New Project

[Dell Keay]

Hi all.

Am new to this site and just want to spread the word that a new restoration project is on the block, well almost anyway.

I'm going into this blind so will be greatfull for any constructive comments except don't do it, enjoy your life, your young, etc, etc.

Dell.

[Admin (Chris)]

Hi,

Well good luck with your new project, whatever it is.  As soon as you post some more details and questions for us, I'm sure you will get plenty of help and advice.

Don't keep us all in suspense......... What ya dooin'? 

[Mike]

Yes, come on Dell, you can't tease us like that...give us more detail!!

Mike

[Dell Keay]

I'm going deep, but I mean DEEP, so deep you could drown.

Ps. I need to find a book to help.

[Admin (Chris)]

Bloody Hell!? Deep?? He's building a Submarine!!!?

[Dell Keay]

Ok I give in.

I've come across a boat that has seen better days. I have ?'s to put her back to her Sunday best, but need to find some read material on how to go about this.

P.s. I'm also worried that somebody else mind find/buy her before I find all the answers to my questions.

[Mike]

What sort of boat is she? What size? What did you want to use her for, liveaboard, or recreation? What sort of condition is she in? Is any of the restoration structural or is it just cosmetic?

I am sure we can help.

Thanks
Mike

[Dell Keay]

Hi Mike and everybody else.

She's an old dutch barge, constructed about 1890, made from riveted iron. She's liveable at the moment but the exterior is in a bad way. I want to use her as a liveraboard. Have received a quote from a local boat company to overplate the hull, which I'll leave them to do, but need to get some info on what I can put right in the mean time.

Now here's a question I can't seem to find an answer to. Can you increase the headroom on a boat?

Thanks.

Bye for now

[Admin (Chris)]

Now here's a question I can't seem to find an answer to. Can you increase the headroom on a boat?

Yes you can.? There are two ways (1) Lower the floor bearers, this keeps the proportions of the external view the same, but due to the hull shape usually reduces the floor area a bit.? But make sure you still have enough bilge depth to accommodate all the kit that lives down there.

(2) remove the roof (plasma cut) just below the?"D" bar and raise the cabin sides, then weld the roof back. This leaves you with the same floor area, but changes the external appearance. Also increases your air draught which might limit your cruising.

[Dell Keay]

Thanks Chris.

I'm finding 6'5" is limiting my choice of boats/barges to almost zero.

Regards

Dell.

[Admin (Chris)]

I'm finding 6'5" is limiting my choice of boats/barges to almost zero.

6' 5" is that your height or your maximum air draught?? Cos if you are 6' 5" short of a cross channel ferry, I don't know of a small craft with that much head room.? Having said that the headroom on my barge Iron Dutchess is 6' 7" at the centre and 6' 3" at the sides, but she's a new build especially for leisure/live aboard use.

[Dell Keay]

Well pointed out.

I should of put, being 6'5" in height is limiting my options of choice.

[Admin (Chris)]

Thinking about it, there is nothing to stop you dividing the headroom increase between both floor bearers and cabin roof, that way you minimise the adverse effects of doing one or the other.

What is the headroom on the barge at the moment?

[Mike]

I would go for the lowering the floor...it's something you could "quite easily" do yourself. I think the main point of concern there, as Chris said,  would be to make sure that you have room for the all the stuff down there....including any ballast.

Thanks
Mike

[Dell Keay]

Hi Chris.

The headroom at the moment is 6'0". I was looking at a narrowboat before hand which had headroom of 6'4", and I thought, it's only a inch, I'll just have to wear me high heels outside. But there's something about this old barge.

Hi Mike.

I'm afraid to say you've lost me. Lower the floor? Ballast?

I appreciate all your help you two, stick a beer each on my account.

I must find a book on Rivetted Old Dutch Barges.