Saturday, February 02, 2008

New Narrowboats In Build

Despite the doom and gloom of the weather forecast today it is sunny and bright. It was cold overnight though and we were well frosted over at 8 am.

Yesterday we drove down to Sells Green to have a look at the boats that Bath Narrowboats have in build. They have 3 in the workshop. One is nearly complete and due to be launched in a few weeks. It's owner "signed up" at Crick last year and is from Cornwall. The plan is to cruise the system, so look out for nb Global Spirit.


The boat, on a Colecraft shell, (above is Epiphany in the workshop) is of Bath Narrowboats usual high standard of fit out and has been built to the owners specification. Once again delivering "the dream" as they did for us.

They are also in process of fitting out a wide beam liveaboard. The interior is of a very distinctive style in painted tongue and groove as specified by the owner. There is nothing "built in" apart from the galley and the bed. All the other furniture will be loose and bought by the owner.

Finally they have another narrow shell that has just been delivered and the fit out will begin soon. They have also offered a "haven" for one of the refugees from the Severn Valley fall out. It is so difficult to know what to do when a well known builder goes down, but it is reassuring to know that a company like Bath Narrowboats deal very fairly with their customers. We only were expected to pay after the work was done to our satisfaction and had "title" to Epiphany at each completed stage.

After a few drinks at The Three Magpies with the lads we came home to find the electricity out in the marina. Fortunately we had juice in the batteries and were able to carry on regardless! Apparently one of the boats had dropped their hook up lead into the water earlier in the day and after the marina staff had gone managed to short out the whole marina.

John left early this morning to travel to Alrewas (Trent and Mersey Canal). Below is Bagnall Lock 13, leaving Alrewas, travelling down towards Fradley Junction.

He is attending a SOW (Save Our Waterways) meeting so I took the opportunity to do some cleaning - "coal" dust gets everywhere! I was going to the "Public Hanging", but left it too late - maybe tomorrow.

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