Narrowboat Build Update

Progress with our bespoke boat build has quickly gained pace, Peter & Mel hope you're happy with the progress so far!

Once the internal ballast, floor and battens were in place the next job was cut out the porthole apertures. We decided to cut these ourselves to provide a bit of flexibility with the internal layout. We are fortunate enough to have a Plasma Cutter so once a jig was set up the window apertures were completed within a couple of hours.

Below: Jig still in position just after plasma cutting. Below: Job done - net, clean and accurate. Once the porthole locations were cut out these were masked up together with the face of the timber battens. Wilsons Sprayfoamers then got on with the job of insulating the boat. The making tape is removed once the job is done, leaving a clean surface to screw to. After a tidy up the layout of the boat is marked up with masking tape on the floor. This provides a visual guide to our customers to make sure that they are completely happy before the main fitout work begins. Once we had the thumbs up work has progressed quickly. The next main job was for Stuart to install the first electrics for both the 12v and 240v circuits. Below: The double glazed Portholes installed, these will soon tarnish - but we'll remove them when the boat is painted. We'll then take the opportunity to polish and possibly laquer these to ensure they stay bright. Cabin sides and top lined in Oak veneered ply. Our customers want a clean and bright look to the boat, so top sides and roof are being painted with a off white Eggshell. As opposed to the paint being flat, the grain of the wood will be allowed to show through creating an attractive finish. Below: Before painting begins. Below: Just one more coat to add once the bulkheads have gone in. Notice all the cables for lights, sockets and switches. Stuart is installing two way lighting so the lights can be turned on and off from different ends of the cabin. Below: The pigeon boxes provide light and ventilation through the cabin roof. Taken before Jordan lines these with oak. Below: Nearly there, Jordan made a superb job just a little more oak to be added to the porthole lids. That's all for now, lots to get on with... We'll be on the British Marine Federation Stand at the Crick Boat Show over this coming bank holiday weekend, it's also the open weekend at Mercia Marina, so hope to see you there! Justin, Jane & Team.