Living in the Midlands, and having built my 'old gaffer' here, I got to know most of the local narrowboat chandlers. Some do have the gizmos, but most have proper boatbuilders stuff in stock at reasonable prices. Rather than galvanised, I used sherardized coach bolts & nuts from a local stockist who'd over-ordered for a canal marina project. They've been on for nine years now and look as though another nine would be no problem. Anglia (highly recommended) supplied most of the other fasteners, including silicon bronze woodscrews and keel bolts.
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