Build Day 5

I had a text message from Garry at Orchard Marina last night.  The boat hull metalwork is due to be completed by next Wednesday, (5^th February 2014). He recommended that we went over to the Liverpool factory to see the progress ASAP.

OK then, time to get over to Liverpool and see how the boat is progressing.  We set of at 10.15am for our 169 mile round trip.

Arrived just before 12.00 and went over to see the boat.  It has certainly moved forward over the last 4 days even though the fitters are concentrating on completing the boat alongside ours.  Took some photos and video for the scrap book.  We were surprised to find Garry in his work overalls fitting an engine to a wide beam canal boat.  He stopped work and eagerly joined us to tell us what would be happening over the next few days.  He explained that all the assembly work so far was just tack welded and they would continue with this process until all the main parts of the boat were in place, they would then weld all the seams and make it a solid structure.  It looked quite complex but Garry said when you have built more than a hundred boats its very easy.  I must say Garry really is a great guy and fills us with confidence that the build will go without a hitch.

Everyone was extremely busy and Garry had a deadline with his engine fit.  So after a general mooch around the yard we set off on the homeward journey.

Build Day 1

After many months planning the boat layout and equipment specifications the phone rang and our builder told us they had laid the bottom plate and the boat was on its way.

Saturday 25th January 2014.  Anne and I, drove to Liverpool to Collingwood Boat Builders to view the first step of the build of "Alanne".

Collingwood Boat Builders, Liverpool Boats and Orchard Marina Boat Builders share a large factory unit in Liverpool.  All three companies are owned by Gadbrook holdings.  Liverpool Boats ceased trading some years ago leaving the two companies, (Collingwood and Orchard Marina).

We contacted Garry Evans of Orchard Marina in September 2013 to discuss the type of boat we wanted and the level of equipment.  Over several visit to Orchard Marina in Northwich and lots of helpful input from Garry, we finally decided what the boat would look like.  A 60 foot narrow boat with reverse layout and a semi traditional stern.  We wanted the stern space to be large enough for entertaining and also secure for our "small" dog Lucy, (not that small as Lucy is a Great Dane).  We extended the rear deck with 4 feet of semi traditional stern and a further 5 feet which would make a cruiser stern.  The spec of the boat has the following main features,  Solid oak flooring throughout, Blown hot air heating,  3D diesel fired corner stove, double glazed windows, Granite worktop in the Galley also equipped with a four burner stove and oven, fridge/freezer, microwave oven and front loading washing machine.  L shaped Dinette, TV area and armchairs.  The bathroom has a cassette toilet and shower enclosure and finally the bedroom has a full size double bed and wardrobes.

We arrived at Collingwood Boats and were greeted by Alan McNaughton.  Alan took us over to the unit where the boat will be constructed and showed us the base plate which will form the bottom of the boat.  Alan invited us to come back as often as we wished to see the progress which they expect will be rapid.  We took photos of the base plate and agreed to come back in 4 days to see the progress which they hoped would soon be looking like a narrow boat hull.