Brewing on a boat

[welly2]

Hello all,

I joined the forum a little while ago as I started brewing in Australia but am now back in the UK. I've just started thinking about brewing my next batch but my situation has now changed in that I'm now living on a 53' narrowboat on the Grand Union Canal in London. I think it's more a logistical change than anything, for brewing beer.

Space isn't too much of an issue as I live on my own but the things that are an issue is electricity in that I live off three big leisure batteries, water - fairly limited supply although I would plan my brew days around when I'm close to a water point and as a result probably cooling the wort, and finally a consistent temperature for fermenting.

I brew using the BIAB method which suits brewing on a boat well - I only need a fermenter and the cooking pot.

I'd like to quiz you guys on methods to cool the wort with a very limited water supply and keeping a stable temperature for fermenting - if anyone has any ideas or suggestions, that would be brilliant!

Cheers!

welly(2)

 

[RobWalker]

welcome! this is awesome i'm looking forward to hearing more about the intricacies of brewing on a narrowboat...

 

[pittsy]

Hi , that's an easy 1 as you're on a boat you could just use the canal water with the aid of a pump (around £15 ) and a wort chiller copper coil . P.s i mostly grew up on a cabin cruiser (every week end and holidays from 0 to 15y ) so understand your issues .

 

[markmark]

No chill cubes.
Leave the wort to cool overnight in these and then transfer to fermenter and pitch the yeast the following morning.
It's not how I do things; but plenty use this method with no apparent ill effect.

 

[welly2]

No chill cubes.
Leave the wort to cool overnight in these and then transfer to fermenter and pitch the yeast the following morning.
It's not how I do things; but plenty use this method with no apparent ill effect.

That might work and my fire making skills are such that it's rarely warm in my boat over night I shall have to look into this! thank you! And I'll keep you all updated on progress!

 

[welly2]

Hi , that's an easy 1 as you're on a boat you could just use the canal water with the aid of a pump (around £15 ) and a wort chiller copper coil . P.s i mostly grew up on a cabin cruiser (every week end and holidays from 0 to 15y ) so understand your issues .

And that's an idea too although not sure if other boaters would be totally enamoured by me plugging my wort chiller into the few water points in London :) Although in conjunction with filling my water tank up, I might just get away with it! :thumb:

 

[NickW]

Even better idea... with a no chill cube. Tighten it, and dangle it in the canal water on some rope, go for a ride, 30 minutes later it should be down to canal temp!

 

[calumscott]

I'd like to quiz you guys on methods to cool the wort with a very limited water supply

Very limited water supply? You're on a BOAT for heavens sake!

Seriously though, cooling is the least of your problems. Boil, drop into a no-chill cube, tie a rope to the handle (very securely, and to the rail of the boat), jettison cube, wait.

Retrieve cube, dry it off, quick squirt of starsan around the cap, syphon into FV. :thumb:

 

[welly2]

Even better idea... with a no chill cube. Tighten it, and dangle it in the canal water on some rope, go for a ride, 30 minutes later it should be down to canal temp!

Genius!

That's that sussed then. I'm going to take the temperature of the canal this evening and see what I'm dealing with. Bloody cold, I suspect.

 

[welly2]

I'd like to quiz you guys on methods to cool the wort with a very limited water supply

Very limited water supply??? You're on a BOAT for heavens sake! :rofl:

Seriously though, cooling is the least of your problems. Boil, drop into a no-chill cube, tie a rope to the handle (very securely, and to the rail of the boat), jettison cube, wait.

Retrieve cube, dry it off, quick squirt of starsan around the cap, syphon into FV. :thumb:

Haha yes, thank you. I couldn't see the forest for the trees, or whatever the water equivalent of that is.

 

[Runwell-Steve]

Hi , that's an easy 1 as you're on a boat you could just use the canal water with the aid of a pump (around £15 ) and a wort chiller copper coil . P.s i mostly grew up on a cabin cruiser (every week end and holidays from 0 to 15y ) so understand your issues .

And that's an idea too although not sure if other boaters would be totally enamoured by me plugging my wort chiller into the few water points in London :) Although in conjunction with filling my water tank up, I might just get away with it! :thumb:

I think he was suggesting you pump water straight from the canal through your wort chiller. That's what I would do in your situation.

 

[welly2]

Hi , that's an easy 1 as you're on a boat you could just use the canal water with the aid of a pump (around £15 ) and a wort chiller copper coil . P.s i mostly grew up on a cabin cruiser (every week end and holidays from 0 to 15y ) so understand your issues .

And that's an idea too although not sure if other boaters would be totally enamoured by me plugging my wort chiller into the few water points in London :) Although in conjunction with filling my water tank up, I might just get away with it! :thumb:

I think he was suggesting you pump water straight from the canal through your wort chiller. That's what I would do in your situation.

Oh, of course! And that's a great idea too. This might just work..

 

[pittsy]

You can also have a couple too many beers on a boat while having a cruise , after all what's a narrow boat do , 4 knots lol .

 

[calumscott]

Even better idea... with a no chill cube. Tighten it, and dangle it in the canal water on some rope, go for a ride, 30 minutes later it should be down to canal temp!

Genius! :party:

That's that sussed then. I'm going to take the temperature of the canal this evening and see what I'm dealing with. Bloody cold, I suspect.

Inland waterways... temperatures... let me see...

Ah yes! http://stoneytemps.calumscott.me.uk/ascii/get.php

A little something from a very long time ago. Actual recorded water temperatures in Stoney Cove, Leicestershire... :thumb:

 

[welly2]

I'm trying to find a suitable no chill cube online somewhere. Can anyone give me a pointer to something suitable? Generally I'll be brewing no more than 26-30l at a time.

Cheers and thanks for all your help so far!

Edit. Would this be suitable? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3x-New-25L-25 ... 4d0a28f109

 

[Pearlfisher]

I saw a chap whilst collecting water at Hayslad spring well ,West Malvern the other day who was using 30l white plastic jerry can type containers ,but where he had them from ?

 

[Diggerg]

I think he was suggesting you pump water straight from the canal through your wort chiller. That's what I would do in your situation.[/quote]


Sounds like a good plan. Worked on boats all my life and even now we still use raw (salt in my case) water to cool twin 16ltr v8 diesel engines so should work Ok to cool a brew. Jabsco pump or equivalent should do it or a solar pump the herms/rims guys use.

 

[dennisking]

Had a couple of great holidays on narrow boats so have great respect for any one that makes it a permanent place to live.

 

[Diggerg]

I think he was suggesting you pump water straight from the canal through your wort chiller. That's what I would do in your situation.[/quote]


Sounds like a good plan. Worked on boats all my life and even now we still use raw (salt in my case) water to cool twin 16ltr v8 diesel engines so should work Ok to cool a brew. Jabsco pump or equivalent should do it or a solar pump the herms/rims guys use.

 

[NickW]

Just make sure your chiller is well sealed. Mine had a slight leak and tap water was trickling into the brew. You don't want canal water in there!