Slowly sinking new boater seeks emergency GRP repair advice

[Alan de Enfield]

26 minutes ago, Tony Brooks said:

 

So do I, it upsets me when I see what looks like a deliberate rip-off.

 

 

It's one thing having no experience of knowledge on the subject & being ripped-off, and another to  knowingly make the decision not to have a survey because it was 'difficult to arrange'.

 

We have all made poor decisions at times, and can only hope that this one can be rectified with a bit of cash. No one died.

 

 

 

Edited March 3 by Alan de Enfield

[carlt]

1 hour ago, Tony Brooks said:

 

and if bolted through both angles would serve to reinforce the joint as well, but I fear the inside won't have a large radius, making fitting the length of angle difficult. The outside one may need cutting on one side so it can bend around the "chine" area.

 

I actually meant "port side and starboard side" for aesthetics but I agree, "inside and outside"would strengthen the corners if it fitted.

 

1 hour ago, Cheese said:

If running the engine gives significant water ingress, or even worse shows signs of the crack extending, then bow haul it. A 27ft GRP boat shoildn't be too difficult. You just need to know where to head for.

 

Having bow hauled both some distance a 72' working narrowboat behaves a lot better than a 27' plastic cruiser.

 

I ended up punting the cruiser because, bow hauling, it wouldn't hold a straight line and wandered from one bank to the other.

 

[IanD]

21 minutes ago, carlt said:

I actually meant "port side and starboard side" for aesthetics but I agree, "inside and outside"would strengthen the corners if it fitted.

 

 

Having bow hauled both some distance a 72' working narrowboat behaves a lot better than a 27' plastic cruiser.

 

I ended up punting the cruiser because, bow hauling, it wouldn't hold a straight line and wandered from one bank to the other.

 

Like when some of them are being steered under power, then... 😉 

[Tony Brooks]

1 hour ago, carlt said:

Having bow hauled both some distance a 72' working narrowboat behaves a lot better than a 27' plastic cruiser.

Although I never moved any smaller GRP cruisers far, I don't recall any problems as long as you use the long stern line for pulling and short bow line to keep it straight. Pull on the back and the bow sheers out, so a little steady pull on the bow brings it back in. If you overcompensate increase the pull on the stern a little. This is really for the OP, but I suspect a tow from a friendly boater would be easier.

[Stroudwater1]

5 hours ago, ditchcrawler said:

I think the OP said they were already at Star City Birmingham.

 

Have they managed to get a yard where they can get the boat out though? Caggys may not be able to help Hawne Basin possibly but the list is short Birmingham way. The priority is to find somewhere nearish and head there. Turning back to  Tamworth boat Club or Glascote basin if they can accommodate this maybe better options than heading into Birmingham. Obviously less locks too. 
 

Feel v sorry for them. 

[agg221]

3 hours ago, Tony Brooks said:

Although I never moved any smaller GRP cruisers far, I don't recall any problems as long as you use the long stern line for pulling and short bow line to keep it straight. Pull on the back and the bow sheers out, so a little steady pull on the bow brings it back in. If you overcompensate increase the pull on the stern a little. This is really for the OP, but I suspect a tow from a friendly boater would be easier.

It's why I pull ours off a loop, fixed to the bow and stern. I can then slide along the loop to pull from the point where it balances the sideways tendencies. Ours weighs 17 tons and I pulled it 5 miles down the Erewash last summer because the weed was too bad to get anywhere before the prop balled straight back up with it again. I wouldn't say it was a pleasant experience - the temperature was over 35 most of the way and I was dragging it against the weed, but the GRP cruiser in question should be straightforward enough to keep moving until a friendly passing boater happens by (which might take a while, given where they are heading).

 

Alec

[Mike Todd]

7 hours ago, Tony Brooks said:

Although I never moved any smaller GRP cruisers far, I don't recall any problems as long as you use the long stern line for pulling and short bow line to keep it straight. Pull on the back and the bow sheers out, so a little steady pull on the bow brings it back in. If you overcompensate increase the pull on the stern a little. This is really for the OP, but I suspect a tow from a friendly boater would be easier.

