12 weeks on the cut

[Bill Kennedy]

Postscript

 

During our trip we often fantasised about owning our own boat and spending part of each year cruising the canals and rivers. We envied those who were able to moor at the bottom of their garden and set off on a whim or those who lived permanently on their boat. We had designed and named our boat long before we left the UK.

 

Upon returning home we both continued to dream and think “if only”. We both found it difficult to settle back into work and longed to be back on the canals. After a short time the dreams began to take solid form and the thinking became “why not”. We sent an e-mail to William Abbey at Countrywide Cruisers to make some enquiries about buying a boat and seek his assistance with the search. William, as always, was most helpful and encouraging. We began to search the various Boat Brokers’ websites and identified a few boats that seemed to be just what we were looking for. With great excitement we sent the details to William who promptly responded with comments such as “crap fit-out”, “overpriced” and “very cheap shells/sailaway boat which the owner (office bound during the day, master carpenter at night) felt he could nail the rest of the interior together”.

 

We were not deterred and found more boats to which, for the most part, William responded similarly. There were however two that all concerned thought had possibilities and the excitement rose. Then Will put a proposition to us—

 

1) he could build a boat for us or as he put it “having built one boat for you it would be lovely to do another new boat for you” (you will recall we mentioned earlier that Sir Ironside was brand new and we were the first hirers); or

2) we could buy one of his existing fleet, Sir Melleaus.

 

We rejected the first idea – it would take too long.

 

The second proposition however was just what we had been looking for. Sir Melleaus was built by William’s father in 1992 and had been re-acquired by Countrywide Cruisers in 2003 and a major refit undertaken. We had inspected Sir Melleaus in July and both thought it to be ideal for cruising, in fact we had thoughts that next time we hired from Countrywide Cruisers we would request it. Well commencing on 2 April 2005 we will take it out, not as hirers, but as owners.

 

We plan to cruise to Bath and Bristol so, if any of you see Sir Melleaus, please give us a shout and we will try not to bore you with more tales of our travels.

[WeeHen]

This has been a fascinating read thank you both for sharing it all with us.

[Sue1946]

Very Happy Birthday, Bill. I don't know when you may see this, but hope you're having a wonderful trip!!

Sue

[Boaty Jo]

Idea - enquiry - decision - done!

Spot on, just get on and do it!

Hope you love it.

[bottle]

I wonder where they are now the first post of this thread is March 18 2005

[Sue1946]

Bottle,

I think they started from moorings on K&A a month ago, so, in Holly parlance, they could be anywhere right now!!

[Moley]

I think they started from moorings on K&A a month ago, so, in Holly parlance, they could be anywhere right now!!

 

There we go, a new challenge

 

Find Sir Melleaus

 

Do we have any pics?

[Liam]

No pictures... but...

 

SIR MELLEAUS Built by NOT KNOWN - Length: 58 feet (17.68 metres) Beam: 6 feet 10 inches (2.08 metres).. Registered with BW number 50453 as a Powered.

 

Now we have to find out whether it's green, blue or black!

[Chris J W]

No pictures... but...

 

SIR MELLEAUS Built by NOT KNOWN - Length: 58 feet (17.68 metres) Beam: 6 feet 10 inches (2.08 metres).. Registered with BW number 50453 as a Powered.

 

Now we have to find out whether it's green, blue or black!

 

Looks like she could have been Sold Back

[Keeping Up]

Looks like she could have been Sold Back

Or they may have decided to keep the name for a new boat in the fleet - a very common thing for hire companies to do, especially if the departing boat is to have a name change (hence the reported reported sinking and total loss of Anglo-Welsh's "Worcester" which became our "Thistle")

[Moley]

Looks like she could have been Sold Back

 

Oh My God!

 

I wonder if Bill Kennedy knows. He's not been online since the end of March (which would tie in with Sue's theory that they've gone cruising), but his profile still says that's their boat, and he has cruise logs posted from August '06 which don't mention finishing and selling up.

 

This is looking serious!

 

Or they may have decided to keep the name for a new boat in the fleet

 

But Jim Shead only lists one, and I would think that Bill would amend his profile if they re-named the boat.

 

 

Incidentally, scrolling down that link, I quite like Sir Osis of the River

Edited April 25, 2007 by Moley

[kawaton]

The answers are all in Bills posts.

 

The have purchased the boat from CC. No name change.

 

As they live in Oz, they come over once a year and spend 12 weeks cruising the cut. When they are at home in Oz, the boat is hired out as a holiday boat by CC.

 

They usually cruise between March, April, May....so i expect Bill himself is unavailable for comment until he gets home........

Edited April 25, 2007 by kawaton

[Sue1946]

Spot on, Kawaton!!

I had been exchanging the occasional pm with Bill and they are SOMEWHERE on the system at present.

I may be able to find out a little more info..............

[Sue1946]

Sorry, I was unable to contact Bill, and am now off to his home city for a few weeks!

We'll have to wait for his new cruise diary when he writes it up!

Byeeeeeeeeeee

[Bill Kennedy]

The answers are all in Bills posts.

 

The have purchased the boat from CC. No name change.

 

As they live in Oz, they come over once a year and spend 12 weeks cruising the cut. When they are at home in Oz, the boat is hired out as a holiday boat by CC.

 

They usually cruise between March, April, May....so i expect Bill himself is unavailable for comment until he gets home........

 

Spot on.

 

Arrived home (Brisbane) 3 days ago after cruising April - mid July. Will post diary over the next few weeks.

 

Cheers

 

Bill