Mallard is on her way

The 2017 boating season may be in full swing but we’re already getting stuck into the hard work needed to build a new boat in time for the start of the 2018 season.

She’s called Mallard, sleeps up to six people, and is modelled closely on Merlin which has been incredibly popular with customers. We decided that we should offer a similar boat for short breaks starting on Mondays and Fridays, as Merlin is available only for week-long holidays (or longer) starting on Saturdays.

Here is the steel shell being craned from the back of the lorry onto the canal. 

Mallard is 60'0" (18.3m) long, 6'10" (2.1m) wide and has up to 6'3" (1.91m) headroom. Designed to offer flexible sleeping arrangements for families and groups of friends, the rear bedroom can have a 4ft double bed or two 2ft single beds. The bed in the middle of the boat cleverly pulls out, creating space at the side and bottom of the bed so tall guests won't feel cramped. Both bedrooms have their own shower room. An additional two guests can sleep in the lounge as the sofa converts to a double bed.

There’s a canopied front deck which can become a conservatory once the side curtains are closed. And when the weather's a little chilly, Mallard is cosy with double glazing and a log-effect gas stove.