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The 58' narrowboat St.Kilda was built in 1985 by Steelcraft to a traditional design by Hancock and Lane. The hull is of 1/4" steel with 3/16" above the gunwale. She has been fitted with sacrificial Magnesium anodes (twelve of them at present!) all her life and has been regularly blacked on sides and bottom. She was built as a "fish and chip" boat and has a very large serving hatch opening on the port side from gunwale to roof centreline. This gives the boat a very open and airy feel. In addition she has standard type doors forward and in the starboard side. The engine room is separated from the living accomodation by a solid bulkhead which prevents engine smells and noise reaching the living area. Internally she is lined with varnished parana pine above the gunwale and painted pine tongue and groove below. St.Kilda is one of the largest vessels that can be navigated from the Great Ouse through the Middle Level and Nene and on to the Grand Union Canal. She has also successfully navigated up the narrow Wicken Lode and through the tiny historic bridges of the Cambridge Backs. The boat is fitted out for year round live-aboard without mains electricity (although she is wired for 240 Volt AC). The central heating uses no electrical power and solar panels provide battery top up for pumps and lighting. The large tanks and gas storage capacities ensure a long time between fill ups.
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