Boat info

[Flipflop]

Hi was looking for some old information on my Narrowboat it used to be called tui and is a 46ft springer any old pictures or info be much appreciated 

[Alan de Enfield]

Just now, Flipflop said:

Hi was looking for some old information on my Narrowboat it used to be called tui and is a 46ft springer any old pictures or info be much appreciated 

 

Background to Sam Springers boats

 

 

Even in the seemingly egalitarian world of boaters, there’s a social pecking order and this is rarely more pronounced than where Springer boats are concerned. Springer was a company based in the Midlands that began mass-producing cheap and cheerful live-aboard narrowboats in the 1960s. While their affordability allowed countless people to join the boating lifestyle, the standard of their construction is sometimes, perhaps unfairly, questioned by the sniffier residents of converted working boats or higher-spec residential craft. But there’s still something hugely endearing about the Springer. These are boats made solidly and entirely without pretension, and as a consequence Springer boats have provided a friendly and affordable introduction to the canal network for thousands of boaters.

Sam Springer spotted the growing market for purpose-built live-aboard boats in the late 1960s when he was working as a steel fabricator making water tanks in Market Harborough, close to the Grand Union and River Welland. He decided to move into boat-building later claiming “I used to build water tanks, building boats is the same thing but in reverse”. Although his boats were well constructed, Springer had a reputation for using whatever steel was available, meaning that his hulls weren’t always as thick as they could have been. His approach can be summarised by the popular yarn that early in his career, Springer acquired some scrap steel that had once formed an old gasometer and drove back and forwards over it with a truck to remove the bend so it was flat enough to use. Because of such shortcuts, his boats were recognised as providing great value for money and his yard was soon knocking out 400 a year, accounting for almost 50 per cent of the market and at a much lower price than any competition.

Springer boats were built to all sizes but most have two distinguishing features: a raised splash board at the bow and, less visibly, a v-shaped hull rather than the usual flat bottom. They were also among the first boats to be built entirely out of steel rather than with a wooden cabin. Springers do have a tendency to look a little boxy, which does nothing for their reputation among waterways connoisseurs, but they are still lovable boats with a colourful history that, as the years have passed, has lent them a certain rakish charm. Belying their reputation, Springer boats also appear to be impressively hard-wearing with thousands still in use despite the fact the company closed down in the mid-1990s. And Springer boats aren’t just confined to the English waterways – in 1990, the boatyard built the Typhoo Atlantic Challenger, a 37-foot craft shaped like a bottle that crossed the Atlantic from New York to Falmouth. Not bad for a company whose first boats were made from a scrapped gasometer.

 

 

 

How your boat was built :

 

 

 

[Flipflop]

Thanks for that I was more interested in finding out about my boat I’m in the process of rebuilding and have just found out it’s previous life it was called tui and anybody with information on her specificly

[Alan de Enfield]

4 minutes ago, Flipflop said:

Thanks for that I was more interested in finding out about my boat I’m in the process of rebuilding and have just found out it’s previous life it was called tui and anybody with information on her specificly

 

 

Sorry to have wasted your time - good luck with the hunt.

[Flipflop]

Thanks again info you sent very informative 

[David Mack]

No information matching that description at https://canalplan.org.uk/boats/boats.php.

What is the Index Number?

[Flipflop]

Sorry I have no info on index number just old name 

[MtB]

57 minutes ago, Flipflop said:

Thanks for that I was more interested in finding out about my boat I’m in the process of rebuilding and have just found out it’s previous life it was called tui and anybody with information on her specificly

 

Telling the board what it called now would probably yield more information. 

 

There are 11 boats called Tui now, and none of them a Springer. 

 

https://canalplan.org.uk/boats/boats.php

 

[David Mack]

15 hours ago, Flipflop said:

Sorry I have no info on index number just old name 

Well it would seem it was never licensed under that name. And if you have no index number it's presumably not licenced now. 

[Flipflop]

I’ve got a picture from years ago I believe is the same boat on the canal before it was stretched license not a problem at present as it’s on land 

[MtB]

So to paraphrase...

 

"I've got this boat with no name and no index number and no photo. Can someone tell me all about it please?" 

 

:)

[Flipflop]

Yer found out bit of info on web and eBay last night will post old picture later when home on iPad 

[MtB]

Yes do. Someone here may well recognise it from a photo.

