Gloucester Waterways Museum
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3.8  Other Boats

Spindrift 3
      This was originally a naval jolly boat made by the Seamless Steel Boat Co of Wakefield before the First World War. The hull was pressed in two halves which were riveted together along the line of the keel. It originally had an engine and a small day cabin and was used to ferry officers between ship and shore. During the Second World War, it was converted to a fire-boat in London Docks. The engine was removed, and two pipes were put through the bottom of the hull so that a fire-pump on board could create jets that would drive the boat along. After the war, it was sold to a private owner who converted it to a Thames cruiser which was given the name Spindrift 3. A Seffle engine was fitted, and the holes in the hull were covered by bolted plates, but the owner had much trouble trying to stop leaks around the plates. When the cruiser was likely to be scrapped, it was rescued by the Museum to preserve the Seffle engine, and the hull was considered of sufficient historical interest to be looked after as well.

Hesketh
     Hesketh was built as a work flat in the British Waterways workshops at Gloucester c1974 and later served on the Macclesfield Canal. It is now used by the Friends of the Museum to help in the maintenance of other Museum craft, and in 2009 it was used with Severn Progress to collect and return sections of fencing needed for the annual boat jumble.

Renton
      This British Waterways ice-breaking tug and workboat was formed by shortening a Grand Union Canal Carrying Co 'large Northwich' motor boat. During the conversion, the boat was fitted with a blade at the bow to cut into the ice, but this has subsequently been removed. The boat has been leased by the Hereford & Gloucester Canal Trust and will be moored at the Museum while Trust members carry out refurbishment work.

Ice Boat
     This ice boat was once based at Marple, Cheshire. It has a rounded bottom designed to break up ice when the boat is rocked from side to side by a gang of men while being pulled forward by a team of horses. It was later used as the bricklayer's boat. It came to the Museum in 1992. 

Concrete Barge
     The Museum has a Second World War concrete barge, currently moored at Purton.

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