Tony Posted November 2, 2014 Share Posted November 2, 2014 Hello everyone and thank you all for allowing me into your world My name is Tony and I currently live in Maldon Essex. As time has gone by I have felt myself drawn towards my childhood, the days spent growing up in Rowhedge (on the river Colne) near Colchester Essex, those happy days living near a river and the trips out to sea on my Dads various nautical craft. I find myself in a position where I have an ex-wife, two near adult children and these days only myself to worry about, so it was with great interest that in 2014 I decided that because of living in a rented house I would never own or afford, I would start to look for a NEW HOME! So.... on the 17th of this month my NEW HOME will be making its way from Oxfordshire too Maldon where it will start Its new life on the River Crouch and provide me with what I hope will be a new fantastic adventure. My new chosen home is a Frank Wild design 34feet x 12feet Bermuda River craft. I love the internal space and cant wait to stamp my own mark on it when it arrives. I've got a few months to do any work that needs doing and will move on board in March 2015. If anyone has one of these craft I would be very interested in talking/meeting up to get an insight into life aboard. Looking forward to my new adventure, Tony x. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BroadScot Posted November 2, 2014 Share Posted November 2, 2014 Hi Tony, Welcome to the NBN forum. I hired many of that craft in the mid to late nineties. a roomy boat indeed, Iain. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted November 2, 2014 Author Share Posted November 2, 2014 Thanks Iain, cant wait to get aboard and start setting up. What was it like to Helm, I've heard pos and neg feedback about their handling?!? Tony. P.S. Off to work now :-( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ranworthbreeze Posted November 2, 2014 Share Posted November 2, 2014 Hello Tony, Welcome to the NBN forum from Tan & myself. Regards Alan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hockham Admiral Posted November 2, 2014 Share Posted November 2, 2014 Welcome Aboard the good ship NBN from us, Tony! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
riyadhcrew Posted November 2, 2014 Share Posted November 2, 2014 Tony, Welcome to the forum and hope all goes well with your new abode. Just don't be surprised if your 2 'almost adults' turn into kids again when you put it on the water. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BroadScot Posted November 2, 2014 Share Posted November 2, 2014 Hi again Tony, Like all bath tubs and FB Wilds 34' in particular, on very windy days keeping it straight is good fun Some were starboard steering so you could look straight through to the rear door when stern on mooring. The Perkins engine was not too noisey being at the stern of the boat. If ducted warm air with the timer at the rear door as you entered, heat to the saloon had to have a gas heater also to augment the heating. Saloon is roomy though and not too bad even with the pull down wall bed down. I have probably forgotten something, but have no fear, a member will be along to correct me. Iain Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted November 4, 2014 Author Share Posted November 4, 2014 Thank you one and all for your kind greetings. Once the boat has arrived I will post some photos on the forum in its new home. Tony X. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JawsOrca Posted November 4, 2014 Share Posted November 4, 2014 and welcome from me I liveaboard in Hoo, Medway.. Main points are; in the winter it's freezing! and in the summer its nice! Maldon is a lovely spot and I'm sure you will enjoy it.. it looks like you will be moving on just as the winter turns so you will have plenty of time to get ready for next winter! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted November 4, 2014 Author Share Posted November 4, 2014 Thanks Alan and yes I think you are right re the weather. My girlfriend lives on an old Dutch Barge and she has always spoken of the extreme cold in the winter and we have carried out loads of repairs this year to make the old girl warmer for her. Am I right in thinking that a GRP hull will be warmer than the steel type? Or is there not much in it overall?? Tony. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JawsOrca Posted November 4, 2014 Share Posted November 4, 2014 Tony.. It all depends on the insulation.. we have spray foamed the houseboat (which is a steel barge) with 2 inches of foam.. then 100mm loft insulation... then bubble wrapped..(roof and sides) and we have a stove which runs rads and I can get it to 35dc inside when there's a foot of snow on the roof! I've always found plastic boats are colder although they generally have larger windows so heat is lost through them and are never insulated.. Timber boats are better insulators although I couldn't live on a timber boat .. Take a look at my project boat () we have used celotext and foam backed linings to attempt to give a bit of insulation although it will still be nippy.. you will get used to it though and learn to keep a fleece beside you at all times Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timbo Posted November 4, 2014 Share Posted November 4, 2014 Hi Tony and welcome from me too. Out of the three types of construction materials...Fibreglass freezing, metal cold, wood cozy! Even when it's been freezing outside I've found our wooden boat (no heating fitted at present) has been warm & comfortable...I admit I did have three hot water bottles...one rubber one and two beagles. I'm sure you must have seen the plaque present on most wooden boats that reads "If God had intended boats to be made from fibreglass he would have made fibreglass trees"? Joking aside the last fibreglass boat we hired in winter was as warm as toast in the rear cabin, which differed from the other cabins on the boat by having insulation behind plywood panels. Hope you enjoy your new adventure and look forward to hearing about it! