Happy Christmas

A Happy Christmas and great cruising in 2018 to all users of this site and everyone involved in shared ownership narrowboats.

We hope to see you at the National Boat Share Show at Braunston on 21st & 22nd April.

National Boat Share Show advertising campaign starts

The advertising campaign for the 2018 National Boat Share Show is now starting.  The Show is at Braunston Marina on Sat 21st and Sun 22nd April.

Advert on the Towpath Talk website

The first adverts to appear are those on the boatshare.co.uk website and on the Towpath Talk website.

This will be followed by an advert on the Towpath Talk year planner - included in the December issue.  The planner itself also carries the dates of the National Show and the Autumn Show at Overwater on 8th & 9th September.

Advert on the Towpath Talk Year Planner

As usual, the Shows will be advertised in the "What's on" section of Towpath Talk, and the first of these will appear in the January issue. 

One of two banner adverts running on the boatshare.co.uk
website, where a number of different ads are displayed at random

 

Towpath Talk makes a splash of Autumn Boat Share Show

There is a full page of coverage of the Autumn Boat Share Show and RNLI Festival in the latest edition of Towpath Talk - you can read it here - on page 16.

The dates of the 2018 Boat Share Shows have now been confirmed:

The National Boat Share Show will be on 21st and 2nd April 2018 at Braunston Marina and the Autumn Boat Share Show - in conjunction with the RNLI Festival - will be on 8th & 9th September at Overwater Marina.

Thanks for making it such a successful show

Thanks to everyone who made the Autumn Boat Share Show such a success - Overwater Marina for hosting the event, RNLI for having the Show alongside its Festival, all the owners and companies who supported it and, last but certainly not least, the visitors who came along.

Yes, the weather could have been better and we could have done without the wind that damaged the Welcome Tent. But we all came through in good spirits, shares found new owners and many questions were answered about the workings of shared narrowboat ownership.

In all, 12 boats took part in the Show including self-managed craft and boats managed by three of the companies represented.

Watch the webcam

We'll be preparing for the Boat Share Show at Overwater Marina tomorrow (Friday) and you can catch some of the action on the marina's webcam.  We're getting the boats in place in the afternoon - despite the forecast wind - and the location for the boats on view is right in front of the webcam.

 

Willow will be on view

Willow, commissioned and managed for her owners by Carefree Cruising, will be on view at the Autumn Boat Share Show at Overwater Marina this weekend.

A 58ft semi-trad boat, she has a 'conventional' forward saloon, mid-galley and stern bedroom layout.  Launched in 2004, Willow is powered by a Beta Marine 43hp engine and is fitted with Vetus 55 electric bowthrusters.  For 2017 she is based at Aston Marina, just south of Stone on the Trent and Mersey Canal.

A 1/12th 'yellow' share in Willow is currently on offer at £1,000.  For details of the allocation scheme operated by Carefree Cruising, please see the details here.

We got it wrong!

When we put a piece on this site about Shadow being the oldest boat at the Autumn Boat Share Show, that was true at the time.  But, since, then, Serenade has booked her place at the Show and her syndicate has been in existence a whole year longer than Shadow's.

Like Shadow, Serenade was originally commissioned by Ownerships, but she is now managed for her owners by BCBM.  Both boats have the same general layout, with a forward saloon, mid-galley and rear main bedroom - and both have semi-trad sterns.

Serenade is currently based at Anderton Marina  - very near the famous Anderton Boat Lift - so convenient cruising roads include the River Weaver as well as the northern part of the Trent & Mersey Canal.

A 1/12th school holiday share in Serenade is on offer at the Show for just £999.

Happy Days cruises in

Launched by Carefree Cruising at the 2016 National boat Share Show in Braunston, Happy Days will be on view again at the Autumn Boat Share Show at Overwater Marina this coming weekend (9th & 10th September).

At 58ft long, Happy Days can navigate virtually the whole of the inland waterways network. She is currently based at the Kings Lock Boatyard in Middlewich, so owners can easily explore the Trent & Mersey, the Four Counties ring and the Llangollen Canal.

Featuring a 'reverse' layout, Happy Days has the main bedroom at the bow and the saloon at the stern, with a mid-galley.  She is powered by a Canaline 42 engine and is fitted with Vetus 55 electric bow thrusters.  Shares are on offer from £4,500.

Former Challenger boat at Show

The only boat at the Show this coming weekend that was originally commissioned by Challenger Syndicateships will be Black Watch.  She is now managed for her owners by BCBM and is currently based at Overwater Marina, where the Show is being held in conjunction with the RNLI Festival.

