What a surprise we were in for! Of the boats we had listed 5 were already sold, which was a bit of a blow as the ones that had gone were the ones we thought would be ideal. These were 3 steel hulled ranging from £12,000 to £15,000 and 2 GRP that were cheaper.

It would seem you have to be rather quick once a boat is identified. However, over the next couple of weeks we did look at some of the others and new arrivals but we were not "grabbed" by any of them. Even steel boats at £20,000, which was well above what we intended to spend did not impress us. We were becoming a little despondent by this time. We kept checking various sites but again we were not prepared to travel a long way without more information. I Emailed several brokers and owners requesting information but I recieved no replys for weeks. Then only to be told the boat was either under offer or sold.

We did however find some we liked but they were in the £30,000 bracket and we simply could not afford them at this time. The Queue-E-Too was then listed on the site but was not at the marina so could only be viewed by appointment. We duly made an appointment to see her. As we were driving down to Bramwith which is where she is moored we had a talk and decided that if this boat was not what we wanted we would save up and try and a have one either built or buy one of the "off the peg" new boats that are for sale. A new 40' boat can be bought for between £28,000 - £30,000. We thought that if we saved hard for a year we could perhaps afford to do this.

Queue-E-Too is a 40' cruiser stern narrowboat built by Caldaire Marine in 1991. She has 4 berths 2 singles forward and a make up double aft. She has a pump out toilet separate shower room, full central heating, hot water from either the engine or the boiler, a 1.9ltr Kubota Beta marinised 4 cylinder diesel engine, 240v shore hook up, 12v system. She was also far more money than we intended to spend!

It would seem there are three basic types of narrowboat. Cruiser, Trad (Traditional), and semi trad stern. There are other types as well Tug style and Josher bow. At the time the type of stern was not important so a cruiser stern would do us fine. As would a trad if the boat was right. I may form an opinion with more experience.

Cruiser Stern of the Queue-E-Too

Cruiser sterns are quite open. The person steering is totally outside and exposed to the weather. There is room for other passengers to stand. They can make the cabin space smaller. (Although trad sterns with engine rooms probably take up as much cabin space.) The engine is fitted below the deck under the steering position. So not as easily accessed as with a Trad.

Trad sterns have less room to stand at the back. The person steering is half inside the boat. They have an engine room giving easy access to the engine etc. There is not much room for anyone else on the stern.

Trad Stern

Inside the engine room of a trad stern.

The engine is BMC 1.8ltr 4 cylinder.

Semi trad stern Narrowboats look like a trad from the outside. However the engine is under the deck like a cruiser. Where the engine room would be in a trad there is usually just a space. I've heard these described as "The worst of both worlds".