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Post by Deleted on May 22, 2020 14:39:53 GMT
This is I think is the literal definition of a solution for a problem that doesn't exist, but I remember when I hired a 35 footer, the boat would tip noticeably when her indoors and myself were both in the bed. This effect become more pronounced as gravity got involved and gradually we shifted to the lower side, thus increasing the tipping effect. I didnt notice any of this when I slept alone, but it was a bit of a pain with two aboard. And I wondered as well- in windy weather- could the boat's motion spoil one's slumber slightly? Now I can see that a crossways/transverse mounted bed would probably stop that, but I couldn't help wondering if there might be another possible option. Its a long shot- even I can see that, but does anyone use a hammock or suspended bed of some sort? I first got the idea when I saw this: And a bit of subsequent googling revealed this: www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/482377810058438963/I do love a good solution to a non-existent problem, and I think I'm onto one here
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Post by naughtyfox on May 22, 2020 14:45:36 GMT
I think a hammock would be bad for one's back, being bent all night.
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Post by Deleted on May 22, 2020 14:49:01 GMT
I'm sure quaysider and Telemachus would disagree with that. On the subject of stability I wonder if anyone has ever fitted automatic self levelling stabilisers into a canal boat. It seems improbable.
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Post by Deleted on May 22, 2020 14:56:45 GMT
I think a hammock would be bad for one's back, being bent all night. Aha- I've though of that- although it does make me wonder how we ever won all those 19th century naval battles with the sailors all doubled over in agony and with knackered backs. I must confess the bears were added more for my own amusement than information. Most people are familiar with the concept of a hammock, but no harm in adding a bit of gratuitous animal antics. But my idea is more of a hanging bed than a hammock- so the bed base would be straight and firm.
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Post by Deleted on May 22, 2020 15:02:18 GMT
I think a hammock would be bad for one's back, being bent all night. Aha- I've though of that- although it does make me wonder how we ever won all those 19th century naval battles with the sailors all doubled over in agony and with knackered backs. I must confess the bears were added more for my own amusement than information. Most people are familiar with the concept of a hammock, but no harm in adding a bit of gratuitous animal antics. But my idea is more of a hanging bed than a hammock- so the bed base would be straight and firm. Whatever you hung the bed from needs to stay level otherwise you need a self adjusting leveling system on the hanger thingamajigs.
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Post by Deleted on May 22, 2020 15:43:11 GMT
If the boat has been correctly ballasted (if that's a word) you shouldn't have any problem with two in the bed, unless of course you're aground. We've spent time on many hire boats, share boats, our own boat and friend's boats and never encountered instability ... gentle swaying as you move around, but nothing else. For evidence relating to more than two in a bed you'll have to discuss with Mr Stabby ... he may be busy doing his hair at the moment. Rog
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Post by Deleted on May 22, 2020 15:46:03 GMT
Aha- I've though of that- although it does make me wonder how we ever won all those 19th century naval battles with the sailors all doubled over in agony and with knackered backs. I must confess the bears were added more for my own amusement than information. Most people are familiar with the concept of a hammock, but no harm in adding a bit of gratuitous animal antics. But my idea is more of a hanging bed than a hammock- so the bed base would be straight and firm. Whatever you hung the bed from needs to stay level otherwise you need a self adjusting leveling system on the hanger thingamajigs. My thinking- if I can call it that- was that I'd use a standard bed base frame, and attach a length of chain from each corner to the ceiling- two chains would be joined up over the end of the bed, and two over the head of the bed. So it would tilt sideways, but not end to end. What I hadnt thought about were the health and safety implications of trying to mount this free-swinging bed after a night out, or a few beers. You just know that one night its going to end in tears. Its a terrible idea- a transverse bed is a far better idea. I do love those bears though.
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Post by Deleted on May 22, 2020 15:49:09 GMT
One solution might be to build the boat with an adjustable floor and when moored up you can strap the boat to the mooring with ratchet straps to stop the wobble. Then adjust the floor accordingly.
No rocking.
Or live on land.
Or to quote my friend when someone complained about their boat rocking "I'm afraid this is as good as it gets. If you don't like it buy a caravan and it won't happen".
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Post by Deleted on May 22, 2020 15:52:07 GMT
I do love those bears though. Just don't try to get into bed with one! (not speaking from experience I must point out - just a hunch...).
