A float on Miracle - 20ft narrowboat

22.May 2012

**Jacqui of all trades **

I've been giving Miracle some love. I spent the entire weekend sanding, and varnishing the wood surround of her hearth and her doors. I've repaired a bit of wood and preventatively treated the exterior hatch frame for wood rot.

I needed to prove to myself that I could maintain her.

Over the past few weeks I've been hunting for a new narrowboat.
It feels a bit wrong, like cheating.
It's not that I'm unhappy with Miracle, I'm not.
I just want to move up now.
I am making the life afloat commitment.

I found a superb 30 footer in my price bracket, but its got a wooden top.
Most people will tell you to stay as far away from a wooden top boat as possible. They require dedication. They require constant upkeep, without it they deteriorate and you lose your investment and home.

The boat I found is owned by a carpenter.
A very good carpenter.
She's 10 feet longer than Miracle, with ton's of storage. There are two closets!
My heart lept.
I'm a sucker for nice wood work.
Maybe it's because I grew up in Canada, but it's always been something I've loved.
I want this boat.

Most of the refurbished boats I've seen on the market are of the same ilk.
They're "open plan with freestanding furniture."
Exactly what a home owner wants these days. I see why they do it.
**It's great in a flat; rubbish in a boat. **
Boat's are tiny.
You need storage.
Built in sofa's aren't cool looking, but they provide this.
The other thing about the modern refurbished boat is that people have taken to painting over the wood.
Tongue in groove is a beautiful thing, with age it acquires a lovely warmth.

**Paint does not. **

There was a nigle in the back of my mind even though she is perfect.
I've never looked after a thing like her.
I don't know if i have the skill?
*
If manual aptitude is inherrited, I've about a 50/50 chance. *

Consider my parents:

When I was six years old, my father and I decided to build a dog house.
That weekend was one of the most exciting times I've had with my father, we planned, we drew pictures, we cut wood.
I handed him tools.
I pinched my nose with the needle nose plyers so hard I still remember them hanging off my face.
*It was fun. *
We got it all together, brought it outside to the dog and put the lid on.
The dog took one look, whined and ran.
I asked if we should wall paper it for him.
I was too young to notice my father's pain.
That was the only building project I ever remember my father taking part in.

My mother on the other hand, has always been handy.
She's very stubborn and believes she is capable of anything.
This tenacity led to her build her own house. The land was purchased with a cement foundation, on which was a tar paper shed.
It took her 3 years of after work, weekends and holidays but she did it. Plumbing, electric, roof and all. Now, every summer she takes on another project.
One year she decided to build a deck.
The next she rented a digger and re-dug the pond and lined it.
This year she expanded the pond and added an island.

I called my father and he laughed out loud.
Don't buy her. You'll screw it up and you'll end up on the bottom.
When my silence followed, his tone changed to a grave seriousness.
Were you calling me for advice?
Yes.
Oh.
*Yes. Well, you should talk to your uncle about that. *(pause)
*Or your mother. *

My uncle has been sailing racing boats for the better part of thirty years. He'd know more than anyone in our family, if the boat that was tugging on my heart strings was gamble or a good deal.

Instead of calling home to dicuss it with him, I set myself a task.
Fix some little things on Miracle, if I can, consider the boat.
If I can't, forget her.

Now I'm 3 coats of varnish into my hearth surround and it looks beautiful.
I've fixed my cill, and it's ready for paint.
I don't know if I'm ready to take on a whole wooden top boat, but at least I know I'm handy.

Since this discovery, another boat has taken my fancy.