[Flipflop]

Here’s the old picture I found my missus found it on some kind of google picture app you put in a picture with as much background in as possible and it gets matched 

[ditchcrawler]

1 minute ago, Flipflop said:

Here’s the old picture I found my missus found it on some kind of google picture app you put in a picture with as much background in as possible and it gets matched 

Doesn't look like a Springer to me,

[Flipflop]

Thanks just checked your correct will keep researching 

[booke23]

21 minutes ago, Flipflop said:

Here’s the old picture I found my missus found it on some kind of google picture app you put in a picture with as much background in as possible and it gets matched 

 

That'll be google lens. I just put that pic into google lens and came up with the pic below, unfortunately no license number visible. 

 

Taken by the same guy on the same date as the pic you posted.....2018 on the Grand Union Canal, Uxbridge. So not that long ago. You'd think the boat is still about somewhere.  

 

Edited August 28, 2024 by booke23

[MtB]

The unusual design of the stern rails are a clue to the builder.

 

I've never seen rails run across in front of the tiller like that. 

A photo of the bow would be helpful too. What I'm puzzled about is why you had to google for pics. Why can't you point your phone at it and post loads of pictures as it looks NOW?!

[alias]

3 minutes ago, MtB said:

What I'm puzzled about is why you had to google for pics. Why can't you point your phone at it and post loads of pictures as it looks NOW?!

 

He has posted some photos on his previous threads.

[MtB]

 

Frankly I'm beginning to wonder if you are actually trying to find this boat rather than learn about it. 

 

 

[hider]

Napton?

[MtB]

Just now, alias said:

 

He has posted some photos on his previous threads.

 

Well my apologies if its all legit. But there have been cases on here in the past where the intentions of the poster were not positive. 

 

Ok this pic from another thread shows an approx 45 degree chine. Very rare on a narrowboat and rules out most builders! But who used to build shells like this? 

 

[booke23]

I've just read through the OP's old posts.....it seems this is his current boat? He's restoring it and wants any info on it's past. Maybe @Flipflop can clarify. I read it that he was looking for information on his old narrowboat!

Edited August 28, 2024 by booke23

[Flipflop]

I’ve put loads of pics of my boat was just trying to get a bit of history why I’m working on it yer that pic you posted I’ve got that one but as said bye ditchcrawler it’s wrong boat 

[David Mack]

Well it's probably one of these then:

 

Tui Built by Colecraft - Length : 12.19 metres ( 40 feet ) - Beam : 2.08 metres ( 6 feet 10 inches ). Metal hull N/A . Registered with Canal & River Trust number 520915 as a Powered Motor Boat.  ( Last updated on Wednesday 22nd May 2013 )

Tui Built by Hixon Boats - Length : 15.24 metres ( 50 feet ) - Beam : 2.08 metres ( 6 feet 10 inches ) - Draft : 0.01 metres ( 0 feet ). Metal hull N/A power of 37 HP. Registered with Canal & River Trust number 513758 as a Powered Motor Boat.  ( Last updated on Wednesday 22nd May 2013 )

Tui Built by Triton - Length : 15.24 metres ( 50 feet ) - Beam : 2.08 metres ( 6 feet 10 inches ) - Draft : 0.61 metres ( 2 feet ). Metal hull N/A power of 999 HP. Registered with Canal & River Trust number 509610 as a Powered Motor Boat.  ( Last updated on Wednesday 22nd May 2013 )

Tui Built by Colecraft - Length : 17.68 metres ( 58 feet ) - Beam : 2.08 metres ( 6 feet 10 inches ) - Draft : 0.61 metres ( 2 feet ). Metal hull N/A power of 30 HP. Registered with Canal & River Trust number 514562 as a Powered Motor Boat.  ( Last updated on Wednesday 22nd May 2013 )

Tui Built by R & D Fabrications - Length : 12.192 metres ( 40 feet ) - Beam : 2.083 metres ( 6 feet 10 inches ) - Draft : 0.61 metres ( 2 feet ). Metal hull N/A power of 15 HP. Registered with Canal & River Trust number 77655 as a Powered Motor Boat.  ( Last updated on Wednesday 22nd May 2013 )

Tui No2 Built by Triton Boatfitters - Length : 18.29 metres ( 60 feet ) - Beam : 2.08 metres ( 6 feet 10 inches ) - Draft : 0.71 metres ( 2 feet 4 inches ). Metal hull N/A power of 42 HP. Registered with Canal & River Trust number 512563 as a Powered Motor Boat.  ( Last updated on Wednesday 22nd May 2013 )