Cally Hanna

Hello all, Well, unfortunately I was away checking out other areas and trying to spread the word when Cally got found and all these other posts appeared. Firstly, and most importantly, thanks to all those who helped (or at least tried) with locating Cally. Regarding how near to the Ashby she was found, I am very saddened and upset that I didn't go down there to make absolutely sure. Unfortunately the evening I found her missing (the day after she left the Ashby) I spoke to a boater and partner (moored a few miles from the end of the Ashby) about what had happened and tried to get any information they might have. I was informed that they'd just come from Coventry and had seen nothing like that at all, which in my shocked state I logged in my brain as being certain that she wasn't down that bit of the Coventry Canal. I have no reason to doubt that this information was given in complete good faith, but I ought to have checked it for myself. Replacing the superstructure: Yes I was planning to do this, but the plan was to do this in sections in 3mm steel to closely match the original (bow topped) superstructure shape as accurately as possible. This was to be done by removing the zinc and plywood skin, then fitting the new section over the remaining timber structure (bulkheads, runners, ribs) prior to welding to the hull. That won't work now, so if I can still bring myself to tackle the job after so much damage has been done I will need a completely new plan. Insurance: What insurance? Cally had Basic Boat Liability insurance only - innocent soul that I am I never expected the whole boat to be stolen and most of the stuff inside had far more sentimental value than cash value, or so I used to think anyway. When it comes to replacing it, I might change my mind! So if any of you were thinking this was a glorified insurance scam you are sadly mistaken. I don't know whether or not the engine is still there yet. I have heard that there may be a photo out there showing her stern sitting far too high in the water. It could be that this was the whole point of the theft - someone was stealing a Lister SR2 to order? But that is speculation on my part of course. I can't see what anyone would have wanted with all the very poor condition plywood of the superstructure, but most of the copper wiring was up there and copper has a good scrap value. As yet I'm unsure what actions the police have taken, they don't appear to have let me know as far as I can tell. Perhaps they don't want to jeopardise their investigations. Oh yes, as you can probably tell from one of my comments above, the superstructure had not been removed by myself. My reason for highlighting the unusual shape of the hull was that I expected the thieves to modify the superstructure in some way, even if it was only by painting it a new colour (I wasn't quite expecting such extreme measures!). However regardless of any quick changes they could have made to the superstructure, altering the shape of the hull would require serious amounts of work so I was trying to get people to focus on that as a way of confirming Cally's identity. I'm not going to comment too much on the speculation discussions, and now I've started writing this I can't see all of the previous posts to refer to. However, to re-iterate my first comment, thanks to all those who helped. I believe it was Mike the Bolierman who made the effort to improve and provide pictures? Mark 99 offers support. Lonewolf offers defensive support, supported by Ange. (Apologies to those I've missed, but these are the recent ones I can see). Any negative stuff is unlikely to tempt me to join in forum discussions much in the future, but then perhaps I'm just not the kind of person that enjoys it. May I suggest all working together folks, to try to make the boating world a better place? In reponse to the member who offered to close this thread (if that's the right term) now that Cally has been found then I think that is probably a good idea, and thank you (sorry, I can't see you name whilst writing this with me being a "newbie"). However, perhaps give it another day to allow others their opportunity to contribute if they so desire, and close it tomorrow morning? I'm glad Cally has been found, but very sad at her damaged state. What happens from here will depend on how good / bad things are. As I think I said before, in my opinion neither Cally or I deserved this.

Hi all, Firstly, thanks to RachW for her clarification about why I hadn't commented on here before - my lack of being on any social media. Also, someone else I had met and talked to regarding the theft had said they would be doing it for me (thank you). Now to try to add my own clarification. This is my first attempt on a forum, so apologies if I get anything wrong. Firstly, the boat has been owned by myself for 20 + years, and last year I made the decision that I wanted to renew the superstructure so that I could keep her for another 20 + years. Secondly, as you're probably now aware the boat theft was reported to both the police and CRT. This was the day after the theft when I found that Cally Hanna was not where I'd left her. Fairly sure about the theft date, because she was seen (by someone who knows the boat well) travelling the Ashby that day. I guess the initial theft could have been made the evening before though. Cally Hanna had been moored on Shackerstone Wharf Farm permanent moorings for virtually all of the time she was on the Ashby Canal, most of my 20+ years of ownership. To clarify, I always paid my mooring fees in cash in advance, so this was not whay she had been forced to leave. The Land is Crown Estate land, and had recently had a new tenant. As I understand it this new tenant was trying to create a good impression and didn't like Cally's (admittedly) dishevelled appearance spoiling the view. To be fair I was given a some warning to try to improve this, but it took much soul searching to make the decision that I really did want to keep her and could find the time to do the job properly. When I moved her off I did request that my moorings be kept open for when I'd done the work on Cally (seeing as I'd paid in advance) and was led to believe that this would be done. It was only when CRT got in touch to say they couldn't renew my licence that I found out this wasn't the case. Anyway, the licence issue did get resolved. Oh again for the record, the licence was always paid for in advance and for many years by direct debit. Admittedly the licence wasn't displayed on the boat which is probably a violation, but she was only being moved short distances along the Ashby (until other arrangements could be made) and would have been known to CRT officials in the area. Hopefully enough information has now been provided to allay everyone's concerns about this being a timewaster. I had been concentrating my own efforts initially on thoughts that they would have wanted to get her out of the water quite quickly (and locally), possibly even to scrap. However, it now begins to appear that this was far more planned than I'd previously thought, which might mean they are trying to modify (paint) and keep her. So everyone please keep your eyes peeled and keep reporting - the hull in itself is very distinctive (probably uniquely modified) so even if a lot of work gets done to the superstructure she would still be recognisable. I have more photos if required, although I understand some of these have now made it onto Twitter. I think I saw a comment about why take such an untidy and old boat? I couldn't agree more - whilst I personally have a strong attachment to Cally Hanna I can't for the life of me understand why someone would deliberately take her instead of a more modern boat! In recent times I have not been an active boater, but when Cally was co-owned with RachW she visited all sorts of far flung corners. Whatever, Neither Cally nor myself deserved to have this done to us. Please help return her to her rightful owner. Thanks all, Carl.