On 13th May, Perseverance came out of the shed...
...went down the road to Droitwich Spa Marina...
...and was craned into the water...
...where Roma and I performed the traditional naming ceremony...
...with a bottle of "Proper Job". We then "cruised" her 200 yards to her mooring.
Now, you may well ask "How did thing go? What was the performance? Did the battery temperature cause concern, and did the sheets fit the novel bedroom?" and a thousand more questions beside. Well, I am sorry, but you'll just have to wait.
Shortly after launching, Roma and I went on a narrowboat holiday with old friends. On a hire boat, using a booking they had made in 2020 but which was held over for a year due to Covid. So Perseverance hasn't moved since!
Plans are to join the Ortomarine narrowboat trial on 29th May, and straight afterwards to receive our first guests for a cruise up Tardebigge to Birmingham. As soon as we've done a few miles and I have a moment to myself, I promise to tell all (well, almost all).
Please keep up the good work!
I will be designing my own electric narrowboat when I return to the UK in January. Your blogs are excellent and give much credence to a well thought out design process. I may contact you in the future for some advise!
I'd be delighted to join you, but I suspect Perseverance is not fit for a North Sea crossing. At 4mph it would take over a week to make the journey, not allowing for slower speeds in tunnels!
Congratulations Dave! Nice boat. Here in the Ålesund area march is the fishing season for cod!
This is the fourth narrowboat I know of called the Perseverance. I know the dredger it was named after as it was at the museum in Ellesmere Port when I was there some time ago.
I've just read all of these blogs, in an afternoon, and found the whole lot fascinating. Thank you. I admire your attention to detail and logical approach, not to mention your ambition to be as environmentally friendly as possible. You have built the boat I want.