Record fans help to put Ducky back on the water
Popular shop is afloat again
IT was just last year when the canal record boat shop, Rubber Ducky Records, became filled with water, sinking as it travelled through the canals of Rochdale.
Around 1,000 vinyl records were destroyed as the 28ft boat slowly sank on the Rochdale Canal.
But, the store reopened in the first week of this year to a public awaiting its exciting return.
Myles Greenwood, 27, owner of the Rubber Ducky, spoke to the Observer about its reopening.
“It feels absolutely incredible, the first week back people kept asking me how I felt but I was just so busy.
“We were fully booked so I was just making sure everything was going well, the boat was going fine and customers were happy. After the last customer left on the first week on Saturday, I sat in my chair near the fire and just did a 10-minute happy cry. I was crying and smiling at the same time,” he said.
The time when the boat sank could almost feel like the end.
But for Myles, it was the public and the community of Manchester that helped him bring back the store we all love.
“It was my full-time job and the help from friends, family and the public who donated was amazing.
“I got exposed to the nicest side of humanity possible because people were so caring and hopeful. People were donating record collections, all sorts to bring back the store.”
Myles was able to raise £10,000 through Gofundme for the costs of repairing the boat, with some of the damages including the stern gland breaking after it got caught on a rug, leading to sinkage.
His future plans for the boat included relocating to the city centre of Manchester to add to its musical space.
His story won the hearts of Manchester, where people donated as much as
£1,000 to help the store get back on the canal.
“You can see the community on the day that the boat went down, people who were passing started helping me. I had eight or nine people pulling the boat with the rope to get it further down the canal.”
“At the back of an article I did last year, I got the largest donation from a DJ who said the story resonated with him, he donated a
whole collection to this day I’m still processing it all,” he explained.
Since the store, which specialises in electric music, has returned, it is open to customers through appointments from Wednesday to Saturdays.
Myles said: “I have a few days to restock, sort out orders and be able to do small amounts on the boat because you need to keep making sure it’s working, it’s
not just about opening doors but maintaining.”
“I have friends who will give a hand whether that’s with organising stock, with recorders, the public have offered to watch if I need to do something, and on a Saturday night people will help me close up a bit.”
The boat has been open for not even a month but has found the popularity it garnered before.
“Before it was going quite
well but not on this scale. The Manchester music scene means people are always travelling into the city centre for something, there’s so many people who stay in the city.
“So, some people will pop in on their lunch break, have their lunch by the boat and go back into the office and just spend time here.
“I always want people to leave happy here and feeling good.”