Vlog 331: Hull’s Angel

What do you do if you want a custom-designed boat to live on but don’t have the budget to buy a new-build? Clearly, you buy an old but sound boat and tear out the interior for a refit to your own tastes and that’s just what Gabs Heneghan has done. In this first episode following her progress, we see the boat she’s bought as it is now before the refurb has begun.

Her project is named Butterbusk (though she has plans to rename it) and it’s 9 feet wide which is actually slim for a widebeam, and about 40 feet long. It seems to be a very substantial construction with thick steel and a huge anchor windlass at the bow. A wheelhouse at the rear looks alarmingly as though it can’t be folded down which could cause issues for Gabs on the London waterways but she’ll cross (or rather, go under) that bridge when she gets to it.

For now, she needs to take out the bare bones interior that the prior owner had begun to install, add spray foam insulation to the walls and ceiling, put up new plywood boarding for the floor, walls and ceilings, along with new plumbing and electrics.

Much of this Gabs will do herself as she is a veteran of prior boat-builds constructed with her (now ex) boyfriend but for some of the work, specialists will be hired. She’s hoping to have the whole thing done in just a few months though inevitably this may have to slip due to the everyday aspects of life and work.

I will check back in a few months to see how she’s getting on but in the meantime, you can follow her progress on her Instagram channel at www.instagram.com/gabs_afloatlondon