– What’s it all about alphi? –
The dream started five years ago when we saw a new build Aqualine replica Dutch Barge. We both new that this was the dream we didn’t know we had. We rightly decided then and there that we weren’t going to buy the first thing we saw, so we drew up a plan. That plan was to view all makes, models and sizes, old and new. Then work out our finances.
So we looked at them all and came to two of the three decisions. One it was going to be a new build and two it was going to be a Piper new build. However the third, model and size would take the full five years! The finances were worked out and with hard work and a lot of saving our plan was put in place.
The model and size was a constant battle, not helped by Simon who at every meeting with him would throw us a curve ball by showing us something better than what we thought we wanted!
On the 13th March 2014 (Alison’s birthday) we went to the Stoke factory to commission a 60 foot Piper Dutch Barge. Yes the curve ball got us again. Simon this time showed us what we thought we didn’t want but turned out to be exactly what we were striving to find. This came in the shape of Letrec. She is a 49 foot by 14 foot, single cabin, fixed wheel house and all the space we wanted.
alphi was conceived on that day, so to make it semi legal I proposed to Alison that evening in the Talbot restaurant in Biddulph. Luckily Alison agreed. The name for our new boat is made up from both our names, Alison and Phil.
alphi was launched onto the Thames at the Kennet and Avon marina on the 9th of October 2014 by a team of real professional craftsmen. She was better than we had even dreamed about and we are so pleased.
We have sailed motor cruisers up and down the river Thames for over ten years but alphi is by far the easiest that we have handled. That is until we came to our first lock, Sonning Lock. Twelve foot wide motor cruisers went into every lock on the Thames with ease. Fourteen foot wide alphi was a different story. Picture the scene, Simon on the bow with only what I can now describe as a knowing grin on his face and watching my face intently. I lined alphi up and headed into the lock with the gates open feeling confident. As we approached the lock I suddenly got the feeling that the lock was shrinking before my eyes and a cold sweat was starting to engulf me. We made it with a good foot to spare either side and I felt myself calming down. I looked at Simon who was now chuckling to himself!
At every stage of the build that we saw, the Piper staff were second to none with their high standard of professionalism, knowledge and friendliness. I have not seen this so well executed in a factory environment before. I have to mention Vinney who constantly had us in fits of laughter whilst doing a formidable job. The standard of fitment on alphi is excellent so a big thank you to all who work at pipers.
Seven weeks on and we are still pinching ourselves that she is ours and can’t wait for the spring to take her up the Thames and meet our fellow Piper Dutch barge owners. Please give us a shout when you see us.
My only dilemma is what I can do for Alison’s birthday next year.
Alison & Phil
