A teenaged carpenter completely transformed a shabby canal boat that he bought for just £5,000 into a luxury holiday home for his mother and 11-year-old sister.
Billy Walden, from Bentham, Lancaster, spent just eight weeks transforming the uninhabitable boat into an incredible masterpiece.
The 18 year old started learning carpentry at just 14, and decided to take on a larger project after successfully renovating a Volkswagen camper all by himself.
His mother, Jayne Walden, 47, spent £5,000 on the old boat with the intention of Billy refurbishing it last summer.
Billy said: ‘I really enjoyed refurbishing the canal boat – it was great to be able create a holiday home for me, my mum, Jayne and sister, Matilda, 11.
Billy Walden, from Bentham, Lancaster, spent just eight weeks transforming a shabby canal boat into an incredible holiday home for his mother Jayne and sister Matilda (pictured together)
The 18 year old started learning carpentry at just 14, and decided to take on a larger project after successfully renovating a Volkswagen camper all by himself
Inside there are rooms for each of the family members. Pictured: Matilda’s room which she has decorated with plenty of unicorns
So far the family have sailed the boat, which is named Matilda Jayne, down the canal from Tewitfield to Preston
‘It took a lot of hard work as it needed completely restructuring; it should have actually cost more around £12,000 but because it didn’t pass all the survey tests, we were able to get it a bit cheaper.
‘We then spent around £2,800 renovating it to how we wanted it to look – there’s rooms for both Matilda and I, a bath, open plan glass doors that lead on to the deck and even car seats from an Audi I bought from a local scrap yard.
‘After I’d previously renovated a camper van, I wanted to do something bigger and better and my mum just happened to come across the boat.
‘I’m a bit of an introvert and I’ve never been into video games and stuff like many lads my age – my idea of fun is spending time in the workshop near my home.
‘So far we’ve travelled the whole down canal from Tewitfield to Preston, we all love being on it together and the boat is even named after my sister and mum as it’s called Matilda Jayne.’
Billy said: ‘I’m a bit of an introvert and I’ve never been into video games and stuff like many lads my age – my idea of fun is spending time in the workshop near my home.’ Pictured: the entrance to the boat
Mrs Walden bought the boat, pictured before work began, for just £5,000 as it didn’t pass all the necessary survey tests
Now the boat has been completely transformed, with plenty of space inside for the whole family to relax. Pictured: the living room, leading on to the deck
The budding carpenter started college at just 14 years old and studied joinery and carpentry for three years at Lancaster and Morecombe College.
Billy achieved Level 1 AIM award in just a year where he covered plumbing, joinery, carpentry hand skills, bricklaying and assisting in a brickwork workshop. AIM awards are employer-led qualifications in specific industries such as carpentry.
Due to this, Billy skipped an academic year at school for being so advanced and started his Level 2 in carpentry and joinery aged 15.
He added: ‘People have called me a carpentry genius but I don’t think I am – I’m just me. I really enjoy doing my work and I often spend up to 15 hours a day in my workshop because I lose track of time.
The budding carpenter started college at just 14 years old and studied joinery and carpentry for three years at Lancaster and Morecombe College. Pictured: the boat before and after
Billy added: ‘People have called me a carpentry genius but I don’t think I am – I’m just me. I really enjoy doing my work and I often spend up to 15 hours a day in my workshop because I lose track of time’
Billy is taking part in the biggest carpentry competition in the country in the coming weeks through his college – meaning he could achieve his dream of becoming a ‘master carpenter’, the highest level you could achieve. Pictured: the kitchen
‘I’m working on quite a few things at the moment such as another VW camper van and Volkswagen LT Beer mobile conversion.’
Billy is taking part in the biggest carpentry competition in the country in the coming weeks through his college – meaning he could achieve his dream of becoming a ‘master carpenter’, the highest level you could achieve.
His proud mother Mrs Walden said: ‘Billy doesn’t realise how good he is, his tutor from college said he was “exceptional” at what he does!
‘He’s won a previous competition that led to him being offered Licentiate by The Institute of Carpenters; this equates to Degree level.
‘He also was awarded a separate outstanding achievement award in carpentry and joinery from his college. I’m so unbelievably proud of Billy and what he’s achieved, and what he’s going to achieve in his life.
‘We’ve already enjoyed a few trips together on the boat, Matilda loves it.’