Today we moved the Handley Cup from NKDC’s offices to its new temporary home in the Sleaford Museum. Many thanks to NKDC and Mark Bamford and Jacqui Cleaver at Sleaford Museum.
Trip boat progress
More progress on the trip boat last week, starting to get the lining on with new volunteer Jerry and Steve Hayes. It took a bit of working out to decide on the best way to cut the wood but we got there eventually.
No longer an anonymous boat.
Big day today, thanks to Nick Smith Signs, Benjamin Handley no longer looks anonymous but has his name on the side of the boat. On one side only at the moment until we have sufficient water under the boat to be able to do this without the embarrassment of being stuck halfway round. A cracking job, thanks Nick.
Trip Boat Fit Out
First stage of the fit out, get the floor in then you can move around the inside of the boat more easily and safely. Then have a bit of a tidy up of the mess. Many thanks to Rob and Neil for their efforts.
Benjamin Handley is launched
Having recovered from launching Benjamin Handley into the water here are some videos and pictures from the day. On the face of it there doesn’t appear to have been much going on however, there has been an awful lot of measuring up and ordering of materials for the fitting out. However, work starts this Saturday morning when we will be putting a floor in the boat so that it will be much easier to move around when we start lining out the sides and the roof of the cabin. There’s a long way to go yet but it’s a start. If you’re passing on Saturday 14th September in the morning then come and have a look at what’s going on.
To see a video taken on the day please click on the link You Tube launch video
Benjamin Handley’s shell is now finished
We have just got word that Benjamin Handley is now fully painted and the windows are fitted. In short, she is ready for the water and internal fit-out. When that is happening has still to be decided on, it will mainly depend on arranging the transport to get the boat over to Sleaford. Watch this space for further news. Eventually, there will be an official naming ceremony but, I promise, there will be no bottles of fizzy stuff broken on the side of the hull. We wouldn’t want to damage the paintwork and, in any case, it’s a total waste of drink. We’ll toast the boat’s health instead!
The paintwork has started
Another major milestone on the trip boat Benjamin Handley this week as the shell transitioned from bare metal to primer and then to top coat in it’s green colour. Still a certain amount of work to do before she goes in the water which, hopefully, will be early August.
Latest news on the trip boat build
Four weeks into the trip boat build the new trip boat is really starting to take shape. You can now see what the finished boat will look like. Judging by the number of favourable comments and likes on our Facebook feed there are lots of people who like the new boat. There’s a long way to go yet with lots of strengthening to go inside the cabin plus the rails around the back deck. Then of course there is the little matter of an engine to fit. However, we are getting slowly there.
The Trip Boat build has been started
The Trust is delighted to say that, at long last, the build of our trip boat has started. You can certainly see that bow and hull is starting to take shape. A lot of steel has been welded in the first week but, as time goes on, the work will be more detailed which will be more time consuming.
There will be another update and more photos next week.
South Kyme Spring Show
