Ouse On Board

Ouse On Board — A Truly Historic Narrowboat

Far more than just a 48ft cruiser stern narrowboat — she is a vessel steeped in extraordinary history, ready to begin her next chapter. Her story began in 1936 when she was built as a working “brickies boat” based at Fazeley Wharf, a genuine craft of the industrial canal era built to work the waterways rather than for leisure. In 1986 she was purchased by a Scout group in Aylesbury, and what followed became a 25‑year labour of love: moved by volunteers with little more than ropes and a small outboard, she was transformed over decades by more than 100 young people who learned steelwork, welding, fitting‑out and every skill needed to rebuild her from the hull up. Relocated to Thetford in 1990, the project continued until she was finally launched in 2011 as Harboro’ Adventure II, serving as a community and adventure boat on the River Wissey before being renamed Ouse On Board in 2020 and becoming an RYA‑recognised training centre. Her heritage is preserved proudly on board — photographs and records remain, celebrating the generations who shaped her.

Constructed with a steel flat‑bottomed hull and featuring ply cabin sides, portholes throughout, and a warm, inviting interior with wooden and carpeted flooring, she combines traditional character with practical comfort. Power comes from a reliable 40hp Barrus Shire four‑cylinder diesel engine with keel cooling and PRM gearbox, fed by a 30‑gallon fuel tank, while her water system holds approximately 80 gallons and includes a calorifier for hot water plus a solid‑fuel stove to keep the cabin warm. The electrical system covers both 12‑volt and 240‑volt shoreline supply, supported by one starter and two leisure batteries, two solar panels, and a Victron Energy Smart Charger for efficient, independent power.

Inside you’ll find a freestanding galley with Logik cooker and Waeco 12‑volt fridge/freezer, a walkthrough bathroom with cassette toilet, shower and vanity basin, and comfortable fixed accommodation offering two single berths — a versatile layout that echoes her community‑focused design. She has been diligently maintained: blacked and fitted with new anodes in August 2026, engine and gearbox serviced in February 2026, and her Boat Safety Certificate remains valid until December 2029.

This is a rare opportunity to own not just a boat, but a piece of living waterways history — a vessel built by the working canal, remade by the community, and now waiting for her next adventure.