Description

NORTHSTAR

Northstar was built in 2004-5 and CE commisioned in 2005.  The all steel hull and cabin shell was fabricated by John White Boat Builders and was outfitted by Northstar Narrowboats Ltd. Northstar is a CE plated Category D vessel designed for inland waterways and rivers. It has a fully  documented CE approved Operation and Maintenance manual. It holds a current Inland Waterways Craft Safety Certificate valid until July 2026. It has a saloon, dinette, galley shower and WC room and bedroom/office which is achieved via a murphy bed with a full size double mattress. There is also a double conversion berth in the dinette.

Dimensions 17.53m (57ft) length x 2.08m beam - Design draught 0.610m stern, 0.457m bow - Design air draught 1.83m

Construction 

Fully welded mild steel sheet - 10mm keel plate, 6mm hull and gunnels with 50mm x 50mm angle stiffeners to hull and keel plate. 5mm upper cabin and 4mm cambered roof with 25mm x 25mm steel angle stiffeners all manufactured to a Semi Traditional Plus layout.

The hull is protected from stray current electrolytic errosion by 6x magnesium alloy sacrificial anodes bolted and welded to the bow mid and swim of the immersed hull sections and a galvanic isolator installed on the shoreline power input circuit.

There are 4 ventilation openings provided along the cabin roof with chromed mushroom cowls. Outer hull, cabin and roof all coated in Polyurea resin/Raptor paint ranging between 2mm and 3mm thickness, hence the lower hull does not require the bitumastic re-blacking every 2-3 years common to the majority of steel canal boats. The stern cockpit is covered by a large sliding steel hatch used to expose all or part of the cockpit which when open, measures 1.275m long x 0.9m wide.

Combined cockpit deck and engine cover in 18mm phenolic impregnated plywood with closed cell foam  acoustic insulator underlay. 

The semi eleptical rear deck measures 1.75m wide x 1.0m at the radius peak, it contains a further hatch to the rear of the engine bay to facilitate access to the propeller via the weed hatch below. Inner hull and cabin mill swarf fully degreased, Rustoleum 2 coat primed, 25mm thick treated timber batton grounds fixed to stiffener angles all prior to full spray application of phenolic resin foam flush to face of battens plus angles. Under floor/inner side of keel is coated with 2 coats Aquaseal bitumous sealant overlaid  with 8kg/m2 roofing felt prior to the laying of concrete brick ballast to the forward area.  StructuraL cabin floor is constructed in 18mm WBP plywood on 25x50mm treated battens fixed to the hull steel angle supports. The floors are finished in solid American Black walnut T&G overlay boarding. Cabin walls are lined in 9mm real wood American Maple and Cherry veneered MDF which have since been painted. 

Centre light rail, cornices, dados, skirting boards and panel frames in 22mm solid American Cherry. Cabin windows and portholes are in aluminium, condensate self draining and manufactured by Caldwells Ltd with solid American Cherry linings. 

Access is either via the oak bow doors or the stern cockpit steel doors. A double steel doored side hatch is located opposite the dining area. 

Engine

A Beta Marine 43hp Greenline keel cooled diesel engine with Murphy deluxe 2C control panel fitted to a Newage PRM 150D gearbox with 1.5 reduction, connected to propellor shaft via a vibration and noise supressing Aquadrive coupling. Typical cruising engine revs are between 1400 and 1800rpm, tickover is at 900rpm. 

Engine cooling is primarily achieved via the skin tank integral to the boat hull on the port side of the engine bay. Coolant heat is also dispersed through a heat exchange coil within the Domestic Hot Water calorifier. 

The engine is fitted with twin alternators; a 95amp unit provides power to the leisure battery bank, the 45amp unit provides power to the engine starter and running gear battery. 

Running gear 

Control of the boat propulsion is via a simple forward/ reverse combined throttle lever on the upper port side of the drivers cockpit. Steerage is via a tiller connected directly to the rudder through the rear deck sealed  bearing guide.

A 96amp hr battery provides the power for engine cranking, running lights, engine bilge pump, air horns and cockpit 12v power outlet, it has an isolation switch below the rear deck. The diesel fuel tank has a capacity of 182 litres and is located at the extreme stern of the boat with a guarded filler and air vent on the deck, it's shut off valve is located in the rear of the engine bay. 

