EMMELINE specs – before we started making changes 🙂
What extra have we done to support a live aboard life style with no permanent mooring
We haven’t changed much of what was on the boat when we got her – but the following has been added..
- Replaced all the halogen light bulbs with LED variants!
- Huawei B525s-23a 4G Router with external antennas mounted on the roof
- Router runs from the 12v supply via a DC>DC buck converter
- Solar Panels. – 600w of solar panels through a 32A charge controller (supplied and fitted)
- EFOY Pro2400 Duo Fuel Cell (supplied, self fitted)
- Fitted bunk beds in the centre cabin. (self fitted) -Daughters old bunk bed, cut down to size!
- Storage box (custom made) on the roof
What have we had to fix so far (not a full list!)
There is a reason “BOAT” stands for “Bring Out Another Thousand!”
- Unblock main propeller – lost count of how many times!
- Toilet macerator strip down, unblock, clean and re-assemble – 3 times so far! (such a wonderful job – not!)
- Chimney sweep (now every 7 days during winter) – as we had a chimney fire!
- Engine service (Oil & Filters) – Lost count!
- Fresh Water pump strip down and pressure switch fix – twice (blasted limescale!)
- Log Burner door glass replace – once
- Log burner door re-condition – once
- TV replace – once
- Oven replace – once (oven burner cut out failed – gas leak – boom – oven door glass shattered – but that was all thankfully!)
- Hob replace – once (frying pan fell from the shelf above it and smashed the glass!)
- Sink drain pipe replacement as well as a sink remove, re-fit and re-seal
- Kitchen cupboard sliding shelves replacement (rusted and snapped due to wear and above item leaking)
- Double bed mattress replacement
- Bow thruster propeller replacement (at purchase)
- Bow thruster unblock (whilst on the Thames and could swim safely to it to get it cleared!)
And the current list to do (which will never be empty! 🙂 ) :
- House Battery bank replacement & possible expansion to 6 110A sealed batteries (or 4 x 140A which it had when built)
- Fresh water expansion tank replacement (football currently popped!)
- Fuel filter replacement/addition with a fuel guard water extractor
- Diesel pipe refit (possibly to comply with the governments change to ban Red Diesel in 2022) – we have twin tanks already.. just need to amend the pipework sufficiently.
- Repaint the outer shell (rust patches are treated – need to key up the top coat and re-paint)
- Blacking (Done in 2018 – needed in 2020 & 2022)
- Replace rudder bearings and/or rudder cup mountings (during blacking when out of the water!) as the rudder is not a “smooth” as it used to be – and no – I haven’t bashed it on a lock gate or canal bank!
- Replace propeller shaft packing (during blacking when out of the water!)
- Clean and/or replace the bilge pump
- Drain down and replace the heating system water and anti-freeze
- Replace both alternator belts (not needed, but we have spares and the current ones have not snapped.. yet..)
- Replace the water pump – bearings starting to get a bit noisy and there is a slight water leak starting..
- Fit a DAB & CD car radio! Its amazing how the simple things are missed when cruising along!
- Replace Engine house alternator for a 150A variant (110A not enough when washing machine is going! – see point #1 – this is why its needed!)
- Investigate the possibility of fitting “travel power” to the boat (a 240V alternator and control panel instead of the 12V house alternator) – or even have both if the brackets will fit and the engine crank shaft can handle the sideways load on the bearings!