I had a hatch issue just like yours, and this is what I did. I got some clear, soft wood - pine - no knots or splits. Clear, soft wood. Carefully cut out the overlapping shapes you need, and install the very top layer (against the hatch or cabin roof) with a powerful adhesive. I prefer 3M 5200. It is horribly messy, so be careful. Use sticks with pressure from the floor, like 1" x 1", bent like a bow, to clamp the pieces up. Cut the pieces so they are 1 to 2 mm oversize on the inside. Build up the thickness until your full 'spigot' is built, using good carpenters glue, like Titebond III, to finish the buildup, staggering the joints. Once you fit it to the ceiling panel perfectly, secure the panel to the spigot and carefully sand the spigot to the exact shape. Prime and paint. Yes, it is tedious and hard, overhead work, but it does a beautiful job.
Hi T&T, I was shocked at first unti I realised the question was "live aborad" not "live abroad"! I thought, where did that questions come from! Then re--read it! As for the Internet access, whether you need an external antenna is just down to where you are. I would suggest MOST narrowboat owners need something with an external antenna, unless they are fairly stationary or only move in urban areas. Looking forward to the next cruising! Sounds great :)
Hi Ronnie, we certainly wouldn't rule out living abroad at some point! We must be really lucky with our internet signal as we've never had a problem with it (yet!) Not long to our next trip now :-)
Thanks for the Q & A and yea your coming to my part of the cut soon The South-Yorkshire & Sheffield Navigation let me know when then il defo meet yous for a pint some great pubs on the route and huge locks definitely "Doncaster Town Lock & Sprotbrough Lock"
Hello! Maybe a bit late for the Q&A but my partner and I are thinking about moving our life onto a narrowboat in 2018. My partner is 6,3" and is concerned he won't be able to stand up fully in a narrowboat! (It was a problem in our converted van) Would there be enough space for him to move about the cabin comfortably in your opinion? Thank you! 😊
Hi there, our son is 6'2" and he has no problem in our boat. Different boats have different headroom heights so it's a good idea to have a look around as some may be higher than others. Good luck with the move!
great guys enjoyed the video I had a look around mercian marina only a few weeks ago lovely place to be in looked at a few boats they had there for sale as we are not buying just yet still not made up are minds on what we want really yet wife a little slow coming around to the idea of living aboard full time like I am we are thinking of renting for early next year march april may even they are such a price as well to do this could have a good 2 week holiday in the sun some where for what some of these hire boat company's are charging these days. anyway looking forwards to watching your next vlog as and when you get the chance. happy boating.
Hi Steve, thanks! Yes, Mercia does look like a good place to be based. Renting is expensive but it is a good thing to do before taking the leap into buying a boat. We know of someone who had never been on a narrowboat but had one built. Two days after buying it he decided that he didn't like boating and put it straight up for sale!
thinking about it now when I was at mercian marina I asked for a price on full time moorings and I think it was £2600.00 P A which is not bad for what you get there. but the problem with me is its about an hours drive to work each day there and back plus the fuel cost as well x2 with my wife working as well different times and days to me not worth it in the end.
Hi, I'm guessing you live somewhere in west Yorkshire and I am assuming you travel down to Mercia when you fancy a run out. My question is if you had a long weekend, how far roughly do you get to?
Hi there, yes we are based in West Yorkshire and have decided to keep our boat here for the time being. From where we are moored a trip to Leeds is our favourite for a long weekend.
I had a hatch issue just like yours, and this is what I did. I got some clear, soft wood - pine - no knots or splits. Clear, soft wood. Carefully cut out the overlapping shapes you need, and install the very top layer (against the hatch or cabin roof) with a powerful adhesive. I prefer 3M 5200. It is horribly messy, so be careful. Use sticks with pressure from the floor, like 1" x 1", bent like a bow, to clamp the pieces up. Cut the pieces so they are 1 to 2 mm oversize on the inside. Build up the thickness until your full 'spigot' is built, using good carpenters glue, like Titebond III, to finish the buildup, staggering the joints. Once you fit it to the ceiling panel perfectly, secure the panel to the spigot and carefully sand the spigot to the exact shape. Prime and paint. Yes, it is tedious and hard, overhead work, but it does a beautiful job.
