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
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
Saloon looking aft with the Galley on the right
Cadet on the helm !
Saloon looking forward
Forward Cabin with Stowaways
Master Cabin
Aft Guest Cabin