I now have another boat. Naiad needs a new owner to look after her. Yes, the perfect boat for me; in fact for anyone. It is probably the most versatile boat on the waterways. Being narrow beam, no canals are off limits. The relatively large engine pushes it through weed etc. with little problems. Shallow draft means it is one of the last to run aground and, being a Norman is tough, and even suitable for inshore waters.....still, time to move on.

With the sale of the boat in the summer, my moorings etc. were guaranteed for the next couple of years, however, I could see Naiad could do with a little more care and attention than I can give. The sale also gave me the opportunity to find something different, as it would cover the losses I must invariably take on selling Naiad. I searched on the net for something of interest, and suitable for traveling to Boston and Lincoln.

I found a Mahogany clinker fishing boat that seemed suitable. A 'proper' boat with a reconditioned single diesel engine. I rang and agreed a very reasonable price that should allow me to put money back into the bank, as long as Naiad sells for somewhere near it's worth. I arranged to go the following Sunday, but was told on route it was not convenient. Never mind, it was a lovely day, so we had a trip to Hunstanton, and a nice day out. I went the next Saturday, after arranging on the phone the previous night. After a call, where I got his wife, I got a txt which I thought was from a friend to say good luck. The boat was in Kent 200 odd miles away. I read the txt at the first stop almost half way. 'Sorry the boat has been sold'. I wasn't amused, however nothing could be done.

A few days later I saw it re-advertised, but had enough. I found another, also on the South coast in Southampton. I went the next day to view, but was lucky, as it was not a nice boat, and the engine had problems, which showed themselves on our trial. Once home I placed a bid on the original boat. A couple of days later I got a reply, the owner had a friend advertise for him. A decent chap, this man had also been led astray by the previous owner. He was a retired fisherman, and had bought it to take some small charters, but as they launch from the beach, the boat needs irons underneath. He was told the boat had them, but found it hadn't when he got it out of the water. As it was going to be too costly to convert, he decided to re-sell.

Also in Kent, I went the next day and paid him. Although more money than I had originally bought it for, it now had the GPS and fishfinder with it, plus he had antifouled it while it had been on the beach. My big problem was getting it here. My first quote of £550 plus a lift of £120 I managed to reduce a few days later. A week later it was transported on a trailer for £275, with a £15 fee for using the slipway at Burton Waters.

It arrived just before dusk. I gave it a brief inspection while it was on the trailer and apart from a slight movement of a couple of the planks it seemed ok. I was expecting it to leak, and it was fitted with an automatic bilge pump, and a manual one.

The next day I had enlisted 2 friends to help me sail it to Bardney. I arrived in the morning to find a heavy rime frost. One of my friends greeted me, although he had to leave, as he had a dental appointment. I rang my other friend, who was opening the guillotine at Stamp End, ready for our arrival. The workers at the boatyard were struggling to start the diesels of the tractors and cranes, and I wasn't looking forward to trying the boat. It had started from cold easily when we tried it on the beach, although being out of the water, we could only run it briefly. I need not have worried, as it fired up immediately, in fact one of the best starting engines I have known.

My other friend arrived, and with newfound confidence I set off for Lincoln. Having never driven the boat, I was cautious exiting the marina, however it seemed to sail ok, if a little heavy on the steering. This was made 'interesting' by the amount of play in the wire ropes, and also the bar going through the rudder.

The gear lever was reversed, i.e. backwards was forwards. I have since discovered it seems the prop is going the wrong way. When the new engine was installed, it probably goes the opposite way to the original, yet the same prop was used. Although not an urgent job, I hope to fit a prop that goes the other way when I get boating this year.

I had heard the engine, but was not prepared for the noise level. With the gearbox running in reverse it whines, and the noisy engine is only covered by a thin plywood cover. Conversation is impossible, with noise levels on par with a rock concert. However we got going ok, with the boat cutting through the thin ice on the river with no problems.

I carefully exited the Brayford Pool only to find the Glory Hole blocked by small boats. We moored waiting, using the time for a cup of tea and toilet break. After some time I went to inquire how long they were going to be. It was the RSPCA removing the swans, which seemed to be having some illness. It has now been found a diet of junk food has them starving to death, and a proper diet has got them back to heath after a few weeks. And to think people actually buy and eat it. I have never had a McDonnalds, the smell alone is enough to make me feel sick.

The RSPCA went for a tea break, allowing us passage. I carefully negotiated their boats; I was still learning how to drive the thing. However, I shouldn't be too unkind. Wooden boats do steer well, and a rudder is easier than an outboard or outdrive. It is just my inexperience at the minute, plus the worn steering. I plan to recondition before I use it much. 17th century technology should be easy to work on.

We arrived at Stamp End to find the guillotine still raised. My friend, an experienced boater soon had me through, without my even having to get off.

