Celotex type stuff - any to avoid? Also what glue? any old grip fill stuff presumably as it's far from load bearing. Ta.
When contact glue goes hard it peels off the glue easily. Its quite good but it is still only aluminised thin bubble wrap with a skin both sides. Better than nothing.
I feel a plan coming together but I'll do the majority next year or I'll be fighting condensation. I really only took this bit apart because I wanted to see how it was constructed and how I could improve it.
Ahh ok interesting, I worked in the home insulation industry back in the 90’s carrying out grant work for various energy companies and the government. A constant battle we had was lofts “sweating” due to the increased insulation and lack of air flow. Obviously boats are completely different. I’d be interested to know how the insulation performed below the water line. Sorry I can’t offer any advice but being of a certain age (and sad) I’m actually finding this extremely interesting I clearly need to get out more.
I'm lying awake here thinking about it. TLB insomniacs. Think I'll just glue it back together more or less as it was, it's too much faff to radically change it right now.
I'm going to put that bit back together and forget the whole idea for now! When I buy a house to rent out for pocket money, we might be the first tenants while I do it.
Its one of those few things on the boat that I have to try and not overthink. Being of a certain age ours is simply lined with polystyrene sheet. I imagine that if I was to horse in and start ripping panels off then what's underneath would be a 35 year old horror show. So I don't! It would be awesome to have it spray foamed but we've learned to live with it Steve. I've cut a couple of extra holes in the floor, under the galley and in the bathroom vanity unit plus the big access under the bed. They allow for air circulation. Our fixed open ventilation is more than BSS requirements and we don't block vents like lots of folk do. One winter I wet vac'd about 20l of water out of the bilge which was simply condensation. I nearly had a fit the first time I had to do that! Now I accept there will be condensate down there and deal with that by regularly mopping it out and placing extra large panty liners in there to soak it up. However, we have no mould, mildew or damp patches. The boat is warm and the woodwork dry. One of the primary drivers for having Paul Barber at Sheet Stores overplate the base last year was because I was concerned not about external corrosion, but because of any internal rot I couldn't see. When the floor was up, coz I had ballast removed, it was perfect! I painted it with Temac bilge paint for peace of mind and re-layed the marine ply flooring and all is good. It'll see us out now... The insulation such as it is stops just at or slightly below the floor layer and that makes sense to me as any condensation runs into the bilges and isn't wicked back up.
If it wasn't I wouldn't be doing this. But really this is my best chance for this part, I'm extending my bedroom and the bulkhead was part way along that side panel and still will be after I move it so it was now or never. It's been a busy year what with painting one side of the boat and 12 hatch/lid sides earlier. Today I went under the Mersey to the Wirral and got some 30mm celotex and some 9mm strips of wood from Southport to build out the battens so I can squash some 10mm closed cell/ali backed foam (ordered) on the steel box sections then tape it all up. After recommendations on here I've ordered some CT1 to stick it all together. Had a nice "bus moment" with the insulation guys, one has a beetle, the other a T4. Small world. Also rust treated it all today with Vactan. That's what happens when you get up at 4am! I'm knackered.
Being an avid reader of people’s life stories I had a penchant for reading books by people that have chosen the canal life ( probably 20 or more books ) and they all seem to have a few things in common. Rust and the dreaded survey. Engines, damp, mooring places and finances. Live aboards seem to spend the winter hibernating and the summers cruising and on the face it it seems idyllic but I always wonder how many of these writers actually stay the course. In a slightly voyeuristic way I really enjoy these insights you give us into life on the cut, partly because I have always liked the idea of living life without the hustle and bustle cruising along at a snails pace sipping a beer and having a chat etc, but also because my dad’s grandfather was a bargee and his whole family lived aboard the barge and butty and it was horse drawn. Keep the pictures coming Zed it’s very interesting.
Sadly, for us thus far it's just a floating house in a marina so not exactly "life on the cut". It does go and if I'm going to strip paint to the metal we go down the canal to do it and it's quite pleasant pootling along Ever so slightly... boring though! I do wonder how many people convince themselves they're enjoying it more than they really are though, but one thing that is tops is the peace and quiet. All in all I like where the camper can get me more if it's a case of getting out and about, but as a home I love the boat. It's small compared to a house and the lack of shed/garage/garden is awkward but you can't have everything. I'm actually now quite enthused about just doing the top half which is where the trouble is as there isn't so much (hardly anything really, attached to it... next year. I suppose a house needs upkeep too so I shouldn't moan.
Exactly. Most jobs on a boat can be done relatively easily and with a bit of nous the prices shouldn’t cripple you and you have serenity and a shared community life I guess.
I've found a notable percentage of marina people are actually two-faced a'holes - sorry to burst that bubble! I guess it comes from living on top of each other - got to be pleasant one on one, then the back biting and bitching starts. I've come to the conclusion that it's better to keep to yourself generally. Maybe out on the cut where meeting peeps is a short term thing it would be better - we'll get out there eventually.
I guess there will always be that issue in a small community but as you say probably a lot less once you’re cruising and maybe then the shared interest and Bon ami shines through. That’s the impression I get from the books too.
Mock up/experiment of "improved" battening. Was wondering how I'd keep these in place while the goo sets and came up with adding a 9mm strip to bridge the steel box sections. I'll wood glue it to the battens, the screws are just me experimenting. Self tapper into the steel, jobs a good 'un. That will also space the panels away from the steel, I'm going to stick 10mm foil backed closed cell foam on those and have 30mm celotex type sheet for in between the battens. all sealed up with aluminium tape. Just got to work out how to make the window surround 10mm thicker. Or I might buy a new one, £110 for a GRP wood effect one, I think it's probably worth spending that to complete the job. The chunky bit at the bottom will be screwed/glued to the lower ply sheets and nailed/glued to the bottom of the top ones. Just room for the cable trunking to fix to the bottom and hide behind the top sheet. The fun will be gluing/nailing the big ply sheet back on, but I have time to dwell on how I can do that without getting in a mess.
