These owners newsletters are sent out quarterly (March, June, September and December)

At a Board Meeting in February, Barbara Payne, previously our Company Secretary, replaced John Dutton as (non-executive) Chair of Ownashare Cruising Ltd.  Barbara is known to many of you and we welcome her to her new role and look forward to working with her. 
We are grateful to John for his leadership over the last 3 years, and are pleased that he remains as a director of the company so his business expertise will still be available to us.

New Website

We are very pleased to launch our new website which is considerably more dynamic than our last one – please take a look and let us know what you think.

Publicity Cards

Following comments about the oversized postcards we supplied last year, we have reprinted the cards which now fold into a normal postcard size.  As all syndicates kindly agreed to carry the cards last year, we will place a number on each boat – please let us know if you prefer us not to.  Please hand them out to anyone you may meet whilst out on the cut with whom you may get into discussion about the scheme – if you stock of cards runs low please let your local manager know via the End of Holiday Report.

New Bases for 2013

Four boats within the scheme will be based at Wigrams Turn marina near Napton, Warwickshire this year – three have already arrived there – and one at Aqueduct Marina on the Shropshire Union Middlewich Branch near Church Minshull in Cheshire. Enjoy your new surroundings!

Bromley Wharf

Diesel is now available at Bromley Wharf, alongside pump-out and gas.  Each jetty has a tower supplying electricity and water to the individual moorings.  During the next stage of development ladies and gents lavatories are to be installed in the main building.

Addition to Fleet in 2013

Following the success of “Forget Me Knot”, Ownashare is continuing to look at the market for “nearly new” boats and intends to acquire the next vessel over the next few weeks.  The capital will be supplied by investors.  In the current market share prices over about £7,000 seem prohibitive, and adopting this policy removes VAT immediately as the boat is not brand new – a saving of 20%.
Having said that...

New Builds

We will continue to offer the choice of new builds, but of course will only produce these when sales are certain – no risk will be taken.  Just a reminder that two of our owners have asked us to identify six partners and then build a new 58ft cruiser-style narrow boat for eight owners. The boat would be 4-berth, with mid-galley layout and saloon at the stern, master bedroom forward.  The foredeck would be raised, with storage underneath accessed from the bedroom.  The boat will have bow-thrusters, freezer and inverter/charger, and satellite TV.  Heating will be gas with a solid fuel stove in the saloon.  Berths will consist of fixed (extendable) double bed in the main bedroom with convertible L-shaped dinette.  Two reclining captain’s chairs in the saloon.  Fit out will be in the light finish of maple and ash.  Cost is expected to be in the region of £13 -14,000 per 8th share including VAT depending on final agreed specification.  An 8th share would allow three weeks in the high season, and two in the low as initial allocation.  There is a possibility that a limited number of 12th shares may be available at around £9 –10,000.

If you are interested please contact Phil Capp on 07530 967789 or email phil@ownasharecruising.co.uk.
 

The Unmentionable!

Those urine odours from the toilet bowl!  We all know the don’ts of trying to clean the toilet.  One of Compton’s owners gave us our first “do” - use a washing up brush to clean up under the toilet rim.  After some extensive trials we have tested” Simple Solution” stain and odour remover. This solution does not react with green or blue and can be used to clean the seat and bowl, making your loo clean and fresh.  You can purchase it at most pet shops and online at a cost of £3-4 for 500mls.

Chairs’ Meeting 2013

We are finalising details of this by consultation with the Syndicate Chairs – we are aiming for early July this year.

Finally, we wish you all safe and happy cruising in 2013.  Let’s hope the water stays under the boats this summer!!

THE OWNASHARE TEAM