Strip Down

I have spent the last few days removing all debris ie. Cloths, rotten wooden cabin floor and gunwhales, steel cabins and engine.

The bilge of the boat contained about 1 inch of very smelly water and mud, do not recomend this job.

Why Did I buy Oakley

I spent a long time looking at various modern boats to buy and came to the conclusion that i just didn't like the style. I decided that the lines of traditional working narrowboats appealed more to me. I am in the fortunate position that I work for Roger Fuller Boatbuilders in Stone who specialize in building very traditional narrowboats, a little knowledge helps!

Without this background I would not of undertaken this project.

First Impressions Oakley 17/10/2007

Oakley was found in a farmyard at Welford in Northamptonshire, she has been out of the water for roughly three years. As you can see from the photos below, the hull is in pretty bad shape. Bottom and footings have to be redone, new cabin will have to be fabricated. The engine, a Lister HA2 is in good condition, but does need a good clean and a coat of paint. In 1963 British Waterways shortened the boat to 60' and replaced the original steel back cabin and engine room with a couple of horrible cabins bow and stern, the rear one housing the engine.

Steve standing at the bow.

Oakley's Bow.

Oakley's side.