Narrowboat restoration project

[Robotstar5]

At this rate the engine should be running by 0230

 

[AdrianH]

So go on over how many fays/weeks has this been going on for? Say 6 weeks on and off to now?

Interesting read.

Adrian

 

[Windy Miller]

Bookmarked, please keep this thread going, very interesting project.

Likewise - very interesting indeed!

 

[Coo]

Great work!

 

[slim_boy_fat]

PLEASE keep the updates coming.

Where's she going to be based/operated when done?

 

[awemawson]

I suppose you could prove you've found all the leaks by filling it with water and looking for spurts

 

[WorkshopChris]

Great work very interesting, have you just started this and are working in real time or way ahead and posting in stages as time allowed.
how do you decide what old weld to trust.

 

[the snooper]

PLEASE keep the updates coming.

Where's she going to be based/operated when done?

In water

 

[J.B. Welding]

Great work very interesting, have you just started this and are working in real time or way ahead and posting in stages as time allowed.
how do you decide what old weld to trust.

The fails were pretty easy to find mate, just by looking for the holes/gaps. It was all stick welded originally and by grit blasting the seams any old slag was removed to reveal holes, mainly around the stop start points for rod changes and around the tacks. I recon there were 2 guys on this as the weld quality varied from one side to the other dramatically.

 

[Mark E]

Fantastic! Will you do the woodwork and other outfitting oor get someone else in? May I ask how much it cost and if the owner plans to sell it? Superb work!

 

[J.B. Welding]

There were also areas of severe undercut so I filled them up to try and give her the best chance of long term survival.

Anyhow that was yesterday, all forgotton and by the by now.
To the inside of the giant unpolished turd batman!

Or should that be Dangermouse? Think I found his favourite snack, Swiss cheese!

Remember it's all over plated, but we can't send her to lay next to the Kelpies all full of holes, just not right that.

Luckily the Umpa Lumpas had been out in the night and done a bit of blasting to the inside, all ready for me to plate up and start the painting..how kind.

 

[J.B. Welding]

Welding metal which varies from 5mm to 2mm every inch or so ain't a walk down the canal you know? All Arc cos its a boat not an old Tranny..

Engine bay, before>

After>

Used some Aqua Steel on the base plate and angles, seems like good stuff.

Coat of Bitumen or two over all that lovely blue steel

 

[J.B. Welding]

Few kinks got pulled out before tea break, handy acro-props just right for the job. This was the worse, a big dent in the lower section was putting up a hell of a fight. Eventually with enough heat it gave up and eased straight.

 

[J.B. Welding]

Ok, so, that's the base plate and the inside of the hull ship shape and looking good, but she won't be too cosy all open and exposed to the elements. Superstructure required next. To the Batcave! Well earned lunch break first though.
Ok a few bits of box section should get us started here.

Looking promising so far, almost all in line!

 

[Spark plug]

Is it just the picture or have you rolled a slight curve in the roof sections.

 

[J.B. Welding]

Not over impressed with these sheets mr steel stockholder, wavier than the rollin ocean.

On a long seam it's important to weld bits here and there to prevent heat build up and minimise distortion, but you know that right!

 

[J.B. Welding]

Is it just the picture or have you rolled a slight curve in the roof sections.

Rolled curve mate, well spotted!

 

[J.B. Welding]

Nearly tea break-all the motivation we need to push on and get this bit done with.

Crap it's gonna be proper dark in here boys, better let some light in!

 

[Paul.]

Takes me back does this, I spent some time in the early 80s building these things, all stick welded in those days mostly using iron powder electrodes, horrible noisy dirty job in the shop we worked in and was glad to be moved off it,
On the roof sections, we used to roll a 3mm sheet to match the curve in the roof ribs then turn the edges down on the press by a couple of inches, it gives a nice clean corner to the side of the cabin, then tuck the side sheets up the inside.
Nice job JB, good to see it being restored rather than cut up.

 

[addjunkie]

Nice work, all bost surfaces should curve, or camber the correct term for decks. Lets the water run off rapidly, minimising freesurface effect, in a sea way.

Cant see it been an issue parked next to the kelpies though.

How do you propose to insulate to prevent condensation, a huge problem with steel boats