LoopyLou

I have been sharing on Twitter & just received a message it has been found? Is this true?? @canal_network

More News..... History is coming together and thought I would share with all of you after all your help Built - Canal & River Craft Ltd Email Information from Shire Cruisers "It was intended to go as a sponsored boat to Adventure Cruisers at Catforth on the Lancaster Canal. I have no record of its intended name. It was largely finished apart from having no engine when Canal & River Craft failed in 1982. It was then bought at auction by another company which was on this site at the time. They sold it to the then landlord of a local pub, who called it Tyke after one of his brews, or the other way round. He fitted a secondhand BMC 1.5 engine, and lived on it for a bit, using plastic beer pipe for his gas system…. We then bought it from him in about 1983, finished it off and ran it in our fleet as Rutland. We changed the engine (new Lister LPWS3) in 1989. We sold it in February 1992." Neil is an amazing man to still have records. He is going to try and find me some photos :-)

Decided to look at the guide book there is an advert for Sowerby Marine in it! http://www.flickr.com/photos/76958719@N04/8189608511/in/photostream

I emailed Shire Cruisers and he came back saying the guide has my wife’s handwriting on it and he will see if he can trace the number and more information on the boat today :-)

Is the boat builder register with british waterways (the trust) from new? What engine do you think it originally had?

This is so exciting. I suppose I should ask the question. Do they build good boats? Bit late to ask now we have brought her :-) The Waterways Guide with writing on http://www.flickr.com/photos/76958719@N04/8188665064/in/photostream Do you think they keep history of their boat? Is it worth asking them?

Is the boat builder register with british waterways (the trust) from new? The other day buried under alot of rubbish we found a few books. The Manuel for the Lister LPW(s)3 which has been run under water and now terminally ill. If anyone knows where I can get one for her would love to hear from you. The other is a West Yorkshire Waterways Guide with "Shire Cruisers Please Leave" written on the front

Thank you all so much I have enjoying all your responses. Its like a treasure hunt As we have been sanding her we have noticied some paint coming through. It would look like she had a spade on both ends of the boat. The surveyor said he remembers a hire company called "ace of spades" and wonders if that had anything to do with her. We believe her original colours was Navy Blue and the roof has a number of colours red / dark green / light blue / grey / red I have been out and taken more photos and uploaded them to flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/76958719@N04/8187463933/in/photostream http://www.flickr.com/photos/76958719@N04/8187464205/in/photostream http://www.flickr.com/photos/76958719@N04/8187464441/in/photostream http://www.flickr.com/photos/76958719@N04/8188544492/in/photostream http://www.flickr.com/photos/76958719@N04/8187465021/in/photostream The previous owner said "we believe she was made in Yorkshire possibly at or around Stamford Bridge" Her name is MEMETTE which we dont know where it originated and registration number 076364 She has been in Whixall for at least the last 10 years I really would love to know more about her history and really appreciate all your help.

I am hoping someone might be able to help me. We have recently purchased a rather sad neglected 1975 ex hire narrowboat. We have had a survey and the hull was in great condition even though the poor boat was in an awful state. It has a GRP top which is in reasonable condition and surveyor suggested we leave it rather than replace with steel. The big question is no one seems to know who built it and we would love to find out. Most suggest Harborough Marine but no one is sure. A local engineer said he has seen similar boats around. We are hoping someone on here may know the answer It has two unusual features a very distinctive high bow which sweeps upwards quite dramatically and the gas holders built into the back of the boat. Any ideas? http://www.flickr.com/photos/76958719@N04/8187317133/in/photostream http://www.flickr.com/photos/76958719@N04/8187317675/in/photostream The Hull has been measured at 5.2/ 5.8mm all over and I have heard that when these were built they were built with only a 6mm base plate through the 1970's. After all these years seem very small amount of corrosion? It has not even been blacked in over 10 years! We are getting conflicting advise on whether to replate or not. With majority saying don't touch was built with good quality English steel. Thanks so much and look forward to hearing from you all