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500 tonnes of canal boats to be craned into Crick Marina for Boat Show

On Monday 30 May 2022, MJT Cranes craned 12 canal boats, weighing up to 35 tonnes each, into Crick Marina, near Daventry, as part of preparations for the 23rd Crick Boat Show, which takes place over the Platinum Jubilee bank holiday 3-5 June.

Crane lifting a boat above the canal

A special Trade & Preview Day will be held on Thursday 2 June, for advanced ticket holders only.

Over 50 canal boats will be on display at the show, and around 22 of them (with a combined weight of over 500 tonnes) will be craned in for the event.

Crick Boat Show

Crick Boat Show is organised by Waterways World in partnership with the us and Crick Waterside & Marina. Now the UK's biggest inland waterways festival, with over 250 exhibitors gathering from across the canal world and beyond, the event is expected to attract over 26,000 visitors.

Monica Tuckey, of MJT Cranes which specialises in lifting and transporting canal boats, explains: “Helping with the preparations for Crick Boat Show is always one of the busiest times of the year for us. Ahead of the show opening, we will be transporting and craning 22 canal boats, with a combined weight of over 500 tonnes. They range in length from 57ft to 70ft, and weigh between 15 and 35 tonnes each. Then after the show is finished, we take them all back again.”

Welcoming people back to the show

Peter Johns, Publisher of Waterways World and Show Director, says: “We are looking forward to welcoming people to our 2022 Crick Boat Show, the nation's biggest inland boating marketplace and a fantastic day out alongside the Grand Union Canal in Northamptonshire.

“During the show build-up, one of the most dramatic sights is when these huge canal boats - that have arrived by road - are winched up into the air and placed onto the marina waters or onto the land in the Show's land based marina.

“The maximum speed on our canals and rivers is just 4mph, making them the perfect place to relax and slow down, but as our exhibitors travel to the show from all around the country, it's often impractical to send a boat by water. And the wide beam boats can't fit through the locks on the Leicester Line of the Grand Union Canal, as it's a narrow canal.”

Celebrating our network

Matthew Symonds, our national boating manager, adds: “Every year Crick Boat Show, the UK's biggest inland waterways festival, celebrates our fantastic network of canals and rivers. Research shows spending time by water makes us all healthier and happier and we believe that waterways have the power to make a real difference to people's lives.

“A 58-mile stretch of the Grand Union Canal passes through Northamptonshire, and we look forward to welcoming people to the Canal & River Trust Marquee at the Show, to find out more about enjoying the canals in their area.”

Book your tickets

Crick Boat Show offers a great day out for all the family with dozens of boats to look round, free boat trips, live music, children's activities, a real ale marquee, and a large variety of exhibitors, both boating related and general stalls. All children aged 16 and under receive free entry to the Show.

For more information and to book tickets, camping pitches and moorings, visit www.crickboatshow.com or call 01283 742970, Monday to Friday 9am to 3pm.

Last Edited: 01 June 2022

photo of a location on the canals
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