About our narrowboat

After so many years of reading blogs, reading magazines, taking holidays on hire boats and dreaming about living on a boat – in 2016 we actually bought one. After inheriting some money we decided that we should not wait for retirement to get a boat, but to seize the moment and go for it.

So here is the beautiful NB Earl – all 57 foot of her. She was made by Tony Lewitt based at Pillings Lock Marina near Loughborough, based on a Reeves Boatbuilders shell.

Although this is only Tony’s second boat, it contains pretty much everything we were looking for in a boat to use for holidays. We are delighted that we found it so quickly.

So where does the name come from? Well that links to our family history research. Just over one hundred years ago in January 1916 Steam Trawler Earl set sail from Hull, skippered by William Darby Coates, James’s great grandfather. Sadly, it was never seen again, presumed sunk by a German U-boat like many other Hull trawlers during World War 1 (see Hull Trawler). Even more tragically, the 3rd hand on board was one of his sons – also called William Darby – who left behind a young wife and 6 month old baby.

We enjoyed cruising on Earl until 2021, although trips were somewhat limited in 2020-21 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. However, following retirement we decided to spend much more time on the water and commissioned the build of a 55 foot by 9 foot narrowboat style boat called Whip'ma Whop'ma. So sadly Earl was taken to Sawley Marina near Nottingham and was sold in August 2021.