Do I write a simple cruise log or an article about our recent experiences over the last 18months and the birth of Noel’s Ark?  In realty it is difficult to do one or the other as we have spent the time since April 05 fitting out our MC hull on the K&A after taking delivery of the hull on the Bridgewater Canal, so it will be a bit both!  And in reality this article will concentrate on the first 10 days of this long journey. In the summer of 2004 I had one those moments that sometimes you think you will regret! After 9 years of owning a 54ft fully fitted cruiser on which we had spent hundreds of happy hours cruising around the system, yours truly decided that at last as the kids had grown out of coming on the boat I could go for the Trad which I had always wanted!

This had always been out of reach as Carolyn the Skipper, always refused to have one on the grounds of safety, although to be honest I have never been too sure whether she was frightened of the kids or the dog and cats falling off or in fact me! This is based on the basis that with regular monotony, when I step ashore, I usually come a cropper!!  You know such incidents like the windlass slipping out of my hand and consequently only narrowly escaping with a bruise and a broken wristwatch or slipping off the balance beam when trying to put my back into it too much or indeed just generally getting in the way! So I find the best place is to remain on the stern!

We successfully sold our cruiser NB in September 2004 and once the money was safely stashed in the bank I started looking in earnest for the Trad.  Where do we start? A second hand or new one? Well that one was quickly resolved the sale of the old boat had to fund the replacement and at £1k + per finished foot a new fully fitted one is out of the question. I found that good used craft were also difficult to come by at the right price.  Then one day whilst browsing the internet and the waterways magazines the eureka moment arrived, “what about on of those battle ship grey hulls that are so prevalent on the cut that you fit out yourself” says I, “I am quite handy at DIY, surely it cant be that difficult”, is the skipper convinced?  Yep she is up for it, now the easy bit, find a sailaway, that can’t be too difficult. Another understatement!!  Where do you start?

I knew what I did not want! One of the mass-produced, LBs that appear to be everywhere on the cut and used by many boat builders. I wanted a hull that looked the part, was well built, stylish and moreover that we liked the look off.   We started off by emailing all the sailaway suppliers and comparing specifications and prices. My mind swayed from supplier to supplier and even at one time we considered one from Lees! (More of that later) In October 2004 I went with a friend (Paul, who you will here more about later) to the Southampton boat show, he likes boats with cloth engines and the big wide salty stuff! Whereas I prefer the throb of the diesel and ditch crawling! But what we both have in common is we love messing about in boats.  It was during this visit and a conversation with the guy on the Beta stand that I heard of Chris Reynolds at Lymm in Cheshire who is known for supplying sailaways and as it transpired is one of the authorised suppliers of the Mike Christian (MC) Classic Josher.  So that night I surfed the net and visited Chris’s Lymm Marina Web site, there was the MC and I have to say I was hooked especially when I saw the pedigree of the builders Jonathon and Tim.

 We quickly made arrangement to visit Lymm to see a MC hull on the 01 November 2004. To be honest I had already made my mind up I was having one!  We thought we would go to Lees to see what their hulls where like, they were not to far away from Lymm and it would kill a few hours before our appointment.  Suffice it say that the product and the attitude at Lees did not impress us. We were not even allowed on any craft to view, only to look though the windows! We walked off without a second glance and headed off for Lymm.

When we got to Chris’s it was completely different attitude, in fact Chris and his staff could not do to much for us, we spent hours there looking at a MC and talking to Chris’s gang. It was everything we had wanted, extremely well constructed it sat well in the water and more importantly it looked the part and was within our price range.

We agreed there and then to have a 57’ MC Classic Josher, sailaway, lined with 240/12-volt electric tails and bulkheads and I would do the rest!!  We paid our small deposit and left. We stayed overnight at the local Travel Lodge and returned home the next day via Braunston Marina.  This was to cheekily view a fully fitted brokerage MC to get some ideas!  Whilst this was a good idea, we did make a mistake and visit the Wharf House chandlers at Braunston! One hour later and a new cooker and squirrel stove in the back of the Galaxy we went home happy. The Journey had well and truly started.

