Updates from Sells Green

The latest pictures of Epiphany arrived today from the boat fitters at Sells Green. Thank you Jon. She has had the ballast put in - a mixture of steel, granite and marble (off cuts!). Bath Narrowboats kindly recycle the waste from one of their neighbouring industries as it costs their neighbours to send it to a landfill site! This ballast must make their boats among the most unique on the waterways I should think. Of course this did not influence our choice of fitters, as we will never see the ballast, we hope!

The floor is also down and so there is somewhere to walk on now. I suppose it will be insulation and wiring next and possible a lick of paint for a first coat. We will not be going up for a week or so but hope for more pictures of the next stages in due course.

Transport Day - Shell builders to Fitters

What a day! We wouldn’t have missed yesterday for the world. The temperature was in the 80s, glorious blue skies, an early start and a very late return to Cornwall! It was great to see Epiphany, the shell finished and it was all systems go. I am finally able to picture how she will look when she is finished. Despite the diagrams we have I was not sure how the portholes, bow proportions and 4-foot stern hatch would work.

The shell builders have done a great job and have lived up to their good reputation. Just a few minor matters to be attended to and they will do them at the fitters. It was quite an experience watching the crane lift Epiphany over 20 feet into the air, over a very large trip boat and onto the lorry. We hedgehopped the lorry down the roads and motorways and arrived at the fitters 3 hours later. A less dramatic but safe craning into the workshop and Epiphany was settled into her next phase.

We were able to go and watch one of their refitted boats craned into the marina where Epiphany will be launched into her natural environment. After a thorough inspection and a few discussions we ended the day with celebratory drinks at a local hostelry and headed home. I think we took around 200 photos, which will be a comprehensive record of the day. We are looking forward to visiting to see the next developments in a couple of weeks. The fitters hope to have the ballasting, insulation, flooring, wiring, lining out and possibly some room bulkheads by then. We will see!

By faith we see what we hope for

This is written in faith! The new arrangement for transporting Epiphany is for tomorrow. 8am at the shell builders, craning onto the lorry and then travel from Warwickshire to Wiltshire. We have lots of photos to take, so we have a comprehensive record before the fit out begins. I suspect we may take some whilst it is on the road too. So look out, there is a camera on that bridge! We also have to hand over papers – to do with the money, oh yes, I forgot to mention that side of things! Epiphany is costing us a fair bit. She will be the only home we own (eventually) as BJ’s job has living accommodation provided. Perhaps that is why we are “obsessed” (quote from number one son!).

Postponed!

Guess what. The shell will not be ready for transport on Thursday! As this is not really a surprise we are not too disappointed.
The boat fitters contacted us and also agreed with us that it was best not to put pressure on the builders, as we want their best work, not rushed work. We will need to discuss with the fitters whether this puts back the delivery date. I suspect it will. Again we do not want them to do a bad job under pressure. Like the shell builders they are great guys so I know they will do the best they can for us. It is possible that the transporting will be Tuesday or Wednesday next week. I shall keep you in suspense for a day or two I think!