Ex-Brummagen Boats 'Brum Tug' Quercus

[Quercus]

My wife and I honeymooned on Quercus in December 1990, so this year is our silver wedding anniversary.

 

We now have a 15' plywood Phil Bolger 'Micro' Cat-Boat on the Norfolk Broads, which we nostalgically named after our '1st boat'.

 

For years now, I have searched for our original Quercus and have gathered that she was sold, sadly re-named and last known to live on the River Wey.

 

I have really hit a dead-end on-line, so if anyone has any information about whether she is still afloat/who owns her, I/we would be ever so grateful.

[john6767]

Can I suggest that putting you address online way not be a good idea. When you have a few more posts someone with information would be able to cantact you via PM. In the mean time you can edit your post to remove the address if you want to.

 

Oh and welcome to the forum.

[dave moore]

Hi both

 

I remember Quercus well. At the time, in the 80s/early 90s I was Brum Boats resident signwriter. She needed re-doing and I was sat in the paint dock, setting the work out, when Alan Green, one of the directors, came in and queried the spelling with a "c " in the middle. He thought it should be "qu" instead. I didn't know, but went along with his suggestion...he was paying for the work, after all. The customer never queried the spelling. Many years later, I was queueing for Watford locks on the Leicester section en route to the National Festival, when another Quercus pulled in behind me. Chatting while waiting, I asked the question about the spelling, sketching in the circumstances....." we are members of the arboreal society" ( or something similar ) they told me..." It's certainly with a C"..oh, dear.....

 

Dave

[RLWP]

If you Brummagem into here as a builder: http://canalplan.org.uk/boats/boats.php

 

There are only five entries. Does that help?

 

 

Esox Built by Brummagem - Length : 9.25 metres ( 30 feet 4 inches ) - Beam : 2.08 metres ( 6 feet 10 inches ) - Draft : 0.8 metres ( 2 feet 7 inches ). Metal hull N/A power of 20 HP. Registered with Canal & River Trust number 77740 as a Powered Motor Boat. ( Last updated on Wednesday 22nd May 2013 )

Cutter Built by Brummagem Boats - Length : 9.9 metres ( 32 feet 6 inches ) - Beam : 2.08 metres ( 6 feet 10 inches ) - Draft : 0.61 metres ( 2 feet ). Metal hull N/A power of 20 HP. Registered with Canal & River Trust number 73935 as a Powered Motor Boat. ( Last updated on Friday 20th April 2012 )

Jessie Built by Brummagem - Length : 18.898 metres ( 62 feet ) - Beam : 2.083 metres ( 6 feet 10 inches ) - Draft : 0.61 metres ( 2 feet ). Metal hull N/A power of 42 HP. Registered with Canal & River Trust number 48727 as a Powered Motor Boat. ( Last updated on Wednesday 22nd May 2013 )

Jabberwocky Built by Brummagem in 1988 - Length : 14.63 metres ( 48 feet ) - Beam : 1.8 metres ( 5 feet 11 inches ). Hull colour : Black , Superstructure colour : Gn/red
Powered by an Inboard Diesel engine with a power of 55 HP. Registered with Environment Authority - Anglian Region number G14707 as a Motor boat Motor Boat. ( Last updated on Wednesday 12th June 2013 )

Dear Octopus Built by Brummagem Boats Ltd in 1989 - Length : 12 metres ( 39 feet 4 inches ) - Beam : 2 metres ( 6 feet 7 inches )
Powered by an Inboard Diesel engine with a power of 30 HP. Registered with The Environment Agency number P0620 as a Non Hire Annual Private Motor Boat. ( Last updated on Saturday 11th July 2015 )

 

Richard

[richardf]

I used to moor next to a Quercus on the River Wey - pretty sure it wasn't a Brumtug, although I do believe it had been lengthened

[Keith M]

Quercus was built on a Brum tug hull but with a full cabin

 

So is a Brum tug or not

 

As i work for a time at Brummagen it was consider as a tug

 

It was exhibited at an Expo in Canada and came back to the UK in I think the 1990

 

If my memory is still up to date it then did a spell in the hire fleet of Brum Boats

 

Keith

[dave moore]

Keith, old warthog....

 

I'm sorry, your memory is playing tricks.....the Brumtug that went to Expo '86 was City of Birmingham, I did the lettering, scumbling, cans etc etc. It was built to 40' to fit in to a container and it did have a longer cabin than most tugs, having a forward saloon as well. Quercus did have a longer cabin too, I seem to recall that it was only a 30' shell, privately owned. It was City that went in to the hire fleet on her return from Canada.

 

Thanks again for a splendid Saturday!

 

Dave

[Keith M]

Having just had a talk with Dave his version is correct.

 

Keith

[StephenA]

There are actually 66 boats built by "Brummagen", broken down into these three different builder names:

 

+----------------------+----------------+
| builder | count(builder) |
+----------------------+----------------+
| Brummagen | 5 |
| BRUMMAGEN /ALVECHURC | 1 |
| Brummagen Boats | 60 |
+----------------------+----------------+

 

The problem is that the field is free text.. maybe I should change Brummagen to Brummagen Boats

Edited November 9, 2015 by StephenA

[Keith M]

When I worked at Brummagen roughly every nine weeks a new boats was completed

 

Keith

[Sea Dog]

Quercus was the first Narrowboat we ever experienced in 1987. She was a lovely little thing back then, resplendent in a rather unusual pea soup green, beautifully sign written and with a well appointed back cabin plus a forward saloon which we hardly bothered with. Two of us, a 4 year old, a 3 month old baby and a labrador all had a fantastic week which culminated in our own boat these many years later. The BCN was a tad less shiny back then, definitely more dead dogs and mattresses than any trip since, but it was brilliant! Good old Quercus.

 

 

Edited to add that she was then running from Sherborne Street Wharf under the Brummagem Boats banner. (It's Brummagem right, as opposed to gen?)

Edited November 10, 2015 by Sea Dog

[Rog Davies]

I may be able clear up some confusion.

 

There was a Fernie [Harborough style] built boat called 'Quercus' which used to moor at Pyrford Marina in the 80's/90's. I believe the owners moved to Gnosall some years ago where the boat was moored at their house. They took part in a sponsored cruise in her around 1990 to raise money for charity.

 

I seem to recall seeing a green tug style boat of this name somewhere on the Soar last year.

[richardf]

That's the one I was thinking of!

[Quercus]

Many thanks to everyone for their replies. I will keep on dipping in periodically, just in case anyone has a lead on her.

 

Richard