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In recent years the traditional UK narrowboat industry has, for a number of reasons, seen a down turn. Many builders have turned, to what seems to many, to be the new industry cash cows producing “fat” narrowboats or replica Dutch barges.
Ledgard Bridge has a long history of building broad beam boats that do not fit into either of the two above categories. We build our own style of barge hull that not only fully complies with all the relevant legal requirements but is ideally suited to residential use.
Theses boats might be ideally suited to residential use but in no way are they “house boats” they are all very capable cruisers and are very much built to be “boat first, house second”.
We tailor the boat to the individual customer’s needs, a boat intended for serious use on European waterways is going to differ slightly from a boat intended only for use on the UK canal network. These differences might only be minor and relatively inexpensive but by discussing this at a very early stage a boat ideally suited to it’s intended waters can be built.
A good example of why we do this is the way that many builders will quite happily sell an engine “upgrade” to a customer without even considering the maximum possible prop size dictated by the hull design, a very large engine and a small prop makes for a very interesting combination! It is taking time to consider details like this before building the hull that makes for a successful boat.
The Ledgard Bridge Broad Beam is not so much a design but a concept! No two are identical with beams varying between 10 & 14 ft and some having wheelhouses and some not. If you were to ask us for an interior plan then we would give you a blank sheet of paper! The choices are yours but of course we are available to assist you when needed at all times.
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