Canal Boat – July 2018

28 July 2018 Canal Boat canalboat.co.uk

Silent Waters on test

borders and grey panels separated by a

cream coach line. The roof is grey forward

of the boatman’s beam, and raddle red aft

of it. The sign writing is by Andy Russell,

who has shown his artistic flair by also

painting a fishing boat each side. This is in

tribute to Dave’s grandfather, who had a

fishing boat called Silent Waters in Devon

while Dave was growing up.

There is a gas locker in the nose, while

the water tank is under the well deck. The

well deck itself has a heater, linked to the

boat’s central heating system, and a tap for

washing Sky the dog after muddy walks.

There’s a locker across the front of the

deck for storage and to give access to the

bow thruster.

Layout and fitout

This is a boat whose layout has really been

determined by the choice of engine,

because a Gardner needs its own room. So

the saloon is at the bow, with the galley

beyond. The cabin is at the centre of the

boat, followed by the bathroom, which is

an off-corridor design. The engine room

comes next, with a back cabin at the stern.

The fitout uses a combination which has

become a Bourne trademark: oak teamed

with faux leather panels on the cabin sides.

These are hard wearing and easy to keep

clean, and give a soft look with some nice

texture.

In the back cabin and engine room, the

oak has been teamed with teak panels. It’s

a very pleasing look, and a modern twist

on a traditional couple of rooms. The floors

throughout are made from Amtico.

Saloon

We’ll start at the bow, where a step brings

you from the well deck into the saloon. On

one side of the boat is a hearth with a tiled

surround, and a Morso Squirrel stove with

a double insulated flue. On the same side

is a long run of under-gunwale cupboards.

One includes an electrically operated TV,

which rises from the unit at the press of a

button on a small remote. It means the tv

is easily accessible when needed, but out

of sight when it’s not.

The main piece of furniture is a very

Above: The custom-built

sofa can be converted to a

bed for the very tall

Below: A light and airy

saloon creates space