Part of the long term plan for the internal layout has involved the removal of the single bed Em currently occupies and replacing it with a dinette double. This would allow for Em to have the permanent double amidships and us to have effectively the use of the whole front half of the boat, including the kitchen, our bed / dining table area and the office. At the moment if (when) Em has a lie- in (being a teenager that's most days that contain the letter 'd' or 'y') we can not use the computers or access the front deck without doing the gunnel shuffle.

We have looked at various suppliers and sketched several designs (some based on surreptitious measurements of other boats) but the cost has thus far been prohibitive, typically around £500 or so.

A few days ago, we saw on the marina's bank side a dinette - a complete dinette - table top, desmo leg - the lot. We went over in the darkness and gentle drizzle to investigate and started measuring up when its' owner popped his head out of his boat and said 'You can have it if you want, I'm going to burn it.' What an offer - and it gets better - 'You can have all of the cushions too if you want them'.

I am lead to believe that the operation to have a snatched-off hand reattached is a relatively short one and I hope he recovers soon.

Next morning we dropped Em off at school then dismantled her bed. That's an incentive to get the job done. We moved the good ship Wych Way over to the dinette (easier than hauling the dinette round to the boat) and started that well practiced art - trying to get something very big and bulky through a rather small hole, namely the front door.

Amazingly everything fitted. The only slight snag is that it makes a full sized single and we need a 4ft by 6ft 6 double so a little 'modification' is going to be required. All in all though it has been a brilliant find and we look forward to regaining half a boat. It has created a new family area as well as much needed horizontal space for some of the many and  varied 'projects' that happen here.