One of the UK’s biggest canal boat leisure companies is launching a new all-electric day hire narrowboat on the Kennet & Avon Canal.

Great Day will be among the first four electric boats to join the fleet at ABC Leisure’s Hilperton Marina near Trowbridge.

The company is locating others on its network of 16 locations and is expecting them to become popular with day-trippers.

The 36-foot electric day boat has cost £75,000 and can accommodate up to ten people.

The boat has been in development for 18 months and is fitted with lithium batteries which power a 48-volt Beta Marine 10Kw motor.

Wiltshire Times: Former Naval medic Dr Andrew Murrison MP takes the controls, along with ABC Leisure’s regional director Dan Lewis, onboard the new electric canal dayboat ‘Great Day’. Image: Trevor Porter 76898-3Former Naval medic Dr Andrew Murrison MP takes the controls, along with ABC Leisure’s regional director Dan Lewis, onboard the new electric canal dayboat ‘Great Day’. Image: Trevor Porter 76898-3 (Image: Trevor Porter)

Haley Hadley, ABC Boat Hire’s marketing and sales director, said: “We are delighted to launch our first electric narrowboat, the first of nine new electric day boats to be added to our fleet over the next 18 months.

“The waterways are havens for wildlife and many of our customers are interested in taking steps to reduce their carbon footprint and environmental impact.

“From Hilperton Marina, day boat hirers can cruise through the Wiltshire countryside to Avoncliff or Seend Cleeve and back. No previous canal boating experience is required and tuition is included in our day hire prices.

"We look forward to hearing feedback from our customers who enjoy a day out aboard ‘Great Day’, as we continue to take steps to meet demand for low-carbon energy solutions for our day boats, holiday-hire boats and marina operations.”

With the UK’s push to become carbon neutral by 2050, many motoring sectors are looking within themselves to assess how they can become environmentally friendly.

Ms Hadley says the leisure sector is no different and Worcester-based ABC is looking into how to make canal cruising more eco-friendly.

She says they will appeal to trippers looking to spend a day out with friends and relatives, or to celebrate a special occasion such as a birthday or anniversary.

The facilities on board ‘Great Day’ include outdoor and indoor seating, a toilet, a kitchen with induction hob and grill, a sink and fridge.

Dayboat hire aboard ‘Great Day’ starts at £99 on a weekday, and up to £200 on a weekend day or bank holiday.

Wiltshire Times: The power unit on the new electric canal craft ‘Great Day’. Image: Trevor Porter 76898-1The power unit on the new electric canal craft ‘Great Day’. Image: Trevor Porter 76898-1 (Image: Trevor Porter)

The company has a fleet of more than 200 narrowboats up to 70-ft long and 12 of its 16 locations operate day boat hire.

“Day boat hire is becoming increasingly popular and we expect the all-electric dayboat to be fully booked in the summer,” she said.