Work in progress

Work has been progressing - the first fix electrical cabling has been installed through the boat and the linings are now in place.

The carcasses of the galley units have been installed


and the carcasses of the bed and wardrobes have been constructed.

All the woodwork is given a first coat of waxoil to protect it from marks - this will later be sanded down by hand and finished with two further coats to give it a beautiful, natural glow.

Sprayfoam

Tody was sprayfoam day!! Sprayfoam insulation has now been applied to the interior of the current build - "cutting back" will be completed over the next day or so, before the first fix cabling is installed

New shell arrives

On Monday September 14th the new shell arrived for our next fitout. The shell, a semi-trad style, was built by Reeves Boatbuilders to our own specification and was delivered to The Boatshed by Tuckey's, as usual.

Watch out for more photos showing the build in progress

IWA Show

D & J Narrowboats attended the IWA Show over the August Bank Holiday. This was the first time we had taken a stand at the IWA Show, and we thoroughly enjoyed the experience. We met some lovely people and had some very interesting conversations about their ideas and plans. We also enjoyed spending time catching up with our colleagues and friends who also attended, and looking round the stalls and attractions...and we even had good weather!

Sissy Jupe

At Roger's having her new cabin put on.

We are currently working on a full re-fit on our own little boat - Sissy Jupe. Due to work commitments she has been patiently waiting outside our workshop for over a year, since having her brand new steel cabin put on by Roger Farringdon at Braunston (sadly her wooden cabin was past repair when we bought her) - but, in between jobs for customers, her fit-out has finally been started.

Patiently waiting

After having sprayfoam insulation installed, she now has cabling for her electrical systems and cabin & deckhead linings in place. How much more will be done, before the shell arrives for our next full fitout, remains to be seen....

We were given some information, soon after buying Sissy Jupe, about her history, including a possible contact name for someone who might be able to tell us more. We recently made contact with that person, and were very excited to receive back a wealth of detail including some that had come from one of her first owners (she was known as Sly Eel at the time, renamed Sissy Jupe by a later owner). We later received a surprise visit at the workshop from that very person - he was pleasantly surprised to find his old boat being given a great deal of TLC, and was able to tell us some tales about her early days.

It's a small world on the cut!!

Jackie & David

NB Smooth As Silk is launched

NB Smooth As Silk was launched at Braunston and cruised back to Crick for final ballast adjustments, after which the oak planked flooring was installed. She was then cruised to Debdale Wharf to be painted. You can see photos of the interior on our website.

We wish her owners every happiness as they cruise the waterways - keep in touch!!

Jackie & David

D & J Owners Club

D & J Owners Club members are invited to visit us as usual during Crick Show - we look forward to seeing you and hearing about your boating exploits during the past year.

NB Smooth As Silk

NB Smooth As Silk is nearing completion and her owners have kindly given us permission to show her to interested parties who come to our open days during the Crick Show this year. She will still be in our workshop at The Boatshed, Crick Wharf, and we will be inviting showgoers who visit our stand (KF09) in the Kingfisher Marquee to visit the workshop for a cup of tea and a chat about their ideas etc.

You can still keep up to date with her fitout on her photo-stream as before (see post below)

Smooth As Silk

Monday 17th November:



NB Smooth As Silk arrived safe and sound at the Boatshed this morning, by courtesy of Tuckeys, ready for her fit-out to commence.

Don't forget that you can watch her progress on http://www.flickr.com/photos/29297528@N02/

Watch the next D & J Narrowboat build, stage by stage

The owners of NB Smooth As Silk (the next D & J Narrowboat to be fitted out) have set up a facility whereby you can watch their boat develop, stage by stage, starting with the fabrication of the shell by Reeves Boatbuilders, which is already well on the way.

All you need to do is visit
http://www.flickr.com/photos/29297528@N02/
to see the latest photos.

Once the steelwork is completed, the shell will be delivered to the Boatshed and our work will begin. We plan to upload photos weekly to show the fitout in progress.

We hope you will enjoy the process as much as we do

David & Jackie