Nb.Yarwood

Sunday...a day of rest?

2012-03-11T11:03:00.000-07:00

We had ourselves, the FOUR ourselves that is, a walk to the Shirley branch of B&Q this morning. Himself had been a bit concerned when I happened to mention on Friday during our run out of Brum that the engine room was pretty hot. So on Saturday he disappeared into the bowels of Yarwood to find out why...
Engine coolant not circulating to the skin-tank (SKIN-Tank - the narrowboat version of a car radiator) was his diagnosis. After some careful consideration and a rummage in the engine manual he devised a plan of action and hence our visit to B&Q.
We returned to Yarwood with sundry plumbing bits.
He then resumed his position in Yarwood's bowels and I went to polish brass followed by wrecking session in the galley - this means I prepared tonight's dinner but the galley looked wrecked after my efforts. I have walked the dogs again, Joe has determined that the engine cooling issue is now resolved and is now playing Angry Birds in the back cabin and I am imbibing a glass of vino while I trype this and catch up with other boaty bloggers.
Cheers, happy Sunday everyone!

Bye bye City, bye, bye

2012-03-10T10:23:00.000-08:00

Yesterday we took our leave of Birmingham servicing Yarwood at the BW facilities opposite The Cube before moving out. Instead of walking the dogs along the towpath towards Kings Norton I stayed confined to the boat while we continued to 'experiment' with the washing machine/generator mix.

Yarwood moored in front of The Cube taking on fresh water

Fletcher lends a helping paw to this laundry stuff

Whilst Floyd guards the towpath outside the boat

Yarwood approaching Norton Junction where we will turn off of the Worcester and Birmingham canal on to the Nth. Stratford canal.

The start of the North Stratford canal

Negotiating the stop lock with its historic guillotine gates

Yes, I am still on board playing with washing machines and tumble dryers and taking photo's through the front hatch doors as we approach Brandwood tunnel

I managed to get myself and the dogs off of the boat as we got past the tunnel so we could get some exercise. Passing under a high bridge, a youth hanging over the parapet starting barking at the dogs, I just nodded a greeting and carried on through but Joe was less fortunate...

Joe found himself the target of some cretinous youth's anti-social behaviour, the spitting of phlegm at passing boats.

Why?

What possesses someone to act in that fashion?

I suppose it is better than bricks and bottles...

but doesn't it make you want to administer a fatal beating to the obnoxious little tyke?

A newly layered hedge as we get into the countryside

Passing through the lift bridge at Shirley

Off went the boat with me 'ome packed init, I followed on with my two Labs

A finally, moored up for the night.

My spies tell me..

2012-03-10T09:20:00.000-08:00

My spies tell me that Caxton is on the move. Caxton was spotted on the Staffs and Worcs canal this afternoon heading towards her new short term mooring at Yardley Gobion. Paul and Elaine , Caxton's new owners, will be arriving from Australia at the end of the month to claim their boat and start their much anticipated adventure on the cut. Give them a wave if you see them.

Looping the loop.

2012-03-10T01:10:00.000-08:00

After a bit of a late start yesterday morning, the "Let's get off early" falling foul to the idiosyncrasies of the washing machine and generator combination - don't ask - we set off to wind (turn) Yarwood and get her serviced before escaping the City. I had suggested/requested that we take the boat around the Icknield loop which has no towpath so has not been explored by myself and the mutts on our daily meanderings.

What once would have been a busy canal servicing the needs of industry all around its course is now a quite back water, the industry has gone for the most part, the factories and warehouses torn down or derelict.

Yarwood's bow edging around the loop with the retaining wall of the Rotton Park reservoir looming up in the background.

At the top/bottom of the loop is the Rotten Park Reservoir, built to service the canal,he Icknield loop acting as a feeder into the Main Line.

Nansen II. Built in 1951 by WJ Yarwood at Northwich as a tug and ice-breaker.

There is a BW work yard at the base of the Rotton Park reservoir and a collection of BW Heritage boats moored here.

Heritage working pair Scorpio and Leo. Built 1935 by WJ Yarwood for the GUCC

BW yard under the reservoir embankment

A current BW boat.

Oh what a grey day...well it started grey anyway. In the background as we pass through the bottom of the loop is a a golden temple, you can just see it left of centre.

More dereliction

Approaching the other end of the loop and the Main line.

That's it, we have turned back onto the Main line and are headed back into the City

Dog invasion

2012-03-08T10:56:00.000-08:00

Baxter and Muttley (dogs) came a visiting today -- accompanied by Graham and Jill from NB Matilda Rose.   Great excitement all round with Floyd and Fletcher energetically greeting their canine pals. Blankets were fetched from beds, and left on the towpath, demonstrations given on how to run up ...and down the side steps in...and out of the boat.    Lots of squeaking and chewing of heads and muzzles and then the dogs started...
I took photo's but a senior moment had crept in (again) and there was no chip in the camera to save them to (it had been left in PC the night before). Jill will have done a better job so there should be something in the blog-a-sphere to commemorate our gathering..
After a quick boat review we all walked down the Farmers Bridge lock flight, four humans, four dogs to lunch in The Bull.   Rose, the landlady, had been asked the previous day if this invasion would be acceptable and had given a thumbs up and sure enough we all got a lovely welcome, enjoyed a lovely meal and the dogs were given water and doggy treats to round our visit off.

On our return to Yarwood, Muttley presented us with his new party piece; if one climbs up these side steps one can step straight on to this galley worktop and check out any food that might have been left there...simples!    This has never occurred to Floyd and Fletcher but they were eyeing Muttley's antics with a lot of interest.
It was great to see our travelling companions again and it won't be long now before we will join them at Gayton Junction for the start of our summer on the Fens.

Doing very little

2012-03-06T23:24:00.000-08:00

We didn't do much yesterday.
We probably won't do much today, a bit of food shopping ( we are out of dishwasher tabs, heaven forbid...) and inspired by a conversation with Jill of NB Matilda Rose yesterday we are off to the cinema to see either The Artist or The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. My money is on the latter, a comedy with Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Celia Imrie and Bill Nighy; I'll let you know what we thought of the film later.

Heading back into Birmingham

2012-03-05T10:30:00.002-08:00

Following our weekend at The Black Country Museum moorings we pulled pins this morning, turned the boat and pulled onto the service point to do 'the necessary', filling with fresh water, disposing of rubbish and emptying toilet cassettes. We also took the opportunity to give the boat a wash - well at least one side of the boat...

Yarwood serviced and washed.

TWO TUGS TANGO - Yarwood passing William, a Stowe Hill BCN style tug

Pudding Green Junction - what a cute name! The junction of the Wednesbury Old Canal with the New Main line. We will come back another time and visit more of the BCN as we have barely scratched the surface and this is quite fascinating...if a bit scary as well.

I've done the walking - 5miles, and produced a lunch so now I'M IN CHARGE! Yes, I'm on the tiller again for a short time, heading into Brum - taking photo's whilst steering with my spine....

Take a vegetable and...

2012-03-04T07:31:00.000-08:00

All that fresh food I bought last week has had me tied to the galley - not a problem as a bit of bondage can go a long way.....so they say,... wouldn't know, she says back peddling frantically...

I have been busy producing veggie meals from the River Cottage Veg Everyday book that Mother bought me for a Christmas pressie. We have had Leek Risotto which got a thumbs-up from Himself, last night's effort was a Moroccan squash and chickpea stew - DELICIOUS!! - no honestly, it really was! Today I have prepared a fennel and squash lasagna which is about to go in the oven while I prep a salad accompaniment and tomorrow I am going to subject Himself to Spinach, squash and goats cheese pasties.
I know, I know, all you macho meat eaters are busy googling a route to Yarwood's mooring just to rescue my Man from this veggie torture but don't trouble yourselves - as long the meal has bags of flavour, and they do, Himself is very happy to eat them..
For vegetarians out there...Hugh's veg book is great!

It's raining it's pouring

2012-03-04T00:18:00.000-08:00

It's raining, it's pouring the Old Man is snoring... Well at least one of us was last night. We moved Yarwood down yesterday onto a proper visitor mooring but it means that her back end is very close to the road bridge and therefore our cabin is also very close to the road bridge. Himself can sleep through almost anything whilst my sleep patterns are rather more erratic, the night before comatose but last night, wide awake... I ended getting up and arranging a makeshift bed on the floor in the saloon with the dogs where after numerous games of Scrabble on the DS I drifted off to the Land of Nod.
The advantage of this arrangement is that Floyd and Fletcher don't have to go far to wake the Breakfast Fairy though and at about half six this morning they pointed out to Me that they were starving!!
So up, dogs fed, tea made, fire stirred into action - it is teeming outside now by the way - update the blog and think about what I might do for the human breakfasts today...
Have a nice day everyone!

Main lining

2012-03-03T03:59:00.001-08:00

I am just starting this update as Himself is upside down in the weed hatch amusing himself; men and their hobbies!!

We decided that we would get out of Birmingham for the weekend so once up I trekked up to Tesco's for a weekend supply of vino collapso and a newspaper leaving Joe to prep the boat ready for the off.

Reflections on the main line

Reflected railway arches in the cut

We watered at Cambrian Wharf; two water points, four taps, but NO water pressure so even though it was only us there it took well over an hour to fill the tank, still needs must and we didn't have any appointments in the diary so....
We then filled with diesel at Sherbourne Wharf (92p litre) and set off westwards towards Dudley.

I got off with the dogs just past the Soho loop and walked the towpath. It was a lovely day, most cyclists failed to run me or the dogs into the ground or the cut so things were looking up!

Telford's stunning aqueduct carrying the Engine Arm across the Main line.

I got back aboard after five and a half miles, made a cuppa and took the tiller until we arrived at the first of the Factory locks. Approaching the lock we could see people at the lock and the gate was opening.....then closing? It turned out to be three kids of 11/12ish messing about.

I called to get them to open the gate, and as we carefully approached they asked if they could ride on the deck as they had never been on a boat....

We obliged.

So carefully laden with three kids that were warned to 'hold on' we went into the lock. I went up and worked the lock, prepped the next one and returned to open the top gate and help our human cargo off; they ran off shouting their thanks and laughing gleefully.

Yarwood in the top of the Factory flight of locks just before we turn left thru Tipton and on the Black Country Museum moorings.

Moored up at the Black Country Museum - they found a mooring for us where the heritage boat normally moors - the visitor moorings were occupied by a couple of work boats...

Re. Men's hobbies and weed hatches. Himself removed a refuse sack and contents but announced that access to Yarwood's weed hatch is easier then Caxton's - does this mean he is going to spend more time there or will he restrain himself???