Tie the two lines together and you will soon feel the right balance point.  Only need to adjust when the profile of the canal alters, or someone unforgiving comes the other way.

[cheesegas]

On 02/03/2026 at 19:48, David Mack said:

Yes. Outdrives can be set to do that. But the downside is that every time you put the gearbox into reverse the leg will rise up out of the water rather than applying reverse thrust, which isn't what you want with normal canal boating. The boat may well have been fitted with a locking rod, to hold the leg down, which you would normally operate only when deliberately engaging reverse, but on an older boat like this it is more than likely that the locking rod no longer operates correctly, or the leg has been fixed in the down position.

OP has mentioned it's an Enfield drive. All of these as standard have a reverse lock which is operated by the gear lever on the leg. When put in reverse gear, a little rod retracts from the front of the casing near the gear lever which allows a spring loaded hook to release from the locking bar.

 

As you say, it's common for the mechanism to seize as the mechanism is below the waterline. In my (limited) experience of these however, they always seize in the unlocked position as the leg is most often left in neutral, which does not lock the leg. The spring then is not strong enough (or is broken!) to pull the hook down onto the bar when the rod retracts.

[Chris Yearsley]

Thanks again for all the excellent advice. It's still not sorted but feels like it's getting closer. Caggy's could only offer use of a crane at £1,500, and they don't have space for the boat to be worked on. Although they have a slipway I've not located a trailer. Tonytugboats haven't replied as yet. 

 

But, good news! Despite the dead website Sherborne Wharf are very much in business and think they can handle the repair themselves, plus any other jobs we want doing while they're fixing the hull. We don't have an estimate or confirmation yet, sent photos for them to consider after a phone chat, but that sounds positive. When the engine isn't running the boat is only taking on about 2 or 3 litres a day although it's a lot more when the engine runs.  If Sherborne can add some angle brackets and do a reasonable cut out and patch on the damage I'll be happy with that - unless all you experts are not fans of their work generally ? 

 

What is everyone's opinion of the quality of their work?

 

We can't go there right away as RCR need to come back and clear the cooling intake, after their attempt to rod it clear failed. They say the seacock is completely blocked and are planning to have two guys somehow remove? fix? it without sinking the boat. (I don't even want to watch, sounds terrifying) This would be much easier in the drydock but to get there we need the engine cooling unblocked. 

 

So perhaps with the engine fixed we can just limp and pump to Sherborne, it's only 4 miles (and 24 locks), probably no need for an emergency patch, and a few days afterwards this will just be a funny story and painful memory. Then we can get on with all the work we knew the boat needed!

[Francis Herne]

I have no experience of Sherborne's work, only of their absurd diesel prices - a year or two ago they were charging £1.60/l while Hawne Basin a few miles away was at 88p.

 

That might not apply to their other activities but would make me a bit cautious about value for money.

Of course any other option will have transport costs/hassle on top of the actual work.

 

It would be quite practical to bow-haul (i.e. pull by hand) the boat to Hockley Port from where you are if the engine repairs overrun - as you say, it's only a few miles. There are some tips on the method for that above.

In central Birmingham you might find someone willing to tow you on the level.

 

[Laurie Booth]

10 hours ago, Francis Herne said:

I have no experience of Sherborne's work, only of their absurd diesel prices - a year or two ago they were charging £1.60/l while Hawne Basin a few miles away was at 88p.

 

 

 

A bit unfair to compare the two places.

[Tony Brooks]

10 hours ago, Chris Yearsley said:

Thanks again for all the excellent advice. It's still not sorted but feels like it's getting closer. Caggy's could only offer use of a crane at £1,500, and they don't have space for the boat to be worked on. Although they have a slipway I've not located a trailer. Tonytugboats haven't replied as yet. 

 

But, good news! Despite the dead website Sherborne Wharf are very much in business and think they can handle the repair themselves, plus any other jobs we want doing while they're fixing the hull. We don't have an estimate or confirmation yet, sent photos for them to consider after a phone chat, but that sounds positive. When the engine isn't running the boat is only taking on about 2 or 3 litres a day although it's a lot more when the engine runs.  If Sherborne can add some angle brackets and do a reasonable cut out and patch on the damage I'll be happy with that - unless all you experts are not fans of their work generally ? 

