Next job, bulkheads

The bulkheads are installed with solid oak posts. We have machined eleven posts, each with one of nine specific profiles to fit where they are required, for example, at the corner of a construction or as part of a doorway. These will slot into the floor and up into the ceiling providing a structural support to build walls onto. The finished walls are oiled or painted.

Engine installation

The engine installation is nearly complete. Photos to follow...

Central heating

We are putting four radiators along the starboard side of the boat, plus a heated towel rail on the other side in the bathroom. The plastic pipes are clipped along the floor and will be joined to the radiators with copper pipe.

Diagonal

The tongue and groove in the bedroom and bathroom area is diagonal above the gunwale. This accentuates the curve at the front of the boat, and will look great when the windows are trimmed. The back of the boat will have pale painted panels above the gunwale.

Lighting

The wiring has been laid in for the lights in each room space.

Ceiling

The solid oak prepared for the ceiling is now ready to install. We're starting in the centre and working out towards the side in each room space.

Subfloor

The sub-floor is laid on top of timber bearers which are attached to the steel ribs running across the boat at 2 foot intervals. We've laid a silver backed bubble-wrap insulation layer over the brick ballast, and the 18mm ply is laid on top of this. Then it's much easier to walk up and down the boat.

More preparation

We've protected the shiny new paintwork from scratches and built some staging to make it easier to load materials onto the boat.

The boat is in the shed

The boat has been moved into our shed today so we can start on the interior now. We've decided to put the windows in first, these have neoprene strips around the rims which provide an air and watertight seal when the windows are clamped in.

Paintwork

The boat is currently being painted and should be ready for us to begin lining sometime this week. It will be painted blue with a cream roof.