"Three years ago we started our dream. Then, we didn't know when we would be living on board, but that all seemed to fit into the jigsaw of life.
We found Beacon Boats via the Internet, as everything else these days. For two consecutive years we had gone to the Crick show and spent many an hour looking over boats and their builders. None of them leapt out!!
On our first visit to Beacon Boats we were made so welcome and it all felt ' right '. Neil, Ally and Viv were fantastic from beginning to end.
They guided us and advised us throughout. Nothing was too much trouble and very importantly they kept us informed at all times.
Ally's preparation, admin and ordering has to be the foundation of their partnership. Neil's expertise in fitting a boat out is superb. His electrical knowledge and crafting of wood is outstanding. In fact we think quiet beautiful! It feels like silk, never a rough edge or corner.
Viv's preparation prior to painting is without question the best. His attention to detail and top coat finish is meticulous.
They have been outstanding builders and we can not thank them enough for our beautiful new home! We would like to remain friends and visit when ever possible, to see their next venture's.
Eventually Neil left ‘ Willow Too ' , the same day as we were moving in, we thought he was coming with us! That's how much they love their work!!
We now live on ' Willow Too ' with our three English Springer Spaniels, Darley, Muppett and Archie."
Geoff & Julie Cox
We found Beacon Boats via the Internet, as everything else these days. For two consecutive years we had gone to the Crick show and spent many an hour looking over boats and their builders. None of them leapt out!!
On our first visit to Beacon Boats we were made so welcome and it all felt ' right '. Neil, Ally and Viv were fantastic from beginning to end.
They guided us and advised us throughout. Nothing was too much trouble and very importantly they kept us informed at all times.
Ally's preparation, admin and ordering has to be the foundation of their partnership. Neil's expertise in fitting a boat out is superb. His electrical knowledge and crafting of wood is outstanding. In fact we think quiet beautiful! It feels like silk, never a rough edge or corner.
Viv's preparation prior to painting is without question the best. His attention to detail and top coat finish is meticulous.
They have been outstanding builders and we can not thank them enough for our beautiful new home! We would like to remain friends and visit when ever possible, to see their next venture's.
Eventually Neil left ‘ Willow Too ' , the same day as we were moving in, we thought he was coming with us! That's how much they love their work!!
We now live on ' Willow Too ' with our three English Springer Spaniels, Darley, Muppett and Archie."
Geoff & Julie Cox
Willow Too is a 60’ traditional style, slipper stern narrowboat, built to our customers specification.
Lined in a mix of oak tongue and groove, and oak faced ply, with solid oak flooring throughout, and all solid brass port holes, she is the style of boat we are well known for building.
As a live-aboard boat, our customers chose energy efficient systems throughout, so they can run mostly with 12v and solar power, though have a 2kw inverter and a 3.5kw travel pack in addition, for flexibility.
The trad stern is a slipper stern, which aids the handling, especially in reverse, and has our usual lift to the hull, giving improved visibility down the boat for the steerer. Courtesy LED lights are inset into the outer cabin wall.
The engine room, with its extra wide hatch, houses a Canal Line 42hp engine, with the travel pack, along with a large bank of leisure batteries, the electric cupboard with galvanic isolator, charger and inverter, and the fuse boards, and other controls, including the 30A solar controller for the two 135w Kyocera solar panels on the roof. A Webasto central heating unit is also fitted. There is plenty of storage in cupboards and steps, as well as space for loose items. The engine housing is fully removable in minutes. A made to measure step booster was also provided for extra height when steering, for the lady customer.
Through into the bedroom, with a roomy wardrobe providing hanging, shelves and drawers, the inline bed offers a comfortable night at 6’6”x4’8”, and pushes in to 4’ during the day. Over bed storage is provided, whilst under the bed are more large drawers, along with the calorifier, and shower pump. A smart black radiator, and shelf for the morning cuppa, complete the bedroom.
Into the bathroom, with a domestic size quadrant shower, a good sized vanity unit offering cupboard and drawer storage with inset sink, and our ‘thunderbox’ cassette toilet, with more storage behind. A towel radiator is also fitted. The porthole glass in the bathroom is fused glass of willow leaf design, made by our customers under guidance from The Purple Stained Glass Studio...a nice personal touch. The door through to the galley has two stained glass panels set in to it, also provided to us by the customers, giving a beautiful light through.
The galley has a hand made solid oak worktop, with glass topped sink and hob units set in, along
with the tap and filtered water tap. Above are storage cupboards arranged around the port, with LED lighting below (all lighting is 12v LED). Below the main run of worktop there is a housed washing machine, and large amounts of cupboard storage, whilst opposite is an eye level oven/grill, with housed 12v fridge below, a drawer unit and wine rack. The floor houses a cellar box, and 6 kick board drawers are also fitted. A Houdini hatch is above the galley, for day time light and ventilation.
Both Houdini hatches have insect screens that fit magnetically into the hatch.
The saloon has a Pullman dinette, with reversible back, with pull out foot rest on saloon side, to allow sitting facing either way on the saloon side, 12v freezer under one side, storage on the other, and a further drawer in the centre. The solid oak table drops to form a spare bed when required.
The dinette is flanked by side hatches with glass door screens on each side, and a further black radiator is fitted.
