There is a brand new replica Dutch barge on the Thames flying the QCYC burgee. Joie de Vivre is the new winter home of Karen and Peter Johns.
Past Commodore Peter Johns writes:
"Our new winter home is a Piper 49M, a steel replica Dutch Barge on the outside and a modern apartment down below. Built by Piper Boats Ltd just outside Stoke- on-Trent she was launched onto the Thames on the 8th last.
14.93m LOA with a 4m beam drawing a little under one meter of water, and an air draft of 2.8 meters she displaces 30 tons loaded.
Main bedroom forward with ensuite shower and electric toilet, saloon with sofa bed, and galley with gas hob and electric convention oven and all usual electric appliances. Aft cabin with double bed converse to a dinette when the panel in the bulkhead is dropped and the double sliding doors are open. Shower and electric toilet across the companion way.
Up the steps to the wheel house with a convertible dinette and doors that open right up onto the aft deck with a couple of chairs and a little teak folding table for the bottle and glasses!
Full width engine room below the wheel house with Beta 105 driving a four blade 21 inch prop while it heats the water, Kohler 7kva generator, Kabola diesel boiler for the 4 central heating radiators, the 75 litre hot water tank and the heated towel rails. 32 amp shore power and a 3000 watt inverter charger. Two domestic air con units to cool, or heat, down below, and long range WFi and 4G aerials on the mast. A wifi printer and tv with automatic satellite dish. 1200 amp battery capacity in 2 volt Rolls deep cycle batteries. Lastly a 13mm base plate for running aground and 8mm hull plating for hitting lock gates! All double glazed glass and 3 inches of foam on the steel. Tons of storage and all finished very well in light oak.
For us it’s going to be May to October on this boat and November to April sailing Farr Fetched and Frances at home".
Sounds idyllic!
Last Modified on 18/08/2018 08:51