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giveitsomeoil

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  1. Hello everyone.. Just to confirm that this year our Alvecote ''thrash'' is as always on the August Bank Holiday which is 29th - 30th - 31st August There is plenty of interest already all I ask is please can you let me know if you are planning on attending with an old boat or indeed if you require moorings. There is of course plenty of room to tie up on the towpath and every one is welcome. This year we look forward to welcoming back 'Hasty' the fabulous steam tunnel tug by Brinklow and hopefully some small steam launches will also be in attendance. As usual we have some floating traders along with a fabulous flotilla of colour and splendour which is made up mostly from the Historic gang. There will be live music from Fri eve onwards with various acts throughout the weekend and on the Monday afternoon as things wind down we intend to hand the PA system and stage over to the boaters for another fantastic jam/music session to bring the weekend to a close, so if you can play an instrument then bring it! All weekend the pub will be running a fine selection of 10 local ales along with all the usual refreshments and food from the menu available downstairs. There will also be Boater's Breakfast (ticket only) and Beer garden BBQ daily. Throughout the weekend we have the skilful turning round competition (Prop Master) and the Les Lapworth award for the best turned out historic boat in attendance. Hopefully if we have enough boats the illuminated boat parade will be running again on Sunday eve, so do dig out the Christmas lights and join in the fun. If you have never taken part in an illuminated boat parade before - it is really great fun and not just for the Historics! So please please do come prepared with- lights - bunting - flags anything to join in with the festival spirit!! Look forward to seeing you all in a few weeks... For all mooring information call the Marina office on 01827 898585
  2. Very Interesting observation David and not one that I had consciously made myself, but now you mention it..... Indeed as it has already been said here this was very much a custom from the owner boatmen or No. 1' s in horse boating days or maybe those with small highly decorated fleets. There were some fleets such as 'Barlows' that were renowned for their embellishment and artwork but in the main the larger carrying fleets kept it simple with plain colours or even just a simple shape. Often a 'deck cloth' was used as a part of the crafts top cloth arrangement. If properly erected this piece of carefully cut canvas wrapped around the deck board and was tied back, to under the top cloths. It made the cratch stronger and more rigid but also protected it against water and rot. This would give the appearance of a plain deck board. It was under this canvas that the bulk structure would be fitted. Personally I like a canvas deck cloth stretched over either a bulk or tight over the deck board with scrubbed white rockets holding the cratch together tightly. Decorated deck boards (although I have always considered them a southern or Braunston boats 'thing') are indeed a welcome sight so well done to all those take the time and trouble. Incidentally here is my fore end showing that some people still are sporting the bulk!
  3. Sorry Starcoaster mine too. Edited to show so.
  4. Fortunately I'm not going to lower myself to your level so just take on board what you've been told. It is the attitude of people like Mr Dunkley that make me not bother with forums most of the time. Anyway.
  5. Look mate, whilst your entitled to your opinion I assume you have never and will never get the opportunity to operate day in and day out Bolinder powered working narrowboats with butties and with out butties, loaded and empty on rivers and canals on jollies and for financial reward trained by those who were boating families. So until I hear what YOUR credentials are I suggest you SHUT UP and stop calling people W*****S. Enough said. By the way I have had conversations with many old boatman who in their latter years confess to 'missing the motor' whilst working single handed on flights or indeed adopting a time saving technique of allowing the boat to run the shorter pounds on it's own whilst they worked the flight. The old 13 was one such flight where this is possible and I have first hand experience of this. In 'old glory' most of the boating is carried out by retired professional ex-working boatmen.
