Reverse Layout V's Standard

[Tony Brooks]

2 hours ago, mrsmelly said:

There are no issues with pipe runs. My galley sink is centre of boat and a about 20 feet minimum from cauliflower and water is scalding hot. As you say a few shillings in cheapo pipework is the only difference. Edited to add just read Tonys post above mine and yes I probably do on thinking have to draw extra hot water from the tank than on a closer coupling, however its very minimal and with a decent sized cauliflower you wouldnt notice the difference.

Actually I have just remembered that with our centre galley and the 3/8 bore plastic plumbing installed when the boat was built there is a significant drop in pressure and flow on the hot taps when compared with the cold. However I am sure changing the cold feed to the calorifier to 22mm and the hot feed to the taps to 15mm would sort it out. Its just another thing to think about when planing the plumbing with long pipe runs.

[WotEver]

3 hours ago, Bewildered said:

If you are planning to store a motorbike on the bow you may want to consider a tug deck rather than a well deck, it will be a lot easier to get a bike on and off the boat. You may even be able to incorpetate a swivelling ramp to mount the bike.

somewhere on YouTube there is a video of a boat being built with a hydraulic lift in the well deck to raise the bike to the gunnels and lower down, it has a roof that then becomes the deck

 

I wonder how the BSS treat that. Would it need a scavenging pump for petrol fumes?

[Machpoint005]

21 minutes ago, WotEver said:

I wonder how the BSS treat that. Would it need a scavenging pump for petrol fumes?

Only if the bike was on board when the examination took place!

[nebulae]

The saloon at the front(standard layout)seems to be the most common,if only because years ago,most boats were built that way. Personaly ,i would never buy a reverse layout,as i like the saloon opening into a well lit bow area. I have no idea whether a reverse layout is easier or harder to sell on? Maybe a reverse layout works better with a cruiser stern?

[efanton]

16 minutes ago, nebulae said:

 I have no idea whether a reverse layout is easier or harder to sell on?

that's a really good question.

 

Quote

Maybe a reverse layout works better with a cruiser stern?

that was my initial thought.  With additional space at the back with sufficient seating and possibly room for a small portable table surely this makes the need and use of a well deck less relevant

[Rickent]

When the sun is shining I have the back doors open and a chair on the cruiser stern, it is lovely.

[Neil Smith]

Cruiser stern with reverse layout is how I built mine, rear gas lockers so short gas pipe to cooker, almost instant hot water in galley that has wood effect vinyl floor for muddy dog and muddy me, center stove for good heat circulation,  cross walk through head with full size bath and shower over, this works for us but not for all but with a bike on fore deck might suit you as well.

Neil

[The Grumpy Triker]

On 17/05/2017 at 13:16, system 4-50 said:

I think cratches look vile so I told my hull builder that I wouldn't be having one in case it affected how it was built. He smiled, and said "You will". After 7 years of without, I am now planning on getting one. If I had gone for it at the beginning, would it have changed my reverse layout? Probably not because my absolute top requirement was for a large fixed double bed. This means the passage is the legal minimum so is best at the front since the main entry is at the stern.

Why the change of mind? What is the benefit of a cratch cover against your initial wish list?

i only ask as I don't like the look of them but wonder whether I am missing a trick. 

[mrsmelly]

33 minutes ago, The Grumpy Triker said:

Why the change of mind? What is the benefit of a cratch cover against your initial wish list?

i only ask as I don't like the look of them but wonder whether I am missing a trick. 

I too hate them. I had a boat with one so left it on and had the cover replaced but I still hated it they serve no sensible purpose, if you feel you need more space buy a longer boat and if you still havnt enough space buy a widebeam etc etc. Luckily this boat has no cratch and it wont be getting one.

[system 4-50]

33 minutes ago, The Grumpy Triker said:

Why the change of mind? What is the benefit of a cratch cover against your initial wish list?

i only ask as I don't like the look of them but wonder whether I am missing a trick. 

I like the big well deck that I have, its great for socialising with visitors - in good weather, but the weather is too often not good. I'd like a cratch that let me use it in any weather, particularly adverse winds.

