Boatbuilding firm set sail for show with new narrowboat
A BOAT building firm is gearing up for Britain’s biggest inland waterways festival.
Braidbar Boats, based at Lord Vernon’s Wharf on the Macclesfield Canal at Higher Poynton, is among 250 exhibitors preparing to showcase their products at the 2016 Crick Boat Show.
Specialising in building custom-designed luxury narrowboats, Braidbar, which is run by husband and wife Peter and Susan Mason, is attending the event to be held at the weekend in Northamptonshire.
Susan said: “We are a small family-run business that has been building boats here at the historic Lord Vernon’s Wharf on the Macclesfield Canal for more than 30 years.
“We build just seven luxury canal boats to order each year, each hand crafted to the owner’s requirements, and many incorporating new technologies and innovations.
“We look forward to meeting past, present and future customers at the Crick Boat Show and showing them around one of our latest boats, ‘Once Bittern’, a 58½-foot long traditional-style narrowboat.”
Braidbar was started by Iain and Luisa Bryceland.
The Masons took over the firm in 2007.
The company has built more than 160 narrow boats in its history.
Other Cheshire-based companies exhibiting at this year’s show include: Elton Moss Boatbuilders, The Northwich Boat Company, Carefree Cruising Boatshare, Boatfinder Brokerage Service and Kings Lock Chandlery of Middlewich; Overwater Marina, Cheshire Marine Equipment, Aqueduct Marina, Knights Narrowboats and Venetian Marina of Nantwich; Narrowboats Ltd of Northwich; and BC Boat Management of Audlem.
Peter Johns, the show’s director hopes to attract 25,000 visitors to the event which will be commemorating the 300th anniversary of the birth of the canal engineer, James Brindley.
Mr Johns said: “We are looking forward to welcoming people to our 2016 Crick Boat Show - the number one boat show at the heart of the waterway network.
“Whether people are boating enthusiasts, looking to buy boating products and services, or just looking for a great family day out by the water, there’s lots to see and do at Crick Boat Show.”
For more information on the show and tickets visit the website www. crickboatshow.com or visit www.braidbarboats. co.uk