Thanks to everyone who supported the Boat Share Shows

Despite the rain on the Saturday, the Autumn Boat Share Show at Overwater last weekend proved successful.  As always, it attracted a good number of people with a serious interest in boatshare.

The RNLI Festival, running from Saturday evening amd through the Sunday, was also another great success.  The raft race around the marina was very popular with visitors.

The shared ownership boats provided a grandstand view
for the start and finish of the raft race at Overwater

This was the last Boat Share Show for which I will be directly involved in the organisation - I've handed that role over to the boat management companies.  Hopefully we will know soon about the dates and arrangements for next year's shows.

Management company
stands at Overwater

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has helped to make the Shows in which I've been involved successful - particularly the management companies, our hosts at Braunston and Overwater and, of course, the many visitors who have come to the Shows to find out about the benefits of boatshare and have gone away as owners.

This website will continue - and I have offered the management companies any support I can give in publicising the Shows here.  We will continue to maintain our comprehensive list of narrowboat shares on offer by monitoring the BCBM, boatshare.co.uk, Carefree Cruising, J D Boat Services and Ownashare websites.  Many of our Show visitors have commented on how useful they've found this site, and I'm delighted that so many are now enjoying their boating as share owners.

Ready for action

Setting up for the Boat Share Show went well today so we're ready to welcome visitors from 10am tomorrow (Saturday 8th Sept and on Sunday).

The first five boats lined up ready for the Show

Some slight changes to the site layout have been made, so we're not exactly as shown on the plan.  You'll find us in the blue RNLI gazebo alongside the entrance to the main marquee as the first bit of the Show you come to.  Pop in and pick up your 'Show Guide' which lists the boats on view.  If you want any other information about boatshare and how it all works, we're there to help.  we ddon't sell anything, so you won't be under any pressure - and there are no silly questions!

There's more good news in that Harmonia, managed for her owners by BCBM, will now be on view for both days of the Show, not just the Sunday.

It's set up day

It's set up day for the Autumn Boat Share at Overwater tomorrow (Friday).  We'll be getting the Welcome Tent sorted outin the morning and getting the boats on view in position during the afternoon.  The boats should be clearly visible on the marina's webcam.

Skylark, managed for her owners by Carefree Cruising, is the newest
of the boats on view at the Autumn Boat Share Show at Overwater Marina
on Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th September.  The Show opens at 10 am
each day, finishing at 5pm on the Saturday and 4pm on the Sunday.
Admission is free and parking is by donation to the RNLI.

It looks as though the rain will hold off while we're getting ready, but the afternoon promises to be a bit breezy, which may make moving the boats a bit more tricky.

The forecast for the Show days is that will be some rain on Saturday but not on Sunday - but what's a bit of rain when there are boats to look at!  The RNLI Festival runs from Saturday evening and through Sunday - a full programme is here.

Show breakfasts

The 'Cafe at Bridge 80' at Overwater Marina will again be serving cooked breakfasts from 8.30am on both days of the Boat Share Show this coming weekend - Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th September.

The Audlem Lass will be operating a shuttle service between the marina and Audlem bottom lock throughout the weekend.

Management company trailers arrive at Overwater

The Carefree Cruising, BCBM and Ownashare exhibition trailers have arrived at Overwater and are parked up ready to be moved into position tomorrow (Monday)  for the Boat Share Show this coming weekend - 8th & 9th September.

Keep an eye on the webcam at Overwater and you can see preparations for the Show under way, with the boats being moved into view on Friday afternoon.