Oakums build no. 44

Tortoise & Hare

A 60ft Closed Bow custom build, completed in May 2024 with a cruiser stern and accommodation for four.

60ft Closed BowElectric propulsionFour berths

Tortoise and Hare Oakums narrowboat exterior

The commission

Quiet cruising, protected living.

Tortoise & Hare is a full Oakums fit out on a purpose built J. Wilson hull. The custom Closed Bow layout combines the calm experience of electric cruising with a warm, highly resolved interior designed for four.

The result is not a collection of separate choices. Propulsion, space, light, materials and storage have been composed as one boat.

11kWVETUS E Line electric propulsion

6kWVETUS GLX generator support

4Berths within the custom layout

Tortoise and Hare saloon with oak joinery and roof glazing

Interior architecture

Warm oak, softened by colour and light.

Natural oak establishes a continuous architectural rhythm through ceiling beams, window frames, doors and fitted furniture. Pale painted cabinetry then lightens the composition, while marble veined surfaces add movement without making the interior feel busy.

Soft teal, blue and neutral upholstery brings depth to the restrained material palette. Colour is used deliberately as a focal point, allowing the timber to remain warm and the rooms to feel individual without losing their connection to one another.

Light and proportion

Designed to feel wider than the hull.

Large roof glazing draws daylight into the centre of the boat, while long sightlines and carefully placed circular windows keep the interior visually connected from room to room.

Daylight

Light from above

Generous skylights brighten the galley, dinette and saloon where side windows alone cannot reach.

Sightlines

A calm route through

Aligned openings and restrained furniture heights preserve a clear view along the boat and make movement feel natural.

Atmosphere

Layered after dark

Recessed, task and display lighting give the interior depth and allow different parts of the boat to work independently.

Inside the boat

A considered tour of Tortoise & Hare.

Ten selected photographs move from the principal living spaces into the details that reveal how the joinery, storage, customer chosen finishes and practical functions work together.

Saloon inside Tortoise and Hare, Oakums build 44 — **Saloon** A calm living space shaped by pale cabinetry, warm oak and soft upholstery.

Galley inside Tortoise and Hare, Oakums build 44 — **Galley** Painted joinery and marble veined surfaces balance the natural character of the oak.

Dinette inside Tortoise and Hare, Oakums build 44 — **Dinette** A sociable dining area positioned beneath generous overhead glazing.

Bedroom inside Tortoise and Hare, Oakums build 44 — **Bedroom** A rich teal bedspread gives the quiet oak lined bedroom a confident focal point.

Shower room inside Tortoise and Hare, Oakums build 44 — **Shower room** A light, carefully fitted washroom with practical storage and clean lines.

Work space inside Tortoise and Hare, Oakums build 44 — **Work space** An integrated desk turns an otherwise narrow transition into useful everyday space.

Display storage inside Tortoise and Hare, Oakums build 44 — **Display storage** Illuminated shelving brings warmth and depth to the fitted cabinetry.

Saloon and stove inside Tortoise and Hare, Oakums build 44 — **Saloon and stove** Long sightlines, roof glazing and layered lighting make the interior feel open and settled.

Dining detail inside Tortoise and Hare, Oakums build 44 — **Dining detail** Teal seating and natural oak introduce colour without disturbing the restrained palette.

Bedroom approach inside Tortoise and Hare, Oakums build 44 — **Bedroom approach** Circular glazing, oak framing and a clear central route connect the private spaces.

What this build demonstrates

Custom does not have to mean visually complicated.

Tortoise & Hare shows how an individual palette and detailed brief can still produce a coherent, restful interior. Oakums can take the same design discipline in a completely different direction for your own boat.

Materials

Balance rather than excess

Oak, painted joinery, stone effect surfaces, carpet and upholstery each have a clear role in the overall composition.

Practicality

Storage built into the design

Desks, shelving, display spaces and cupboards use the available volume while keeping the rooms visually ordered.

Personalisation

A customer led character

The colours and decorative choices belong to this commission. Your own Oakums would be developed around a different brief.

Start your Oakums

Discuss your own Closed Bow.

Use Tortoise & Hare as inspiration, then build a specification around your own layout, propulsion and style.

Call 07463 088988 WhatsApp Oakums liam@oakums.co.uk