The main saloon area has an Evergreen stove, with the new suspended and insulated flue system, with cruising or mooring chimney options. A tall storage cupboard is fitted opposite, and the bow door step also provides storage, and has a heat shield on the stove side. From the tall cupboard runs a further low cupboard and shelf unit, and provides the space for the 12v satellite TV and music & internet systems. The second Houdini hatch is above the area for free standing furniture.
Outside into the bow area, via steel, oak lined stable doors, also with oval, customer made, fused glass ports, there are two lockable storage lockers, with shaped cushions, and inset courtesy LED lights. A hook up point (there is also a hook up from the stern) is provided here. Above is an Iroko cratch frame with acrylic/canvass cratch cover. The top board has further LED courtesy lighting, and a hanging provision for wet clothes or wind chimes etc. An additional idea our customers had was to have bespoke covers made which popper onto the inner bow gunwale, and are magnetically held on the outer side, to protect the paint from the dogs claws as they jump in and out. Works a treat, and have become known as ‘dog flaps’! Below the bow area is a large stainless steel water tank with digital gauge. No bow thrusters were required which meant extra space for a larger tank.
The bow locker is accessed via opening windows at the front of the cratch, and houses the gas bottles. A tunnel light is fitted onto the front beam. Willow Too is coach painted in the customers chosen design, in deep green with complimentary light green coach lines.
We wish our customers a very happy life aboard.
Lined in a mix of oak tongue and groove, and oak faced ply, with solid oak flooring throughout, and all solid brass port holes, she is the style of boat we are well known for building.
As a live-aboard boat, our customers chose energy efficient systems throughout, so they can run mostly with 12v and solar power, though have a 2kw inverter and a 3.5kw travel pack in addition, for flexibility.
The trad stern is a slipper stern, which aids the handling, especially in reverse, and has our usual lift to the hull, giving improved visibility down the boat for the steerer. Courtesy LED lights are inset into the outer cabin wall.
The engine room, with its extra wide hatch, houses a Canal Line 42hp engine, with the travel pack, along with a large bank of leisure batteries, the electric cupboard with galvanic isolator, charger and inverter, and the fuse boards, and other controls, including the 30A solar controller for the two 135w Kyocera solar panels on the roof. A Webasto central heating unit is also fitted. There is plenty of storage in cupboards and steps, as well as space for loose items. The engine housing is fully removable in minutes. A made to measure step booster was also provided for extra height when steering, for the lady customer.
Through into the bedroom, with a roomy wardrobe providing hanging, shelves and drawers, the inline bed offers a comfortable night at 6’6”x4’8”, and pushes in to 4’ during the day. Over bed storage is provided, whilst under the bed are more large drawers, along with the calorifier, and shower pump. A smart black radiator, and shelf for the morning cuppa, complete the bedroom.
Into the bathroom, with a domestic size quadrant shower, a good sized vanity unit offering cupboard and drawer storage with inset sink, and our ‘thunderbox’ cassette toilet, with more storage behind. A towel radiator is also fitted. The porthole glass in the bathroom is fused glass of willow leaf design, made by our customers under guidance from The Purple Stained Glass Studio...a nice personal touch. The door through to the galley has two stained glass panels set in to it, also provided to us by the customers, giving a beautiful light through.
The galley has a hand made solid oak worktop, with glass topped sink and hob units set in, along
with the tap and filtered water tap. Above are storage cupboards arranged around the port, with LED lighting below (all lighting is 12v LED). Below the main run of worktop there is a housed washing machine, and large amounts of cupboard storage, whilst opposite is an eye level oven/grill, with housed 12v fridge below, a drawer unit and wine rack. The floor houses a cellar box, and 6 kick board drawers are also fitted. A Houdini hatch is above the galley, for day time light and ventilation.
Both Houdini hatches have insect screens that fit magnetically into the hatch.
The saloon has a Pullman dinette, with reversible back, with pull out foot rest on saloon side, to allow sitting facing either way on the saloon side, 12v freezer under one side, storage on the other, and a further drawer in the centre. The solid oak table drops to form a spare bed when required.
The dinette is flanked by side hatches with glass door screens on each side, and a further black radiator is fitted.
The main saloon area has an Evergreen stove, with the new suspended and insulated flue system, with cruising or mooring chimney options. A tall storage cupboard is fitted opposite, and the bow door step also provides storage, and has a heat shield on the stove side. From the tall cupboard runs a further low cupboard and shelf unit, and provides the space for the 12v satellite TV and music & internet systems. The second Houdini hatch is above the area for free standing furniture.
Outside into the bow area, via steel, oak lined stable doors, also with oval, customer made, fused glass ports, there are two lockable storage lockers, with shaped cushions, and inset courtesy LED lights. A hook up point (there is also a hook up from the stern) is provided here. Above is an Iroko cratch frame with acrylic/canvass cratch cover. The top board has further LED courtesy lighting, and a hanging provision for wet clothes or wind chimes etc. An additional idea our customers had was to have bespoke covers made which popper onto the inner bow gunwale, and are magnetically held on the outer side, to protect the paint from the dogs claws as they jump in and out. Works a treat, and have become known as ‘dog flaps’! Below the bow area is a large stainless steel water tank with digital gauge. No bow thrusters were required which meant extra space for a larger tank.
The bow locker is accessed via opening windows at the front of the cratch, and houses the gas bottles. A tunnel light is fitted onto the front beam. Willow Too is coach painted in the customers chosen design, in deep green with complimentary light green coach lines.
We wish our customers a very happy life aboard.
