First Refurbishment Project

[Clive B]

In September last year, I purchased via a broker an ex-Royal Navy Picket Boat ( Launched 1974) . The boat is 45' long with a Nelson Hull. I had a survey carried out which gave the boat a reasonably clean bill of health, including the engines.
We have set about totally refurbishing the boat, with a reasonable (but fast diminishing) budget. This is our first refurbishment and indeed our very first boat ever.
We are fitting two heads complete with electric WC and showers. There will be two cabins with 4 berths, occasional 6
We need some advice on the follow :
Size of Blackwater tank/tanks.
Size of Freshwater tank.
Suitable electric windlass 50m of 10mm chain that weighs with anchor 145 KG.
Recommend a suitable bow thruster for a 45' long by 16' wide 14 ton boat
Any thoughts much appreciated

 

[Seastoke]

Sorry i can not help but looking forward to see the photos etc, and congrats.

 

[paradave]

Can’t help with the questions but love this!

any pics you can share of the project would be great.

 

[philipdawsonladds]

I have a 43' boat also 14t. The boat has vetus bow and stern thrusters - 24v 80kfg. The fresh water tank is 450 litres and we have 2 x holding tanks, each 185 litres. We have a QUICK Antares windlass AT1524 which is more than adequate. Hope this helps

 

[Tranona]

Holding tanks depend on how long you want to stay independent of disposal either at sea or pump out (not as common as you might think!) how many people on board and amount of space available. Think of 10-15l a day per person.

Fresh water tanks similar principle but much more important is the way you consume water. The bigger the tanks the more wasteful the usage - standing in showers every day, running water when cleaning teeth and all the other things you might do at home soon empties tanks. Space again an issue.

Windlass Lofrans probably a Tigress

Bow thruster Sidepower every time. Installer will calculate size for you or if DIY the supplier.

Suggest you look at particulars of other similar boats using the same hull and see what size tanks they have - not always given in broker particulars but a few phone calls will help. This one theyachtmarket.com/en/boat-for-sale/2273323/ for example has 1000l of water and 290l of black water.

 

[vas]

agree with previous posters, would suggest an 185mm dia tunnel bow thruster got a bit of a keel, decent windage, so 80kfg should be plenty - min 5kw motor at 24V
a minimum of 1500W windlass as well
tanks as much as you can fit really, got a 108lt black tank which for the two of us is good for 5-6days anchored in the same spot, then we have to move empty at sea whilst moving to the next anchoring spot (not more than a handful of places that I know of I can pump out in Greece closest is 200nm from homeground)
Re tanks one of each is easier to handle, but unless you can fit them centrally you'll end up with various listing situations according to what's full and what's empty. So keep that in mind especially on a relatively narrow hull as a nelson.

 

[harvey38]

We did something similar with a 38', 12 T Aquastar and had both manual toilets replaced with electric units and had a 220l holding tank fitted. There are only two of us aboard and we generally use the marina facilities if we are in port and never had the holding tank more than 1/3 full after seven days.

The 75kw bow thruster is plenty powerful enough for us but as you are 7' longer, a more powerful unit would be advantageous.

The fresh water tank is 500l feeding the freshwater flush toilets, galley sink and two heads with showers.

Good luck and let's have plenty of photographs.

 

[PCUK]

If budget is tight, don't buy thrusters, windlass, etc. until everything else is done. These items are luxuries. Deal with the necessities first.

 

[Tranona]

Better to install thruster and windlass before anything else. Pretty essential for short handed handling of a boat of this size and type. Fitting the tunnel, wiring, battery etc before fitting out the forecabin is sensible as anybody who has done a retrofit will know.

 

[harvey38]

I'm with Tranona. A 45' boat without a bow thruster, even though it is twin engined would be a handful and all manner of issues could arise very quickly, before you know it, confidence has gone, enjoyment turns to anxiety and its back on the market.

 

[Clive B]

I have a 43' boat also 14t. The boat has vetus bow and stern thrusters - 24v 80kfg. The fresh water tank is 450 litres and we have 2 x holding tanks, each 185 litres. We have a QUICK Antares windlass AT1524 which is more than adequate. Hope this helps

Thank you for your input

 

[Clive B]

I'm with Tranona. A 45' boat without a bow thruster, even though it is twin engined would be a handful and all manner of issues could arise very quickly, before you know it, confidence has gone, enjoyment turns to anxiety and its back on the market.

Thanks for your input much appreciated

Sorry i can not help but looking forward to see the photos etc, and congrats.

Can’t help with the questions but love this!

any pics you can share of the project would be great.

 

[rbcoomer]

Great to see this and also look forward to updates. If I am not mistaken, this is one from BRNC on the Dart? Really nice to see one having a new lease of life! ?

 

[PCUK]

I'm with Tranona. A 45' boat without a bow thruster, even though it is twin engined would be a handful and all manner of issues could arise very quickly, before you know it, confidence has gone, enjoyment turns to anxiety and its back on the market.

Dear oh, dear, are boat handling standards now so low that accessories are today considered essential!

 

[Minerva]

Dear oh, dear, are boat handling standards now so low that accessories are today considered essential!

To check - you’d be quite content hauling 50m of 10mm anchor chain and associated anchor in by hand?!

that’s one hell of a workout!

 

[PCUK]

Used to, years ago! Anyway I'm talking about time scale.

 

[harvey38]

Dear oh, dear, are boat handling standards now so low that accessories are today considered essential!

Not essential but very useful.
I wish I was as good at boat handling as you make yourself out to be!

 

[Seastoke]

Not essential but very useful.
I wish I was as good at boat handling as you make yourself out to be!

 

[PCUK]

Ho

Not essential but very useful.
I wish I was as good at boat handling as you make yourself out to be!

How do you get to Carnegie Hall?

 

[burgundyben]

I thought those BRNC Nelly 45's looked really good value with the M130 engines.

Did they sell them all?