Piano on board...

stelican said:
Jim Davidson had one on his Princess 55 so I am told
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I worked on a P55 that was delivered alongside Jim Davidson's, both at the Princess agent in Port Solent, I recall his boat was called Afgan Plains, possibly, he traded it in for a P65 when they came out, I think, I don't recall a piano on the 55. Had lunch with him in the Mexican restaurant one day, he was a right knob.
 
burgundyben said:
I worked on a P55 that was delivered alongside Jim Davidson's, both at the Princess agent in Port Solent, I recall his boat was called Afgan Plains, possibly, he traded it in for a P65 when they came out, I think, I don't recall a piano on the 55. Had lunch with him in the Mexican restaurant one day, he was a right knob.
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Spoke with the guy who sold him the boat definitely had a piano on board, As regards the knob that's a bit hard
 
I'm not a piano player but we do have an upright at the family home and I plays drums. Besides the physical impracticalities would a boat environment be a bit harsh for a piano? Movements, humidity/damp (at times), too dry at times (with continuous dehumidifier)..changeable temperatures etc.

I do like the idea though
 
Gerry said:
I know it's not a 'real' piano but this 45 foot sailboat has an electric one...........
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Well remembered.
I was thinking about this boat about which I was seriously envious !
IIRC, it was a Bowman 45 called Piano for sale by an obviously wonderful dutch chap. He built a great website to sell the boat.
Wonderful boat.
Hope I am right or I will look like a right no* !!
 
Whopper said:
I'm not a piano player but we do have an upright at the family home and I plays drums. Besides the physical impracticalities would a boat environment be a bit harsh for a piano? Movements, humidity/damp (at times), too dry at times (with continuous dehumidifier)..changeable temperatures etc.

I do like the idea though
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As a professional piano tuner/restorer I have tuned many traditional pianos on boats of all sizes. A piano is a sealed box and it would take a very high humidity to get into the mechanism and cause damage. If you get it tuned and checked once a year it should cope.
My advise would be to look for a six octave modern style upright from the '60s onwards. These were generally built to withstand central heating, etc and many had nylon bushings (bearings) that will not swell with damp.
Find a knowledgeable and helpful tuner who can give you advise if you find one as you don't want to lumber yourself with a dud. Never buy a Lindner or similar as they were made from plastic in Shannon, Ireland and are now beginning to fall to pieces.
You can find bargains on ebay but I would again advise asking a professional before buying.
 
Thanks for the info guys. Now all I need to do is learn how to pay the piano and check down the back of the couch for funds to buy a 60 footer
 
image.jpg

This is from the recent wooden boat festival in Oz, a lady playing a piano in the aft of the boat being rowed around the pontoons. One of MapisM's photos.
 
Last edited:
Post from AndieMac beat me to it.

I once put an upright piano in he aft cockpit of my Osbourne 30, pretty easy, borrowed a truck with Hiab and plonked it in, however did put the exhausts well under water!

Was an absolute gas at Henley regatta cruising up and down then moored for the fireworks with jazz pianist bashing away. Sorry should this have been posted on the Thames Forum?

On a small passenger cargo ship I served on had baby grand in the passenger saloon which was secured to bass pad eyes in the deck (apologies to no nautical boaters 'floor') in heavy weather with nice ornate lanyards and chrome turnbuckles.

However due to sea air was never in tune!
 
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