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Post by bromleyxphil on Nov 7, 2016 9:17:22 GMT
Hi Folks, My name is Phil and I'm a retired teacher who has just managed to persuade his wife that we should have a narrowboat. I'm in the very early stages of planning buy and then to fit out a 57 foot sailaway. I have always been a builder and frustrated engineer and having built houses, extensions, Motorhomes "this is the latest one www.ourworldtraveller.com"the project itself doesn't frighten me. I am about to embark on the research and intend getting onto as many boats and talking to as many boaters as possible. We we went out looking at boats on Friday and the feedback from Lynn "the wife" was very positive. I have got to admit that I have very different ideas on style, layout and construction from the traditional narrow boats on the market, so expect some off the wall questions. I don't want to insult anyone but the current designs seem like a mash up between country cottage and 1980s caravan with a bit of working boat thrown in. I am much more "mies van der rohe" than "frank lloyd wright"........hope that hasn't lit the blue touch paper. Phil
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Post by Stumpy on Nov 7, 2016 9:23:39 GMT
and welcome to Thunderboat.
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Post by Albion on Nov 7, 2016 9:26:49 GMT
Welcome Phil. I have no exact idea what you are planning for style of course but would counsel that you should think ahead and, unless you're going to keep the boat for a very long time until it has lost a lot of its value, that you will want to sell at some point in the future. There have been many quirky design narrowboats that just don't seem to sell when placed on the market because they are too off-the-wall to appeal to another buyer. If it is too quirky you might restrict your market greatly. If, having taken that possibility into consideration, you decide to continue with quirky then that is your perogative but it might be something to consider. Roger
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Post by Deleted on Nov 7, 2016 9:27:28 GMT
Welcome to the forum Phil, and good luck with the boat. May you and your wife have many great years fitting it out and boating too!
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Post by cuthound on Nov 7, 2016 9:35:22 GMT
Welcome to both Thunderboat and, when you get the boat of your dreams, the wonderful world of boating.
Don't forget the only stupid question is the one you fail to ask π
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Post by Deleted on Nov 7, 2016 9:41:35 GMT
Welcome.
Rog
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Post by JohnV on Nov 7, 2016 9:43:00 GMT
Welcome to the Thunderboat Phil !!!
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Post by bromleyxphil on Nov 7, 2016 9:51:25 GMT
I did light the blue touch paper......in a good way, 5 welcomes in less than half an hour. Point taken Roger and I may have to moderate my ideas but I also have to be happy living in it. The idea is to live in the boat between long trips in my truck. Renting out the house on the off chance I don't die before I give up the love of travel.
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Post by Telemachus on Nov 7, 2016 10:07:16 GMT
Welcome. And just to add to Albion's cautionary note, its worth pointing out that if you have little experience of narrowboats then the chances of you "re-inventing the wheel" successfully, seems fairly slim. Narrowboats have evolved the way they have done as a result of years (centuries) of development to suit the slightly quirky nature of the waterways. Of course if you are buying a "normal" sail away and just want to make the interior distinctively yours, then fine. But I would caution against an "offf the wall" shape or design for the exterior. Anyway if you wish to run your ideas past this forum I'm sure you will be advised against anything that clearly won't work!
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Post by Saltysplash on Nov 7, 2016 10:13:58 GMT
Helloooo and welcome to Thunderboat, We insist on Pics of any build or potential purchases so we can pontificate over your crazy ideas.
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Post by tonyqj on Nov 7, 2016 10:24:17 GMT
Welcome. And just to add to Albion's cautionary note, its worth pointing out that if you have little experience of narrowboats then the chances of you "re-inventing the wheel" successfully, seems fairly slim. Narrowboats have evolved the way they have done as a result of years (centuries) of development to suit the slightly quirky nature of the waterways. Of course if you are buying a "normal" sail away and just want to make the interior distinctively yours, then fine. But I would caution against an "offf the wall" shape or design for the exterior. Anyway if you wish to run your ideas past this forum I'm sure you will be advised against anything that clearly won't work! This is almost to the word what I was going to write. So now I shan't bother
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Post by peterboat on Nov 7, 2016 10:37:40 GMT
Its your boat do what you wish with it, ask questions you will gets lots of different answers not all wrong! but enjoy it because it is so much fun to live on a boat. And welcome to the madhouse dont get lost
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Post by bromleyxphil on Nov 7, 2016 11:07:04 GMT
Welcome. And just to add to Albion's cautionary note, its worth pointing out that if you have little experience of narrowboats then the chances of you "re-inventing the wheel" successfully, seems fairly slim. Narrowboats have evolved the way they have done as a result of years (centuries) of development to suit the slightly quirky nature of the waterways. Of course if you are buying a "normal" sail away and just want to make the interior distinctively yours, then fine. But I would caution against an "offf the wall" shape or design for the exterior. Anyway if you wish to run your ideas past this forum I'm sure you will be advised against anything that clearly won't work! Thanks for all of the comments From where I am at the moment I intend the outside to look just like all of the other boats with the exception of perhaps the Windows it's the inside I want more German kitchen. Why do you not put slimline section domestic windows into a narrowboat? Perhaps I should ask that in a different section of the forum?
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Post by Mr Stabby on Nov 7, 2016 11:13:52 GMT
Hi Phil, welcome along, as has been said it's your boat so you can do what you want with it! As for why boats don't have domestic windows, well some do but they never quite seem to look right to me anyway.
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Post by tonyqj on Nov 7, 2016 11:24:02 GMT
I've seen some domestic windows on boats, but the choice of finish always looks wrong. Faux wood grain? Where else on the boat do you have that? White plastic? Where else on the boat do you have that? If you could get sensibly priced domestic windows in aluminium then I guess that could work quite well.
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