We've only ever hired boats on the broads before but have always fancied
our own. We've been looking at your site for ages now and decided from there
that we wanted a Norman Conquest (room for the kids but small enough to keep
at home). We looked at a few but ended up buying this one which was on the
Grand Union Canal in Milton Keynes. We live in South Yorkshire and bought a
trailer from Norwich. We lost a trailer wheel on the M1 motorway on the first
attempt to collect the boat (bearings seized and the whole thing sheared off
and overtook us down the fast lane) so had to buy new hubs, wheels etc. from
Towsure in Sheffield. The first pictures I've attached are of the boat when we
finally got it home, after loads of work, the following evening.
Lee has now completely gutted it as it is 30 years old and the wood was
damp and the windows badly scratched. We're going to put the toilet
compartment back in as it had been removed in favour of a full sized hob. Next
job to rub it all down and repaint the exterior following the advice given by
your members on the site. I think I'll come in later when we need to choose
cupboard doors and handles and the upholstery and curtaining needs choosing
and making (woman's touch!). I've got some current photos which I'll send in a
separate e-mail as I'm having difficulty sending too many at a time.
Will keep you posted and thanks for this site, we have and continue to find
all the advice on it very useful.
