Seven Stars is currently being built by Reading Marine Ltd at Aldermaston Wharf, near Reading, Berkshire. This is a picture diary of the boat's construction and fit out. Bookmark the diary index page so that you can come back at regular intervals to check progress.

15 January, 2000
The diary begins at the end of 1999 when the specification/list of features was agreed with Reading Marine.

Just before Christmas, Graham Reeves of Coventry began fabrication of the steel hull and superstructure.
 

24 January, 2000
The completed shell is delivered to Reading Marine. The holding tank and the water tank are both made of steel and have been constructed as part of the shell.
 

The interior is primed and ready for the services to be installed (the bow thruster tube can be seen under the bow deck).
 

5 February, 2000
The windows and portholes are fitted and the interior is prepared to receive the concrete slabs used for ballast.
 

11 March, 2000
Quite a transformation! The floor is installed and the cabin walls and ceiling are lined with expanded polystyrene sheets for insulation.  The positions of fittings, fitted furniture and bulkheads are marked out on the floor.

At this stage we discussed the layout with Reading Marine and adjustments were made to the original plan. In such a narrow space (2 metres wide) every centimetre counts. The relative position of furniture and fittings needs to be visualised as precisely as possible to avoid creating areas that are awkward or even impossible to use.

28 March, 2000
The light oak lining has been fitted over the insulated walls. David, one of Reading Marine's carpenters, prepares the ceiling battens so that the lining can be completed. The interior now sprouts wires indicating that the boat's electrical cabling is in place and the position of lights and switches has been determined.
 

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