Week Five

Monday 30th January 2006.
After watching an exciting week last week, we knew this coming week was going to be more about the welding of the hull structure, and therefore there would be very little to see as far as progress was concerned, but we need not have worried we still had planty to photograph, and admire as the two Steve's and Roger got to work on the rubbing strakes at the bow. So today they spent time welding on more of the gunwales towards the stern, and strenghtening bars have been welded in place in the bow. They maybe unseen but they are an important part of boat building, the unsung heroes I guess.

Tuesday 31st January.
Today the strenghtening bars went into the stern, all lined up like matchsticks. But they are there for a reason and although we will probably never see them again once the boat is built, it is important for them to be added. We had discussion with Roger about the gas locker and the position of our water tank, and after a few ideas being tossed into the conversation we have decided to have it under the false cratch in the bow of the boat. There will be pictures when that part is put in place. It will be easier to see, than for me to try and explain LOL.

Wednesday 1st February.
Well a new month and work continues with the gunwales at the stern being fished and cut to shape. But for us the exciting part to this week was watching the first of the rubbing stakes being bent into place. No this is not done by machine, it is done with cold steel and muscle, not to mention a good eye for getting the shape correct. Both the Steve's spent time making sure the shape looked correct as they bent the steel and tacked it into place with a weld.

Thursday 2nd February.
Both the top rubbing strakes have been tacked on at the bow, making sure they shape matches both sides, and the second rubbing stakes are being worked on. This is not a process that can be hurried otherwise it could all look wrong, but it was incredible to watch how it was done, with string lines to get the shape and then drawn on in chalk, until the steel was finally put in place.

Friday 3rd February.
The first and second rubbing strakes were welded properly into place and the third was being added. Now looking at the bow you can really see her shape, and it looks amazing. Hadar is truely coming alive. So we look forward to this coming week to see what else is new in her build. So please pop in and have a look.

Week 4

Monday 23rd January 2005
The begining of week 4 of Hadar's build, and we knew this week would show alot of progress, we were not to be disappointed as you will see in the photographs. So week 4 and the mooring stud is welded into place on the bow deck. The two front hull panels were tacked into place ready for the bending of the bow.

Tuesday 24th January.
More work was completed on the hull at the bow, and the shape was being cut into the sides. We could actually see her taking shape now, making her look huge.

Wednesday 25th January.
It was a day of intense concentration, as the two Steve's marked out and cut the bow's hull to meet up with the stem post. You cannot apprechiate how much work goes into this unless you actually see it being done. We both watched as the bow took shape. Keith enjoyed sitting in the shed watching everything and taking photographs.

Thursday 26th January.
It was pretty much as Wednesday working on getting the shape of the bow hull to match up with the stem post, and welding it all in place.

Friday 27th January
Now that the bow hull is pretty much in place it is time to get all the welding done, on the parts that you cannot see outwardly, and they are the bit's that take the time, not to mention someone small enough to get into all the tiny places.

It's been another fascinating week, and one that has ended with Hadar having her shape developed. You can now see how different the Small Northwich bow look's compaired to the Joshers in the marina being fitted out. Looking at her in the workshop, she gives the impression that you would not want to get in her way, when on the water. Keith and I both know that as the week's pass there will be times when we do not see as much progress in her, but it does not mean nothing is being done, it just means that all the welding is coming together, and therefore it looks like there is no change as such. But keep popping in and I will keep you up to date with all that's going on, no matter how small a development.

Week Three of Hadars Build

Monday 16th January 2006.
Work has begun on our boat,and we are into week 3 of the build. Both Keith and I sat in the shed watching as the two Steve's worked on the Stem Post. It had to be bent into shape to fit on the bow of the boat. Like all boats each design has a different shaped stem post, so a wooden template was used to get the shape right. It was then tacked into place. We are both finding it fascinating watching as the pieces of the jigsaw are put into place. Not many people get the opportunity to see their boat being built from the base plate up, so we do feel priviledged that we have been given this opportunity, we do try our best not to get under anyones feet. Next came the tumblows which were bent into shape and tacked to the stem post ready for welding. The bow was really taking shape.

Tuesday 17th January 2006.
The bow has been welded and all the pieces put into place. They then cut out the place for the weed hatch to go in the stern. The weed hatch which was all ready welded together ready to go in was welded into. The rudder collar was also put into place.

Wednesday 17th January 2005.
The counter sweep ups were cut, giving the stern its shape, and the bow deck was welded into position. The rudder tube was put into position ready for welding, and finally for the day they have cut out the sterns counter deck.

Thursday 18th January 2006.
They have cut out and welded in the front deck.

Friday 19th January 2006.
The sterns rudder tube was welded into place,as was the stern counter deck. The front hatch on the bow was cut out ready to take the front hatch and lid, which were then all welded into place, along with their rivets.The stern dollies had arrived so were fitted and welded into place.

