The Canal Trust’s heritage boats
Back in late 2005 British Waterways announced it was to completely upgrade it’s work boat fleet. Many of its boats would be disposed of and replaced by new, purpose-built vessels. Those to be disposed of would be divided into two categories, those with ‘heritage value’ and those without. The vessels being without ‘heritage value’ would be sold off, while those with would be given to voluntary bodies that could prove that they had the wherewithal to restore these vessels and use them appropriately.

 

As a canal trust with albeit only short stretches of canal H & G CT thought that ‘proper’ boats would be good for the canal and began to take an interest in the ‘heritage boats’ that BW were making available.

 

Acquiring Alder
In May 2006 an online auction took place to sell off the non-heritage work boats and Alder was originally in that auction. However it was discovered that the tug had heritage value and the powers that be were persuaded to withdraw it from the auction, by the time it was withdrawn bids were over £9,000, well out of reach of the Trust!

 

A director of the Trust had seen the tug at Crofton where it lay for the duration of the auction; it looked to be in a fairly good condition and would definitely be an asset to the Trust. Having got agreement from the Committee of Management an application was put in for its ownership by the Trust. An argument was put that the Trust had enough skilled volunteers to restore the tug, and could use it for the promotion of its work, and ultimately for dredging the restored sections of canal.
More about the Heritage Boats...

Alder is craned into the water at Over following repairs and repainting of the hull.