Katona

Rebuilding a narrowboat.

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Nick

Nick

Smoke signals

Hello! Happy Sunday :) The chimney had been leaking, a smoky gunge running down inside, from the silicone seal up above. I put it off because that meant letting it cure for a day, i.e. no heating. But I spent Wednesday away so I could reseal it, and since then

By Nick 23 Nov 2025

The wintery urge to hunker down

Hello! Happy Sunday :) It's been one of those weeks (the boat looks identical). On Monday I did empty the engine drip tray, which left me with a load of oily water to dispose of. It still needs a clean and wipe down, then I'll do an

By Nick 16 Nov 2025

Spin, rinse, repeat

Hello! Happy Sunday :) The stove, while working, moved. The old door with a new front isn't snug, and it requires a little shove. So on Monday I cleaned 3 brackets for bolting it down, picked up the lower door and painted the lot, including another coat on the

By Nick 9 Nov 2025

FIRE

Hello! And happy November :) The flue arrived on Monday, advertised at 125m overall diameter (OD) which I knew would be tight, but should fit. Anyways it arrived 125mm internal diameter (ID) with a 1.5mm wall. It in fact did not fit, but I tried. Alas. So I ordered the

By Nick 2 Nov 2025

My Theseun Stove

Hello! Happy Sunday, it's feckin' cold. On Monday I started tiling the hearth, mixed the adhesive and realised you can't score and snap slate... I broke one tile, then picked up a wet tile cutter (thanks mum!) and acquired a new diamond blade. On Tuesday

By Nick 26 Oct 2025

Sink & certify

Hello! Happy Sunday :) I got back to the boat late on Monday, and the next day was sink plumbing, connecting the tap and an inline water filter. It's a bit of a rube, and the u-bend is strictly unnecessary and the wrong way around, but I need it

By Nick 19 Oct 2025

Deadline tourism

Hello! Happy Sunday :) I am and have been in Budapest this weekend, which was a great mini deadline to get shit done. Monday I dropped off the stove for sand-blasting and bolted the worktops together, then on Tuesday sanded them down for oiling with a helping hand from the broski:

By Nick 12 Oct 2025

Sink mount salvation

Hello! Happy Sunday :) "I'll make sure it has the illusion of a straight cut" I said, about the sink cutout. That was a lie, and I spent a long ol' while sanding the edges to make it nice, which I could not. It was a

By Nick 5 Oct 2025

The illusion of straightness

Hello! It's reached that point of the year where I'm having cold showers to warm up; the difference between days with and without sunlight is huge. On the plus side they're excellent practice in surrendering to the present. The cold present... Anyway, you know

By Nick 28 Sep 2025

End panels and the end game

Hello, happy Sunday! I almost forgot about the boat today, I find myself in New Jersey seeing family this weekend, but I did make some progress on the kitchen! Firstly was to finish the end panels, cutting them to size and screwing them in. I started with the washing machine,

By Nick 21 Sep 2025

Bilges and breakfast bars

Hello! Happy Sunday :) I'm currently regretting not writing this as I went this week, it's time for bed. But! On Monday I went to help dad tape up part of his boat for insulating, and before leaving I finally re-filled the greaser for the stern tube:

By Nick 14 Sep 2025

Pipes, boards and a gift from Yorkshire

Hello, and happy September! T'is getting cold... about that wood burner, but first I have a kitchen to fit. And thank god it didn't arrive on Monday, although something about work expanding to fit the time available for its completion — it arrived today, and I only

By Nick 7 Sep 2025
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Katona

Rebuilding a narrowboat.