 

What is everyone's opinion of the quality of their work?

 

We can't go there right away as RCR need to come back and clear the cooling intake, after their attempt to rod it clear failed. They say the seacock is completely blocked and are planning to have two guys somehow remove? fix? it without sinking the boat. (I don't even want to watch, sounds terrifying) This would be much easier in the drydock but to get there we need the engine cooling unblocked. 

 

So perhaps with the engine fixed we can just limp and pump to Sherborne, it's only 4 miles (and 24 locks), probably no need for an emergency patch, and a few days afterwards this will just be a funny story and painful memory. Then we can get on with all the work we knew the boat needed!

 

Many thanks for coming back and telling us how you are getting on, I, and i am sure most other members wish you well in getting this resolved. Please keep us informed as things progress so we can all learn from it.

[Allan(nb Albert)]

On 03/03/2026 at 15:15, Tony Brooks said:

Although I never moved any smaller GRP cruisers far, I don't recall any problems as long as you use the long stern line for pulling and short bow line to keep it straight. Pull on the back and the bow sheers out, so a little steady pull on the bow brings it back in. If you overcompensate increase the pull on the stern a little. This is really for the OP, but I suspect a tow from a friendly boater would be easier.

Back in the early 70's, I had a small grp/marine ply cruiser.It had a long shaft motor that made progress through weedy sections of canal almost impossible. I used to bow haul with a loop of rope from bow to stern cleat. Holding the rope in the appropriate place allowed it to steer in more or less a straight line.

 

 

[Francis Herne]

3 hours ago, Laurie Booth said:

A bit unfair to compare the two places.

I don't think it's particularly unfair to compare the two fuel suppliers on the BCN to each other.

 

I think Rich on Roach was about £1.05 and Alvechurch was £1.30 but including duty at 60/40.

 

I would expect 'marina' prices to be somewhat higher but over 50p more struck me as predatory. The only place I've seen a similar price differential was the Worcestershire Avon marinas which have something of a captive market.

 

I don't know if their diesel pricing reflects their other services at all though...

 

@Chris Yearsley it occurred to me that Swallow Cruisers on the North Stratford might be one for the list of options - it's a day or so further but no extra locks, another old-school sort of yard similar to Caggy's.

 

 

 

Edited March 5 by Francis Herne

[David Mack]

22 minutes ago, Francis Herne said:

 

@Chris Yearsley it occurred to me that Swallow Cruisers on the North Stratford might be one for the list of options - it's a day or so further but no extra locks, another old-school sort of yard similar to Caggy's.

Or Lyons Boatyard on the North Stratford, which is a bit closer?

[Francis Herne]

6 minutes ago, David Mack said:

Or Lyons Boatyard on the North Stratford, which is a bit closer?

I didn't think they did hull work but can't hurt to ask.

 

@NB Thistle would know if I remember correctly.

[Arthur Marshall]

If RCR can't fix the engine I think you'll find that their contract says they will tow you to a boatyard that can fix it. I was told they take the cost out of what they would otherwise contribute to the repair but it might be worth considering. It's worth reading their booklet very carefully to see what you're entitled to  and what you're not.

[jonathanA]

18 hours ago, Arthur Marshall said:

If RCR can't fix the engine I think you'll find that their contract says they will tow you to a boatyard that can fix it. I was told they take the cost out of what they would otherwise contribute to the repair but it might be worth considering. It's worth reading their booklet very carefully to see what you're entitled to  and what you're not.

its used to be 2 hours tow time max - which is about as much use as a chocolate tea pot, but as you say worth checking your own documentation. 

[Ian_C]

"Toolstation" sell a fibre glass resin kit, code 61034.   It comes with glass matting, resin and activator, plus gloves and a brush, quite a useful kit which I have used in the past for small repairs. 

[jacko264]

Is this any help 

[Alan de Enfield]

 

I doubt that tape will have the structural strength to stop the transom vibrating.

[NB Thistle]

On 05/03/2026 at 15:31, Francis Herne said:

I didn't think they did hull work but can't hurt to ask.