The bow deck provides access onto boat and to the crew to tie up or release the mooring line, 'pole off' the bank or other boats if required, as well as access the bow gas locker to isolate the gas when not in use and the cold water filler point. Bench seating is located on both sides of the foredeck with storage lockers below

Electrical 

Deep cycle leisure battery bank of 4x 110amp Numax self maintained batteries are maintained by the 95amp engine alternator when the engine is running and a 335watt photovoltaic panel via a Victron bluetooth accessed control system when engine is off. There is spare capacity in the control system to add further panels if  reauired. 

The 240 volt cabin 13amp domestic power circuit is provided by a pure sine wave Victron Phoenix Multi 12/2500/120 Inverter which also controls battery charging (peak Intermittent output 3kw). It can utilise supplies from a generator unit, or a 240volt shore power source as well as the 12volt leisure battery bank.

A 12 volt electrical system provides cabin lighting and other ancillary equipment including a shower waste pump, domestic cold water pressure system, cooker ignition and WC flushing. 

Gas 

The bow gas locker contains 1x 6kg & 1x 13kg calor gas bottles which are fitted with a bubble leak detector and which is connected to the galley via a copper pipework system (for cooker supply only).  The gas locker has capacity for up to 3x 13Kg propane bottles and is vented at low level. 

INTERIOR 

The windows and portholes are all fitted with fully retractable pleated insulated charcoal colured blinds.

Cabin floor finishes; saloon, gangway, dinette and bedroom in 9mm solid American Black Walnut tongue and  groove overlay, kitchen and bathroom in silver pine effect bonded vinyl planking. 

The Cabin lighting is located at high level along the port, centre and starboard sides of the boat with localised high level switches.

Saloon

The saloon is at the front of the boat and is approximately 4.3 metres long.  The bow entrance doors are central, below them a three step combined stair and storage unit from from bow deck down to cabin floor level. 

In the front starboard corner is a solid fuel stove on a raised granite hearth with copper sheet and glass. The front port corner houses a low level cabinet with a solid American Cherry top. The remaining saloon space is utilised by a double sofa and matching ottoman.

Dinette 

The dining area is on a raised storage pedestal providing a good view from it's adjacent window and the side hatch across the gangway. It's fixed seating also houses storage accessed by large drawers opening into the gangway and below the foam seating pads and the raised area contains underfloor storage. The table can be collapsed and the cushions placed on top to convert the dinette into a comfortable double bed.

Galley 

The galley is fitted with 30mm thick granite worktops. It contains a double wall cupboard, 2x base cupboards, a pull out rack unit, cutlery drawer, propane gas oven and hob, fridge and sink with pull down glass top. 

Shower Room 

The shower room is completley segregated and contains a 700mm x 900mm shower with folding glass doors,  a large corner wash basin, a Thetford Cassette toilet with 2x cassettes, high level storage drawers and a large vanity cabinet.

Bedroom 
The bedroom is at the stern of the boat accessed through a door at the end of the gangway adjacent to the shower room. It is completely lined in American Cherry.  There is a custom murphy bed which holds a full size double mattress. The bed can be folded against the wall with the help of gas struts, revealing a large desk with 2 mounting points for computer screens - ideal for gamers or those that work remotely. There are 4x double power outlets and 6x usb charging ports.

A double wardrobe with hanging rails is located against the rear cabin bulkhead, it has a large low level storage drawer and shelving.

Heating 

Cabin space heating is provided via a central heating system and/or the solid fuel stove located at the front starboard corner of the saloon. The central heating is comprised of 3 radiators heated by a MV heating mx50 5kw diesel heater located in the engine bay and fed by the main diesel fuel tank. The heater is controlled by a Heatmiser programmer and 3 way switch.

Cold Water System

A 455 litre stainless steel domestic cold water storage tank is located on a 30mm thick closed cell foam mat below the front deck and accessed via the removable step unit at the front of the saloon, it is filled using a hose via the front deck surface plug. The tank is connected to a washable filter and then to a Flojet 12v pump with accumulator housed adjacent to the tank and fed to the domestic cold water system; galley sink, shower, hand wash basin and WC. 

Hot Water System 

The domestic hot water is provided via distribution from a 64 litre twin coiled insulated calorifier located in the rear starboard corner of the engine bay.  The hot water calorifier is heated by one or all of; surplus engine coolant heat, the central heating boiler or 1kw immersion rod. Note the immersion is only to be used when the engine is running or when the boat is  plugged into shore power.

Northstar is currently moored at Barton Grange Marina.

Specifications

Location Map