The Pen Makers Boat: #498 Now Sold

NB Dane Elm and Chrome Ballpoint Twist Pen

(£2.50 from the sale of this pen will be gifted to The Narrowboat Heritage Foundation - the Custodians of Narrowboat Dane)

EUROPEAN ELM - Ulmus procera

European Elm has is a light to medium brown, sometimes with a hint of red. With an oil finish, it can turn a beautiful golden brown colour. Unless, of course, it's been kept at the bottom of a canal for an awfully long time.

The rotten parts of these rebuilt boats are usually used to stoke the fires that steam the new planks for bending to the hull's shape.Luckily these pieces of elm were too important to burn and have been properly stored. I wasn't sure how deep the rot would have gone and how deep I would have to delve into this piece to find stable wood. The pens I make from historic boat materials have been thoroughly tested by me to make sure that they will give pleasurable daily use.

Narrowboat Dane was built by the Mersey Weaver and Ship Canal Carrying Company and used as part of their fleet. She was built in November 1946 and first registered on January the first 1947. Ade from A P Boatbuilding is currently restoring her on behalf of The Narrowboat Heritage Foundation, the work being done is re-bottomed with new chine planks, kelson, stem post and soon to receive two new bow planks, gunwales, decks, new back cabin and engine room. The pens that I will be making from Dane are all from a heavy lump of Elm bottom plate.

From Tixall Wide the canal winds its way across the Staffordshire countryside, skirting the westerly side of Cannock Chase past Staffordshire town and up a few locks to Penkridge, our next stopping point. A beautiful trip of about 10 miles and 6 locks, we even had some fantastic spring weather to spirit us on our way.

First was an overnight stop off in Stafford to try out their brand new Aldi supermarket. Sad isn't it but when you live on the canal and your only transport is a 3mph boat, the thought of having a supermarket within walking distance of the canal is unimaginable, for a start we can carry more wine!

The flood plane across the river Penk and the Deepmoor Drain were still past waterlogged and firmly into lake territory as we walked further towards Stafford and up the shops for more supplies. I didn't stop to make any pens here but planned on a couple of days at the market town of Penkridge.

Penkridge market is great, I remember the first time we went to this affluent little town’s market and thought ‘oh ‘eck those eggs are pricey’ only to find that it was a livestock day and I was looking at a tray of soon to be hatching blue duck eggs!

We were fortunate to meet up with some fellow trading friends Barry and Sandra. Fortunate because their boat ‘Are and Are’ is the Home-brew Boat and Barry was trying out some new kits, a rather spicy red wine and some creamy smooth real ale - well it would have been rude not to help with the quality control.

Pen #498 was turned at Penkridge on 14th April 2016