Outboard of the main roof beam are a couple of extension pieces joined by aluminium strips inside and out. The first iteration had GRP cut out to fit around the hand rail but just like the original roof it cracked. Bottom right you can see another roller fitted to the outer section of the beam. … Read more »
Category: Boats
Cockpit Roof (3)
Over the winter lockdown I kept redesigning the roof in my head. Because the cabin roof is curved and the top of the windscreen curved (though not the same curve that’d be too simple) it would look weird if the cockpit roof was flat. But if it’s curved you can’t hinge it across the middle … Read more »
Cockpit Roof (2)
For quick exits to deal with locks I don’t need to open the roof right back so the original idea was to make it in two parts with a hinge right across the middle under a neoprene strip. That wouldn’t work though unless the middle of the roof was supported on something, otherwise it’s just … Read more »
Cockpit Roof (1)
I last posted something on here in December, with a comment about doing a bit of wood work. What I was actually doing was making new side windows for Seren’s cockpit. But then we were banned from visiting boatyards and the weather turned cold and wet so nothing much happened for months. So before I … Read more »
Seren’s Route to Llangollen
I’ve spoken to a few people recently who’ve expressed surprise that it’s possible to get from the East of England to Llangollen by inland waterways. If you want to check out just how extensive the network is, click here. That map is provided by the Canal and Rivers Trust that took over from British Waterways. … Read more »
Seren has IT Onboard
Blogging last year’s Crick trip was a pain. I took an old Galaxy Tab and cheap Chinese keyboard that got more and more dodgy as time went by. In the end I did a few notes using the on-screen keyboard then gave up. This year I need better IT. Apart from the blog I have … Read more »
Seren 2019
Over the winter 2018-19 I’ve done a lot more work on Seren, fitting new propshaft bearings and couplings, replacing the rear deck, finishing the WC/Shower, installing a proper hot water system and recycling a daughter’s old kitchen units. There was a plan to take Seren out of the water in the spring for a thorough … Read more »
Seren (more backstory)
Once on the Great Ouse we had to register the boat with the Environment Agency who control the various Anglian waterways. We took the opportunity to register her under a new name ‘Seren’. One day I’ll get around to making new name plates. We did few local trips on Seren in 2017 then I set … Read more »
Coralita 2017 (more backstory)
I looked at a lot of boats online. We like canals more than rivers and many of them are narrow so a narrowboat would suit us very well. Unfortunately new-ish ones are expensive and old ones need a lot of work. Narrowboat-style cruisers are built of steel and steel rusts. Boats old enough to be … Read more »
Voyage to Llan (the backstory)
During the late 70s and early 80s we lived in Blackburn, Lancs and we (I) wanted a boat. So I built one. It was cheap and rough and intended to be upgraded as time money allowed. Then we moved to Cambridgshire where a cheap, rough home-made boat stuck out a bit amongst the floating gin … Read more »