SLOW PACE

Cruising 2010

2010-12-27T13:49:00.012Z

Here is a selection of pictures taken of Slow Pace during 2010:

Cruising 2009

2010-12-27T13:00:00.011Z

Although this blog was primarily a record of the build, we thought from time to time we would post a few pictures taken during our travels aboard Slow Pace. Here are some from 2009:

Seating / Sleeping

2009-07-19T16:16:00.015+01:00

With the desmo tables removed we have comfortable seating...

... and two pullout footstalls.

A view with the cushions removed.

The footstalls have removable internal sections. Giving these a quarter turn and replacing them gives a higher footstall or extra seating at the table.

In the higher postion the stalls also support the lift out back panel to make up a double bed.

The mattress of the bed is made up of the seat & back cushion and an extra fill in piece that is stored behind the back panel.

Forward Cabin

2009-07-19T16:09:00.003+01:00

Twin Bed Cabin

2009-03-16T23:26:00.005Z

Interior Continued

2009-03-10T09:38:00.032Z

The completed saloon & galley.

A large side hatch is in between the breakfast bar & dinette.

The galley worktops are Prestige Spectrum Black quartz sourced through T Foley Interiors: More information about this surface can be found on thier web site: www.kitchensfitted.co.uk

The galley has lots of curves! The mosaic tiles are slate.

With the table removed, the 8 ft L-shaped dinettes provides comfortable seating to relax and watch TV and converts to a double bed.

We have had the table made in three sections to give us maximum flexibility. Here all three are in use...

...and here, the centre section removed...

... and here, the two end sections joined together.

When not in use, the space under the lobby gunwale provides storage for two of the tables.

We came up with a neat storage solution for the desmo legs!

We have a large mirrored bathroom cabinet and more storage in a cupboard behind the WC. The cupboard under the wasbasin houses the vac flush mechanism & cassette, which is accessed from the adjacent bedroom.

The mosaic tiles are a blend of travertine & marble. The vanity top is Silestone Quartz and was also supplied sourced through T Foley Ineriors: www.kitchensfitted.co.uk

We have a quadrant shower. A towel radiator with two towel rails above fit nicely in the space adjacent.

The mosaic tiles used over the vanity unit were also used on the floor. White gloss tiles have been used on all the remaining areas.

The upholstery, blinds and bungs were supplied by Cabin Care: http://www.cabincare.co.uk/boats.htm Our thanks go to Ned for both the excellent service given and the super job done!

We also had matching bungs made for the bow doors.

Internal Pictures

2009-02-24T12:38:00.007Z

A small selection of internal pictures - more to follow!

Our completed dinette.

One of the single beds in the midships cabin.

The galley.

Testing the Heating System!

2009-02-24T00:23:00.001Z

5 January 2009

Test Run!

2009-02-24T00:19:00.005Z

1 January 2009

The Launch!

2009-02-23T23:47:00.016Z

22 December 2008

Slow Pace is launched!

Sign Writing

2009-02-23T23:19:00.008Z

19 December 2008

We commissioned Dave Moore to do the sign writing.

Dave Moore at work!

Our boat now has it's name...

... and will soon have a floor!

Final Fitout Stages

2009-02-23T22:39:00.018Z

5 December 2008

Slow Pace nears completion in Stone, Heartwood's new home.

The first top coat has been applied.

The Worcester Marine S-Type windows & portholes have arrived...

... and so have the Houdini hatches.

The curved cupboard in the forward bedroom has been finished.

The cabin doors have been fitted.

The entertainment unit is ready to be fitted in place.

The dinette tables are being made.

The bathroom is ready for use!

Worktops & Tiling

2008-11-09T19:57:00.011Z

7 November 2008

The galley worktops and bathroom vanity top have been made & fitted by Roann / T Foley Interiors. Our thanks go to them for their helpful service and an excellent job done.

An early posting showed our paper concept templates, wooden ones produced by Heartwood followed and we now have the real thing!

The worktops are made of 30mm quartz (Prestige Spectrum Black). The undermounted sink & and hob have been fitted.

