Lee Swallow entering Bosley Lock 11, Macclesfield Canal 10th July 2005
One boat which made a big impression was Lee Swallow, a 58 footer in which David and I cruised for nine weeks in the summer of 2005. That had a rear galley and forward saloon, with Pullman-style dinette, bedroom and bathroom in between. It had a table which folded out from the front locker in the well deck. It had a cruiser-style rear deck, which was good for being sociable while steering. I liked the internal layout: the dinette meant there were always seats around a table, and the bedroom being "walk through" was never a problem.
Our shared ownership boat, Shadow, has a semi-trad stern, which looks better and still allows socialising at the blunt end, but has a rear bedroom and mid galley.
Shadow on the Staffs and Worcs
And then I looked at a boat with a "boatman's cabin" and engine room. Wow! I'd sacrifice social steering for the "trad" stern, especially if it came with a traditional-style back cabin and engine room. Forward of that would be a bedroom, bathroom, galley, dinette and saloon. Could I get all of that in 58 feet? I'll have to do some doodling...
No cratch. Don't like them. Tug-style looks good, but I know I'd never get all of the above and a long front deck in 58 feet. It has to be no longer than that as I'd want to be able to cruise the entire connected system.
It would have to have a stove (obviously) and gas for cooking (and possibly central heating). Not diesel heating though. Simple loo, not pumpout. Shower, not bath. Shadow has a waste-of-space corner bath. Impressive-looking, but I've never used it. If the boat has radiators I'd want to be able to pump hot water from the calorifier round them, without necessarily firing up the boiler. Shadow has this facility, which is very good at providing background heat in cold weather.
It's nice to dream ...
6 comments:
Wow,thanks so much for explaining these different aspects, Halfie, even if you didn't meant to. I've never understood the difference between tug and traditional bows, or really figured out what was traditional or not about the sterns. You've managed to clear a few confusions up for me here. Nice dreams...I hope they become reality for you!
I've just caught up with your other posts too, Halfie. I like the eclectic nature of your observations! Nice old bus, odd signs on the pavements..I enjoy reading about them.
Enjoy your holiday!
Halfie
You CAN have the tug deck, trad stern, boatmans cabin etc. in 58' because I have drawn up designs for Caxton Mk2 - use an extended boatmans as you main sleeping accommodation and drop the seperate cabin.
Lesley
VallyP, thanks, although I'd be more inclined to call my observations "random"!
Lesley, I look forward to seeing your plans, perhaps you'll post them on your blog sometime. Caxton Mk2 already?
Did you ever get a look round Warrior? 54' tug, back cabin, engine room, bathroom, kitchen, saloon and enormous double bed under the foredeck. You could get another two in the back cabin cross bed if it weren't for the fact the calorifier's in there, and we've got moveable seating/table that looks built in but can be adapted to different configurations or a further single bed. All in 54' - imagine what you'd do with the extra four!
Sarah, no, unfortunately all I saw inside Warrior was the engine room. Am I to take it that you can't use the cross bed in the back cabin as there's a calorifier in there? (Could the calorifier be moved to the engine room to free up the bed?) The rest of it sounds wonderful though. Literally!
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