Another Boat, Another Mistake of the Heart – Trying to Trace 'Elisabeth W'

[Celine]

Hello everyone,

 

I’m reaching out here hoping for help from the knowledgeable people of this forum.

I currently live aboard a 30m Dutch Luxmotor barge in France — a boat I bought as my first true love and life project. I’m currently in the middle of restoring her on a shipyard here.

 

But… life just threw another boat-shaped problem at me.

 

Moored right next to my barge is a smaller vessel, abandoned for several years, soon to be seized and sold by the French waterways authorities (VNF). And I’ve absolutely fallen for her — this would be my second boat-love story, and I really don’t want to let her slip away if I can help it.

Here’s what I know so far about the boat :

 

• Painted name / Devise: ELISABETHW — hand-painted, possibly Elisabeth W or Elisabeth II, with an S not a Z.

• Rough length: Around 18.5m (not measured precisely yet), but she’s quite narrow — I believe narrow enough to have been built for the UK canal network.

• Interior plaque reads Grand Union Canal 1929. I don’t know if this was added later for decoration or if it’s original.

• No visible registration or number anywhere.

• Former owner was English, known locally as Christopher, but he’s long gone, and nobody has further information.

 

I’m trying to trace the origins of this boat before I consider buying her. My goal would be to restore her properly and possibly apply for heritage status here in France (BIP classification).

 

I’ve already contacted the Canal & River Trust in the UK, but I thought posting here might help. Maybe someone recognizes her, or maybe someone can guide me on where else to look for archives or records of old Grand Union Canal boats.

 

Any help, advice, or lead would be greatly appreciated.

 

Thank you for reading — and for keeping the canal boat heritage alive.

Best regards from the (slightly chaotic) French canals,
Céline

[Derek R.]

The hull looks Dutch, the superstructure likely not as old as the hull if 1929 is to be believed.

Such boats were often victualling and fuelling boats in the smaller Netherlands waterways. Can't help more than that.

[MtB]

I have to agree with DerekR. The hull looks a LOT older than the topsides to my eye.

 

Nor does it look to me as though it was built for the English canals...

[David Mack]

What is this Grand Union plaque? Something original to the boat, or just a modern decorative item?

[Celine]

Thank you all for your insights — that’s exactly why I’m hesitating.

 

The hull does indeed look Dutch to me too, and I’m fully aware the superstructure is more recent and not original — no surprises there. But there are three things that raised questions for me:

 

1. The width: it’s unusually narrow, even for a Dutch barge. Narrow enough that it could navigate the UK canals, which made me wonder if it had originally been designed with that in mind. I can try to get a proper measurement if that helps clarify things — but it’s definitely very slender for a Dutch-built vessel.
2. The owner: the previous owner (now disappeared) was English, which added to my suspicions about a potential UK link, even if it’s a red herring.
3. The plaque: there’s a commemorative-style plaque inside the cabin referencing the Grand Union Canal, 1929. I don’t think it’s an original feature of the boat — it’s more likely decorative — but again, it nudged me toward considering a possible English origin.

 

 

And of course, I haven’t found any trace of the vessel in Dutch registries dating back to the 1970s or earlier, which isn’t definitive, but it adds to the mystery.

 

Thanks again for your help — happy to share more pictures or take more measurements if that helps narrow things down.

[Stilllearning]

Bonjour et bienvenue.

The boat does look like a Dutch barge (a generic and often misused term), there are members here who know far more than me about them. The Dutch Barge Association might be able to help. 

If you can gain access to the inside of the boat you may learn more, as there will hopefully be paperwork lying around.

Where is it in France?  We live in the Limousin and do often wish we hadn't sold our last boat.

Bonne chance.

[Boaty Jo]

There may be a Hull or HIN number (or other) stamped or welded somewhere on the hull (lower part as the superstructure forward of the rear cabin will probably be a later addition)

The Dutch boat administration and register is called the Kadaster, IF you can find a hull number, perhaps they can help.

