Fitting-out commences.....

We went to Beacon on Saturday to ok the wiring setup. As you can see from the photos, they have made a good start - the ballasting is done, and the sub-floor is down, the battenning is finished, and the wiring is all but completed ready for the spray foam insulation to be done on Wednesday.

Looking towards the stern

Looking towards the bow

XR & D's hull number

The engine

Narrowboat World

Rog was reading Narrowboat World on Saturday, and found a review of nb Merryweather, written by Pam Pickett, who had attended Beacon Boats' Open Day. The review was great, Beacon Boats was praised as "rapidly establishing a reputation not only in the best traditions of boat building as an ‘honest broker’ but for superb customer service before, during and after the build. " I must say that we agree whole-heartedly, and feel very lucky to have found them - purely by chance. Having read a review of one of their earlier boats - nb Golcar Lily, in Canalboat magazine, I emailed them to find out what the make of oven and hob was, as it was just what I wanted. We were subsequently invited to their Open Day which was happening the following weekend, and, the rest, as they say, is history!

I spoke to Neil at Beacon on Saturday - he says that the battening is almost finished, and the ballast and sub-floor is down. We will be finalizing the electrics this week, and will probably go up again next Saturday for a look - I will ask Ali to send me a couple of photos meantime.

We are proud to announce Windsong's safe arrival.....

6.30am this morning saw us on the road in filthy weather on our way to watch Windsong's arrival at Beacon. Now, normally for me there is only one 6.30 in a day, and it's not in the morning - but I managed to put a matching pair of socks on, so that's an acheivement! It was still raining when we got there, as you can see from the spots on the first few pictures, but it stopped just as the work was beginning, thank goodness.

The arrival

It was so early because they make double use of the crane and the lorry, and Windsong's predecessor in the workshop - nb Merryweather - was to be launched at Pillings Lock Marina at 10am. Space is tight outside the workshop so it was an amazing feat of juggling. Merryweather was pulled out of the workshop yesterday on rollers (rather like the pyramids were built, with the rear roller being moved to the front when it became free)

Merryweather waiting patiently

Windsong waiting on the lorry

Windsong was then craned off the lorry onto sleepers - very scary as there was an alarming tip as they hadn't got the slings in the correct place at the beginning.

Going up!

And up!

And down!

Merryweather was then craned up and swung through 180 degrees onto the lorry, swinging over the top of Windsong at one point.

Don't drop it now or we'll have a double decker!

And down safe over the lorry! Phew

Windsong was then craned up, and also swung around through 180 degrees onto the rollers that had just been vacated - this time they got the balance right first time

Up

Around

Around a bit more

Down

A bit more

Just about there

She was then pushed all the way in with a digger!!

They all did a grand job in such tight confines - you could tell they'd done it before! Thanks guys and gals!

After another cup of coffee, and another stage payment made, we were on our way for a McDonald's Sausage and Egg Mc Muffin - that's blown the diet again then!

Considering that we did no work at all this morning, by the time we got home again just after 11am we were exhausted - pity Rog had to go to work this afternoon! We shall be up again within a couple of weeks to ok the wiring setup before the foam insulation is sprayed so watch this space - things will really start moving now!