"We had been boating in some form or other since the 1970’s and bought a narrow boat after giving up sea going journeys. It soon became obvious that our 43ft boat wasn’t really big enough for us, our growing amount of ‘stuff’, and our visiting friends. We spent a lot of time looking at second hand boats, but none managed to fit the bill. So with Ann about to retire, we started to look for a new build. We visited lots of builders, but it wasn’t until we discovered that Beacon Boats had a cancellation slot that we found the builder for us.
Ally and Neil listened to our ideas and made suggestions to how these could be implemented, producing some cunning solutions to problems and talked us out of some less sensible notions! We wanted the boat to be very quiet, have two toilets, and storage for folding bikes. We were very struck by the stern deck arrangement of ‘Off the Rails’, so copied that with slight modifications in consultation with Lee and Garry at XRandD.
The boat seemed well on the way to completion when Neil was taken ill. This is when Ally really showed what she could do, pulling together a small team to complete our boat. We always knew that Neil did the work of three men!
We are really happy with our boat and grateful to Ally, Neil, Viv and the rest of the team who got our unique & shiny boat launched just in time for the season."
John & Ann
Ally and Neil listened to our ideas and made suggestions to how these could be implemented, producing some cunning solutions to problems and talked us out of some less sensible notions! We wanted the boat to be very quiet, have two toilets, and storage for folding bikes. We were very struck by the stern deck arrangement of ‘Off the Rails’, so copied that with slight modifications in consultation with Lee and Garry at XRandD.
The boat seemed well on the way to completion when Neil was taken ill. This is when Ally really showed what she could do, pulling together a small team to complete our boat. We always knew that Neil did the work of three men!
We are really happy with our boat and grateful to Ally, Neil, Viv and the rest of the team who got our unique & shiny boat launched just in time for the season."
John & Ann
Bisbigliando (a musical term meaning ‘whispering’) is a 57’ semi-cruiser style narrowboat, our 18th new build, and the last to be built by us.
Our customers had many ideas of what they wanted from their new boat, and the name she was to have, was to be reflected when underway. With this in mind, the whole of the engine bay was fitted with top quality sound proofing, as well as a large hospital silencer. They report back to us that they are regularly taking fishermen by surprise, as no-one hears them approach.
The stern has the semi cruiser style exterior, with lockers for both gas and personal belongings, one being dropped lower into the engine bay space, for extra space. The deck boards were made to lock down securely. A Canal line engine is fitted below, along with a webasto heating system, and AGM battery bank. A stern canopy is also fitted. The stable doors lead to the bedroom at the rear, with a second small ‘convenience’ room, with cassette toilet and basin, near the stern steps.
The bedroom has a cross bed, storage and calorifier under, 2 good size wardrobes, a bedside cabinet with radio system installed, plus the electrical cupboard and cruising shelf.
Down the corridor is the bathroom, cassette toilet, inset basin vanity unit with deep mirrored cupboard above, and quadrant shower.
Back into the corridor, and you find a top larder unit pulls out between the bathroom and galley, along with a massive open storage area below...big enough for bikes even!
The galley has a full size domestic cooker, 12v fridge, over and under cupboards, our usual kick board drawers and cellar box storage. We also built a unit under the side hatch (which has windows with solid oak shutter panels) which stores the crockery.
Through into the saloon is a clever ‘L’ shape dinette, with raked back rest, that turns into a wider than usual double guest bed. As usual, a choice of full size or half size tables, which store under the gunwale in the corridor. A tv cabinet was fitted, along with another large corner unit and open shelves, a full height hanging cupboard, and a Morso squirrel stove with double skinned and insulated flue. The front bow doors again have windows with oak shutter panels.
In the bow, 2 more seat lockers, and the front bow locker had a shallow shelf welded in, to increase storage, as the gas wasn’t required there. A bow thrusters locker is also fitted, along with a cratch board and cover, with the usual opening front windows.
The hull had several specified details, including welded steel fairleads and Samson posts instead of dollies or T’s.
We would like to thank our customers, John and Ann, for their patience and understanding throughout their build, and wish them the happiest of cruising years in their new narrowboat.
Our customers had many ideas of what they wanted from their new boat, and the name she was to have, was to be reflected when underway. With this in mind, the whole of the engine bay was fitted with top quality sound proofing, as well as a large hospital silencer. They report back to us that they are regularly taking fishermen by surprise, as no-one hears them approach.
The stern has the semi cruiser style exterior, with lockers for both gas and personal belongings, one being dropped lower into the engine bay space, for extra space. The deck boards were made to lock down securely. A Canal line engine is fitted below, along with a webasto heating system, and AGM battery bank. A stern canopy is also fitted. The stable doors lead to the bedroom at the rear, with a second small ‘convenience’ room, with cassette toilet and basin, near the stern steps.
The bedroom has a cross bed, storage and calorifier under, 2 good size wardrobes, a bedside cabinet with radio system installed, plus the electrical cupboard and cruising shelf.
Down the corridor is the bathroom, cassette toilet, inset basin vanity unit with deep mirrored cupboard above, and quadrant shower.
Back into the corridor, and you find a top larder unit pulls out between the bathroom and galley, along with a massive open storage area below...big enough for bikes even!
The galley has a full size domestic cooker, 12v fridge, over and under cupboards, our usual kick board drawers and cellar box storage. We also built a unit under the side hatch (which has windows with solid oak shutter panels) which stores the crockery.
Through into the saloon is a clever ‘L’ shape dinette, with raked back rest, that turns into a wider than usual double guest bed. As usual, a choice of full size or half size tables, which store under the gunwale in the corridor. A tv cabinet was fitted, along with another large corner unit and open shelves, a full height hanging cupboard, and a Morso squirrel stove with double skinned and insulated flue. The front bow doors again have windows with oak shutter panels.
In the bow, 2 more seat lockers, and the front bow locker had a shallow shelf welded in, to increase storage, as the gas wasn’t required there. A bow thrusters locker is also fitted, along with a cratch board and cover, with the usual opening front windows.
The hull had several specified details, including welded steel fairleads and Samson posts instead of dollies or T’s.
We would like to thank our customers, John and Ann, for their patience and understanding throughout their build, and wish them the happiest of cruising years in their new narrowboat.
