27th January 2008


Finally a good day with no work.!
To be honest, I feel like its a month behind now and I'm going to try to get the time back through February.

On Wednesday last we raised the 1st of 6 pieces to finish the bow.
As the welder is trapped in the aft cabin I needed to cut the doorway through the bulkhead.




Doorway cut and supports replaced to allow the steps get recessed


Finally lining up the sheet with the upper spray rail slot and the lower one.
It lines up fine.


Keel piece used to allow space for the rail.


Hopefully more progress soon.

17th Jan 2008

I'm Back.! well I've been here all the time, so has the rain, the flu I had and work.

Couple of things did happen.
I Drilled 2 holes trough the keel frames for the stern tube. 105mm wide
simple really, lined up the hole saw and applied tons of cutting fluid, weighted the handle as seen and let it off. 1 hour later.. done.. The poor drill managed it, it was bought nearly 25 years ago by my Dad


This is the flooding that the rain left.
We would have worked through it but for the bad flu I had for 6 days.



I did manage a 2 day trip to the London Boat show,
met with lots of suppliers and looked at all the things I needed to see.



Tourist Picture of the docklands.

Today we assembled and drilled the manhole covers for the fueltanks.

6th January 2008

Its been a few days since I last posted. Really bad weather and high wind has left me indoors.

I did manage to get an hour here and there.

I had made a mistake in not allowing for an upright and welded the roof girder directly to the transom wall. Silly me!. it took an hour a side to remove them because the grinder wont fit in there. Bought extra long blades for my sabre saw and went at it.

All sorted now and I also fitted the correct stiffening pieces to the transom wall. There are some more modifications to follow to strengthen the aft roof and transom wall to support Davitts for lifting a dingy and outboard engine. I want them winch lifted with the motors under the swimdeck. I have it worked out. should be nice when done.

pics to follow:

View from the Aft roof. Its a big boat!

Aft Cabin built

3rd January 2008

The frontloader wasn't collected so we made use of it while we had it.
Milo & I worked hard to complete the cabin bulkhead and line it up. Usual tensioning and lifting to get it right. Next went in the upper transom wall. I specified 2 port hole windows, you have to have one for escape but as its at eye level, I thought 2 would be nicer. The view while under way will be fab. It also gives more light into the cabin.




Stood up and tacked to the swim platform.


We raced to get the roof sections into place with a few welds to hold it together. the roof of this can only go in with the loader. It's 13 feet off the ground.


Aft roof goes up


All tacked into place. As such the only way forward on the boat is to climb under the front bulkhead. Soon I will cut the doorway to the main saloon and make some temporary steps.

View of roof

Outside view. Better pic in daylight.

2nd January 2008 Part 2:

Madness continues... having the front loader till the morning, I figured it was best to stay working with it. Time = money and all that.

One slight problem was the gale force wind blowing from bow to stern.

It meant that the piece blew around like a piece of paper, It took time to line up but I managed to get it in right, as did the other side.


Clamps at work, I think I have 28 of them in various shapes.



2nd side going in.


Fitted left hand side.





Better picture of the inside curve.

New Year

2nd January 2008

You may have noticed the time counter on the main page. The launch date is primarilly set for May 16th 2009. thats 499 days..

New Years day managed to get a few hours to make the roof bits and make the girders for the aft roof.



Aft Cabin roof with backing strips fitted


The Boat so far.

Front Loader hired today, not cheap but the only way to lift the bits now.

Today the complete welding plant landed in the aft cabin,
it will stay onboard for the next few months as the sides are too high for it to stay on the ground.

Soon my lawns can grow grass instead of having tons of metal scattered over them.



Swim deck placed and tacked in place.

The extra bit is an extension I have specified in the cutting of the kit.
the underneath will follow the rub rail all round.
I intend to incorporate a swim ladder into it.



Inside view of the aft curved back.
Transom to go in next.