Narrowboat Build and Launch
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- Опубліковано 8 вер 2024
- Construction of our 60ft narrowboat shell by ALEXANDER BOATBUILDERS of Stourport, had started on time, and in little over six weeks was ready for launch. This would be a complete DIY fit out.
We had fitted out a 40ft cruiser stern shell in the 1980s and I had built a 16ft wooden cruiser from scratch in 1970, so we had a better idea of what we needed for an achievable quality finished result. The choice of builder was based on personal recommendation and the attention to detail and strength in the hull construction. Jim Sparkes' steel doors are among the best I have seen : reducing draughts and the ingress of water. They are very easy to line out in solid timber panels.
During the lead time up to the build we finalised our plan for the window positions using a sheet of A3 card with coloured card windows cut to scale and positioned with Blu Tack -- moving them little by little until we felt it looked right. We ensured that the windows worked with the planned interior, that there were no unnecessary windows which restrict fitting out options and waste heat, and that they were well away from the ends of the cabin or any stove pipe. No window was to be exactly opposite another -- thus improving pools of natural light inside. Ultimately we settled on an arrangement where the window spacing increases at each interval from stern to bow. Probably not the "golden ratio" of the Greeks, but one which leads the eye along the cabin side. We adopted a similar ratio for the brass roof vents (also scaled down on to A3 card to visualize the appearance), in this case ensuring they were along the lowest parts (the sides) of the cabin top to avoid reducing bridge and tunnel clearances, and in positions which would not be over the top of a bed or a chair. Our headlamp would be mounted from a dismountable outer steel frame for a cratch. The stern "dollies" for mooring ropes had unobtrusive semicircular hoops of bar fitted near them to act as fairleads -- to avoid the possibility of a rope lifting off the" dolly" in a deep lock or difficult mooring situation.
On the day we saw the first sheet of steel on the workshop floor, Dawn purchased the material for making the curtains - although she would not need to start making them for another year! We had a clear plan of our external colour scheme, which would be as simple as possible to allow for any running repairs, and the look of the curtains features in this.
It is always exciting to see a new boat come out of a workshop, and once again Jim Sparkes showed the care taken at every stage of construction -- in this instance with the piece of carpet between forklift forks and new shell. Thank you for a superb boat Jim!
Craneage onto the road transport was skilful, and we were soon on our way to Sharpness docks for the launch.
Those anxious moments when the vessel is suspended over concrete quickly passed, and our daughters, who already saw themselves as seasoned and safe boaters, performed the naming ceremony.
We clambered down into the empty cabin, more akin to a floating skittle alley, and by lunchtime we were warming ourselves in "Sharpness Docker's Club".
The following day, severe storms hit the country -- but that is boating!
Filmed on Sony TRV30E miniDV
See those smiles at the end.....Simply wonderful
Love to see the inside layout. Really nice on the outside. 👍👍
I had a boat built in the 80’s and know how exciting the launch day was.
It's great to see something like this, my Wife and I holidayed and bicycled from London to Bath, (only about 15 or so miles a day, the major distance was by train), in June 2000. The weather was fabulous, stunningly blue skies for the whole of our two weeks holiday, except for, all up, about 1 1/2 days, ,showers and some rain.
At Bath, we were walking our bikes along the canal and stopped to watch a Narrowboat being put through a lock.
The family asked us to join them on board to the next lock gates, about a mile further on.
What a brilliant way to see the countryside!.
The boat was immaculate, inside and out.
We will never forget that day, it was the icing on the cake for us, sadly, there is nothing that remotely resembles a Narrowboat, or the canal system here in New South Wales, or anywhere in Australia.
Fond memories indeed.
Oh, almost forgot, what a beautiful touch, getting the daughters to christen/name the Mystic Lady, I daresay they will never forget their very special day also!.
Hats off to the workers. I would have punctured the hull with the fork lift and rolled the beauty off the pipes into the ditch. Amazing skill.
What a lovely video!
Glad you enjoyed it!
never knew the hull was flat as a pancake!!
I well remember the collection and launch of our own shell. I hope you have many happy years in her.
Fascinating video loved it thanks
get a real feel of how exciting that was.. a dream of mine.. lovely to see it come true for you guys.. hope having lots of fun down the line. Sony trv30 takes me back!
Haha, good to hear the crane over weight alarm going off .
The nerve racking part....moving the vessel on land to launchpad, good job! what a beautiful boat! Well Done!
Beautiful looking boat, just bought a 35 ft one myself, ill look out for you on the waterways... Enjoy!!
Beautiful. Jelous!
A great video! Thank you for sharing it with us!
You can't tell me that dragging the boat out of the shed didn't scrape off the black on the hull. It' must have started to rust as soon as it hit the water unless that was just a ceremonial thing and it was lifted out to finish it.
Awesome narrowboat.
Congradulations, thanks for sharing and Merry Christmas from the USA......
I admire skill and competence..and there is so much to be had in this nicely done video.. that even people who don't like boats should watch it !
I hope this specialist people are introducing younger blood into this old past time of narrow boating.
Hate to think it may die off if there no youngsters interested in this type of thing,the making off them and all the other virtues of boat building etc.
geeze that whole evolution looked pretty hairy- amazing it worked out ok
What a lovely thing to own. Hope you get a lot of pleasure out of her.
Amazing, the driver was on the left when leaving the boatyard and on the right backing in to off load the boat. Dual steering?
Brand new, and you still use the old fashion, open steering rudder? You'd think this would be updated to better steering and bow thruster.
great to see a launching of your new ship,have a great time on the water.i wish I could join you all.
Ron, wb8nmk in N.W.Ohio march 18.2015
Could that narrow boat make it across open seas and say cruise the canals of mainland Europe, or are you just confined to England?
+Cap Marvelwith modifications and accompanied by a pilot boat they have been taken across the channel into the French canals; Try to obtain a copy of "Narrow dog to Carcasonne"
Basically safe on a duck pond but pushing it a bit anywhere else
How thick is the metal on base and sides +
10mm base, 6mm sides, 4mm roof panel
How thick is your hull steel?
I want to know the same. New boats are paper thin
I watched another video about narrow boats, shop said most where 10mm thick.
Who by the way fitted out the "Mystic Lady"....
I'll answer that myself.....you did, I caught up with the next video....