Black Watch is a 62ft semi-trad narrowboat launched in 2004 and powered by her original Nanni engine.

Prospective owners looking at her annual budget should note that it includes gas bottles for the year plus a sizeable winter maintenance fund contribution.  Syndicates vary in how they deal with both these items.  Many have an arrangement whereby owners replace any gas bottles emptied on their trip. Not all syndicates include a contribution to winter maintenance within the annual budget, preferrig to leave this to be paid after decisions on maintenance are made at the AGM. 

Black Watch has one 4% share and twelve 8% shares, two of which are currently on offer.

Show opening times

The Autumn Boat Share Show at Overwater Marina on Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th September is open from 10am on both days.  It closes at 5pm on the Saturday and 4pm on the Sunday.

The earlier close on the Sunday is so that owners can get their boats away to continue their canal holidays for less than the cost of hiring -just as around 2,500 other families do.

Admission is free on both days. Car parking is free on the Saturday and by donation to the RNLI on the Sunday.  Visitors arriving early on either of the Show days can have breakfast in the Marina Cafe, which is open from 8.30am.

Plenty to choose from

Possibly the widest range of shares on offer at the Autumn Boat Share Show will be in Halcyon, managed for her owners by Carefree Cruising.  There is a 1/24th 'yellow' share available at just £995, while the asking price for a 1/12th 'red' share including school holidays is £2,250.  (There's a full description of what times on board the red and yellow shares provide on the Carefree Cruising website here.)

Halcyon is a 58ft semi-trad narrowboat launched in 2007.  She has a conventional rear-bedroom layout and offers comfortable accommodation with sleeping for up to 6 people. Powered by a Beta Marine 43hp engine and fitted with Vetus electric bowthrusters, Halcyon is currently moored at Aston Marina near Stone on the Trent and Mersey Canal.

Towpath Talk previews Boat Share Show

Towpath Talk has included a preview of the Autumn Boat Share Show in its September issue.  

You can read the piece - published on page 73 of the paper - here or read the whole edition on line here.

The Show takes place at Overwater Marina on Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th September and is run in conjunction with the RNLI Festival.  It opens each day at 10am, running till 5pm on the Saturday and 4pm on the Sunday.

First boat built for BCBM will be at the Show

First Dawn, the first boat built for BCBM, will be on view at the Autumn Boat Share Show at Overwater on 9th & 10th September.

"It hardly seems possible that it's now 7 years since Pippa and I took her on her very first trip - up the Thames on her way to her home mooring - just after she had won the Lionel Munk Trophy for best new boat at the IWA Festival in Pangbourne," says Andrew Cooley.

Being the first in the line, a number of new features were introduced on First Dawn that have now become almost standard on boats commissioned by BCBM.

First Dawn is a 61ft, semi-trad narrowboat powered by a Shire 40 engine.  Owners' weeks on board are allocated by the draw system and she is currently moored at Great Haywood.  Shares (8%) are on offer from £4,500.  The BCBM team will be at the Show to answer any questions about First Dawn and the other boats they manage.

Heron will be at Overwater

Heron, the most recent shared ownership boat from J D Boats Services, will be on view at the Autumn Boat Share Show at Overwater Marina on Saturday and Sunday 9th & 10th September.

Heron is managed for her owners by J D Boats Services

Originally built in  2010, Heron has been completey refurbished for shared ownership by J D Boats Services, with a new syndicate being formed.  She will be the only boat on view in which the shares are linked to fixed weeks in the year, which some owners find helps their forward holiday planning.

Heron is a 59ft semi-trad narrowboat with a forward saloon.  She is unusual in having two dedicated bedrooms, one with a double bed and the other with two singles that can be configured as a double.  The saloon seating can also be re-arranged to provide an additional double bed.

Powered by a Shire 40 engine, Heron is currently based at Gailey on the Staffs and Worcester Canal just south of Stafford.  A few shares are still available at £6,499.

Breakfast at Overwater from 8.30 on Show days

Breakfast will be available in the Cafe at Overwater Marina from 8.30am to 10am on both the Saturday and Sunday of the Autumn Boat Share Show (9th & 10th September).

Just to plant the thought -
not actually a breakfast from
the 'Cafe at Bridge 80'

"Breakfast on site has been popular at the Braunston Show for the past couple of year," says Show organiser Andrew Cooley.  "It means that exhibitors can get a good start and also owners who are staying on their boats can avoid the need to prepare breakfast on the boat and clear up afterwards - and it eliminates the risk of the boat still smelling of cooked breakfast when the visitors arrive!"

