Having lived on a narrowboat for a couple of years it always puts a smile on my face when people tell me it's their dream to do the same. I instantly image how I would design their boat, full of creature comforts, no bathroom where your elbows hit the wall, pumps that run silently, inverters that don't trip when you try to run a washing machine, microwave and hairdryer at the same time and space to put the kid's hamsters where the cat can't lick his lips at them! I learned a lot about designing boats from living on them and each desirable design feature is encorporated into our hire boats. We avoid setting them up to squeeze as many people on as possible but create them like mini holiday cottages. The cosiness of a boat never fails to win me over. Whether it be the warm wood, plump bed or telly right next to the radiator.
The ideas charging round my head at the moment for the new boat won't let me sleep. I know that I have to plan it correctly right from the beginning. At least with this boat we have put the windows and side hatch where we want them. With Tin Can, the windows and hatches were already created so we had to design the boat around them. Doesn't sound like much of a problem until you realise the shower will be built over a window (great if your 20 - but i'm a bit past that!)
So planning it is at the moment. With Tin Can we put masking tape on the floor to indicate where bulkheads and appliances would go - but the dog was a puppy then and she chewed them up so who knows what Tin Can was originally supposed to be designed like inside.
My mind is going towards a Scandinavian look for the new boat. Clean lines, bright white interior, spacious and simple. What do you think?
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