Violet is a beautiful boat, built by renowned Ledgard Bridge in 2001 and much admired out on the waterways. At 40ft, she’s easy to manoeuvre and cheaper to maintain than longer boats. The rounded bow design, based on the traditional Yorkshire working boats, gives more living space than most boats of this length, and a set of recently added bespoke shelves add to her already impressive amount of storage. The interior feels light and spacious with an open plan fitout and large portholes. Removable double glazing and bungs keep unwanted cold, noise and light out of the cabin and saloon. Violet has no bow doors; stern, swan and roof hatches all bolt from inside, giving her complete protection from intruders at night (twin padlocks secure the stern hatch when off the boat). The engine has always started first time, and she is fully equipped and ready to go.
Steel hull surveyed in 2018, 10-6-4mm in very good condition. Blacked and sacrificial anodes checked in 2018, 2020 and 2022, with two additional anodes fitted in 2022. Handmade bow and stern fenders new in 2020. Roof, rails, decks, gunwales and flashes painted 2022.
Yanmar Barrus Shire 30hp engine with new alternator and exhaust fitted in 2021 and correctly sized fan belt sourced (two spares now carried). Full service annually, most recently in July 2023. 2,500 engine hours. Large hatch in stern deck (new in 2021) gives easy access to engine bay (last painted 2022) and weed hatch. Prop protector and weed cutter fitted.
Safety certificate until August 2025. Fire extinguishers, fire blankets, smoke and CO monitors all fitted. Gas locker in bow with 2x 13kg gas bottles and dual changeover valve (room for a third bottle). Anchor. Large capacity stainless steel water tank and calorifier to heat water from shore power and engine, both new in 2017. LED lights with individual switches for maximum power saving throughout, new in 2020. All essential engine spares, lock and mooring equipment, lines, fenders and maintenance supplies included.
Victron Compact Multiplus 1600 inverter charger, serviced 2019. Shore power connector and cable.
4x 110ah leisure batteries and 1x starter battery (new cables and terminals in 2021). Victron Cyrix battery-combining relay fitted in 2021 to maximise power to batteries and prevent draining.
2x 100kWh Photonic Universe semi-flexible solar panels and Victron SmartSolar MPPT controller new in 2022 to power the fridge and charge devices during the day. There is no need to run the engine for electricity when off shore power, except in winter.
The stern deck (new rubber slipmat, varnished wooden rail, room for chair and table) gives onto the electrics cupboard, coat hooks, additional interior hatch giving access to the engine bay, room to store equipment, and a bilge inspection hatch.
Bathroom (door to port)
Shower with railed curtain over hip bath. Camping washing machine. Separator toilet (or Portapotti if preferred). Vessel sink with mixer taps and storage cupboard below; above there is a cabinet with a porthole mirror plus extra storage and manual battery gauge inside. John Lewis towel rail and shelf. Well-insulated floor for warmth and comfort rebuilt in 2021.
Open plan galley and saloon
Beko 240v fridge with small freezer compartment. Corner cupboard with ingenious sliding fitted shelves. Sink with mixer taps, draining area, tiled splash back, capacious cupboard beneath over-sink shelving. Thetford 4-hob grill and gas oven. Oiled oak surfaces and bulkhead shelving fitted in 2017. Floor cupboard opposite sink. Multiple 240 plug sockets.
Dinette with two removable tables, storage and calorifier beneath, converts to 4ft small double bed for guests. 12v TV with wall bracket (needs connecting). Swan hatch to port. Bespoke fitted cupboard and shelves under gunwales (new in 2023). Morso Squirrel stove with fan and coal cage. Overhead clothes drying rack. Treated scaffolding board bookshelves on bulkhead. Door to bedroom with full length mirror on one side and coat hooks on the other.
Bedroom
Cosy raised 4ft small double with slatted base for ventilation. Water tank and large under-bed storage space below (clothes box on castors). Wooden ladder and bedside shelves. Cupboards over foot of bed and two tier wardrobe with 240 plug sockets. 240v porch heater (just in case).
Oak topped laminate flooring throughout, new in 2019.
Vessel type: | Narrowboat |
Builder: | Ledgard Bridge |
Make: | Ledgard Bridge |
Model: | 40 Cruiser Stern |
Constructed: | 2001 |
Berths: | 4 |
No. of engines: | 1 |
Engine model: | Yanmar Barrus Shire |
Engine power: | 30 |
Length over all: | 40' |
Beam: | 6' 10" |
Hull material: | Steel |
Note: Indicated location is approximate general area only.