Home

Diary and photos

Design and spec

Related Links

Where to start...

I took Friday off work in order to paint the baseplate inside and to put in some of the 2.5 tonnes of pressed concrete slab ballast that was delivered that afternoon. I was worried that it might not float the right way up without any ballast! In the end, I got most of the floor painted (with International Intertuf as with the outside of the hull - I'm told it's just as good a route as Waxoyl). This picture shows the hardest bit of completed painting under the front deck where the water tank dwells - I put the water tank back at some point, not sure when though as everything's a blur!

I didn't paint where the generator is to be sited as I shall probably paint this with an oil resistant paint. I also ran out of time and missed out 6' to the rear of the generator location. As it was, I ended up coming into work at around midnight to machine up a sterntube plug (no prop shaft as yet).

Saturday was a marathon day. The first thing to be done was the stern tube plug. This was a size on size plastic bung that I tapped in with silicone to seal any gaps. Fingers crossed...

Thankfully, Heather had come up the previous day to help and together, we removed anything valuable or obstructive to our cars. Then we moved the floorboards around to allow ten 50kg(!!) slabs of ballast to be laid down at reasonable intervals on blocks. Unfortunately, the blocks were too thick and prevented the 2" thick slabs from sliding under the floor bearers - hence the rakish angles in the photo:

You can also see that the trimming of insulation has yet to be completed. The next pictures show what a nice day it was for a launching.

One of Mr Branson's balloons passed by.

The crane arrives.

Gary's boat, Jackpot, being lifted in the background, me and Uisce in the foreground.

Heather finishing off a temporary nameplate.

Deryck standing next to his boat, Spartacus, resplendent in copper coloured Teflon (the boat, that is).

Thanks go to Deryck for some of the photographs on this page. Also for lending me various tools - I'll give you your planer back soon, honest!

Incidentally, Heather was chief photographer for the day as I had other things on my mind!

Moon, shown here about to be dropped in, arrived by lorry on the day.

Feeding the cradle underneath Uisce. The plastic taped over the windows is to stop the temporarily installed portholes from leaking.

At this point, Uisce weighs 10.5 tonnes and is 17.4 metres long and as you will see from the following pictures, it was not a straightforward launch.

The crane on the wrong side of Uisce.

This is in order to move Uisce away from the fence so that the crane can get into position between my boat and the water for the final lift.

Hooking up.

Shifted over.

Gift wrapped.

Fence temporarily removed to allow crane stabilisers to be extended fully.

Crane in position for the final lift.

Hooking up again.

Off the ground. Uisce won't be high and dry (I hope) for another 4 years.

Deryck in the red sweater taking the picture below!

Nearly there

Almost

A fraction lower

Floating! The right way up too! Uisce in the uisce.

A quick walk through by yours truly confirmed no leaks.

Note that Uisce is almost 30cm too high out of the water. The current displacement is about 10.5 tonnes. There's another 7ish tonnes to go in before the waterline is right.

Guiding Uisce around for the tow over to my berth.

Being towed by Graydon, Barry and Sue's boat.

Berthed. Home sweet home.

At this point, everyone was exhausted and retired to the pub for 'refreshments'.

Sunday was spent putting all the tools etc back on board and generally tidying up. I also had to buy and wire up a longer cable for my electricity supply.

I am very grateful to many people (some of whom I don't know) for helping on Saturday. Particular thanks go to Heather, to Barry and Sue for the tow, to the crane driver for a skillful lift, and to all those who helped on ropes and chains during the lift.