Big News!

Well, now it's all getting very exciting and very real!!

Before I get on to the pictures, here is the news:

The fit out is progressing well, even though we both felt a bit disappointed during yesterday's visit, I think that we both expected more than there was, but we have to trust the builder, they've built quite a few.

The big news is that we have a launch date, Thursday March 23rd. Deep Thought will be loaded onto a truck the preceding afternoon and cause chaos on the M6, M40 etc as she is transported to Reading for launching the following morning. Incidentally our first grandchild is due this weekend, two launches in a couple of days!!

We will spend the weekend, 17th to 19th March on board in the yard at the builders so's we can test as much as possible and check for any snag's or things we're not happy with, prior to this, our penultimate visit to Biddulph will be on Friday 3rd March with a van loaded with corner sofa and mattress. I think the next few weeks will seem like a year!!

Ok, so here's the build / fit out status as of Friday 17th February:

First, further big news, we have an engine, a Beta Marine 105, it's been causing a problem because it didn't fit, seems Beta Marine sent it with the wrong mounts, apparently the correct mounts are on the way. So here'e a 360 around the engine room:

Beta Marine 105:

Engine, Generator & Hot Water Cylinder:

Central Heating & Storage:

Rudder actuator;

Starboard side storage:

Access ladder, Mastervolt electrical equipment, batteries are in the far corner:

Here's a tour of the inside:

Shower, it was very dark! The cables end up the other side of the wall in the TV unit:

Our air conditioning unit in the bottom of the master cabin wardrobe:

Master cabin taking shape, bit of a cock up on the bedside units, we specifically didn't want 'waterfall edging' as Pen is worried about knocking her morning tea over, it's going to be sorted:

Saloon / Galley looking forward, TV unit in front, galley taking shape to the right:

Rotating clockwise:

Looking aft towards the guest cabin with Penny & Andrea in the doorway, galley now on the left:

Rotating clockwise again:

Left to right, washer / dryer, big drawers, sink, dishwasher, hob / oven & small drawers. Out of shot further to the right is the fridge freezer and the tall larder cupboard:

Guest cabin, wardrobe on the left:

And finally the wheelhouse starting to come together:

And finally a tour of the outside, a bit difficult to get good photo's as we've been relocated to the corner. There is currently 2 other barges (out of shot) in this unit.

Our new location:

With sign writing, font is 'yellow submarine' not an omen we hope! We were after something a bit different that gave a seventies computery feel:

I thin the chap on the bow is fitting the anchor winch:

In close up:

About the most I could get in, I squashed against another 49M that's just been moved here:

Shot of the stern:

So, see you in a couple of weeks.

Deep Thought Open Weekend - Invitation

Hi Guys,

An invitation to all our blog readers who may wish to come along and see the finished product:

We will be moored at Henley, map below, somewhere between the two red crosses, on the early May bank holiday weekend (Saturday29th April to Monday 1st May) . You will be most welcome to come and have a look on any day from 12.00 Saturday until 14.00 Monday, but no later than 17.00 on Saturday & Sunday please. It would be good if you could let us know if you are coming along. So either comment on this post or email to t.cadle@btinternet.com

Nibbles provided, we may need some of you to help us out with wine!!

Hope to see some of you there.

Build Update 8

Another visit to the factory, we're visiting more frequently now as things are moving pretty quickly.

Quite surprised to find the team rubbing the paintwork down, we thought it was done. Turns out they weren't happy with the finish so it's getting another coat. We're really happy with the colour, especially the lines around the top of the cabin and wheelhouse:

Sun deck is looking good:

Wheelhouse starting to take shape, they were going to start fitting and wiring the dashboard today:

Engine room has all the gear installed, apart from the engine!!

Fridge, freezer, larder cupboard and day loo:

Saloon looking aft, galley will be along the left side. Through the big hole is the guest cabin:

The guest cabin, all of the wiring ends up in the dashboard, just visible as a hole in the top left. You can also see the hydraulic steering pump:

Looking out from the guest cabin. The 'bar' in the centre is a temporary support:

All in all we're really pleased, there's a few minor things that we specified that have been missed, but one of the reasons for visiting is to check that we're getting what we wanted, before it's too late to do anything about it!!

We also delivered the washing machine which was the cause of much discussion last time. We get home to find our insurance documentation has arrived.

We also started to finalise the wheelhouse window coverings.

We're back in two weeks again, now where's that insurance stuff?

Build Update 7

I've been a bit lax in the update department, it's been a good few weeks since the last update and a lot has happened, plus things are really starting to progress quite quickly now.

Right, where were we? Oh yes, the boat was still in the steel work unit and the builders were sat on it in their Christmas hats.

Ok, Piper had their Christmas shut down so I didn't hassle them for an update until the 12th January. As you can see we're no longer in the steel work unit, we've been shifted next door and have been squeezed into the fit out unit which makes it a bit difficult to fit the whole boat into the picture.

Anyway, here she is, second week of January, primed and rubbed down ready for undercoat:

One of the first meaningful internal shots. The first fix plumbing and wiring have been done and the base floor is mostly in. The spray foam insulation is being done the following day so all the preparation is in readiness for this:

Another shot looking in to the cabin from the wheel house:

The following week, Friday 20th January, we do the 350 mile round trip to the Piper Factory at Biddulph, a few miles North of Stoke on Trent, it's an early start but probably the most exciting visit to date.

