A mood of optimism at this year’s Crick Boat Show saw a good turnout of visitors on the Saturday and Sunday, many exhibitors reporting good business, and several boats and boat shares sold during the weekend.
Out of an interesting variety of craft on offer, from Aintree’s diminutive Beetle 25-footer to widebeams at prices approaching £200,000, the coveted award for Favourite Boat at the show went to Boating Leisure Services for the second year running. Visitors to the show voted their 60ft traditional tug-style narrowboat Columbus into top place; followed by Braidbar’s 70ft hydraulic-drive trad-stern narrowboat Integrity as runner-up; and Wharf House’s innovative electrically-driven tug-style Ampère in third place.
It wasn’t just about boats for sale – Equipment on display included Vetus’s new M-line keel-cooled engine range, Hybrid Marine’s Barrus Shire based hybrid diesel and electric power system, and pretty much everything you might need for your boat from diesel injection accessories to painted canalware, and from ropes to satellite dishes.
See our July issue of Canal Boat for a full show report, and the August edition for details of the boats on display.
