Back in the water again

• Launch

Well, we are finally back in the water again – more precisely, back in the ice! It’s surprising how quickly the canals, and in particular marinas, freeze over. It’s just as surprising that they take a lot longer to thaw again.

We expected to be back in the water on Wednesday but the relaunch was postponed despite the slightly warmer weather. It’s not so much a problem with the ice in the water (an 18 ton boat would crack the ice no problem), but add a 60 ton crane to the mix, and it becomes a definite hazard when it slides! Click on this image to see a video:

So, after 4 weeks, we can feel the boat moving again, which is a surprisingly comforting sensation.

Brandy Pad in the frozen basin

We decided to stay put until Monday, when the temperature is due to rise and the ice should have gone. We can, of course, ice break, but as the boat has just been re-blacked (thanks Bluewater Boats) which is the protection on the hull, we didn’t want to start scratching it straight away. That will happen soon enough anyway!

Many thanks to all the family who put us up over the period we had to be off the boat, and to Dave and Sharon for their hospitality in letting us stay on the boat the last week while we waited for the crane to be available.

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Brandy Pad Finally takes to the Water

• Launch
• Moving
• On the move

Although Brandy Pad was actually launched a week ago (November 9th) it has been a very hectic week and I am only now able to find time to post about it.  If you read our previous Blog, you will know that we had to change our plans in a major way at the last moment.  Thanks to Saltford Lock being out of action until just before Christmas, we were unable to launch in Bristol Harbour as planned.

In the end we managed to arrange for the launch at Crick Marina, near Rugby.  They have good access for a crane and low loader.  First Brandy Pad came out of its shed and had the tow bar removed:

Next it was lifted into the air and loaded onto the low loader for hauling to Crick:

The truck left the boat yard and soon arrived at Crick (probably the fastest our boat will ever go!):

Arriving at Crick, the truck reversed down to the wharf and Brandy Pad again took to the air:

Finally at rest in the water:

We were only able to moor at Crick for a couple of nights, during which time we had to hire a van, travel down to Bristol, pick up all our possessions from our storage, travel back to Crick and transfer everything onto the boat (all somewhat faster than we had previously intended) and then move the boat down to Welton Haven Marina where we were lucky enough to arrange temporary moorings for a month while we sort ourselves out and then set off on our travels.  The past week has been spent working out where to put everything and buying in all the little extra bits and pieces we need to complete our fit out – broom, mop, ash can, coal etc.  The stove has been lit, the washing machine has worked hard and the boat is starting to feel like home.

One thing that has surprised us a lot is just how much it flexes.  Some doors that were perfectly aligned now sit slightly out and one or two things will need adjustment.  As it turns out the major change in plan will work out well as we are much closer to our builders – Bluewater Boats – which will work out much better for the inevitable bit of “snagging” that will have to be done!

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Launch Update

• Launch

Well if there is one thing we have already learned about boating it is that if you make a plan, expect it to go wrong.  As I mentioned in a  previous post, the lock at Saltford on the Avon is out of action until the 21st December.  This would have confined us to Bristol Harbour waters, which is firstly frustrating (ok for a couple of weeks, but we want to get cruising) and secondly expensive.  The only alternative would have been to go out along the Avon to Avonmouth and then up the Severn Estuary to Sharpness, which would mean cruising dangerous, tidal waters and having to hire a pilot.  Not something we fancied trying at this time of year with a brand new untested engine.

Our first alternative was going to be to put the boat in the Kennet and Avon canal at Hilperton marina, but their crane is being serviced and is out of action for a few weeks.  Not many marinas have their own crane and it would be expensive to hire one and bring it anywhere useful in addition to the one we are already hiring to put the boat onto the truck at Bluewater Boats.

So, a quick, complete rethink was required.  The end result, which was an option we originally considered before we decided on launching in Bristol, is to take the boat to Crick marina which is close to the boat builders.  Crick is where the annual boat show takes place and although they do not have a crane of their own, the one we are already using can relocate to lift Brandy Pad off the low-loader and put it in the water.

This, however, means we can no longer hold the open day for our ex-neighbours and local friends that we had planned for the 12th and 13th.  Really sorry about that folks.

For those that still want to come and see our narrowboat being launched, it will be around 9.30am tomorrow (9th November) at Crick Marina – postcode NN6 7SQ.  Cannot say exactly what time, but I believe you should be with us by then if you want to be sure.

We have been to see the completed boat today and are very happy with the end result.  Our plan is now to pick up a hired van later in the afternoon and drive down to Bristol Wednesday afternoon after the launch and initial tests.  We will then stay with our friends in Bristol overnight and then get all the stuff we have stored in a storage unit loaded early, then drive back to Crick and transfer to the boat.  We had planned on using several trips with the car, when launching in Bristol, but this will not be practical over such a distance. So, our first night on our own boat will be Thursday.  We are very much looking forward to it. Photos of the launch to follow.

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