Blog | Beacon Park Boats

Happy Christmas and New Year from Alasdair and the team at Beacon Park Boats

Allow me to share with you some highlights from this year.

It was great to start this season with the return of friends from overseas. After two years’ absence, we have been delighted to welcome visitors from the USA, Canada, Australia and other Commonwealth countries. We love meeting customers from all over the World just as much as those from around the corner.

We were blessed this year with a fantastic spring and the hottest, driest July and August on record. Despite this, the canal maintained its water levels thanks to the efforts of the Canal and River Trust.

September and October saw our busiest time with the launch of our all-electric, zero-emission 2-berth canal boat, Robin.

Robin boasts many new features, particularly her low carbon footprint and silent cruising. She is powered by batteries and charged by solar panels. Energy extracted from the canal is converted into hot water via a heat pump. She’s sleek and stylish; a unique canal cruiser.

October saw the delivery by crane and canal of our newest boat, Drake.

Drake is being fitted out over the winter in our boathouse. Watch our video to see the inside of Drake and visualise what she’ll be like.

Drake will be our most luxurious 4- berth narrow boat. Her 8ft-wide luxury rear deck sits atop her new hybrid propulsion engine system, enabling silent electric cruising but also the perfect space for lunchtime dining, fishing and enjoying the views of the Brecon Beacons. She has an extra wide doorway and a generously proportioned staircase to her lower floor, the extra width of the entrance making her easy to enter. I'm sure that this will be the grandest staircase you will ever find in any narrow boat!

Drake will boast two, private ensuite 5ft kingsize beds …

The master ensuite will have the largest shower in our fleet.

She’ll have a fully equipped galley, complete with induction hob cooking, meaning there is no need for gas on board.

From the galley you will enter and be amazed by the views from Drake's unique circular saloon with large, lowered windows all around. It is here, in this stunning and stylish open-plan area, that you can choose to dine, watch TV, entertain, or just keep warm in front of the log burner, relaxing in comfort and watching the stunning scenery of the Monmouthshire and Brecon canal slip by.

The finest ash woodwork will compliment Drake’s sustainable bamboo flooring and white-panelled ceiling. You can keep in touch with her progress through our social media and YouTube Channel which will be tracking the build week by week. Then in March come and cruise in her for yourself.

COMPETITION WINNERS

We must congratulate our customers who completed our challenge of booking two separate trips to travel to both ends of the canal; we do hope you enjoy your free houseboat holiday here with us this winter. This offer continues, so please take advantage of it. Remember, if you don't want to drive yourself, please see the ‘Book a Skipper’ section on our website where we can offer a skipper for your holiday.

GOING GREEN

This year Beacon Park Boats has made great strides in maximising its green potential. In January we installed 30KW of solar panels on our roof, and in April, we purchased a briquette-making machine, which allows us to turn all of our wood shavings and dust into logs for our customers to burn during their holidays.

Our day boats had another fantastic season, with 4 of our day boats having new electric engines.

We have been working hand in hand with Barrus, our engine supplier, on developing a new robust, reliable electric outboard, for our fleet of 6-day boats. This has been a 2-year programme, and we look forward to working closely with Barrus in future. This collaboration could pave the way for Beacon Park Boats to offer possibly the world's first hydrogen-powered hire canal boat.

BEACON PARK BOATS ON TV

Beacon Park Boats has featured on TV three times this year. First, when Rugby Legend, Gareth Edwards, made a return visit with wife Maureen for his series, Gareth Edwards’ Great Welsh Adventures. Then ITV’s Coast and Country came to call. They were followed by Channel 5’s Amanda Lamb, Sam Pinkham, JB Gill, who travelled on Grouse whilst filming for Holiday homes in the Sun.

Watch an extract here:

This winter Beacon Park Boats has added another two static houseboats to its offering, giving the customers a choice from four. Our boathouse is a fantastic base for winter walking or visiting friendly local pubs. Three houseboats come with log burners, all with luxury. If you book in the month of December 2022 for January/ February 2023, we will give you 10% off. Now that’s a great way to begin the New Year!

Lastly, we look forward to welcoming you for a tour around our boathouse on our Open Day on Saturday January 28th. There’ll be 10 boats to view, Drake in the workshop and drinks and refreshments available. We look forward to seeing you.