"You always think that people start off having the dream of getting a canal boat but for us it
was one of those things where everything just came together at the right time and was just the
right thing to do.
I live in Jersey and my partner lives near Peterborough so we wanted somewhere we could
have together. We know the Loughborough area well already as Nigel is a director of the
Great Central Railway, and we had started to visit Pillings Lock marina as somewhere nice to
go and eat. We were getting estate agent details sent through to us for the area and then one
day we spotted a canal boat for sale. We both agreed we’d had lovely holidays in the past
and wouldn’t it be lovely. It would give us somewhere to stay together and the added bonus
of travelling around.
One day Nigel rang me to say that he had secured a mooring at Pillings Lock marina. He
could see that it was filling up fast. I tweeted this and Paul, from the Marina, then asked if
we had a boat. Er.. no. We didn’t. He told us that Beacon Boats were a local boat-building
firm and he knew that they had a rare, spare slot coming up at the end of the year as someone
had dropped out. We didn’t bother looking anywhere else. Neil and Ally were delightful
people. They showed us around QEIII and we were so impressed with the craftsmanship that
we signed up.
Thank goodness for email. Hundreds flew back and forth to keep us all in the picture with
regard to decisions that needed to be made. I visited whenever I could to look at the progress
and Nigel would often pop in on his way to or from the railway.
Given that we didn’t live locally and we are fairly busy people, I am sure it was a little
frustrating for Ally to get decisions from us when she needed them, but her phrase ‘time
marches on” kept us on track and we couldn’t be more delighted with the final product.
It is contemporary, stylish and has our stamp on it. Never did they say `you want to do
what?`Perhaps the only comment was `What? No stove?`We took it out for its first big
trip recently and so many people commented on it; particularly the paintwork done by Chris.
If you know your trains you’ll get the joke. If you don’t, you’ll love it anyway. Thank you
Ally and Neil for your craftsmanship, attention to detail, good humour and friendship."
Nigel & Sarah
was one of those things where everything just came together at the right time and was just the
right thing to do.
I live in Jersey and my partner lives near Peterborough so we wanted somewhere we could
have together. We know the Loughborough area well already as Nigel is a director of the
Great Central Railway, and we had started to visit Pillings Lock marina as somewhere nice to
go and eat. We were getting estate agent details sent through to us for the area and then one
day we spotted a canal boat for sale. We both agreed we’d had lovely holidays in the past
and wouldn’t it be lovely. It would give us somewhere to stay together and the added bonus
of travelling around.
One day Nigel rang me to say that he had secured a mooring at Pillings Lock marina. He
could see that it was filling up fast. I tweeted this and Paul, from the Marina, then asked if
we had a boat. Er.. no. We didn’t. He told us that Beacon Boats were a local boat-building
firm and he knew that they had a rare, spare slot coming up at the end of the year as someone
had dropped out. We didn’t bother looking anywhere else. Neil and Ally were delightful
people. They showed us around QEIII and we were so impressed with the craftsmanship that
we signed up.
Thank goodness for email. Hundreds flew back and forth to keep us all in the picture with
regard to decisions that needed to be made. I visited whenever I could to look at the progress
and Nigel would often pop in on his way to or from the railway.
Given that we didn’t live locally and we are fairly busy people, I am sure it was a little
frustrating for Ally to get decisions from us when she needed them, but her phrase ‘time
marches on” kept us on track and we couldn’t be more delighted with the final product.
It is contemporary, stylish and has our stamp on it. Never did they say `you want to do
what?`Perhaps the only comment was `What? No stove?`We took it out for its first big
trip recently and so many people commented on it; particularly the paintwork done by Chris.
If you know your trains you’ll get the joke. If you don’t, you’ll love it anyway. Thank you
Ally and Neil for your craftsmanship, attention to detail, good humour and friendship."
Nigel & Sarah
Off the Rails is a 57’ ‘semi-cruiser’ style narrowboat. The stern is based on a cruiser,
but includes lockers and a semi enclosed back to the lockers similar to a semi-trad.
This style was chosen by the owners as it accomplishes the feel they required.
Externally, the boat is painted to echo the look of a steam engine, with the correct
coach lines for this look….a job that was specifically followed to the railway colours
and lining. It has windows throughout excepting the bathroom ports.
Internally she has an oak fit out, with solid oak floor and ceiling. In ‘reverse layout’
with the bedroom at the fore end, made up of two single bench beds that can be
made into a full 6’x6’6” double, and a good side wardrobe. From the bedroom,
the bathroom is a walk through style, with quadrant shower, ‘thunderbox’ cassette
toilet, a top standing basin, set over solid oak cupboard top and a solid oak linen
box. Through into the saloon there is space for free standing furniture, a large wall
mounted TV and media cupboard (speakers in the ceiling) and a reversible ‘pullman’
dinette, (freezer under) which also creates a spare double bed.
Further on is a compact ‘U’ shaped kitchen, with Sylestone surfaces, and storage, a
neat corner hob, and one of our ‘cellar boxes’. The oven and fridge stand aft, along
with electrical and airing cupboards. A hinged seat is also fitted to provide an easy
place to sit, whilst removing outdoor shoes. Steps aft lead to the stern area, under
which is a 42hp Canal line engine, storage for bikes, and required heating (webasto)
and battery banks.
The owners opted for central heating throughout instead of a stove, and chose stylish
black radiators, which are now becoming familiar on our boats. Lighting is also LED
throughout. A pure sine inverter is fitted, and gauges for diesel and water, along with
the usual cruising equipment.
We would like to wish the owners of ‘Off the Rails’ many happy years of cruising on
the system.
but includes lockers and a semi enclosed back to the lockers similar to a semi-trad.
This style was chosen by the owners as it accomplishes the feel they required.
Externally, the boat is painted to echo the look of a steam engine, with the correct
coach lines for this look….a job that was specifically followed to the railway colours
and lining. It has windows throughout excepting the bathroom ports.
Internally she has an oak fit out, with solid oak floor and ceiling. In ‘reverse layout’
with the bedroom at the fore end, made up of two single bench beds that can be
made into a full 6’x6’6” double, and a good side wardrobe. From the bedroom,
the bathroom is a walk through style, with quadrant shower, ‘thunderbox’ cassette
toilet, a top standing basin, set over solid oak cupboard top and a solid oak linen
box. Through into the saloon there is space for free standing furniture, a large wall
mounted TV and media cupboard (speakers in the ceiling) and a reversible ‘pullman’
dinette, (freezer under) which also creates a spare double bed.
Further on is a compact ‘U’ shaped kitchen, with Sylestone surfaces, and storage, a
neat corner hob, and one of our ‘cellar boxes’. The oven and fridge stand aft, along
with electrical and airing cupboards. A hinged seat is also fitted to provide an easy
place to sit, whilst removing outdoor shoes. Steps aft lead to the stern area, under
which is a 42hp Canal line engine, storage for bikes, and required heating (webasto)
and battery banks.
The owners opted for central heating throughout instead of a stove, and chose stylish
black radiators, which are now becoming familiar on our boats. Lighting is also LED
throughout. A pure sine inverter is fitted, and gauges for diesel and water, along with
the usual cruising equipment.
We would like to wish the owners of ‘Off the Rails’ many happy years of cruising on
the system.
