Boat Test by Canal Boat & Inland Waterways | Peter Nicholls 33 ft Inspection Launch

Canal Boat and Inland Waterways Magazine:

Boat Test: Peter Nicholl's Inspection Launch

The inspection launch is growing in popularity. One of the best-known builders of these craft
is Peter Nicholls, and this month we test his latest boat.

Peter Nicholls has gained a reputation for high-quality narrowboats over the past 24 years.
However he also builds a range of other steel craft, including sea-going motor boats and motor-sailers,
and wide-beam canal boats. But the subject of this month's test is another Peter Nicholls speciality, the
narrowboat inspection launch.

The inspection launch is modelled on a particular style of craft that was developed in the canal era.
These boats were used by the directors & proprietors of the canal companies to undertake their annual inspection
of their waterways, hence the name. The principle requirements were an open cockpit forward, or a saloon with
large windows to enable the VIPs to survey their property. Steering was usually by wheel rather than tiller, with
the helm position on the deck aft. Also included might have been some overnight accommodation space, plus
possibly a galley, though in most instances the officials would stay ashore for the night in a local hostelry.

Left:

The forward
steering position
takes some getting
used to, but you
soon get the knack,
and it is worth it for
the sociable position
and full protection
from the weather.

The modern inspection launch therefore draws on these principles, but brought up to date to provide today's
facilities & comforts. The style can be built to any length, depending on the amount of accommodation required,
but the subject of this month's test is 33ft long, which has proved to be the most popular options.
Within this length it provides two or four berths, plus saloon, galley, bathroom, and large forward cockpit.

DESIGN:

The layout of the launch hinges around on the forward cockpit and the saloon. The cockpit has room for four
to six people to sit, together with the wheel steeering position. The steel roof runs the full length over-head, while
roll-down sidescreens provide further protection from the weather. Aft of this is the saloon, with a convertible
settee/bed, and large side windows. Aft again is the galley, bathroom, and a twin-bedded cabin.

The hull form is narrow beam, 6ft 10in wide, enabling the craft to cruise the whole of the system.
The underwater form is a modification of standard narrowboat. The bottom plate is flat over a 4ft width, with
the corners at the chine brought in 12in either side to give a cutaway angle rather than 90 degrees.
This reduces resistance, and also makes it easier to come alongside river banks, which may be shallow
at the edges. Aft is a conventional swim, vertical stem. The steel specifications is 10mm for the bottom,
6mm for the sides, and 4mm for the cabin.

LAYOUT:

We will begin as usual at the bow. Here you have a short 3ft bow-locker, this has room for two 4.5kg gas bottles
rather than the larger 13kg units. Underneath is a 100 gallon water tank. Next comes the cockpit, 8ft long, this
is fully lined out in tongue and groove aqba for the sides and overhead, oak for the seats. To starboard is a
bench seat, with a substantial wooden top. Underneath are two storage drawers. To port are wooden steps
laeding down from the side-deck. Aft of these is the helm console, standing on a steel tube. This has a hydraulic
wheel steering plus a basic engine instrument panel, but no rev counter. Under the helmsman's seat, is a small
electric fridge. A ready-use switch panel controls horn, headlight & bilge pump.


The rear cabin has two single berths, with the engine in between	Looking forward through the rear cabin	Looking aft from the saloon, the toilet is on the right	Beyond the toilet, the wardrobe door can close off the rear cabin
The cockpit is divided from the saloon by a glass-panelled bulkhead, with a single door. Inside to port you have a comfortable L-shaped settee, that converts to a double berth. The settee faces a removable table that stows against the side opposite. Under the settee are a locker and two drawers. Large double glazed side windows give a superb view out.

Moving aft, to starboard is a solid-fuel stove, set in an attractive tiled
surround. Aft of this is the galley. This is 5ft long, set along one side of
the boat. Equipment includes a combined stainless steel four-burner
gas hob and sink. Underneath is a small gas oven. Storage is provided
by two lockers and a drawer. Hot water is supplied by an engine-powered calorifier.

Opposite to port is the toilet/shower compartment. This has a small basin
at one end, and a Porta Potti at the other, standing on a shower tray.
Aft of the toilet is a small full-height wardrobe, this has a cleverly-designed
double door, that can be opened out to close off the aft cabin if required.

The cabin is 6ft 3in long, with single berths either side. The space in
between them is open for the first 3ft, but beyond this is the engine,
enclosed in a wooden box. This arrangement precludes the berths being
linked to form a double, though if their height were raised it might be
possible to achieve this. Cushions here and in the saloon are 5in thick,
making them comfortable for sitting or sleeping.

The inspection launch is at
home on the canal or river . .

Storage under the berths is limited, as the swim curves in here, and reduces what would otherwise appear
to be usable space. The only room is at the forward end, and this is filled under the port berth by the calorifier.
Under the starboard berth it is empty, giving room for bedding or clothes. Additional storage is provided by small
lockers over the foot of the beds. Light comes from portholes either side, which can be opened, ship style, to
give ventilation. The use of portholes in the aft cabin gives a greater degree of privacy if you want to get away
from the somewhat public forward saloon.

EXTERIOR:

Climbing over the engine box you step out of the cabin onto the aft
deck. This is 3ft long, and is covered by a hinged wooden hatch.
Lifting this gives good access to the weed-hatch. Also under here
you can reach the cyclinder & ram for the hydraulic steering, plus
the batteries. These are located to port, correctly covered by a lid
as required by the Boat Safety Scheme, with their master switches.

