The Big Day

Living some distance from Stone, where the boat was due to be put in the water, Sal and I made the trek to Stone the evening before.

We were up early and arrived at Tim Tyler's factory in Hixon after the crane but before the haulier and so were able to see the whole process. Whilst we waited for the lorry, Ben started up the engine; happy smiles were exchanged as she clattered into life. Sal wandered through the sprayfoamed boat, which looked hauntingly like snow-driven fence panels albeit somewhat more yellow in colour.

Ben and the haulier set about attaching the crane's lifting chains to two thick cables slid under the boat. As the chains took the tension, the steel cables rubbed against the primer and Sal and I made a mental note that proper boat lifting harnesses would have to be used when transporting her south after being painted!

The lorry arrived and with consummate skill the crane driver, lorry driver and the guys on the ground placed 'Net Profit onto the extended trailer bed. A few large straps to hold her down, final checks and we were headed for Stone Boatbuilders' yard.

Mr. KnowNothing (that's me) asked the crane driver if he could make sure we were facing towards the locks when we were in the water to save the time required to find a winding hole and come back. He said he would see what he could do, but it might not be possible because of the length of the boat and how far he could safely reach across the canal to spin her around.

Well, you see, that is service, when someone tries to do what you want if they can; and sure enough, he was just able to manage it and so our heartfelt thanks to Steve Foster's Cranes; they are the business if you want your boat lifted (or just turned round!)

Stone Boatbuilders were also great. They were patient and helpful whilst we ummed and erred over what we needed for the boat, letting us try everything (including tiller tubes to see what size we needed) and were even kind enough to help us fit the front button after spotting us looking bemused by four chains and associated chain tensioners. :o)

So, kitted out with fenders etc. we set off to deliver 'Net Profit to her next destination, the boat painters. There's a bit of an unexpected but unavoidable hiccup in the painting schedule, so it will be a while before Net Profit is down south, but we are going to try to get "up North" to fit out the basic structure of the "cockpit" and stairs over the engine. Otherwise, we will be trying to make up our minds about such philosophical questions as:

• Shall we have a gas-less boat?
• If we have a gas-less boat, what form of extra electrical power shall we have, or will we try to wing it on 8 batteries and see how we go?
• If we do have gas on the boat, shall we run the oven with it as well as the hob? Will we stick with our original plan of diesel heating?
• Should we run a back boiler on the stove in addition, or will we regret it as it tends to make the stove and chimney soot up?

More on our deliberations later...