24th August 2013

I've spent the last few days revamping my model of Oleanna, doing the adjustments and making doors work on cupboards instead of them just falling off, due to the age of the masking tape. She now has a roof and cabin sides with windows and portholes. I should have really been sorting things in my work room, but at least it's made me notice one mistake on the plan that I sent to the builders. One of the bathroom doors opens to reveal the loo instead of hiding it which would be better, but I'm sure that would have come up with the fit out.

 

Saturday morning, address in hand, Bromptons in the boot of the car along with the model and Houdinis cat flap, just in case any of it would be useful to have we set off almost half an hour after we'd planned, which is about normal for us! Bank holiday traffic wasn't too bad down to Ripley and we still had time to loose our way slightly before arriving at the right industrial park. We were helped in locating the right unit by there being two narrowboats sat outside. Richard was just arriving as we pulled up outside.

We were shown into the metal workshop and there she was, Oleanna, up to her gunwales. So far she looks pretty much like any other 58ft boat. The gas locker has been made, but now needs to be amended so that we can use it to store our Brompton bikes. This means a much wider opening than normal. A new lid had been cut to size and was laid on top of the existing one for us to see.

The stern was taking shape too, weed hatch, engine bay and fuel tank already welded into position. She seemed ever so long and ever so wide. But we were reassured with the use of a tape measure that she would fit through narrow locks.


Then had come the time to ask about what was happening with the company. Richard handed us a letter which should have been in the post to us a few weeks ago. He was very clear in his explanation that the original company had got into financial difficulties, the move to Market Drayton hadn't worked. All the owners are exactly that, they own their boats whilst they are being built and the building work was going to be finished by the new company (which has existed for sometime). Their working practices they are hoping to streamline, making their work more efficient. This all made perfect sense and was quite reassuring to us. Our first payment for the steel had actually been made to the new company and not the old one, we'd wondered why the account details had changed. They are also changing the way we pay the installments, breaking them down into smaller chunks. Therefore more frequent, but we'll be able to see where the money is going easier.

The move over to Ripley had already begun and was going much quicker than when they'd moved to Market Drayton. We were shown into the other space that they have just got. Much bigger than the draughty spot they'd been in, space to work on more than two boats at once, space to lay things out that they'd be working on. Infact there were four boats lined up waiting. There was a boat that we'd seen when we went to visit them in May, due to be launched in a couple of weeks. Here's hoping so.

As we counted up how many boats were in front of Oleanna (six), we asked the question, "So any idea of when our boat might be finished?" " Not this side of Christmas" was the answer. If they manage to get the new working practices sorted things would become quicker, but still we are really looking at early next year.
A bit disappointing, but we always knew we'd never have a definite date for completion and we'd sussed that our build slot had slipped a little too. So it might be a Scarborough Christmas not one afloat.

Mick sussing out the tiller position

After saying our goodbyes we headed to Ikea which is very close to look for possible things for the boat and fill up on Meatballs.