Shared Dutch Barge Dorchester based on the River Thames

There is a share for sale on	Dorchester

Type of scheme	Private
Number of sharers	10
Year of construction	2001
Home mooring (2017)	Thames & Kennet Marina, Caversham Lakes, Henley Rd Reading.
Type	Piper Built Dutch Barge
Length	49' x 12'
Engine Type	Barrus Shire
Berths	2 x doubles in separate cabins, each en-suite, 1 x double in saloon utilising bed/settee.
Change over day each week	Friday
Are pets allowed	Allowed
Is smoking allowed INSIDE the boat	NOT Allowed
Booking System	Rotating system where pairs of owners move two rungs up the ladder and rotate each year, going from bottom to top in five years. Over a period of ten years, every owner will occupy every position. No. 1 gets first choice of two weeks, going down to no. 10, then it reverses and no. 10 gets first choice of second two weeks, going up to no. 1. Any spare weeks can be booked with priority given in reverse order
Priority for school holidays	No such scheme in place.

General comments about the boat
Dorchester is accessed via doors on each side of the wheelhouse. The wheelhouse features the running gear and instrumentation, ample seating with provision for the erection of two tables and access through a floor hatch to the spacious engine room. To aft of the wheelhouse, steps lead down to the aft cabin. This is a double with a porthole and rear window. There is a wardrobe , cupboard and drawer units. The en suite provides a porthole, w.c., wash basin and shower cubicle. To forward of the wheelhouse, steps lead down to the saloon with galley area. There are four windows, two display wall units with base cupboards and a multi-fuel burning stove. There are two arm chairs and a bed settee. The galley section houses a breakfast bar, LPG gas cooker, 12v electric refrigerator, 240v microwave oven, stainless steel sink and various cupboard and drawer units. Forward of the saloon there is the master cabin. This is a double with two portholes and a window. There is a wardrobe and cupboard and drawer units. There is a separate bathroom to starboard and toilet to port each with a porthole. The bathroom has a bath with shower over and a wash basin. The toilet has a w.c. and wash basin. There are adequate walkways all round the decks. There are lockers to the foredeck with gas bottle storage and anchor chain storage, the latter fitted with a manual winch. The cabin roofs provide adequate space for deck chairs etc. Dorchester has diesel powered central heating with radiators in the main areas. It also provides domestic hot water which supplements water heating via the engine. Power is via a bank of 12v batteries and there is a power inverter to provide 240v.

Pictures of the boat






Specific details for the share offered
Size of share as a percentage or fraction	There are no shares advertised for sale on this boat on boatshare at present. This page is just a template for any potential advertiser to re-use To re-use it go here
Price in UK pounds
Reason for selling
Holiday entitlement with share offered here.
Pre-booked weeks included
School Holiday Possible?
Running costs for 2017
Contact details for vendor
Search terms

General Comments by vendor
Dorchester is one of very few replica barges on the non tidal Thames and the only one known to have the availability of shared ownership. It is not a time share - the boat is actually owned entirely by the shareholders and there is considerable pride in ownership reflected in its well kept appearance. The lock keepers probably regard it as one of their most regular clients and often comment on the friendliness and good humour of its crews. This scheme makes barging on the Thames financially viable instead of the burden of sole ownership. She is very well maintained and has been regularly upgraded in recent years. Recent works have included replacement of the wheelhouse, a bare metal repaint, renewal of galley white goods and replacement of the tv and radio systems. All works to date have been carried out within the annual subscriptions with no necessity to call on extra funding. The cruising area extends from Lechlade at the head of navigation to Limehouse on the tidal waterway with access to the broadbeam canal system at Reading by means of the Kennet and Avon canal to Bristol and at Limehouse to the Grand Union canal. The variety of urban and rural landscapes is unlimited. Some of England's most famous eating places lie close to the river. Thames and Kennet Marina provides excellent facilities including a pontoon berth with easy access to the river, mains water and electricity on the pontoon, adequate secure car parking, toilet and shower facilities and a pleasant cafe/licensed bar. Free pump out facilities and reduced fuel costs are available to berth holders. Some boating experience is required but the basic techniques for barge sailing can be quickly learned by those used to sailing boats, cruisers and narrow boats.