Athy

Welcome to the forum. Springers are very good boats provided that they have been looked after. The price looks acceptable for an example in good condition - though it is over 10 years since I bought a Springer, so I may be out of touch. When you say that you are sure of the year,, do you mean that you ar4e NOT sure of the year? The last Springers were built in 1994. From the photo, this one could be from mid-'80s to 1994. Do be aware that this boat is powered by an outboard petrol engine.

I don't think so. There's surely not THAT much money in folk-rock. It's the Manor House, which changed hands only (at a guess) five or six years ago, but which I think had been in the same family for a long time before that. The "new" people (five or six years ago) spent a lot of money upgrading the bankside, and I think that part of the work involved dredging the first part of the arm. There was a narrowboat moored there for a brief while. But as far as I'm aware it was never opened out all the way to the house. Local rumour had it that the bankside would be let out as moorings, but that has not happened. Perhaps they didn't want boaters going to and fro across their grounds, which are spectacular.

I'm well aware of the difference, but as most people use "historic boat" in the sense of "historical" I go along with the majority. I guess 'Cressy' would qualify as a historic boat in the strict sense, also perhaps the pair which did the last long-distance commercial run in 1970; any others? Strange that the boats are dubbed "historic", yet their engines are "vintage".

Mark One Trannies surrounded by ageing ex-rock group members reminiscing all dewy-eyed? "Remember that we played the Marquee, and so many other groups came to see us, you couldn't get near the place for all the parked Transit vans".

You must decide for yourself - though the former is now possibly old enough to qualify as "historic", It is, however, indisputable that hire boats are working boats. They travel carrying loads for commercial gain, although these loads are of people rather than of coal. That doesn't mwan that I'd rather see a parade of ABC 57-footers than a parade of ex-GUCCC boats at a rally, of course.

Is the wrong answer! Hire boats work for their living - a point made more than once by a CWDF member who owns or owned an ex-hire craft.

As the sales blurb mentions, she was a hire boat, so yes.

Still a bit more than a month, but I get your drift.

Just what we needed, as the days lengthen and the temperature rises: a reminder that winter is not far behind!

I've changed it to what I think it was meant to be. If this is wrong, please let me know!

I seem to remember both Indus and Indus 2 turning up at Cropredy one year at festival time. They were both trading boats.

That's a pity. I wonder if they were a victim of the difficult trading conditions caused by the Corona Virus outbreak.