 

@NB Thistle would know if I remember correctly.

Swallow does hull work, I'm not sure about Lyon's though.

[Chris Yearsley]

Update, and (mostly) good news. Many thanks for all the helpful advice.

 

We've booked the boat into the drydock at Hockley for next week, with WRComposites booked to do the repair. They came out to the boat (even though it was in a bad location) and managed an underwater patch repair that held perfectly while we cruised from Star City area to Hockley. I'm so happy it's working out, and I'm fitter personally after the exercise of the 24 locks we did on Saturday.

 

When we got to the boat on Saturday morning we found someone has smashed a window in - and moved the boat. Somehow someone moved it through New Troutpool Bridge and re-moored it on the other side (!!?? It's a narrow bridge ) Nothing had been taken and the cabin hadn't been entered. We're very confused. All we can think is that some joker smashed the window and set the boat loose, and then a good samaritan caught it and moored again. It was a distressing start to the day. If anyone sees chatter about it on facebook or wherever do let us know

 

Two thumbs up for WRComposites, but no thumbs up for the guys that RCR sent a week ago to fix the blocked cooling intake. They tried to scam my daughter telling her it needed two engineers as the seacock had to come right off, and demanded many hundred pounds. They forced her to agree by having removed the water pump and taken it away, before giving her the quote. And that's with 'RCR Gold - parts included - unlimited callouts'. However when the (lone) engineer turned up, he just cleared the blockage by hand in a moment and charged much less. Seemed like he wasn't willing to carry out the evil plan his colleagues had set up.

 

The drydock at Hockley operated by Sherborne Wharf is still in business but they're hard to deal with. They only use email, no phone, whatsapp, or messenger and they always take days to reply to each email. So arranging things is tricky but we think it's in place.

[David Mack]

Glad to hear you've got to a dry dock, and that the temporary repair did its job.

The place you left the boat isn't the best - probably OK to moor there as long as there is someone aboard, but not a place to leave a boat unattended. Glad nothing was taken, although a replacement window glass has been added to the to-do list. As you say, likely someone set the boat loose, and someone else moored it up again a short distance down the canal.

There are mixed views about RCR. Some see them as an essential safety net worth paying for, others will tell of very variable performance and sometimes unexpectedly high bills from the people they send out to deal with boaters problems. You seem to have encountered some of the worst and the best.

Good luck with the repairs!

[Ian_C]

51 minutes ago, Chris Yearsley said:

Update, and (mostly) good news. Many thanks for all the helpful advice.

 

We've booked the boat into the drydock at Hockley for next week, with WRComposites booked to do the repair. They came out to the boat (even though it was in a bad location) and managed an underwater patch repair that held perfectly while we cruised from Star City area to Hockley. I'm so happy it's working out, and I'm fitter personally after the exercise of the 24 locks we did on Saturday.

 

When we got to the boat on Saturday morning we found someone has smashed a window in - and moved the boat. Somehow someone moved it through New Troutpool Bridge and re-moored it on the other side (!!?? It's a narrow bridge ) Nothing had been taken and the cabin hadn't been entered. We're very confused. All we can think is that some joker smashed the window and set the boat loose, and then a good samaritan caught it and moored again. It was a distressing start to the day. If anyone sees chatter about it on facebook or wherever do let us know

 

Two thumbs up for WRComposites, but no thumbs up for the guys that RCR sent a week ago to fix the blocked cooling intake. They tried to scam my daughter telling her it needed two engineers as the seacock had to come right off, and demanded many hundred pounds. They forced her to agree by having removed the water pump and taken it away, before giving her the quote. And that's with 'RCR Gold - parts included - unlimited callouts'. However when the (lone) engineer turned up, he just cleared the blockage by hand in a moment and charged much less. Seemed like he wasn't willing to carry out the evil plan his colleagues had set up.

 

The drydock at Hockley operated by Sherborne Wharf is still in business but they're hard to deal with. They only use email, no phone, whatsapp, or messenger and they always take days to reply to each email. So arranging things is tricky but we think it's in place.

So glad to hear that you have a solution in place - good luck with the repairs.