Whilst we have always been very pleased with our boat, over the years there have been some additions to the general fit out. Very few of these with hindsight would have better been included in the basic build specification of the boat and this is almost always to do with electrical wiring. This is not to say that the boat was originally in any way lacking. We have been, and continue to be, impressed with the small details which we have found so practical in the general design, but our horizons have, shall we say, expanded.

Important Changes

VFH Radio and Navigation Lights

We could not have anticipated changes to the regulations of the Port of London requiring us to have Marine Band VHF when transiting the tidal Thames. I suppose you could say that a handheld radio would do, but I preferred to make a more substantial arrangement. The navigation lights which Braidbar fitted were incomplete (I subsequently discovered), there being no stern light and no steaming light and as we now use the river quite frequently, these and an anchor light are required. Wiring for a de mountable mast with lights and VHF connection had to be retrofitted. More detail from this link

Other additions

Electrical
1. Alternator controller and battery monitor. These mods are probably no longer necessary with a new engine from Beta Marine as I understand that their spec is different. Access for wiring was all through existing trunking.
2. Additional solar panel. We asked Braidbar to fit the first and the way it was done has allowed an additional panel to be accommodated easily from the wiring point of view. A third panel is planned. They are expensive, but cheap if measured against the high cost of electrical hook-ups which we have never needed.
3. The boat alarm (Text Alert) was originally hard wired, but is now wireless. Access for this via the sub gunwale wiring loom was easy enough.
4. Cupboard lighting. Our centre cupboard included lighting. However, the use to which we have put this cupboard, part clothes hanging, part larder, meant that the bottom was dark. I have fitted low level LCD lighting. Wiring is unobtrusive within the cupboard.
5. Boat horn. The original Braidbar fitting failed due to a faulty horn. I moved the replacement to the front of the cratch rather than leaving it on the front window as it was less likely to startle a guest sitting next to it. This was the worst bit of wiring I have done and looks awful. A birthday present of a nice chromium trumpet horn presented a dilemma for fitting and was ultimately fitted on the roof above the central cupboard using the power from the cupboard light controlled by a relay. This allowed installation and use of a very thin wire through the gunwale loom back to the switch and wiring panel.
6. Water tank gauge.
7. TV. We now have a digital/Analogue TV and a full directional high gain aerial which needs setting up each evening. Electrically speaking this has been no problem and only meant removing the amplifier used originally with the Omnidirectional aerial. Sighting the aerial to the transmitter is done with a GPS handheld with all the freeview transmitters entered as waypoints. Very fast and accurate.