Every year since we got married on 31st July 1998 we have had a week on a narrowboat for a holiday every year. See details at https://steve33.tripod.com/travel/narrowboats.htm. We decided that when we could we would spend a year continuously cruising on a narrowboat.
Now, having both retired, we arranged long term hire of a narrowboat from 22nd February 2021 until the end of October 2021. Despite several stumbling blocks along the way and COVID-19 we still aim to do this.
In an ideal world we would buy a narrowboat and sell it at the end of the trip, and if we were lucky get our money back or make a small profit. However, if we didn't get a quick sale at the beginning of winter, then mooring fees and boat running costs could lead to considerable expense running into the next year.
We were happy to hire a narrowboat for future holidays and not incur the costs of owning a money-pit. During coronavirus lockdown, following a recommendation, we discovered Long Term Narrowboat Hire based at Heyford Wharf in Oxfordshire. See their website at https://longtermnarrowboathire.co.uk.
Dave said he would buy a narrowboat and refurbish it to hire to us for the required period. He purchased Yuri Gagarin, a 54ft Cruiser Stern Narrowboat which was currently in London. It was advertised on the Apollo Duck new and used boat sales UK website for sale at £39,995 https://www.apolloduck.co.uk/boat/liverpool-boats-54-cruiser-stern/649760.
On 12th January 2021 Dave gave us the following good news. I thought that you might appreciate a bit of uplifting news amidst all the doom and gloom of coronavirus lockdown: your boat arrived at Heyford last week and we are straight into its full repaint, signwriting and refit. I must say that she has drawn much positive comment from my staff, many of whom are liveaboard boaters, together with my much liking her and her handling given that I personally boated her over a couple of days on her journey from London back to Heyford. She swims well, doesn't cause much wash, and excellent progress was made. She's also fairly quiet and responds immediately to the tiller. All in all a good boat.
So, apart from the repaint into her new name of "The Duke", I have ordered a brand new cratch cover to match the paint job. The engine has been thoroughly checked over and has had new mounts fitted together with a full service. The interior is now deep cleaned and ready for the mods such as the installation of washing machine, cassette toilet etc. Furniture will be placed in her once the repaint is finished so that some shots for the website (and for yourself of course!) can be taken. Which will simply leave her Hire Boat Safety Certificate, provision of inventory, and a bit of fettling once out of the paint shed before she is good to go!
We arranged to see the boat at the end of January 2021.
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