Forgive my ignorance

2012-03-01T09:57:00.000-08:00

Forgive my ignorance but I didn't know that Birmingham was once famous for the manufacturing of guns or that BSA (Beeza to me) made anything other than motorcycles!
It seems that BSA stands for, Birmingham Small Arms, so that's me standing corrected in my orthopaedic shoes!!
The reason that I am now aware of this gap in my education/general knowledge is that lunch today was at a recommended alehouse called The Bull which turns out to be smack bang in the centre of the Gun Making Quarter of Birmingham. The recommendation came because this pub welcomes dogs, sells real ale and serves home made food - heaven....

The Bull, circa 1800

Himself had steak and kidney pudding and a plateful of fresh vegetables and I had smoked haddock fishcakes and veggies. The dogs had a bowl of water each and a large packet of pork scratchings and kept the pub cat amused to boot!

The 3 boys waiting while I take photo's

The fine Barker Bridge

So to get to this pub - walk down the Farmers Bridge Flight of locks until you get to Barker Bridge, where you go up onto Lower Loveday St and turn left - The Bull is up the road on the left and it is really worth a visit.

Here is a link that gives you information about Birmingham's gun making past.

To freeze or not to freeze...

2012-03-01T00:25:00.001-08:00

I was asked a couple of days ago about whether it was necessary to have a freezer on board a liveaboard boat.   Well I guess the answer is NO, it is not necessary, but it is possible.   When we started this living on a narrowboat over three years ago we had a freezer, a small 12volt Shoreline freezer. Advice to us at the time was if we were going to live aboard we should have a freezer...so we did.
In went the extra bottle of milk, the loaf of bread, packet of peas assorted meat/fish products etc. and for the most part these items stayed there.

After a year we ended up running the contents of the freezer down in preparation for a Christmas break away from the boat and simply never switched it on again.    We found that we didn't need a freezer at all; there are plenty of places near the canal to get fresh provisions and for us, running a freezer was neither necessary nor made sense given the power it consumed.

Fresh food bought yesterday - most of which has gone into the fridge.

To freeze or not to freeze is very much a personal choice, it depends on how you live, on what you eat. We have never missed the freezer and in fact we removed it from Nb. Caxton (our former boat) and sold it. When it came to build NB. Yarwood we didn't even consider including a freezer though the dishwasher has found a place aboard. It is certainly personal choice, many boaters will have freezers a board but I suspect most won't... and most won't feel the lack of it.

Captain comes calling..

2012-02-28T09:14:00.001-08:00

We had a visit today from Captain Ahab, akka Andrew Tidy, a fellow blogger, of Nb.Wand'ring Bark. Andy visited us in Brum last winter when we stuck in ice aboard NB. Caxton and spotting that we were heading his way with Yarward, made contact and arranged his personal boat review...
Many of you will also know that Andy is standing as a candidate for one of the boater places on the new Canal and River Trust board... If you haven't voted yet...Andrew TIDY is the name!

Here's Andy, all 6'3" of him..

A man on his knees...

Wakey wakey

2012-02-27T23:38:00.000-08:00

The 'blackbird singing in the dead of night' ( a Beatles song for those too young to recall) woke Lesley sleeping in the dead of night....
Looking out of the porthole this morning I spy a large expanse of ivy-clad wall, the perfect spot for my McCartney impersonator..
Anyone got any Agent Orange in their garden shed?

Into Brum

2012-02-27T11:31:00.000-08:00

Lazy start; after 8 months of non-cruising we seem to have got this indolent habit off to a fine state, no rush to do anything so despite getting out of the sack at seven we didn't pull pins until eleven.
Does it matter?
Nah of course not.
(This will be music to the ears of Graham and Jill of Nb. Matilda Rose, our ~~normal~~ usual travelling companions who have got the travelling chill-pill way ahead of us.)

Off we goes and with the Wast Hill Tunnel of just around the corner from our mooring I stayed aboard hoovering and stuffing bedding into the washing machine. This was the first time we have used the washing machine and tumble dryer on the generator. We watered at Kings Norton where I got off with the dogs and walked them into Birmingham.

Here she comes..

There she goes..

The Rail Station at Bourneville in the Cadbury colours

Passing through Worcester Bar

Moored up - where we were for eight weeks last winter in our previous boat Caxton

Saturday Night viewing..

2012-02-27T00:13:00.000-08:00

Joe recorded last week's episode of Question Time (QT) hosted by David Dimbleby. As Saturday night viewing offers on the box didn't appeal to either of us we opted to watch QT.
The usual mix of politicians and journo's with a historian thrown in this time to give balance, audience questions covering the Greek financial /Euro crisis, Syria, do we or don't we intervene, work experience for the young unemployed and the latest Banker bonus's.

If you put two politicians from difference persuasions in front of a camera they usually try to score points off of each other, fail to answer the question and generally irritate the socks off of me and this week was no exception. The balance in the program is the other panel members, real people with real experience outside of the Westminster playschool.

The conclusions that I drew from the debate was that Greece is very close to revolution having been set up to fail and with its people facing a type of post Versailles Treaty like the Germans after WW1. Syrian 'freedon fighters' were not going to see European assistance on the ground but look out for the Russians reining in Assad in the near future.
Work experience for the young unemployed was an excellent idea and it was VOLUNTARY. The rates for people getting a job after taking part were statistically very high and therefore a success and it beats sitting at home alone and demoralised playing on your XBox.
And on Bankers bonuses....
They are every ones whipping boys still....
Someone has to be I suppose.

Cats and Pigeons

2012-02-25T23:47:00.000-08:00

The following was sent to me by my Brother - I thought it made interesting reading whereas others may find it gets under their political collar so to speak...

An economics professor at a college in the USA made a statement that he had never failed a single student before, but had recently failed an entire class. That class had insisted that Obama's socialism worked and that no one would be poor and no one would be rich, a great equalizer.

The professor then said, "OK, we will have an experiment in this class on Obama's plan"..
All grades will be averaged and everyone will receive the same grade so no one will fail and no one will receive an A.... (substituting grades for dollars - something closer to home and more readily understood by all).

After the first test, the grades were averaged and everyone got a B. The students who studied hard were upset and the students who studied little were happy. As the second test rolled around, the students who studied little had studied even less and the ones who studied hard decided they wanted a free ride too so they studied little.
The second test average was a D! No one was happy.

When the 3rd test rolled around, the average was an F.

As the tests proceeded, the scores never increased as bickering, blame and name-calling all resulted in hard feelings and no one would study for the benefit of anyone else.
To their great surprise, ALL FAILED and the professor told them that socialism would also ultimately fail because when the reward is great, the effort to succeed is great, but when government takes all the reward away, no one will try or want to succeed.

The story of a lovely day

2012-02-25T03:38:00.000-08:00

The Sun put his hat on yesterday, what a grand day it turned out to be! I headed off across the fields here at Hopwood leaving Joe doing...things. The boys and I walked down to the bridge you see in the photo below where we climbed/jumped the style there and set off on our meanderings. The dogs went on leads as we walked through field after field of ewes and their new born lambs.

On entering a field set to a cereal crop I loosed the boys and crossed the field looking for a style or post or gate to indicate the route of the public footpath - Farmer-boy had not reinstated the path after sowing his crop - we came across the notice below in the centre of the crop

Looking up the field you can see the grass runway running through the crop. Later during the day we saw the aircraft take off and land.

Shotgun cartridge

Shotgun victim - a recently killed fox slung over the sheep fencing. My initial reaction was that this was a pointless death but then thinking about it, perhaps the lambs are at risk from Mr Fox ...? Do foxes take lambs?

We walked a couple of miles of country lanes, only saw two cars

Back at Yarwood, Joe wires up the satellite dish and receiver things...

I climb on the roof and polish brass

Fletcher watches me work

and then both Floyd and Fletcher take themselves off to bed - it's a hard life

Exit, One and half tons

2012-02-24T01:53:00.000-08:00

I woke yesterday morning and had a thought, the one-a-day ration came early....

We could give Stuart, our boat builder, a call about getting more ballast off of Yarwood, us being at Hopwood would enable him to get his van close to the boat. Stuart happily agreed and said he would be with us in a couple of hours. Joe then reversed Yarwood onto the water point, we filled the tank and washed down one side of the boat before reversing through the bridge onto a mooring near a lay by. We were just tying up when Stuart arrived.
They, Joe and Stuart, started by moving the washing machine and tumble dryer to get at the ballast beneath and then moved backwards into the saloon to get at yet more ballast. I removed myself and the dogs for an hour, leaving them to it.

Exit tumble dryer, the floor is about to come up to get at the engineering bricks beneath.

Stuart removed bricks and Joe loaded them onto the adjacent van. We have now removed upwards of one and half ton bringing the boat up two/three inches. I measured the draught (how much Yarwood sits in the water) and we are now at 25.5 inches.

Ballast gone, we moved off again northwards and moored beyond the official visitor moorings away from other boaters because we now planned to use the chain saw and cut up the wood we had gathered on Tuesday.

Joe preparing the chain saw for its first outing for some time...

We spent a couple hours in the glorious sunshine cutting wood, talking to passersby and their dogs and clearing up towpath and boat.

Log basket full

Sunset over the cut as we walk to the pub

And after all that was done and boys had had another walk Himself decided it was time for a pint at the Local, Hopwood House, and I of course had to support that decision and accompany him...loyalty or what?

A little balance and ballast

2012-02-22T09:19:00.000-08:00

Yesterday we had the floor up in the back cabin, removed the multitude of items stored beneath the floor and hunted out the last of the ballast there, 47 engineering bricks. 250 or so bricks had already been removed a couple of days after launch as Yarwood had gone into the water a bit too stern down.

We have stacked the bricks on the tug deck temporarily until we can responsibly dispose of them - anyone need any bricks??
The next job was to trim the boat again and Joe did this by sticking a spirit level on the steerers step at the back (side to side) and moving a couple of the 56lb weights we carry for the purpose.

Unwanted ballast

While Himself was rummaging under the floor boards I tackled a bit of brass cleaning, one tunnel lamp. I must have been inspired by Halfie's post of this morning on Brasso!

Tonight's mooring

After lunch we decided to move Yarwood along to the visitor moorings away from the mild but persistent traffic noise of last night and while Joe set up the TV ariel I took the boys for a walk.

We also ran the genny today for the first time today using it to top up the battery bank, run the dishwasher and the vacuum cleaner (much mess mucking out the ballast). We were very pleased, and relieved, that the genny can barely be heard from outside the boat, the cocooning and hospital silencer doing the job of suppressing the sound. Our aim when having the genny fitted was obviously to supply Yarwood with the power we want but also that it didn't disturb others; that seems to have been achieved....

