Layout and design of the new boat

Quite early on, I had seen two photos which influenced my thinking. One was a boat where they had installed the galley where the traditional back cabin would normally be.

When I started some designs with the galley located like this, it was amazing how much of the rest of the boat was left spare!

I know the traditionalists love proper back cabins, but I think they actually waste quite a bit of space, because I don't really like the cramped bed and don't really need a drop-leaf table, etc.

However, the big problem with this design is headroom. The propshaft passing under the floor means that anyone over about 5' 6" is going to stoop.

Undeterred, I started to research possible alternatives to the standard lorry-type drive shaft, in an effort to gain full headroom. More on this in another blog.

One big benefit I envisaged with this layout, was the ability to jump down from the helm and put the kettle on, without having to walk halfway through the boat!


Another photo I liked was of a boat with a reverse layout, with a very cosy looking bedroom at the front of the boat.

I played around with numerous iterations of this rear galley/forward bedroom layout, but have reverted to a more conventional layout, with the saloon at the front, followed by the galley, main cabin, bathroom, engine room, then a utility room cum snug at the rear.

Two reasons prompted this: the headroom issue in the back cabin area  and a desire to be able to look out of the forward cabin doors whilst cruising.

A few other factors influenced the layout: flues need to be on the left side, so when passing other boats in tunnels, they will be on the 'high' side; I was also concerned to make sure that weight was distributed reasonably evenly.

After a few attempts, I gave up trying to do the design work on the computer. Instead, I bought two sets of the 12mm:1 foot plans from Fitout Pontoon. They come with lots of standard items and are a doddle to use. Although not CAD accurate, they are a great way of playing around with different arrangements. https://www.thefitoutpontoon.co.uk/narrowboat-widebeam-plans/

When it came to fitting things like the cooking range, fridge, etc, it was surprising how much difference the extra 3" of width at floor level made. For example, if the fridge and cooker were opposite each other, the gangway between will be 3" wider - something like 24" instead of 21".

The double bed will be an Ottoman style - the mattress will lift up on gas struts to reveal a very large storage area beneath. On boats with a pump-out loo, most of this space is taken by a whacking great storage tank. Nice thought really - while you're slumbering away, your last two weeks of sewage is gently sloshing about underneath you. I'd prefer to use the space for clothes and bedding! In reality, I'll probably buy one of these beds, keep the slats and gas struts and dump the base itself.