Trip boat to aid restoration

A TUG purchased from Canal & River Trust (CaRT) by the Shrewsbury and Newport Canals Trust (SNCT) will be used next year to tow a trip boat to raise funds for restoration.

The intention is for Bittern to be used to tow a replica 'tub' boat, that will be suitably modified to take passengers, as an unusual trip boat. This will then be used to help raise funds for the restoration of the two canals. Tub boats are very unusual as they were only 6ft wide and 20ft long, developed for the East Shropshire canals.

Supporter

The boat was transported by Shebdon's Crane Hire Ltd of Telford, a long standing supporter of the SNCT, and was taken from the Llangollen canal at Welshpool to Shrewsbury College of Art and Technology, with John Myers explaining:

"Thanks to the foresight of Martyn Goodwin and the support of Ken McKerral, Head of Mechanical Engineering Department at the college, the boat now has a new temporary home, where she will be completely stripped, checked and re-built using student power plus volunteers. This will take a few months to complete, but it is hoped that Bittern will be launched onto part of the Shrewsbury Canal in the late Spring of 2014 for use as a trip boat."

A delighted Martyn Goodwin enthused:

"At long last we have something different from motor cars for my students to get their teeth into! This will be a great project to be part of, as we have all the facilities to refurbish or replace worn, rusted and damaged parts and make her as good as new again."