Umzimkulu

It turns out that my F26 lady Colleen used to be called Umkimzulu. It was sold to me as a 1968 boat but with the non sheathed wooden keel, early steering wheel and direct cooling Perkins 4107 I suspected it was an early 26. Matt at sheridan had it on file as 1965. Any one heard of umkimzulu or know of it’s history. According to wiki it’s a river in s Africa. Previous owner must have had a connection. 
I assume it’s not unlucky to change name back to what it was...I am tempted.

Variously listed as '69 and '70 (Lady Colleen nee Umzimkulu) 
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Not unlucky but you'll need something bubbly to hand! And its a nice name and different.

yes the canal plan is notoriously inaccurate...and people used to lie about the year made to make their boats appear younger.
The Mark 1 F26 was made 1965-68 so I reckon this is one of the first ones.
Also interestingly its got a cream (Freeman stone) gel coat.
There I was trying to match the colour and this guy at the boat yard says "that's the same colour as the "new" style freemans, and Sheridans have it pre-mixed".
 So I buy a pot of gelcoat paint and filler off Matt at SM - freeman stone...and its a perfect match! Result.
Regarding the name I will need to send licence back if I change it, but given I am trying to give the boat some of her originality back, I am thinking of giving the old girl her old name back, even though I am not sure I can pronounce it right!

LOL....thanks Stephen...just realised I can't even spell it correctly...doh!!!!

And re renaming I was a little miffed to realise that there are several boats, including a tender, with variations on the 'Shardeloe' name of my Freeman, including another Mk 1 (Once owned by me that the new keeper eventually added III to) but which has now apparently reverted to SHARDELOE. So, (and its not meant to happen, the EA tell me) two identical Mk I craft on the Thames with the same name. 
Except, on closer examination, the other boat is currently and differently named SHARDELOE. but I wonder if anyone will spot the little difference?

"According to wiki it’s a river in s Africa. Previous owner must have had a connection."
 
Your new unique name refers to both a Riverside lodge, or a Ridgeback!
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Its that sort of unexpected connection that would motivate me to go there, just for the heck of it! Serendipity!

thanks Stephen. I changed the spelling of the topic. Thanks for correcting me!

I’ve got an early F26. The distinguishing features are: the prow is much higher than later boats, about the same as the F25; also, on mine anyway, there are no shelves above the beds in the front of the boat. Apparently these were an afterthought.

If. You mean the shelf running under the side front windows I have them!
Mine is 1965. The first year of F26 manufacture.

The wooden cover in the forward bulkhead that allows access to the anchor locker has the date of 21/4/1964 written on. I think mine was a very early one.

That's interesting. The sheridan site has F26 manufacture from 1965 to 1972. See https://www.freemancruisers.com/boats/classic/
The Freeman 25 used the same hull and was 1962 to 65. Both 25 and 26 were in fact 25'10" long. The main difference visually was that the 25 had sloped gunwhales whereas 26 had a step like the F22. So you have the step or the slope?

The hull is stepped, it’s definitely a 26. If the date is genuine, and I’ve no reason to doubt, then that would be a build date so on sale in 1965 would be reasonable?
The story about the lack of shelves was told to me by the man that used to run Sheridan. Apparently, they were made without the shelves but Mr Freeman was persuaded to add them at an early stage of production. Not in mine though!

what engine is/was in yours? Mine is direct cooled 4107s with parsons C gbox.

It’s now got a Naani diesel. I met a man at a mooring who changed the engine. I think he said it was a 4107. Could have said 4108, it was a few years ago.
It was Andrew I spoke with at Sheridan’s. I phoned him to ask if he had any plans I could buy for the shelves as mine had clearly never had them I.e. no evidence that they had been removed. He expressed surprise but then remembered hearing that Mr Freeman had authorised inclusion early in the manufacturing run.