Boat Index/directory

[rusty69]

On 26/04/2023 at 10:22, magnetman said:

My tug conversion from many yars ago. Builder? This was a wooden top trad originally I binned it and got a steel back cabin put on it.

 

 

 

Who was the hell fabricator?

Les Allen and sons

[Ray T]

Graham Reeves Hulls have a drain here:

 

A typical Reeves Bow

Edited April 27, 2023 by Ray T

[Silent Flight]

4 minutes ago, Ray T said:

Graham Reeves Hulls have a drain here:

Perfect post for the thread thanks!

[David Mack]

1 hour ago, rusty69 said:

Les Allen and sons

That was my rather tentative guess too.

[Ewan123]

1 hour ago, Ray T said:

Graham Reeves Hulls have a drain here:

 

Is that draining from the gutters under the rear deck? 

[magnetman]

There is a lifting lid in the deck so presumably a channel section drain welded under the front edge of it. 

 

I dislike these lids. I know it affords access to the weed hatch but don't like it at all as a design.

 

 

[cuthound]

1 hour ago, Ray T said:

Graham Reeves Hulls have a drain here:

 

A typical Reeves Bow

 

Many Reeves boats have a bow based on his distinctive "take" on a Bantock Butty.

 

 

Edited April 27, 2023 by cuthound
Forgot to add image.

[Tonka]

On 26/04/2023 at 10:22, magnetman said:

My tug conversion from many yars ago. Builder? This was a wooden top trad originally I binned it and got a steel back cabin put on it.

 

 

 

Who was the hell fabricator?

Rugby Boat Builders would be my guess looking at the bow. @alan_fincher may be able to confirm

[Ray T]

2 hours ago, Ewan123 said:

Is that draining from the gutters under the rear deck? 

Yes. 

Not entirely successful as the bow is higher than the stern, water can tend to collect at the back. I drilled a hole then took a hose via a drain fitting to a side vent.

 

Edited April 27, 2023 by Ray T

[magnetman]

3 minutes ago, Tonka said:

Rugby Boat Builders would be my guess looking at the bow. @alan_fincher may be able to confirm

Allens of Oldbury. Early one. 

 

The stem on the Rugby boats is much narrower. 

Some similarities. This is a Rugby boats bow. 

 

Allens used a plate on the outside which is a different technique to most other fabricators. Later on they did change to the more common method..

 

 

Or was it a forged stem post ? 

 

I don't know. 

[Ray T]

@Owls Den

 

May I suggest you visit the Historic Boat Gathering at Braunston on 24th - 25th June.

2023 HISTORIC BOAT RALLY 24th & 25th JUNE - Braunston Marina

 

There you will have fun working out whether a boat is;

A large Woolwich, a small Woolwich, a Josher, a BCN joey boat conversion, a Northwich etc.

[Neil TNC]

Stern end of a later R&D, early XR&D, most of these features applicable to trad or semi trad. Fender stool (optional). scalloped, recessed fuel filler. Rear nav lamp bracket (optional). Square upper rudder bearing. Crappy triangular fabricated hinges. Swan neck with tight angle upper bend. Hinged deck access to weed hatch with bottom shut for rear doors. T stud conversion to rear dollies non standard. Flap in cants with fuel cut off below. Fabricated engine compartment vents. Standard R&D style weed hatch. Earnest was the first R&D semi trad with double skinned rear cockpit, that became standard.

[Ray T]

Black Prince or ex Black Prince stand out a mile with their Bow and stern.

Built by a few different builders over the years. Reeves and Pinder being two of them.

 

 

Union Canal Carriers have a distinctive fleet too.

Some of these are now in private hands.

 

 

 

Quite a few Barney Boats about.

Distinctive with their Saab single cylinder diesel engines.

 

@Owls Den

 

There are also Fernwood Boats.

You may see this in your travels.

 

 

Quite a few ex-Challenger Syndicate boats are now in private hands.

Shell, Norton Canes plus I think other builders, fit out Blue Haven Marine.

 

Edited April 27, 2023 by Ray T

[alan_fincher]

On 26/04/2023 at 09:55, ditchcrawler said:

Are they not actually bolts? I looked at one at Braunston many years ago not fitted out

 

Fairly certain that they are  welded on rivets, in this case.

