Bruised and Battered to Bomb-proof

The boat has been smashed about a lot. Today we fixed it. Peyman's theory is that it took a direct hit. He might be right. I was less concerned about forensics and wanted to repair it. I wanted to put the 6.36m long skirt I'd been working so hard on into action! I had spend a large chunk of Saturday (2nd Aug) cutting the scarf joints so was keen to see them in action.

10am Toolstation for rope (to attach tyre fenders), 130mm carriage bolts (upgrade from 110mm to give more purchase for the nut and space for a washer (timber is 50mm wide (x2=100mm)), portable LED for navigating through the 1km long tunnel at Angel, more metal strap for attaching barrels. Yes I am tired.

Lugging the battery to charge it before our journey - this was a sneaky bit of brains by me. With all the focus on the construction of the boat, it would have been easy to overlook that the battery 1. Needs to be on the boat in order for it to function (ie. don't forget to bring it) and 2. Needs to have sufficient charge.

This really wound me up how difficult it was getting this big fucker upstairs. First through these fire doors. Then up 5 flights as the lift was out of action. Then realising Peyman had my key and wasn't around. So then back down 5 flights and walked it to storage across the road. Then Peyman messaged to tell me he was in his studio, so up 4 flights. When you come on the boat tap me on the shoulder and ask if you can lift the battery. I will happily oblige. Then think back to this... Thank you.

6.36m each for the two lengths that will make up the skirt of the deck. The thicker the wood, the stronger it is. Simple principle but easily overlooked. Just like why bolts are stronger than screws - because the shaft is thicker - makes it stronger.

"Spreading out". This is in the rear forecourt of the studio block. Public woodwork is far less relaxed than in a private environment. An extra challenge. A lot of the resistance to this project is an internalised sense that 'you can't do that'. Taking action nevertheless is important for me. I have the term 'spread out' in my head which I associate with my friend's mother. I can hear her encouraging me to 'spread out' - maybe when painting or laying out a picnic, who knows. I think her observation was that I incline towards shrinking myself in order to take up as little space as possible. It's a form of shyness based in the fear of attack if I reveal myself. Art is public and reveals which is a constant act of facing up to potential scrutiny and the negativity and judgment that comes with it. It is a big part of what stops artists and civilians to hide themselves. This boat and its construction is very public and takes up a lot of space so I am enacting the way I'd like to be. The discomfort of taking up space remains but I continue with it there.

The underside of the sub-decks. The empty cavities are where the 220L barrels are secured. The black on the OSB/chipboard is bitumen - good for insulation and waterproofing (residual from shed dismantle). The green is shed stain (which has some weather-proofing component) and is decorated with dried out feet of an ivy plant that was removed from the wood.

Cutting the board for the underside of the subdeck. The chipboard is far less dense than plywood or the 2x4 so the saw glides through it. Wonderful feeling.

Arrive at the boat at 17:30hr. Peyman is knackered. He started his working day at 8am and his back was hurting. I am so pumped up on nerves I don't feel a thing. In this photo you can see how wonky the boat had become. Being bashed about and potentially rammed has left it in a bit of a state. I was keen to get the skirting onto straighten everything out and reinforce the structure.

Sam and Peyman checking the damage. This gives you some idea of the lateral wonk. First 3m of 2x6 skirting is laid out on the deck in this photo.

Starting at one end, secure a 130mm carriage bolt through two bits of 2x4. Peyman is drilling a 10mm clearance hold for the M10 bolt ( 'M' stands for millimetres in bolt world *eye roll emoji and 10 stands for 10, so M10 is 10mm shaft) . Bolt bashed through with a hammer. Once the first bolt is in, the skirt can rotate on the X-axis to match the level of the next piece of decking. When the previously wonky sub-deck and skirt are flush at the top face, the clamps are secured and the next bolt is attached. Process repeated for third sub-deck. Then we return to reinforce the join with a second bolt below the top one. This secures the skirt in the vertical plane preventing rotation on the Y-axis.

First skirt is attached. It was tempting to swivel the boat at this point and work on the opposite equivalent side. Since time is something that is very precious when working to a tight deadline, it is more economical to complete one side first. This meant attaching these hill-billy tyre fenders I picked up from Don Smith's garage in Walthamstow. At this point it wasn't clear how to attach the fenders. We opted for a long screw and although it was difficult to access the inside gutter of the tyre, we found a way. It is good enoguht for now.

On some areas of the boat there are spots where it's possible to tie rope. This made attaching the tyre fenders easier.

At 20:10hr I was acutely aware that the sun was setting and wanted to get the boys out in the boat with some beers. While Peyman secured some flooring to further strengthen the structure, I hopped in my 2010 Citroen C3 Picasso and motored down to the shops, launching myself off the speed bumps on Gloucester Crescent to the COop and got us a load of beers. We were good little boys and waited until we were moving before cracking them open. Old man wisdom from Peyman. I wanted to drink them while I was in the shop.

Peyman is desperate for a fag and a beer at this point. But he fights on! Electric trolling motor on board ready to be secured to the transom (bit at the back of the boat that it gets attached to). Motor is 3.0 Horse Power for all the men out there. Matt has shed some doubt on its ability to power the finished deck. He is boaty so has a bit of experience. I contradict his feelings and I think it will be fine. Think of 3 horses. That's a lot of horse. They can easily drag this thing.

Today was Andy's first time helping out on the boat. He has taken a great interest in the project since the start and he was one of the first people that I floated the idea of getting about to. He listens to me with wide-eyed wonder and thinks I'm nuts. He is fully on-board for the ride though! This is us trolling along in a really surreal moment. Seeing the boat when we arrived it probably looked quite a sorry sight. Witnessing and taking part in its metamorphosis into a sturdy, sea-worthy vessel was a powerful experience. We were all knackered by this point and in a zero-gravity dream.

Andy (foreground), Peyman (moustache) and me (me). You can just about make out the Ice Wharf pub in the top right of this photo. We had just trolled up there and everyone in the beer garden looked on in wonder as we approached. The phones were out and everyone was smiling and waving. A little boy on the bridge asked if we had a horn which he wanted us to sound. I told him we didn't have one and made a mental note: 'Must get horn'.

We tucked the bed in for the night under a tarpaulin. Went to bed buzzing. Such surreal magic.