Barging.co.uk

New Build Barging

Barging.co.uk


New Build Barging.co.uk


 Elessina  - The building of


 

Elessina has now been sold to Bob and Julie (June 2010)

Elessina is a 60ft long by 12'-6" wide Replica Dutch Barge. Built by Piper Boats at Stoke-on Trent in 2004, to a sailawayplus specification and launched on 13th July 2004 at Sheerness Kent on the River Medway.

The interior was fitted out by Ian and Leigh on her mooring at Port Medway Marina on the River Medway.

Elessina was fitted out for long term cruising / stays on board, we both worked full time (in the motor industry and National Health) during the fit-out and gradually made the house downsizing and extensive stays on board.. Hundreds of people are doing the same, many thousands are thinking about it. These web pages record both the decision process, which lead us to choose to spend more time afloat, and the building of DB Elessina, from start to completion.

Far from being 'barge experts' we learned a lot through the process, which we are happy to share with others who are also contemplating the same life style change..... Hence this web site. Now complete, Elessina can navigate the UK canals, with plans in a few years time Ireland and the European continental canals down to the Mediterranean, and maybe even the Black Sea.

One thing we have learned above all else is that when asking a question about barging there are very few definitive clear precise answers, but we have found that getting the practical viewpoint from barge owners is second to none.

But one question that nearly all barge owners agree on, If you wish to live on a boat, the 'barge' option is very hard to beat, and the bigger the interior the better, but if you wish to do some cruising the smaller the barge length the better….. So you can see straight away why there are no clear-cut answers, only you can decide which best suits your requirements. Hopefully our experiences will help you decide what is best for you. There are over 100 pages on our 'barging.co.uk' web site, some of these pages contain over 10,000 words and many many photos. If you think barging may be for you, there is a lot of information here to digest, but then making the change is a big decision that can not be taken lightly, it is not for all, but nearly all that make the decision having take the time to investigate the pro's and con's love life on board.

Please Note. We are just boat owners willing to share our 'venture' into barging.

 

Below are the web pages depicting Elessina's build, from initial steel fabrication through to internal fit-out





 


 Page Created 14th April 2005 - Last updated 19 June 2010