Over the next few days I reflected on our specification and the one thing that was bothering me was how do I easily get to the weed hatch? I quickly decided that it would be prudent and a wise investment to have an easy access hatch fitted in the rear, so a quick phone call to Chris ensued. It was a decision I was to benefit from within two days of taking delivery in a lock on the Trent & Mersey removing an old fender from around the prop!.

Over the coming months as we waited for the hull to be built (due delivery we hoped at Chris’s in January 2005) we started to mass the myriad of equipment, tools, screws etc required to complete the task. Regular visits by Parcel Force and Green Line, to name but a few, to Carolyn’s school saw her signing and taking delivery of the goods. Our garage at home became an impromptu store.

At last in late February 2005 Chris rang to say the hull had just been delivered, and could we come up to go through the wiring spec!  So off we went back up the M5/6 to Lymm the following Saturday. To say we were excited was an understatement. It was lovely January day with bright sunshine. When we arrived Chris met us and took us to our hull, there she sat high in the water no ballast or engine to sit her down and being spray foamed!!

We could not get on board straight away, we just stood for a while and gazed at what we had bought and talked about what we hoped she would be. We also had the chance to get on another MC that was being lined and talk to the guys about our fit out.  After this we went and did some of the paperwork with Chris just to confirm what we wanted them to do.

And then we were allowed on her!! This was really it! The dream was starting to come true and reality was setting in.  B*****y hell I thought she looks big when she is empty, looking back however we did not realise the true enormity of the task ahead!  We set to with another Paul, one of the fitters, discussing the wiring and where we wanted the bulkheads etc.  Eventually sadly we had to leave and return home knowing that the next time I would see her would be when I went to take delivery.  

When I started writing this article I said it would be a cruise log and the story of the birth of a NB together. This is because we had to make an early decision whether we would have the hull lifted back out at Chris’s onto an artic and taken to our temporary moorings at Calcutt on the Grand union to be re-launched or would we cruise her from the Bridgewater down to Calcutt in Warwickshire. The decision was purely financial and as such we decided that we would cruise her down and the money we would have spent on cranes and a lorry would be spent on fittings for the boat.   

A month later the day came, 25 March 2004, and we (myself and Paul my friend, the cloth engine man) set off in a large white van with all the chandlery purchased over the previous months to fit into the boat and to take delivery and cruise her back to Calcutt. When we arrived the hull looked completely different all lined and ready for to be loaded to make the maiden voyage to the GU.  Inside was also a selection of American white oak boards as ordered to help in the fit out.  A number of hours later and with help from the gang at the yard she now looked completely different again, this time full of the boxed bits and more stores than you could shake a stick at.  My first job was to return the van (a one way Hire from Salisbury to Warrington!) That was the easy bit! Finding my way back to the yard from Warrington to Lymm with the Hire company rep, a German girl, was a different problem. Eventually we made it and after offering many thanks to her I was abandoned to my fate; the Spanish inquisition from Paul and the gang on where I had been!   No I had not been in the Pub!!

One key issue that had to be resolved first was the heads!!   I had the cassette loo ready to go in, however there was one main problem the access hole for the cassette in the bulkhead had not been cut! Following a quick chat the fitters arrived with the necessary tools and the necessary access was provided, the loo was duly installed with temporary flushing facility, a large jug of water!!  Paul was equally setting to fitting the first of many light fittings so we could at least move around without tripping over the vast amount of stores, which we still had to stow properly.  

However after much work and the erection of the temporary Galley, we settled down after hearty meal on our first night tomorrow would see us preparing the boat for the voyage. Paul settled onto the futon (he after all was the guest) and I as the master, retired to what was to become the bedroom in the future. This was at present, just another storeroom, in which I had what was supposed to be a camp bed, but was more like a steel framed hammock, This would over the coming nights require much of my ingenuity to keep together and would eventually be consigned to the skip on our arrival at Calcutt. I lay there that evening looking at the roof of the lined hull thinking of the voyage and the job ahead, I was excited; being without a boat had been unbearable. I suppose after some 20 years of cruising it was in my blood. I slept very soundly that night.

