The Hull is Launched

We launched the boat today – well at least the hull.

We got up early and left home about 05:00 to ensure we were at Reeves before our boat was to be craned onto the lorry.  They guaranteed that this would not be before 08:00.

There was even less traffic than anticipated and we arrived at 07:30, which is just as well as the crane was already parked with the outriggers in place and the jib was just being raised.  The boat was soon lifted up, the lorry backed in underneath and the boat lowered gently and secured in place – all before 08:00.

We dashed ahead of the lorry to film it passing through Stockton village.  The lorry has to go the long way round to avoid the hump back bridge over the canal.  Then we followed it south it down the A423 before turning into Cropredy.  It was craned into the water and we were left with our shell in the canal.

A quick phone call confirmed that Ian and Ron weren’t far away in Ron’s boat heading south to collect the hull and I walked up to meet them at Cropredy lock.  Ron winded his boat and ours was soon hitched up behind for the journey north.

We travelled with them to help work the pair of boats through the 8 locks and 5 miles to Fenny Compton where the boat will be fitted out.   There is no access for a crane at Fenny Compton and Cropredy is the nearest place with suitable access.

Now the boat is safely moored at Fenny Compton and Ian is waiting for the windows to arrive from Channelglaze.  Once they are in place and the shell is watertight he can start fitting out the inside.

 

—– oo OO oo —–

 

If you read the last blog you will remember we had a problem with the bows being constructed too high.  If you look at the last picture on today’s blog you will see the drawing and a photo of the bows side by side.  The gunwale (that’s the horizontal line below the windows) is clearly drawn straight from the front of the cabin to the cratch (that’s half way to the bows).  It was built with it sloping upwards by 3-4 inches.  The whole of the forward section of the bows are 3-4 inches too high and that blocks the forward view which we so carefully specified not to be blocked.

We were assured that it would make little difference once the boat was in the water and ballasted to its proper depth.  I looked from inside the shell today while it was in the water.  I know it isn’t ballasted to the proper depth yet, but I think makes a big difference now and I think it still will when it’s finished.

And now the stern area has been completed we’ve found that the recessed panel for the controls has not been recessed – so that’s not correct either.

 

—– oo OO oo —–

 

If you think you’ve seen the fourth picture before then compare this with Granny Buttons

Posted on Monday, 2 October 2006 at 20:18        Comments (0)

 

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