  6. South Midland Water Transport Limited company history. The Company had its genesis in retail coal operation set up by David Blagrove in association with Ashby Canal Transport following the cessation of regular trade on the Grand Union and associated canals in 1970. We operated with the butty boat “Elton” and a variety of sub-contracted motors including Keith Christie's josher ‘Lynx’ of Midland Canal Transport (Now owned by the company) until the five-year-long closure of Blisworth Tunnel, 1979-84. During those years the coal business shrank to a mere retail of packaged fuel whereas until then coal had been dealt with in bulk. Meanwhile, Malcolm Burge operated a fleet of fast road delivery vehicles under the name of Circle Transport. Malcolm began Circle Transport as a teenager, starting with a second-hand Morris Traveller delivering US newspapers from Heathrow to American air bases in the South East as far up as USAF Heyford. By the 80s this had been built up into a fleet of fast vans. In the early 1980s he had a full-length modern cruiser called "Olympian". He lived near West Drayton in those days and kept the boat above Cowley Lock. His first working boat was "Greyhound" acquired from Alfred Matty & Co in 1986. He had this painted in the old FMC colours but with the name of Circle Transport on the cabin sides and ran it as part of the firm's advertising budget. Over the years he acquired more Joshers then, when he amalgamated with another firm to form Captain Cargo Ltd he changed the livery to red and green. With the re-opening of the Blisworth tunnel David Blagrove formed a partnership to carry on and revive the business, now named South Midland Water Transport Company. The Commercial Narrowboat Operators Association was conceived in 1989 by Andy Rothen and the following partners in South Midland Water Transport Co: David Blagrove, Brian Green, John Bowen, Trevor Morley and Nigel Heath. Our associate Albert Barnett was another founder member. At that time we were regularly loading house coal at Rothen's wharf at the Top of Atherstone. The CNOA was formally founded at a meeting held in the Museum Schoolroom, Stoke Bruerne in June 1990, when the Committee was formed and Sir John Knill appointed as President. The name was later changed to CBOA. Captain Cargo Limited was acquired by a Cardinal Business Group Plc in 1994 however the boats did not fit in with Ambition plans of the new company, Fastrack Parcels. The South Midland Partnership ceased to trade as such in 1992 and David carried on as a sole trader under that name until Malcolm Burge bought the business, adopted the old trading name of South Midland but operated as a Limited Company, not a partnership or sole trader. His other boats were then incorporated in the fleet. During the end of the 90’s SMWT ran all the solid fuel retail trade from Buckby to Battlebridge, the southern Oxford along with the Royal Thames and Kennet and Avon Canal. Archimedes paired with Australia under command of the Akhurst family plied the Southern GU full time while Clover and Fazeley worked from Stoke Bruerne north and carried out shuttle runs to London and carried out the Kennet Valley deliveries. Regular loadings occurred at the Family run, canalside coal yard ‘Tarry’s’ in Northamptonshire. While the Northern Fleet loaded at Simpsons coal yard Alvecote and continued with more local deliveries. Frequent Thames runs were made delivering solid fuel to lock keepers and local businesses by David Blagrove and Malcolm Burge then Lawrence Williams following David’s retirement. Andrew Burge also ran the single motor Greyhound on long distance carrying contracts while also taking over the role as Chairman of the ‘Commercial Boat Operators Association’,from David Blagrove. David Blagrove Retired from SMWT in 2001, some 30 years after founding the company. Messers Matthew Burge and Lawrence Williams have now taken over Directorship of South Midland Water Transport Ltd. Both Lawrence and Matthew are still working closely with those who played vital roles in the company’s history and these are the Men responsible for the fleet today. The next generation is very keen to continue the hard work already started by their predecessors. Although Objectives and Carrying potential has changed since 1970, SMWT has earned its place, in it’s own right ,in the History Books. Being the last large carrying fleet still in existence and seeing the very tail end of long distance carrying whilst enjoying the beginning of the canal solid fuel retail trade. In recent years more boats have been acquired and essential maintenance has been carried out to the existing fleet. Old Traffics and new carrying potentials are being investigated. We are here to ensure canal carrying continues for the next 40 years although these days a lot of time is taken up travelling to boat shows and rallies advertising and promoting the cause. The fleet is currently ‘Waiting for Orders’
  7. Yes I can confirm that the 'Alvecote Bash' (which seems to be a good name for it given some of the entrants steering abilities in our 'turning round competition'!) will take place as usual over the August Bank holiday weekend which this year is ....29th, 30th & 31st August See you there.
  8. A stunning rebuild of the stern end by A.P Boatbuilding including a new cabin and fitments. Also a stunning Paint-job inside and out - all by Narrowcraft at Alvecote. Nice to see traditional boatbuilding has returned to the Alvecote area. With the historical docks of Barlows just over a mile along the Coventry canal and Lee's and Atkins docks were a mile away in Polesworth, the other direction.
  9. Quite obviously the cabin is NOT the butty's cabin from pre-british waterways chop in 1959 and therefore not now in the fore-end of the boat. The pictures show that clearly and yes she originally never had an engine 'ole from new. There is no confusion with 1959 as when she was cut in half and put to service in the BW hire fleet she was shorter and had a wooden cruiser cabin as was the style of the day. The wording has been changed on the advert as it obviously is causing a great deal of confusion. So just to clear the 'original cabin' situation up. The boat 'INDUS TOO' as it is constructed today (Not butty 'INDUS') which was in a carrying condition and did a great deal of carrying, contract work & towpath works around London as well as coal diesel etc for a number of years -- still has her original cabin and engine room intact! along with the added steel conversion.
