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Narrowboat Build and Launch

Construction of our 60ft narrowboat shell by ALEXANDER BOATBUILDERS of Stourport, had started on time, and in little over six weeks was ready for launch. This would be a complete DIY fit out. We had fitted out a 40ft cruiser stern shell in the 1980s and I had built a 16ft wooden cruiser from scratch in 1970, so we had a better idea of what we needed for an achievable quality finished result. The choice of builder was based on personal recommendation and the attention to detail and strength in the hull construction. Jim Sparkes' steel doors are among the best I have seen : reducing draughts and the ingress of water. They are very easy to line out in solid timber panels. During the lead time up to the build we finalised our plan for the window positions using a sheet of A3 card with coloured card windows cut to scale and positioned with Blu Tack -- moving them little by little until we felt it looked right. We ensured that the windows worked with the planned interior, that there were no unnecessary windows which restrict fitting out options and waste heat, and that they were well away from the ends of the cabin or any stove pipe. No window was to be exactly opposite another -- thus improving pools of natural light inside. Ultimately we settled on an arrangement where the window spacing increases at each interval from stern to bow. Probably not the "golden ratio" of the Greeks, but one which leads the eye along the cabin side. We adopted a similar ratio for the brass roof vents (also scaled down on to A3 card to visualize the appearance), in this case ensuring they were along the lowest parts (the sides) of the cabin top to avoid reducing bridge and tunnel clearances, and in positions which would not be over the top of a bed or a chair. Our headlamp would be mounted from a dismountable outer steel frame for a cratch. The stern "dollies" for mooring ropes had unobtrusive semicircular hoops of bar fitted near them to act as fairleads -- to avoid the possibility of a rope lifting off the" dolly" in a deep lock or difficult mooring situation. On the day we saw the first sheet of steel on the workshop floor, Dawn purchased the material for making the curtains - although she would not need to start making them for another year! We had a clear plan of our external colour scheme, which would be as simple as possible to allow for any running repairs, and the look of the curtains features in this. It is always exciting to see a new boat come out of a workshop, and once again Jim Sparkes showed the care taken at every stage of construction -- in this instance with the piece of carpet between forklift forks and new shell. Thank you for a superb boat Jim! Craneage onto the road transport was skilful, and we were soon on our way to Sharpness docks for the launch. Those anxious moments when the vessel is suspended over concrete quickly passed, and our daughters, who already saw themselves as seasoned and safe boaters, performed the naming ceremony. We clambered down into the empty cabin, more akin to a floating skittle alley, and by lunchtime we were warming ourselves in "Sharpness Docker's Club". The following day, severe storms hit the country -- but that is boating! Filmed on Sony TRV30E miniDV