The next morning, we arose and breakfasted and started to prepare the boat for the cruise. Chris went through the technical issues with me and I presented him with Building Society cheque. Paul continued with re arranging stores and the temporary water supply.  Soon all was ready all lines, fenders and life ring etc attached and we were ready for the off.  We gave a final farewell to Chris and the Lymm team and untied from the hull next to us. I eased the throttle forward, the Beta engaged and we started moving, it was great to be at the helm again.

The boat felt so different to our previous boat, so stable and responsive to the tiller she went were you wanted her to go, she was precise and more than anything was not prone to the effects of the wind.  Over the coming hours I would become used to the beat of the engine and the way she handled.   Our next priority was to fix the tunnel light and horn in preparation for the Preston Brook Tunnel, which we would be navigating the next day. We planned therefore to cruise, find a mooring and then complete these tasks.   

We duly found a suitable mooring and set about the task in hand, it was at this time I realised the Herculean build of Jonathon and Tim’s work. The simple process of drilling two holes for the fixings for tunnel light and horn became in itself a mammoth task seeing off at least half a dozen new drill bits. This done and tested the next priority was to get the Squirrel in and working to ensure we had the warm glow at the end of the long days ahead (I had the collar fitted in the build). This would prove to be invaluable as Paul would utilise the squirrels design and versatility over the coming 10 days not only for warmth but also as an importantly aid to cooking!!   It was excellent for simmering vegetables and warming croissants! 

The next day we moved off and headed for Preston Brook tunnel, arriving and taking up our position and waited for our time to pass through the Tunnel. This duly came and we set off for an uneventful passage (the tunnel light worked well although it did require a little adjustment so it would to light the tunnel as a whole rather that the tunnel ceiling brickwork or the foredeck!) When we emerged at the other end it was somewhat busier than at our starting point and I had to navigate this new hull with some trepidation though hoards of waiting craft.

I have to say that hulls in primer and their crews appear to be viewed quite differently by some boaters, perhaps as renegades or even pirates. Maybe they were concerned that we would approach at ramming speed ready to board!  I have to say one probably does not care some much for the inadvertent scrape at this stage on the grey primer! The truth is, I like other boaters, with their resplendent liveries, was proud of my investment and wanted to look after it and not purposefully seek to redesign the bow or indeed the sides of other craft.

Preston Brook successfully navigated we headed of south down the Trent and Mersey and motored off towards our next obstacle which would be Salterford and Barton tunnels.  Now it was at Barton tunnel that I found a new skill of going astern out of a tunnel!!  I have to admit that when approaching this tunnel I duly looked as one does, for the relevant signs advising of the passage protocols, passage times, traffic lights etc, especially as I could not see through!  Well no indication of what one should do so with throttle back we gingerly entered. It was obvious when entering that the navies when building this one had gone slightly of course and there was a discernable meandering in the line of the tunnel.  What were clearly visible however were the luminous exit signs and arrows as we penetrated deeper, slowly we continued our progress, what’s that ahead I thought? Must the light at the end of the tunnel, or is it?  No it is not! It is another NB duly making its passage and this tunnel was not made for passing!

Right! Time to test the Horn!!! PaaRRRBB my how it echoed, I was really impressed. However whilst the skipper of the other boat had heard it and duly replied, what I had completely forgot was that sat up the front at the bow in the dark was Paul who had experienced the full force of the horn!!  He apparently experienced a short period of levitation! This elicited a stream of guttural Anglo Saxon hurled in my direction!! Followed by the phrase “he’s in deeper than you matey” “you’ll have to go astern”. That’s easy for you to say I thought!  I must admit the boat handled well and the only impact with the sides was from myself dislodging debris from the roof of the tunnel as I fended off the stern as we slowly exited the tunnel. The other boat followed, exited, the skipper shouting many thanks as he went on his way.

