Well it's been quite a day. Left home at 6am, called into XR&D, where they are building my shell. The lads are making great progress. The boat sides are set up, the counter is in, and the stern is set up. It's really beginning to look like a boat!
It's interesting to see the 'standard' boat being built alongside. 'Calbourne' is being built to Birmingham Square, so the sides don't taper in. This will gain me 3" at floor level, which will make a big difference when fitting out the galley in particular.
My gunwales will also be square, unlike the rolled ones on the boat beside mine.
Leaving XR&D to crack on, I then headed on to
to Manchester to look over an offered engine. This engine had been rebuilt by Walsh's for a customer, but it had sat in their workshop for 6 months. A few phone calls, price agreed, deal done! My boat finally has a Gardner 3LW destined for it! Walsh's are going to get the remaining pipes and parts polished or chromed. Steve started her up for me and I fell in love on the spot. 
Because this engine has no bell housing, it will need the gearbox to be mounted remotely. This will involve a bit of ingenuity by XR&D to mount the gearbox, but we will overcome. The nice thing is, the spinning flywheel will still be visible - something which is often cited as a criticism of Gardners.
(Hopefully, the engine will be delivered to XR&D in the next 4 weeks or so.)
(Hopefully, the engine will be delivered to XR&D in the next 4 weeks or so.)
Then it was on to Whixall Marina to check out a floating berth for the fitout. 440 miles, home at 10pm.
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