Your Floating Hotel on the Canals and Rivers of the UK

News about Reed Boats in 2004.

January 2004.

Welcome to the first of our monthly Newsletters keeping you abreast of progress on and with Reed Boats.

Boat Building.
Work continues on our first boat, 'Oak' in Dave Thomas's Shed at Braunston, she is now looking like a Narrow Boat. The last load of steel for the cabin sides and roof arrived on 5th January to be welded in place. At present all the work is on schedule despite one hiccup when it looked like the engine would not be ready in time, (it will now be in the boat two weeks early instead.) .

Training.
Courses continue for Martin, he has passed a First Aid renewal course, and just before Christmas he obtained his Boat Master's Licence after a three day course at Rugby, finishing by being put through his paces by a Captain of the Coast Guards. ( I am now entitled to be in charge of boats carrying 50 passengers, but I think I will settled for a pair of Hotel Boats. )
This month he is booked into a Business Link Course, a week in Worcester on running a business; and for a day learning more about maintaining diesel engines in Rugby.
(I'll be glad to get back at Easter to the practicalities of running boats after all this study. At least our Guests will be able to look at a wall display of certificates, perhaps they can tell me if it all does any good!)

Come and meet us.
We have arranged to be at the Ownership's Show at Braunston on Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th February from 10.00 a.m. till 4.00 p.m. The main objective of the weekend is to advertise and allow people to buy shares in the boats managed by Ownerships. But there is a lot more on than just Ownership boats for sale. We will be there and you are welcome to come along and see current progress on Oak being fitted out outside the shed, and Ash inside the shed having the steel hull built; sample a Welsh Cake in support of the restoration of Motor, "Nutfield", and of course to meet us. It's free, come along we would love to meet you all.
We also have a space booked at Crick Show at the end of May, but just for displays and to meet us, as our boats are too long to fit in, but more on that in the May Newsletter.

Competitions.
Over the next few months we will be offering three free holidays, each of one week's ( 7 days), cruise for two people, to be taken on any available weeks later this year. The lucky people will be drawn out of those who submit the correct answers to the questions on each occasion.
The first competition will be run during the Ownership's Show. Competition forms will only be available at the show and the winner for the first holiday will be drawn out at the end of the Second day. That's another good reason for coming and meeting us at Braunston!
The Second competition will be in March and early April, entry only via this web site. The Third competition will be run at Crick Boat Show.

More next month.

Martin & Angela Reed.

If you have any questions then do ring us on 07977 229103
or email us at martin@reedboats.co.uk