Collaboration on serial hybrid narrowboat
Two of the country’s most popular narrowboat builders are joining forces to promote serial hybrid systems to a wider audience of customers.
AQUA Narrowboats will be building a 57ft bespoke boat this spring using a hybrid drive and monitoring system designed and supplied by Ortomarine.
The battery bank will feature four 200Ahr 48v LiFePO4 batteries and will be recharged by a Fischer Panda generator.
Aqua Narrowboats, celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, has built a number of narrowboats with parallel hybrid drive systems but this is the first time the company has built a serial hybrid system.
Justin and Jane Hudson-Oldroyd, owners of Aqua Narrowboats, say: “We’ve been embracing hybrid drive systems for a number of years now but didn’t want to reinvent the wheel with our first serial hybrid system, as the marketplace is becoming crowded with unproven systems.
“We approached Ortomarine as it has completed nine years’ worth of narrowboat research utilising different drive systems and components. This research data and knowledge has given the company a unique understanding of the most efficient and effective hybrid system – something that is lacking in the narrowboat industry.
“As we’ve always worked with suppliers that can offer the same knowledge, technical backup and customer care that we offer our own customers, Ortomarine was the perfect company to collaborate with as it too has the same level of service. We’re looking forward to working together on this and future projects.”
The 57ft bespoke serial hybrid narrowboat is being built for Swiss owners who intend to cruise the canal system during the main boating season. The boat will feature an enclosed bow, allowing the owners to utilise additional floor space within the cabin. It will be a reverse layout with the bedroom at the bow followed by a walk-through bathroom, midship galley and the saloon at the stern.
Caroline Badger and Rob Howdle, owners of Ortomarine, say: “We are extremely keen to encourage and enable other boat builders to build reliable and efficient electrically propelled narrowboats – and to help ensure that electric boats which are launched on the inland waterways are safe and fit for purpose.
“After our initial correspondence and meeting with Justin and Jane at Aqua Narrowboats, it soon became clear that we are all working toward shared goals – excellent customer service, building high quality and reliable boats which minimise the impact on the environment, and increasing the numbers of quality serial hybrid boats successfully cruising the cut.
“Aqua’s excellent reputation in the industry, its professionalism and eye for detail are all more reasons why we feel the company is a great fit for us to work with. We are looking forward to working with Aqua on this and future projects.”
The boat will be fitted out at Aqua Narrowboats' custom- built factory premises in Foston, Derbyshire, which the company expanded into five-anda-half years ago.
The boat build can be followed on Aqua’s popular Facebook page, but if you want to take a closer look at what the company does then its next open day is on Sunday, March 10, 11am-3pm.
Email: admin@aquanarrowboats.co.uk to book a place.