The cupboards below were made to follow the shape of the worktops. A breakfast bar extends into the saloon.

Maria has laid the slate mosaic floor tiles in the galley....

.... and, apart from the grouting, completed the tiling in the bathroom. The vanity top is also made of quartz. The tiles above the vanity, which are also laid on the foor, are a blend of travertine and marble.

A curved corner cupboard is being built to follow the shape of the step that leads from the bow into the forward bedroom.

The gas pipwork & fittings are all in place.

Dinette

2008-11-03T10:01:00.005Z

24 October 2008

Our L-shaped dinette is taking shape.

The space below will be used for two footstalls and storage. The calorifier is housed under the return section.

Some nice curves!

The removable back rest makes the conversion to a double bed.

More paint & progress.

2008-10-23T17:53:00.013+01:00

10 October 2008

The undercoat has now been applied and work inside the boat is progressing well.

The control panel has been fitted and awaits connection.

The galley cupboard doors are now all in palce. The ones here will be below the breakfast bar.

The fridge & microwave spaces are tested!

The sink & hob holes have been cut in the worktop template.

The bathroom tiling is almost complete.

Work on the beds continues. This double cross-over bed has drawers with further storage behind accessed by a lift up panel.

The two single beds in the 2nd bedroom are designed to have lift up tops, allowing for plenty of storage!

These wall cupboards are being built in both bedrooms.

Green to Grey and soon to be Blue!

2008-10-23T17:06:00.007+01:00

25 September 2008

The initial coat of green primer put on by Reeves has now been covered by a few coats of grey primer.

Ian puts the final touches to the last curved galley cupboard door!

Galley & Beds

2008-09-16T21:52:00.018+01:00

11 September 2008

On our latest visit to Heartwood we find the galley is progessing and a start has been made on the beds and wiring up the electrics cupboard.

The galley takes shape.

The doors are being hand made and curved to match the wortop template profile.

Our oven is in place!

Small, but perfectly formed!

Port side carcassing has been started.....

....and so have the beds!

Installation of the electrical equipment has also commenced.

Bathroom, Propeller, Batteries & Engine

2008-08-25T19:01:00.021+01:00

22 August 2008

Our latest trip to Heartwood is followed on Saturady by a visit to the IWA Festival.

The bathroom wall cabinet has been made.

The vacuum toilet pump assemly & cassette positioned in the vanity unit.

Access for removing the cassette has been made in the bulkhead.

The first of the galley carcasses take shape.

We have a propeller.....

.... and four AGM batteries!

Installation of the engine has commenced.

Following our visit to heartwood we spent the next day at the IWA Fesitval, which was held this year at Autherley Junction on the Shropshire Canal.

Bathroom & Galley

2008-08-09T10:04:00.011+01:00

08 08 08

Our latest trip to Heartwood gives us a chance to see the progress of the bathroom tiling and agree the final layout of the galley.

Maria has started tiling the bathroom walls......

..... and the floor!

We decide the best position for the WC pan!

Paul transposed our 'concept' paper galley worktop templates onto plywood.

These were then positioned at the correct height, which allowed us to make any changes necessary to the size & shape from both a practical & aesthetic point of view.

Now we have agreed the postion of the oven, hob, sink, fridge & microwave, the work on the carcasses can commence. The doors of the base units will be shaped to follow the curve of the worktops - a Heartwood speciality!

The plumbing starts

2008-07-26T21:20:00.018+01:00

25 July 2008

The plumbing in has commenced and the electrics cupboard has been formed.

The washing machine is in postion and the calorifier, which will be under the L-shaped dinette, has been plumbed in.

The elecrics cupboard is sited above the washing machine.

The shower waste pump has been fitted.

This bathroom vanity cupboard will also house the toilet vacuum cassette, which will be accessed from the lobby.

The strainer, pump & accumulator have been plumbed into the water tank. The cables seen going out the bow doors will be for charging the bow thruster battery.

Our control panel has arrived!

Our engine arrives!

2008-07-16T22:45:00.014+01:00

14 July 2008

With the ash boards fitted and bulkheads positioned, we can start to visualise the layout and make final descisions regarding sizes of wardrobes etc. We also get to see our new engine!

