Introduction
Narrowboat (or narrow boat if you prefer) Rufford was built in the Autumn of 2004 and was lowered into the water on 14 January 2005 at Stockton Top Marina (formerly Blue Lias Marina) above Stockton Top Lock on the Main Line of the Grand Union canal.
Sister vessels Apperley and Pendlebury were built ahead of Rufford and Hawksmoor, Soudley, Beeston Castle, Castleber, Goosemoor and Huxley followed during 2005. Soudley and Goosemoore have a stern galley, rather than mid galley, layout. Further vessels have been built since to a similar design; details can be found on the Ownerships website.
Rufford is managed and maintained by Ownerships and details of other shared ownership boats can be found on their web site.
Design
Rufford, along with her sister vessels, are of a new improved design. This is based on Ownerships' previous design for a mid-galley semi traditional layout but with the incorporation of changes from the 'wish lists' of their existing customers.
The new vessels have a revised internal layout, different colour schemes inside and out and an improved level of mechanical and domestic equipment which includes a bow thruster and dishwasher.
Diagram of Rufford's layout
All vessels are of the same basic design but have small differences in layout and colour.
The interior finish was designed by Jan McDermott - photographs of sister vessel Apperley
Build
Steel fabrication
Graham Reeves, G&J Reeves Boatbuilders, Coventry Bridge Yard, Station Rd, Napton, Nr Rugby, Warwickshire, CV23 8HX, UK, Tel: +44 (0)1926 815581
Fit out
John Milburn, Milburn Boats, Bridge Grounds, Staverton, Nr Daventry, Northants, NN11 6BG, UK tel. +44 (0)1327 702164
Location
Rufford was initially based at Stockton Top Lock Marina on the Grand Union Canal in Warwickshire and moved home to Norbury Junction, Staffordshire on the Shropshire Union Canal in March 2007. See the Bases page of this site for more information.
Contact Us
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