About our fleet of musical boats
The canals have long been recognised as a fundamental enabler of the industrial revolution. But their heydays of the 17th and 18th centuries were soon overshadowed by the sheer efficiency of the railways. Today, the primary purpose of the canals is leisure. So what better way to glorify and preserve the unique heritage of wonderful working boats than to re-purpose them for work of a different nature. The decks that were once the metronomic pulse of industry today provide a platform for musicians to perform. Towpath Productions is committed to ensuring these beautiful boats remain centre stage for decades to come.
Tycho
1936 - Tycho was built as part of an ambitions expansion scheme
1942 - Tycho re-built to aid vital War effort
Tycho was built by W . J . Yarwood & Sons of Northwich in May 1936 as part of a large order from the Grand Union Canal Carrying Company. She was one of eight pairs of all steel 'Middle Northwich' boats with a length of 71' 6", and a 4' 6" deep hold with rounded chines and a shallow 'V' bottom. All motors were fitted with Russell Newbery DM2 18hp engines and cost £1,301 a pair (motor and butty).
In 1942 the Ministry Of War (Transport) selected several of the Middle Northwich boats, including Tycho to act as Ice Boats cum maintenance boats as their round chines and 'V' bottoms gave them easy 'rolling' characteristics desirable for ice breaking. Shortened to 45' with strengthened fore end plates, a rolling bar, and ice breaking ram in place of the stem post, such boats could break ice several inches thick. This was a time when canals played a vital role in supplying London with coal, the Midlands with materials for arms manufacture, and needed to be kept open during Winter freezes.
Later based on the Rugby section of British Waterways, Tycho was re-engined at Saltley in 1958 with the current 30hp Petter PD3M, and sold to Alfred Matty & Sons of Coseley before going into a series of private owners. Tycho is the only Middle Northwich to retain its ice breaking ram, original riveted steel cabin, and general 1942 appearance though the 'Blue Tops' were added at a much later date.
CONSTRUCTION
Builder: Yarwood, W J & Sons Ltd, Northwich
Built in: 1936
Hull material: Steel
Number of decks: 1
Number of masts: 0
Propulsion: Motor
Number of engines: 1
Primary engine type: Diesel
DIMENSIONS
Length: Overall 45.00 feet (13.72 m)
Breadth: Beam 7.00 feet (2.13 m)
Depth: 3.00 feet (0.91 m)
Tonnage: Gross 13.00
Progress
Progress was built in 1936 by Peter Keay & Sons (Walsall) for W. Elwell & Sons – the Tipton-based coal carrying company operating on the Birmingham Canal Network. In her previous prime, she would have towed eight 'Joey' boats each holding around 35 tonnes of coal.
Progress was converted to a hire boat by Jimmy Yates in the late 1950s and renamed Pintail. The present Fowler 2DYM diesel engine (1944) was first installed in 1958.
She was fully renovated between 1997 and 2000 by Jem Bates and Trevor Whitling – including having her name restored to Progress. Bill Mann, Trevor Allum and Phil Kidd acquired Progress in 2017 for the David Blagrove Trust and completed a full restoration of the cabin.
Progress was bought by Stuart Miller in 2020. She was the first acquisition for the fleet of Towpath Productions.
CONSTRUCTION
Builder: Keay, Peter & Son, Walsall
Built in: 1936
Hull material: Wood
Number of decks: 1
Number of masts: 0
Propulsion: Motor
Number of engines: 1
Primary engine type: Inboard diesel
DIMENSIONS
Breadth: Beam: 7.00 feet (2.14 m)
Depth: 2.50 feet (0.76 m)
Length: Overall 50.00 feet (15.25 m)