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Post by Deleted on May 22, 2020 15:53:00 GMT
If the boat has been correctly ballasted (if that's a word) you shouldn't have any problem with two in the bed, unless of course you're aground. We've spent time on many hire boats, share boats, our own boat and friend's boats and never encountered instability ... gentle swaying as you move around, but nothing else. For evidence relating to more than two in a bed you'll have to discuss with Mr Stabby ... he may be busy doing his hair at the moment. Rog It was a reputable hire firm so no major worries about ballasting, or so one would hope. But I'm not enough of a mariner to judge good boat balance or handling to be honest. It looked pretty level, but.... I wonder if it was the fact that it was a smallish boat, less weight, and maybe more prone to tipping? I'm going to have be frank and admit that at the time I weighed about 14 stone or more, and my ex possibly 12, so there was certainly no lack of human ballast. It was an issue though, to the point that if two were aboard I'd change to a transverse bed straight away.
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Post by Deleted on May 22, 2020 15:55:01 GMT
One solution might be to build the boat with an adjustable floor and when moored up you can strap the boat to the mooring with ratchet straps to stop the wobble. Then adjust the floor accordingly. No rocking. Or live on land. Or to quote my friend when someone complained about their boat rocking "I'm afraid this is as good as it gets. If you don't like it buy a caravan and it won't happen". I have to say I wasn't bothered by waves or boat movements, but the tipping over thing was a bit of an issue- but easily solved by a transverse bed I would think
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Post by Deleted on May 22, 2020 16:08:29 GMT
I was chatting with a single hander in Braunston who told me about the instability of his boat ... it rocked quite alarmingly, and things came to a head as he came down the flight into Braunston with another boat.
The other boater spotted and mentioned this, so on returning to his marina he asked the resident 'engineers' to check-out the ballast.
Turned out he had a leak on his water tank, and they had to pump out gallons of fresh water before replacing his tank ... cost quite a bit ... but he was very pleased how well the boat handled and sat after.
Rog
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Post by naughtyfox on May 22, 2020 16:30:31 GMT
One solution might be to build the boat with an adjustable floor and when moored up you can strap the boat to the mooring with ratchet straps to stop the wobble. Then adjust the floor accordingly. No rocking. Or live on land. Or to quote my friend when someone complained about their boat rocking "I'm afraid this is as good as it gets. If you don't like it buy a caravan and it won't happen". I have to say I wasn't bothered by waves or boat movements, but the tipping over thing was a bit of an issue- but easily solved by a transverse bed I would think Have you considered a tent? There are lots of places beside the canals suitable for pitching a tent. We have often seen such little spots and thought "If we had visitors, this would be a great place to put the tent up" - either for us or our visitors. Sadly, we never have visitors. Actually, we did in 2016, two Japanese friends of ours; they slept in the boat and we slept in our car (car moved each day to boat's new location).
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Post by Deleted on May 22, 2020 16:41:46 GMT
I was chatting with a single hander in Braunston who told me about the instability of his boat ... it rocked quite alarmingly, and things came to a head as he came down the flight into Braunston with another boat. The other boater spotted and mentioned this, so on returning to his marina he asked the resident 'engineers' to check-out the ballast. Turned out he had a leak on his water tank, and they had to pump out gallons of fresh water before replacing his tank ... cost quite a bit ... but he was very pleased how well the boat handled and sat after. Rog I dont know how much a narrowboat should normally rock, but it seemed ok generally. That said, now that I think about it, although there was always a very slight tilt, there were only one or two nights where it was an actual nuisance issue, and that was when the boat was moored with the bed on the side furthest from the towpath. Also, this was on the Ashby which was quite shallow. It was a few years ago now so I can't remember all the details, but I recall the boat was slightly grounded a few times as I tried to moor closer in to the bank, so that it was less of a step for her to the bank. So I'm now thinking that it might have already been very slightly tipping before we got into the bed, and we made it worse. Anyway, it was enough of an issue that it put my ex right off the idea of moving onto a narrowboat, even though I was the one being squashed against the hull as she shifted in her sleep and her weight fell more against me. Mystery solved, I think.
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Post by Deleted on May 22, 2020 16:49:42 GMT
Tipping does happen if water levels adjust overnight and the boat becomes aground. I'm certain I'm not the only person that's had to go out at 3am to push the stern out so it floats Rog
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