 

The Dutch Barge Association may also be able to help. www.barges.org

[carlt]

 

I think they sold them in the Braunston Lock shop

[Lady M]

And in many other shops, still available.

[Francis Herne]

I'm sure @carlt has it right. This type of souvenir plaque is very common on UK canals and sold in a lot of canalside shops. I was looking at a selection in Autherley Junction on Monday.

 

https://www.canalshop.co.uk/acatalog/plaques.html

 

Besides suggesting that it might have visited the Grand Union it wouldn't tell you anything about the history of the boat.

 

It doesn't look like any native UK canal craft I can think of.

The height of the wheelhouse looks as if it would be a limitation on most UK canals even if the hull fits.

Nice boat, though!

Edited Wednesday at 07:20 by Francis Herne

[carlt]

4 minutes ago, Francis Herne said:

 

 

The height of the wheelhouse looks as if it would be a limitation on most UK canals even if the hull fits.

Nice boat, though!

 

I'd chop the lid off and put a nice wooden drop-down wheelhouse on instead..

 

The angles on the wheelhouse are the only things that don't quite match the rest of the boat.

 

Unusual for old DB conversions that often look like someone has dropped a giant fridge on a beautiful hull.

 

[Celine]

Thanks to all of you for these precious pieces of information!

 

I’ll be looking for her history towards Holland then. My first thought was it was some sort of Aak (I’m doing some research on a Isjel Aak for a neighbor). But not quite…

 

I haven’t found any stamp nor HIN on the hull but I think coats of paint may have hidden them. It was the case with my 1929 Luxmotor, I’ve found the stamps when I brought it back to bare metal.

 

I do have access to the inside but sadly there isn’t much hints. The engine is a very common and « recent » DAF so it doesn’t help much.

 

I’m currently mooring in the shipyard of Castelsarrasin, so not so far from you @Stilllearning! If your regrets are too intense, there are plenty of boats on this shipyard waiting for owners.
 

I haven’t introduced myself by the way. I’m Celine, almost 40. Living on my 30m Luxmotor that I am restoring on my own. See some pictures attached. And I’ve always dreamt of owning a narrow boat. I was telling myself « one boat at the time to restore », until I met Elisabeth. 

[carlt]

It looks a bit like a miniature Steilsteven to my, highly uneducated eye.

 

I didn't think they made them that small though.

 

Does the member "Steilsteven" still post here?

 

 

[Francis Herne]

@Steilsteven still seems to be around - "last visited: Saturday"

 

@Onewheeler and @Tam & Di are other users who know a lot about European barges and waterways.

 

I know nothing, but your boat in the last post is quite stunning! Must be a huge project to tackle.

[carlt]

49 minutes ago, Celine said:

 

....Ithere are plenty of boats on this shipyard waiting for owners.

 

^^^^^^ THIS!...is why I should never have come back to this cursed website.

 

(I am now looking at the boatyard on Google Maps looking for yet another project boat I don't need)

Edited Wednesday at 08:20 by carlt

[MtB]

1 hour ago, Francis Herne said:

The height of the wheelhouse looks as if it would be a limitation on most UK canals even if the hull fits.

 

 

This point struck me in the photos too, although I didn't manage to verbalise it. Whoever put that top on, clearly had no  concerns o it fitting it fitting under the many tiny accommodation bridges spanning the UK narrow canals. Therefore I think we can conclude the conversion was not intended for UK canals. 

 

And similarly I doubt the hull was constructed for UK canals either, given its obvious Dutch style, complexity of construction and unsuitability for UK narrow locks.

