Paint - how many colours?

14 April - Our boat build is progressing really well, it appears that we cannot stop smiling as soon as we step on-board.

Having been given a paint chart to ponder at our last visit, we've spent some time looking at the colours outside in natural daylight.  We've looked through our photo store of pictures taken over several years to see what style of paint panels and coach lines we like the look of, and have pondered previous boat builds from our builders photo albums (there are lots!) to see how they might work on our boat.

Our three main colours are Navy Blue, Cream and Red, we'll be meeting with the painter to finalise their positions in due course, as well as the signwriting style, location etc, this will transform the outside of our boat from build view to finished look.

We'll be having solar panels on the roof too, so some time was spent measuring up to see how and where on the roof space they will fit.

The covered bow area is coming on a treat, with the seating area now taking shape.  We love the feel here, it's so calming and a real social space, the oak is giving a really nice hue.  We've tried to think about how we use different spaces at home, as that should translate to how we will use areas on the boat.

We really love the feel of this bow area

Sockets and switches are being installed through out as well as the low profile LED ceiling lights, we hadn't seen these to begin with and it had to be pointed out to us, blinded by trying to take everything in, it's difficult to absorb everything, but we never feel rushed.

Low profile LED Ceiling light

Our Morso Squirrel Multi-fuel burner and entertainment centre will start to take shape now, having decided on a smaller TV we think this will help to make a neater looking unit.

The bathroom is also coming along, the shower tray, enclosure and shower wall panels have been installed, as well as the shower, the basin is also situated on the countertop. 

Shower tray, enclosure and shower wall all in place

Cannot wait for our next visit, our boat is starting to get some character, and regular visits are giving us the boat fix we both need.

One of us has finished work

25 March - one of us has finished work, a milestone indeed.

We've been busy buying goods for the boat, fire, oven, hob, microwave, sink, shower etc.

The inside of Sonia Louise is really coming on a pace, we have the bulkheads in and the wardrobes and cupboards formed in the bedroom and galley, as well as the dinette taking shape.

On the outside of the boat the undercoat is being flatted back ready to receive  another coat.

Our covered bow area is also getting some character of its own, the metal roof is now lined on the inside with oak T & G and which has a lovely warm hue. There will be seating here and a fabric cover to keep any wet stuff out when needed, but during warm dry days the cover can be rolled up etc. to create an open airy feel.

Here are some of the latest photos.

Covered bow area, this will have a fabric cover to enclose the space in winter/bad weather

Bedroom, looking out to the bow

The dinette taking shape, with side hatches either side

A bad case of dandruff

Wed 24 Feb - An early start today awake at 4.00 away by 6.30, we had a really smooth run through the rush hour traffic, so by 9.30 we were at the boat yard ready (ok, maybe not my preferred conversation after a long drive) to talk electrics and layout.

A rough layout was marked on the floor of Sonia Louise.  The Galley needing the most thought due to the physical size of the fridge/freezer we have gone for, and which now stood in the galley space. We always knew that our layout may need to be 'tweaked' to accommodate it. Good news for us was that David already had an alternative plan and talked us through this, it took me a little while to understand what this could look like, but with input from Paul the carpenter and his handy sketch it became our option.  Shelves, cupboards, drawers, storage and display ideas were all discussed as well as housing ideas for the fridge/freezer and microwave.

Moving on through the boat the layout flowed well, the dinette, saloon, bathroom and bedroom didn't need any changes, so we could pay some attention to the practicalities of how the entertainment unit could look and what it needed to house (hmm not my forte either). 

Electrical sockets next and Simon was quick to capture locations of these by drawing diagrams on the spray foam insulation, all sorts of cable runs were talked through, mains 230v, 24v, and so on.

A welcome break came and we took advantage of a quick pub lunch 5 minutes away, here we found the bad case of dandruff, we had both caught it, ooops, this is a really smart pub too! We had been leaning against the spray foam insulation and some of this covered our coats, still there is plenty left on the boat, a really thick application has been made, which should all be good for us come summer or winter.

Thick spray foam insulation now applied.

Back to the boat yard for switches and lighting positions, choices on ceiling light positions, wall lights, and LED strip lighting were all made as well as two and three way switching combinations, oh and lighting for the glass unit in the galley we are having.

Crikey I think we have our boat layout sorted!

