Introduction
Narrowboat (or narrow boat if you prefer) Rufford 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 later in 2005. Soudley and Goosemoore have a stern galley, rather than mid galley, layout. Further vessels have been built since to a similar design. They were all commissioned by Ownerships, a former boat management company.
Rufford was equipped with a removable satellite dish, but has now been upgraded with a digital TV decoder, and has also been treated to a new sofa-bed and new carpet.
You can see some pictures here (including inside).
Rufford's owners have designated the boat to be both pet-free and smoke-free.
There are 12 shares in Rufford. 1 share is currently available for sale.
After the demise of the management company Ownerships in the spring of 2010, the owners moved the boat to Fradley and self-managed their affairs for the summer. The decision however was to enroll with a new management company, Ownashare Cruising.
Build
Rufford and her sister vessels were of a new improved design. This was 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 had a revised internal layout, different colour schemes inside and out and an improved level of mechanical and domestic equipment which includes a bow thruster.
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
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