James Owen

I spoke with the new owner yesterday, a pleasant chap with realistic expectations on what he's bought. He had, in fact, been after the boat for several months so the 'mailshot' was probably, to my mind at least, not really necessary.

Or 77 years, depending on your mathematics. ?

I agree Pete. Each owner be they commercial or private individuals has, and shall continue to do so, left their mark on these boats whilst under their respective tenures and I believe that is no bad thing. If every boat were 'as built' that would make for some tedious sights. I concede that budget restraints will ultimately decide on what degree of 'restoration' any boat is likely to undergo but that shouldn't, in this day and age and with the original present for use as a reference, affect the overall shape of the boat. As one boat builder put it "it's as flat as a witches t*t and all welded". Does that not make it sanitised?

I believe it is. Ex-Ladybank.

An optimistic price I'd agree, even more so given that the Theophilus' hull has been somewhat 'sanitised' and no longer bears any resemblance to a Middle boat, has an incomplete (albeit Tim Leech built) ten year old (at least) cabin that was cut off another Grand Union motor and a RN that hasn't run for several years. Yes, "kit form" just about covers it ??

B&Q

Unless the mooring in question is the disabled mooring just South of Butchers? From memory, always allocated to the Joseph.

Are there currently any boats, histeric or otherwise, retailing fuel south of Napton?

Yep!

I think you'll find Mr Finchers posts often include a caveat, notwithstanding his poor knowledge, I can only presume he prefers to sound knowledgeable but in essence is sparsely enlightened.

Having spent countless hours working a push tug which had an OM636 as it's soul, I'd have to say they are less than pleasing to listen to (comparable to a three pot H-series☺) but undeniably a good, reliable beast and easy to work on too!!

Are these working drawings available?

Very good...

I doubt it's even an educated guess, more supposition than anything. I spoke with the owner last year and he rolled a list of possible names out so how he's narrowed it down (no pun intended) I've no idea.