Boat Build Week 13

Mixed feelings today as we headed up the motorway to Liverpool, a mixture of excitement and sadness. Sadness because this would be our last visit to Aintree Boats for a while, we will really miss the weekly pilgrimage to see Hobbit being built. It's the whole atmosphere when you arrive, everyone is so friendly and nothing is to much trouble even when your getting in the way to take pictures (Guilty as charged). An added bonus this week was meeting the guys who are doing a great job of fitting Hobbit out.

Now the exciting bit! Hobbit is nearly complete and the launch has been arranged for next Friday (23rd October) cutting it fine, but just in time for our weeks holiday. 

The big difference from last weeks visit was Hobbit's colour, no longer in undercoat but sporting her very shiny topcoats and hull blacking. unfortunately the pictures don't do justice as it's difficult to get the angle as the Beetle Bay is full at the moment.

On the inside, the wet room is complete apart from lights and port hole.

The appliances are being fitted.

We won't see Hobbit again before the launch and so these will be the last pictures of her build progress which is a shame as I would have liked to see everything put back together. The list of things left to do are as follows;

Joinery finished Sunday/Monday
Port holes put in Monday
Painting finished by Wednesday
Engine and drive train Tuesday/Wednesday
Sign writing Tuesday
Electrics connected and inverter fitted Monday

And that's it, still seems a lot to me but apparently for boat builders it's nothing of a job. The next post on here will be pictures of the launch.

Until next time......

Mark & Anne-Marie
NB Hobbit

Boat Build Week 12

Hobbit's progress over the last week has been hampered by unforeseen circumstances, so the launch date has now been moved by a week. It now means the launch will be on the same weekend as the start of our holiday, which may actually turn out to be a blessing in disguise, as we can have a proper shake down cruise.

Problems aside there has been progress, with plug sockets, light switches, lights and TV Ariel socket fitted.

The wet room has had the non slip floor and wall cladding fitted.

While we were visiting, Hobbit was getting a rub down, flattening the undercoat ready for the application of the first layer of topcoat.

Until next week....

Mark & Anne-Marie

NB Hobbit

Boat Build Week 11

It's hard to believe a week has passed since we last saw the boat, as so much has been done. A coat of grey primer has been applied in readiness for the first coats of paint next week.

The inside has seen real progress, with all the fitted furniture now in place. Just the storage cupboard doors and trim need fitting.

The galley is taking shape with the carcass for the sink/cooker unit built. The gas and water pipes are in, as well as the electrics. 

At the moment we are still on course for launching on the 16th, and that means on Monday it'll be a call to the C&RT to get the licence and registration number.

Finally we would like to wish Sue and Guy of Narrowboat Suzie No. 2 good luck with their launch on Thursday. For the last couple of months we have been watching Suzie No. 2 take shape, in fact we have looked forward to our weekly tour of her, as much as seeing Hobbit. Aintree Boats have done an amazing job throughout, especially as she totally bespoke. 

Until next week....

Mark & Anne-Marie
NB Hobbit