Dav and Pen

My experience of H2O is that they do not do cheap they are a very established broker. If the barge is at St Jean they have a trailer that can pull a boat of this size out of the water for an inspection. With the survey report it should be easy to see if there is any thing obviously wrong. Doubleing is perfectly normal on barges of this age as they were not built originally of more than 5.5mm steel . The Peugeot based engine could be repaired anywhere in France. 50000 is to much however.

You won’t get caught out by the closed canal as the information is well published and is Oct 31 to April 1st so if you are on one of these you won’t be moving at all. The commercial canals and of course the rivers don’t close. The vignette is the license to move. We absolutely loved the French waterways and only stopped because of health issues.

At that price you must be bit suspicious. It is a bit narrow but otherwise looks ok. H2O are not known for being cheap quite the reverse if work is needed. There are French surveyors and one Dutch man based in Burgundy but nothings cheap I’m afraid.

As long as it’s under 20m there are really no regulations for the boat you have to comply with but your insurer will want a survey every 5 or 7 years. You will need an ICC steering certificate or the French equivalent only hire boats are exempt and ideally a vhf radio certificate. We had a winter mooring contract with VNF which was about 330 euros for a 22m barge. Many canals close for the winter months in any case. Electricity and water on the small moorings range from free to between 2 and 5 euros a day but can be much more in popular places. There is also a vignette from vnf needed when moving.

Didn’t go to that one but took a load of coal down for the opening of the upper Avon. Queen mother opened that.

Had a walk at Braunston this afternoon and saw this don’t know wether it’s advertised anywhere.

Grade 2 listed and west Northants council not a good combination (speaks from experience)

I had never been to the Braunston show until this year as we have been on the continent for 18 years and then the plague. I’m not a fan of shiny paintwork but do like polished brass. Met some old friends and made some new ones and people who are serious about maintaining the boats even if they are not”working boats” . I tried to make a joke to the friends of Raymond’s crew by saying they were in the wrong place ie on the corner by the bridge but it fell flat as they said this is our place. Great atmosphere between the crews and I for one thoroughly enjoyed it.

Both Colin and Jeff where apprentices to Willow Wren

I knew both the founders of Rugby Boatbuilders very well. Colin Payne and Jeff ? They both had been apprentices at Braunston and started up at Hillmorton next to the pub. They built up a good business but sold out in the end. The original boats had wooden cabins as was common at the time like Barney boats and Jeff was a very good carpenter / joiner. I can’t remember ever seeing a steel hull being built but it’s a long time ago. They quickly got into the hire business and my eldest daughter helped with the turnarounds. The Stowe Hill yard was developed by Peter Hill trading as Stowe Hill boats and his hulls had a very distinctive style.

I’d go along with the Nivernais there are locks but they are all manned usually by students in summer .Theres a Le boat base and also Locaboat on the Northern side of the summit and it’s well geared for tourists with plenty of restaurants on route as well as the towns of Clamecy and Auxerre with its beautiful Cathedral. It’s a mixture of canal and river.

They do in France although is is a 3lock staircase on the Nivernais canal.

The chimneys and building certainly look like a brickworks.

Had stones thrown at madam steering down the Wolverhampton flight. They didn’t realize I was the other side of the bridge setting the locks and I managed to get a couple of blows in before they ran off. On the Mac had some orange pop (at least I think it was) expertly poured down my neck from a high bridge.

It is possible to get a long term Visa but it’s quite complicated needing health insurance and a minimum income. crossed with Bee.