Welcome to the Website of
Keith Harris
Travel Writer and Author of the
Saul Trader Series of Books
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
Saul Trader - Vital Statistics
BUILT: 1990. ACCOMODATION;
Builder: R.W. Davis Ltd. Aft Cabin: Double en-suite/ shower/ toilet
Junction Dry Dock Midships Master Cabin: Double en-suits/ shower/ toilet
Saul, Gloucester. Forward Cabin: Twin / shower/toilet
GL2 7LA
Tel: +44(0) 1452 740233. GALLEY: Gas Hob, Microwave
Designed & Built by: Phil Trotter SALOON: Three seat Settee
DIMENSIONS Two Seat Setee Single Arm Chair
L.O.A. 70ft (21.0 metres) Coffee Table
Beam: 13ft (4.0 metres) Built in shelves & Storage Units
Draft: 3ft 6ins (1.1 metres)
Air Draft: (Roof Up) 10ft 4ins (3.0 metres) WHEELHOUSE : Icom VHF, Garmin GPS, Echo Sounder
Air Draft: (Roof Down) 7ft 6ins (2.26 metres) Hand Bearing Compass, Control Panel Displacement: 18.72 tons
HEATING: Webasto Diesel-fired feeding hot water, radiators (7), hot water cylinder
MACHINERY: Immersion Heater, Calorifier
Main Engine: Ford CS6 / Lister Marine
6 Cylinder Diesel 128HP ELECTRICS: 24v Domestic System by 6 x 110 ah Leisure Batteries
Gearbox: PRM 302 24v Engine Start Batteries, 12v Genny Start Battery
Generator: Lister Petter LPWS3 Victron Multi-plus sine wave Inverter
Outboard: Mariner 4
Bow Thrusters: Vetus Electric. ANCILLARY EQUIPMENT:
Fuel Capacity: 500 gals (2275 litres) Avon Rover Inflatable
Fresh Water Capacity: 200 gals (900 litres) Turfer Winch
Fwd Tank 200 gals (900 litres) Midships
Day Tank: 30 gals (135 litres) filtered