The first two pictures show the boat now resplendent in grey undercoat and being rubbed down to be ready for topcoat. The topcoat is being done this very evening and has the weekend to dry without any dust etc from work to the other boats spoiling the finish:

The wheel house to be:

Two pictures of the inside, now spray foam insulated, a wonderful (lilac?) colour. Cabin sides and roof battened ready for the fixing of the lining panels:

And taped to the cabin side the plan:

It's good to visit, during this one we notice a couple of things:

We wanted some low level lights at the stern, there's no sign of them. they're only decorative in reality and not really important, but we wanted them, we just hope it's not too late to do anything about it.

We also specified 'light oak' for the finish in the wheel house, it's been started in sapele. We have a bit of a discussion about this and decide to stay with the sapele, as long as we get a light oak table. It seems that it would have been quite a bit of work to change this at this stage, Piper owe us a favour.

It also seems that our chosen washer dryer may not fit where we want it, so there's quite a bit of discussion as to what to do. The 3D CAD system is quite impressive as it shows the back of the washer clashing with one of the ribs. I'm tasked with taking a picture of the side of the machine when I get home and putting all the necessary dimensions on it to confirm whether or not we have a problem. It's the first time they've put a machine where we want ours so it's a bit of a learning exercise. After checking again using my measurements, it seems it may be ok. It'll soon be time to take the machine up there, so we'll find out for certain then!


Also during this week I've started on the things to do list:

1. Arrange for the ship's radio licence with Ofcom, this is done on-line and is fairly easy to do, I'd done it before for the VHF set on the narrowboat. Piper needed my MMSI and ATIS numbers which are programmed by the supplier prior to delivery. I already have an operator's licence.

2, Register the boat on the Small Ship's Register. This is required for us to cruise in Europe, a bit more difficult this one, I found the website a bit odd (what else would you expect from the MCA?) and after paying the £25 registration fee I get an email with a form to fill in, sign, scan and return. Despite all this, when we get our registration, the names are wrong so it's been returned for correction. Our number is SSR166852

3. We're going to licence with the Canal and River Trust. If we licence with the Environment Agency we have to have a unique name, there is already a 'Deep Thought' on their register. CRT don't have this requirement so we'll take a gold licence with them for our time in the UK, there's virtually no price difference and we can use Limehouse lock for free should we require.

The licence application requires an insurance policy number, so before we can arrange the licence we need to get insurance in place. I had a few quotes already and followed up with GJW, after a bit of tooing and froing mainly over the definition of what constitutes contents, we accept their quote and will put the policy in place ahead of time so we can get the licence organised.

This weeks offering shows progress in the cabin, the pictures aren't great as it's quite dark inside due to the ports being covered:

Looking through the 'guest cabin' window towards the bow:

Looking back towards the guest cabin:
You can see our tall larder cupboard and the steps to the wheel house.

Looking forwards towards our cabin:

Our cabin wardrobe:

Of course all this progress signalled the arrival of the invoice for our 3rd stage payment, better go look in the piggy bank!

We're going back to the factory on Friday 3rd February so expect a further progress update a few days after then!!

Happy New Year

Not posted for a few weeks, so here is the latest, oh and a Happy New Year to you all, I somehow feel that ours is going to be a really happy one!!

 Here's a picture from the second week of December, unfortunately the light on the wheelhouse spoils it a bit. You can see that the portholes have been cut and some of the stainless steel has been attached (handrails & bollards):

Here's one from the third week, you can see now that all of the stainless steel is fitted. The windows have been sealed and the 'thing' on the roof by the dogbox is an extract fan as they've just painted the interior steel:

And here is our Christmas card from Piper Boats, I'm not too sure that they all look as if they want to be there?

So as I said above, with our launch scheduled for sometime in March, we're both really looking forward to the coming year. Our next visit to Piper is scheduled for 20th January when we expect the insulation and lining out to be nearing completion, this will mean a further stage payment (ouch!).

We expect to visit much more frequently after this, probably every two weeks as we understand that the internal fit out starts to move really quickly. Can't wait.

Build Update 6

Ok, so it's Friday 2nd December and we go to Piper to inspect our up and coming pride and joy. It's a busy weekend, after Piper we're off to see some friends in Morpeth (the desolate North East) and then over to Carsphairn ( between Ayr and Dumfries) to see my eldest son James. Anyway, here's the stuff that matters:

As you can see, the steelwork is pretty much finished, they were hoping to complete the welding on Friday. There are the portholes to cut, the stainless steel bollards and railings to fit, a final check that all is well and the insulation, lining and internal bulkhead fitting will start.

Oh yes, the rudder will need to be fitted too.

View of the stern.

View from the wheelhouse, yes, we got to stand on the boat!!

And a view along the starboard side.

So, very exciting times indeed, the second stage payment is being made, ouch!

We also went along to see the upholsterer to sort out fabrics for windows and for cabin and wheelhouse seating, there's not a lot else to choose now.

Looks like our next visit will be towards the end of January when the lining / bulkhead work should be nearly done. We've been told that the fit out will then move quite quickly as they will be making units along side the lining works so they'll be ready to install.