Last revised 8th December 2024

Tug style Narrowboat 'Ten (Fwd)'

As she was when I first came across her

In the last couple of years, I seem to have spent as much time looking after Aries as finishing the fitting out so I decided, reluctantly, that it was time to downsize to a new boat that would be very low maintenance.

Although it was to be my 75^th birthday present to myself, the builder has had huge problems (and not just with me!) and at present I'll be lucky if it is ready for my 76^th.

Why 'Ten (Fwd)'?

Well, firstly, it will be my tenth boat.

Secondly, as fans of 'Star Trek, The Next Generation' will know, 'Ten (Fwd)' is the Bar on Picard's Enterprise and while I may not be able to stock Klingon Ale or Blood Wine, I'll do my best to stock some english ales and single malt scotch whiskies that are 'out of this world'.

Finally, in 1979, when I had my first canalboat, the RomCom film 'Ten' was made, starring Dudley Moore and Bo Derek. It was about obsession, which I've come to understand through my boats and boating as well as my classic cars.

So, I came across the ready made Cauldon Boats Tug shell at Brayzel Narrowboats, due to a previous customer having to drop out.

It took a while to come up with a specification and layout that would work for me but eventually I settled on electric propulsion with solar panels and a small diesel generator for emergency recharging. The layout (from the stern) is a modern representation of a traditional boatman's cabin with single berth, followed by shower/W.C./washbasin then open plan galley/saloon with 'occasional' twin berths that pack away under the 'tug' deck. Externally, the front doorway is being enlarged and two more portholes added.

The galley will be all electric and heating will be diesel. So, she'll be gas free and as environment friendly as reasonably possible, utilising solar power (or shoreline mains) for recharging whenever possible.

Diesel stoves, while obviously burning fossil fuel, produce no visible smoke (unlike wood/coal burners), retaining much of the carbon inside the stove. While the carbon needs to be removed from time to time, the chore level is much lower than with a wood/coal burner.