Floating Shack Update

Wherethehell-RweWherethehell-Rwe, our new 70 foot, 22 ton narrowboat was launched last week whilst we were in Disneyland. For once I’m actually speachless!

The fit out starts in earnest since it’s the factory’s show boat at the Inland Waterways 2008 show, end of May. This means that Mike and the boys need to get some overtime in and finish inside seven weeks. Record breaking stuff.

I’m fitting a TS2000 up front with an RC-2000 remote head at the steering position with an 800w PEP feedpoint ATU connected to a Shakespeare Marine 5300 SSB antenna on a Barenco hinge. This means when we are stationary, I can raise it up easily and play HF. I’ve also specified a quad-band mini vertical for 10, 6, 2 and 70cms near the stern that I can lift-n-tilt when needed (bridges and trees) as we’re driving along. I’ll truly be a mobile station.

The only thing I haven’t managed to shoe-horn in is SGC’s 500w amplifier. We just can’t seem to find the room to fit it and supply the air-flow along with up to 100 amps of 12V DC. We’re putting the cables in though in case I can find a place up fron in the future.. a 60 foot run at 100 amps..? Woah.

Anyway, we’re dead excited and look forward to working many of our friends whilst “mobile”. Watch this space!

More photos: https://www.m0mcx.co.uk/gallery/index.php?/category/62

73

Callum.