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Apologies to my regular visitors - this is my first update for quite some time. I've been very busy at work for the past couple of months but with any luck things are now returning to sensible levels. My immediate problem now is that I'm skint (any sponsors waiting in the wings? My site would look good with some big names sponsoring it!) so I think things are going to continue to happen fairly slowly from now on. Perhaps monthly updates would be more realistic from now on...

Crick boatshow helped to distract me as well. I took lots of photos of boat interiors but I'm going to refrain from posting these as I would need to seek permission. Suffice to say, there were some very nice boats present. Here are two pictures I will include though. First up, the Whispergen (see: I really should be getting something in return for this publicity!):

True to the manufacturer's claims, it was very quiet - a soft hum with very little vibration. The exhaust was very clean too.

Hopefully the price will have come down a bit by the time I can afford one. I haven't decided to fit one yet - just included it for interest.

Here's a detail showing how steel front doors similar to mine are merely used as security shutters with an additional windowed door to guard against weather and allow light in.

Also distracting me was my kayak. After a particularly hard week at work, I decided to relax by not working on my boat and working on my (other) boat instead:

The bow, ready for the new deck. The old deck plywood delaminated.

The whole kayak from the stern. This design normally has 2 frames but I'm going to replace them with 4.

I've removed one of them in preparation. The tortured plywood hull has deformed slightly so the extra frames will help to put the right curvature back in.

So, what has been happening on Uisce? Well, whilst I was renovating kayaks, Heather sanded and put another couple of undercoats on the port cabin side.

Not quite so patchy now.

The starboard hull lining was complete at this point. This picture shows the port swim and the panel destined to cover it.

Loadsa wood.

Throughout all of these pictures, note the clutter associated with living on board whilst the work takes place. I reckon it takes four times longer to get things done because you have to clear the workspace first and then re-colonise afterwards!

You may think I'm mad but I wouldn't be able to afford to do the project if I wasn't living on board... not that I can anyway... ;-)

Incidentally, I shower at work so there's no need to avoid me if you're going to any of the shows.

Half way down the port side.

Nearly there.

Finished. It's much more comfortable already.

So.. what next? Ideally: plumbing. But a water pump with accumulator is a few hundred quid so this is going to delay the plumbing somewhat. Instead, I think I'll forge ahead (ha!) with the lining. Before I can do any of the cabin lining, I need to have the porthole and rooflight trims ready. I suspect this could take my inexpert wood turning skills some time to produce but we shall see. No rush. I also need to rebuild my temporary table and steps (they had to be dismantled for the lining work) and it would be nice to temporarily plumb in the kitchen sink with at least a drain into a bucket! Basically, there's lots of little jobs that will take up plenty of my time whilst my wallet recuperates!... unless of course, those sponsors want to step forwards and make themselves known - now would be a good time!