It was going to be the second attempt for us and I certainly did not want a repeat experience. As luck would have it a small Otter aluminium NB was tied up waiting to enter so asked if they would kindly mind going first? I would hang back and follow on and hope we would get through without any incident.  In they went followed 5 minutes later by ourselves, it all went well for a while, but guess what, we  and the Otter met another one! However this time we were in deeper and they kindly reversed out! We finally exited the tunnel and made our way off toward the Anderton lift and cruised onwards eventually mooring overnight just south of Broken Cross by the lagoons.

The next morning we untied and continued with our journey and headed of towards Middlewich. During the long days of cruising Paul my long and loyal friend not only dealt with the locks but also busied himself below fitting all the lights and sockets. When this was completed he turned his hands to commence fitting the water system.  When we arrived at Middlewich there was quite a queue of craft. The delay we were informed was as a result of some animal activists draining the pound between locks 70 and 69  (twice) to foil a large national fishing competition.  

At Middlewich junction I dived into the Chandlery at King Lock to get oil and filters to enable me to do the first oil change after the first 50 hours of running.  We pressed on slowly at first through the low water and then increased our momentum as we moved through the various pounds inexorably on towards the Harecastle tunnel.

On arrival at the Northern end of the tunnel at Kidsgrove we overnighted and promised ourselves a good breakfast in the nearby Tescos the next Morning!

The next morning we rose and fulfilled our promise at Tescos. It was an extremely wet day and a good breakfast would stand us well for the day ahead. As the cats and dogs fell we thought “what are we doing here” any sane person would have been in the dry, however we had no choice than to continue the journey and so we untied and headed of for the tunnel. On arrival we only had to wait a short time before our turn.  As the boat was new with no number we had to call into the keepers office to show all our purchase papers and Certificates of conformity etc before we went in, this ensured we were the last boat in for this passage and with the delay we were quite a way behind the previous boat so our passage was quite easy except for the normal various low ceilings where one is required to limbo whilst helming.  As those of you that have done this, it is a long passage for a tunnel and it is always good to exit at the other end, although I was concerned at one time if the keeper was ever going to open the doors.   One bonus was we exited into less rainy conditions than we had entered.

Onwards we progressed our next major objective being to get to Fradley junction, and onto the Coventry Canal.  We cruised on through Stoke- on-Trent, Stone and moored overnight at Great Heywood.  We quickly fell into a routine of long hours cruising whilst simultaneously continuing the installation of the water system. At the end of each day we would retire for a hearty meal washed down with some red wine all prepared and cooked by Paul (he would make someone a lovely wife), he loves cooking and I have to tell you it is exceedingly good, like Mr kipling you could say. I did the breakfasts and all the washing up!!

The next day we headed off for Fradley, on arrival we decided to moor above the flight. A quick wander down revealed the Pub and the BW showers. We would indeed be spoilt tonight! A hearty meal, a few beers, and to be spotlessly clean and clean-shaven. There is only so much one can achieve with a bowl of hot water in a floating workshop and storeroom. The local waterfowl were getting fed up with ducking the low flying mouthwash from the trading hatches!  However before this sojourn into brief luxury it was my job to fit the galley skin fittings for the sink outlet. Paul’s view was that as it was my boat it was therefore most definitely my responsibility to cut the hole in the hull! A simple task one would think, however were the cutters I had bought through Screwfix be man enough for the job? (Especially after the experiences of fitting the tunnel light, and horn). Would I be able to get it in the right place and in accordance with the BSC?

 After much measuring and scratching of head and chin I eventually set to from the inside. All went well the cutter did exactly as it said on the tin!  And in no time I was through.  Paul did make a scathing comment on how long I had dallied before I undertook the task!

That done it was now time to pamper ourselves and in shifts we visited the ablutions, both returning somewhat cleaner shaved than before and smelling somewhat sweeter I am sure. We donned respectable clothing and went down the towpath to indulge in the fine pub fare. We were welcomed with open arms (which I suspect might not have been the case a mere hour or so earlier) we basked the in atmosphere and surroundings discussing our adventures to date and what lay ahead of us.

