Work of art

Very close to finishing now. Ecky Thump is in dry dock, the bottom is already blacked and the chunky 24" x 22" Crowther prop fitted. Although this will load the JP2 nicely, I would have preferred a larger diameter with lesser pitch, but the modest draught Steve now builds his boats to,  with good reason given the lack of dredging on many canals,  precludes such.

A stationary boat in the covered area of the dock lends itself to having the external artwork and signwriting added as well. Not surprising then meeting Kevin, a thoroughly nice chap that Steve employs to do this skilled work. Born in the same year as myself, Kevin is very much old school with forty years experience, and it shows.

My take on an Old Thumper beer bottle label celebrating the engine and painted between the cabin portholes, is left until last, but as can be seen the majority of the work is already done and will be completed early next week.  Inside roses and castles already adorn every spare space, on the inside of exterior doors, cupboard doors and BMC table. In the picture of the rear doors, you can just make out on the right a slot above the interior decoration for the marine VHF radio. Above that are the bowthruster controls.

Given the time constraints, whilst Kevin weaves his magic outside, work continuous at a frenetic rate inside.

The engine installation is near completion although time hasn't allowed the alternator mounts to be tackled yet. Nevertheless I was told the engine had started first time the day before once a bit of red diesel was bled through. It was a proud moment when Tony gave me a quick demo. Hardly a half turn of the flywheel before it fired and settled into a steady slow thump. Almost an anti-climax, it was though it had been there ever since it was built nearly eighty years ago. If they still made threepenny bits, I swear one would have balanced on the rocker covers such was the smoothness. Note the neat oil tank installation mounted on a custom bracket, exactly as I had hoped, allowing easy draining with access to the underfloor area below.

Whilst there is no engine charging yet, the fruits of of Tony's continued work on the electrics are a complete working bow thruster installation. Two batteries located in the forward part of the starboard well deck locker power the Nobels 9 hp unit. As usual the cabling hooking it up via isolators, fuses and shunts is to Tony's high standards.

Both stoves are now installed and in the bathroom the quadrant shower, loo and finally the vanity basin tap are fitted. Still awaiting a matt black towel rail, but that is work in progress.

At 24 inches this is the largest prop that can be fitted comfortably between uxter plate and rudder stay. Note long swims, a Hudson trademark.











As Steve was having trouble obtaining an appropriate gas solenoid valve, with more time on my hands I managed to source a "CE" approved one with the ½" BSP fittings to accommodate the piping demanded by the BSS examiner. This will allow me to remotely turn off the gas supply in the bow locker, failing to off, prevention being better than cure.

A small re-think on the service battery circuits adds a substantial 600 amp BEP isolator for all the devices that need access to the batteries even when unattended.  I also won't have to worry the chargers and alternators have a load whilst functioning since this will be normally left on. The original smaller BEP isolator will now control the feeds to the main distribution panel. This allows complete isolation when needed to attend the batteries themselves. Since this will involve replacing the existing isolator with  the larger one then finding a new space for the former with attendant cable changes, Tony nodded politely to my request with a sigh - whoops!

As alluded to in previous postings, there is a prior commitment requiring  Ecky Thump to be positioned elsewhere for a few days. Remaining work is essentially the alternator and the Mikuni diesel heater installations, plus heating hook-up to the engine. Although this will require a further two weeks work, she will at least look complete by early next week and be able to make the appointment under her own steam. It will also provide an excellent opportunity for snagging any last minute issues.


I can now reveal that Ecky Thump attended the four day Crick boat show as one of S M Hudson's three exhibits. The 52 mile 28 lock journey was made in just two days without issue. I was lucky enough to assist in the return journey also made in two long days. A very instructional exercise despite the miserable weather on the second day. The engine sounds fantastic and the boat steers well, although I'm definitely in need of close quarters handling experience. The 11 inch Francis searchlight performed well illuminating tunnel sides superbly as the beam was flooded, especially the infamous 1800 metre Braunston one.

Completion and handover will be within three weeks to allow for some minor snagging. There will also be another visit to the dry dock for a second coat of blacking and touch up of minor scrapes received during its trip to Crick and back, one of which was attributable to me - whoops!

Get the motor running

Well it seems the majority of the AC and DC electrics are installed and working, batteries charging, AC available via battery or shore power and we now have lighting throughout the boat - yipee! Focus has now switched to the engine installation, the two main areas being mechanical and electrical. Tony has already hooked up the engine start panel and installing the alternators will be next.

Various dark green painted tanks matching the engine, are looking pretty mounted on the shiny engine room bulkhead and will look better still with a few judiciously placed Lister decals. Most of the plumbing to/from them in shiny copper is completed, and its now possible to draw fuel from main to day fuel tank (top of picture) using that nice big waggle from side to side hand pump. Not sure how long the plastic sight tube will remain visible but there is a vent/overflow back to the main tank, so no harm can come from over enthusiastic pumping. The feed from this tank to the engine will be via an additional fuel filter with Lexan see-through bowl. Mounted on the side of the cupboard are the header tanks for central heating and engine below, the latter being already plumbed in. Sitting very comfortably between all these is the huge oil pressure gauge, with unions added to feed the smaller one on the roof for the benefit of the steerer.

The various connections to the main fuel tank including draw and return pipes to/from day tank, spill rail return from engine and feed to Mikuni diesel boiler which is still to be fitted. The fuel tank level sensor can also be seen. To the rear the horizontal calorifier is in place just awaiting plumbing.

On the engine panel, turning the key and pressing the big red start button produces a satisfying churning noise from below and an enthusiastic leap of that huge flywheel.

Much head scratching has been given to shoehorning the two alternators into the rapidly diminishing space in the engine room. A ladder shaped mount to sit sideways astride the flywheel, has been sturdily fabricated from 6mm steel to take the larger 140 amp one on the lower step, with the smaller immediately above. I say smaller but noted it has grown to a 90 amp unit, although not complaining. It may be pushing the envelope to expect this to be driven by a single belt, but as Steve provides positive belt adjustment, there won't be a belt tension issue.

Placement of the ladder mount firmly bolted to the engine bearers will also help protect passers by from the spinning flywheel, as well as providing easy access and simple removal of both alternators to allow work on the engine.
Most of the switch panel is now connected and installed in the upper cupboard with remote control panel for the Combi above and an immersion heater switch below. The service battery monitor is working as are both tank gauges, but still awaiting the bowthruster batteries so no indication from that monitor yet. They will be remotely and automatically isolated via a cunning relay operated motorised isolator which mimics the service battery one. In the lower cupboard keeping the AC and DC systems essentially separate, is the neatly installed small consumer unit for AC distribution and circuit protection. A multi-colour LED shore power polarity indicator has been fitted within it on the left. Galvanic isolator connections can be seen at the top.

Proving that Tony isn't just an electrics wizard, he was fitting the traditional push/pull control linkage to the hydraulic gearbox whilst I was there.

The Spinflo gas hob has been fitted and another of Steve's workforce was preparing the matching oven/grill for installation, whilst seemingly seconds later fitting the stern nav light in the continuous drizzle. Water pump with inlet filter and pressure accumulator have also been fitted, sitting immediately in front of the water tank, with easy access from behind the cabin steps.

Despite this activity there is still an awful lot of work to complete not least the sign writing. On first impression then during this visit, I was doubtful the boat would be able to move under its own steam before the end of this month. However I'm assured it will although final details like the bowthruster itself and the diesel heater installation may come later. In fairness many missing bits are already pre-fabricated and will be fitted soon with little further effort. Can't wait for next visit in about three weeks.