Chubby Chaser

If you are going for a diesel heater get a Hurricane. Not as neat as the others mentioned but, in my experience far superior. If I was building a boat again I'd install underfloor heating and forget about a stove.

Some years ago I was stuck on the River Soar because of the water level being in the red. I phoned British Waterways for advice and was told not to move until the level lowered. Foolishly I moored on mooring rings on a bend assuming, wrongly, that there would be no traffic. A motor hit me, followed shortly by the butty being towed. I pointed out that the water level was in the red and that I had been advised not to move. The response was that the steerer knew better than a girl in an office and that he would carry on through the next lock. He did just that. There was a sharp right turn under a bridge just after the lock. The motor got through but the butty was not so lucky. The tow rope snapped and there was the sound of timber work being crushed and the cabin hitting the bridge. The moral of the story is that the boards are there for a reason and sometimes "girls in offices" know best.

I was waiting in the pound above Barrow-on-Soar lock waiting for the boards to go down from red. Boat and butty came round the bend and both hit me. They went down to the lock and whilst remonstrating with them I pointed out the red board. I also mentioned I had spoken to British Waterways and they had said I should moor up. The person "in charge" of the pair said he had been boating for years and did not take the advice of girls in the office. Anyway, he had a guest on board and wanted to show him how to handle a pair. So.....the pair continued. Through the lock they went and promptly got caught by the current from the left. Motor got through the bridge with some scraping - I think the engine room was damaged. The butty got stuck in the bridge hole and was not freed until the towing line snapped. There was the sound of timbers snapping as he went through. Well done Narrowboat Trust. They just looked at me when I again pointed out the red boards. A case of enthusiasm being greater than ability.

Phoenix Narrowboats were based in Coventry Basin and were a regular exhibitor at Braunston Boat Show in the 1990s. They were in business until the late 1990s when they went into receivership. Steve Jones was one of the partners - I cannot remember the others. Your boat was originally owned by someone who did painting for Phoenix Narrowboats and was, indeed, painted in different colours each side. I can't remember the layout but it may have been a variation of the layout of Drimble 2 which had a success at one of the Nationals. I owned a boat called Farleigh which I think was built shortly before yours and featured in Canal & Riverboat. Externally you probably have a phoenix cut out in your rudder and a rectangular tunnel light built into the cratch.

Yes - more than enough. Get one from Walshes - brilliant service.

Gardner is quieter and smoother than JP2 and has less inertia so there is less time lag. I find the boat goes better with the Gardner as well. Only downside I have found is that the Blackstone gearbox is good if you want to unwind something from the prop. Put on the decompressors and get someone to wind the starting handle and it's easier to clear the prop. My engine room does look rather odd, though. Day tank with Lister logo and Gardner engine. That confuses people. Walshes are very good people to deal with.

I've had a Lister JP2 (whose crankshaft snapped) and Gardner 2LW restored by Walshes. No comparison. Get the Gardner.

I got rid of mine after repeated failures that cost over £500 a time to put right.

From your insurance claim point of view it is irrelevant whether or not the JCB driver is insured. They will deal in accordance with the policy wording which forms the basis of their contract with you. What will happen, though, is that you may have problems recovering your excess and you may loose any no claims discount you have. I suggest you adopt a robust approach with the JCB driver as far as your policy excess is concerned and let your insurers do what they can to recover their outlay.

Here's the link: http://narrowboats.apolloduck.co.uk/advert.phtml?id=246769 Norton Canes are highly regarded for their steelwork. You will see the Phoenix trademark tunnel light on the cratch.

It may be Jonathan Wilson / Tim Tyler. Phoenix used their steelwork for a lot of their boats. The internal design is a variation of Drimble 2. You'll be in good company if you buy a Phoenix boat. David Suchet owns/owned City Of Sheffield.

Rob Bryan at Stoke Golding on the Ashby has got to be the one. He works out of a tent by the Ashby Boat Company. Result is first class and he uses a really good signwriter. Give him a call on 07748951837 or 01455213255 and go and have a look at his work. You'll be well impressed.

A very empty Chasewater gives an opportunity for paragliding Here

Now there's a thought - but he always looks sad Here

If you don't want to stand out from the crowd why not call it Milliband?