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted November 10, 2014 Author Share Posted November 10, 2014 ;)Hello Guys/Girls and thanks again for the feedback. To be honest this is all new to me and any advice, good or bad will be of some help at some time or other I'm sure. After the boat arrives on the 17 Nov I will have until the end of march to get it ready for living on etc. This will include some serious insulation, a decent sound system a VHF radio and the fitting of a 240volt emersion heater in my calorifier as the engine wont be run on a daily basis and I will need hot water for showers and washing up etc. I chose fibreglass as its fairly trouble free and requires less maintenance than say steel or wood hulls. I guess I will soon find out if this theory works out for or not Thanks again, Tony. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maxwellian Posted November 11, 2014 Share Posted November 11, 2014 Welcome and good luck with the work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JawsOrca Posted November 11, 2014 Share Posted November 11, 2014 Hi Tony, You may need to get a gas water heater like a Morco to heat your water.. I don't think (I'm probably wrong) that a immersion heater is enough to heat water.. I think they are just intended to keep water warm after warmed by something else.. (http://www.morcoproducts.co.uk/stock-5/Water_Heaters.html) If you can get away with it they do similar 240v water heaters although depends on your shore power connection.. (we aren't allowed here to heat with electric here we must use gas).. Oh actually I'm not sure on the BSC on morcos though as it's all open to elements so you may need to check that first... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hockham Admiral Posted November 11, 2014 Share Posted November 11, 2014 Alan, Hi Sorry to contradict you but the electrical element in our calorifier does do just that... heat all the water within to whatever you set the thermostat at (in ours 60degs). Tony Hi Good luck with all your winter work! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JawsOrca Posted November 11, 2014 Share Posted November 11, 2014 No Worries John.. Happily stand corrected.. I'm a long way off mechanically minded Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ranworthbreeze Posted November 11, 2014 Share Posted November 11, 2014 ;)Hello Guys/Girls and thanks again for the feedback. To be honest this is all new to me and any advice, good or bad will be of some help at some time or other I'm sure. After the boat arrives on the 17 Nov I will have until the end of march to get it ready for living on etc.This will include some serious insulation, a decent sound system a VHF radio and the fitting of a 240volt emersion heater in my calorifier as the engine wont be run on a daily basis and I will need hot water for showers and washing up etc. I chose fibreglass as its fairly trouble free and requires less maintenance than say steel or wood hulls.I guess I will soon find out if this theory works out for or not Thanks again, Tony. Hi Tony,The immersion heater is fine, to save on costs set the stat to between 55 & 60 degrees centigrade, be warned however not to set below 50 degrees because there could be a chance of a legionella infection. I would personaly set the temprature at 55 degrees to help not getting burned in the shower.RegardsAlan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SweetKingfisher1 Posted November 11, 2014 Share Posted November 11, 2014 Tony I can't give you any advise, but I can welcome you to NBN. Maldon is a lovely place we got a trip on a Thames Barge as a present and sailed on the Blackwater, great time . There is also a great pub there . Regards Marina Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BroadScot Posted November 11, 2014 Share Posted November 11, 2014 Hi Tony, I agree with Alan regarding the temp of 55c also with those stats not always being exact I would say 55c minimum. Iain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted November 11, 2014 Author Share Posted November 11, 2014 Well thanks again one and all. Im so glad that there are people out there to help this nautical novice, lol. I will probably stick with the emersion heater idea for when im on the mooring and rely on the engine water heater when im cruising as im told that they will provide a tank of hot water for showers etc if used daily! QUESTION FOR YOU..........??????? Im thinking of changing the calorifior as its probably the original one that was fitted in the 70's. Does anyone have an idea of a sensible size tank to replace it with as im sure I wont need the large one that was originally fitted when built? There will be only me on the boat most of the time with an occasional guest as and when etc etc. How many litres capacity do you think guys/girls? , Tony. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexandlorna Posted March 26, 2015 Share Posted March 26, 2015 Tony You should think about getting a hydronic type heating sytem It will heat your water and rads or matrixes and is much more controllable than hot air it can also be used to warm the engine coolant on a frost stat if temp drops Alex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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