Craning Boats in

This morning we had to move our boats so Oxfordshire Narrowboats could crane two new boats into the water.  I have never seen this done before so it was rather exciting.

First the crane arrives

then the boats..

My heart was in my mouth as the lorry reversed – look at the offside tyre! It was only after he stopped I noticed that the entire length of the lorry has tyres on it, but still!

Then they tie the straps around the boat

And the crane starts to lift

And for a moment hte boat is flying – I would have loved to be standing on the roof looking at the view

Then it gets lowered

and you wonder whether it will be launched on the concrete instead of the water, but the boat gently moves over the wet stuff

 

 

And sinks into the water, and then floats.

The boats were then towed up to heyford.

with the second new boat behind the first new boat behind the towing boat

I have never seen two boats towed so it was rather fun to see them snaking past in beautiful control