AN ESTABLISHED boat hire company is using its years of experience to refocus on engineering and helping customers maintain their boats. Family-owned Kate Boats is known for its fleet of self-drive narrowboats, and for 24 years the firm worked out of two yards in Warwickshire.
Now, having earlier this year sold its base in Warwick to another family business (Warwickshire Narrowboat Hire, see story on page 70), it is taking the opportunity to increase its engineering and repairs offer at Stockton Marina.
With experienced engineers on hand, the firm is well-placed to offer an extensive range of services. It also holds many spares on site and is happy to source specific spares too.
“Maintenance is a vital aspect of boating, as we all know,” said Sarah Monk, who has worked at Kate Boats for four years.
“Every time a hire boat comes back in, we check it over and service it – it really is so important to keep on top of things; keeping the hull in top condition, for instance, is essential. As with anything mechanical, not leaving it until the last minute avoids nasty surprises.
“The blacking process, for example, is to protect the hull from rust, pitting, rubbing through locks, other boats, banks and so on, and it helps to extend the life of your hull – it is essential maintenance for your boat. We can get your boat out of the water using our tractor and trailer.
“Preparation is the key, so we first jet-wash the hull to remove all crud. This then shows the condition of the hull for signs of pitting and galvanic corrosion (it is normal to have some pitting). The stern gear will be checked for condition too, and if any damage needs to be addressed, we will advise you first before we carry on with blacking. Once we are ready to black, two to three coats are applied, including the bow thruster tube. The process can take up to a week, but this is dependent on our lovely British weather.”
Full range of services
Narrowboat painting and signwriting is also on offer. Stockton has a double-width paint tent that will take a widebeam and a large workshop that will take a narrowboat, primed for the task.
“Our hire fleet needs to look good day in, day out, so we have vast experience in this area,” Sarah continued. “We also have competent welders on site who can tackle most tasks required for narrowboat repairs and refurbishment.
“We can also do any interior works required, from an additional shelf to a full refit. Kate Boats is well-known for its quality hire fleet, and the skills that allow us to build and maintain that fleet means that we are a great place to come for any maintenance or repair on your own boat.”
Sarah has been involved in the waterways since she was 13 years old, when she got a job cleaning narrowboats – but her connection goes back much, much further than that.
“I am a descendant of Sir Thomas Monk, the famous boat builder and pioneer of 19th century canal transport. The term ‘monkey boat’ is named for him.
“At 13, when I first stepped on to a narrowboat, I fell in love with it. I thought, ‘wow, this is brilliant.’”
Kate Boats now operates exclusively from the marina at the top of the Stockton flight on the Grand Union Canal. In tandem with hiring boats, the company will carry out all types of maintenance work, including blacking, painting, woodwork and all aspects of engineering for customers. It also offers pumping-out facilities and mooring. Engine servicing, installation, repairs and replacement, welding, boat building, valeting and spring cleaning, signwriting and plumbing repairs are available too.
For more information about hiring a narrowboat, visit www.kateboats.co.uk; for engineering and repairs, visit www.kateboats.com
