Autumn Boat Share Event Today

The car is loaded and we're off first thing to Kings Lock, Middlewich for the National Boat Share Show Autumn Event.  It's on from 10 am to 4pm, with admission and parking free.  Set your Sat Nav to CW10 0JJ.

We're there to provide the Welcome and Help Desk, so do come along and talk to us.  We're completely independent  - "Nothing to sell, no axe to grind"

The boats on view are identified in our composite share listing.  Even if you can't get to Middlewich, this list can help you narrow the search. Then, when you find a boat that looks as though it would suit you, contact the management company offering a share and they'll arrange a viewing for you.  Most shared ownership narrowboats are being used by existing owners most of the time, so viewings are normally arranged on 'turnround days' when the boat comes back to base to e checked and serviced for the next owner to take out.

There will be even more boats to view at the National Boat Share Show in Braunston on Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th April 2015.  We'll be manning the Welcome and Help Desk there too.

Teaming up boost for shared ownership

The two largest companies in the shared ownership sector are to join forces.  ABC Boat Share Ltd is teaming up with BC Boat Management Ltd so that each company can bring its greatest strengths to the sector and provide an improved service for owners.

With effect from today, BCBM will take over responsibility for managing the boats for syndicates currently with ABC Boat Share Ltd.  BCBM is already the largest of the professional shared ownership management companies and it will be increasing its turnround and administrative staff to enhance its existing service to owners.

ABC – widely recognised as the market leader in providing canal hire boat holidays from 14 marinas around the canal network – will continue to provide moorings and maintenance services for shared ownership boats moored in its 10 company-owned marinas.

Andrew Barton, MD of BCBM, and Edward Helps, MD of ABC
Boat Share, shake hands on their agreement to team up
on supporting shared ownership boating

"The new arrangement can only benefit owners," says Andrew Barton, MD of BCBM.  "Syndicates whose boats we already manage will get a wider choice of bases and substantial discounts while those syndicates joining us from ABC Boat Share Ltd will benefit from the terms we have negotiated in other marinas coupled with the extensive turnaround and dedicated administrative cover we will be able to provide."

"We have developed a very successful working relationship with BCBM over the last few months as we prepared for the Boat Share Show at Braunston," says Ed Helps, MD of the ABC Leisure Group.  "The recent decision of our Shared Ownership Operations Manager to pursue a different career has meant that we needed to review our activities in this sector, and our conclusion was that we should concentrate on the main business of the group and entrust the management of shared ownership boats to BCBM, for whom shared ownership boat management is their only focussed core business.

Teaming up in this way can only strengthen the shared ownership sector and provide greater value and security for existing syndicates, both companies believe.

More details of the benefits of the link up are here.