This photo shows one of the windows being fitted. Large windows were specified so that the inside would be bright even on dull days.

They are gold powder coated aluminium windows from Channelglaze. Powder coating is said to be much more weather resistant than anodising, although the finish is not quite so sparkling. The gold colour complements the royal blue paint of the finished boat.

Delivery of the windows was a bit late and this held up progress for a while because the internal panels above the gunwales could not be fitted until the windows were in place.

(Photo taken 20th September 2002).

With the windows in place, the ash faced side panels and hardwood window surrounds could be fitted. The window surrounds follow the profile of the rounded window corners. The hardwood looks like mahogany but is actually utile, which is more available and arguably more environmentally sustainable.

One could begin to see how the inside would look when finished. Note the wires dangling from the ceiling where the recessed halogen spotlights were to go.

(Photo taken 2nd October 2002)

The galley taking shape, and the hardwood window trims being finished off (left and right foreground).

(Photo taken 11th October 2002)

Other bits of the boat were coming together too.

This is the countertop basin in the utility room. Pete Beck (Weltonfield's carpenter) made a nice job of the FormicaŽ top and the curved utile edge trim.

The Candy Aqua 10 compact washing machine (accessed from the passage outside the utility room) is underneath the countertop. On the right of the picture you can just see its protective polythene sheeting.

(Photo taken 25th October 2002).

Discussing details with Pete on 25th October 2002. I was always made welcome during the Weltonfield fit-out, and they made a point of asking me how I wanted things to be done.

Sometimes they suggested that my proposals were not such a good idea. They usually had good arguments based on years of boatbuilding experience.

But if I had a good reason for wanting things to be done in a particular way we found a compromise solution and everyone was happy!

The 18.5 gallon calorifier (hot water tank) in place, all plumbed in and wired up. It's really the same as a domestic hot water cylinder except that there are two heating coils - one from the engine and one from the gas boiler.

To top right of the calorifier (fixed to the sidewall) is the blender valve which controls the temperature of the hot tap water. To the left of the calorifier is the electrical consumer unit with circuit breakers for the 230V circuits.

One hour after this picture was taken (12th November 2002), the calorifier was boxed in behind an ash cupboard unit built to Weltonfield's usual high standard. If this big calorifier has to come out for any reason, I think the cupboard will have to be dismantled first!

The escape window in the bedroom (third from left in this picture) was returned to Channelglaze for adjustments, and was very late coming back. It was finally fitted on 7th November 2002.

This is a useful book for anyone thinking of building or fitting out their own narrowboat.