Sinead Carnie

Ours is a wooden top Barney boat 70ft bulit in 1974. Originally called Unicorn. When we bought it , it was completely falling apart so we have rebuilt the whole of the wooden top and interior. We have kept the original Sabb twin engine.

Yes fortunately it was out of the engine bay as the area is being prepared for the engine. Its about the size of a washing machine so its usually on board.We have hired a small one so we can work til the electrics are back. Yes that's us. Only 3rd party insurance at the moment as we have got to find someone to insure us 1st and we are waiting til it's finished as I don't know how we would even start putting a price on it. Thanks Yes i was lucky. It could have been so much worse!

Yes. Nightmare. Matt was out and the generator caught fire. It's a massive thing and I saw flames lighting up the side of the canal. Bloody fire extinguisher wouldn't work (thought it was my fault but turns out it was broken) Got wet cloth and put it out but it really shook me up! It had stopped running an hr before..I thought it had run out of fuel but it must have been smouldering away. Looks like it was electrical and it's repareable so alls well.I've got my head round what to do in future. Bursting into tears and running round like an idiot isn't much help. I was so scared I was doing the wrong thing that I panicked! Yes..working every day but it's all good fun..engine goes in today. Finally!!

Yes its taken an an awful lot of work but its ready to go back in now ( photo of when we bought her), so happy that we have been able to keep the original engine. 41 years old!

Some up to date photos, pallet wood kitchen with charity shop chest of drawers painted and hob added. Matt making the cratch cover from an old canvas we were given.

Hi yes that was us! I have a rare moment of internet access so I can add a few photos now!

Thank you Peter in some ways I'm dying to see it all finished but I'm also enjoying doing it so much that I don't want it to end!

Thank you.It's brilliant stuff.. my hands are constantly vibrating from all the sanding though. .. its a killer!Just about everything is recycled or re purposed so it's definitely going to be a one off but it's been great fun!☺

Thanks for all the comments lovely people. It's certainly been an adventure and I have been living on her for 2 months now after a year apart from Matty so it's just fantastic. Loving every minute. Can't post photos on here at the moment as I only have Internet access on my phone but as Ade says the link to our Pinterest board shows a lot of what we have done. Still have the engine to go in and the fibreglass on the roof but I think it's not bad going considering every piece of pallet wood has to be sanded and made into tongue and groove before using. Matt has got books out of the library and done everything without calling in the professionals so I'm immensely proud of him.Its amazing what you can achieve with a bit of determination and the ability to ignore warnings from well meaning people! Ha ha. Living the dream now. ☺

In relation to this thread, if anyone is facing a crisis situation on a narrowboat and is in need of emergency assistance with food or fuel for cooking or heating, in Warwickshire, you can apply to the Warwickshire Local Welfare Scheme at Warwickshire County Council.This could be a situation arising from delay in benefits or unexpected expenses etc. It is available to anyone whether claiming benefits or not but must have no access to money to provide for themselves.I don't know what provision other county councils have but they will consider applications from people without a residential address but that have been in the county for at least 6 months or 3 years out of the past 5 years.

Its a year passed since I 1st posted, we are nearly finished now. Thanks though. Shower and vanity unit fitted, toilet in, just the kitchen to do next.

i think just about everything that can be nicked has been nicked

Yes thats the one. its pretty much stripped so probably why its so high. Someone has bought it now so hopefully it will be looked after now

Yes, we have tried to contact Joe who owns it but no luck.

https://www.pinterest.com/shinny72/unicorn-rescue-now-know-as-nb-recalcitrant/ Link to the pinterest board of the rebuild for anyone that's interested