[nikvah]

Your ideal layout is very similar to mine and for many of the reasons that you cite (not the motorbike though). especially the saloon at the bow - with side hatch, for the helmsman to remain sociable with those below. When we found our ideal boat the layout turned out to be conventional (bedroom at stern). For us the layout is less important  than we thought and we have come to see the advantages in that tried and tested design.

[efanton]

being that I will be live aboard, live alone, and have a motorbike up front,  its going to be hard enjoying the views from the bow while cruising.

Having spent the last month or so looking at the for sale adds,  it looking as it it will be very hard to buy a boat with the layout I would ideally like and  a front bow area big enough to store a motorbike.  The best options I have seen so far are ones that have tug decks up front.  this of course means that if I want my ideal layout its going to have to be a sail away, or accepting that in order to have a tug deck or large bow area I have to accept the layout that comes with boats that are for sale.

I am still working through the costs of a sail away.  The list of things to consider and options appears to be endless, but I'll get there.  Looking at the boats for sale within my budget having a large bow deck, most appear to need quite a bit of work.  I would prefer to buy a complete boat to be honest and update what is required but I keep worrying that I might buy a boat, spend a load of money fixing and updating only to realise I could have bought a sail away laid out exactly as I wanted and properly fitted out for the same money.  At least with the sail away I know exactly how the boat was built and fitted out and there should not be any unexpected and unwelcome surprises.

There's an awful lot more to fitting out a boat than people new to narrow boats might think.  Its certainly been an eye opener for me and I havent even spent a penny yet.  Does anyone know of any good books on the subject of fitting out narrow boats?  I am going to get one shot at this and I want to make sure I have done everything right first time round.  I have about two years before I can buy a boat, so I guess that should be enough time to fully cost and research the fit out of a sail away, but if I do choose to buy a boat instead at least that knowledge will not be wasted, I sure it will be useful if a boat needs repairs or updating.

 

[Dave_P]

I have a 55' cruiser stern with a reverse layout - bow to stern: cratch, bedroom, bathroom, saloon, kitchen. My first mooring was stern-on to a fixed pontoon so entry from the rear was the preferred method. There are other benefits too:

1. Muddy boots go straight into a hard floored kitchen. 

2.  Cups of tea / biscuits while cruising are so convenient. 

3. The stove is right in the middle of the boat, so no cold bedroom. 

4. The bed doesn't need to be walked past much so it's a 4'6" full sized double. 

I'd agree that this layout works best with a large cruiser stern and a light and airy rear section with a side hatch. My front cratch is generally used for dry storage but can be cleared out if I'm taking friends/family on a cruise. 

[mrsmelly]

6 hours ago, efanton said:

being that I will be live aboard, live alone, and have a motorbike up front,  its going to be hard enjoying the views from the bow while cruising.

Having spent the last month or so looking at the for sale adds,  it looking as it it will be very hard to buy a boat with the layout I would ideally like and  a front bow area big enough to store a motorbike.  The best options I have seen so far are ones that have tug decks up front.  this of course means that if I want my ideal layout its going to have to be a sail away, or accepting that in order to have a tug deck or large bow area I have to accept the layout that comes with boats that are for sale.

I am still working through the costs of a sail away.  The list of things to consider and options appears to be endless, but I'll get there.  Looking at the boats for sale within my budget having a large bow deck, most appear to need quite a bit of work.  I would prefer to buy a complete boat to be honest and update what is required but I keep worrying that I might buy a boat, spend a load of money fixing and updating only to realise I could have bought a sail away laid out exactly as I wanted and properly fitted out for the same money.  At least with the sail away I know exactly how the boat was built and fitted out and there should not be any unexpected and unwelcome surprises.

There's an awful lot more to fitting out a boat than people new to narrow boats might think.  Its certainly been an eye opener for me and I havent even spent a penny yet.  Does anyone know of any good books on the subject of fitting out narrow boats?  I am going to get one shot at this and I want to make sure I have done everything right first time round.  I have about two years before I can buy a boat, so I guess that should be enough time to fully cost and research the fit out of a sail away, but if I do choose to buy a boat instead at least that knowledge will not be wasted, I sure it will be useful if a boat needs repairs or updating.

