Boat Planning

With holiday over, it is time to concentrate on the boat.  I went to see it at the weekend armed with camera, tape measure and notepad.  Typically the camera died after three pictures so I had to rely on my sketches for information.

In total, the living space measures a fraction over 28 feet long.  Not huge but pretty good for a 45 foot boat.  It has a typical layout; from the back, bed, bathroom, kitchen, living room and I will stick with this arrangement.

There is a huge amount to be done when I finally get it back to home waters, but the basic structure is there.  One thing I have been thinking about is the heating/hot water system.  It currently has a SF stove with a back boiler running a calorifier and two rads and an Alde Comfort gas boiler which seems to be doing the same.  The standard of plumbing is not exactly great and will need to be replaced.  I am thinking of removing the SF stove from the system and using the Alde for hot water and maybe a towel rail in the bathroom.   I want things to be as simple as possible.

I want to reduce the length of the kitchen and am currently working on a design that fits everything into a 4' x4' L shape.  I am sure it can be done somehow!

All over

Yup its all over for another year.  Not a bad time was had at all.  Back to work, but only for a week as I am off to Fuerteventura next week to celebrate the big 50 in the sunshine.

Just checked in with Ryanair.  My companion and I have been given seats several rows apart.  Why? 

Keep meaning to go and visit the boat, but haven't been able to find the time.  Oh well, its not going anywhere so I'm not missing anything.  Once back from holiday, I can focus 100% on it.

I think this is it!

After months of searching, researching, looking and poking around in the bowels of many a damp and neglected bilge, I have finally made an offer on a boat.  Southern Star (to be renamed) is a 45' trad stern Narrowboat built in the late eighties.  I am guessing she was a hire boat and judging by the many dents in the bow, she was well used!

There is welding to be done on the counter where the steel work is a bit thin, but the survey showed most of the hull to be in pretty good shape for a 25 year old tub.  Originally built 6/5/4,
she still has 6mm-5.2mm with a few 1mm pits on the base plate and 5mm-4.6mm on the sides.

She also has a rather cute little Lister SR2.  The insides need a re-fit but that was always the plan anyway.  I know what I want and only I can do that.

Welding will be happening Jan/Feb so she should be home on the GT Ouse in early spring.

Hunstanton

Had a spur of the moment ride up to Hunstanton on Sunday.  Loads of bikes up there and some interesting military vehicles on display too.  One that caught my eye was this side car which featured most of a C90 frame.

Suffered a puncture on the way home which was a pain.  I really must sort out a spare tube, levers and a pump.....

The Chair of awesomeness

Ok, so it wasnt cheap but it is certainly awesome!

C90 camp at Reedham Ferry

Last weekend was the East Anglian ride out for the C90 Club.  I left straight from work and got to the campsite in just under 3 hours.  Plenty of time to get the tent up and get the kettle on before the light started to fade.

The Saturday ride was a very gentle bimble down to Southwold and back.  A meal at the pub and a beer or two around the camp fire.  The evening was cut short by pretty spectacular thunderstorm, but I for one was not too sory to get to bed.

I had a good ride home on Sunday until I got to the Quy roundabout when I suffered a broken chain and had to go the last 4 miles by AA van.

A great weekend, with lovely weather and despite a poor turn out, some good company.

The blogger's paradox

The trouble is, the busier you are, the less time you have to write about it.  Moving house can be described as busy so I will have that as my excuse for now.

There will be more soon, now that the dust has settled a bit.