We're buying a Narrowboat!

[Fraxinus]

Having built a couple of cruising barges and refurbed a few and travelled around France in a couple of them, think about adding in a secondary source of heat. There are several that run off diesel like Eberspacher or gas based ones that are more common in motorhomes. These allow you to direct the heat where you want it rather than rely on ambient heat from the main source. Also do not skimp on hull and other insulation. Life afloat is great as long as you are comfortable, mid winter in France moving a boat along for a client while sleeping in the Galley 'cos that's where the woodburner was takes some of the fun out of it.
Keep it fun and enjoy!
Rob.

 

[uncleboob]

Having built a couple of cruising barges and refurbed a few and travelled around France in a couple of them, think about adding in a secondary source of heat. There are several that run off diesel like Eberspacher or gas based ones that are more common in motorhomes. These allow you to direct the heat where you want it rather than rely on ambient heat from the main source. Also do not skimp on hull and other insulation. Life afloat is great as long as you are comfortable, mid winter in France moving a boat along for a client while sleeping in the Galley 'cos that's where the woodburner was takes some of the fun out of it.
Keep it fun and enjoy!
Rob.

Good points! As a general rule your supposed to have at least two ways to do everything, 2 ways to heat, cook, power etc etc...things are always going wrong on a boat, constant maintenance is one of those things that come with the life...having a back up keeps life comfortable

 

[Fraxinus]

Good points! As a general rule your supposed to have at least two ways to do everything, 2 ways to heat, cook, power etc etc...things are always going wrong on a boat, constant maintenance is one of those things that come with the life...having a back up keeps life comfortable

The bigger boats had a generator and large battery bank and inverter plus a gas central heating system it was the smaller one (38ft) we were bringing back to refurb that was the culprit, only highlight was cooking canalside chestnuts on the wood burner.
I ought to mention, as we are mentioning gas, that any gas bottle lockers should have a low level air drain point that needs to be kept clear, in case of leaks.
I was once told that osmosis never sank a loved boat, just as a maintained house never just fell down. We make that deal wherever we make home.
Rob.