Yarwood, meet Hopwood

2012-02-21T10:36:00.000-08:00

We left our mooring at Alvechurch this morning, exactly one month after Yarwood's launch. We have had a rather extended stay, partly to facilitate our move from Caxton to Yarwood and partly to use the time with a car to visit family, but largely because of ICE.

Moored as close as we could get to the wood supply

Still we are away now and the first port of call was the south side of Shortwood Tunnel where a nice man had left us a supply of wood. Getting Yarwood moored up to pick up wood resulted in our usual 'mooring quarrel', so things haven't changed in the last eight months, but that behind, us we loaded with a supply of timber and set off south again to wind (turn) the boat. I then took the helm until we got back to Shortwood Tunnel where I promptly chickened-out and handed over to Himself, getting off at the next bridge hole with the dogs, I then walked to Hopwood where we have planned to stay for a couple of days.
The stay hereabouts gives us the opportunity to adjust the trim of the boat - more ballast to be removed - chop the wood, wash the boat and try out the bloody great cocooned genny in the hold.

Nearly there now

2012-02-20T23:26:00.000-08:00

I know I am getting close to resuming our roaming lifestyle because when I took the boys for their first walk yesterday I spotted an enormous pile of freshly cut wood, freshly cut wood left along the towpath no less! Wood is now FUEL to us again and so today's plan of action, now we are minus the car and on the move again, is to visit this fuel dump and have us some.

The sun popped out to give us a pleasant sunny walk back to the boat.

Yarwood is tested.

2012-02-19T09:21:00.001-08:00

Today Yarwood has been paraded for an article in Canal Boat Magazine (May edition I believe) but the view from a forward porthole this morning was not very encouraging... it had started to snow! Fortunately it didn't come to much and the sun soon took hold of the day which was very handy for David Oakes the photographer.

David, on the towpath, getting ahead of Yarwood for some more shots while Adam Porter brings the boat along behind

David waiting for the sun to come out from behind a cloud while Joe 'hovers' Yarwood

Once all the outside photo's were taken it was time to moor up again and for David to capture the interior shots while Adam takes copious notes ahead of writing the article. Once done it was time to head to The Weighbridge for a well derserved Sunday lunch.

Joe, Adam and David having demolished their lunch

On test

2012-02-18T23:00:00.000-08:00

Yarwood is on 'test' today. Adam Porter and David Oakes are visting us here at Alvechurch to carry out a boat test assignment for Canal Boat Magazine. I will publish photo's of this later today for now I need to find the polish and duster....

Wally Dugs, that would be Glaswegian for...

2012-02-17T23:49:00.000-08:00

Wally dugs, Glaswegian (Joe's original home) for Staffordshire Dogs like these below. I returned to Yarwood yesterday afternoon bearing gifts from Mater for Yarwood's saloon. A couple of small Staffordshire dogs. There Victorian mantleplace ornaments that graced millions of homes from the Victorian era right up into the last century and they are now gracing my home...

And, a little ornament that used to reside on my much loved Nan's dressing table. If I recall clearly there used to be two of these little chaps/girls but sadly only one has survived.

Does anyone know anything about him/her?

Essex beckons..

2012-02-15T08:59:00.000-08:00

I have left Himself to get on with a few modifications aboard Yarwood and taken the opportunity, and the car, to Essex to visit Mater.
The thaw should be complete by the end of the week by which time I will return to Alvechurch, allowing Joe to then take the wheels back into storage and come Sunday we should be resuming our travels, Birmingham bound.

It worked! Tardebigge Services is to get a 'deep clean'

2012-02-13T23:46:00.001-08:00

Credit where credit is due, BW have responded positively to my criticism about the state of Tardebigge Service area.

Dear Lesley
I have asked for a deep clean to be done on the area, as well as sending your email to the mooring officer who will contact the owners of crafts who have a mooring at the site regarding the issue of dog fouling.

Kind regards

Deborah Craggs
Operations Administrator
British Waterways
South Wales & Severn Waterway

And my response...

Deborah I am impressed, thank you for taking positive action.
regards
Lesley K

BW responds on dog fouling at Tardebigge

2012-02-13T05:07:00.000-08:00

Dear Lesley
Thank you for your email, if you can provide me with the name of the craft that is allowing the dog to foul the towpath then the mooring department can get in touch with the boat owner about this but without this information there is very little that can be done. To process this further it would be useful if we could have dates and times.

Kind regards

Deborah Craggs
Operations Administrator
British WaterwaysSouth Wales & Severn Waterway

Can you hear the wringing of hands, oh dear, oh dear?

Thinking that there might be a better course of action I helpfully reply....

Dear Deborah
Yes, I can see that dealing with this issue is problematic.

I didn't actually witness a dog fouling near the water point, nor did I witness said dog climbing off of the adjacent boat to the water point and defecating, the evidence of this practise however was all around my feet
.
If it was you or I that was moored permanently by the water point and another boater brought their dog to defecate on the piece of grass outside of your/my boat don't you think that the practise would have been halted?
It is evident that the moorer adjacent to the water point is using the scrap of grass as their own private garden...with all that entails.

So what options might there be to deal with this disgusting situation?

•All moorers ( BW know who they are) could been written to about a problem in the area with dog fouling - the letter doesn't have to accuse, just state the problem.
•The area should/must be cleaned up and an eye kept on it.
•A notice about dog fouling posted with a contact number for anyone witnessing it happening
•A dog poo bin erected possibly?

I fully appreciate that BW haven't the resources to change the behaviour of all the people that use the canals and rivers but this IS clearly solvable, it really is. BW wringing their hands because I cannot hand you the culprit isn't going to clean up the area where boaters moor for fresh water and sanitation services and leaving this situation unchecked when you have been made aware of it doesn't cut it frankly.
Perhaps the local Lengthsman's input might help....

Kind regards
Lesley Kimantas

One hundred and ten not out

2012-02-13T01:56:00.000-08:00

Having experienced an extended icebound stay in Birmingham last winter, eight weeks if my memory serves me well, I gained a sense of what our second city has to offer. With this in mind I headed off to the superb indoor market adjacent to New Street Railway Station on Saturday to buy some ribbon from the haberdashers stall.
When I returned to Yarwood I threaded ribbons on the ribbon plates and yesterday Himself hung the plates on the front bulkhead in the saloon.

London Bridge - my present from London - with horsedrawn vehicles and top hatted pedestrians and sailing vessels in the Thames

The coronation of Queen Alexandra in 1902 (110 years ago)

The Coronation of King Edward VII in 1902 (110 years ago)

Visitor gone but the ICE is still here

2012-02-12T11:06:00.000-08:00

Visitor gone but the Ice is still here...

Last week we were joined aboard Yarwood by our long term friend, Valerie Ann. Val is recovering from a shoulder replacement operation and joined us for a few days non-cruise, given the ice, before she returns to work next week. Now Val is not one of your hardy souls and despite the stove running full blast and the central heating going for large sections of the day she felt a tad chilly - I on the other hand was gently broiled!!

Valerie Ann, and glass of vino of course...

We have stayed iced in with sharp drops in temperature overnight. The frozen water pipes of last week have not returned however so Joe's insulation measures have obviously worked well.

A couple of sheets of Kingspan have been purchased and cut and fitted to the hold hatch cutting down heat loss and reducing any potential 'drumming' caused by the genny when we use it.

And today I drove over to Brierley Hill to Dave Moore's home to pick up our newly painted water can.

I have VOTED!!

2012-02-09T01:56:00.000-08:00

I have voted, have you??

Canal &River Trust

Council Elections 2012
Private Boaters

Logged out.

Visit the ERS Web Site

Online Help | Policy Statement

Of Lace and Ribbons etc.

2012-02-07T00:43:00.000-08:00

Heady with my success at fixing our saloon fire yesterday, and with Joe away in Lincolnshire, I went rummaging in his tool store and found a hammer! Equipped with this crude but effective tool I set about decorating the back cabin.
I had bought some crochet-lace from Evelyn of Lockside Antiques and set about fixing this in the traditional manner to soften the cabin a little.

Having adorned the back cabin with crochet work I then set my attention to starting to get the ribbon plates up around the stove. I had more plates to add but Fletcher and Floyd were becoming impatient with my decorating and rather insistent about going out for their walk, so a task to be continued...

Nothing like ICE to highlight a problem...or two

2012-02-06T10:48:00.000-08:00

Like the rest of the canal boat fraternity, we have been iced in. The saving grace for us is that we were still moored at Alvechurch with shore power and handy car when the big freeze hit. We have booked our temporary mooring here for a further week which should see us through this cold snap and the visitation of longtime friend, Valerie Ann. Himself is away today to Lincolnshire, dumping unwanted kit into storage, picking up 'needed' kit from storage,.. and Valerie Ann.
We keep the wheels until Friday, when Val goes home and so does the car..Saturday onwards we regain our 'normal' lives after the boat build, continuously cruising again...

Saturday morning, the cut is refrozen after two Anglo Welsh boats came thru on Friday

We wake to discover that the water pipes on Yarwood are frozen so and we have no running water aboard. Shore-power comes into it's own and Joe plugs in a cheap halogen heater we bought last year in the extended winter freeze and leaves it to do it's thing in the hold. After an hour we have running water again.

There then follows a trip to Screw-fix to buy some pipe insulation.

Next morning, still locked down in ice, the alarm on the central heating goes off.

Overheating, Overheating switch me off or risk a nuclear incident!! (well something like that anyway..)

*!** what next? says Himself

It turns out to be no more than an airlock and Joe soon has that resolved.

Yarwood's Lilliking stove

Which brings me to the next little old issue..

Bear in mind that we are used to the stove aboard Caxton..which is an Aarrow Ecoburn that was so efficient, so effective that even in the harshest of winter conditions, it kept the boat warm with very little assistance from the central heating.
So, given that experience, we couldn't understand why the new fire aboard Yarwood so 'bloody' useless..It was consuming coal at an alarming rate, producing very little heat and we were having to run the central heating to keep warm. Frankly we started to think we had bought a 'pup', which is an expensive mistake to make... We even started to contemplate having the new stove removed and getting another Aarrow to replace it; that was until our boat fitter Stuart Harper (Barnowl Narrowboats) spotted the likely problem, a missing section of stove rope that was allowing the draft to bypass the fuel.
Today I bought a length of stove rope and fitted it - yes, I fitted it all by myself - and now the stove is performing brilliantly!! We have a warm boat!!!

The white 'missing' stove rope

Clever OLD me!

Dear BW, Dear, Dear, BW please act

2012-02-03T11:36:00.000-08:00

Oh no, complaining again...here she goes

Dear BW

I called in to the services at Tardebigge on Wednesday last and as I started to moor up a fellow boater warned me to "Mind where you step because of the dog excrement (her word was 'shit')". I was already aware of the potential state of the area adjacent to the water point from my two visits to these services last summer. So, over six months later, what do I find? Dog feces liberally scattered about the services mooring and the small piece of grass by the water point. The condition of the service point is disgusting, quite foul. I am NOT anti-dog, I have two Labrador's.

This is not towpath side, this is not local lazy dog walkers or passing boaters. The condition of the area around the services is attributable to a locally, very locally, moored boat that allows his/her dog to foul the area with no regard to users of the services point.

Please do something about this!

BW are the 'landlords' and the moorer's here abouts are your 'tenants' so BW is in strongest position to influence behaviour and keep the service point in an acceptable and hygienic condition.

kind regards

Lesley Kimantas

Those in favour of Tug decks, say Aye, those agin...

2012-02-03T01:42:00.000-08:00

I received an Anonymous comment about tug decks on a previous post, see below.

"Still undecided about this type of front deck it looks like a waste of space but each to their own."

and thought I would post my response here.

Hi Anon

The boat built by our boat fitter, Barnowl Narrowboats, immediately after our first boat Caxton, was a trad boat with a a Gardner engine and a tug deck. Like you I couldn't understand the attraction or the purpose of such a boat but less than three years later we find ourselves commissioning a similar boat!

Why??

Once we were out there on the cut, every time we saw a tug style boat it drew the eye, there is something about its lines and how it sits in the water and one of the first of these tugs we clapped eyes on was Nb Kyle owned by Brian Jarrett.

Nb Kyle

We were moored at Bugsworth basin when Nb. Kyle arrived and the following day yet another tug arrived, Kevin Blick with his tug, Nb Star.    But apart from our obvious attraction to the lines of a tug we remained convinced that this type of boat was impracticable, especially for liveaboard continuous cruisers.
As time passes, Joe starts to like the idea of an internal engine room, I grow to appreciate the value and practicality of a traditional back cabin and WE start to think about boat number two.

I want a tug, Joe thinks tugs are a waste of space; impasse reached.

The change of heart came when Joe agreed that he wanted the looks and lines of a tug but couldn't overcome his reservations about how we could make it work.    Lesley, that would be me, saw a glimpse of light ..
We walked from stem to stern in Caxton and identified what things were essential to our roaming life on the cut and where they could be housed on a tug style boat... amazingly we identified homes for everything bar the home for dirty linen. (since rectified). The reservations melted away and we started to draw up detailed plans on the back of discarded fag packets..a 58 footer or a 70 footer?
We worked out how we could afford to build another boat and pressed the GO button...
Yarwood went into build
.
Under that 'waste-of-space-tug-deck' is;

A 7.2 kva cocooned diesel generator
Central heating unit
Water tank
Dedicated diesel tank for genny and central heating
Bow thruster
Coal/wood store

And also under the tug deck but accessible from the saloon are:

Washing machine
Tumble dryer
PC work station

We have yet to experience living with a tug deck but we believe that we have made what is desirable to us, tug lines, as practical as possible for our needs.
Time will tell of course.

Shake down!!

2012-02-01T13:08:00.000-08:00

This morning, well late morning, we slipped out of our mooring here at Alvechurch and swung a right towards Tardebigge. We cruised for an hour, thru some light ice in places, through two tunnels - testing the tunnel lamp/nav lamps - running at 800rph most of the way and winded at the top of the closed Tardebigge flight of locks.
We moored up on the services and emptied cassettes etc., had a cuppa, wrote a note and pinned it on the services gateway congratulating the lazy dog owner who fails to clear up after his/her dog. The place is smothered in dog shite and I bet I wouldn't lose any money if I were to bet that the dog lived on the boat that is always moored adjacent to the water point..but perhaps I am being unfair ??
I feel another little old complaint to BW coming on....
Anyway, back to Yarwood.

Servicing

I walked back so I could exercise the dogs and get some photo's of Yarwood

We have no pulse

2012-01-31T03:31:00.000-08:00

Joe is currently in the hold fixing an accumulator to Yarwood's water system. We had a pressure vessel like this aboard Caxton but putting one on Yarwood escaped our notice so this is the first retro-fit item. It makes such a difference as it evens out the water flow, eradicating any pulsing caused by the water pump.

Product Description
SHURflo’s Pre-Pressurized Accumulator Tank smoothes water tap pulsations and reduces pump cycling to keep water line pressure up and pump motors cool. The SHURflo® accumulator tank reduces plumbing system noise, increases the life of your pump and saves battery power.

Getting ready for a shake-down

2012-01-30T09:21:00.000-08:00

We have been preparing Yarwood for a 'shake-down' cruise early this coming week. This will the time when we find any bits and pieces that need 'snagging' (putting right) before we up stumps, pull pins and are off again on our aimless wanderings. We have run all the appliances on board so we know that the washing machine, the tumble dryer and the dishwasher are up to scratch and last night being a brave techno bunny I set up and used the microwave! Who knows, I could be doing the telly next at this rate...

Joe has found and repaired a leaky fuel filter on the engine; well we hope he has repaired it?
We are having a bit of fun working out the idiosyncrasy's of the stoves and how to keep them running all night but that will come and in the meantime we wake up to a chilly boat but simply reach for the central heating button..

Booth's aboard...

2012-01-29T08:53:00.000-08:00

We had visitors on Saturday.
We should have these visitors on Tuesday or Thursday but we were in such a state of chaos that we had to defer them until some form of order prevailed on Yarwood. By Saturday we were almost there - only the engine room looked like Steptoe's yard by now so when Graham and Evelyn Booth came a calling we were able to locate and break out the coffee and cakies. Many of you will know Graham from his writing and contributions to Waterways World magazine and Evelyn from her Lockside Antiques business that sells all things for traditional back cabins. Evelyn has supplied quite a few bits for Yarwood and was happy to offer a novice, like what I am, with some tips about how the traditional back cabin should be decorated.

Graham and Evelyn in Yarwood's rather bare back cabin - not bare for long though...

Two Snake Venom's and ...

2012-01-27T09:33:00.000-08:00

Yesterday evening having completed the final bits and pieces associated with handing over Caxton we went for a celebration pint at the local pub, The Weighbridge. And what a little gem this pub is! Camra (Campaign for Real Ale) rated and winners of local Camra Pub of The Year for 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010. Added to the range and quality of the beer is the quality and variety of the home cooked meals; including a super selection for the vegetarian! The pub was once a private house, Scarfield House associated with Scarfield Wharf, a former coal wharf and now the home of the Alvechurch Boat Company (ABC).

We passed this way a couple of times last year aboard Caxton and didn't discover The Weighbridge as it is tucked behind the ABC buildings and not clearly visible from the canal even though it is only a hop, skip and jump from the cut.
If you are travelling on the Birmingham and Worcester canal any time in the future and you enjoy good beer and excellent food do yourself a favour and moor up and give The Weighbridge a try!

We drank a toast to Caxton and to her new owners, Paul and Elaine.

Two Snake Venom's dutifully downed...

Under garment retrieval service..

2012-01-25T00:21:00.000-08:00

I went of at half eight yesterday morning, following the instructions on the SatNav, back to Caxton to retrieve MY missing undergarments and a lot of other stuff besides. Coming back I skipped the SatNav bit and the consequent rush-hour traffic queues through Bromsgrove and the single track country roads with limited passing places of the earlier journey.
I returned with the car stuffed to the roof , unloaded, made lunch, sent Joe on his way back to Caxton for the LAST of the treasures and took the dogs out for a wander south along the towpath towards the Shortwood Tunnel.
The rain of the night before had made a bit of a mess of the towpath but the low lying mist created quite an atmosphere - Hound of the Baskervillesque and me with two hounds of the basket-meals in tow...
Oh, lucky me also saw a Kingfisher!
Then it was back to Yarwood to put all the toot away...
somewhere.

The entrance to Shortwood Tunnel on a a moody/misty January afternoon

Moving in, moving on

2012-01-23T23:05:00.000-08:00

Sunday night was our first night aboard Yarwood and our first night sleeping in a 'cupboard'.
There had been a couple of trips made ferrying our goods and chattels from boat to boat (still more to come) and for the most part Joe has been doing the removal trips and I have been putting things away; that might explain why on Monday morning I have no clean clothes to put on and despite requests/instructions still have no underwear aboard...
This morning I am doing the first trip back to Caxton, (followed by the flies) , to retrieve my selection of important items as opposed to Joe's which included, engine oil, assorted electrical goodies, tools, empty camera boxes and his underwear and socks.
Not that I am complaining of course, darling.....

As for the sleeping arrangements...
The boatman's cabin and the 'bed-in-a-cupboard' has proved to be very, very comfortable. Joe is still in the cupboard as I type this in the saloon; I will let him out soon....maybe

My Kingdom for a crane...

2012-01-23T00:48:00.000-08:00

Following on from our tales of yesterday and the launch that nearly never was...
After much hanging about the big new yellow crane turned up, (the driver having upset his wife's plans to come a rescue us), and manoeuvred into position. The confident mobile crane team soon had Yarwood airborne again and gently lowered into the canal..
We had a launch, at last, but it was 4pm by now and we had started eights hours ago and the relief excitement was tempered by weariness.
We took on diesel and then with Joe and Stuart at the stern and the rest of the group on the tug deck we took our first trip....200 yards in reverse on to our temporary mooring.

By now just to add to the frustrations...the battery in the camera had died so no photo's of the critical bit....
Nephew Jack videoed this though and hopefully he will find a way of sending me the recording so I can put it on the blog.

Yarwood on her temp. mooring yesterday afternoon

Front hatch doors open showing the internal but weatherproof 'patio' window

Half-a-story is better than...

2012-01-21T23:33:00.000-08:00

Half a story is better than no story, to plagiarise a well known song, and, like Yarwood, I am going to leave you hanging on for the finale to yesterday's tale of launch, no launch... maybe launch..

Our day started somewhat earlier than we have become accustomed to we were out of bed by 06.30 and leaving Caxton at 08.00 to drive up to the Barnowl workshop. The crane had arrived just before us and was preparing Yarwood for the lift onto the lorry.
The expectations for the day were that Yarwood would be loaded and transported to Alvechurch Boat Centre(ABC) where the ABC wharf crane would unload the boat and lower her into the canal. We would then get Yarwood onto her temporary mooring, show family and friends around the boat and then head off for a convivial lunch at a local hostelry.
But, the plans of mice and men etc., it didn't play out as anticipated.

This crane, this new crane capable of lifting 70tons, soon gets Yarwood balanced and airborne

Off the ground

Really off the ground and awaiting the reversing lorry

Here comes the lorry

Loaded

Ready for the off, it's about 09.20 now and that lorry is 80ft long

Our convoy of Yarwood, followed by Stuart's van followed by Joe and I has driven up the M5 onto the M42 and turned off at Hopwood services at junction 2 and are now wending our way towards the village of Alvechurch.

And in Alvechurch village a VERY tight right hand turn... that took several attempts to get round

Is he going to make it....without demolishing the shop?

He did but what next?

The access into the Alvechurch wharf is a bit tight for 80' of lorry and tactics are being discussed

Going for it..

And the next hazard..

We ended up with a multitude of minute manoeuvres, a couple of us hanging on the tree, then the gate, then removing fencing stakes but at last Yarwood is delivered.

Yarwood is strapped up again, this time to the wharf's own and the lift from the lorry begins and then it all stops. The alarms are going off in the crane, Yarwood is too heavy!

After much of nothing happening and phone calls to the boss man it is decided that the crane is not up to the job, someone has 'cocked-up' booking Yarwood in. Stuart has to get another crane in today, or we will be charged a storage charge - this is not going down terribly well as you might imagine.

The wharf crane is used to gently lift Yarwood from the lorry and allow that to go and in the meantime Stuart has asked that the crane we had used to start the day is sent to deal with launching Yarwood.

Stuart hanging on to Yarwood's stern to stop any swing that will set the alarms in the wharf screaming

The lorry pulls out from under

And then gently down on some temporary blocks until the other crane arrives in a couple of hours time

Once on the ground were were able to get hold of some steps and provide a tour of Yarwood for my brother Bob and family who had travelled up from Essex and Pip and Roger of nb.Windsong who had joined us from their temporary winter abode on the bank in Corby.

More of which later....

Evicted!!

2012-01-20T09:38:00.000-08:00

Build day 126 - THE LAST BUILD DAY!!!!
Yes, this is the last day of Yarwood's build and this morning she was evicted from the workshop - there wasn't too much ceremony either!

Steve Lambon (of Lambon Boats) turned up to tow Yarwood out of the 'shed'.

Now you know what Yarwood will look like when she is headed towards you..

The afternoon was spent by Joe and I anyway, loading more kit aboard, while Stuart was taping doors in readiness for transportation and dealing with last minute bits and pieces

The table cupboard in the saloon - I had just fitted the stools into the cupboard.

and Wilsons of Kinver turned up this morning with the new chairs

Launch day tomorrow!!!

Last knockings..boaty term?

2012-01-19T10:08:00.000-08:00

Build day 126
Joe was delivered to Barnowl this morning gripping his overalls - but forgetting his sandwich (it's an age thing) - in readiness for another day of blacking Yarwood. I have loaded the car with stuff from Caxton and spent the day running back and forth emptying Caxton of our kit and finding homes for said kit aboard Yarwood. These journey's were punctuated by walking dogs, doing laundry and emptying cassettes etc. God I know how to enjoy myself!!!

Stuart had set about the new buttons and tipcats with a 14lb sledge hammer but we still have a bit of a 'sem' but time and age will deal with that... so I believe.

Another coat of red paint on the bow flair...getting there

Bungs and cushions in place... and a certain patriotic accent perhaps

I might just add a little more patriotic decor, another cushion perhaps..

Meanwhile, Stuart has been spraying our stainless steel chimney's of choice with etching primer in readiness for a coat of black paint

And the first coat of black..

A Rose or three

2012-01-18T10:06:00.000-08:00

Build day 125

I took Joe up to the Barnowl workshop this morning with his pack-up and overalls and warmed tins of blacking - the tins had sat by the fire overnight to try to achieve a viscosity suitable for a paintbrush rather than a trowel. When we arrived Dave Moore was already at work adding roses to Yarwood's side doors and bed cupboard door.

The start of the rose decoration

And stage two of the rose decoration

Stage two again

And stage three, finished.

The pigeon box - Terry is fitting the pigeon box ports and glass

Pigeon box on situ above the engine 'ole and adorned with it's three bell territ

Dave Moore roses on the bed 'ole cupboard

and again..

Yarwood's registration number painted on

The Club on the back slide

Paint and Bed Knobs

2012-01-17T09:24:00.000-08:00

Build day 124

It's the last minute bits and pieces that were being progressed today, another coat of paint here and another coat of oil for the worktops in the galley and some sealer where the cushion floor meets the galley units.
Stuart got me to stand on the steerer's step and measured me against the tiller, cutting another inch off it's length so that it felt comfortable. Joe has brought back a couple of cans of blacking to get them warm enough so he get another coat on Yarwood tomorrow. The workshop is bitterly coat and the blacking is far too cold to apply with roller or brush, a trowel might work but who wants a stuccoed boat?

The engine room floor with its new coat of raddle

The traditional bed knobs have been fixed in place

This morning I drove up to Kinver to see Wilson's to get a cover made for Yarwood's tunnel lamp and they will deliver the cover next Tuesday when they deliver our new chairs.

Tomorrow Dave Moore returns to complete the back cabin decoration and bring back Yarwood's newly painted pigeon box for fitting and that about completes the build, next step, the launch.

Carpet and Cushion-floor

2012-01-16T09:55:00.000-08:00

Build day 123
This morning the carpet layers' arrived to lay the carpet tiles in Yarwood's saloon and the cushion floor in galley and shower-room. Where many boaters opt to put beautiful wood flooring throughout we have opted for what works for us...and dogs. The carpet tiles are tough as proverbial old boots but they provide a quiet - think eight paws with claws - and warm surface to walk on. The vinyl cushion floor is also warm and quiet and conveniently easy to keep clean and hygienic.

Me, carpet tiles and......WOODY!

This is Richard's new family member, Woody Hubery a 10 week old Jack Russell. A perfect boat sized dog that probably would not be missed by the Hubery's if he was somehow dog napped......

The curtains have turned up and been hung

Sorry, this is a bit messy but note ....new shower room mirror

Cushion floor in galley

More cushion floor in galley

Wall lights with their new LED's -

and Woody back in his box

When it comes to voting..

2012-01-15T23:51:00.000-08:00

When it comes to voting for the Boaters representatives on the new body that will replace British Waterways, remember the name Andy Tidy.
Andy is standing for election as a boaters representative on the new Canal and Rivers Trust and many in the blogging community will be aware of Andy through his detailed and informative blog, Captain Ahab's Watery Tales. Of course Andy will not be standing as Capt. Ahab, his pseudonym, so it's either Andy Tidy or Andrew Tidy when it comes to voting.

One other little thought...let's not be apathetic when it comes to vote. If we want boaters views to influence what happens with this wonderful network we need to ensure that we have boaters in place on the committees etc. SO VOTE.

Going for Gold

2012-01-15T00:05:00.000-08:00

I have in my greasy little hand a yellow official receipt for £1179 in payment for Yarwood's first licence, a gold licence no less. We are off to the Fens again for the summer along with at least three other bloggers to my knowledge, NB's Matilda Rose, Seyella and RocknRoll.

However, the changes afoot as proposed by the Fat Controllers of the River Cam might throw a spanner in the works.... apparently the reciprocal agreement between the Environment Agency and the Cam Conservators, which would have permitted all of us Gold Licence holders to cruise the Cam, is about to be torn up. Now if I understand the ruling we will have to pay a further 15% of the EA licence, approximately £120 for passage on the Cam.
Ouch!

On the last leg now

2012-01-13T13:12:00.000-08:00

Build day 122
Only another couple of days now and the Yarwood build Odyssey will be finished, it really is now nearly over and Barnowl have delivered to time...well done Stuart!

The saloon fire now fitted

The doors for the saloon were fitted this afternoon. They are made from sapele and eucalyptus pommele veneers.

Galley worktop oiled, only another 14 more applications...

Back cabin, coal box in situ

The masking tape has been removed to reveal that wood grained border

The traditionally raddled red floor of the back cabin

Stern dollies glossed red

And Himself has been getting the first coat of blacking on the port side

Bit by bit..

2012-01-12T11:06:00.000-08:00

Build day 121

On our visit to Yarwood this afternoon my first stop was just around the corner at the Lambon Boats to have look at the progress on their latest creation - a stylish houseboat for the Regents canal. When I wandered into the workshop the owner of the houseboat was there; by coincidence we had spoken in the Summer when he was thinking of using Lambon to build his new home.

When you disabuse yourself of the thought that this is a BOAT - it isn't, it's a floating flat then it is rather good with lots of potential . No need to socialise on a narrow towpath, you have your own roof terrace...
Those travelling through London in the next year will be passing this Lambon houseboat moored on the Regents Canal, give it a wave...

Back to Yarwood.

The stern door panels have been fitted.

The chimney for the Faversham stove arrived this morning and Joe will be painting this galvonised beastie a nice shade of black next week.

The JD3 exhaust is wrapped

Stuart has masked and undercoated the bow flair

And this stunning sunset was what greeted us when we emerged from the workshop

And the latest..

2012-01-11T11:14:00.000-08:00

Build day 120

Carol and Samantha Elwood of Limekiln Chandlers spliced our rope set for Yarwood, two 4 metre lines, two 8 metre (River ) lines and a twenty metre centre line. We collected and delivered the lines to Barnowl Narrowboats yesterday.

On today's visit Stuart had set the marble hearth and tiled the fire back

The floor boards from the back cabin had been traditionally raddled (red) painted

Joe had been at Barnowl today painting a second coat of blacking on the starboard side and the stern (above)

Peter had finished wrapping the silencers on the generator.

A low down view of the galley

Just a little bit closer

2012-01-10T10:08:00.000-08:00

Build day 118-119
Each day that passes brings us just a little bit closer to completion, with now only a couple of weeks to go before launch day!

The mirror has been cut and ground and fitted to the table cupboard door.

Mirror; it's fixed in place with a bit of masking tape until the adhesive cures

The Faversham stove now with STOVE PIPE

The marble hearth stone has arrived and the saloon stove has been placed

Stuart is applying the first of several coats of yacht varnish to the wood grained borders

See how the graining is lifted by the varnish

Fenders and buttons and bows

2012-01-07T23:35:00.000-08:00

We have been fortunate enough to know someone, who knows someone, who knows a real character from the cut, a certain Joe Hollingshead, a traditional fender maker. We went up to Joe's home at Compton today to collect the buttons and tipcats he has made for Yarwood. Two buttons, one for the bow covered with a bit of rubber tyre, one for the stern that together with the two tipcats will protect the rudder.

Yarwood's buttons and tipcats all made of natural sisal

Joe comes from a long line of working boaters and in fact was born on a boat at Fradley Junction. You can read about Joe's history here.

Joe at work demonstrating fender making at the Black Country Living Museum.
Photograph courtesy of the BCM.

Another day at the coal face...

2012-01-07T00:18:00.000-08:00

We had to make a second visit to Yarwood yesterday afternoon - things to deliver - and were able to take a few more photo's of the progress made throughout the day.

The table cupboard door and crumb drawer are now in situ and just awaiting the fitting of the oval mirror that will be placed at the top of the door

Dave Moore has finished the wood graining around the name panels. This just needs to dry and cure then several coats of varnish will be applied to seal and protect it.

The Back Cabin lamps have been mounted - these are LED as are all the rest of light fixtures

The tunnel lamp in place - not the greatest shot but you get the gist

There she is again and that great sheet of green painted steel behind the lamp is the opened deck hatch

The little but perfectly formed Faversham boat stove in place in the back cabin

The Faversham's stove pipe, formed and painted and drying

The black panels are fire boards to protect the cabin sides from the heat of the fire. The stove pipe will cover most of this when it is fitted and a few ribbon plates might just find a home hereabouts...

Art gallery...

2012-01-06T04:06:00.000-08:00

Build day 117
We arrived at the Barnowl workshop this morning just as Dave Moore - sign writer- was unloading his car. I carried in the cabin door panels while Joe brought the table cupboard door now resplendent in the traditional artwork.

The newly painted coal-box

Side view of the coal-box, raddled red sides and black painted interior

Table cupboard door decorated with The castle and The river and The mountain

The front of the crumb drawer

Cabin door panels

Saloon lights fitted

And here's Dave Moore setting up to scumble/wood grain the borders of the rear name panels.

We have lift off...sort off

2012-01-05T23:23:00.000-08:00

We have booked the date/crane for Yarwood's launch. Saturday 21st January at Alvechurch marina - just two weeks away now!

That's curtains for you..

2012-01-04T08:50:00.000-08:00

Build day 115

This is the fabric for Yarwoods Curtains/bungs.

Yesterday I met with Chris the upholsterer and we walked through the boat sorting where there would be curtains and conversely, where there would be bungs. This morning I went up to Yarwood to sort out the furniture, knobs and things, for the cabinets and then on Stourbridge to deliver the curtain fabric to Chris and choose the fabric for the back cabin seating.

That done I returned to Caxton in time for Joe to drive to Worcester to attend the 'Naughty Boys Speeding Lecture' he was booked into... 35 in a 30 zone, tut tut.

So no car available for the customary afternoon visit to see progress on Yarwood - nevermind it will be doubly satisfying tomorrow!!

And the beat goes on..

2012-01-03T10:19:00.000-08:00

Build day 114
Today's activities have included Stuart visiting a local stone merchant and gathering a selection of stone samples for Yarwood's hearth - this afternoon I got to choose said material ..
Also met Chris, the upholsterer, this afternoon. Tomorrow I make the final selection for the back cabin seating material and deliver the curtain fabric.

Here is the template for the hearth

and here is the minuscule chosen sample..

John fitting cupboard door stays

Peter has also been busy, fitting the lighting through the boat and I suspect that that will be finished tomorrow with the Tiffany style wall lights being the finale.. We have gone the 'more is better' route re lighting and the galley has a good supply of 'task lighting' - there will be no doubts when I have managed to chop the finger rather than the onion!!

Have router will rout..

Richard getting stuck in to the side hatch trims

The central heating has been up and running on Yarwood throughout the day - as a necessary test and also for comfort for the workers. Joe went off to get the bullseye glasses sandblasted to prevent the risk of fire and I have been tackling the insurance industry to get Yarwood covered.

A little red number

2011-12-31T22:30:00.000-08:00

The stove for the saloon has finally turned up!
Next week Stuart will create the hearth and tiled surround and this little red number will have a home.

Also next week, the upholsterer is coming to measure up the back cabin for cushions and the rest of Yarwood for curtains and bungs. I have got the curtain fabric but might need a bit more so I hope that is not going to be problematic.

Back from Christmas stuff

2011-12-30T11:56:00.000-08:00

Build day 113

We headed back from Norfolk and all the Christmas visiting we have been doing this year, Essex, Norfolk, Lincolnshire and Norfolk again, and stopped off at the Barnowl workshop for a view of our Yarwood...
Dave Moore, Master Signwriter, had been busy doing his thing and now Yarwood was boasting a prominent ~~'Monica'~~.or moniker.

The back cabin had been scumbled

and was just drying off in readiness for the coats of varnish and 'Roses and Castles' decoration.

The white goods had been fitted, here the washing machine and tumble dryer in situ under the tug deck.

and here the fridge, dishwasher and cooker in the galley.

In the shower room, the red glass basin and chrome pillar tap

When we arrived the Barnowl team were just running up the central heating, bleeding the radiators and checking the sinks for leaks etc.

GOT AN EARLY XMAS PREZZIE

2011-12-22T10:11:00.000-08:00

BUILD DAY 109

Went up to do the daily photo session as decreed by Erin Doors. Peter had put in oil, antifreeze etc. and bled the cooling system in preparation for partly filling the fuel tank and running up the engine. As I was not going to be about for a few days he took pity on me and we started up the engine on whatever was left over from the Beta bench test.
Yesssssss!
Simple things for simple minds etc. The consensus was it was a bit quiet and perhaps the silencer might have to be replaced by a bit of pipe!

Onto more mundane matters.

The doors leading into/out of the khazi (carsey to some) have been fitted.

The porthole liners have arrived, including tiny ones for the bulls eyes.

And last but certainly not least, Mr Moore has been doing what he does best, transforming a boring patch of paintwork into something far more interesting. Dave had gone by the time I arrived so I cannot say how he intends to finish the Yarwood text.

GIVE ME A SIGN(WRITER)

2011-12-21T10:13:00.000-08:00

BUILD DAY 108

I offered to go shopping for Stuart today as the the round trip to Penkridge takes up a few hours, plus it gave me the chance to take the dogs somewhere different. So when I turned up at the workshop I found hiding round the back of the boat was none other than the ~~elusive~~ exclusive Mr Moore with his paint box.

Apologies for the poor photographs as there was no natural light and any portable lighting was moved to the other side of the boat.

Managed to get a good shot of the dust though.

WHAT DIFFERENCE A DAY MAKES

2011-12-20T09:32:00.000-08:00

BUILD DAY 107

Yesterday (must stop thinking of songs as I tripewrite) there was not a lot to show. Today it has started to come together.The doors which were either clamped while the glue set or being sanded, are now in the process of being hung.

Some areas of the saloon have been varnished. I do like the grain on this piece of wood under the window.

Peter has transformed what looked like a rats nest of wires in the electrics cupboard into neatly tied layout, and will move on to sockets, lights etc.

Stuart has been getting on with the plumbing and has hung most of the radiators. The one shown below is in the saloon.

STEADY PROGRESS

2011-12-19T09:42:00.000-08:00

BUILD DAY 106

Went down to the workshop early afternoon to partly assemble some steel shelving for under the tug deck. I had dismantled this when we moved house and kept it in storage as it took up very little space. I will fit it when all the pipework under the deck has been finished.

There was a fair bit of activity but work in progress such a bench carpentry is not worth photographing, as the images would be meaningless.

Peter has pretty much finished wiring the fuse panel and inverter.

Stuart was installing the shower. If anyone has ever fitted one of these quadrant cubicles in a house, you will now how awkward it is to set the assembled frame over the shower tray. In a narrowboat the height and width restrictions make it that bit harder.

MICKEY'S EARS

2011-12-16T09:31:00.000-08:00

BUILD DAY 105

The propeller arrived on time and has been loosely fitted to the shaft. My first impression was that they took a casting of Mickey's ears to get the blade shape and the second was how thick and blunt the blades are. The propeller on Caxton has edges that are finer/sharper by comparison but have no dinks or chips in spite of that, so the material is obviously fit for purpose.

A 22" compensated prop

When I arrived Stuart had gone shopping AGAIN. He must be the Emelda Marcos of boat fitters.

Richard was making a mock-up of the dining table to figure out how to position the support mechanism.

Peter was wiring the DC panel. Unfortunately this is a bit of a pinch point and as the side hatches have cramps on the frames, it is the route through the boat. He seems to be able to cope well with all and sundry wanting to get past.

The window looking out onto the tug deck loosely fitted (ignore the c**p on the deck and in the reflection) and admire the carpentry.

Give me the power

2011-12-15T10:06:00.000-08:00

Build day 104
Joe has spent the day at the Barnowl workshop, another coat of paint on the stern/tunnel bands and one side of the boat has been blacked by himself.
I have been doing the 'domestics' aboard Caxton and then sourcing tiles for the Yarwood's saloon fireplace, the stone for the hearth and the galley tiles - this is important stuff obviously.....
Whilst these vital tasks have been undertaken the Yarwood build crew have been busy bees as well...

The electrics cupboard has been occupied by a monster inverter/charger

Here be the beast, a VETUS 120amp charger-3000watt inverter

and here be Pete the electrician who got a hernia putting the beast in it's cupboard

The trims to the engine room side hatch doors have been fitted and cramped

The frame for the double glazed window that will be fitted to the forward saloon hatch doors

Richard, the maestro chippie

Bringing back the Press Gang

2011-12-14T23:59:00.000-08:00

Build day 103
Joe was 'pressed' into service yesterday along with Richard's number one son, Jack.
While Jack was adding a second coat of the yellow primer to the back cabin Joe was out in the cold painting the stern bands and the bow flair and starting the blacking. I was sorting out Lloyds Bank, but that is a story for the Caxton blog....

Jack in Yellowville - the electrodes in his ears are not part of a torture programme but his Ipod - mind you, the music might be torturous for the rest of the workers if they could hear it..

The calorifier is now plumbed in

This was the start of play on Tuesday, in the saloon looking forward at what will be the home of the washing machine and tumble dryer and....

work station! Richard has been busy creating a home-cum-workstation for my laptop and printer.

The bottom shelve is a slide as well, this is where the printer will live. The top slide will be a 'desk' for the laptop.

Sorry about the pic, the flash was turned off and so Joe's handiwork is a bit too discreet..

Cross the canary with the mustard..and

2011-12-13T10:09:00.000-08:00

Build day 102
I' m back from my nursing duties in Lincolnshire and have re-taken the helm of the Yarwood blog. Himself has been doing a super job in keeping things ticking over but he doesn't want to continue so it's back to me..

So where are we today?
Lots of canary cross mustard paint has been applied to the back cabin and the doors/drawers of the back cabin. This disgusting primer is the base coat for the scumbling that will cover it.

'Yellowed' back door liners

More 'yellowed' drawers and soap 'ole bits

The table cupboard and bed 'ole in yet more yellow primer

Starting the framing under the tug deck - this space will house the washing machine and the tumble dryer and a cupboard with controls for the genny and the central heating.

Did you know there is a website listing hard to fit appliances?

2011-12-12T09:51:00.000-08:00

BUILD DAY 101 (in ROOM 101 at the Ministry of Love)

"Did you know there is a website listing hard to fit appliances?" asks Richard.
"No" says I. Thinking he was going to get into bondage or something weird for Xmas.
"Well the washing machine and tumble dryer you have chosen is at the top of the list."says Richard.
The penny dropped and in a flash I new how to placate him. So I shrugged my shoulders and said;
"It's not my fault."
I have been using this phrase from an early age and this time it was actually true. The white goods fairy wanted energy efficiency and large load machines are energy efficient - but large. A bit rejigging and all was sorted.

Portholes are all in place. Stainless screws are used as the thread size is a bit too small for brass screws which would probably shear before the frames were pulled tight.

Not sure what happened here - looks like someone sneezed on the lens. As it is the only one I took it will have to do. This will be a cupboard in the engine room. The grey plastic box is the header tank for the central heating. Below this is the back of the Kindle shrine (aka my bedside cabinet).

ITS ONLY 5mm. I'VE HAD CARS WITH BIGGER PANEL GAPS

2011-12-10T01:35:00.000-08:00

BUILD DAY 100

Went off to see Yarwood expecting to see all the portholes in place and quickly noticed (I'm observant) that they weren’t. It seems something was lost in translation between Procast, Barnowl and Lambon and the two smaller back cabin porthole apertures in the cabin sides were 5mm too small. This entailed a lot of fiddly grinding to put things right. The problem with these ports is that even when the aperture is correct, the holes for the fixing screws have to be tapped at the very edge of the cut-out, so care had to be taken to ensure the holes did not become too large. On the positive side it would have been more of a problem if the holes were 5mm too large.

The calorifier - sounds like a Victorian device:

"Grimwolds patentented Calorifier provides copious volumes of hot water on tap"

It is, in my opinion, just an unvented hot water cylinder. Try going into B&Q and asking if they have any calorifiers. No doubt someone will correct me in due course.

Anyhoo the said item is in place but not yet plumbed in.

WIN SOME LOSE SOME

2011-12-09T01:58:00.000-08:00

BUILD DAY 99

A bit more progress. The back cabin is now complete and ready for decoration. Which leads me into my slight whinge (first this year). The back cabin is a great use of space and function but I'm losing out on my bedside cabinet where I kept phone, watch , cup of tea, Private Eye, Micro Mart, comics and colouring books. All the things required when having a lie in and getting cups of tea delivered on demand.

And now I have this. Basically a shrine to a kindle!

Sorting out the trim round the tops of the side hatches.

Basin and tap in place.

Back cabin ready for painting.

I HAVE THE POWER!

2011-12-08T03:53:00.000-08:00

BUILD DAY 98

I am now in charge as herself has gone off to tend to the sick (see Caxton blog). Now visualise, if you can, standing naked in the shower, with nurse Ratched waiting outside holding the bogbrush and a bottle of Dettol ready to do your nibbly bits. This is what it will be like for our ~~friend~~ former friend Val.

I scuttled off back to the boat on Wednesday and stopped off to check on progress with Yarwood. Not much changed just more sawdust (might buy Stuart a feather duster for Xmas). I took a couple of photies just to keep the peace.

Terry finished sanding the bullnose on the shelf over the cupboards and TV cabinet.

Stuart plonked the basin on the wash stand so we could agree the placing of basin and tap. Should a certain Andy read this I can confirm it will take a whole packet of Coco Pops.

NADA

2011-12-08T03:32:00.000-08:00

Build Day 97

No post today as someone went off to Lincolnshire and forgot to take the charger for HER camera.

Balancing acts

2011-12-05T09:48:00.000-08:00

Build day 96
We spent a little time this afternoon discussing the dimensions of the cupboards that are to be built in the engine room. Richard will be starting on this tomorrow as the construction work in the back cabin is almost complete. There is a balancing act between access and movement through the boat and the need to use space wisely for storage...how wise we have been only time will tell.

Stuart has been making progress in the shower room. All the walls have been clad in wetwall and the gulper pump has been fitted to the shower and tested.

Terry is back from a week's winter sun in Spain and is tackling the framing for the TV cabinet and adjoining cupboards - between you an me I thinks there's been a little cursing involved...

Richard is putting the finishing touches to the cupboard doors and draw fronts for the back cabin

Cupboard doors for the bed 'ole in the back cabin

The Faversham stove in situ in the back cabin

Shading and props

2011-12-02T09:24:00.000-08:00

Build day 95

Stuart has been busy lining out the shower room with wetwall.

This wetwall product will be used to line ALL the walls in the showeroom.. It is white with silver foil type sparkly bits in it so it should bounce plenty of light around.

The Prop shaft has arrived.

Unable to send 'boys' up chimney's Richard has found another use for No.1 son Jack on his day off from college - varnishing the galley cupboards.. nice and fumey

Dave Moore has completed the initial signing of the stern name panels and has now started the 'shading'. Two shades of green to give it depth.

The 9" ports for the back cabin turned up today - here is Stuart offering one up to see how it looks.

Coal box and sign writing etc.

2011-12-01T09:56:00.000-08:00

Build day 94

We were invited up to the Barnowl workshop this morning as Dave Moore had arrived to start the sign writing on Yarwood. After the initial ear-bashing for having two portholes in the back cabin instead of the conventional one I was given a hug by Dave who asked a couple of questions and then immediately set about chalking in the layout for the signing.

We returned in the afternoon, armed with the camera, for our usual progress visit. Richard had progressed the back cabin, the coal box and step were made and fitted and we now have a door on the starboard cupboard in the back cabin. And Dave had been busy...

Coalbox and step

To the left, the newly fitted cupboard door and in the centre, the disembodied legs of Richard.

Dave Moore working on the Starboard side, with mahl stick and sable brush.

The first 'cut' is in white but two greens will be used to create the shading

Port side done, at least first stage done

Port side

And inside, Chris has put two coats of silk emulsion on the cabin sides

Things move along in two days

2011-11-30T09:27:00.000-08:00

Build day 92-93
Yesterday we went out for the day, therefore no visit to Yarwood, so today we have two days progress to report!
The first item on the progress agenda, the portholes, mushroom vents, bulleyes and vents were delivered today. Yippee and sighs of relief all round...but in fairness to Procast, these are the result of a third casting - a new pattern and mould had to been commissioned to get these double glazed ports right.

One of the nine 15.25" portholes

The tug portholes offered up to Yarwood to see the effect

The stern bands primed ready for painting

Light cream 1" border on the name panel

Bow flair masked ready for painting

Joe and Stuart discussing the new exhaust

Richard has been busy in the back cabin

Soap 'ole and steerers step in place

The little Faversham stove makes it on to the boat

Tomorrow we will be back at the Barnowl in the morning because Dave Moore, the sign writer, will be there to discuss what is going to be done to Yarwood

Banking on the Batteries....and paint

2011-11-28T09:35:00.000-08:00

Build day 91

Powercell Industrial Battery Engineers turned up this morning and fitted Yarwood's battery bank. We have opted for a bank 2v traction batteries with a capacity of 945 amp hours. The traction batteries, though more expensive, allow us to discharge (use) more of their storage capacity. We provided Powercell with details of what equipment would be aboard Yarwood and how many hours it would be used for; Powercell went away and did the calculations based on the equipment levels and our request that we would want to moor up for say three days and NOT have to run the engine/generator.

Battery bank

Another view of the battery bank...

More importantly, (woman speaking here...) the painter has started glossing the ceiling! Chris is in all week to get the internal painting done and dusted.

Chris, decorator extraordinaire with a half painted saloon

Back cabin ceiling glossed

Spare beds and things...

2011-11-25T08:53:00.000-08:00

Build Day 90
We went into Kidderminster today to buy a small TV that is going to be fitted in the back cabin. Richard who is building the back cabin needed to know the dimensions in order to work out where 'to stick it'. The wiring loom included provision to set a TV in the back cabin and we thought that it would give either of us somewhere to go when our viewing choice is not to the other's taste.

ESSENTIALS C16LDVB11 16" HD Ready LED TV with Built-in DVD player

Image care of the Curry's website, thank you Curry's

Primed back cabin cupboard doors

When we arrived at the Barnowl workshop today Stuart and Richard had gone off to London to deliver a widebeam boat that they have just completed. I think they were following the lowloader down the M1 to assist with the launch. That left Jack, Richard's son, rubbing down and priming the back cabin, John constructing a cupboard for the folding bed and Pete fitting the breather and connections for the main diesel tank.

Framing for the folding bed cupboard

Progress on all fronts

2011-11-24T10:25:00.000-08:00

Build day 89
This morning we got a call from Stuart at Barnowl Narrowboats to say that the shower enclosure we had sourced was not the advertised 1800mm in height but it was 1850mm and too tall to fit in Yarwood. Joe got on to the supplier and they admitted that there had been an error on the website and they would arrange a collection and refund.
The next call was to Wesley Windows to see if they had a suitably short enclosure, they did! So a 1700mm quadrant enclosure is being delivered tomorrow and the too tall version is being collected on Monday; so far so good.
And finally, a call to Pro Cast the supplier of Yarwood's portholes and mushroom vents to find out why we had not seen the goods when they had had the full payment over four months ago.
They are going to get them to Barnowl for next Tuesday...apparently.

Stone shower tray in situ

And today's progress; the low profile stone shower tray is in place and the portside bulkhead has been fitted. we have opted to use wetwall products and avoid tiles so the first panel was cut and fitted by Terry (see below) whilst we were at the boat this afternoon.

First of the wetwall panels in place

Name panels masked ready for the border

Stuart had been masking up the name panels at the stern ready to apply a coat of light cream paint as a border. Stuart is pressing on with this preparation because next week Dave Moore, the sign writer, is coming to start doing his magic.

The framework for the TV cabinet and book shelves in place

It the saloon, John has been constructing the framework for the TV cabinet and the adjoining cupboards.

The crumb drawer

And in the back cabin Richard has been making and fitting the traditional 'crumb' drawer in the table cupboard and 'hanging' the table cupboard door.

Table cupboard door now fitted

Oh yes, there's Richard...

Belfast...

2011-11-24T01:55:00.000-08:00

Build day 87
When we saw Yarwood yesterday afternoon the Belfast sink was in situ and the worktop fitted. The galley is really starting to take shape now.

The Belfast sink care of Armitage Shanks

The ceiling had had its first coat of primer

Drawers at the bottom of the wardrobe.

Table cupboard and..

2011-11-22T11:52:00.000-08:00

Build day 86

The table cupboard is taking shape, frame in place now

Richard has skilfully built the table cupboard door/table and is refining the fit

Table cupboard door 'shot' in

Moving into the engine room the battery box has been built - batteries due for delivery on Friday

The galley worktop on the starboard side has been fitted

And, the Hurricane central heating boiler now resides on its bracket in the hold.

Generator and drawers

2011-11-22T00:08:00.000-08:00

Build day 85

A cocooned diesel generator with hospital silencer

Work has been going on all last week to complete the fitting of the diesel generator below Yarwood's tug deck. Work continues to sort out discreet venting for this 7.2kva beast.

Also brackets for the Hurricane central heating boiler have been welded in so sometime this week that will be fitted as well.

And above stairs....the side steps are coming along nicely. The drawers are made and fitted they just need the finishing touch of fronts and furniture.

Taps...for Lisa

2011-11-20T00:50:00.000-08:00

Brass monobloc for the galley - apologies for the quality of the images but they were lifted from the B&Q website, thank you B&Q

Lisa has asked me to show the taps we bought yesterday for Yarwood, and here they are.

Single lever pillar style for the glass wash basin in the shower room.

Floor covering and progress..

2011-11-19T00:40:00.000-08:00

Build day 80
Yesterday morning Joe and I went into Kidderminster to select the taps for the galley and the showeroom as well as to find and order floor coverings for Yarwood.

We have opted not to have solid wood floor covering, lovely as it is, in this boat. We have chosen a tough, 15 year guaranteed, vinyl for the shower room and galley. The reasons for that choice is that it is waterproof, it is non slip, it is warm to walk on and it is quiet to walk on, especially if you have four paws with claws attached!!
In the saloon we are fitting tough velour type carpet tiles; once again experience tells us that these type of carpet tiles are so easy to live with. They are as tough as old boots, they are versatile, waterproof and practical, e.g. you can lift one if necessary and hose it down outside, dry it on the boat roof and put it back, job done.

The shopping done we then went to see the progress on Yarwood and deliver the new taps.

Richard had progressed the 'fitted furniture' in the back cabin. The bed'ole is taking shape and Richard was beginning to construct the table cupboard that traditionally sits alongside.

Top step in place

The drawer carcases that will fit into the steps - all on soft-close runners

And the newly arrived little addition for the back cabin, the Faversham stove, arrhh, cute or what?

Worktops, stairs and bed'oles

2011-11-17T09:04:00.000-08:00

Build day 79

Portside galley worktop, glued and cramped.

The planks that were being prepared yesterday have now been glued and cramped together to formed the solid wood worktops.

Starboard galley worktop also glued and cramped

The steps (stringers?) for the side stairs

The side stairs now framed

Richard has made progress on the bed'ole, all 5' of it.

Richard refining the bed base

more refinement...

Frames and planks

2011-11-17T00:56:00.000-08:00

Build day 78

Our task yesterday morning was to see if we could source a shallow shower tray and a shorter shower enclosure, shorter than the norm that is. Our original plans were to have a pentagonal shower tray, possibly made to measure out of stainless steel because that would allow the wetwall boards we intend to use in place of tiles to be fitted 'inside' the tray - nullifying the possibility of leaks. Things changed when Stuart our boat fitter had concerns about the finish quality of a stainless steel tray and the difficulty of creating a watertight seal with the bi-fold doors we wanted. The framing for a bi-fold is designed to be fitted at a 90 or 180 degree angle, a pentagonal tray doesn't present those angles.. So it was rethink time. With tape measures and pencils we crowded into the space set aside for our shower room and re planned and yesterday I found the right stuff...
From www.bathempire.com I was able to get a 900x900 quadrant shower enclosure that is only 1810mm tall and a shower tray that is a mere 40mm thick.

Hardwood framing for the cupboards

Yesterday afternoon we went up to see Yarwood again.

More hardwood framing

Richard had been out buying more wood and was busy with John preparing it to make the worktops for the galley.

Fiddly finishing touches in the back cabin -

Space for the drawers under the side bed in the back cabin

Taking shape

2011-11-16T01:15:00.000-08:00

Build day 77

Richard Hubery of Daddy's Boat Company has been busy building Yarwood's back cabin

Richard had progressed the back cabin. The side bed/seat has been built including the internal structure for accommodating two decent sized drawers under the seat. The apertures for the drawers are just in front of where Richard is standing. Given that Yarwood is being built as liveaboard boat every option for easy access and, not so easy access, is factored in.

Richard has built a hatch into the side bed/seat base - yet more storage options

This cupboard will provide access to the toilet cassette, storage for extra toilet cassettes and a made to measure home for the vacuum cleaner and assorted cleaning stuffssss

Progress in the galley - shelves fitted in the full height cupboard

The profile for the side steps.

The side steps which are immediately adjacent to the galley are going to be a set of drawers, three steps, three drawers, a galley annex almost....

Bodies everywhere..

2011-11-15T02:33:00.000-08:00

Build day 76

We went up to see Yarwood yesterday afternoon. There were bodies everywhere working on different bits of her. In the hold a chap was fitting filler pipes to the secondary diesel tank and the water tank, having already fitted the filler pipe to the main diesel tank. In the galley, John was awaiting us for a decision on the shelving we wanted while Terry was working in the storage area ( we had drawn up a plan of this area over the weekend).

The engine had been positioned and bolted down on its oak bearers and Richard had made a start on the back cabin.

Engine in place on its new oak bearers

Floor down in the back cabin

Starboard side of the galley - we had just marked off where the shelves should be fitted.

Meanwhile, the Hurricane central heating unit had been delivered as well as the Tiffany style saloon lighting.

As work starts on the back cabin..

2011-11-12T04:42:00.000-08:00

As work is about to start on Yarwood's back cabin next week we were whisked off to Merryhill to look at an example of a cabin built by Richard, of Daddy's Boat Company, for his boat Breaking the Ice.

Build day 75

Breaking the Ice moored at Merryhill

Sign written by Dave Moore, as Yarwood will be.

Ticket drawer and soap 'ole detail by the stove

Cupboard to the right of the rear door

Bed 'ole and cupboard

We spent time aboard Breaking the Ice measuring and working out with Richard what our requirements would be for our bed. The back cabin on Yarwood will be our bedroom so getting the bed right is very important.

Bulkheads between Yarwood's back cabin and the engine room in place.

Galley started

2011-11-11T10:07:00.000-08:00

Build day 74-75

Work has started on the galley and after a wee 'cock-up' with the drawings (a customer cock-up..) was discovered - work restarted. I think we lost out on any popularity votes for a few hours...
The fridge is a tad wider than I had allowed for so the wine rack has had to be sacrificed - frankly, the wine is not there long enough to deserve the space, so no real loss.

John fixing the blockwood supports for the port side of the galley

John, still fixing...

Stuart and John dealing with 'customers'....aargh

Galley starboard side

Starboard side, from the left, hole for fridge, followed by hole for sink and bin, followed by hole for DISHWASHER, followed by hole for cooker.

Detail, detail

2011-11-09T10:06:00.000-08:00

Build day 72-73

When I got back from walking the dogs this morning Joe was busy finalising the drawings for the galley layout - Stuart had phoned to say he needed them as work on the galley was about to start! Half an hour later we were in the car and headed for the Barnowl workshop. The next hour was spent with tape measures and straight edges and hastily produced templates, working out how this would impact on that..
Having sorted the port side of the galley layout we were to return later with the critical measurements for TV installation - size of TV, size of the satellite receiver and PVR (personal video recorder) because this would affect the starboard side of the galley layout --- all will become clear later...I hope.

John starting on the galley

In the background, the bulkhead between the engine room and the shower room.

With the galley sorted for now, we then moved on to the detail of the shower room. Where do we put the heated towel rail that we want? It was back to tape measures and straight edges to work out the realities of making the best use of the space available.

There is nothing quite like planning in the real environment is there?

That done we left the team working out how to get a door to open over an engine bolt....!

Bulkheads

2011-11-08T09:18:00.000-08:00

Build day 71

Today the lining-out was completed and work started on the internal bulkheads. There will be a bulkhead between the back cabin and the engine room, another between the engine room and the shower room, a third between the shower room and the 4' of storage area and finally another between the storage area and the galley.

These bulkheads denote the end of the galley and the start of the storage cupboards.

Three of the storage bulkheads up

John is scribing the template for the last of the storage bulkheads

A manly discussion, l-r John, Terry and Joe - this is the back cabin...by the way

Almost, almost lined out...

2011-11-07T12:43:00.000-08:00

Build day 71

Lunchtime today and Barnowl have nearly completed the lining out of Yarwood.

Last bit to do, the back cabin....

Ceiling almost complete

2011-11-03T02:00:00.000-07:00

Build day 68

Ceiling shaped around one of the side hatches

By the end of today the redwood t&g ceiling will be complete throughout the length of the boat. Tomorrow they start on the plywood lining and the bulkheads.

John - Man Friday - pressing on ...

Wired..

2011-11-02T04:51:00.000-07:00

Build day 62-67

12volt wiring loom

After a week in the preparation the wiring loom arrived at Barnowl last Thursday. At the same time the plywood for the lining out and the redwood t&g for the cabin roof were delivered.

Ply boards and blockboard

Sanded redwood tongue and groove for the cabin roof

During the week the wiring loom has been fitted

And yesterday they started on the fitting the redwood ceiling

the blue is the 240v wiring

Firming up the choices

2011-10-27T10:10:00.000-07:00

Art Nouveau styling , the Argyll tileset

While we await the arrival of the wiring loom that is holding up the lining out of Yarwood we have ordered the white goods and have almost finalised our choice of stove, light fittings and tileset for the fireplace.

Lilyking 5kw multifuel stove....in red!!!

and will it be this tiffany style wall light or...

perhaps this one....?