[Bee]

Oh how do these things get abandoned? That little boat is really nice, I expect if it was measured it would be more than 2.1 metres which is the narrow lock width but what a lovely boat for French canals. Almost certainly Dutch built and possibly spent its early life on the little canals in northern Holland. Hope somebody gives it a good home if VNF disposes of it.  Your boat (Well it's a ship really!) is as you say, a life project and I wish you well with it, it's more than I could ever have bitten off. I'll look out for you, if you see a little Dutch tug called Bee come past give us a wave.

[Derek R.]

One at a time Celine!

 

Dutch boats are very attractive, but best on the wider waterways. We lived aboard a Tjalk for two years, unconverted, living in the accommodation that was part 1889, and part 1939. She was a huge undertaking and movement on the Thames restrictive. I recall our first movement clearly; Cast off from a backwater never having commanded a large vessel before, reversed, and across into the main stream up to Boulters. Turned below the lock, back down with the current and shoot Maidenhead road bridge. Down and turned above Bray lock, then back up to the mooring without incident. Euphoria!

 

 

 

 

[Tonka]

We did meet a skipper of a Dutch Barge who had come over from the continent in his Barge and was holidaying on the GU. He was Britsh but his wife and son were Dutch. He had come over in an ex oil Penrice if I remember right because he told us he had to pump sea water into the tanks for stability on the crossing. His name was Roger I believe. He said that British skippers were in demand because they would go out in fog where as the others wouldn't. His son had a second hand British bike which the son used on the towpath. He had fallen in many times apparently because he was used to back pedalling to apply the rear brake ! 

[Tam & Di]

17 hours ago, Derek R. said:

The hull looks Dutch, the superstructure likely not as old as the hull if 1929 is to be believed.

Such boats were often victualling and fuelling boats in the smaller Netherlands waterways. Can't help more than that.

I'd agree, except the stern cabin could be original. If so then it was probably not a tug as I'd expect a longer stern deck as White Heather has, under. Shell Oils operated a few, and Shell V fetched up in the UK - with the Lorenz Brothers I think. So too Shellfen, which worked on the fens as indicated by the name. That is/was about 18m long and some <4m beam, but has a transom stern.

 

I'll try to put your photos on the DBA Forum to see if anyone there can make better suggestions.

 

 

Edited Wednesday at 14:55 by Tam & Di
add White Heather photo

[Tonka]

23 minutes ago, Tam &amp; Di said:

I'd agree, except the stern cabin could be original. If so then it was probably not a tug as I'd expect a longer stern deck as White Heather has, under. Shell Oils operated a few, and Shell V fetched up in the UK - with the Lorenz Brothers I think. So too Shellfen, which worked on the fens as indicated by the name. That is/was about 18m long and some <4m beam, but has a transome stern.

 

I'll try to put your photos on the DBA Forum to see if anyone there can make better suggestions.

 

 

The guy I was referring to mentioned Shell. Could it have had the cabin added after he had his holiday over here at some point

[Derek R.]

Another of its ilk. This was tucked away on the lower section of the River Wey, below Coxes Mill. Circa early 1980's.

GERARDA ELIZABETH, 44tons. It's not apparent, but the wheelhouse was offset to the starboard side. Some years later I saw it being used on London River collecting rubbish from the various piers. It was looking a lot better being painted up quite smartly, and making a sound very distictive of a single cylinder hot bulb. Very tasty.

 

 

Edited Wednesday at 15:08 by Derek R.

[Tam & Di]

One of several boats owned by Vince Locatelli who did maintenance work on the river for the National Trust - his wife is/was Dutch. I don't remember the engine, but from your description it was probably a compressed-air started Deutz, similar to the one in our Beurtschip Friesland when we bought it.

 

Edited Wednesday at 17:59 by Tam & Di

[noddyboater]

Could you please send those pictures of “Gerada Elizabeth” to the fabricators currently churning out large skip like monstrosities with the hope that it may just make our waterways more beautiful in the future..

[Derek R.]

Lol! Not quite the same, but different and interesting - SPIDER, another 1980's shot.

I recall the lady owner (her son on the foredeck) moved to NZ?