boatenigma

Boats first day out

Hi boaters, curiously enough I havent got any pictures of Enigma in the water with the cab down I am always driving it and no one has sent me a picture! Controls wise its throttle and gears are Morse electronic with small servo motors engaging the controls at the engine end and the steering is via an electronic tiller (not joy stick, tried that horrible). The boat doors are also remote power operated for low bridges with an eletric hatch above the stairs in case its raining. Got a funny picture of the boat going down the road though ill see if I can post that.

I know this is an old thread but since you are discussing my boat I feel I ought to have my say! Enigma was built from scratch by myself and friends and is a 45ft 22 tonne V bottom category B steel barge. The wheelhouse can swing right right down to the water giving 2.1m airdraft and takes approx 1 minute full travel. Its unconventional appearance is constrained to a very large degree by its functionality eg flat sides on wheelhouse necessitated by lift arms, paralell motion linkage and sliding windows for visibility up the side of the boat when the cab is low and also a relatively flat front to tuck in behind the hull when wheelhouse is low. But on the upside it has a lot of space under the cab giving a 24ft long kitchen-saloon a great view from the wheelhouse and offers more fun than most boats going under low bridges...... especially good in the pouring rain! Hoping to be on the broads spring 2012 and look forward to seeing you all.