Vlog 344: Otterly Delightful!

There are a small number of aluminium canal boats which are a hybrid of traditional narrowboat style mixed with river cruiser design. They were built by a company called Sea Otter which had a bit of a chequered history, going into administration or similar on more than one occasion.

Sea Otter specialised in aluminium boats, including narrowboats, widebeam canal and river cruisers, and the unusual hybrid design shown in this video.

Being aluminium of course the boats do not rust (though they are still subject to galvanic corrosion which is a kind of wear and rot created by electrical currents in the water, relating to potential differences between the boat and the earth; it’s complicated but is largely not an issue if the boat either never plugs in a shoreline mains connection or if it does, has a galvanic isolator or isolation transformer in the incoming feed)

Other than the metal used, the rest of the boats were conventional with marine diesel engines and the usual set of galley / toilet and shower / bed and living areas, the specifics depending on the shape of the hull and the owners’ whims.

You still see a lot of Sea Otter craft around on the canals today because they are so resistant to rot and they still command quite a price premium over steel narrowboats. Apart from (apparently) quite a lot of condensation, possibly caused by a combination of single-glazed windows and polystyrene insulation on the walls rather than spray foam, they are much-beloved by their owners.

Speaking of which, the Sea Otter Owners’ Club is at www.seaotterowners.org.uk