Mike Hands

Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences of self-management. Very helpful info. Mike

Hello, Are there any members of self-managed boat share syndicates in the forum? Our boat is currently managed by one of the main boat share management companies, but we are considering all options for the future, including self-management. One proposal is to manage the finance and admin ourselves, and negotiate a contract with a boatyard for mooring, weekly turnaround, 24/7 call out, general and winter maintenance etc. Is this feasible? We have also considered using the services of River & Canal Rescue as part of a package. I would welcome any thoughts on self-management from the forum, pros and cons, potential pitfalls to avoid, any suggested approaches to recommended boatyards etc. Mike

Thanks everyone for the responses, all very useful. Mike

Hello there, My wife and I (just the two of us) have planned a week's cruising next month from Gayton, and plan to travel up the Leicester line, probably as far as Market Harborough, and back. We are seasoned holiday boaters, but usually try to avoid broad locks because the gates are heavier, and not so straightforward to negotiate as narrow locks. We are planning to go through the Buckby flight with the first fellow narrowboat that comes along, but are there any other tips for negotiating this particular flight? My wife has to operate the gates as she hasn't the confidence to manoeuvre the boat in and out of the locks. Mike

Thanks for your posts to date. We had more or less decided to go for a production line boat, for the very reasons that you all mention, hence our shortlist of builders. However, we would still be handing over money "up front", unless we found a suitable boat already in stock. The fact that two of the companies manufacture some or all of their boats in Poland is an added "worry" (but maybe I shouldn't be thinking like this?). I agree with Chris in that The New Boat Co's boats looked very impressive at the National Festival last week. Has anyone else had any experience of the four builders mentioned? Mike

We are thinking of buying a new narrowboat, 57-60 foot semi-trad. Problem is, we know very little about potential builders, i.e. workmanship, after sales service, financial integrity etc. Can anyone give us any info on: The New Boat Co Ltd/Aqualine Marine, Hanley, Worcester Narrowcraft Ltd/Narrowboat Sales Ltd, Tamworth The Northwich Boat Company Ltd, Sandbach Amber Boats UK Ltd, Evesham Thanks in anticipation, Mike Hands Truro