The new electric community boat, Electra, has delayed its first public cruise after the government recently announced they were postponing the easing of lockdown restrictions across the country.
Issuing a statement on their social media channels, a spokesperson for Electra said: "We know from all the enquiries we’re receiving that people can’t wait to experience Electra for themselves, but we’ve had to adjust our timescales after the government change to Step 4.
"Bookings will open on 15th July and first public cruises from 3rd August. Sorry for the delay!"
We know from all the enquiries we’re receiving that people can’t wait to experience Electra for themselves, but we’ve had to adjust our timescales after the government change to Step 4. Bookings will open on 15th July and first public cruises from 3rd August. Sorry for the delay! pic.twitter.com/m7HcPEW9ba
— ElectraBoatMK (@ElectraBoatMK) June 25, 2021
Commissioned by the Bedford & Milton Keynes Waterway Trust, Electra will be based at Campbell Wharf.
It will be manned by Trust volunteers that will run public trips and private charter cruises along the Grand Union Canal, giving residents and visitors a different view of Milton Keynes.
Based on a traditional 54’ long steel narrowboat hull, Electra is powered by a single 15kW electric motor (equivalent to 5 electric kettles), with 48 batteries fitted below decks and 24 solar panels on the roof. At 54 feet, Electra is twice as long as a London double-decker bus and is twice as heavy.
Subject to COVID-19 restrictions at the time, trips are planned to run later this summer up until December 2021. These will offer something for everyone – from short eye-spy family cruises to Friday night bubbles and bites, relaxing days out in nature, mindfulness trips and walkers’ one-way hops.
Eventually, it is hoped that Electra could carry up to 4,000 passengers a year.
READ MORE - New community boat 'Electra' craned into the water at Milton Keynes