It was a lovely day, and we almost arrived at my mooring at Barndey lock before the warmth of the afternoon sun had gone. I still can't seem to get through Lincoln without some small incident though.

The year so far.

Well, halfway through the year, and apart from a few pictures, no website updates. The reason is I've been getting the boat ready, and have spent most days there since the end of winter, which was the second or third week of March.

I will just write a few paragraphs, rather than a long and detailed account of all the work. The new fuel lines, and battery cables, and new battery box for the BSC were fairly straightforward, if not without a few problems; the largest being the cost. I waited for the examiner, a decent and sociable man, for a few weeks, and have been to the boat most days since then. It was while he was there, and had accidentally left his gas tester on a boat, that led to my finally selling Naiad, albeit at a knockdown price. A landlord of a local riverside pub bought it, so I still see it regularly.

I did not buy an old boat without knowing it would have its problems. Just as with old houses and cars, all require a little 'tenderness' and care to keep them going. And, although not surprising, the boat was not quite as ready to use as I had thought.

I am now fairly sure the engine was fitted to the boat, knowing it was hardly going to be used. I also suspect it was left, and sold to someone who covered it in epoxy and paint to stop the rain, before selling it on. This was not the person I bought it from, as he had been misinformed as well.

Running in reverse soon caused problems for the gearbox, so another prop had to be found. After several vain attempts, I have finally got one, at a reasonable price, and it has been newly refurbished. I have just taken the boat out on a friends trailer again yesterday to straighten the bent shaft it goes on, so finally should be ok to use it.

Despite this, I have already had a few short trips, with trips to almost to Lincoln twice, Boston, Chapel Hill twice, with the last time being a horrendous trip up the heavily weeded Kyme last week.

One of the first jobs was to rename it. Weeks of thinking about it came up with the name of Wud-E-Nuff, as it is 'wud enough' to go up and down the Witham. I have made patterns to try to cast an aluminum nameplate, but so far have only made a very temporary one from plaster of paris. I have however successfully painted the name on the side. The renaming ceremony went very well, despite being held in a hurricane and dust storm; the first this county has known, well in my lifetime.

Other work I have done include, fitting pipe rubbing stips along the side, and painting the edges. This included adding sand (the proper sort from Mablethorpe beach) onto the wet paint to make them non-slip. I've cleaned most of the brass, or painted the other fittings, with only 2 portholes left to do. I've fitted new lights, and horns, and cleaned the navigation lights.

Many hours of steady work have been spent tidying wiring, and sorting out the poor wiring. Probably a complete rewire would have been easier, there is not that much of it, however it's ok now.

I've bought a few cheap fenders, and been given a few more, so it is fairly well protected now. I've made dedicated ropes for the lock, as I did with Naiad, so locking is fairly simple, as I can safely leave it, with the rubbing strips meaning I don't have to worry about keeping it from damage from being against the walls.

I've been given cushions and seating, so the cabin is fairly comfortable. It is however now rather full; you wouldn't think you could accumulate so much 'junk' even if some of it is new, in only about 3 months.

I'm am now known for dropping things in the river. Of the disasters, one of the worst has been to lose the boat hook I got with Naiad, and my only cherished boating possession. I had been helping another boater with engine problems, and followed them to Lincoln, putting a small amount of petrol in the diesel tank by mistake. Unlike new diesels, this would not have hurt this old engine, however the following day on my first trip to Chapel Hill; it stopped when I slowed. The cause turned out to be a number of things, mainly with the new pipework and tank, and with the engine standing unused for some time. On my return I put the hook on the ladder to stop, as the engine died, however it was pulled out my hand. Hours of searching, even using the fishfinder have failed. I've also dropped a prop in, one of the spare ones I was taking back to the car on top of a box, which fell over. I think I have found where it is, but not managed to hook it out yet.

My friends are talking about going out to sea in the Wash on a fishing trip, and want me to accompany them...safety in numbers. However I will need a couple of fit people to go with, and I definitely don't want to come home by helicopter.

I have finally managed to get my trip up the Kyme/Slea last week. The narrowboats were going, and I thought it a good opportunity to follow, and they would cut a path through the weed that has now of course grown. How wrong could I be! I made it, but the most difficult trip to date. It will however make a nice trip to take friends either early or late in the season when the weed is not a problem. I may not get under the bridge into South Kyme, but the local golf course, have opened their club as the pub has not yet been sold, and reopened.

So just to take heart, I have already done more boating than many do, despite being 'marooned' with the prop and shaft problems.

The day after fitting the prop I can use, I went with a fellow boater to Boston, as he was taking his to the engineer, as he has engine problems. Boston and back in a day, 44 miles is the longest trip I have done, and many never go that far daily. My boat did not break down, and covered the journey with no major issues. It was in fact one of the most enjoyable trips I have had so far.

I will try to add new pictures, and now I have more space (see the new pictures link) the boating stories can be told this way.