The first piece of advice is not to rush into the refit! The best thing to do is to use the boat first to check out the validity of your plans. The builder may have done things right. A modification that seemed essential sometimes becomes superfluous, while others are necessary that we had not thought of. Our ideas evolve with experience.
Not too many dedicated rooms
A nice boat is an open boat! There is rarely enough space to partition it excessively. For this reason, you should avoid multiplying the number of dedicated rooms: a cabin for very occasional guests, an office that is rarely used... You will soon realize that life on board is concentrated around the saloon table! On the other hand, a dressing room, possibly with a laundry room, is almost indispensable, as is a small workshop area.
Adapting the existing
Used riverboats often have several bathrooms. It is convenient to allocate one to the shower and the other to the toilet, or to convert one with a dry toilet. This is a simple, inexpensive and more affordable solution than installing a holding tank, which few older boats are equipped with.
Modernizing energy
Electrical equipment has evolved, as have our needs in this area. We will not fail to replace incandescent lamps by LEDs and to provide USB plugs wherever necessary. Solar panels and modern batteries will help to improve autonomy, especially if we take care to adopt a real energy sobriety.
An autonomous boat
On board a river boat, the proximity of power outlets makes it tempting to equip oneself "like at home". However, all land-based appliances are a hindrance. Why bother with a microwave, a coffee pod, or even an induction cooker when autonomous alternatives exist?
An update
An old boat is often dated. Painting some of the woodwork clear is not a heresy. On the contrary, the remaining varnish will look even better. A new floor covering will give a boost to the interior at little cost, especially if you avoid the "coconut" style coverings which are impossible to maintain and which become nests of odors and dust mites.
Upholstery fabrics
Replacing the curtains with new ones made of blackout and fireproof material also helps to rejuvenate the boat. The same goes for the covers of the cushions and mattresses, which are often dated. This is an opportunity to replace the foam of the main mattress with a new one that best meets your comfort criteria.
Cleaner mechanics
The idea of converting a thermal propulsion system into an electric one is common. It is conceivable, but very costly and above all, only one French waterway, the Marne-Rhine canal, is equipped with charging stations. In the current state of affairs, it is more reasonable to have a hybrid conversion carried out, i.e. a thermal generator which feeds an electric propulsion.
A used boat, even an old one, may well be updated and made more comfortable and more in line with our current environmental concerns, but it is important not to go astray by copying too closely the maritime units or land-based buildings.