 

However some builders have used coach bolts  to simulate rivets, despite this meaning many holes drilled  in the shell.

 

The late Keith Ball at Industry Narrowboats used bolts for the "rivets" when he put an engine room and cabin on Enceladus.

 

On 26/04/2023 at 10:03, ditchcrawler said:

Maybe. Of course its possible they found it cheaper and easier  to weld later boats, that I dont know. If you look the  roof has  folded edges that overlap the cabin sides

Anybody who has an ex Grand Union Canal Carrying boat with a steel cabin will likely be able to tell you the woes of having the roof edge overlap folded over to create a join with the cabin sides.  Corrosion eventually gets between the two plates, and rust appears along the visible part of the join.  Once there it is very hard to fully control.

 

For my sins, I have not one such boat, but two.

 

On 26/04/2023 at 10:06, magnetman said:

I bet the engine room top section isn't fixed on with brass bolts though.

The reason for the folded over top on the engine room on the Grand Unions was so that the engine could be taken out and replaced quickly to avoid downtime. Better to overhaul in the workshop and let the boat carry on.

 

It doesn't seem to be common knowledge hat not all steel GUCCCo motors were built this way from the outset.

 

The original arrangements has a riveted on room that didn't come off, and instead had a panel forward of the engine in the bulkhead that could be  unbolted and removed.  Not quite as easy, as the engine had to be got forward into the hold, before it could be craned out. someone like Steve Priest or Simon  Wain could probably say which types of GUCCCo started out this way, (or possibly Pete Harrison would know).  If I've ever been told, I'm afraid I've forgotten!

Boats like "Middle Northwich" Severn Dolphin still have the access from the hold,  I believe.  So does the replica cabin on our "Sickle".  It made itself very unpopular when an engine swap hospitalised one of the Brinklow Boats people doing the job.

On 26/04/2023 at 10:22, magnetman said:

My tug conversion from many yars ago. Builder? This was a wooden top trad originally I binned it and got a steel back cabin put on it.

 

 

 

Who was the hell fabricator?

 

I'll also go for  Allen's.

 

But I'm far from sure!

21 hours ago, andyberg said:

Hawkins rivet detail

 

Other builders specialising in hulls with fake rivets  had the wit to only carry on downwards with them until a few inches below waterline.

 

Little point in spending time and money on an embellishment that is not visible unless the boat is docked.

 

21 hours ago, rusty69 said:

I seem to remember speaking to that bloke in the 90s. A very odd front end. A blue boat iirc. He said it was great at reversing. 

 

The boat formerly moored against Bulbourne Workshops was indeed owned by a long serving BW/CRT employee, but now I believe retired.

It was called Sentinel, and, despite appearances, had some history as being built for trade.  Possibly it had something to do with the Potteries, but again I'm not sure.  It had a beast of a Bolinder Munktell engone - 3 cylinders I think, and could easily tow water skiers.

 

The former owner now owns Josher Holland, which I think has an even bigger BM engine.

 

Question:   When is a Steve Hudson built boat actually very good looking..

 

Answer: When it is an early SMH build before he got diverted onto squashed and generally odd looking bows.

 

This one is on our moorings, and one of the nicest boats there....
 

 

 

 

One more.

 

Like the S M Hudson example, Phil Trotter at R W Davies initially produced very attractive boats without a fake rivet in sight, and with much less tendency to exaggerated shapes.

This is one of the other very nice boats that we share our moorings with.

 

(Note the pull cord for laying the tall pipe flat for bridges!0

Edited April 27, 2023 by alan_fincher

[BEngo]

Phil Trotter at Saul first built a narrow boat called Elver.  It was reviewed in one of the comics about 1988.  WW I think. 

The bow is distinctive,  as a steel version of a Barlaston bow, where the most forward point is about halfway down the stem, rather than at or near  the top like most boats.  Phil learnt the boatbuilding art at Stoke on Trent boats ( pioneers of washers) I think.  The stem is also similar to a Bantock, though the overall effect is fuller.

The pigeon box, if fitted, is also characteristic, as is the rudder top bearing: A solid lump with either a cast or weld created 'RW Davis and Son' o  the upper surface.

