Canals were designed and built for cargo carrying boats. Some of these working boats can still be seen today. As the trade on the canals declined there was a rise in leisure boats.
Working Boats
The canals were built for these boats. They carried the cargoes around the canal network and helped bring about the Industrial Revolution. They carried cargoes from all across the globe.
Ambush
A Mersey Flat Boat
Mossdale
Bacup
Pluto
Scorpio
Scorpio
The Ribble
The Ribble
Steam Boat on the River Aire
A41
Kennet
Makili
Video of a Working Boat
A Wigan Coal Boat
Maintenance Boats
Todays canals are maintained by a fleet of boats that dredge, carry, push and pull.
a Bantum
Burscough
Leisure Boats
As the industrial and commercial use of the canals declined there was a rise in the number of leisure boats.
