Elsie May - A 57ft Narrowboat

Elsie May — 12 years on, the results speak for themselves

We built Elsie May in 2012, preparing her hull by shot blasting before applying two-pack epoxy blacking. Twelve years later, she returned to us in part exchange as her owners took delivery of their second bespoke narrowboat built by Bluewater Boats.

During those years, her owners had only carried out touch-ups to the original coating, making her return a fantastic opportunity to see how that preparation and protection had stood the test of time.

The photographs below show her hull as she came out of the water in 2024, followed by its condition after jet washing alone. No fresh blacking, no shot blasting and no repairs before these photographs — just the original hull protection, cleaned to reveal its condition.

The result? No pitting or corrosion was found on the hull.

This is a superb example of the long-term benefits of getting the preparation right from the very beginning. Shot blasting removes mill scale and provides a clean, properly prepared surface for the epoxy to bond to, helping it form a durable protective barrier against water and corrosion.

For Elsie May, that investment at the build stage, supported by touch-ups over the years, delivered exceptional protection for 12 years and beyond.

Quality preparation makes a lasting difference. Protecting the steel today can help avoid costly remedial work in the future — and Elsie May shows just how worthwhile that can be.

Boat: Elsie May