Monday 27 April 2015

Chairs

I want to put a drop down or fold away table and chairs in the boat.  When I saw a couple of old wooden folding chairs loitering by the bins at work, I knew they were ripe for recycling.

Rubbed down and painted in the cream/green colour scheme, they will be just the job.

Thursday 23 April 2015

Something decorative

After all the destruction and preparation, I thought I deserved something that would give me an idea of the finished article and give me the inspiration I need to get back in that hole and finish the plumbing. 

I wanted to panel the lower walls and after much on-line searching, I found that Homebase offered the best deal on what I wanted - especially if you shop on one of their 10% days.  While I was there I picked up a couple of packs of 5mm dense foam underlay to use behind the MDF panels.  I am not sure how much extra insulation this will provide, but for what it cost and the additional few minutes it takes to stick on, I thought it might be worth it.  I wanted to trial the adhesive before I bought a bulk load, (you use a lot with this stuff) and was pleased to find that Screwfix No nonsense seems to do the job ok.

The foam and the panels went up very quickly and easily with plenty of glue and a small screw in each corner.  I even splashed a bit of paint around, just to see how it might look when finished.





Kitchen

The 'kitchen' will be a simple L shape. 1100mm x 1400mm.  I wanted to clear the area, and have all the pipework in place, ready for the units, next time I visit.  I had to re-route the gas pipe slightly and replace the section that I damaged removing the old cabinets.  This I did, but I also found that one of the nuts on the cooker isolation valve has been cross threaded in the past, so although I fitted it in place, I will replace it next visit.




So that is all ready.  I just need to fit the next sections of 28mm copper pipe - when I've got a bigger spanner!                                                                                                                                                   

The collar on the stove fell to bits when I removed it.  The flue is in a similar state.  Unfortunately, I found a hairline crack in the top of the stove itself.  This was a bit disappointing as I had made up my mind to re-use the Squirrel.  I am now unsure if I should or not,  as I don't want to  go to the trouble of installing the thing, only to find it is falling to bits.


                                                                                                                                       

More plumbing.

So the plumbing progresses.  Threading the 28mm pipes was difficult.  These things don't flex at all so you have to get it right first time.  Fitting the pipe clips and sliding the pipe through them is just about impossible so I shall have to find some other clips that you can fit over the pipe once its in place.  Also I discovered that my 'big' adjustable spanner is not big enough for the 28mm compression fittings. doh!

I am not sure whether to fit a small radiator or a heated towel rail in the bathroom, and also I am not sure if I should feed it off the top 'out' pipe or the bottom 'return' pipe.  Something that requires a bit more research.  Its no big deal as I can simply cut into either with a 28x28x15mm compression 'tee'.

After much research, I concluded that the calorifier will most likely not get hot by gravity alone.  I bought a tiny 6w pump from SolarProject and have plumbed it into the calorifier feed.  Hopefully, running the pump for an hour or so will push enough hot water from the back boiler through the calorifier to give me a tank of hot water.  well, that's the theory anyway.  The rest of the system should thermo-syphon ok without assistance.

The Alde gas boiler is up and running giving me a tank of hot water in about 40 minutes.  So at least I can wash my hands!

Having reviewed my carpentry skills, I have decided to use a ready made kitchen, so the next task was to move the water pump and pressure vessel out of the way.  The best place for the pump is at the feed from the water tank, at the front of the cabin.  Where the stove currently sits.


With the stove gone and the hearth removed, I was able to move the pump to it's new home.


The electrical feed to the socket is only temporary at the moment.  The whole thing will be boxed in at a later date.  Gone are the purple tiles!  Shame.  Not.                                                              

Wednesday 22 April 2015

Plumbing

I quite like the idea of plumbing;  Planning a neat system with precise bends and perfectly constructed joints.  I can do that.  But the reality is cramming yourself in a cupboard fighting with pipe that doesn't want to go where you want it to, and fittings that refuse to stop leaking no matter what you do.   But it had to be done.

First, out came the huge 75 litre calorifier.

 
And I drained the rusty sludge that filled the system.
 
 
The bathroom rad came out.  I shall re-use this, maybe in the bedroom.
 
 
The existing pipework was 22mm.  I am replacing this with 28mm and this posed a bit of a problem since I could no longer use the old pipe runs.  Unfortunately, the pipes run behind the shower panel, so this had to come off too.  I had hoped to leave the bathroom intact until later but that's not happening.                                                                                                                   
 


 
 
The new 22 litre calorifier could then be fitted in the cupboard and plumbed in.
 
 
 
Its not all done but the Alde is connected and I can at least wash my hands in hot water.
 
 
 
 
 

Monday 13 April 2015

For the plumbing nerds.

Some nice things have been delivered.  Most recently, a 22litre twin coil calorifier.  Hopefully this will manage to give me hot water unlike the dreadful, collection of leaky old pipes I currently have


I shall be using the backboiler on the stove and the Alde gas water heater.  I plan to let the system thermo-syphon but might fit a pump if the calorifier fails to heat properly.  This could be switched on for an hour or so to force feed the calorifier until it is up to temperature.  The solar project pumps only use 6w so might be an effective way of doing this.

The side hatch is not attached to the boat.  There is a piece of wood that is bolted to the steel hatch surround which has the hinge screwed to it. This has, over the years, rotted away.  A new one has been cut and painted ready to be fitted next weekend.

Tuesday 7 April 2015

Destruction

I started to clear the boat of fittings.  In the forward part, I removed the nasty little shelves and the fixed seating.  I removed the RCD for the 240v ring as this is not part of the off-grid plan.  I also removed the six240v sockets!  The 12v sockets, although the ugly white round 3 pin type, I shall re-use but hide them.









Next, out came the fridge.  This is a good 12v Shoreline model, but it is way too big.  It will go on e-bay to help towards the purchase of a smaller unit.  More sockets and the heavy gauge wire for the fridge.

The engineered floor came up easily to reveal vinyl stuck to the plywood sub floor.  This was a bit disappointing as I had hoped to be able to lift the floor and examine the base plate.  Rather than disturb it all, I shall probably cut a few small holes just to have a look.

The sink unit was very well made unlike everything else and was a bit of a job to remove.  Loads of rusted slotted screws that would not budge.  It did come out eventually.  I managed to bend the gas pipe which was a shame.  It might be alright but having put some strain on the compression fittings, I think I would prefer to replace it for peace of mind.

So thats the front stripped all except for the stove but I want to keep that in place until the weather warms up a bit.  I can work around it until then.






A pile of fire wood and a car full to the tip.

Monday 6 April 2015

Moved to the mooring


Had a lovely cruise from Ely down to the mooring at Brandon Creek.  This was the first proper run for me and the boat performed very well.  She seems to move pretty well despite the modest power from the Lister SR2 - 14hp.


Thursday 2 April 2015

Ely!

Despite the terrible weather, Matty delivered on time.  Top bloke.