Skipton 2016

With the fit out about 95% complete, we needed a 'trip' out. We had been planning to go to Skipton, North Yorkshire along the Leeds and Liverpool canal for a long time. The opportunity came in August. I had 3 weeks off work and we had a successful journey. No issues from the boat and the cooker, Weaco fridge, shower and hot water from the calorifier all performed well. We even did a bit of tidal on the River Ouse. We even went up the famous Bingley Five Rise locks! A few pictures:

Waiting to go up Bingley 3 Rise.

Waiting to go up Bingley 5 Rise.

We made Skipton and even further afield to Gargrave and Greenberfield in Lancashire! Back to the fit out next week though but all big jobs done.

Shower fitted and we have water!

The shower cubicle has finally been fitted! It's been sat under our bed at home since last year! All now fitted and just a bit of sealant to do and shower sump power switch to fit/test.

The shower cubicle.

Top of the cubicle with 3 cm to spare!

The water has been pressurised and all ok except a small leak on one of the joints.

Pipe work to calorifier and shower/sink.

It is nice to have running water. The system was pressurised with the pump and we monitored it for an hour to see if it was water tight. All ok but we isolate the 432 litre tank and the 50 litre calorifier when we leave the boat, just in case.

I would say about 90-95% fitted out. Almost there!

Sump pump in

As the shower room is almost complete, with just the shower doors to hang, I have fitted the sump pump. I have fitted it in the adjacent seat and will box it in. This will give easy access to it to maintain and clean it. Just the dc wiring and switch to fit next weekend. Then I will finish off the plumbing to our new calorifier. We purchased a 40litre single coil one from Surecal. It comes with a 1kw immersion heater so that we can have hot water in the marina. Some pics of the sump pump:-

Sump pump with 3 connections.

The waste pipe from the sump pump boxed in with white PVC trunking. Looks good.

Next: the plumbing to the end!

Shower room update

Almost done. I bought a Triton Tesla thermostatic mixer shower from Screwfix. Funny thing is Screwfix are owned by B&Q and the difference in price for the same shower is £22!!

Shower now fitted. Just the doors to go in (which are stored under our bed at home waiting for this very moment.

Some pics of the Triton shower:

Shower mixer bar....

And again..

Shower head...

Looks good.

The vanity unit, just waiting for final plumbing.

Shower room 'nearly' done..

Over the Easter weekend we weren't sat at home eating Easter eggs and roast dinners! No, we were down the boat catching up on the fit out. The last 2 weekends were lost due to sickness and we really wanted to get something done.

From Saturday to Easter Monday we continued the shower room. We completed the line out in exterior grade 5.5mm plywood. This acted as a good base for the PVC cladding. We went for clean minimalist glossy white. We have managed to get 2 sides completed. A bit tricky round the porthole but the results were great. Just the shower walls to do.

We also did the plumbing for the shower and sink/vanity unit. 

A few pics but the gloss white is not easy to photograph...

The port hole (or are there 2!). No, just a reflection in the glossy cladding.

The vanity unit. Small and compact.

The 2 pipes ready for the shower. We are going for a Triton thermostatic mixer shower! BUY BRITISH!

More later...cheers.

We're still alive!

Just a quick update. Not much boat build has gone on over the winter months. But with Spring in the air, we need to push on and get this build somewhere near finished. We did have issues with the oak expanding and it did get us down and we had to do a lot of re-work. 

Things we need to achieve are ( not in any order):

1: finish solid oak flooring (60% done).

2: shower room which includes cladding; shower; vanity unit; plumbing; sump pump.

3: cushions to buy/ cover.

4: still a bit of wood to do.

5: there are a lot of 'little' jobs to do!

6: calorifier.

7: inverter.

8: horn 

9: weld some angle iron onto side hatch to support oak cladding.

10: anything else that I gave forgotten!

One really good thing, the boat past it's BSS waterways safety in early March! Good for 4 years! Cool....

That stove is 'cosy warm'!

Had a day off work today and what a day! It started with a drive to B&Q in Halifax! Why? Well it was the only one in the area with the same oak cladding. We have decided to renew a large section which was oiled in Osmo Raw. We tried to sand it back but failed. Only option, get some more oak. Did I tell you that I am oak mad!!!

On our return to Ripon, we set about fitting the Morso Squirrel stove. We had to drill and plug holes to secure the stove. Fit the outside chimney and coolie hat. Fit the flue pipe and seal it all in with stove cement and flue mastic. I then left it to Dawn to prepare and light the inaugural  fire. It was lovely and toastie. Just in time for the colder weather ahead.

Warm....