Description

Thorn is a wonderfully characterful 37ft classic-style tug narrowboat, designed and built by Dennis Cooper and fitted out by Warwickshire Flyboat Co. With her substantial tug deck and traditional layout, she is a boat that should particularly appeal to enthusiasts looking for something with genuine heritage and individuality.

At the heart of Thorn is one of her most appealing features: an historic 35hp Lister HA3 engine with Blackstone marine gearbox, proudly positioned within a  midships engine room.

Her accommodation continues the traditional theme, with a Boatman’s Cabin at the stern, complete with a solid-fuel stove, while the galley is positioned towards the bow beneath the tug deck. The galley is equipped with a two-burner Nelson cooker with oven and grill, together with a Morco instantaneous water heater supplying hot water to the sink and shower.

Thorn offers surprisingly flexible sleeping arrangements. A couple can choose between three different sleeping configurations: beneath the tug deck which could be reconfigured back into a bed, 2 berth using fill-in panels within the galley area, or 2 berth within the traditional Boatman’s Cabin.

Thorn currently holds a Boat Safety Scheme Certificate valid until 14 April 2029 and she was last blacked in 2022. 

Her present mooring on the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal may also be available to the purchaser, subject to separate negotiation with the mooring owners.

Thorn isn’t a conventional modern narrowboat – and that’s precisely her appeal. She’s a proper traditional boat that is designed to go cruising, with an historic Lister at her heart, a Boatman’s Cabin behind you and that fantastic tug deck ahead. For an enthusiast who appreciates traditional narrowboats, engineering and the experience of actually cruising the waterways, Thorn is a particularly special proposition as boats like this don’t often come onto the market!