ABC Boat Hire has launched another electrically powered day boat, this time at Alvechurch Marina on the Worcester & Birmingham Canal near Bromsgrove. The 36ft Fun Day narrowboat accommodates up to 10 people.
Haley Hadley, ABC Leisure Group’s marketing and sales director, says: “Britain’s beautiful network of inland waterways is important for biodiversity, and the wildlife that you can see is one of the things that makes holidays and days out on the canals so appealing.
“We’re committed to reducing the carbon footprint of our holidays. Fun Day is the fifth electric day boat to be added to our fleet and we plan to launch another four.
“The boat uses products from our Onboard Energy Direct off-grid energy range, including lithium batteries and a Beta Marine 10kW motor engine. Electric engines are very quiet so day boaters can hear more of the sounds of the countryside and woodlands surrounding them.”
The boat has a toilet, indoor and outdoor seating and a kitchen area with induction hob, sink and microwave. So day boaters pack a picnic afloat or stop off at a canalside pub for lunch.
Popular day boat destinations on the Worcester & Birmingham Canal from Alvechurch include:
• Cruise through the Worcestershire countryside to King’s Norton Junction and back. The route passes the canalside Hopwood House Inn and the Bittell Reservoirs and the return journey takes about 4.5 hours. There are no locks along this route, but the trip includes passing through the 2726-yard-long Wast Hill Tunnel.
• Cruise through the remains of the Forest of Arden to the top of the Tardebigge Flight of locks and back. There are no locks, but the journey takes boaters through two tunnels: the 613-yard-long Shortwood Tunnel and the 518-yard-long Tardebigge Tunnel.
For more information about Fun Day go to: www.abcdayboathire.com/locations/alvechurch-marina
