A boat blog!

Well, what an exciting/nerve wracking day yesterday was for one boating couple ...

... dawn breaking at 06:15 as we travelled the motorway to Watford ...

 ... and there she is ... nb Matilda Rose sitting quietly ...

 ... whilst the owners Jill and Graham are rather stressed out ...  they’re coming out of the water and being put back in today (probably as I’m writing this post) ... in Belgium!

 Jill informs Vic and George that they’ve just been told Matilda Rose needs to be winded (turned around) so that the bow will be at the back of the lorry ...

... so off Graham goes ... 

... winded and returns ...

... George is helping at the stern to bring the boat into the harness ...

The first of several attempts ...

... to get the weight distribution correct ...

 ... for the lift ...

 ... and she’s away!

 Vic and Sue and Kevin Too were there to watch the proceeding too and here Vic looks rather concerned - the lorry doesn’t appear to be long enough! ...

 The lorry was able to extend the base a bit further and all is well ... Graham is relieved!  That’s Sue on the right with her camera.

 The gongoozlers - George, Kevin Too (great to meet you Kevin) and Vic and Sue (see you at Beale Park)

 Graham was not keen on the height and holds on tight as the straps are secured ...

... and off Graham and Jill go ... they’re catching a ferry from Dover at lunch time and should be in Belgium about the same time as Matilda Rose.

We wish them both a good road on the continent and look forward to sharing their adventures.

Build day 130 and 131

The electric cupboard on the left and coats to the right ...

... and the drawers await the fronts and handles.

Meanwhile in the engine bay ...

The exhaust has been fitted and now needs to be bandaged ... and the water pipes connected too ...

... the fuel filler hose is connected into the fuel tank ...

...  and the bilge pump connected to the outside and wired up and in the above picture - the Webasto (central heating) fuel pipe has been connected ...


... back inside the cabin again ...

... the carpenter has started to fit the shower-wall in the bathroom!

The bow of Still Rockin’ - love it!

Build day 128 and 129

The chippie is still busy ...

... creating drawers

The gas pipe is in

The kitchen cabinets are inside the boat

The drawers are coming along 

More kitchen units

A bedside table appears

The kitchen units are placed - the gaps (l to r) fridge, dishwasher (slimline) and a 300mm floor and wall unit

A delivery arrives ...

... it’s the shower wall ...

... like it?

Into the bedroom from the bow

and a fantastic sunset to end the day.

Build day 127

Cupboard and dressing table started

Bathroom bulkhead in place

What’s next? ...

... drawers will go on the left and the work surface is on.

The steps up to the bow now have treads ...

... and they look lovely but will now be removed to keep them clean and temporary ones put in instead.

Looking out of the bathroom towards the utility area which will house the washer and freezer

The ceiling and wall trims have arrived ready to be varnished and fixed in place.

George continues to paint the interior walls and fetches and carries as needed to save the paid workers time (and us money)!  The shower walling has been chosen for the bathroom; we’ve decided on a granite hearth which will be ordered soon and the metal paint for the radiators is here and ready for spraying.