Transform our community canal boats to ELECTRIC!

Aim

Electrify our fleet - it’s about people, community, opportunity — and a brighter, greener future on the water!

🚤✨ Big News from Edinburgh's Canalside 

We’re making waves with not one, but two major upgrades to our community canal boats.

First up, we’re saying farewell to our much-loved Lochrin Belle and welcoming a brand-new boat to carry her legacy. With bigger windows, more deck space, and a whisper-quiet electric drive, the new boat will offer an even better experience for passengers, while also helping wildlife and towpath users enjoy cleaner air and less noise. This boat is central to our future — keeping our charity afloat financially while supporting a greener canal.

An independent calculation shows by replacing Lochrin Belle with an electric barge, we are estimated to save 1.7 tonnes of carbon a year.

But that’s not all… ⚡ Our smaller narrowboat, Waterwitch, is also joining the green revolution! We’re trialling an F200H parallel hybrid unit, letting her switch between diesel and electric. That means greater flexibility, lower emissions, and a smoother ride for everyone onboard.

🚤💚 People Make Our Boats Special 💚🚤

Every year, more than 4,000 people get to experience Edinburgh’s Union Canal from the water — from community groups and funded projects to local businesses, and families and friends having special celebrations!

But who keeps our boats running? It’s a true team effort:
👩‍✈️ Lochrin Belle is skippered by a paid captain with 2–3 volunteer crew.
🚤 Waterwitch is run entirely by volunteer helmsmen (and women!).
💪 We have around 60 amazing volunteers, many of whom face personal barriers such as long-term health issues, bereavement or loneliness — but who find joy, purpose, and new skills on the water.

In fact, last year alone, our volunteers gave an incredible 3,378 hours of service, worth more than £42,500 to the charity. Even our Skippers began their journey as volunteers, working their way up with our training and support.

Now, with your help, we’re writing the next chapter. Thanks to grants, a loan, and the planned sale of Lochrin Belle, we’re almost there — we just need to raise £20,000 through Crowdfunding to make our new boat a reality.

Together, these changes mark a bold step toward a cleaner, quieter, more sustainable future on the water — and we can’t wait to share the journey with you!

This project successfully funded on 11th December 2025