March 2007

Things moved slowly forward during March, with mid month saw us ordering the curtain rods and brackets. The boat was now taking shape and we made a visit on the 16th March to the yard to check progress. The shower unit was now in, along with the now working stove and central heating. The unfinished Heron dinette / double bed conversion had been finished and worked fine but the stern canopy was still not progressing. This was a little concerning to me if the boat was going to meet the finish deadline of the end of the month.

Another phone call to the yard on the 21st March produced some positive feedback about the canopy, it was being worked and would be made of steel on rollers not of aluminium has originally planned. So with ten days to go and at last the last major hold up were being worked on. Pauline was now buying boat items we would need to move onto the boat, a Forum member advised we buy a Tefal 3 in 1 rice cooker (Rice, Steamer, Slow cooker) and this proved well worth it. We were now looking at bits for the galley, fabric for the curtains and dinette upholstery, all the things you need for a new home, afloat !!!!!.

Phoned again on the 27th March and the canopy was away for final alterations with finishing off work progressing on the boat.

On 30th March, a phone call came from the yard, the canopy paint would not be dry for our visit next day to start moving things on board plus the pump out toilet had developed a fault and was occasionally flushing without being touched. This fault required a part from Lee Sanitation, so moving aboard was abandoned until the loo was fixed and canopy fitted.

April 2007

Sunday, 1st April saw us, Pauline and myself plus youngest son, Richard and granddaughter, India visiting the boat to see if we could move on board on Good Friday, 6th April. The boat was looking and feeling good, the diesel stove had been put on and the central heating ticking over making the boat feel very nice and cosy. The final tiling in the bathroom had been done and the final coat of varnish applied. The 12v freezer was now fitted to it's support rails inside the dinette seating and by opening a small door, it could be pulled out and opened. It was looking good for Good Friday, that is, if the loo could be fixed and the canopy fitted in time.

A phone call to Swiftcraft on Wednesday (4th April) confirmed that the canopy was now fitted and the toilet flush problem had been fixed, so all was set for moving aboard on Good Friday (6th April).