 

Ebay 332228966310

[WotEver]

4 minutes ago, mrsmelly said:

Ebay 332228966310

http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/Narrowboat-builders-book-3rd-edition-/332228966310?hash=item4d5a63b7a6%3Ag%3AL0cAAOSwPh5ZIEYQ&_trkparms=pageci%3Ae1b98e71-3df7-11e7-b6c3-74dbd180e2d3%7Cparentrq%3A29ed858d15c0ab66f101ce1bfffefb81%7Ciid%3A1

[mrsmelly]

1 minute ago, WotEver said:

http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/Narrowboat-builders-book-3rd-edition-/332228966310?hash=item4d5a63b7a6%3Ag%3AL0cAAOSwPh5ZIEYQ&_trkparms=pageci%3Ae1b98e71-3df7-11e7-b6c3-74dbd180e2d3%7Cparentrq%3A29ed858d15c0ab66f101ce1bfffefb81%7Ciid%3A1

I dont do pooter stuff. 

[WotEver]

1 minute ago, mrsmelly said:

I dont do pooter stuff. 

That's what I'm here for

[efanton]

thanks dont look like they will post to Ireland,  but I can source elsewhere

[rgreg]

On 2017-5-20 at 17:48, The Grumpy Triker said:

Why the change of mind? What is the benefit of a cratch cover against your initial wish list?

i only ask as I don't like the look of them but wonder whether I am missing a trick. 

They provide a dry storage area for coal, logs, and anything else you fancy. Also I like to sit in there when it's raining! 

[The Grumpy Triker]

5 minutes ago, rgreg said:

They provide a dry storage area for coal, logs, and anything else you fancy. Also I like to sit in there when it's raining! 

Isn't that what the lounge next to the back doors is for? 

understand the cover but they always look scruffy and think the central bar looks like it will be forever in my way....jus a personal thing, Inlike open and unfussy....but as said above....I may yet change my opinion 

Just now, The Grumpy Triker said:

Isn't that what the lounge next to the back doors is for? 

understand the cover but they always look scruffy and think the central bar looks like it will be forever in my way....jus a personal thing, Inlike open and unfussy....but as said above....I may yet change my opinion 

French doors not back doors....blooming predictive text

[rgreg]

1 hour ago, The Grumpy Triker said:

Isn't that what the lounge next to the back doors is for? 

understand the cover but they always look scruffy and think the central bar looks like it will be forever in my way....jus a personal thing, Inlike open and unfussy....but as said above....I may yet change my opinion 

French doors not back doors....blooming predictive text

In winter I store up to 8 x 25kg bags of coal in the cratch which I certainly wouldn't be putting in my saloon! A well made cratch cover looks fine in my opinion; each to their own of course.

[JohnEW2912]

Mine's the same as Bastion and Nightwatch - from the bow - saloon, bathroom, fixed double bedroom, dinette and galley - this layout doesn't seem to have a name. It works very well for us, giving two separate living areas, still allowing us to use the bow as an extended saloon under the cratch, helped by a lowered bow floor. Our first boat was a standard layout but this one is much better, for us anyway.

[Profzarkov]

I'd only add a few points:

if you intend to live onboard or spend a long time on her, then a trad layout gives you more living space inside, you won't feel hemmed in by bulkheads.

reverse layout galleys tend to be narrow, so maybe plan a better layout.

we have a 65 foot std layout boat and once you're past the bedroom and bathroom, you have over 35 feet of boat to "be" in. Helps during those long winter nights 

[bastion]

22 minutes ago, Profzarkov said:

I'd only add a few points:

if you intend to live onboard or spend a long time on her, then a trad layout gives you more living space inside, you won't feel hemmed in by bulkheads.

reverse layout galleys tend to be narrow, so maybe plan a better layout.

we have a 65 foot std layout boat and once you're past the bedroom and bathroom, you have over 35 feet of boat to "be" in. Helps during those long winter nights 

Why would reverse layout galleys be narrow? From what I have seen all compartments are roughly the same just laid out in a different order from stern to bow.

[nicknorman]

3 hours ago, bastion said:

Why would reverse layout galleys be narrow? From what I have seen all compartments are roughly the same just laid out in a different order from stern to bow.

A boat with a vaguely reasonable shape tapers towards the stern, so you can get away from walls/side of the cut