Phil was on those days pretty flexible about what he built.  Washers were offered as an option on the Elvers, as were recessed cabin rear panels.  We have neither. We do have a taller sternpost, all steel doors and a different bow layout to the others.

 

I'll post some pictures, if I can find any of the bow.

N

[Steve56]

On 26/04/2023 at 15:55, ditchcrawler said:

Are they not actually bolts? I looked at one at Braunston many years ago not fitted out

Yes they use cut off coach bolts on the cabin sides. These are then welded from inside.

[magnetman]

Easiest way to spot an RW Davis is the extra long mooring dollies. They are much longer than anyone else's. 

 

 

Edited April 28, 2023 by magnetman

[Silent Flight]

17 hours ago, Ray T said:

@Owls Den

 

May I suggest you visit the Historic Boat Gathering at Braunston on 24th - 25th June.

2023 HISTORIC BOAT RALLY 24th & 25th JUNE - Braunston Marina

 

There you will have fun working out whether a boat is;

A large Woolwich, a small Woolwich, a Josher, a BCN joey boat conversion, a Northwich etc.

Thankyou it looks like a fun day out! If I were to try and moor near Braunston a week before I take it everyone else will have the same idea?

Lots of good tips coming through on this thread. What does RW stand for ?

[Silent Flight]

On 26/04/2023 at 09:37, dmr said:

It could even be a fixed thread like the battery primer.

How does one get a thread fixed? Maybe unfix the winter mooring thread in this section while they are at it. 

[MtB]

1 hour ago, Owls Den said:

Thankyou it looks like a fun day out! If I were to try and moor near Braunston a week before I take it everyone else will have the same idea?

Lots of good tips coming through on this thread. What does RW stand for ?

 

 

You can generally get to moor within reasonable walking distance if you arrive a few days in advance. 

 

 

[magnetman]

I used to like mooring other side of the puddle banks once through the cutting on way towards Napton. Go past the pink floyd bridge and it opens out into lovely Northants countryside.

Nice walk into Braun St On from there,

 

I suppose these days it might be jam packed with boats I haven't been there for about 20 yars.

 

 

Someone is going to say there are wide beans moored there. This would be truly shocking.

[rusty69]

4 minutes ago, magnetman said:

Go past the pink floyd bridge

What is the pink floyd bridge?Is it near the wall?

[magnetman]

Disused railway bridge (deck removed) out of Braun St On on way to Napton. It used to have Pink Floyd written on it in really big lettering.

 

 

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@52.2845253,-1.2327219,3a,75y,197.11h,90t/data=!3m8!1e1!3m6!1sAF1QipMO-dRnPFHfd1U8H3ZvCX9SovNecTpHB3vb3UYL!2e10!3e11!6shttps:%2F%2Flh5.googleusercontent.com%2Fp%2FAF1QipMO-dRnPFHfd1U8H3ZvCX9SovNecTpHB3vb3UYL%3Dw203-h100-k-no-pi0-ya356.56616-ro-0-fo100!7i5376!8i2688

 

I see the streetview camera shows a bit of it still there.

(towpathview)

Edited April 28, 2023 by magnetman

[rusty69]

10 minutes ago, magnetman said:

Disused railway bridge (deck removed) out of Braun St On on way to Napton. It used to have Pink Floyd written on it in really big lettering.

 

 

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@52.2845253,-1.2327219,3a,75y,197.11h,90t/data=!3m8!1e1!3m6!1sAF1QipMO-dRnPFHfd1U8H3ZvCX9SovNecTpHB3vb3UYL!2e10!3e11!6shttps:%2F%2Flh5.googleusercontent.com%2Fp%2FAF1QipMO-dRnPFHfd1U8H3ZvCX9SovNecTpHB3vb3UYL%3Dw203-h100-k-no-pi0-ya356.56616-ro-0-fo100!7i5376!8i2688

 

I see the streetview camera shows a bit of it still there.

(towpathview)

Ah, yes. I remember it now. The one with the giant inflatable pig flying over it.

Edited April 28, 2023 by rusty69
forgot how to spell remeber

[magnetman]

6 minutes ago, rusty69 said:

Ah, yes. I remember it now. The one with the giant inflatable pig flying over it.

Did you make that up?