The next morning we rose to a misty morning and after breakfast we untied and moved off to join the Coventry. We locked down the short flight and within a short time we commenced our progress along the Coventry heading for Frazely junction.  It was a beautiful day and the miles just passed by with little incident, stopping occasionally to deal with locks and feeding.  Paul continued with the doings he was attending inside and in no time we were at Frazley. We pressed on making a way slowly but surely to Hawkesbury junction.  It was obvious we were not going to make it by the close of day so we decided to moor reasonably early outside Atherstone and utilise the time to attend to some work inside.  At the end of each day we tried to focus on a specific major project and on this occasion we commenced fitting the galley. This went well and by the close of the day we had the fist unit fitted and a working sink with running coldwater! It was luxury.   That night again we dined and considered the list of things to do and the cruising ahead the next day!.

The next day would see us navigate the Atherstone flight, which can be quite slow, however on this occasion it was positively pedestrian as we were behind a cruiser hire boat crewed by a husband and wife team, this being a very loose and inappropriate description. The wife for the entire flight did not move! Her role appeared to be nothing other than to sit and retain the stern rail to the deck and although fitted with a throttle the man failed to engage any other speed than tick over going into the locks and bow hauling it out! Such was the delay that Paul and I ate our lunch on the run and grew a bit more beard!.  Luckily they moored at the top of the flight and we were off!

 We cruised on through Nuneaton and onto Bedworth to Hawesbury Junction and joined the Oxford canal. This was without doubt a seminal moment, we very close to our destination, well on paper anyway. Now what I have not told you so far is that when I planned this cruise the journey time was based on one of the Internet canal route planners. We had both taken two weeks annual leave from our jobs in the Fire and Rescue service, which would be plenty for the planned 7days.  However as each day went by we cruised less and worked longer inside and as such the journey time started to suffer from slippage.    

The coming days flew by much as they had before stopping only to lock, eat, sleep and work on the inside. In which time we installed one of the kitchen half bulkheads and the cooker; the gas piping and bulkhead fittings, the clarifier and engine heat exchange pipe work.   We arrived at Braunston, visited Midland chandlers to get the wherewithal to connect the engine to the clarifier.  We then headed off towards Napton. We moored momentarily outside Braunston for few hours to cut and install the other galley half bulkhead. Our last night would be spent at Napton Junction; here we hunted for wood for the squirrel as we had run out of coal to maintain the warmth overnight.

The next day we cruised down the GU to the Calcutt flight mooring again temporarily adjacent to the reservoir to fit the final skin fittings in the bathroom. This I achieved somewhat speedier and with much more confidence than the first. They were in line and any difference in height being in dissectible to the eye. That completed, a quick phone call to the wife to see how her journey to collect us was going. She was on target and this gave us a couple of hours to get to the temporary moorings and hopefully connect the engine to the clarifier.  We set off locked down and some 10 days after we had left Lymm we moored between the locks at Calcutt, safe and sound with much work achieved and sporting a few days beard growth since leaving Fradley!!

The skipper arrived who was extremely pleased with what we had achieved although a bit miffed, jokingly, that I had allowed the schedule to slip. We secured the boat packed up and left. Now the plan was to complete the fit out over the coming year or so at Calcutt, which was some two hours from home.  It quickly became apparent that this was going to be difficult and as such Carolyn and I decided to move the boat down on the K&A to complete the fitting out. We left our names on the waiting list at Calcutt and in Jul 05 we moved the boat down the Oxford and Thames and onto the long pound near Devizes at Lady’s Bridge.   The coming 14 months would see me in every spare moment working on Noel’s Ark fitting out, re blacking the hull, painting the exterior and sign writing. 

Now in Oct 06 she is finished and we have made the decision as a result of being offered a new mooring in the brand new pond at Calcutt to move the boat back!!  So on the 20^th of October we set off back up the K&A and headed for the Thames, but that will be another story, watch this space.