oggie

Fairly new to narrowboating, but been around boats most of my life: Left school in Portsmouth at 15 and worked on the car and passenger ferries to the Isle of Wight, Then joined Shell Tankers and stayed there until I married.

Worked ashore in numerous jobs until I moved to the Isle of wight in 1988 where I worked as Head Boatman for one of the yacht clubs on the island. Looking after a fleet of racing yachts, club launches and rescue boats. As well as trying to keep members and charterers happy.

When I left the yacht club in 2000 I worked for a while in Cowes harbour as a berthing master and finally came ashore and retired to Notts.

Had 1 weekend on daughter in laws 40ft narrowboat and loved it that much went and bought a 57 ft one the following year which we now use for just messing about on.