Old and new seen together
Beaver No1 “Tranquility” built around 1978 and the latest Beaver “The Moodle”, which completed fitting out in September, have been seen together on a sunny Autumn morning at Bathpool moorings on the isolated Bridgwater & Taunton canal in Somerset.
The Moodle also has a couple of unique facts associated with it as it was the last boat to use Wilderness Boats previous workshop at Chelworth, near Malmsbury, and the first to occupy their new solar powered workshop at Semington Dock, on the banks of the Kennet and Avon canal. Bathpool moorings host a high percentage of Wilderness craft , due to the canal’s isolated status, but which can be easily reached by these purpose built trailable craft. Also seen on its mooring was “Another World” which it is believed to be the last old style Beaver to have been fitted out by Wilderness Boats.
The Moodle, has the new style body made by Wilderness Trailboats Ltd, but rather than the original standard Oxfordshire Narrowboats fit out, it was delivered as a bear shell to Wilderness Boats at Chelworth, where Ian Graham and Mark Smith did the complete fit out from start to finish. Interesting “features” include a sliding roof access hatch into the cabin from the rear deck and stainless steel uprights for the “ironwork” around the rear deck.
Adrian and Hilary Wills, the owners of “The Moodle”, are very happy with the high standard of the fit out, the considerable amount of space achieved and commented very favourably on the care and attention to detail that Mark and Ian had taken in fitting out their boat. They are looking forward to many happy hours trailing and cruising their new acquisition, having recently taken delivery of a new set of Nicholson canal guides to plan their forthcoming adventures. Some pictures of the newly completed boat can be seen below:
We wish Adrian and Hilary many happy hours cruising both the main canal system, as well as off the beaten track visits to isolated canals in their new Wilderness boat.