Following our retirements in 2011, we travelled the world, including USA, Australia, New Zealand.
Then Covid came and travel was seriously curtailed.
We had hired Narrowboats previously
- Lancaster Canal 2013
- Llangollen 2015
- Oxford 2021 during Covid
We then decided to buy a boat. We saw two and bought the second, for £56000 from a marina in Derbyshire. The boat had been previously owned by a woman who ended up having a baby and moving to a house.
The boat had been neglected – go to page “Our Boat – Hobson’s Choice”
April 2021
We hired another narrowboat for a week. This time from Oxfordshire Narrowboats. It was a great trip except, as always, when you go out for 3 days, you have to return. It’s a bit frustrating. This was the third narrowboat trip we had been on and enjoyed them all.
May 2021
We made the decision to buy a boat. We saw two. The first one was OK but had a home made interior – not good!
The second one was the one we eventually bought. It was at Mercia Marina near Derby – and its name “AyUpMeDuck”. It was a 65 foot boat, built in 2008 to a high specification:-
- Fridge and freezer (had to replace the fridge later)
- 6 leisure batteries (also had to replace)
- A 3Kw Inverter
- a 5 KW travel power system which gave 240 volts via a third alternator on the engine (didnt work and was stated on the sales stuff therefore we had to get it fixed.)
- A bow thruster – essential on a 65 foot boat!
The owner had lived aboard and was now pregnant so decided to sell. It was up for £60000. We were told she had an offer for ££55000 but was rejected. We offered £56000 and it was accepted. Wow! Now we own a boat! Well sort of. It had to have a survey, which took forever but anything wrong had to be corrected. And so it was.
10th July 2021. We collected the boat from Mercia Marina. We then sailed it to our new moorings at Barby near Rugby. Took us about 4 days. Interesting when all the fishermen shout “AyUpMeDuck” as you sail past. Decision taken to re-name the boat at earliest convenience!!
The bow thruster packed up on the way there and this was just one of the miriad of jobs to be done.
All through tthe summer we worked on it. Completely repainted the inside white in order to cover the excessive (we thought) wood and smoky niccotine paintwork. Sorted all the electrics thanks to Dave Reynolds at Calcutt Marina. He was brilliant.
Sorted out a complete re-paint at Oxon Boat Painting Company for October 2021. £14K later we picked her up from Stretton Wharf in late November. No heating – freezing journey back to Barby.
We spent Christmas on the boat and was lovely. Hardly anyone around.
