We had sailed a small yacht on the Blackwater for a few years years. Some of the things that we wanted on a narrowboat were, a large galley, a good shower, plenty of light, ample supplies of water, a proper toilet, things just not possible on a small yacht. Above all the boat had to be comfortable. We also wanted a good diesel engine, a reliable electrical system, good reading lights in the forward cabin. As for aesthetics we spent a long time measuring boats we liked and boats we disliked. We found that just a few inches made the difference between OK and beautiful (in our eyes). We also had a policy of 'Buying British' which in 1995 was pie in the sky for 80% of the fittings. After twelve years we think our boat has stood the test of time.

Construction.

Our boat was built by South West Durham Steelcraft in Co Durham. Local to us but a long way from any canal. On our our first visit to find a builder we were armed with a waterways magazine with a cover photograph of a boat we liked. Our question "do you think you could build a boat something like this one", had a response, " yes I think so, I actually built that boat." The boat builder ( Mr Flynn) gave us the name of a boat owner who was a not a satisfied customer. We thought the boat was beautiful and its owner a little unreasonable. We paid our deposit for a slot which was two weeks away and gave him our plans. We had a good idea what we wanted and had made a plan down to the last inch on a large piece of graph paper. We were fully aware that a change of mind once construction had started would be expensive. We had taken a full year over the planning stage so we were fairly confident. The boat yard was a long shed on the site of a former Quaker owned colliery and our boat was to emerge later much as a butterfly emerges from its cocoon. Our relationship with our builder was always very amicable. We both listened to each other. I took photographs at least weekly and sometimes I thought I was taking too many. Not true, some of those photographs are a boon when we are planning our 12 year major dock. So for a ridiculously small amount of money, (only by todays standards) our boat was launched at Calcutt.

Layout   (all approximate lengths):...............

Bow and Fore Deck........ 10'
Lounge......................... 12'
Galley........................7'
Shower room........................5'
Bedroom........................ 8'
Engine Room................. 5'
Aft Deck........................ 3'
 
 
Description:

Structure

Builder: South West Durham Steelcraft. Year: 1995 Trad Style:- 10mm bottom/6mm hull sides/4mm superstructure. Length: 51'. Beam: 6' 10. ;
 

Engine/Transmission

 BMC 1.8. Newage PRM Gearbox. Engine Downrated to 30hp. Crowther Prop

Electrical System:

12volt from 75amp alternator with Adverc. Dual battery system for engine and cabin. Four Elecosol 110amp cabin batteries and 1 Traction battery. 240volt wiring for landline or generator connection. Portable Honda EX650 Emergency Generator. 240 Volt 40 Amp Shore Line Charger Fitted. Normally we are reluctant to accept guests who ask where to plug in their hair driers,but lately we have relented and fitted an 1800 Watt Invertor.We now accept dolly birds as guests as long as they bring their purse.
 
 Cabin Fittings:

Fit out by Builder. Vanette SL cooker with 4 burner hob. Inlander 12volt refrigerator. Twin-coil calorifier. Kabola Diesel Fired (Drip Feed) Central Heating. Furniture in cabin loose. We have fitted a gas alarm to lower our insurance costs.
Italian Radiators.  
 

Berths:

Permanent Double in Open Cabin. Rooflight in Aft cabin

Bathroom/Heads: Mansfield Pump-out Toilet. Macerator with Pump. Mixer Shower in Tiled Area. Hand Wash Basin.

Hindsight..20/20

Our Shurflo pump started to leak after four years. After toting it around several repair yards the consensus of opinion seemed to be, scrap it. Our weed hatch is the best we have seen on the canal. It is simple to open, fast about (30 seconds literally) and gives superb access to the prop. The Kabola fire after setting up burns extremely well but needs cleaning out from carbon build up every six months (constant use) If you are lucky enough to have a boat built ensure every item that needs to be regularly serviced is fully accessible. Preferably not on your hands and knees at full stretch. Kabola fires have a distinct advantage over some fires in that Kabola fires seem to extract water moisture from inside the boat and expel it up the chimney. The Adverc charging system is the best thing since sliced bread. If there is anything on the boat which is FIT AND FORGET this is it. It was well worth specifying a Crowther Prop. The boat stops on the proverbial sixpence, starts well and you know instantly when even the smallest piece of debris is wrapped round the prop, or on the shaft, because the prop goes 'off tune'.