Simon & Jeanette Angel (Rosie & Mabel) - nb Vida~Neuva



Nb VIDA~NUEVA was built in the spring/summer of 2005 by Neil Mansfield of NRM narrowboats Ltd, Selby, Yorkshire, on a 10/6/5/4 shell built by Keith Woods of Peterborough.

(Spanish for 'New~Life') Vida~Neuva is a 57' semi-traditional stern with a Kubota based 4 cylinder 1508 cc Beta 38 diesel engine with a PRM120 gearbox driving a 17x12 propeller.

The boat is finished in dark blue with ivory cabin sides with gold lines and lettering.

We purchased her in November 2010 through the New & Used Boat Co at Mercia Marina on the Trent & Mersey Canal. We thought that we could move her to her new home in Napton Marina at Christmas but she was well and truly frozen in until March 2011 !

The survey brought to light certain defects although none major. The stern tube/ stuffing box support was lacking in strength. However it turned out, that the engine and shaft alignment were so far out, that the port side engine mountings were failing to the point that the mounting feet bolts were elongating the engine bed holes causing the nasty rattle at idle......not that obvious when cold.

In May 2011 we had the engine and stern tube etc re-installed by Union Canal Carriers of Braunston. UCC's 'Jono' added a plummer block bearing and moved the engine/gearbox forward to make room for the new longer propeller shaft; whilst it was in the dry dock Jono removed 2" of the leading edge of the rudder, this stopped the tiller vibration with remarkable success, it was also re-blacked in Rylards Coflex VT.

The work on the stern tube engine mountings etc has worked wonders and is now quiet and smooth. It is even quieter now that I added some very expensive sound proofing material to the engine covers. All I have to do now is to re-paint the bilge in Craftmaster off white bilge paint.

We are now left with a boat that we have been after for ages, it was the only one, out of about 50 boats we looked at, that had the layout and build quality, at the price we could afford....just !

Like the rest of the boat, the paintwork is in good condition; however the colour scheme is not to our taste, so in a few years time Vida ~ Nueva will look very different !

This boat will be our retirement boat, and it only had 417 hours on the clock, with a future of TLC we look forward to exploring the parts of the system that employment has got in the way of !!!!!

The cabin is lined out in American oak faced ply with solid oak trim to a very high standard throughout. Starting at the front the bow locker houses the two gas cylinders then the front deck has a conventional cratch with a Coverit PVC cover with windows.

The bulkhead central doors reveal the door linings unusually with bevelled mirrors instead of windows. The steps detach to give access to the water pump, accumulator tank and reveal the plastic water tank under the front deck.

To port the Dunsley 'Highlander 3' multi - fuel stove sits on a tiled plinth with matching blue/grey tiles surround with a double cranked flue pipe. To starboard is a TV corner cupboard and Bluetooth radio & CD player also links to the ipod, driving two sets of speakers.

Spacious open plan saloon leading to the dining area consisting of an Argos butterfly table & chairs that can open up to full size if necessary.

Large 'U' shaped Galley with plenty of shaker style cupboards, dark stone effect sink with matching mixer tap. Shoreline fridge freezer, Stoves 500 DIT cooker. Blue green Melamine laminate worktop with no joins ! Hardwood trim.

Moving along the starboard passage we come to the well equipped bathroom; the corner walk in shower enclosure with curved glazed doors with thermostatic mixer control, lined with dark blue with hint of gold patterned wall board splashback. Corner shelves, shower pump strainer access trap door and boxed in shower pump. Corner wash basin with chrome plumbing ,again with matching wallboard splashbacks. Thetford C200 cassette toilet with electric flush' sliding door to passage, cassette access door.

4'3" double bed with drawers underneath, also storage area which also houses a large horizontal lagged calorifier. Shelf unit above bed with LED downlighters. Central heating control,storage cupboard with drawers, Large wardrobe with fluorescent light, access to immersion heater controls,fuse cupboard.

To starboard is a built in Hotpoint washer dryer with over the top shelf with matching laminate worktop.

Three steps, each with storage area also housing the in built Powermaster battery charger, 13A socket(for washer dryer) and isolation taps for washer dryer.

Control panel & circuit breakers.

LED lighting throughout.

Large sliding hatch over the steps onto the semi traditional stern. Two boards lift to reveal the Beta 38/PRM120, Batteries, Galvanic Isolator. Eberspacher diesel boiler. Separate hinged lid, to gain access to the weedhatch & stern greaser.

Either side are large access lockers for mooring pins, piling hooks,oils etc. Two Hexagrip lined doors.

Simon & Jeanette, Rosie & Mabel Angel