A one-tenth share in replica Dutch barge 'Dorchester' on the River Thames
A share entitles the owner to 4 weeks per year aboard Dorchester, a 49 x 12 foot replica Dutch barge built by Piper Boats in 2001. She has 2 double cabins and is capable of sleeping 6 in total (the extra 2 via a sofa-bed in the saloon).
Although the price of a share is subject to negotiation between the current owner and a potential buyer, £7500 is typical, and there is an annual running cost of about £1800 to cover insurance, river licence maintenance costs and mooring fee.
The barge has the following features:
Ablutions: full-size bath/shower and separate toilet adjacent to the forward cabin. The rear cabin has en suite shower and toilet. Toilets are fully-flushing into a holding tank which is pumped out once/twice per week.
Heating: Diesel-powered central heating throughout the barge plus multi-fuel stove in the saloon.
Electrics: Mixture of 12 volts DC powered by the engine, from shore connection (via the onboard charger/inverter) and batteries plus 240 volts 'mains' AC from the inverter or from shore connection.
Galley: gas oven/hob, DC-powered fridge and mains-powered microwave.
Entertainment: TV/DVD in the saloon plus a radio in the saloon and all cabins.
Booking Arrangement: owners are placed on a list which rotates over 5 years, with the top 2 going to the bottom each year. Owners choose their first 2 weeks (which may be a fortnight or 2 separate weeks) working down the list and their second 2 weeks working up the list.
Maintenance: the barge has a period of maintenance by a professional boatyard every Winter; the owners come together a few months ahead of this to decide what is to be included. Minor maintenance is undertaken by the owners themselves (some regard this as an integral part of their holiday!) and the barge is returned to a marina at the end of each week or fortnight where any urgent repairs can be carried out before the next owner takes her out. For that reason, the change-over day between cruising weeks is Friday.
Posted: Jan 30, 2010
Asset
A 49 x 12 foot replica Dutch barge built by Piper Boats in 2001. She has 2 double cabins and is capable of sleeping 6 in total (the extra 2 via a sofa-bed in the saloon).
The barge has the following features:
Ablutions: full-size bath/shower and separate toilet adjacent to the forward cabin. The rear cabin has en suite shower and toilet. Toilets are fully-flushing into a holding tank which is pumped out once/twice per week.
Heating: Diesel-powered central heating throughout the barge plus multi-fuel stove in the saloon.
Electrics: Mixture of 12 volts DC powered by the engine, from shore connection (via the onboard charger/inverter) and batteries plus 240 volts 'mains' AC from the inverter or from shore connection.
Galley: gas oven/hob, DC-powered fridge and mains-powered microwave.
Entertainment: TV/DVD in the saloon plus a radio in the saloon and all cabins.
Maintenance: the barge has a period of maintenance by a professional boatyard every Winter; the owners come together a few months ahead of this to decide what is to be included. Minor maintenance is undertaken by the owners themselves (some regard this as an integral part of their holiday!) and the barge is returned to a marina at the end of each week or fortnight where any urgent repairs can be carried out before the next owner takes her out. For that reason, the change-over day between cruising weeks is Friday.
The Thames is an interesting yet safe river to explore; its reaches vary from the peaceful tranquility of its rural stretches to the cosmopolitan bustle of Oxford, Reading, Maidenhead, Windsor and central London, with idyllic smaller towns in between such as Henley, Marlow and Hampton Court, and always within range of a pub or two!
Group
Dorchester Group
The owners are from all over the UK (one lives abroad) and a wide variety of backgrounds. None has had a professional career in barging/shipping; I would describe us as 'keen enthusiasts'.
Apart from an annual meeting to discuss maintenance and other arrangements, contact is normally via email. Typically, one or two shares change hands each year so it's worth contacting the syndicate to register interest; you will then be contacted if a share becomes available.
Children and pets are allowed. Smoking is only allowed on-deck.
Booking Arrangement: owners are placed on a list which rotates over 5 years, with the top 2 going to the bottom each year. Owners choose their first 2 weeks (which may be a fortnight or 2 separate weeks) working down the list and their second 2 weeks working up the list.
