Canal Boating on the Inland waterways.
    
The first two photographs are of our first narrowboat Blesslea. She was bought originally as 'Rambling Rose' (BW 68944)and renamed by us. Under her paint work we found another name 'Hayford Heron' .She was a 45ft Fernnie hull with an air cooled, very noisy Lister engine. The fit out was very basic and the decision was taken for me to do a complete refit. After many happy outings Blesslea was sold and the money invested in a brand new 58ft. tug style shell built to our own spec. We named our second boat Blesslea II. The fourth photo is of Blesslea III our third and final boat.

Blesslea II
                            
                                                    Blesslea II in her original livery - moored at Saul Junction. Prior to sign writing


 The shell was built by Charles Cox of Dudley..Philip and a friend Dick Dampier brought the shell down to Saul Junction on the Gloucester Sharpness canal where Philip set about the complete fit out. Initially Blesslea II was fitted with a 1800cc British Leyland engine that Philip found in a scrap yard. At first it was thought the engine was of scarp value only. However with a re-bore, new pistons, bearings etc. Philip re-built the engine and fully marinised it with a PRM hydraulic gearbox.


Quite early on Beta Marine introduced the BD3 engine, a very powerful marinised Fordson tractor engine, slow revving, specifically designed for the central engine room. It was a modern engine but with the appearance of the traditional, with lots of brass to clean! Philip fell for this hook line an sinker. With the BL engine sold to a hire boat company for £2000 we were able to purchase the BD3. The photo shows the BD3 located in the engine room of Blesslea II. The manufacturers, Beta Marine fitted the engine for me in return for using me and the boat for demonstration purposes, it suited Beta as there factory is located nearby to our moorings.

The real work then started for me to fit out the shell. The doors and roof lights (pigeon boxes) were fabricated at home and taken to Dudley to fit so I had to make sure everything fitted first time in order to ensure the shell was secure, much to my relief it did.

  The photos show Blesslea II in primer ready for the launch. The steelwork was by Charles Cox of Dudley. The woodwork and fitting out was by me, Phil.

The plan for the fit out was to provide modern comfortable  facilities forward of the engine room consisting of a saloon with woodburning stove. A galley with a full size cooker, fridge freezer, secondary hot water system (the main source of hot water provided by the engine via a calorifier). The drinking water supplied from a 200 gallon stainless steel tank under the front deck. The galley fitted out with storage cupboards.
Work in progress Galley  saloon bedroom
The bedroom in the style of a four poster which enabled me to use my other interest of woodturning. A double bed with under above and below lockers.

A few shots of the finished interior of the saloon    


A bathroom with a small bath with shower over, vanity unit and a pump out loo.

To the rear of the engine room was the fulfilment of my ambition which was to fit out a traditional boatman's cabin as near to the original style as possible. Here I had to learn new skills. The art of scumbling , that is creating a wood grain effect using combs and brushes. I also had to learn the art of the traditional Roses and Castle designs with which the old boat folk decorated their living cabins. Sonia learnt to make the traditional rag rugs.
        The Boatman's traditional cabin. Click thumbnail pic for a larger image

Blesslea II in her change of livery......hand painted by Phil (but not the sign writing).  Click thumbnail pic for a larger image
Blesslea II went to the National IWA Rally at Wakefield where Phil was awarded the runners up prize for the Best Fit out by a non professional Boat Builder, the winner was a professional cabinet maker, who had recently retired so we had stiff opposition!

Whilst at the rally we were approached by the local TV Station who wanted to do a news item from our front deck. Blesslea was used in two TV programmes. First by BBC Schools, a programme entitled 'Water Goes to Ground' , teaching children how we rely on the rainfall and how we use it. The second was an ITV Travel Log programme about the Severn Vale.
Blesslea II was sold without her name. She was renamed by her new owners as Suant (BW Reg 46433)
 

Blesslea III (BW 502711)
We called her our geriatric boat as we specifically designed her to see us into old age! Unfortunately our plans didn't quite work out as intended. Sonia had a very nasty fall on a badly maintained pontoon located above the lock in Diglis Basin, Worcester. The fall resulted in a damaged hip and after surgery it became apparent  that clambering up locksides with a rope between her teeth and jumping on and off boats was to be a thing of the past! So after a few short years Blesslea III was put on brokerage. 
Blesslea III was 46ft. the shell built by  Jim Sparks of Alexander Boatbuilders in 1998. Jim in my opinion is the best in his trade.  The interior was partially fitted out by Droitwich Boat Centre the rest by Philip. No. 3 was fitted with a bowthruster much to the disgust of our 'purest' friends who in spite of their comments are really a little envious!  She was a semi-trad with 10-6-4 plating. Fitted with a Beta Marine/Kubota BV1505 37.5 BHP- 1498cc. With a 16x10 prop.
Initially she was based at Saul Junction Boat Owners Club, on the Stroudwater arm, off the Gloucester and Sharpness canal. I was secretary of the club at that time. Later we sought pastures new and took a mooring at Springwood Haven on the Coventry canal.
 
 

                      
                                                                         The Launch - Blesslea III takes to the Water