I
would now say it is the beginning of the end of the fitting out of
the narrowboat Measham.
Major steps have been achieved with the engine now fully fitted and
working, and
the central heating system tested and working well.
This means that the final items of "boxing in" can take
place to provide a beautifully finished boat, but constructed in
such a manner that ready access is available to any part should it
be necessary.
I will provide a few words of description when I am able, but I am
learning what is involved in the fitting out of a narrowboat just as
you may be.
Generally I will let the images supply the information.
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| The
propeller shaft is now aligned and all mounting bolts fully
tightened down. |
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The
array of batteries are now fixed and connected up appropriately.
I believe in such a way that three batteries are dedicated to
powering appliances, and systems in the boat, when the engine is not
running.
With two of the batteries being assigned to the engine, so that
there is always power to start the engine.
This may not be totally right but I believe the principle of it not
being possible to run down batteries so that you cannot start the
boat is correct. |
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| The
control panel showing the "state" of the engine while it is
running, i.e. engine temperature, oil pressure and voltage being
produced by the alternator.
To the left lower part of
the image you can see the control lever.
Upright for neutral, forward for forward, backwards for reverse.
And the degree that you push it forwards or backwards determines
engine speed and hence the speed of the boat.
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Where
there were "dangly" wires there are now lights, nearly
every where.
Even if one is not where it should be, more of this later.
There is also much more hardwood finishing having taken place.
I will leave the images to tell the story. |
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|
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This
is an image of the kitchen looking to the back of the boat, and you
can see that the header tank and the chimney flue belonging to the
central heating system is currently being "boxed in". |
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The
side opening doors/hatch. |
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A
close up of a light unit, these have high efficiency halogen light
bulbs, that provide high light output for low consumption of power. |
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The
toilet and wash hand basin compartment being fitted out. |
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|
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The
door edging and surround to the toilet door frame is now finished. |
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The gunnel,
purists may call it the gunwale, (both terms correct in the
dictionary, but not your Microsoft spell checker) has now been capped in
most parts of the boat. |
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If
you remember back to the early pages this is where the lower wiring
loams are positioned, and it is where the outer foot way is
positioned to allow you to walk around the outside of the boat, with
care, and when the boat is in a position that it is safe to do so.
Fundamentally it is the "join" between the upper half and
lower half of the boat. |
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You
will see the that the standard of finish is the same, even in areas
of the boat that are not readily noticeable, i.e. where you have to
lie on the floor and look upwards, the things I do to obtain good
images for the website, I am not fully appreciated, or daft. |
The black
and red "box" is the 240 volt transverter, meaning that it
can transform a 12 volt supply of electrical power into 240 volt
electrical power to enable the use of "normal" low
consumption appliances.
The transverter is only capable of supplying about 1 kilowatt, 1000
watts, of power.
This is capable of running a low power hair drying, but not an
electric kettle or iron.
It will power lap tops, mobile telephone chargers, electric razors,
etc. wothout a problem, unless you plug them all in at the same
time. |
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| And
with the cabinet door shut everything is tidy. |
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| There
is still some more "boxing in " to be done, in areas to
the side and below. |
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| The
circular "hole" in the bulkhead to the right of this image
is where the "master" isolation switch is located to be
able to switch off all electrical power to the interior of the boat. |
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If
you remember, earlier on this page I mentioned "dangly"
wires and light fitting.
Well when you have different men responsible for different
functions, it is perhaps not always safe to assume that where
there is a hole in the paneling with wires protruding, quite long
wires , that you need to fix a light to it.
Especially flush to a bulkhead.
"Big Col' " who fits out the boat did say that he had
"explained" the error to the electrician responsible.
The good news is that the "break down in communications"
has not resulted in a serious problem. There is a vanity shelf to be
fitted here over the fixed double bed and the shelf will have
individual bedside "reading lights" fixed beneath it.
Somebody just needs to attach some more "dangly" wires.
I am afraid I am unable to match the literary quality of "Big
Col's " explanation of the incident in this text. |
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