  10. FMC TENCH For sale. See here: http://narrowboats.apolloduck.co.uk/feature.phtml?id=394242 From personal experience I can say what a great boat this is, one of my favourite joshers that I've had the pleasure to have worked with (and that is a considerable number.) , both with a butty and as a single motor. Has had lots of money spent on her since 2011 and on paper she would be in excess of £68k !! (worked out from purchase price and then recent work invoices combined). Seriously guys - lots of history with this boat, they are all different but there is a reason why some are just better than others!
  11. The 2014 Alvecote historic boat bash is nearly upon us! Bank holiday weekend with things kicking off on Friday evening the 22nd August and running right through to Monday the 25th . Music acts featuring over the weekend: The Mercy The Zeppelin 3 Eligh Toadd Paul Mills Lunar Curreen .....and of course DJ Pete spinning the wheels of steel daily!! If you play an instrument and what to come and have a jam... then bring it along during the day and have a play! We have over 40 old craft expected with daily boat parades (for those that wish to play) and the infamous winding competition outside the Samuel Barlow. The Les Lapworth Award will be also happening amongst the historic craft, so expect the share price in Brasso to rise and the rain to fall! Come and see how Birchills and Dane are coming along at A P Boatbuilding's historic wooden boatbuilding yard. Illuminated boats in the evening and a parade on Sunday night, the winner of this will receive a free hull blacking!! So make sure you bring yer lights.. even if its just to light up the marina at night like a Christmas tree! Charity stalls and floating traders will be here along with a small selection of amusements for the skids. The Samuel Barlow will of course be running a beer festival with 10 guest ales alongside the normal line up of refreshment. The kitchen will operating a full menu downstairs. Boaters Breakfast tickets will also be available. Look forward to see you all there.... The Alvecote Team.
  12. The 2014 Alvecote historic boat bash is nearly upon us! Bank holiday weekend with things kicking off on Friday evening the 22nd August and running right through to Monday the 25th . Music acts featuring over the weekend: The Mercy The Zeppelin 3 Eligh Toadd Paul Mills Lunar Curreen .....and of course DJ Pete spinning the wheels of steel daily!! If you play an instrument and what to come and have a jam... then bring it along during the day and have a play! We have over 40 old craft expected with daily boat parades (for those that wish to play) and the infamous winding competition outside the Samuel Barlow. The Les Lapworth Award will be also happening amongst the historic craft, so expect the share price in Brasso to rise and the rain to fall! Come and see how Birchills and Dane are coming along at A P Boatbuilding's historic wooden boatbuilding yard. Illuminated boats in the evening and a parade on Sunday night, the winner of this will receive a free hull blacking!! So make sure you bring yer lights.. even if its just to light up the marina at night like a Christmas tree! Charity stalls and floating traders will be here along with a small selection of amusements for the skids. The Samuel Barlow will of course be running a beer festival with 10 guest ales alongside the normal line up of refreshment. The kitchen will operating a full menu downstairs. Boaters Breakfast tickets will also be available. Look forward to see you all there.... The Alvecote Team.
  13. Alvecote Marina will be looking for a new engineer to start this summer. Marine Engineer required for long established midlands boat service and repair business at large Marina. Permanent position with monthly salary (depending on experience) Mooring available if boat owner. Applicants should have practical experience and knowledge in the following area's: - Canal boat diesel engines and ability to install/service - Boat heating systems including Eberspacher/webasto - Boat electrics 12/240v including fault finding ability - Carrying out work to BSS standards - Basic plumbing ability and understanding of boat systems - Dealing with the public and customers whilst undertaking a variety of boatyard duties ie; pump out, diesel, gas, general enquiries. - Boat Handling Abilitiy - Dry dock work, hull blacking and painting. USEFUL BUT NOT ESSENTIAL Coach painting experience Basic Woodwork and fitting ability Experience with Gas equipment and Gas Safe qualification Basic welding ability Knowledge of Vintage engines Experience and knowledge of Vintage Craft At least two references from within the industry will be required Good working environment, applicant must have passion for the waterways and full UK driving license. Working hours are Tue - Sat 8.30 - 5.30 with a 1 hour break for lunch. Weekend and evening work required occasionally. No out of hours call out! Contact details can be found here www.AlvecoteMarina.co.uk
  14. Not sure if we will be in the area until nearer the time. HNBC would be a good start, maybe Aquarius and Ilford ?? who are loading loose coal up the Ashby at the moment? If you are stuck then we are happy to come out for the day if you will let us loose on Badsey and Angel. Maybe rope in some stalwarts like Nick Hill?
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