A green building/project with a difference.

[fran]

Hi,

I thought you might be interested in our environmentally friendly 'build/renovation'. We have bought an old barge. It was originally owned by the MoD and used to transport torpedoes along the Clyde. We are completely stripping it out and renovating it. It will eventually have a lounge/salon in the wheelhouse, a bedroom, bathroom, large kitchen/dining area with a small snug sitting area, office, utility room and pantry. The barge is fully operational and we will eventually take her over to Europe and cruise the canals in our retirement. We are reusing, recycling and reclaiming wherever possible.
We intend to be self-sufficient with electric, heating, hot water etc. We will even be growing fruit and veg on deck in containers.
At the moment the wood burner is working and is being fuelled by all the old and unusable wood whilst we are stripping the barge out.
Being on the water is about living with the elements and being part of the surrounding nature, heaven on earth.
If anyone has any good ideas that they think may be useful, we are always open to advice and new suggestions. So please get in contact we would love to hear from you.

[Green Rosie]

I used to joke that when we retired to a canal barge we'd have to tow another barge in which to grow our veg - but would this actually be feasible? I would be lost without my veg patch

[fran]

Our barge is 17'6'' wide and 60' long. The side decks are 3'6'' wide so we have plenty of flat deck space (almost as much as our garden now). A friend is making me some 1m square wooden containers (with metal bottoms so they do not rot) and with legs so that they do not make the deck rusty. I also intend to have lots of other pots and containers everywhere!

[fran]

For some serious self-sufficiency on a barge have a look at this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSok5VLnA8c

[Thomzo]

Oh how lovely. I've had a quick peek at your piccies and you really do have a project on there but I bet it'll be wonderful when it's finished.

Good luck with it, I hope it works out exactly as you want it to.

Zoe

[fran]

Thanks Zoe, we do have a lot of work to do but it is a project that we have wanted to do for a long time, just had to wait for all the (grown up) kids to move out etc. It is also the only way that we can retire at a reasonable age and not work forever until we have paid off the mortgage. It is all very exciting and that is what is spurring us on.
Fran

[southeast-isher]

For some serious self-sufficiency on a barge have a look at this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSok5VLnA8c

wow, that's fantastic. Thanks for the link.

[theabsinthefairy]

That looks great fun - enjoyed your blog. Good luck with your renovation.

[fran]

Thank you, I really enjoyed your blog too. I love your photographs, once we move onto the barge I think I may have to treat myself to a couple!

[theabsinthefairy]

thank you

[brett53]

2 questions if i may - not wishing to appear rude or nosy of course

in a ballpark figure ,what did the old barge set you back ??

and is "fran" short for franchesca or francina?? ( my late wife's name ) - or maybe not shortened at all

just being curious


good luck with your project - and safe voyaging

[fran]

Brett,

About 20 grand. But we did get a real bargain as the hull is in perfect condition (8mm thick at least), she has an almost brand new engine and was partially fitted out. Really we would have expected to pay double that.
But she is going to cost us an awful lot more money yet!

Frances

[brett53]

Brett,

About 20 grand. But we did get a real bargain as the hull is in perfect condition (8mm thick at least), she has an almost brand new engine and was partially fitted out. Really we would have expected to pay double that.
But she is going to cost us an awful lot more money yet!

Frances

sounds like you did indeed get a bargain - especially with a decent engine as that would have set you back that and more i suspect to replace - nice one

thanks

[snapdragon]

Wow how wonderful
the only advice I can think of is don't moor where there's likely to be flooding and try to get south of the hard frost area before winter

have fun

[mamos]

For some serious self-sufficiency on a barge have a look at this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSok5VLnA8c

Thanks for that link. I really enjoyed that

mamos