Canal boat fundraising £5,000 to stay afloat

The operator of a canal pleasure boat based at Portland Basin says it needs to raise a minimum of £5,000 to stay afloat.

StillWaters, which launched in 1993 and carries around 25,000 passengers per year, faces potentially crippling running costs. 

Mark Nield, the Chair of Tameside Canal Boat Trust (TCBT), told the Reporter: “On top of £5,500 for our licence fee - which goes up every year – there are mooring fees, and one of our biggest costs is the coastguard. 

“Because we’re a licenced ship, we have to be surveyed by the coastguard every year. This year is our in-water survey, and that’s £400 just for them to travel to us.  

“The vessel will be taken out of the water this year and have an ultrasound of the whole hull, so you’ve got the coastguard agency fees for travel and attendance time on site, and we’ll have to pay an outside company for the ultrasound.”

The narrowboat can carry up to 51 passengers per trip, most of which take 40 minutes to travel from the Portland Basin Marina to Donkey Stone Wharf and back along the Huddersfield Narrow Canal. 

Voyages along the canal attract community groups from across the spectrum, including veterans, mental health, disability and older adult organisations. 

“We can’t afford to offer the trips for free, but we do have them at a very reduced rate so that school, community groups and charity organisations in the Greater Manchester area for an hour or two,” Mark added. 

“Our income is around £6,000 to £6,500 per year, but our outgoings are £10,000 depending on the required maintenance costs.  

“We’re constantly operating at a loss and are frightened to raise our fares. We currently charge £5 for adults and £3 for children, but if we charge much more than that it may put people off using our service.” 

The TCBT have set up a crowdfunding campaign with an initial target of £5,000 to secure the immediate future of StillWaters, which hopes to run its first trips of 2025 during the February half-term holidays. 

They’re also keen to explore sponsorship opportunities with local companies for £200 per year. 

“If we don’t raise that money, it could be the end of the boat,” Mark said. “It’s that serious.”