The breakfast facility is also available for visitors to the Show who need to set off early.  By arriving in time for breakfast, they can relax before the Show starts at 10am and check the details of the boats they want to compare.

Aurora will be on show at Overwater

Visitors to the Autumn Boat Share Show at Overwater Marina on 9th & 10th September will be able to get on board Aurora and talk to her owners.  Aurora was originally commissioned by ABC and was launched in 2014 by Richard Parry, Chief Executive of the Canal & River Trust. This was when ABC and BCBM agreed to team up, as reported here, and Aurora is now managed for her owners by BCBM.

The 2014 launch of Aurora by Richard Parry, Chief Executive
of the Canal & River Trust watched by her very first owners.
Beside Richard on the boat are Ed Helps (left) MD of the
ABC group and Andrew Barton (right) MD of BCBM.

Aurora is a 62ft semi-trad boat with a rear galley, central saloon and forward main bedroom.  She is powered by a Beta Marine 43hp Greenline engine.  She is currently moored at Overwater.

An 8% share in Aurora is on offer for £8,500.  This gives the owner 4 weeks on the boat, and weeks are selected using the draw system (see our FAQ page for more details of this).

The Autumn Boat Share Show is run in conjunction with the RNLI Festival, and the Festival programme is here.

First self-managed boat booked for Show.

The first self-managed boat to be booked in for the Autumn Boat Share Show at Overwater Marina on 9th & 10th September is Wolverley.  She was originally commissioned for Ownerships and launched in 2003.  Wolverley is now owned by a new syndicate, formed this year and the original syndicate no longer exists.

Wolverley is a 60ft Semi-trad boat with a rear galley configuration.  She has a nominal 'winter' base on the Leeds & Liverpool canal but, for the main part of the year, she moves around a section of the waterway network determined by owners at their AGM.

The new syndicate operates as a club, and owners all play an active part in maintaining the boat and runnng the club.  There are more details of this on the syndicate website.

There are 1/12th shares on offer in this new syndicate at £3,500 per share and an individual owner can own up to three shares.  Each share entitles the owner to 2 weeks in the April to September period plus 2 'early' or 'late' weeks every year.

Camping & caravans at the Boat Share Show

Overwater Marina have caravan and camping pitches available for visitors to the Autumn Boat Share Show and RNLI Festival.  This offer is for the Festival & Show weekend only and a donation to the RNLI will be required.  

For further details and to book your pitch, please contact the marina on 01270 812677.

The programme for the two days of the Boat Share Show and RNLI Festival can be seen here.

'Grand Old Lady' of Overwater Show

The 'Grand Old Lady' of the Autumn Boat Share Show at Overwater marina on 9th & 10th of September will be Shadow, launched in 1995 and now managed for the owners by BCBM.

Shadow has a school holiday share on offer at £2,500
and is managed for the owners by BCBM.

View from the galley
towards the bow.

Shadow was originally commissioned for Ownerships and built to that company's 'classic' semi-trad design, with the saloon and dinette at the bow with a superb view out through the large glazed bi-fold doors.  Working towards the stern, the galley follows the dinette, then the bathroom and the main bedroom with a double bed that converts to king-size and an en-suite toilet.

Originally a 12-share boat, the owning syndicate has absorbed two shares over time so that it is a 1/10th special share (with a school holiday priority) that is on offer at the moment, with an asking price of £2,500.  This gives the owner at least 4 weeks of boating holiday each year at a cost of just under £100 per calendar month plus a single annual premium of £100 for the special share status - making the cost of each week's holiday just £320.  Gas is included in the budget, but the cost of fuel is paid by each owner.

Newest boat at Overwater

The most recently launched shared ownership narrowboat will be on view at the Autumn Boat Share Show at Overwater Marina on 9th & 10th September.

Otter being craned into the marina for
the Braunston Boat Share Show in April

Otter - commissioned and managed by Carefree Cruising - was launched at the Braunston Boat Share Show in April.

This 58ft semi-trad boat has the 'reverse layout' with the main bedroom at the bow.  She is powered by a Canaline 42hp enine and is fitted with Vetus electric bowthrusters.  Shares are currently available at £7,495.

Autumn Boat Share Show set to be even better than last year

The countdown has begun to the Autumn Boat Share Show at Overwater Marina on 9th & 10th September.

