Give me just a little more chine...

In the knowledge that Richard is about to start a 3 week course at work, we are aware that this is the last time we will be able to visit the boat for a while.
Today we took our floor plan to the boat and made final decisions on where the windows, hatches and dog box (sky light) should be. Garry made Emily sign and date her markings as a seal of approval. There's no way she'll change her mind now!
What you can see in the pictures is packs of ballast (bricks) that will be placed in the hull, in order to weigh it down and balance it in the water. There is a picture of the rubbing strakes that act as sacrificial pieces of metal, attached to the sides of the boat, that will take the impact of the inevitble bumps and scrapes she will have to endure. Also, take note of the chined sides - the angle between the base plate and the upright sides. This isn't traditional to canal boats but will help it swim and provide more stability on tidal rivers in particular.