Tom Kitten Update

Jan 22, 2011   //   by admin   //   BLOG  //  No Comments
Well we’re approaching the last few weeks of the Tom Kitten fitout and this is the time when everything starts coming together. Roy ‘The Cratchman’ has been, measured and delivered the upholstery as he’s also ‘The Upholsteryman’ too, he’ll return to measure the cratch cover when the cratch board has been fitted. Steve ‘The Mattressman’ has also measured the crossbed for the split mattress. Ned ‘The Blindman’ (as in curtains) is coming across today to meet Phil & Debbie (the owners) to discuss window dressings, which from seeing the fabric will look stunning when fitted. 
We’ve still quite a few jobs to complete, our next major job is to start the task of varnishing, Ian one of our Engineers will then be able to finish off the final fix electrics. The solid oak floor will be laid shortly after and then the task of machining up and fitting the oak trims will start. I realised whilst doing this update that i’ve never added the layout plan of the boat – so here it is followed by photos of the progress since the last update.
Above: Tom Kitten is a reverse layout with forward cabin and aft galley.
Above: Jordan has been working hard on the making the door linings for the steel stern and bow doors. Both sets are Stable doors, allowing the tops sections to be opened independently of the bottom halfs. Phil & Debbie wanted two small portholes in the top section of the stern doors to allow a little light through. To ensure that they look good from the inside Jordan has had to make some bespoke porthole liners, which can be seen lying on the top section of the door linings above.
Above – The tiny liners before being installed. It is amazing how such small items take so long to make even with our speedy carpenters and industrial tooling,by the time the oak has been planed down, jigs made and measurements taken producing two liners like these could take the best part of a day to complete.  
Above & Below – But well worth the effort once installed.


Above & Below – Bottom section of the steel bow doors before and after the oak and ash lining has been custom made to fit.



Above – Work has started on the two stern cupboards being fitted above the worktop. Here you can see the cupboard sides being templated up.
Above: The righthand side cupboard will contain the circuit breakers for both the 12v & 240v systems. The apertures above the door will contain the Beta instrument panel, Remote control for the Victron 3000w Combi Unit, Victron 602 battery monitor and the water level gauge.
 Above: The cupboard to the left will be a general storage cupboard, the small door above drops down and is designed to be accessed when on the cruiser deck – it will be used to store boatings guides, binoculars and sunglasses and possibly even a G & T! (summer permitting) 
Above – Shortly after with the doors installed. The granite splashbacks will continue across the sides of these cupboards.
Above: The solid oak window liners has been installed.

Above: The built in TV unit has been started….

Above: …..and nearly finished, complete with a lovely chunky piece of solid oak on the top.


Above: Saloon with dinette and galley beyond.


Above: The small set of ’Knick Knack’ shelves have been installed to complete the bathroom vanity unit. We’ll be installing a towel rail between the unit and shelves.
Above: Looking through from the bathroom into the front cabin.

Above & below:  Ben has finished making the oak panelled cupboard doors in the bedroom, these have now been hung.


Above: Handles have been installed too.

Above: Solid oak trims for the cubbyholes either side of the bed have started to be fitted. These will have small toughened glass shelves for an alarm and glasses etc, they will be lit by a small LED light so they can be switched during the night without waking up the person lying next to you – saves an elbow in the ribs! Thats all for now on Tom Kitten another update will follow shortly.
We’ve recently taken delivery of our next project which will be a sponsored hire boat named Aqua Jeta. Jeta will be a 50ft reverse layout fitted to our normal 5 star hire boat standard. The boat already has 12 weeks worth of hire boat bookings and will be launched in April. Here’s a couple of photos of the narrowboat being craned in at our base in Mercia Marina.The narrowboat build blog for this boat will follow shortly, we’re currently awaiting delivery of the windows so we can start putting in the ballast.

Thats all for now….
Justin, Jane & Team
Aqua Narrowboats.

Leave a comment