Measuring Day

Back to Fenny Compton again today to see just how far the build has progressed.  First we had to deliver the electric control lever I had collected from Thames Electric yesterday and I can be seen holding it roughly in place near the stern of the boat.

Then we spent time with Ian, the builder, discussing the sizes for the trolley to hold the printer and scanner which can just be seen resting in place.  They will pull out from under the dinette on a trolley when in use at the desk (still to be built) and slide back under the dinette when not in use.

Then Chris arrived from Elite Furnishings.  They will be making the soft furnishings for the boat.  All the mattresses for the bunks and the dinette, and the curtains for the windows.  First we had to choose the colours and fabrics from the samples and settled on the same, lightly patterned fabric for the dinette cushions and mattresses. 

Then, just when I though we were winning, I was reminded that we now had to choose colours for the curtains. 

So many different samples to choose from it seemed to take a long time - but Chris said we were nowhere near the worst for making decisions.

Then we needed to decide on the foam for the cushions and mattresses.  There was thick foam, thin foam, bouncy foam, spongy foam, soft foam …. well we sat on the samples, lay on the samples, held the samples and … eventually … settled on different foams for the bunks and the dinette.

Then Chris took all the measurements with her trusty expanding Stanley rule and wrote them all down carefully on her notepad.  Now all we need to do is sit back and wait.  They will all be delivered when the boat is (almost) finished.

Posted on Friday, January 26, 2007 at 23:04
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Thames Electric Decisions

With work progressing well on the main build of the boat it was time to visit Emrhys and Ian at Thames Electric to finalise the plans for the electric traction for the boat.  In addition to the conventional diesel engine (a Beta Marine 43 horse power engine) there will be an electric motor fed from batteries.

Some of the time we will run the diesel to propel the boat and charge the batteries at the same time.  The rest of the time we will use just the electric motor powered from the batteries allowing filming for our DVDs to take place with less noise and vibration from the conventional diesel engine.

This will also be ideal in locks when there is no need to shout instructions above the noise of the engine - and when we are “idling” the electric motor is simply idle and consuming no power.

The photos show the control lever which will be mounted on the control pedestal near the conventional diesel control lever and the electric motor, with the clutch alongside.

I’m amazed every time I see just how small one of these motors is.  It’s rated at 8kW, that’s nearly 11 horse power, for continuous use and that’s ample for narrow boats which used to be powered by horses rated at 1 horse power.

The motor, batteries and associated electrical systems are all being designed and fitted by Thames Electric who will install them at a mutually convenient time while our own builder is completing the conventional parts of the boat.

This was the first time I had met Ian and I discovered he used to work in television so I’m hoping some of those skills will rub off for producing our DVDs.

Posted on Thursday, January 25, 2007 at 22:34
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The Canal Shop Company

I had an email from Neil Ratcliffe at The Canal Shop Company on Tuesday asking if we wholesale the Waterways Routes DVDs.

We certainly do, and after an exchange of emails I dispatched the first batch of DVDs to him this morning.

He supplies a large selection of canal related products, including books, magazines, maps, prints, jigsaws, horse brasses, tea towels, videos, DVDs and much, much more, including the Waterways Routes DVDs (once they arrive).

I could spend hours browsing the website.  Why not have a look yourself?

Posted on Thursday, January 18, 2007 at 17:57
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Build Progress

Yesterday we visited our boat again to see progress with the build.  As more of the partitions are built it becomes harder to photograph on each trip, but here are some of the boat as it is now.

The first aims to show the arrangements to the bunk beds mentioned by Sue on her No Problem Bog.  The top bunk can be positioned either immediately above the bottom bunk (shown in the photo) or on the upper runners immediately below window level.

The top bunk is the full width and sticks out about 10 cm (4 inches) in the upper position and a flap hinges out from the wardrobe to stop anyone running into the end when in position at night.  During the day it is lifted down into the position shown in the photo when it no longer sticks out.

Both upper and lower bunks can still be left made up in this position.  If we don’t need both bunks then we can simply sleep on the upper bunk when in the lower position.  I hope that all makes sense.

Next is a photo from inside the front door looking backwards.  The lengths of wood are lying across what will be the raised dinette.  Ian has promised that will be largely finished in the next two weeks so we can get Elite Furnishings to visit with us to measure up for all the soft furnishings and bring samples for us to choose the fabrics and colours.

Beyond the dinette is the kitchen where Ian has is cutting machine (shown in the third photo) positioned while he works on the boat.

Bottom left is a photo from the dinette looking forwards.  The panel under the door will lift off to allow access to the storage area under the cockpit floor.

Bottom right is the engine, still in its delivery crate, awaiting fitting. The engine should be fitted in the next few weeks.

 

Posted on Saturday, January 13, 2007 at 13:32
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Epiphany

I had an email today, from Fiona on narrow boat Epiphany.  She had discovered our website after following a link from No Problem.

I am pleased to be able to add a link to her blog on our links page, especially as today is Epiphany (6th January).

I hope Fiona doesn’t mind me using a picture from her blog to go with this post.  Their boat was launched on 31 October, so they are a little ahead of us in getting afloat and starting to cruise.

Posted on Saturday, January 6, 2007 at 18:51
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