With the hatch covers removed, the roof & cabin sides have been given another coat of primer.

Our Beta 43 has arrived.....

.... and the Hospital Silencer!

The cables for the navigation lights & horn.

We layout our concept worktop templates - they fit!!!

With the help of a few props we plan our forward bedroom!

Insulation, wiring & lining-out

2008-06-30T12:58:00.029+01:00

26 June 2008
Since our last visit the spray-foam insulation has been carried out, the wiring loom installed and the fitting of the bulkheads and lining out has commenced.

This picture was taken by Maria just before the spray-foaming was done....

....and this just after!

With the spray-foaming complete and the wiring loom installed the lining out can start.

The bedroom/galley bulkheads are positioned.

Our bathroom takes shape!

The first of the ash side panels go in.

Ian is cutting out the ash panel for the galley houdini. Meanwhile, Chris is checking on the dog!

Washing machine, PRV & Bilge outlets/skin fittings.

Our water tank - we have calculated to hold 136 gallons. Paul is scratching his head as to how to connect the supply pipe to the filler (top left), as Reeves have for some reason had this welded in a very awkward postion/angle.

Work in progress on changes to the the fuel filler & cap - we mentioned in an earlier posting that we might have something done to the one fitted by Reeves!

During the visit our hob, fridge & shower were delivered!

Our 1st visit - early stages

2008-06-17T23:26:00.024+01:00

12 June 2008

Our first visit to see the early stages of the fitout.

Minor blemishes in the shell will not be allowed to affect the paint finish!

Position of the control panel etc. have been marked out - we will decide where we finally want them soon!!

Window & porthole battening is almost complete.

Our first steps on the newly laid sub-floor!

Close up detailing port hole, side hatch, bow doors and stern battening.

The washing machine has arrived and we have delivered the tiles for the bathroom & galley floor.

The fitout commences!

2008-06-10T17:26:00.022+01:00

With Crick over for another year work starts on the fitout of Slow Pace. These pictures have been kindly taken for us by Maria.

A coat of bitumen has been applied.

The ballast blocks are being put in.

With the sub-floor laid the battening commences.

Porthole battening is started.

The engine bay has received a coat of paint!

Our first ever visit to Crick

2008-06-10T17:21:00.003+01:00

23 & 24 May 2008

The Saturday was a lovely day. First stop was to see our boatbuilders, Paul & Maria & the gang, on their show boat for this year, Alma Jean (the first boat from the left in the far row). Then it was off to visit as many of the competition’s boats as possible, with a view to nicking good ideas wherever we saw them!

Saturday night was spent in the beer tent, meeting the owners of Mehalahland, Plan B & The Maisibert, along with the new owners of Alma Jean. These guys are the Heartwood Boat Supporters Club - an esteemed organisation to whose ranks they’ve now promoted the Slow Pace crew – and what a lovely bunch they all were!

Sunday was a miserable, wet & windy day – but that didn’t stop us. Our priority was to buy an oven & water filter & to have a good look around the stalls. We also managed to fit in a couple more of the show boats. By mid afternoon we were all sodden & soaked through & more than happy to take up an invite to visit Mehalahland, Plan B & The Maisibert at their moorings on the cut. Once again their owners all made us very welcome & it was great to see previous example of our boatbuilder’s workmanship & to get first hand comments & recommendations for our own build.

Even with the bad weather on Sunday it was a great Crick Boat Show for us (we could only make the Saturday & Sunday, so missed the disappointment of the premature closure on the Monday). We managed to pick up some bargains, picked lots of the expert’s brains & got to meet some really lovely people. So roll on next year’s Crick. You never know – Slow Pace might even be moored up out on the cut!

Arrival at Heartwood Narrowboats

2008-05-17T17:13:00.015+01:00

16 May 2008
We visit Heartwood Narrowboats to see the arrival of SLOW PACE.

Shell is completed!

2008-05-17T17:10:00.020+01:00

12 - 15 May 2008
Thanks again to Reeves for taking these pictures of the final build stages.

