Old motor narrow boat

[nebulae]

I remember an old motor moored in Runcorn in the late 1960s.It belonged to a church youth group,had a full length conversion with no internal fittings and a substantial bend amidships.I think it had a Morris Navigator or similar engine and was for sale for £1,500.The name Edwardian Monark may have been painted on it,but my memory on this is very hazy.Does anybody know what happened to it?

[Liam]

One for Tim L ?

[Timleech]

One for Tim L ?

 

I remember there being a boat called 'Edwardian Monarch' but not much about it. My first thought was that the Joshers' steamer 'Monarch' carried that name for a while, but that wouldn't tie in with the OP's 'bend in the middle' which I took to mean that it was badly hogged?

 

Tim

[nebulae]

I should have made clear.The bend in the middle was caused by a side impact?Maybe this cauld have been jacked out?I am almost sure that the boat was composite construction and that it was moored neer the old Crosville depot(near Sprinch Yard),on the Bridgewater.I am vague about the engine,but almost sure it was a petrol parafin Morris Navigator.

[Timleech]

I should have made clear.The bend in the middle was caused by a side impact?Maybe this cauld have been jacked out?I am almost sure that the boat was composite construction and that it was moored neer the old Crosville depot(near Sprinch Yard),on the Bridgewater.I am vague about the engine,but almost sure it was a petrol parafin Morris Navigator.

 

I see one of the past owners of the Monarch quite often, I'll try to remember to ask him.

If composite, I suspect it was the same boat.

 

Tim

[pete harrison]

I am vague about the engine,but almost sure it was a petrol parafin Morris Navigator.

I can confirm that the former F.M.C.Ltd. steamer MONARCH was fitted with a Morris Vadette 4 cylinder petrol / paraffin in 1961 (exHinkley Point power station). This engine was replaced in 1974 by a Gardner 2L2 (exN.C.B. wooden motor FRED).

 

Richard Thomas' website on steam powered narrow boats (specialising in F.M.C. Ltd. steamers) may give more details regarding ownership at the time you are interested in.

[billh]

I can confirm that the former F.M.C.Ltd. steamer MONARCH was fitted with a Morris Vadette 4 cylinder petrol / paraffin in 1961 (exHinkley Point power station). This engine was replaced in 1974 by a Gardner 2L2 (exN.C.B. wooden motor FRED).

FRED is still just about alive at Astley Green Colliery. An ugly boat when it was working 40 years ago, time has not been kind to it. Very unusual steel cabin, looked a bit space age. I don't think anything has been done maintenance wise in those 40 years. A motorised "box boat" built of pine ( rather than oak/elm). Andy Millward r.i.p., did the engine transplant into Monarch.

[nebulae]

Many thanks for the replies.It looks as if the boat was Monarch.Interesting that such an important boat should have been in such an unloved state,but survived to be restored.I wanted to buy the boat at this time,but unfortunately,finances would not stretch.I suspect a lot of money has been spent over the last 40 years.

[Pluto]

Monarch and Andy Millward can just be seen behind this photo of a real boat.

 

 

Fred at Astley Green circa 1973.

 

[billh]

Monarch and Andy Millward can just be seen behind this photo of a real boat.

 

 

Fred at Astley Green circa 1973.

 

 

Is that Monarch Moored at Moore with William ? If it is William, she's (he) still there,I think, must be something of a record, Clematis as well ?

Fred was up for sale by NCB along with quite a few other superannuated box boats. A few optimists bought and converted them, but , as far as I know they had all disintegrated by the 80's. The one at Ellesmere Port came from the MB & B didn't it? Some of the boats at Astley Green were dragged out and carefully(!) dismantled by NCB staff , the planks being saved for re-use whatever that was. There was a small yard near the colliery where these planks and the cabin stoves were stored- at this time the colliery was being demolished- a very sad sight .

[ANDREW P]

The engine in Monarch when Andy Millward bought it was a 6 cylinder Morris Commodore mk 2 petrol parrafin engine, Andy sold the gearbox and gave the engine to a character nicknamed Dry dock Mike the owner of a Bridgewater Canal Boxboat, the engine was fitted with another gearbox and powered the boat until its demise.