All electric boat for Bedford Milton Keynes waterway

Published: Wednesday, 03 March 2021

A SERIES of colour schemes were unveiled for Electra, the all electric boat being built for the Bedford Milton Keynes waterway.

One has been chosen of the series of artists' impressions, today, showing how Electra the all-electric boat, (pictured) to be based at Milton Keynes’ Campbell Wharf, will look.

ElectraMiltonKeynes

In partnership

The Bedford & Milton Keynes Waterway Trust has been working in partnership with local design company, Yellowyoyo, to create a colour scheme which reflects the image of the community trip boat it has commissioned.

David Wolfson, lead volunteer on branding, thanked Amanda Wright, Founder Director of Brand Strategy, Design & Marketing specialists Yellowyoyo for giving her expertise free of charge, explaining:

Something fresh, distinctive and new

“It was wonderful to work with such a talented designer who took our initial design thoughts and turned them into something fresh, distinctive and new.

Electra will glide almost silently along the Grand Union Canal.  We wanted a colour scheme to match the tradition of canal boats with our up-to-date vision.  The blue and cream colours match our existing trip boat in Bedford, the John Bunyan. The bright gold electric lightning flash with the green of her bows and stern show off our environmental credentials.” 

Amanda Wright who developed Electra’s logotype and decoration said she was delighted to have had the opportunity to work on such an exciting project, remarking:

First on canal boat project

“Over the years Yellowyoyo’s clients have varied greatly in scale and across all sectors, from start-ups and SMEs to global companies. This, however, is the first time we’ve collaborated on a canal boat project!  We were delighted to be asked to help and have very much enjoyed being part of the team to deliver such a novel local scheme.”

Electra is based on a 54ft traditional narrowboat design. She is currently under construction and due to be launched in the spring.  Electra means ‘shining light’. She was the goddess of sea clouds, in which lightning is often seen.

Now that the boat has been named, the trust is looking to increase its volunteer numbers, both onboard and on dry land.