Shame but there you go

As you can see my lovely control panel panel is coming apart at the seams. This is bad news as you can imagine how much worse it is going to get if it gets rained on. So they are going to have to be replaced.



I wouldn't mind but they cost an arm and a leg and a friendship to boot.

On a lighter note I brought back the top to my TV Cabinet and slid it into place. Looking good I think.

The steps

Closed



Open to access the space behind. The fixed plank of wood behind the missing tread is so that the top step makes a separate little box of storage.

The top riser also drops down so that we can access the elec cables and the fused spur switch for the heated mirror in the bathroom.

We have put the little knobs to either side rather than one in the middle so that we don't catch our feet on them. Cunningly the risers are taller than the steps so the knobs clear the treads when open.

I am currently oiling the side pieces for around the hatch opening and a little strip of wood to hide the bottom of the metal lip. This way we don't ruin the lovely greenheart wood by too much standing on it.

My faith

in human kindness has been restored today courtesy of Plumb Centre Mansfield.

As my plumbing is now complete I went through the left over bits and allocated them to the various invoices. Some from Mansfield and some from Worksop. I took the lot to the Mansfield depot cos that is where my favourite storeperson Dave works. However on this occasion he didn't serve me but I was taken into the backroom by another person (I didn't get his name) and given a seat while he worked out what he could accept as returns. Initially he wasn't going to accept the Worksop ones but decided he would which was very kind indeed of him. AND THEN he also waived the restocking fee. What a star.

So to anyone who needs to get any plumbing bits and pieces may I recommend Mansfield branch over the Worksop branch they are all a wonderful bunch of people.

I must remember when I have my boat party to call in and invite Dave and his partner to it. He wanted to be at the launch but unfortunately this coincided with his trip to America!

Just checking

not that I am neurotic or anything but I was back on the boat this morning to chat to Andy and also to check that with all that water now on board that it had stayed in the correct places!

The waste from the loo basin is still leaking but we had a bucket under it so not a problem. We will deal with that later. Due to the basins etc being on the port side and the boat still listing to starboard (slightly more now the calorifier is filled) the waste pipes going overboard are going ever so slightly uphill hence some water remaining in them to leak.

Andy is pleased to hear about the heating although he felt today he probably wouldn't need it. We are currently plugged into shorepower so he can run his tools etc so the batteries are being kept topped up whenever he is working on the boat and switches the Victron on etc but thanks for the heads up nb.Harnser useful to know when we are out cruising.

Water - it runnitheth

So today we have reconnected the engine to the calorifier,

adjusted the fittings to the calorifier from the central heating so that

a ) it doesn't leak and

b ) it will be easier to build the dinette seat over it,

Finished the bath shower tap and then

we filled the water tank and hey presto I had hot and cold running water. Well the hot arrived a couple of hours later courtesy of running the central heating for a couple of hours but exciting none the less.

We only had two wastes from the basins which did any major leaking and the gulper pump needed a nut tightening. All in all Mikuni Man was pleased. He felt I was checking for leaks too hard though when I found things like the connection behind the washing machine was oozing slightly!

When we turned up in the morning Mrs Dragonelle told me she was concerned at how cold my joiner had been on the boat. She had tried to lend him a heater which he didn't accept but said he would put some thermals on!

I can now tell him he can switch the central heating on - lucky boy - even though it is only jury rigged to the battery terminals it appears to be working fine.

Will you just look at that

Not finished yet but only needs the taps and the shower fitting and it is there. It looks so nice and smart I was gobsmacked when I called in to the boat after work this evening. Andy has interpreted what I wanted brilliantly. I like. Very much indeed.

Progress indeed. I can now almost see myself having a bath on the boat. Woo hoo.

Must get that wood protected before it gets wet!

Progress in the bathroom

Andy is working hard at finishing off the bathroom in time for Mikuni Man to come back and make sure all the plumbing (fresh and ch) works. MM will also be finishing off the stove flue so either way we will have heating on board which will be nice.

Have to say looking good so far - a good days work - I am one pleased bunny.