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Welcome to the Website of

Keith Harris

Travel Writer and Author of the     

Saul Trader Series of Books

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Saul Trader at Ventenac-en-Minervois, Canal du Midi

A BIT ABOUT ME

I was 30 years old when I first set eyes on a proper canal and now over 40 years on I'm still a devoted ditch crawler.

After ten years of hiring, borrowing and begging various boats I bought my first narrowboat from Stoke on Trent in 1986. I have navigated most of the inland waterways of England from Goldalming and Bristol to the Northern reaches of Manchester, Leeds and York.

Then in 1998 I got the chance to buy a fine replica Dutch Barge, Saul Trader, and begin to plan a series of voyages from Gloucester, across the English Channel to France, Holland and Belgium. Over some 20 years we travelled  20000 kilometres passing through more than 4000 locks.

When I started to record the stories behind our voyages I had no intention of turning them into published books, but merely to give me a lasting record of our adventures. The advent of Kindle and self-publishing gave me the opportunity to share the experiences with a wider audience. Whether you're an established enthusiast, a boater or an armchair follower I hope you will find some pleasure and enjoyment from my ramblings.

"Being on a boat that's moving through the water, it's so clear. Everything falls into place in terms of what's important and what's not."

James Taylor

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Saul Trader - Vital Statistics

BUILT                                    1990

 

Builder:                                 R.W. Davis Ltd

                                               Junction Dry Dock

                                               Saul,   Glos

                                              GL2 7LA

Tel:                                        +44 (0)1452 740233

Designed by:                        Phil Trotter.                     

 

DIMENSIONS

LOA:                                     70ft.  (21.0 metres)

Beam:                                    13ft.  (4.0 metres)

Draft:                                    3ft 6ins. (1.1 metres)

Air Draft (Roof Up):           10ft 4ins. (3.0 metres)

Air Draft (Roof Down):        7ft 6ins. (2.26 metres)

Displacement:                      18.72 tons

MACHINERY

Main Engine:                       Ford CS6 / Lister Marine

                                              6 Cylinder Diesel 128HP

Gearbox:                              PRM 302

Generator:                           Lister Petter LPWS3

Outboard:                            Mariner 4

Bow Thrusters:                    Vetus Hydraulic

Fuel Capacity:                     500 gals (2275 ltrs)

Fresh Water Capacity:        200 gals (900 ltrs) Fwd Tank

                                               200 gals (900 ltrs) Midships

Day Tank:                             30 gal filtered capacity gravity                                                          fed to lift-pump   

                                                          

                  

ACCOMODATION

Aft Cabin:                             Double / en-suite shower/toilet

Midships Master Cabin :     Double / en suite shower/toilet

Forward Cabin:                    Twin - shower/toilet

GALLEY                               Gas Hob, Microwave

SALOON

WHEELHOUSE                  Icom VHF, Garmin GPS, Hand-                                                      Bearing Compass, Echo                                                                Sounder

HEATING                            Webasto diesel-fired feeding hot                                                       water, radiators (7)

                                                30 gal hot water cylinder /                                                                 immersion heater/ calorifier                                                                                                                                                                                                          

ELECTRICS                         24v domestic system from 6 x

                                                 110 a/h 12v leisure batteries                                                              connected in series

                                                 24v engine start from 2x110a/h                                                          batteries

                                                 12v Genny start battery

                                                 Victron Multi-plus 24v sine                                                           wave Inverter

          

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Saloon looking aft with the Galley on the right

Cadet on the helm !

Saloon looking forward

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Forward Cabin with Stowaways

Master Cabin

Aft Guest Cabin

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