Also out on the aft deck is the fuel filler, with the 35 gallon diesel
tank located underneath. The filler is placed centrally, where the
tiller steering would have been on a conventional narrowboat.
Moving forward is helped by 5in wide side-decks, plus tubular
handrails on the cabin top. These give a much more positive grip
than the square raised box sections on the corner of the cabin
side and roof.

The saloon windows either side are set in a substantial full-length
wooden frame which is then bolted to the outside of the steel shell.
This gives a pleasing effect of the varnished wood, and reduces
the chance of leaks, but does mean that the windows cannot be
opened.

The overhanging cabin roof above the cockpit is supported on hefty
rectangular section steel posts. Inside the cabin the woodwork is
finished in conventional varnish, but out in the cockpit two-pack
epoxy varnish is used for extra toughness and longer life between
re-coats.

The outside of the boat is finished in Masons paints, with the
underwater steel protected by two-pack epoxy pitch, inside and out.
This is more durable than conventional blacking, though more
expensive to buy and apply.

Construction Details: Peter Nicholls Inspection Launch

ENGINE:

Power is provided by a 20hp, three-cyclinder Beta diesel.
As we have already said, this is located in the aft cabin, enclosed
by a wooden box. Sound insulation is fitted under the lid, with some
more round the top of the box, but none on the inside of the hull.

In front of the engine is a full-width steel bulkhead, 2ft 6in high,
making the aft section of the hull watertight, and giving extra
strength to the engine-bearers.The engine drives a 19 x 13
propeller through a 3:1 shaft and flexible coupling.

Fuel lines are in copper with flexible ends, and a Lucas filter/water
trap in the line. Visible wiring is to a reasonable standard.

Engineered by Peter Nicholls (YachtBuilders) Ltd

UNDERWAY:

There is an art to driving a boat from the front, and it
was one we only just managed to master in our short
test. The problem is you are used to sighting down the
length of the craft to gauge whether it is swinging to
one side or the other, but sitting in the forward cockpit
you only have a short section of the bow to work on.

You also tend to forget where the stem is taking itself
while you are concentrating on the bow. Add to this a
whell rather than a tiller. With the tiller you always
know where it is pointing. With the wheel you have
no such positive indication.

The cockpit has the helm position on a pedestal,
plus room for 4-6 people to sit . .

As a result your first attempts produce a series of elegant swerves from side to side of the cut.
However you gradually get the knack, and Peter Nicholls assures us his customers quickly gain in confidence.
One assistance is the comparatively high-geared steering ratio. With just two and an half turns from hard-over
to hard-over, the reaction to a small movement of the wheel is more immediate, allowing you to quickly
counteract any swing, with the minimum of oversteer.

And of course you have the great benefit of sitting down to drive, protected from wind and rain, and in the
company of your passengers and guests, instead of being perched on the stern in solitary splendour.
We can see why this is so popular, especially amongst river users, but just as much on the canals.

The 20hp Beta gave good stopping power and thrust for steering, and proved an excellent match for the boat.
Noise levels at the forward steering position were good, and vibration levels low, especially considering this
is a three- cyclinder engine. There was however a continuous whispering rattle from the throttle control, as
the engine noise came up the control cables. Probably this was just more noticeable because the main
engine noise itself is so far away behind you.

The Main Saloon - Peter Nicholls Inspection Launch:

CONCLUSION:

We enjoyed our trip on the inspection launch.
It provides a welcome alternative to the traditional
narrowboat layout, but with all of the narrowboat's
advantages of go-anywhere versatility & strength.

In its 33ft you get a spacious dayboat,
plus comfortable accommodation for two
or occasionally four.

The short length makes this boat very handy
to manoeuvre, with it being possible to turn in
many sections of the main line without having
to find a winding hole. The standard of finish is
excellent, as you would expect from one of our
best-known builders, and we can see why the
concept is proving to be a popular one.

The COMPANY:

Peter Nicholls started building boats in 1973 at Redditch, then in 1979 moved to the Oxford Canal at Napton.
He quickly established a reputation for quality finish at a time when there were many less firms around. He was
also prepared to diversify into different types & styles of steel boats, both for use in the UK and on the Continent.

During this time he estimates he has built over 400 craft of all sizes, with probably 90% being narrowboats.
His ideas are now seen throughout the system, as other builders have taken them up, incorporating them in
their own designs. But this will always be the way of the inland waterways, where boats evole over the years.

Looking forward through the saloon to the cockpit beyond

In 1997 the firm moved its premises down the
canal to Braunston, where they now combine a
steel building shed, fitting out berth & sales office.

Staff now number seven, turning out 8-12 boats
per year. Of those, on average four are the
inspection launches, with the rest being divided
between conventional narrowboats/sea-going craft.

They also turnover a number of secondhand craft,
taken in part exchange for new boats, and see this
as a useful additional strength to thier operation.

Article by Canal Boat & Inland Waterways
(April 98)

SPECIFICATION:	PETER NICHOLLS 33' INSPECTION LAUNCH
LENGTH:	33ft 0in (10.0m)	ENGINE:	20hp, 3-Cyclinder Beta BD722
BEAM:	6ft 10in (2.08m)	PRICE:	On Application
DRAUGHT:	2ft 0in (0.60m)	ENQUIRIES: Peter Nicholls BoatBuilders, Braunston Marina, Braunston, Northants, NN11 7OJ Tel: 01788 891 823 - Fax: 01788 899 109
WEIGHT:	6.5 Tonnes
FUEL CAPACITY:	35 Gal (160 Ltrs)
WATER CAPACITY:	100 Gal (450 Ltrs)

Our thanks to the Canal Boat Magazine giving their kind permission for allowing reproduction of this article.
Britains Biggest Waterways Magazine - Visit The Site www.canalboatmagazine.com

Peter Nicholls Steelboats: