The shell is nearly completed.
The cabin is on
We are at an exciting time when the shell is nearly completed! It is not just a hull; it has sides, a roof, and rubbing strakes.
When we last saw it at Formation Plastics, the hull was nearly complete, and the painstaking process of welding was taking place. Our visit was to discuss progress, logistics, and to enjoy seeing how it was developing. Watching the welding was fascinating, and we share a short video below.
Layout planning
A lot of work goes into forming the shell. We have opted for a reverse layout with a cruiser stern. Previously, we have had a cruiser stern but with a standard layout. That was an ex-Black Prince hire boat, where the bow deck was our main entrance. Our current boat is a semi-trad with a reverse layout. The stern is our main entrance.
This has allowed us to weigh up the pros and cons. Therefore, on balance, we prefer the reverse layout and using the stern as the main entrance. With the assistance dogs, this makes it easier both coming and going, as it is possible to stand up under the pram cover. It also gives a more level access to the towpath, rather than climbing up off the bow deck.
We are going back to a cruiser stern, because we found the gap where you get on and off the semi-trad was sometimes an issue. The cruiser stern allows you to get on and off along the straight edge of the deck. Having had the reverse layout, we found we rarely used the bow deck (apart from storage). So, this has led to the decision to push the cabin as far forward as possible.
Benefits here are more space within the boat itself, plus we can have an inline bed across the full width of the boat. The advantages are that we can have a king-size bed, full-length (being unrestricted by the width of the boat), and one person doesn’t have to climb over the other!
As with all things narrow boating, everything is a compromise. But this plan is based on our experience from our previous boats.
With the shell nearly completed, the next stage is to have the hatches and windows cut. We are meeting with Curtis from Adrift Boats tomorrow (Friday, 10 April) to agree where these should be.
Photos from our last visit
Partnership
There will be many things about this ground-breaking boat that will be eye-catching and thought provoking. We are still looking for partner businesses that want to feature their products and skills. If that is you, then get in touch!
In exchange, we will display your logo on one of the yellow ducks that will adorn the nb Waymaker – for all to see.
