Willow Haven
Has been built with a reverse layout, open-plan flow and plenty of natural light, Willow Haven is designed for comfortable, long-term living. Every element — from insulation and electrics to cabinetry and styling — is being created with a focus on durability, efficiency and a clean contemporary feel.
This build represents the next step in Central Boating’s journey. A brand-new boat, built the right way, with the attention to detail and quality that defines our work. Willow Haven reflects where we’re heading: higher standards, more ambitious builds, and a growing reputation for boats that stand out on the water.
A modern home afloat — purpose-built, beautifully engineered, and proudly crafted by Central Boating
We’re excited to share the latest progress on Willow Haven, a 57ft bespoke narrowboat currently in build at Central Boating Ltd.
The fabrication stage is now nearing completion — marking a major milestone in the vessel’s journey from raw steel to fully fitted floating home. The shell has been expertly constructed to our specified 10/6/5/4mm steel standard, forming a robust, long-lasting foundation ready for the next phase of transformation.
At this stage, the boat truly begins to take shape. The lines are clean. The proportions are balanced. You can now clearly see the profile that will soon become a beautifully crafted liveaboard narrowboat.
Every weld, aperture, and structural detail has been carefully executed in preparation for:
Grit blasting
2-pack epoxy protection
Professional marine-grade paint finish
Full internal fit-out by the Central Boating team
This is where precision engineering meets future comfort.
Willow Haven represents what Central Boating is all about — quality fabrication from our trusted partners, documented build processes, and a commitment to delivering boats that are built properly from the very beginning.
With fabrication almost complete, the real transformation begins next as we move into fit-out, systems installation, and interior craftsmanship.
Follow the journey as Willow Haven evolves from steel shell to bespoke floating home.
Willow Haven Has Arrived
We’re proud to welcome Willow Haven into our workshop, now safely delivered and ready for her transformation to begin.
A huge thank you to HD Narrowboats for delivering another solid, well-built shell — now it’s over to us to bring her to life.
With the boat officially in our premises, the fit-out phase is now underway. Over the coming weeks, she’ll be carefully crafted into a fully finished, high-quality interior — built to the standards Central Boating will be known for.
This is where the vision becomes reality.
Willow Haven Specification
Birmingham Shell Style Narrowboat
Dimensions
Length: 57ft
Beam: 6ft 10in
Key Features
Victron 3kW inverter/charger system
Webasto Thermo Top Evo diesel central heating
500L stainless steel fresh water tank
55L twin-coil calorifier heated by engine and Webasto system
Canaline 38hp diesel engine with PRM150 hydraulic gearbox
Shaft drive with anti-cavitation plate
All-electric appliance configuration (no LPG gas system)
Windows & Glazing
5 double-glazed thermal break windows
3 double-glazed thermal break portholes
2 double-glazed skylights
Double-glazed bow doors
Black powder-coated frames
Comfort & Living
Radiator central heating throughout
Thetford electric cassette toilet
LED lighting throughout
Designed for comfortable, modern inland waterway living
Second Fix
During this stage, Willow Haven begins its transformation from a shell into a high-end modern floating home. Interior joinery is installed, ceilings and wall linings are completed, lighting and electrical accessories are fitted, plumbing systems are connected, and the final layout begins to take shape.
Willow Haven marks a very special chapter for Central Boating — our first complete new-build narrowboat and the beginning of everything we want our boats to represent. From the first stages of construction through to the final handover, she was created to become more than simply a boat; she was built to become a home. Seeing her finished, afloat and ready for Chris and Morag to begin their next adventure made every stage of the build worthwhile. We’re incredibly proud to have brought Willow Haven to life, and even prouder to see her now doing exactly what she was built for — living the dream.
