You blink and there goes a week. Or more

Very little blogging, yes, but boatage has been happening behind the scenes.

A lot of time spent sourcing the various bits to put together. Like timber. A kitchen (www.solidwoodkitchencabinets.co.uk came up trumps). And other stuff, that's almost decided. But not quite.

Slabs for ballast bought and transferred to the towpath ready for boat enballastment. Alas, the standard council-grade heavy slab is just too big for the spaces beneath the floor, meaning there's an appointment for them with the 9" cutting disc.

Jules and Ed worked wonders for a super long day, removing the front window and battening out the top half whilst I was being filming juggling tools on the roof. And shouting at Jules.

The stove has been cut out and will be moved to a new location further forwards, though it's placement and fitting will probably be part of phase 2.

Sparky the electrician is coming to visit tomorrow to determine what cables will go where.

Next appointment will be with Mr Plumber Man to determine where all the wet stuff goes.

Flooring (rubber anyone?) and ceiling (polypropolene-to?) are occupying quite a lot of Internet Based Research time. Other time has been taken late in the workshop with Woodsmith Jules debating furniture and fixings. And thermal barriers. And LED splashbacks. No talk of football. Some of girls.

In other news, back at my land-based dwelling, my garage finally has a garage door, and a mighty fine one at that, thanks to the good people at www.auto-roll.com. It was fitted today (meaning I've had another day away from the boat, but I justify that as it means I can now use the garage space to work on things for the boat). 

All set for the final push in terms of an intense week ahead working on the boat before the day job kicks back in and I head off to Spa to listen to some loud racing cars and drink champagne.

It's less than three weeks till we committed to have the boat complete. After three months talking about it, finally getting off our arses (well, me and Jules, and absent friends)

I must mention some wonderful helpers:

Lucile who turns up like a goddess and brings tea and cookies. And has even offered a tent in her garden to sleep in rather than sleep in a paint-fume-tastic boat. She's even done demon-duties on painting too.

Hallett, who came for a wonderful day of painting, ended by a trip to the west country. But has never been seen since. Come back, we need your brush skills...

And the legend that is Jules is putting in work far and above the call of duty, despite being simultaneously embroiled in house purchasement and other such simple matters.

Thanks to www.dayspeed.com for the loan of the faithful ol' LT which I used today to collect some glorious wood, and will use tomorrow for insulation and more slabs - 8 council grade blighters being sufficient to get my Golf's exhaust intimate with the road. 

Images will follow; I'm being very slack on that front. Need an official photographer, but I think www.jakobebrey.com is too busy beating me(!) in karting events thanks to @karunchandhok.

That's it for now. Lots forgotten, but the lure of rubber flooring is calling... 

Tuesday progress

More gunwale / gunnel embrightenment.

Floor taken up at the front. Concrete that lies beneath was painted by a glamorous assistant.

The boat is actually a cut-and-shut, where it was lengthened at some point in the past. When this was done, the new section didn't have ballast added (no concrete betwixt the ribs on the floor) and I'm told that council-spec (higher density, and heavier) paving slabs are the way forwards. They're 600mm x 600mm x 50mm. Measuring the ribs, it's going to be a tight fit - perhaps with some hammer-based coercion required...

A morning of computer and paperwork before another afternoon on the boat awaits. Next filming day is Thursday, should be a reasonable amount of progress to show.  

Boat fitout - a timeline

Here's something of a timeline of Narrowboat Nemesis...

• Dec 2007 - bought boat. It was described as 80% finished. That was 80% a lie. Non-running engine. Poorly fitted out interior. Primer slapped over worn old paintwork etc. Why did I buy it? I blame ebay and a bar in Brazil during the Grand Prix. And caipirinha.
• Dec 2007 - Sept 2008 intermittently lived on and worked on boat, before deciding houses were warmer.
• Sept 2008 onwards - generally neglected boat.
• 2010 - had hull epoxy coated
• 2011 - sourced replacement engine
• 2012 - replacement engine fitted.
• July 2012 - exterior painted
• August 2012 - boat fitout and filming for forthcoming Channel 4 series 

Clean gunnels

Yesterday saw a full afternoon of grinding, rust treating and painting on the offside (is that port or starboard? The boat's left hand drive, but you're supposed to boat on the right as I understand it. Not sure if that means you need to carry your sword in your left hand?)

I now have a day ahead of more grinding, treating and painting, and I may go wild and rip up the floor to see what horrors lie beneath.

Narrowboat Nemesis Fitout

Many years ago I thought it would be wise to purchase a semi-completed narrowboat called Nemesis. This boat had an engine which didn't work. Inside was a 'part-finished' interior which required stripping out and starting again. It was battleship grey painted primer on the outside - slapped over the previous paint job...

After an initial burst of activity, I was distracted for rather too many years whilst the poor ol' boat deteriorated.

Spurred on by the pain of the yearly mooring fee and an opportunity to be part of one of those wonderful television design and renovation shows, I was galvanised into action.

Nemesis (I'm still not sure about the name, but that was what she was called when I bought her) now has a shiny new paint scheme and a working engine. I've even taken her out for a spin.

Now the hard part, finishing the strip-out and filling the inside of the boat with a beautiful interior worthy of the five star lifestyle to which I want to become accustomed. Let the hard work begin...