Stafford Boat Club Ltd

N.B. "ROSEWOOD" is owned by Graham & Brenda Thick and was built by Marque Narrowboats in 1998 and is 52' long. It was fitted out by a Byfleet Boat Club member on the Wey Navigation in Surrey.

When Brenda's mother died and left her some money she knew she had to buy it as her maiden name was Rose Wood. As you can see from the picture we cruise all year round

Area

Narrowboat Lillian is named after Ron's mum, who sadly died 26 years ago now. The engine was originally a 3 cylinder Beta, which was later changed to a 4 cylinder Beta 35 HP with PRM Hearth Hydraulic gearbox in June 2007. The boat has a radiator which runs from the engine, a split charger for the three large batteries, and an inverter. It also has an exterior 240 volt power supply.
She is 40 foot long and 6 foot 10 beam, built of all steel construction of 10, 6, 4 mm.
The semi trad hull was made at our request by Collier Narrow Boats at Wincham Wharf in Cheshire, and the fit out was completed for us at Tooley's boat yard in Banbury, by Banbury Boat Builders, it was built in May 1997 and fitted out during that summer.
The fit out was to our own specification, and is four berth, with a fixed double at the rear of the boat, and a convertible double in the lounge area. There is a Squirrel solid fuel stove in situ in the lounge, with a hob, oven and fridge in the galley area. The bathroom incorporates a full sized shower, Thetford cassette toilet, and a wall mounted boiler.
The boat has a cratch which was added in May 2008.

N.B. JESSIE.

                Started life as a hire boat at Evesham Marina in the River Avon and owned by the Original Boat Company. Believed to have been built by Colecraft in the 1960’s. She is a 56 foot trad stern steel narrowboat and had  a Coventry Victor Vixen twin cylinder engine. She has had various names, originally as a hire boat she was called Painted Lady, she was mainly used on the Avon and the Stratford canal. She was then sold, refurbished and used as a liveaboard on the Aylesbury Arm and known as Hazelane Belinda. In the Mid 1990’s she was sold again and name changed briefly to Heidi. In 1996 she was bought by Graham & Sue Schneider. Her name was changed to ‘Jessie’ in honour of Sue’s mother who had spent many holidays with Graham & Sue on hired boats  (Graham says it was his only opportunity to control his mother-in-law, but don’t tell Sue). We have made various alterations including an engine change to a BMC 1800 (Not such a traditional sound as the CV but at least we can wind, even when the weather is against us).

                We do not anticipate much cruising this year (2010) because of other life commitments but we will do more next year. Our main aim for 2011 is a trip down to Bath using the Kennet & Avon, a trip we have done before but never in our own boat. Jessie is our home from home on the water and she may not be the prettiest of craft, because of her age, but we love her to bits.

G.K.Schneider