Building a replacement for John Varley

In early 2016, we had a replacement for our John Varley tripboat built. These pages tell the story. The latest photos are at the top.

The new boat was officially named on Wednesday 25th May at Staveley Town Basin. Click here to see the story.

Tristar boats also posted photos online. You can see them by clicking here.

April 29th. Some of the JV crew went to Tristar to inspect the boat. All were incredibly impressed and were very grateful to the Tristar staff for spending so much time explaining everything.

In the cabin, the the seats and lockers have been installed. That’s the heater at the back on the right.

One of the seats is in place on the foredeck.

The galley is taking shape.Tom and Ron are standing on the wheelchair lift.

What could possibly be more satisfying than three men looking into a hole, especially when there’s an engine in it.

April 19th. The latest visit to Tristar Boats and what a transformation.

The paintwork is fantastic.

It’s really hard to get a photo showing the right colour because of the unnatural light and reflections, but this probably gives the best idea.

It is truly stunning.

Top view 1 …..

….. and top view 2.

What a beautifully shiny propellor.

We pulled the protective blanket away to reveal the front railings and seat support.

Ryan Bird and Pete Forster were doing some inside work.

It is really light and airy.

There is lots of cupboard space, but see how big the wheelchair lift is. Note the porthole is not yet filled.

This is the view looking forward.

This is David Gibson making one of the cupboards.

The seats are ready to be installed.

It was decided to have two portholes, designed by Kate Billington, a stained glass artist who runs Billigoat Designs. She asked for suggestions and David Dawson came up with old and new methods of construction. After many drafts, these two designs for an 18th Century Navvy and a 21st Century excavator were agreed.

This was the final design for the Navvy …..

….. and this is the finished article.

The final design for the excavator …..

….. led to this ……

….. and finally this superb porthole.

There can be no doubt that the new vessel, will be the envy of every tripboat operator in the land.

March 24th. We have just been sent these two photos from Tristar Boats.

This is Matthew, who has done this superb paint job.

February 18th. Two weeks on from the photos below and what a transformation.

Suddenly it’s a real boat. Note the gentleman working inside – he’s fitting the wheelchair lift; more further down.

The view from the back.

Note the hatches at the bow.

Note the windows, only partly cut out; more further down.

Note the tiller leaning against the stern.

Note the hole for the propeller shaft. The anodes are in place – these are the zinc patches. If there is lots of electricity in the water, these corrode rather than the hull.

There is plenty of room at the front.

The gentleman in the tie is Alan Charles. He is is the Police and Crime Commissioner for Derbyshire.

He had come to inspect the boat and present us with a plaque.

This is the plaque. For more details of this grant, see further down.

This is one of the portholes. It has only been partially cut out because next week the boat will be taken out and shotblasted, prior to painting. For this purpose, it is best for the windows not to have been removed.