Pronounced I-c-e-v-o-g-u-l and translates to Icebird for those non-Dutch speakers among us. It’s the original name of the little boat and not one that John feels he could live with. I think, he being a tropical flower, it’s the ice part he has trouble with.
Tradition/superstition has it that it’s OK to change a boat’s name when out of the water so, if he ever makes up his mind which name that might be, it won’t bring bad luck.
Remember when we waded on board in those early days of just having acquired the little boat… ?
Well amongst all the watery wetness, we found a handwritten letter from the first owner to the one before John…
How lovely, what a find, and joins up a few dots. There were also some old photographs of her build, launch, test run and subsequent trips on the water. Shame about the missing engine room pic – would have answered a few questions. Water damaged and curly edged, we rescued these and stowed in a safe place – ie Hobo – until such a time that we (I) could be bothered to scan them on to the computer.
Having found that time yesterday afternoon (and shelled out on a new printer/copier/scanner to replace my old defunct one) I am now in a position to share these with you.
It’s quite something to have just these few pics – a little bit of her history.
This one shows the armature construction in April 1976, according to the back of the snap…
Sadly, many of the build shots were too damaged; hard to make out from the photo so wouldn’t scan so well I figured.
These show her being loaded for transport – November 1976 – to the river Kennet…
The hull, engine and cabin completed.
And her trial run on the Kennet…
Also November ’76. What a beauty and cutting along by the looks.
The sharp end is quite different now…
Much needed extra cabin space having been created by the previous owner. This makes the bow tiny from the outside – barely standing room – but does make a much more usable space inside…
As she is now…
A lovely space for the John. He’s gradually putting his stamp on it by adding a desk, restoring the little stove which works very nicely..
And John’s hand-crafted chimney doing the business…
And will look the business too, once he adds the copper strips.
There’s many ideas/good intentions/plans/stuff still to do in the cosmetics department but all this has to take a back seat until the major things have been dealt with. Notably the engine and hull.
Much has gone on that can’t be seen: like pulling 12 and 240 volt wires through, connecting (after first unblocking) the fuel lines and painting the under-bed storage spaces white – and filling them with stuff. It makes such a difference when you are looking for something under there.
And of course, that perennial problem with boats, finding somewhere to put everything. Just his tools would fill an aircraft carrier. Twice over.
But it’s coming.
On this one, back in the day, the sailing mast is visible…
And here in use for a family trip on the river Kennett, summer 1977…
You’ll note that windows have been added by now.
Much of the work that John is gradually now doing is of the not very photogenic variety. As in the engine. He’s found a couple of snags – things sticking that shouldn’t stick and bits that should be bolted on that aren’t. He’s just discovered that it’s the fuel pumps that are jamming up the works, so they’ll be taken to bits now and inspected.
He’s very methodical and takes great pains, which is good, to ensure all is as it should be before he winds her up. Thus avoiding any calamities. Both dying to hear her going though and hoping that the Lister sounds good and is as bombproof as we think it is.
So, we have the proof that she floated and ran once upon a time. Lets just hope she will again. Soon.
Boatbird
Boatbird 