociable out on the back, making a cuppa whilst cruising is easier with no chance of spillage on bedding, but the main reason is you can keep an eye on your cruising sausage rolls in the oven better!

We worked our way from stern to bow gradually, getting distracted by windows or side hatches occasionally. A few weeks ago I had started to revamp the layout of our original ideas for Oleanna from a few years ago. I had intended to get them out again, but then I had my accident involving my little finger, rope and a big river lock. Currently I am having to do virtually everything with my lefthand. Technical drawings and wronghandedness do not go together. But at least we had a starting point and list of what we’d like/need.

Going bespoke we can (if we can afford it) add a better oven, hopefully a double oven, A dishwasher, fridge and small freezer. Food storage works well for us in draws, rather than cupboards. Fernwood had a good solution to access corner cupboards for storing occasionally used things which doesn’t involve carousels (so much wasted space!). L shaped dinette with storage for a drawing board for my work behind it. We discussed different types of table to have here and that we would require it to make into a bed for guests.

The saloon would have a sofa bed, multi fuel stove, and storage for books. Bathroom a walk through with quadrant shower, composting toilet, and sink. Bedroom, 5ft cross bed, obvious storage for cloths and a few taller bits. We also want to put the washing machine here. you take your dirty clothes off here and store them clean here, so why not have your washer here too.

When we moved on board just over a year ago we brought my cat Houdini. Sadly she isn’t with us now, but the time is coming close to having another furry friend, so certain things need considering for them too.

12 volt white goods for boats are expensive compared to 240 volt. Ken is keen for us to consider buying from the high street saving money, this would mean having to leave the inverter on 24/7 for the fridge and freezer, which Mick is not so keen on. He has been given an inverter to research before we make or minds up.

In the end we added up what space I had allocated for each area, we were 18 inches too long, which is the amount Jonathan has taken for the Josher bow. So we have a long list of things to think about, look at, research. Julia will also do the same and start on some CAD drawings of layout. Decisions you make in one area have knock on effects to other areas. but we are starting with what we’d like, we know that not everything is possible to shoehorn into the space we will have if we want to be in there too! But there may be solutions we can’t think off.

Deposit paid.