Hope I can be there to photograph the launch.
As for the bubbly - save it for when she is in the water, on a sunny day!
(I think the pictured ally slipway might need a bit of bracing )

Gordon .... if you think an extra pair of hands might be useful during the de-shedding process let me know and I'll pop over.

K

The boat looks fantastic.

My wooden boat is out of the river and tucked up in the yard waiting for the Spring.

Whilst not as attractive as my wooden boat, I’ll be using my aluminium boat today to meet someone for lunch at a riverside venue. My riparian neighbours have named it the warship, Putin!

Great to see progress Gordon, I would recommend crane with strops to allow leak checking, I've seen a few Narrowboats pi55 water in at launch but that's usually dozy builders missing out gland stuffing from propshafts or seals on hull tappings

Reminded me of this unfortunate fella not too far from me......... https://www.pbo.co.uk/news/restored-project-boat-sinks-within-minutes-first-launch-53653

Graham, I'll try and give as much notice of the launch date as I can, hopefully a trip to the Highlands will be possible for you. I'm hoping that removal from the shed will be straight forward but thanks for the offer Keith, you are of course welcome to visit anytime, could be among the first trips in your restored Mog.

Reminded of the sad case of a narrowboat with air cooled (no place on a boat IMO) Lister engine. It had just left a London boat yard after substantial hull repairs including steel over plating which increased its draught! On entering the Thames it took only minor waves to enter the cooling ducts normally well above water line, and sink the boat