A different 3 pot diesel

Phil FSI

Member
Hello members

just wanted to share something off topic, I hope you don’t mind.
Last weekend I bought a narrow boat!
And the main reason why I’m sharing this is because I discovered it’s got a 3 pot Diesel engine. It’s a Barrus shire 35, apparently a Dutch engine and its got quite a rasp from the exhaust.
The boat itself is a 2009 44’ cruiser stern made by east west. East west is a Chinese company, their boats are 44’ so they fit inside a 45’ shipping container. How mad is that!
Without wanting to offend, I was a little put off when I found out it was a Chinese product only because of what I’d heard about them copying cars like Landrover etc but the broker (as they do) convinced me otherwise. He said the Chinese company knew they had to make something good or better if it was going to sell. So it does actually have some quite good features like the engine and gearbox and a 12mm base plate. What we liked about it was the interior, it’s got a Pullman stile dining table. For those that don’t know what one of those is it’s like on a train where there is a bench seat either side of a table with a window at the end. It also has a real fire and not a bad bathroom.
The outside needs a bit of tarting up, the previous owners decided to repaint it themselves and now it’s all scratchy and flaking.
The deal with this boatyard is you commit to the boat based on what they plan to do it it at a set price. So that was quite hard buying something that you can’t see finished but it does mean we get to choose the colour!
It should look really nice once it’s painted and back in the water.
I’ve had a bit of a blow with my health today so it’s really nice to have something to focus on and look forward to, sometimes you just got to live for today and follow your dreams init.
I have started an Instagram if any of you want to follow the photos of the refurb and whatever follows, there are only a couple up to now! It’s going to be a few more weeks before it’s on the water. #narrowboatzandvoot.

Phil FSI
 
When I retire in 4 or 5 year's time, I'm going to live on a narrowboat, and potter round the country.
Going to buy a brand new one, and hoping to get one with an electric motor rather than a diesel, as they're beginning to appear now.
Been involved with boats since I was 7 and my uncle had a cruiser on the Lancaster canal.
A previous job was running a trip boat on the Huddersfield Narrow Canal before it was fully opened.
Always great fun when the inspection for the licence took place - the only spot we could get it out of the water was in Uppermill at the museum car park, which we had to arrange with the council to be closed for 2 days. The sight of a 70 foot narrowboat being craned out over some 50 foot trees is quite something - and nerve wracking!
 
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