Painting Clarrie 35ft Springer

[Laurie Booth]

Clarrie is now at Fradley Junction dry dock being painted.

 

Work has now started on the wooden roof handrails. 

[Rob-M]

Might need more than a bit of paint.

[ditchcrawler]

[matty40s]

I know someone else with handrails like that.... there is only so many times you  an redrill, dry out, remove and fill rot...

#JohnnyP

 

Ryan replaced Southern Cross wooden cabin rails with steel last year...still look authentic!!

Edited November 8, 2025 by matty40s

[zenataomm]

Well done Laurie.
Alcatraz is currently on the bank at Wyken Basin.
I plan to jack the licence plates up in the air, slide the boat out from underneath and then push another one under in its place.

[Laurie Booth]

More Pics of Clarrie

[Laurie Booth]

More pics of Clarrie being painted'

[David Mack]

That looks more like Clarrie being unpainted!

[Laurie Booth]

More Clarrie being painted

[blackrose]

On 03/12/2025 at 13:46, David Mack said:

That looks more like Clarrie being unpainted!

 

Yes, maybe next time don't leave it quite so long before deciding to apply some paint. 

 

*I guess the OP just bought or otherwise acquired the boat and wasn't the one who let it get into such a state. 

Edited December 11, 2025 by blackrose

[Laurie Booth]

I've had Clarrie 30 years and the roof has been painted every year and the sides every two years. Also blacked every two years.

 

I regret the daises being rubbed off as they were done by the bar maid on the BBC "East Enders".

  

[Russ T]

6 hours ago, Laurie Booth said:

I've had Clarrie 30 years and the roof has been painted every year and the sides every two years. Also blacked every two years.

 

I regret the daises being rubbed off as they were done by the bar maid on the BBC "East Enders".

  

No wonder you had to take it back to bare metal. Were you having trouble getting in locks and under bridges?

[beerbeerbeerbeerbeer]

6 hours ago, Laurie Booth said:

I've had Clarrie 30 years and the roof has been painted every year and the sides every two years. Also blacked every two years.

cor blimey!

was it the paint holding it together 😃

 

always liked Clarrie and I always liked the fact you painted it yourself each year while you you were on your travels. 
 

Will you keep the same colour scheme?

 

and I’m really hoping this isn’t all in readiness for you to sell up ?

[Rob-M]

Hopefully it is in preparation for a spectacular return to the BCN Challenge.

[beerbeerbeerbeerbeer]

Let’s hope so 🤞 

[Laurie Booth]

4 hours ago, beerbeerbeerbeerbeer said:

cor blimey!

was it the paint holding it together 😃

 

always liked Clarrie and I always liked the fact you painted it yourself each year while you you were on your travels. 
 

Will you keep the same colour scheme?

 

and I’m really hoping this isn’t all in readiness for you to sell up ?

Yep keeping the same colour, nope not selling up. We just love Clarrie and think she deserves a proper paint job.

4 hours ago, Rob-M said:

Hopefully it is in preparation for a spectacular return to the BCN Challenge.

Gosh, the secret is out. We do intend to do the 24 hr challenge, I know this will horrify the boaters who normally win.

Looking forward to 2026 24 hr thingy wots it.

 

[Graham and Jo]

15 hours ago, Laurie Booth said:

Yep keeping the same colour, nope not selling up. We just love Clarrie and think she deserves a proper paint job.

Gosh, the secret is out. We do intend to do the 24 hr challenge, I know this will horrify the boaters who normally win.

Looking forward to 2026 24 hr thingy wots it.

 

Brilliant, it wasn't the same without you. Cheers Graham 

[beerbeerbeerbeerbeer]

On 11/12/2025 at 22:36, Laurie Booth said:

Yep keeping the same colour, nope not selling up. We just love Clarrie and think she deserves a proper paint job.

Gosh, the secret is out. We do intend to do the 24 hr challenge, I know this will horrify the boaters who normally win.

Looking forward to 2026 24 hr thingy wots it.

 

good stuff,

without you challenging in 2023 I felt obliged to go for the wooden spoon myself and came last,

 

should we both be in the challenge in 2026 then I will of course leave last place for you 😃😃👍

 

Edited December 13, 2025 by beerbeerbeerbeerbeer

[matty40s]

On 11/12/2025 at 17:21, Russ T said:

No wonder you had to take it back to bare metal. Were you having trouble getting in locks and under bridges?

Laurie was getting worried he would only fit in the 14ft Grand Onion Locks....as getting through the 7 footers was an eye watering squeeze...

[Victor Vectis]

On 11/12/2025 at 17:50, Rob-M said:

Hopefully it is in preparation for a spectacular return to the BCN Challenge.

Challenging 'Red for Wharf' that much contended last place!

2 hours ago, beerbeerbeerbeerbeer said:

good stuff,

without you challenging in 2024 I felt obliged to go for the wooden spoon myself and came last,

 

should we both be in the challenge in 2026 then I will of course leave last place for you 😃😃👍

 

Oi!

That's our prerogative.

😀

Edited December 12, 2025 by Victor Vectis

[brianthesnail96]

Sounds like it's going to be closely contested at the bottom this year! I'm intrigued as to how people are going to deal with the lock problem though, going to be hard to avoid them this year, well unless you start at the Pools I suppose! 

 

Look forward to meeting the (in)famous Clarrie and crew  

[Laurie Booth]

Sorry, just got to post this

[Laurie Booth]

19 hours ago, Graham and Jo said:

Brilliant, it wasn't the same without you. Cheers Graham 

We are looking forward to meeting all our friends and making new ones. Thanks to one and all for their kind words.

More Pics

 

[Laurie Booth]

Further work on Clarrie

[haggis]

Looking good!