"We started off doing the usual trawl around various boat builders, a visit to Crick Show, introduced us to Beacon Boats, we liked both the boat on display and the friendliness, openness and enthusiasm of Beacon. We then went to meet them at their workshop and look at the build in progress. We were looking at alternatives to ‘normal’ propulsion, Ali & Neil supported us through our investigations, offering help and advice. We eventually decided against this, of our own accord and went with a Beta 43. Having designed our boat, Ali & Neil offered suggestions which have enhanced the final product, but allowed us to have the boat that we wanted. We have heard that commissioning a narrowboat can sometimes be stressful, our experience is the opposite, from design to launch, we had every confidence in Ali & Neil and the whole process was stress free, on time and within our budget. Any items that were off spec were fully costed and were authorised by us, prior to purchase. We have the boat we wanted, from the quality XR&D shell, the excellent interior woodwork and fixtures and fittings, to the fabulous paintwork and sign writing we can find no fault. Would we do this again? Hopefully we won’t have to, as we have the boat we wanted, if we did, would we use Beacon again? Definitely. If you are thinking of having your own narrowboat, contact them, visit them and speak to previous customers, we did and we are so glad that we did. "
John and Ali.
John and Ali.
Launched June 2011, this is our 13th boat (thus the chosen name).
She is a 58’ Semi trad, lined in maple and oak, with the saloon and bedroom having painted T&G Tulipwood above the gunwales. All ports with 2 sets of side doors, 3 small bespoke Houdini hatches, our usual stable doors and hull style.
From the stern:
The engine is a cocooned Beta 43, with a bank of AGM leisure batteries, the Webasto system for the central heating is also housed in the engine bay. There are many added charging, monitoring, and ‘economy use’ features, such as solar power.
In the semi-stern area, is just 1 locker which houses the gas, the other side having space for occasional seating/storage/pets. There is a useful stern cover also, giving a sheltered dry area when moored. Courtesy lights are fitted to the stern bulkhead.
Down the storage steps and into the saloon. Cupboards either side house the calorifier and airing cupboard, and a shelf for maps/phones etc, along with 12v sockets and fire extinguisher. The opposite side houses a 3kw pure sine inverter/charger, and electric cupboard for fusing.
There are fitted storage and media cupboards, a lockgate diesel stove, space for free standing furniture, including a shelved coffee table made as part of the fit out, and an L shaped dinette, just 5’6” long, that extends into a 6’x4’ bed. This is upholstered in leather with 3 options of table size/position. A 12v freezer is housed below one section of the dinette. 2 side hatches with inner framed glass doors are in this area also. Flooring throughout is in solid oak.
Into the galley, surfaces and splashbacks are black quartz. There are 2 of our ‘cellar boxes’ and a range of cupboards and drawers including the kickboard drawers. Inset hob and sink units, built in 12v fridge and washing machine and oven. There is also a plate rack specially made to hold a dining service.
Through into the walkthrough bathroom, quadrant shower, ‘thunderbox’ toilet and sink, with white quartz bushboard splash areas. Again, lots of storage is provided.
The fixed bedroom has an inline extending bed, a large wardrobe with drawer section, underbed storage with drawers also, overhead cupboard and dressing table, along with a fixed framed mirror. The stable doors leading to the bow have hand painted glass oval ports.
Out to the bow, with 2 further lockers, draining matting, bow thrusters locker for a ‘sidepower’ thrusters, and cratch, the front of which has hinged and removable windows for easy access to the front bow storage locker.
Throughout the boat there are ample 12v and 230v sockets, high quality lensed LED lamps in both the ceiling and wall lights, and storage everywhere we could find to put it! The houdini’s were specially made ‘one off’ small houdinis with smoked or obscured glass, in the bedroom, galley and dinette area. All the fittings are chromed, all windows and houdini’s are double glazed. A Gas and Co detector is installed that automatically switched off the gas supply if set off. There is also wireless network facility through the boat.
The paintwork is hand brushed in grey, red, cream and black, and hand signwritten.
We would like to wish the new owners of Triskaideka many happy years cruising in their well thought out narrowboat.
She is a 58’ Semi trad, lined in maple and oak, with the saloon and bedroom having painted T&G Tulipwood above the gunwales. All ports with 2 sets of side doors, 3 small bespoke Houdini hatches, our usual stable doors and hull style.
From the stern:
The engine is a cocooned Beta 43, with a bank of AGM leisure batteries, the Webasto system for the central heating is also housed in the engine bay. There are many added charging, monitoring, and ‘economy use’ features, such as solar power.
In the semi-stern area, is just 1 locker which houses the gas, the other side having space for occasional seating/storage/pets. There is a useful stern cover also, giving a sheltered dry area when moored. Courtesy lights are fitted to the stern bulkhead.
Down the storage steps and into the saloon. Cupboards either side house the calorifier and airing cupboard, and a shelf for maps/phones etc, along with 12v sockets and fire extinguisher. The opposite side houses a 3kw pure sine inverter/charger, and electric cupboard for fusing.
There are fitted storage and media cupboards, a lockgate diesel stove, space for free standing furniture, including a shelved coffee table made as part of the fit out, and an L shaped dinette, just 5’6” long, that extends into a 6’x4’ bed. This is upholstered in leather with 3 options of table size/position. A 12v freezer is housed below one section of the dinette. 2 side hatches with inner framed glass doors are in this area also. Flooring throughout is in solid oak.
Into the galley, surfaces and splashbacks are black quartz. There are 2 of our ‘cellar boxes’ and a range of cupboards and drawers including the kickboard drawers. Inset hob and sink units, built in 12v fridge and washing machine and oven. There is also a plate rack specially made to hold a dining service.
Through into the walkthrough bathroom, quadrant shower, ‘thunderbox’ toilet and sink, with white quartz bushboard splash areas. Again, lots of storage is provided.
The fixed bedroom has an inline extending bed, a large wardrobe with drawer section, underbed storage with drawers also, overhead cupboard and dressing table, along with a fixed framed mirror. The stable doors leading to the bow have hand painted glass oval ports.
Out to the bow, with 2 further lockers, draining matting, bow thrusters locker for a ‘sidepower’ thrusters, and cratch, the front of which has hinged and removable windows for easy access to the front bow storage locker.
Throughout the boat there are ample 12v and 230v sockets, high quality lensed LED lamps in both the ceiling and wall lights, and storage everywhere we could find to put it! The houdini’s were specially made ‘one off’ small houdinis with smoked or obscured glass, in the bedroom, galley and dinette area. All the fittings are chromed, all windows and houdini’s are double glazed. A Gas and Co detector is installed that automatically switched off the gas supply if set off. There is also wireless network facility through the boat.
The paintwork is hand brushed in grey, red, cream and black, and hand signwritten.
We would like to wish the new owners of Triskaideka many happy years cruising in their well thought out narrowboat.
