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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.
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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Taking Shape
Posted on: Friday July 15, 2016 at: 11:23 am
Brandy pad is now starting to take on some real shape. Bobby from Bluewater Boats is hard at work building the interior. The shower base is in place, electrical cupboard, airing cupboard and kitchen area are all coming together nicely.
A nice touch is that all the cupboards have removable false bottoms. This gives us somewhere to store stuff that is not used frequently, or to add bricks etc to trim the balance once in the water. Usually they get the trim pretty close to level anyway – it is calculated taking account of where all the weight will be in the boat – but as the boat will not be in the water until finished, it is good to be able to make small adjustments.
In fact, on Brandy Pad, nearly all the weight is on the port side. The washing machine, fridge, kitchen worktop, stove, shower and our bunk are all that side. We designed it this way as it keeps all the radiators on the other side, and gives a nice walk flow through the boat. Although things look a little rough at the moment, this is the basic building stage. Decorative trim is added last to cover all the joints and hide screws etc.
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- Galley area. The worktop will be a Corian surface, with the cooker in a cabinet which will be in the foreground, joined to the wooden panel you can see, forming an L shape.
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- Washing machine and fridge in place
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- Steps up to the stern. One top is off so you can see there is a large amount of storage under each step. In addition, the steps dismantle easily so that you can remove the panels on either side to get at the calorifier on the right, or into the electrics cupboard on the left.
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- This will be the airing cupboard, above the calorifier (hot water tank) which is heated from the engine when it is running, or the boiler when not.
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- Helen, Bobby and Sharon (Mrs Bluewater Boats) in the stern seating area
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- Bathroom with shower base and loo in place.
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- Vanity unit and bathroom sink taking shape
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- Our bed!
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- Full length wardrobe
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