The Show, run in conjunction with the RNLI Festival, promises to be even better than last year - and the weather can't be any worse!

At least 10 shared ownership narrowboats are expected to be on view.  Most of the boats there will be managed for their owners' syndicated by one of the four main management companies, who will be represented there.  The Show is also open to self-managed boats, which have benefitted in previous shows from being able to talk to so many prospective owners over one weekend.
 
The RNLI Festival provides a range of entertainments, starting off on the Saturday evening with a performance by 'Abba Re-Bjorn', one of the most successful and popular Abba tribute bands.  Events continue on the Sunday with a Donkey Derby and Dog Show, with a range of facilities including refreshments and bar in the marquee - which is substantially bigger than last year.

The Show runs from 10am to 5pm on the Saturday 9th and from 10am to 4pm on Sunday 10th. Admission to the Show is free.  Parking is free on the Saturday and by donation to RNLI on Sunday.

Thinking of buying a share

There are some recent postings on the Boats & Canals Forum on this topic - here.
 

Show success continues

We've now heard that a share was sold in the self-managed boat Nashira in the last half hour of the National Boat Share Show, bringing the tally of shares sold to 28.  Next year's Show at Braunston will be on 21st & 22nd April 2018. 

Owners of the self managed cruiser stern narrowboat Nashira
working hard at the Braunston Boat Share Show to sell their share.

The owners of Nashira commented: "What an interesting weekend it was.  We had a lovely time sitting in the sun, lots of interest and in the last half hour actually sold the share.  So thank you very much for all your help. We have said to the other members how well organised it was with everything provided.

The Autumn Boat Share Show is at Overwater Marina on 9th & 10th September 2017.  Any shared ownership narrowboat with shares on offer is very welcome at either show - more details here.

Sunshine success for Boat Share Show

Business boomed in the spring sunshine at this year's National Boat Share Show held at Braunston Marina last weekend (22nd & 23rd April).

There were 15 boats for visitors to view and get on board.  Most were managed by one of the four shared ownership management companies - BCBM, Carefree Cruising, J D Boat Services and Ownashare - and there was also a self-managed boat, Nashira, on view.

Nashira owners take a break to enjoy
the spring sunshine in a lull between visitors

Around 250 visitors took advantage of the opportunity to see and compare a wide range of boats - from one launched the day before the show to an 'old-stager' still going strong after 22 years.  Share prices ranged from as little as £750 up to around £10,000 for the newest and highest specification boat.

Over the weekend, twenty seven families took advantage of the event to become new share owners.  They will join around 2,500 families who already own shares and go boating each year on their own boats for less than the cost of hiring.

 The National Boat Share Show takes place in April each year thanks to the generosity of Braunston Marina.  In recognition of this, the organisers – boatshare4u.co.uk – will be making a donation to the Friends of Raymond, the boat restoration charity that is supported by the marina.  The butty boat Raymond and the powered boat Nutfield were on view as usual at this year's event, alongside the shared ownership boats.

Great start to Boat Share Show

The sun shone all day on Braunston as prospective new owners viewed the 15 boats on show and talked to existing owners and management companies.

At least ten families left the show as new share owners - joining around 2,500 other families who go boating every year on their own boats at less than the cost of hiring.  It was a brilliant start to the show.

Otter craned in

 Carefree Cruising's new boat Otter has been craned into Braunston Marina ready for the start of the Boat Share Show at 10am tomorrow (Sat 22nd).

She has been joined today by 14 other boats that will be on show during the weekend - all with shares on offer.

Serendipity will be on show

The 58ft semi-trad narrowboat Serendipity will be on Show at the National Boat Share Show this weekend (22nd & 23rd April) at Braunston Marina.

Serendipity is managed by Carefree Cruising

Launched in 2008, Serendipity is managed for her owners by Carefree Cruising. She has the conventional rear bedroom layout which has proved sopopular over the years.  There are currently three shares on offer, with asking prices from £950.

The Show opens at 10am on both days, closing at 5pm on the Saturday and 4pm on the Sunday.  Details of how to get there are here, and a plan showing where to park when you arrive is here.  Admission and car parking is free, and there are refreshments on site.

When you arrive, call in and see us in the Welcome Marquee and pick up your free show guide.

Beautiful at Braunston

Her name means 'beautiful' - and she's coming to Braunston for the National Boat Share Show on 222nd & 23rd April.

