Once the boat was out of the water, I got my first proper look at the hull.

I will be honest, I was nervous about this part. When you buy an older narrowboat, there is always that slight worry about what you might discover once she is lifted or taken out of the water. Thankfully, after having a good look myself and speaking to a few people who know more than I do, the general opinion seems to be that Sarang has a solid hull.

That was a big relief.

The next job was to get the hull jet washed. Because the boat had only just come out of the water, this was the best time to do it. While the debris, mud and canal build-up were still wet, it made sense to get as much of it off as possible before starting the blacking process.

So, on went the overalls, safety goggles and gloves.

Jet washing the hull is definitely a dirty job. It is also hard work, especially when you are new to it and still figuring things out as you go. But it was also incredibly satisfying. As I worked around the boat, I began to reveal parts of the steel underneath, clearing away years of grime and debris from the canal.

One of the most interesting discoveries was around the propeller shaft. There was a rope caught around the propeller, which may explain why Sarang had previously been described as a slow boat. If she has not been moved much in the past, that rope could easily have been causing extra drag and limiting her power.

It will be very interesting to see how she performs on the way back.

Walking around Sarang in the dry dock was a strange but exciting experience. You get used to seeing a narrowboat sitting in the water, so seeing the full hull exposed gives you a completely different understanding of the boat. It makes the whole thing feel more real. You see the size of the job, but you also see the strength and character of the boat.

This is exactly why I wanted to do more of this myself.

I am new to narrowboat life, and I am learning as I go, but that is part of the journey. I do not want to experience everything through other people. I want to understand Sarang properly, learn what needs doing, make mistakes, ask for advice, and get stuck in where I can.

The next stage will be preparing the hull for blacking. I am still waiting for the blacking paint to arrive, but once it does, I will start working on the hull properly. I may need to fill a few small areas first before applying the full coats, but I will be getting advice before moving ahead.

For now, Sarang has been towed to the dry dock, the hull has been jet washed, the propeller rope has been discovered, and I have taken another step forward in understanding the boat.

It was hard work, it was dirty, and it was a bit nerve-wracking — but honestly, it was also exciting.

This is boat life. Learning, discovering, and taking things one job at a time.

Thanks for following the journey.

See you all soon.

Liam & Sarang
Life afloat, one project at a time.

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