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Mods and Locks
Posted on: Friday July 7, 2017 at: 5:53 pm
While we were in the USA visiting Nick and his family, we left Brandy Pad in a marina at Stretford (Manchester). When the boat was built, we had decided to keep the saloon “open plan”. Hire boats we have had in the past worked well with a table, 4 chairs and a couple of armchairs and we wanted to see if something similar would work for us. Having tried a couple of different combinations we eventually came to realise that the hire boats had been quite a bit longer and hence had more room in the saloon than we have. So, we decided to have a dinette built in. This should give us a more appropriate sitting/dining area and also double up as a spare bed for visitors. Stretford Marine were due to do the work while we were away, but Mal, the carpenter, was delayed on another project and wasn’t able to start until we came back. Just as well really as we had to make quite a lot of decisions on the design as it was being built. This was the saloon before:
Empty space (the folding table we had been using is on the bottom left)
The dinette is now completed successfully and we are very happy with the end result as it is proving more practical (and comfortable) than the previous arrangement:
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- New Dinette
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- Forwards view of dinette
Yesterday (Thursday) we tackled the Wigan flight of locks. This is a rise of just under 215 feet over 21 challenging locks. Due to water shortages in the pounds between the locks, boats are only allowed into or out of the flight between 8-9am and 2-3pm. So, we were up early and ready to get going at 8am. We were first in the queue, having moved up to wait there the night before, and “buddied” up with Jeremy and Mary on nb Angelica. This meant we went up through all the locks together as the locks are wide enough for two narrowboats at once. This saves water and shares the work. In fact, we roped together at the bottom and stayed that way to the top. We have not used this particular technique before, but it means that one boat does most of the driving and steering calling for assistance from the second boat when necessary. The water level was so low in one of the pounds between locks that Brandy Pad ran aground, so I had to call for Helen to run some more water through the next lock into our pound to float us off.
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- Brandy Pad and Angelica tied together approaching through one of the pounds
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- Both boats entering a lock together
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- Angelica and Brandy Pad in a lock. Mary, it seems, is a keen gardener
We completed the whole climb in around 5 hours and slept very well last night 😉
Launch Date In Sight
Posted on: Thursday September 8, 2016 at: 5:42 pm
A recent trip to visit Brandy Pad at Bluewater Boats meant we could catch up on progress – which has been immense. The photos show detail in cupboards, engine compartment and bathroom, although as there is still quite a lot of building detritus around, it can be difficult to imagine how it is going to look when it is all finished. However,it is all shaping up the way we envisaged it.
On top of that, we have now been able to set a date and time for the launch, when Brandy Pad will be in the water for the first time. That will be around 1.30pm on Wednesday 9th November in Bristol Marina. So come along to watch if you can. Don’t think we will be breaking a champagne bottle, but I suspect a bit of brandy might be involved!
Exterior painting is due to happen next week, and the next time we see it, we will be having the name painted on by a sign writer and the colours will be complete. We will really be able to get an idea of the end result then.
As ever, click on an image for a larger view.
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- Bow thruster tube, with thruster in place
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- Over bed cupboard.
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- Door from bedroom to bathroom
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- Bathroom sink unit. In foreground you can see a radiator. Anthracite colour makes it much more efficient than white.
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- Shower cubicle with shower fitted. Water in the base has to be pumped out while you are using it as it is below outside water level – as is all the floor.
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- This will be the entertainment and computer centre. Entertainment is from a HTPC (home theatre PC) which will have satellite, terrestial TV, FM. DAB and Internet. Plus of course, DVDs and all our music off an on-board server.
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- Interior porthole trims are now in place
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- Side hatch window. There are steel doors on the outside.
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- Galley area, with plumbing now installed and cupboard doors in place.
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- Cupboard space above washing machine.
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- Looking down into the engine room. No engine yet, that comes pretty well last. Once it is in, it becomes very difficult to work on anything else. It actually looks pretty well organised – note the spanners are all in their proper slots!
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- Central heating boiler tucked away in the rear corner. Quite a squeeze because of the locker on the right, which has been lowered to accept standard sized (13Kg) gas bottles.
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- Looking into the engine room towards the stern. In the middle you can see the stern tube, through which the prop shaft will run.
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Galley and cupboards
Posted on: Friday August 5, 2016 at: 3:30 pm
The Corian worktops have now been fitted and the galley is starting to look fit for purpose – although there is still a long way to go. Doors are appearing on cupboards and the shower is being fitted. Of course, it all looks a little rough at the moment as dusty and fiddly work is still being carried out. The interior will be finished and probably exterior painted before the bow thruster, generator, batteries and engine will be fitted. So, still quite a long way to go, but meanwhile we are thrilled with the way things are looking.
None of the doors have handles fitted yet which is why everything looks very flat. On the other hand, we are deliberately going for a simple, uncluttered look. We have also heard that several potential future boat purchasers have been shown around Brandy Pad (they get to look at all the boats in the yard – in various stages of construction) and have been impressed by the open plan of the galley and saloon. Maybe our boat will be a trend setter – reverse layout and open plan!
(Click on thumbnail for bigger image.)
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- Helen climbing up to the stern. You have to be nimble on a narrowboat! The external doors and hatch are now fitted.
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- Doors now fitted to the airing cupboard and above the washer.
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- Shower is being fitted. It will look gorgeous with the light on and the lovely back panels.
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- Wardrobe space on the left, cupboard on the right. We were going to have shelves over the space on the right (starboard), but when we saw this we realised it would look cluttered, so we’re going to keep it as with just a small corner shelf – for flowers – not!
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- Looking back into the bedroom from the bow. Exterior doors are fitted.
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- This gives you an idea of the length. Personally, I am more used to seeing it from the stern. This is from the bow.
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- Looking down on the bow area. Brandy Pad has a slightly unusual bow. There is no locker as we wanted to maximise internal space. Anchor and stakes will be kept at the stern.
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- Starboard portholes and hatch.
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- Galley with new Corian worktop, sink and cooker installed.
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- Extra storage underneath and worktop on top. The panels sitting on the surface are for hot pans and a chopping board – made from the spare Corian off-cuts.
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- Bathroom sink in place. Still needs splash back and plumbing fitted.
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