Kallista - the name means beautiful - will be at theNational Boat Share Show at Braunston
on 22nd & 23rd April.  She is managed
for her owners by Carefree Cruising.

Kallista is a 58ft semi-trad narrowboat managed for her syndicate of owners by Carefree Cruising.  She was launched in 2012 and has what is known as 'reverse layout' with the main bedroom near the bow, a mid-galley and the saloon near the stern.  Shares are currently on the market with an asking price from £3,000.

Currently moored at Welton Haven Marina, near Daventry but Kallista is, like most shared ownership narrowboats,  likely to change her base mooring every couple of years or so, depending on what the owners decide.  She is a no-smoking boat, but pets are allowed.

BCBM's newest boat on show

BCBM's newest boat - Breaking Dawn - will be on view at the National Boat Share Show at Braunston Marina on 22nd & 23rd April.

Breaking Dawn is managed for her owners by BCBM

The 61ft Semi-trad narrowboat was launched at the Boat Share Show last year and has a Beta diesel engine and diesel powered central heating.  Breaking Dawn is also equipped with bow thrusters and the electrics include a battery charger.

A full 8% (4 week) share in Breaking Dawn can be had at the asking price of £9,995.

Alcedonia's coming to Braunston

Alcedonia - the 58ft Semi-trad narrowboat launched by Carefree Cruising in 2011 - will be on view at the Natonal Boat Share Show at Braunston Marina on 22nd & 23rd April.

Alcedonia - launched in 2011 and managed
for her owners by Carefree Cruising.

She has a conventional  mid-galley layout with the saloon and dinette next to the bow and the main bedroom at the stern.

Visitors to the Show will be able to get on board all the boats on view and talk to existing owners and management companies like Carefree Cruising.

A free list of the boats on view will be available to those attending the Show from the Help & Information Desk in the marquee.

New Carefree boat gets a name

The new boat from Carefree Cruising to be launched at the National Boat Share Show at Braunston on 22nd & 23rd April has been named by her new syndicate - she's called Otter.

Not to be confused with the 26 year old ex-Ownerships boat of the same name, the new Otter is a 57ft semi-trad with 'reverse layout' - saloon at the stern and main bedroom at the bow.

Happy Days being craned into the Braunston Marina
basin ready for the the 2016 National Boat Share Show

Like the Carefree Cruising boats launched at Braunston in 2015 (Lilaea)  and 2016 (Happy Days), Otter will be craned into the marina just before the show.

Shares in Otter are available from £4,000 - but Carefree Cruising tell us that 70% of the shares are already sold.

Nashira booked for Braunston

Launched in 2010, the 57ft cruiser stern narrowboat Nashira is booked to come to the National Boat Share Show at Braunston Marina on 22nd & 23rd April.

Nashira is owned and managed by six shareholders as a club.  A 1/6th share is now on offer for £9,500 including a sixth share of the club assets, currently valued at £1,500.  The 1/6th share gives each owner 5 weeks cruising between March and mid-October.

Although Nashira is 7 years old, she was laid up for 3 years due to the previous owner's ill-health until she was bought by the narrowboat club in 2014.  Consequently she is in better condition than might be expected for a boat of this age, with only around 1,200 engine hours on the clock.  Full details can be downloaded here. You can contact the owner with the share for sale here.

Boat Share Showcase

Towpath Talk features the National Boat Share Show in it's 'What's On' section this month.  On page 63 it says:

"The National Boat Share Show over the weekend of april 22-23 is the shop window for the shared ownership sector. This enables around 2,500 families to take canal holidays on their own boat at less than the cost of hiring.  The Show offers an opportunity to get on board a wide range of shared ownership narrowboats and talk to existing owners and management companies. It is organised by boatshare4u.co.uk, the independent information website for everything to do with shared ownership narrowboats, where there is more information about the show.  The venue is Braunston Marina and the Show opens at 10am each day, closing at 5pm on the Saturday and 4pm on the Sunday.  Admission and car parking are free."

The advert for the Show is also on page 62.

Black Watch will be on show

The 62ft semi-trad narrowboat Black Watch will be on view at the National Boat Share Show at Braunston Marina on 22nd & 23rd April.

Black Watch is managed by BCBM and
has an 8% share on offer at £3,000.

Originally commissioned by Challenger Syndicateships, Black Watch was launched in 2004 and is now managed for the owners by BCBM.  Currently moored at Gayton Marina, she is powered by a Nanni Diesel engine and has gas-fired central heating. An 8% share is currently being offered for £3,000.