It's a long way to the front

Weds 27 Jan - We had a busy day today, a call into Bluewater then the scenic route home through the vale of Evesham.

To the boat first then, and how nice to see it with cabin sides and a roof, with the all important (for us) extending roof line over the front cratch area.

We were also wanting to check window positions and side hatch openings, with those now marked out in chalk, at our next visit we should see the holes - hope they're right!

Martin took the opportunity to look down the roof line, a view we'll be seeing quite a lot of in the future, it looks very long indeed!

How far?

A five minute drive to the nearby pub the Bell Inn saw us having an early lunch.  Then back towards home to look at kitchen worktop options and flooring ideas. I'm really pleased our tastes don't differ too much.

And finally, we hope we won't need them but one each side should help if we do

Ready to give a foot up...

An open day

Saturday 16 Jan - a crisp, cold and clear winters day, our first port of call was to Bluewater Boats open day a really good run up the motorways saw us arrive in good time.

Sonia Louise has now got both fuel and water tanks fitted and the front bulkhead in place, the bow area has really taken shape.  A lot of seam welding has taken place along the rubbing strakes.

We also discussed some of the stern seating area and how the top of the cabin will be shaped to the seating either side, with some soft curved lines, as well as the options for a 'ticket/book' slot - both now confirmed through photos and chalk lines - thank you Russell.

The narrow style Dutch Barge has now moved into a different shed and is at spray foam and first electric stage alongside a Andrew Wolstenholme and Branson boat which is in a more advanced stage of build.  The paint shed had a wide beam in and the shed next to the steel shed had a nearly complete wide beam, the woodwork always catches our attention, this boat gave us some ideas for our TV mounting and chimney flue.

The day seamed well attended and the car parking area full.

After confirming some toilet options - you cannot avoid the subject - and discussing things of an electrical nature we adjourned to the pub, handy being 5 mins away! mind you there is a good choice around the area, this just happens to be the nearest.

Our next port of call was to a showroom for flooring options, handy as an afternoon tea stop, we came away with some samples and will mull these over. When we have a sample of the wood being used in Sonia Louise we will see if the colours work or if we need more of a colour contrast, we have plenty of time to think this over.

We could've called into the granite supplier too but thought we'd looked at enough today, again we have plenty of time for choosing but have had colours and preferred options in our heads for a while, we just need to see if everything will tie in together.

So that's it till the next visit, plenty of reading to do yet Wi-Fi and connectivity our current bedtime reading (well Martins at least).

Yeah, photo added, the engine bay looking as empty as it ever will!

The engine bay coming on nicely, weed hatch in situ.

Our first introduction to NB Sonia Louise

18 Dec - Our journey time to Bluewater Boats is usually around 2 1/2hrs, today we got caught in traffic which added another half an hour, still not bad though and an easy drive from Somerset. 

Having got excited about the photos sent through to us previously, today was no different.  Our first glimpse of NB Sonia Louise was as we pulled into the builders yard, eager to view our boat for the first time, we decided to do this before coffee.

The steel shed looked very full and industrious with two boats being built side by side, ours and a narrow beam Dutch barge, two very different looking boats.

It amazes me the variety of styles in build here all at various stages, they include 62ft x 12ft 2 bed, 2 bathroom wide beam, a 60ft x 12ft 6" bespoke 1 bed, 2 bathroom wide beam, a 15 metre cruising barge designed by Andrew Wolstenholme, a 70ft bespoke narrow beam Dutch barge, our 65ft bespoke Narrowboat and a 60ft wide beam.

Here are some further pictures of progress so far

Rear rubbing strakes and their rather decorative details being added

The bow shape being constructed, front rubbing strakes being added and bow thruster tube made

Our next visit will be mid January, this will coincide with Bluewater boats winter open day.

Our first glimpse

5 Dec

We've asked our boat builder to keep us updated with pictures between our visits to them, we are really pleased with the progress that is being made at this early stage.

Here is one of the first photos that have been sent through.

NB Sonia Louise - in the steel shed

The hull sides have been welded to the base plate and 'steel ribs' are being welded to the inside, base and sides to add strength to the structure.

Our boat will be 65ft long, a lot of welding to take place still.  The next stage will be for the rubbing strakes to be added and welded, as well as the stern and bow shapes to be formed.

I love the craftsmanship here already and can't wait to see her in a basic unpainted state.