First trip on my new (old) boat

[junior]

After seven years off the cut since leaving Halsall and moving on to pastures new, I've finally got a new (to me) old boat. 

Thanks to Sarah Edgson at Norton Canes (Glascote) for an easy purchase of Ballinger, a 1890's mk.1 Bantock boat, cut in half in the 60's by Max Sinclair and others, and a steel cabin added. It's got a lovely fit out, which the sales particulars suggest was by Ken Brenchley at Brinklow, but it has also been suggested to me that Brinklow Boat Services might not have been about then, so who knows. Propulsion is by a Dorman 2LB which was originally in a back-up generator at Stansted Airport. 

 

I picked the boat up Saturday morning, and after much faffing about finally got going at lunchtime. Everything worked fine first time, despite the boat having sat at the brokers for some time. I filled the water tank from the water point at the top of Glascote Locks, and was caught out by the water pressure. The hose popped straight out of the filler and then sprayed water around (and all over me) as the hose did it's angry snake impression. I finally managed to tame it, and learnt my first thing about the boat - always hold the hose in the filler!

 

I descended those first 2 locks tentatively, having not done any locks for 7 years, and wanting to see how the boat behaves in a lock. Once on the move I was surprised to see so many boats moving, but the weather was great for boating, and maybe the last sunny and mild weekend of the year. Nevertheless the stove was going by my feet, offering warth. I've never had a boat that doesn't have a range by the back doors, so god knows how those of you without manage.

 

First thought was that the boat was moving quite slowly. Then I realised it's leaf soup season, and having originally thought the draught would be about 2' 6", I got a glimpse at a previous survey which states it is actually 2' 9", so I'm going to have to get used to cruising sedately. 

 

I'd originally hoped to get to Rugeley Saturday evening, and Stone on Sunday evening, but the slow going and my late start put pay to this. I forgot to dip the tank before I left the yard, so when I did so in my first lock, I found it was nearly empty. With the next fuel opportunity all the way at Streethay, I was watching the clock, and worrying if I was going to start picking up any crud or water that might be in the bottom of the tank. Google told me the wharf shut at 5pm, but thankfully I rang to confirm, as it's actually 4.3ppm on a Saturday. When I told the guy on the phone I would wind it on a bit and do my best, he said he'd hang around and wait for me. I finally rocked up about 4.45pm, and took on fuel, as well as getting a pint of milk for the morning and a tin of emergency soup. Thanks to Steve at Streethay for staying open for me. I thought he looked familiar, and turns out he'd previously been on the Shroppie and a customer of mine on the fuel boat.

 

I cracked on a bit further, and whilst it would have been nice to get to Fradley Junction, I had a memory of my one and only visit there around 10 years ago, when I'd arrived at dusk on Halsall and not been able to find any space before the swing bridge, and then 'no mooring' signs galore around the corner, forcing me up the locks in darkness. Looking at the clock, I could see history repeating itself, so when I spotted room for one boat on some piling in what my map suggested was Fradley Village, I took it just as day turned to night.

 

Craving some proper food, I thought I'd check Google for a shop, and discovered there was a Co-op a few minutes walk away. Imagine my suprise when I found a chippy, cafe, subway etc... 

Having bought some fresh food from the co-op, I treated myself to a fish and chips supper. I could have stayed here longer, with such good facilities close-by. 5G inside the boat as well!!!

 

I had my best nights sleep in several years. The boat is hydraulic drive, so the back cabin has extra head height, as well as the drop down bed being a third bigger than the norm, something that Mrs Junior will be very happy with as we used to sleep with our knees bent on Halsall 😂. The range went out overnight, so that'll take a bit of practice.

 

An early start after a bacon roll and coffee, and the tree next to the boat had dumped all it's leaves on the roof. Perhaps why that one spot was free. I arrived at Fradley just as the volunteer lock keepers arrived for the day. I welcomed their assistance. I explained I'd only just got the boat and these were my first uphill locks. Did they mind taking it easy so I could see how the boat behaved, as I wanted the boat to come forward the ride up the gate. It did as I expected. 

 

What didn't look far on the map seemed to take a lot longer than expected, again because of leaves and depth. I rolled into Rugeley at lunchtime, and realised I wasn't going to make Stone, so reassessed. Less boats moving than yesterday, but of course having not seen anyone for hours, I met someone at Armatige, and had a good practice at going astern. Another glorious day, and so many people out enjoying the canal. 

