Talk Morgan Forums Community General Photo Gallery Boat build

Another experiment in photo posting, this photo was taken yesterday, if this works I will add earlier pictures of the build and bore you all.

Fantastic, it worked, now I can add earlier pictures if there's any appetite for them out in TM land. I might even do it there's not.😂

No pressure Gordon but have you a target date for completion. Whenever it comes round it will be one for celebration. Like the photos of progress along the way.

Still aiming for spring/summer next year Graham. Hopefully Scottish Canals will come good with the offer of a suitable mooring.
Chose material for the upholstery last weekend and received some flooring samples in the post today. I've got the seating and galley units built and the diesel hob/ heater is here and the exhaust is fitted through the hull. Still waiting for steering pump and pipes though.

I'll post some pictures later this week.

Not much visible progress since my last update apart from the galley units. I tested the plumbing last weekend and at least I know that boat holds IN water!!! My gamble to use the old water pump from the house didn't pay off as the seal between the motor shaft and pump body had dried out and this along with a leaking joint put around a gallon of water into the bilge. That pump is discontinued and no spares available so a new pump on order.

All this forced me to consider what bilge pumps to install and I've decided on two electric units and a manual as a backup. I've also bought the grey water pump but non of this makes for an interesting picture. I also noticed when filling the freshwater tanks that the third is slow to fill due to not having a vent. There is also the risk of sucking the tank in when emptying rapidly so some extra plumbing required there.



We've decided against hardwood flooring in this area as there are three hatches in the centre. Access will also be required in future for the fuel, fresh and grey water tanks. I've designed the units and seating to be easily removed and will fit carpet tiles for this reason. I'll now use the maple I have for the galley worktop and doors. Oh, and the piece of cardboard on the right is the TV😃

The mother of all clearouts has begun this weekend in preparation for moving the boat outside.
Making slow but steady progress on the internal fit out, mostly wiring and plumbing so nothing very photogenic.




Hopefully I'll have it moved by the end of February and I can reclaim the shed for work purposes.

Thanks for posting the pic Gordon, though that roof ladder spoils it a bit by bringing back memories of time spent on the roofs of this place around this time a year back..!!!

Your boat is looking great, I do like the colour scheme. Now that we have left the Winter Solstice behind us and are heading towards Spring, I am looking forward to reading of the launch date. I get the feeling there may be no bottle of bubbly smashed against that hull..

Also looking forward to the launch and will raise a glass to toast her.

Where's she being launched Gordon? .... I remember the crowds of well-wishers and family (in their Sunday best) gathering at the harbour at MacDuff to watch the new fishing boats being launched .... saw the last of the wooden trawlers being built from the keel up through the open doors of their shed .... some serious timber skills at that yard .... knew the guy who was their marine engineer for a few years.

K

Gordon she is looking fantastic, so much work and love you must be proud

Thanks again for the comments guys, much appreciated.

George, the roof ladder hasn't seen as much action as it should have in the past year! Moss and lichen removal on the tiles seem to have taken a back seat lately. I find it really hard on my back being bent over and balancing on a 30mm bit of aluminium!
Always thought it was a huge waste of a bottle smashing it on a boat, much more satisfying drinking it I think.🍷

Cheers Paul, I'm looking forward to seeing her out of the shed. Launch day will be pretty nerve racking I imagine, but I'll be sure to get plenty photos of the event and post them here.

Keith, launch details are still under consideration. I've sourced a knackered boat trailer locally to get it out of the shed for final fit out. My neighbour has a tractor that I'm hoping to utilise for pulling power.
Mrs D works for a division of Macduff shipyards and they have helped me out with some machining jobs during the build. Current thinking is to hire a shipyard crane and a boat haulier to take it to (hopefully, still waiting) a mooring on the Caledonian canal. A nice gentle launch with a crane will give me time to check everything is watertight before taking the strops off🙂

Economics has unfortunately ended the wooden boatbuilding industry as far as fishing goes. The yard still have skilled staff for repair and maintenance but they will dwindle away similar to the traditional building trade. By all accounts the yard build a very good steel boat though, but it's just not as romantic is it?

Thanks Richard, I wouldn't say proud is the right word, satisfied maybe. It's a bit like building our own house which took around 5 years, moving in was good but a bit of an anticlimax if I'm honest because we'd grown with it and knew it so well, not at all like seeing your new home for the first time, if that makes sense? However, I think the satisfaction lasts longer because you have planned and thought about exactly what you want.

Me too...