The owning syndicate has agreed that gas is paid for from its funds rather than by individual onwers, so the annual running costs allow £1,000 for this, bringing the total to budget to £16,500 so an owner of an 8% share would pay £147 a month  including the management fee.

Halcyon will be at Braunston Show

Carefree Cruising will be bringing Halcyon to the National Boat Share Show at Braunston Marina on 22nd & 23rd April 2017.

Halcyon, managed for the owners by Carefree Cruising

Halcyon was launched in 2007 and is a 58ft semi-trad narrowboat with up to 6 berths currently moored at Aston Marina, just south of Stone on the Trent & Mersey Canal. She is a pet-free boat.

There is a 1/12th red (peak) share avaialble for £2,250.  You could also pick up a 1/12th yellow (off peak) share for £2,000 or a 1/24th yellow share for £995.  Carefree Cruising manage 17 boats on behalf of their owners' syndicates and have launched new boats at the last two National Boat Share Shows. A full explanation of the share scheme with red and yellow shares can be found here.

 

22 years old and still going strong

Shadow is the oldest boat so far booked in for this year's National Boat Share Show 0n 22nd & 23rd April at Braunston Marina.  Originally built for Ownerships in 1995, she is now managed for the owner's syndicate by BCBM.

Shadow, pictured when she was moored at
Tattenhall.  Shared ownership narrowboats
tend to move bases every couple of
years or so - depending on the decision
of owners at their AGM.

Shadow was a 12 share boat but over the years two of the shares that became available have been absorded by the syndicate, which now represents 10 full shares, and a 1/10th share is now on offer from £1,000.  This gives more flexibility for extra weeks holiday but an owner would be contributing 1/10th of the running costs rather than 1/12th.

At 58ft, she is similar in length to many other shared ownership narrowboats.and is powered by a BMC 1.8 engine, replaced in 2009.  She is currently moored at Hilperton on the Kennet & Avon canal.

First boat built for BCBM will be at Braunston

The first boat commissioned and built for BCBM will be making a welcome return to Braunston.

First Dawn at last year's National Boat Share Show

First Dawn established the style and specification standards for all the boats built for the company and any boats acquired for shared ownership.

Launched in 2010, this 61ft semi-trad narrowboat now has an 8% share on offer for £5,000 and another 4-week 'school holiday' share at £6,500.  She was fitted out by Nantwich Canal Centre and was awarded the Lionel Monk Trophy for the best new boat at the IWA Festival in 2010.

First Cruiser stern boat booked in

Cruiser stern boats are less common in shared ownership than semi-trad ones, so having Minuet - managed by Ownashare - booked in for the National Boat Share Show at Braunston on 22nd & 23rd April is welcome news.

Minuet is a 54ft cruiser stern, 4-berth boat
managed by Ownashare

Minuet is also slightly shorter than most shared ownership narrowboats at 54ft.  She is a 4 berth boat and was built for Ownashare in 2011. A 1/12th share is on offer for £3,500.  Minuet is currently moored at Nantwich Canal Centre on the Shropshire Union Canal.

One of the great advantages of the Boat Share Show for prospective owners is the chance to see a wide variety of shared ownership narrowboats with a wide range of types, ages and share prices.  The only comprehensive list of currently available shares is here on this site.  The list is updated daily and compiled by monitoring 5 different sites offering shares for sale.

First two boats booked in for Braunston

Firefly, managed by BCBM

The first two boats have now been booked in for the National Boat Share Show at Braunston Marina on 22nd & 23rd April 2017.  The show is the largest event in the UK entirely focussed on shared ownership and has been proved over the years to be the best place to find a share and to sell one - over 30 shares changed hands as a result of last year's event.

BCBM will be bringing Firefly, a semi-trad 58ft 6-berth narrowboat launched in 2007.  She had a new Canalline engine in 2011 and she's currently moored at Aston Marina.  A 2-week off-peak share is available for as little as £750, while the asking price for a 6-week off-peak share is £3,000.

Heron, managed by J D Boat Services

Also booked in is Heron, built and managed by J D Boat Services - and 2017 will be the first year that this long-established shared ownership company has been represented at the Braunston Boat Share Show.  Heron is a 59ft 6in semi-trad 6 berth narrowboat.  She was originally launched in 2010 as part of the company's hire fleet, but she has since been fully re-furbished to come into shared ownership with a brand new syndicate.  Some 1/12th shares are available at £6,499.

The show is open for any shared ownership narrowboat to attend and information about bringing a boat can be found here.