All in all it has been a fabulous week and alot for us to watch and take photographs of. The photographs are in Hadar's Album. Hadar has come on so much this week, and we have really enjoyed watching her progress. There will be many more updates as the boat continues to grow, so please pop in and take a look.

Hadar's Engine

The engine which is to be installed in Hadar is one of 2 known to be remaining of the Type "DA-2" engines built by the "National Gas and Oil Co. Ltd." at Ashton-under-Lyme. Mr H. N. Bickerton founded the company in 1889.

This particular engine carries the Serial No. "63567". It was purchased from a funfair where it was being used as a standby generator, and prior to this it was at Keighley railway works, also as a standby generator. It is a two cylinder unit with a bore diameter of 4⅛", 105mm developing an impressive maximum 30bhp, or 27bhp constant at 1500rpm, and weighs in at a mighty 1500lbs, or 2/3ton! Its physical dimensions are Length (including starter handle) 43½" 109.2cm, Width (flywheel) 25" 63.5cm and Height 45" 114.3cm.
It is being marinised and refurbished by Tony Redshaw at his new workshop in Braunston. It requires a starter ring to be fitted to the flywheel, and starter motor. I have chosen to have 2 alternators, one 45amp (starter battery) & one 90amp (domestic battery) to be fitted.

If anyone has any furter information on this engine please get in touch with us by leaving your message, and we will contact you back. We would love to find out further details on our engine if there are any out there.

Week Two of Hadar's Build

12/12/05
We have made it through week two of our boat build. Monday saw the base of the counter tacked into place.The fuel tank sides were also tacked into place. After working out the templates for the front bulkhead, the steel was cut out and tacked into place. We could now appreciate how large Hadar was going to look from the front.

13/12/05
Roger put in place wooden templates for the bow structure, so we could see what the complete bow would look like, and we both through wow how impressive she was going to look, not to mention wide LOL. They also tacked in place the counter sides, so the stern has really taken shape now as you will see from the photographs. Having seen the templates for the bow structure, they used those templates to cut out the steel pieces.
The rest of the week was spent working on other boats in the yard, so that they are already for Christmas. One of the boats is going out for its shake down over Christmas so it has been important to make sure it is ready on time, and the steel arrived for another job in progress, so they were busy catching up on that as well.

As usual all up to date photograps are in the album, just click on Hadar photo's in the menu and you can enjoy watching Hadar's progress along with us. See you next week if there is anything to report. May we take this opportunity to wish everyone a very Happy Christmas, and all the very best for 2006.

Week one of Hadar's build

Having watched all the steel arrive, we are now watching as Hadar come's together.
We will do a weekly report, hopefully on Monday's so we you can see how she has progressed.

Mon 5/12/05
The base plate welding is completed and the first cross members are put in place, starting forward of the engine room. The stern and swim area (the "swim" is the section of hull at the stern which narrows in underneath the waterline to the propellor and rudder) is all marked out ready.

Wed 7/12/05The final cross members are added and one mid-section side plate is tacked into postion, ready for welding.

Thur 8/12/05
The second mid-section side plate was prepared and tacked into place. The skeg (the skeg is a horizontal fin which extend rearwards from the end of the swim below the propellor to support the bottom end of the rudder) was welded into place at the stern. The forward and rear engine room bulkhead bases are tacked in place.

Fri 9/12/05
Both rear side-plates have been tacked into place forming the swim.

If you wish to see further photographs please go to the Photo Album in the menu

More Steel

Unloading the lorry

Today more steel arrived for our boat. So we now have everything that is needed to get our boat started. We stood and watched as the steel was unloaded off a lorry, which had come from York.

For Keith and I it is exciting just to see the metal being pulled off the lorry. (I know sad huh)
The base plate steel alone weighs 8 tons, at 15mm thick it is certainly ment to last LOL

Once they had unloaded all the steel into the shed it was time to get the base plate laid out and work began on Hadar. Luckily we are moored at the boat yard, so we will be able to take loads of photograph's and keep the diary up to date. So watch this space for further updates.

Our Journey has now begun

A journey which we first under took in May 2002 is about to become reality. Keith I first approached Roger Fuller the owner of Roger Fuller Boat Builders in 2002, and asked him to build us a brand new boat, in the style of a traditional Small Northwich Star class working boat, and were put on his list. We choose Roger because he knew about and could build exactly what we were looking for. So we sat back and waited for our time to come and guess what that time is now here, and we are both so very excited. For Keith this has been over 37 years of waiting and his life's dream. The reality begins here. So please come with us on this wonderful journey.

This is the shed empty after the boat prior to our's left for its new home

Today some of the steel arrived for the building of our boat.

Welcome to our new home

Welcome aboard our new home. Now that Hadar is not a dream anymore and is being started we thought a new diary was called for so that you can follow the progress of the build to its completion date. We will be adding photo's, and we will try and tell you everything as it goes stage by stage. So come and join us on our adventure.