After debacle of locks and rudder damage getting down to Bristol followed by hull survey and consequent results, I was excited to put my newly blacked lovely afloat and be on my way back up the river to the canal- not so!
It seems that oop front at the pointy end the deck floor is not fully welded to the joists leaving a lovely big area to collect tonnes and tonnes of water when she is pulled up a slip and the water dashes in through the deck drains! The water sits there hiding under the floor, lockers and all the crap I keep in them, added to by the rain, until once again it is added to when she goes back in. On levelling out once afloat the water scurries to the back and begins to overwhelm the boat as it draws her below the water level! I arrive to the dock to see her listing badly and to all intense and purposes, sinking!
I saunter over(leg it across the yard, over several boats and aboard!) to find her somewhat moist and merrily begin to bale as she is winched back from whence she came!
I'm so glad I put all my valuable and special stuff on the floor to stop it from falling when winched up cos I really don't need my lovely digital radio, Telly, DVD player and assorted books and documents!
I drank cider later, and copious amounts of it too!