Thanks for the advice, we'll be tackling this job shortly so will bear this in mind, cheers.
Great Q&A folks, very interesting. Thanks.
Cheers, thanks to you too!
Hi T&T, I was shocked at first unti I realised the question was "live aborad" not "live abroad"! I thought, where did that questions come from! Then re--read it! As for the Internet access, whether you need an external antenna is just down to where you are. I would suggest MOST narrowboat owners need something with an external antenna, unless they are fairly stationary or only move in urban areas.
Looking forward to the next cruising! Sounds great :)
Hi Ronnie, we certainly wouldn't rule out living abroad at some point! We must be really lucky with our internet signal as we've never had a problem with it (yet!)
Not long to our next trip now :-)
Thanks for the Q&A very interesting.
You're very welcome :-)
Brilliant guys,thanks 👏😁👍
Great Video. Thanks for answering my questions. I can see how the past experience with having a camper can be handy by going to a narrowboat.
Hi there, thanks for the questions! After spending so much time touring in a 17ft van being in a 57ft narrowboat feels super spacious
Thanks for the Q & A and yea your coming to my part of the cut soon The South-Yorkshire & Sheffield Navigation let me know when then il defo meet yous for a pint some great pubs on the route and huge locks definitely "Doncaster Town Lock & Sprotbrough Lock"
We'll give you a shout when we're heading your way, will be good to see you again!
Good Q&A !!
Thank you!
Miss you.
great vid guys well done
Cheers Peter
Hello! Maybe a bit late for the Q&A but my partner and I are thinking about moving our life onto a narrowboat in 2018. My partner is 6,3" and is concerned he won't be able to stand up fully in a narrowboat! (It was a problem in our converted van) Would there be enough space for him to move about the cabin comfortably in your opinion? Thank you! 😊
Hi there, our son is 6'2" and he has no problem in our boat. Different boats have different headroom heights so it's a good idea to have a look around as some may be higher than others. Good luck with the move!
It's A Narrowboat Thing thanks so much for the reply! We will do our research. Look forward to your next vid!
great guys enjoyed the video I had a look around mercian marina only a few weeks ago lovely place to be in looked at a few boats they had there for sale as we are not buying just yet still not made up are minds on what we want really yet wife a little slow coming around to the idea of living aboard full time like I am we are thinking of renting for early next year march april may even they are such a price as well to do this could have a good 2 week holiday in the sun some where for what some of these hire boat company's are charging these days.
anyway looking forwards to watching your next vlog as and when you get the chance.
happy boating.
Hi Steve, thanks! Yes, Mercia does look like a good place to be based. Renting is expensive but it is a good thing to do before taking the leap into buying a boat. We know of someone who had never been on a narrowboat but had one built. Two days after buying it he decided that he didn't like boating and put it straight up for sale!
thinking about it now when I was at mercian marina I asked for a price on full time moorings and I think it was £2600.00
P A which is not bad for what you get there.
but the problem with me is its about an hours drive to work each day there and back plus the fuel cost as well x2 with my wife working as well different times and days to me not worth it in the end.
Yes, it was a similar price for us too.
Hi, I'm guessing you live somewhere in west Yorkshire and I am assuming you travel down to Mercia when you fancy a run out. My question is if you had a long weekend, how far roughly do you get to?
Hi there, yes we are based in West Yorkshire and have decided to keep our boat here for the time being. From where we are moored a trip to Leeds is our favourite for a long weekend.
Thank you, that gives me an idea on distances comfortably achieved :)
It probably takes us around 6 hours to get to Leeds by boat, or 30 mins by car :-)
6:10 Thanks!
You're welcome!
When n he rivers do u use radio for communication , and is it essential for river use
Hi there. They are recommended for use on tidal rivers but as the rivers around us aren't tidal we don't use them.