Oldjack

I think their insurance wouldn't go with the outbound option sadly, Roy (the possible owner)is ex met police and rightly likes everything done by the book i think one of the boatyards/marinas in the fradley area has agreed to take them, subject to the boat being professionally painted asap.

Sorry should have made myself clear, yes they would only contract a professional, with all the insurance and tickets to undertake the tow, but even if the money was in the job......(which I can't see myself btw) it sounds like there isn't anyone that can undertake the towage in the first place.....? Am I right.....?

All very valid concerns I'd say, and if I am honest I couldn't name a single professional towage outfit to undertake the job, someone might prove me wrong on that front though.... insurnance issues and strict EU regulations virtually completely killed coastal towing around the uk shores in the early 2000's,I was once told by a former Southampton tug captain on a Thames holiday cruiser. So I guess the same must be true of the canals today. personely I think the road haul might be the smart option.

Yes I have to say that I thought that was a good price, in fact I'd of put at least a couple of hundred more on at a guess, the retired couple that are considering buying the house boat, are pushing it financially and thought possibly that some enterprising young boatman or boat girl might be able to shave off a couple of hundred, do it the old fashioned way and make a few pennies themselves, I said I'd ask about for them.

Asking for a "non internet friend" anybody know if it would be possible to have a contractor tow a unpowered 60ft houseboat (narrow boat shell, tidy and only built 2012 but unfinished) from down on the Bristol Avon, up to the fradley area, in 2018 as soon as stoppages and weather allow. who would I contact if anyone....? can it even be done....? and most importantly if it can be done for less than the £1200ish to have it done by road, 2x lifts and short tows at either end......? obvislouly it would be nice if the job could be done with as little damage as possible other maybe than some hull blacking. if it's a stupid idea.....please don't be afraid to tell me so lol.

That doesn't sound very good.... wonder if it's the same chap throw, the lad I refer to was well built physically, and clearly had been working hard at something before coming to be alongside the canal, maybe a marine, he was no grunt though, very intelligent and well spoken (definitely a trace of northern in his voice) and maybe a officer? when we arrived at the top lock the gate was open, and he was asleep on the balance beam in the sunshine windlass tucked in over his shoulder, we steered into the lock, he swung his legs down and greeted us, I joked about paying him to do the locks and hey presto we gained a paid crewman. honestly though he did all the work, preparing the locks ahead as well most of the time and we flew down the locks with ease and he must have known what he was doing around boats, at the bottom of the locks I asked him how much and he just said what ever you think it was worth sir, I gave him £30 and he gave me £10 back. The last I saw of him that day was him napping on the balance beam in the sunshine again awaiting the next customer I guess. my daughter seems to think his name was maybe Jon? And he had come from Plymouth? She did know that he had been a boy on the canal and wanted to build a tug to work around the system. id be very grateful to know if anyone remembers him or knows him, a work tip he gave to my daughter has led to some very good years for my family, and it would be nice let him know how grateful we all are.

Hi little bit of a long shot but does anyone remember the audlem lock lad, the guy who used to work the locks for a little cash.....? I first came across him mid 2009 when my family passed though with the boat, he worked the locks for us right down the flight, and later we met him on the way back up. anybody know what became of him, was he ex forces, and did he ever build the boat he talked of...? or did he disappear again...?