tidclacy
Active member
I note there are 5 Barges for sale on the website Barges & Houseboats Archives - MJ Lewis Boat Sales
Money short?
Money short?
Cygnet is a great little barge, built to trade, not as a yacht. I'm afraid she looks as though her next owner will need deep pockets to put her back into a fit state, just hope she finds someone to rescue her before things go too far.
Peter.
If you want to buy one in excellent condition, the George Smeed :- 80ft Thames Sailing Barge, wooden, 1881. - MJ Lewis Boat SalesI note there are 5 Barges for sale on the website Barges & Houseboats Archives - MJ Lewis Boat Sales
Money short?
No engine. No generator.If you want to buy one in excellent condition, the George Smeed :- 80ft Thames Sailing Barge, wooden, 1881. - MJ Lewis Boat Sales
Pre-children, Mrs P and I were into the old wooden boat thing and wintered our old gaffer in a yard whose owner was very skilled and who repaired Thames barges. We discussed with said owner about taking on a TB and was not encouraged. He then sent me a niche book about TBs inscribed to me saying 'This is as near as you should ever get to owning a TB!'To own and run a Thames Barge you must have some kind of calling like being a nurse.
No sane mind would take it on.
God bless all who do.
You're absolutely right there! Of course, to fit a prop shaft on a barge, you will have to pay to dry dock her, but it's still a fairly straightforward operation. To replace rotten timber in a barge, like any wooden vessel, you have to reverse the order of build until the piece you want comes out then build her afresh from there. In the process you will inevitably find more rot than you knew of when you started, so the tons of new seasoned oak, in large pieces gpes up.I would have thought that fitting an engine (if required - cf Edme and Blue Mermaid) would be relatively inexpensive in a thoroughly sound barge vs. getting one in need of attention up to scratch.