Barton Turns Marina, which is on the Trent & Mersey canal between Fradley Junction and Burton on Trent

A booking chart for the following calendar year is circulated in agreed priority order, typically starting about June. SUBJECT TO the rules about Special Shares (please see below), each owner has a priority for that year, and moves up broadly a couple of places each year, as part of a six-year cycle. (To be precise, they swap places annually with the share next to them, as the pair move together up the list.)

After a year at the top of the list, the pair goes to the bottom for the next year, to start the 6-year cycle again. Each owner can choose two weeks (separately or as a fortnight) in the ‘high season’ (April to September inclusive), as well as one week in the remainder of the year.

Once this process is complete for all shares, owners then may choose a fourth week if they wish, but this is done in REVERSE order so that those who got last choice for their first three weeks get first choice for their fourth. Typically two weeks are allowed for winter maintenance.

Any remaining weeks, plus any that arise during the year if original share-owners cannot use them, are available for other syndicate members to bid for: priority is again given in order from the BOTTOM (like the fourth weeks), except that once one week has been claimed in this round the winner drops their priority for any more.

Three owners have Special (School Holiday) Shares which gives them priority over others. They may choose their first three weeks ahead of the others, but MUST align their weeks to their school holidays only. For having this privilege, these owners pay a premium on running costs, equivalent to a little under 30% of the cost to non-Special Share owners. There is a maximum of three Special Shares at any one time.

Castleber is a “new generation” boat commissioned by OwnerShips, and is of a high specification.

She is “cruiser” style, with all the main seating areas at the stern, close to the person on the tiller, and leading forward to the galley.

She is a Reeves-built 10/6/4mm steel construction vessel, fitted out by Milburn Boats, with a Nanni 2.2 litre diesel engine (with a very good silencer) and 6 bhp Nobel hydraulic bow thrusters.

Webasto diesel-powered central heating to radiators, plus the benefit of a Villager Puffin solid fuel stove. Water is heated by the engine or by the Webasto.

She has a generous 100 gallon fresh water tank, and a 65 gallon fuel tank.

A spacious and well-fitted out bathroom with corner bath and shower and fresh-water WC, and a second similar en suite WC and hand-basin for the master bedroom.

12-volt lighting and 240-volt AC supplied by inverter (2.5kw Phoenix) or by land-line hook up (via Centaur charger).

Carpet tiles to all areas except vinyl flooring to kitchen and bathroom. Light ash T&G timber and maple veneered panels. Blinds on some windows where appropriate, and curtains on all other windows. Castleber is light and airy with good use of both recessed and spot lighting.

Starting from the stern and working forward:

-Rear deck with space for seats. Inside steps down to ...

-Saloon. Leatherette settee which converts to double bed, with storage beneath. Flat-screen TV (15”) with terrestrial and satellite receivers; DVD/CD player radio (all can be relayed to the master bedroom if wished); telephone with roof-top aerial. Villager Puffin solid fuel stove. Then dining area, separable with curtain if wished. Dining area has an L-shaped settee which converts to a double bed, with storage beneath. There are also stools; and two alternative tables, one small one large (which can be stored securely against the wall of the boat). Also a small pull-out chest-freezer (Shoreline F35). A low pull-out guest wardrobe with shelves, and a see-through glass storage cabinet above, lead to ...

-Galley: with sink/drainer, eye-level microwave, oven & grill; gas 4-ring hob; larder fridge (Ranger RIR403) under the work surface, extractor fan, plenty of large storage cupboards and drawers. A very good range of crockery and cooking utensils are provided, plenty for a crew of 6, plus cleaning materials. Large side-hatch off galley to the outside, with removable perspex screen as an alternative.

-Corridor with bathroom off: corner bath with shower over, glass shower screen, full width mirror over bath; basin with cupboard under and wall mirrors over, WC (Sealand Traveller), a further built-in cupboard, and extractor fan. Good lighting.

-Door to the master bedroom, which has a double bed extendable to king-size (5’) with storage beneath. Small cupboards above bed. Full-height wardrobe, wall-mounted flat-screen TV and radio speakers (for relay from saloon). There is a door in the corridor that can be closed for privacy, and an en suite cloakroom with second similar WC and wash-basin. Access to locker stretching out under foredeck, plus storage within steps leading up to ...

-Foredeck, with fixed bench seating for say four people and several lockers for two gas bottles, mooring pins, windlasses etc, water hose, river anchor and chain, and other items.

The comprehensive inventory includes duvets and pillows, vacuum cleaner, carbon monoxide detector, a bookcase with a selection of paper-backs and local guides and a full set of Nicholson guides, toolbox, land-line cable, etc etc.

 

 

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