Bloggers meet up

What a fantastic evening,
reading blog sites is one thing but actually getting the chance to meet up is just an opportunity you just can't miss,
we knew the "Water Gypsies" Sue and Vic from No Problem and Ann and Chas Moore to Life would be at Elton but what a pleasant surprise to find Mo and Vanessa from NB Balmaha there too, every body made us feel so at home that time just sped by and we reluctantly left before dark leaving everybody to get on with there evening.

Lovely to meet you all and hope to meet up again next year, when if all goes well we will be on board Lorimar, so you won't be able to get rid of us then Vic. LOL

What a weekend

Well I was planning to fill in the updates as soon as the weekend was over,
and we had visited the builders !!!!!
but it's been so hectic I don't know where to start,
"at the beginning Lad" I can hear my Dad screaming.
Well all went to plan and we took time away on Friday to start visiting the builders and we met some terrific people but one builder stood out among the rest, http://heartwoodnarrowboats.co.uk/index.htm if only because the enthusiasm and love for narrowboat building that was written all over his face,
We met his wife Maria and his son Ian both playing an active role in the business, all the time we chatted we felt like we had met them years ago and felt so at ease discussing our idea's.
After a visit to there workshop to see the build now taking place NB Tragara, it was off to meet a couple that owned NB Plan-B, the narrowboat Paul, Maria and Ian had built for this years Crick show, what a lovely couple Peter & Diane who invited us to look around it was lovely inside and Peter & Diane so accommodating, anyway after that it was getting late so we all decided we had better find somewhere to eat and drink of course!!
More discussions about layout, spec and price followed and we both agreed this has got to be the builder for us.

Paul luckily has a build slot after the boat they are building now so it fits in with our plans perfect.
Now the other news was about the house now you will see why so hectic,
while away we received a call from the estate agent "is it possible for some one to view the house to-morrow.
Doh! so now the rush back home and sort the house out but it was worth it, the same afternoon after the viewing the estate agent rang and said good news the chap wants to buy the house and we are preparing the paperwork now.
So now you can see what I mean when I said it had been a bit hectic I feel like another day off just to get over the weekend but no chance of that. LOL

House for Sale

Well no going back now the house went up for sale on Monday and we have had quite a lot of interest already so we will keep you posted,
Worst thing is we will be homeless until the boat is completed which if all goes to plan with the builders we have been talking to should be ready late April early May, so 6 months in a cardboard box,
with en-suite and a kennel for the girls (Deefer & Daisy) of course LOL.

Other than that not much to report this week, we are taking time out on Friday to make a long weekend so we can visit the builders we have short listed and discuss the plans in more detail.
Caught up with Sue and Vic from NB. No Problem http://www.choiceforum.co.uk/blog/noproblem.html at St.Neots the other week what a great time we had just sitting and chatting.

What Sue & Vic don't know about boating isn't worth knowing, and if there was any doubt in our minds about living aboard a narrow boat they soon faded, just listening to Sue and Vic talking about there adventures with such enthusiasm fills you with a warm feeling inside and you could sit and listen for hours.
Thanks for all your advise Sue and we hope to see you soon x

Deciding on the Layout

Well today was spent at home deciding exactly what we do and don't need and the layout of our narrowboat, ( LORIMAR )
we have decided that we would like a reverse layout and a 58' Semi Traditional Hull.
Galley at the stern leading to open plan living room with breakfast bar at the end of the galley as we both agree a diner would be a waste of precious space with just the two of us,
central arched door leading into a walk through bathroom exit on starboard side leading to our bedroom.
We think the Girls ( Deefer & Daisy ) will be able to sleep in the cratch and we can keep an eye on them when in bed.

Tech Stuff so far

• As I said 58' Semi Trad
• Beta 43 BHP Green line engine with twin alternators
• 2500w / 120 amp vicron inverter
• 6 x 110 AH Leisure batteries
• 1 x 110 AH Starter battery
• Webasto Heating System
• BMV 501 Battery Monitor
• Spray Foam Insulation
• Lockgate Diesel Stove (chrome)
• Cratch and Cover
• Cassette Vacuum Toilet System

Now the hard job of deciding which of the many builders we have visited can do what we want !

Deefer and Daisy doing what they do best.
Oh no not another boat to look round can't we just stay here LOL.

After what seems like a life time of debating with friends and family about "Why the heck you want to sell up and buy a narrowboat"
We have finally (we think) got people to see it from our point of view,
not that other peoples opinions where going to persuade us against the idea it's just what you do, you chat about your ideas and your dreams.
We love having quality time together and walking our two dogs, we love the rivers around our area and are normally found walking the tow path with the dogs admiring boats as we go, and that's when the idea was first thought of, why don't we live aboard a narrow boat, see different places and get away from the everyday rat race.
And so the search began, at first as most people do I think we went to all the boat yards and looked around the second hand market, but no matter what we saw there was always something not quite right, some things just stupid personal choice things, then others with more serious doubts what size inverter, what toilet system and why didn't they do that and why did they do this,
it's surprising what you learn in such a short time, things you never even knew had to be taken into account suddenly became a must have option.
Then a narrow boat owner that we had chatted to through his blog site http://boatlife.blogspot.com/ (Les) said you will never find what you are looking for every body has the same problem, you will have to buy new to get what you really want, Since then Les has become a valid NO BULL source of information and what a great guy.
So our search changed from boats to builders and how many is there loads, one boat is starting to look like the next now and all the builders have different prices and ideas although the standard of workmanship at most is excellent.