Cabin side sheets have been added.

Semi-trad stern starts to take shape.

External view of semi-trad construction.

Windows and portholes have been cut.

Bow bulkhead just awaits the doors.

Side hatch has been cut.

Side hatch doors fitted.

The last cabin side sheet being prepared.

The final touches to the port side.

The starboard side & semi-trad stern have been completed.

Completed shell awaiting the primer!

Shell complete with green primer ready to leave the work shop.

Slow Pace is taken out into Reeves yard.

The crane has arrived at Reeves ready to load Slow Pace onto the lorry that will transport it to Heartwood Narrowboats.

Our final trip to Reeves

2008-05-10T21:52:00.024+01:00

9 May 2008
Our fourth and final trip to Reeves. Slow Pace is nearing completion and with the roof in place is looking much more like a narrowboat.

The addition of the roof gives a true sense of the proportions.

The finished bow profile.

The roof plates welded in place and the hand rails added.

One of the team putting some finishing touches to the roof.

The roof plates with chalk marks indicating the postion and size of the cabin side windows.

Work on the bow is complete.

Forward bulkhead detail showing roof trimming still to be done.

The bow lockers will give plenty of storage.

This removable panel will give easy access to the bow thruster and it's battery.

General view of stern and sides of the boat waiting for the cabin sides to be fitted.

We now have taff rails, bollards and somewhere to put the tiller. We also have a diesel filler cap but this may need to be changed.

Stern detailing the exit of the propeller tube.

The completed engine compartment awaiting a Beta 43 Greenline.

Internal detail of the stern propeller tube.

Here are two of the team that have been working on our boat. As with all our visits, everyone were very helpful and accommodating.

The start of the cabin!

2008-05-09T20:19:00.026+01:00

2- 8 May 2008
The fourth week of the build and the bow thruster tube is fitted, the bow well deck is in place and the cabin is starting to take shape. These pictures were kindly taken for us by Reeves.

The forward cabin bulhead is in place and the bow thruster tube has been fitted.

The bow thruster weed hatch. A second box fits inside this one to form the 'box in a box'.

The bow lockers are marked out.

Construction of the bow lockers is underway.

Acro props set our ready to support the roof frame.

Roof framework being positioned.

Five steel sheets are lined up to form the roof.

The roof panels await bending and welding.

Our third visit to Reeves

2008-05-02T23:06:00.022+01:00

1 May 2008
As with all our visits, Reeves made us welcome and were very accommodating. Our boat has a new position in the workshop and work on the hull is at an advanced stage. The bow thruster tube & access box are made ready for installation. Work on the stern is nearing completion.

Further progress on the bow & stern

2008-05-02T22:48:00.016+01:00

22 - 30 April 2008
Pictures kindly taken for us by Reeves.

Our second trip to Reeves

2008-04-24T00:31:00.009+01:00

21 April 2008
Starting to look more like a boat!

The stern and bow take shape

2008-04-24T00:22:00.025+01:00

15 - 18 April 2008
The stern, bow and hull sides start to be formed. These pictures are kindly taken for us by Reeves.

The stern is lifted onto the swim.

Fabricated side plates are added.

Hull side plates being welded to base plate.

Stringers, floor bearers and temporary cross girders have been welded in position.

The shaped bow plates are fitted.

Rubbing strakes have been added.

Our first visit to Reeves

2008-04-24T00:01:00.012+01:00

14 April 2008
We visit Reeves for the first time to see the early stages of the build and meet up with Graham, Julie & Dave who made us very welcome. The following pictures show the base plate being cut as part of the initial process to form the swim.

The base plate is laid!

2008-04-23T23:58:00.016+01:00

W/C 7 April 2008
After much, discussion, decision making and planning the building of the shell gets underway at Reeves, our chosen boat builder. The pictures were kindly taken for us by Reeves.

The base plates!

The base plates are joined.

The stern plates are shaped into position.

The stern and first of the hull side plates are welded.

Concept drawings

2008-04-23T23:56:00.008+01:00

'SLOW PACE'

A semi-trad 60' bespoke narrowboat.