Thirteenth Viewing - The launch!

The day we have been waiting for finally came - launch day and they waited unitl we arrived to launch her.  What excitement and I am delighted to say all went very well.  There are many photos this week and a link to a You Tube Video of the launch.  It was a very special day.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7-f-RbKDF8&feature=youtu.be.

I am not sure why the link does not work, but if you copy and paste it will take you to the right place.

We got our first view of her with no 'wrapping paper' and she is looking good.  She will eventually have a cream roof and teal coachlines - the final paint will be done in the painting shed (beside her as she launched).

Such shiny paint - I really do not want to be the first to add a scratch!

The stern is looking pretty good and the tiller is in place this week

We hope this is the last we see of this (an anode) for a good long while.  Strangely enough our previous Border Collie was call Duffy, so maybe this should have been MG MONT!

The rudder had to be wedged to stop it jumping out when the stern hits the canal bottom

A very sophisticated 'bung' was put in the exhaust to stop the water going in.

Back to the bow - preparing her for launch

Is everything set?

This is where she is heading for

Stern first

Back to the bow - all push together

There she goes

 

Safely afloat 

'The boss' & I watching from a safe distance.  There was a goodly wave as she splashed down

Off to the other side of the canal

Nearly there

She made it

The second boat to pass her.  The first is shown on the video of the launch

Coming back across the cut

Mind that boat

Please don't scratch her

Nearly there

Safely moored

Now to inside - there is no doubt who made her

First coat of varnish is on and most of the ceiling tongue and groove is up

The side hatch

The tools are back on board.  The odd coloured side panel will be behind the galley.

The bow doors

The fan for the composting toilet

The solar fan for the composting toilet

We even have a TV aerial

All tied up

The hospital silencer in place

The engine will be in here

The weed hatch

It was a really exciting experience and we are so lucky that we live so close to the build that we have been able to watch and share so much of the build. There is still a long way to go.  The mid May date is already the end of May, but we are not holding our collective breathes.  We have made most of the decisions regarding the interior, so fingers crossed it is not too long before we are on the cut.