 

I timed Colwich Lock right, as there was one coming out and another waiting to come down. So I slotted in as their respective crews kindly worked me through. The ground paddle here is broken, with a sign saying it is under repair. Not much evidence of any repairing going on. The downside to getting assistance at the locks is that I was hungry, thirsty and desperate for the toilet, as these are all tasks better carried out in a lock when single handed. Roll on winter when I can sit in a lock and make my lunch!

 

As Mrs Junior was coming to pick me up by road, and the options for leaving the boat a couple of days quite minimal after Great Haywood, I decided to call it a day on the visitor moorings just before the junction mid-afternoon, and took the opportunity to sort a few bits out and start deciding what would live where on the boat. I nipped to the Spar and after a bit of daylight robbery on their part, got some provisions I could turn into a hot meal. I decided to clean out the well deck/catch area and set up the table, and Mrs Junior and mini Junior joined me for dinner at dusk, before we all set of back home in the car. Note the paper plates...£3.69 for 20! Must buy some proper ones today to take back to the boat.

 

I'll be back to the boat in a couple of days to move a bit more. The aim is to get the boat back to Dutton where I hope CRT are going to let me have an End of Garden mooring as there's been one here previously, and it exists as a drop down on the mooring location section on the licensing page. 

 

I've took a few photos, which I'll try too add. Being single handed, they're mostly from the same perspective!

Edited October 28, 2024 by junior

[Mike Tee]

Looking good - will this one be blue and white as well!?

[junior]

[junior]

[Ray T]

Junior,  congratulations on your purchase. You have a boat there with a lot of history attached to it.

Ballinger was moored in the marina at Kings Bromley for a while.

 

Edited October 28, 2024 by Ray T

[junior]

6 minutes ago, Mike Tee said:

Looking good - will this one be blue and white as well!?

 

Not completely decided. Those of you not visually impaired will notice one side of the boat is grey, and the other red. The grey is top coat, and how it should look. The red is undercoat.

 

I have enough grey to finish the boat. I think painting season is probably over now, so it will have to stay how it is over winter now, so I've got a few months to decide. My first boat Albion was all grey, and I do like the battleship look, so I may will just finish the second side in grey to save a whole repaint. Cants, swan neck and other details are blue at the moment. I may well stick to that and just give it all a refresh.

Photo to show the delightful Phil Speight artwork in the cabin.

Edited October 28, 2024 by junior

[haggis]

Enjoy your new boat and welcome back to boating!

[MtB]

Congrats Junior!

 

Lovely bow shape. Mildly puzzles me why there is no-one building new boats with this beautifully elegantly shape. I guess its because its three feet longer than the squashed up short bow shape most modern boats have, done to maximise cabin space I guess. 

 

 

[max's son]

Hope you enjoy your new boat

May be one day you will cruise down to Worcester and I will see her

 

     

 

[Stilllearning]

11 minutes ago, max's son said:

Hope you enjoy your new boat

May be one day you will cruise down to Worcester and I will see her

 

     

 

That was making that Fergy do some hard work!

[David Mack]

37 minutes ago, MtB said:

Congrats Junior!

 

Lovely bow shape. Mildly puzzles me why there is no-one building new boats with this beautifully elegantly shape. I guess its because its three feet longer than the squashed up short bow shape most modern boats have, done to maximise cabin space I guess. 

 

 

I'm sure the boys at Brinklow or one or two of the other 'historic' boatbuilders would build you a replica if you asked (and they had one to measure off). 

There's probably double curvature in the bow plates though, which would need to be built of 'planks' welded together under the guard irons, as @stagedamager is doing with the rebuild of Norway.

[MtB]

28 minutes ago, David Mack said:

I'm sure the boys at Brinklow or one or two of the other 'historic' boatbuilders would build you a replica if you asked (and they had one to measure off). 

 

I don't need to, I have one already. The boys at Brinklow even put a new bottom on it for me a few years ago! 

 

 

[beerbeerbeerbeerbeer]

Lovely boat, 

I’m very jealous of the interior. 
we can compare bows one day, 

I have similar. 
 

and great to see someone keeping the life going in these old boats 👍

[stagedamager]

4 hours ago, David Mack said:

I'm sure the boys at Brinklow or one or two of the other 'historic' boatbuilders would build you a replica if you asked (and they had one to measure off). 

There's probably double curvature in the bow plates though, which would need to be built of 'planks' welded together under the guard irons, as @stagedamager is doing with the rebuild of Norway.

congratulations @junior on your return to the water and a fine vessel indeed. theres something special about the Mk1 Bantocks. it would definitely need to be a planked bow unless you had a very large former.....but, probably not a fully planked boat like we're doing! enjoy your new boating!!