About Oakley

This is a record of the restoration of narrowboat Oakley, a large Northwich of the Town class of the Grand Union Canal Carrying Co. Ltd. built in 1936 by Yarwoods in Northwich. Her fleet number was 159, she was registered at Rickmansworth number 98 and her gauging number was 12631. She originally had a Russel Newbury DM2 engine. She was originally paired with butty Oxted. She was absorbed into the British Waterways fleet in 1948. If you have any information regarding the history of Oakley then please contact me.

Sunday, April 13, 2008




All the rivets are now on and look good.

The original mushroom vent has been fitted in the back cabin, this was not brass but cast iron and needs to be painted black.

Inside all the tags for screwing the wood to before sprayfoam have been fitted. The floor and bottom six inches have been painted with black bitumen.

Externally almost all the steel work is done, I am in the process of removing all welding splatter and cleaning everything up ready for the first coat of paint.

The stern gear and propellar shaft pretty knacked and I am trying to work out how to remove the old stern gear so i can refurbish, replace it. Any one know how to remove the stern gear? Seems like it might have been bodged at some time.

Still haven't made the rudder stock or rudder but will probably do that this week.

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