The BCNS Workboat Phoenix.

The BCNS owns two boats,the workboat Phoenix and its newly acquired Day Boat. The construction of Phoenix was made possible by a generous 90% grant of £21,400 made by the Heritage Lottery Fund in May of 1997.

The boat is a 38 foot all steel maintenance craft built by Richard Hurley and Rob Starkey at Oldbury Boat Services from a British Waterway approved design.

Phoenix began life with a thoroughly BCN pegigree. It has been signwritten by Bierly Hill based painter and Society member Dave Moore, in the colours of Leonard Leigh who previously traded on the Dudley No. 2 Canal at Netherton.

Phoenix carries the name of one of the Fellows, Morton and Clayton Fleet, formerly of Saltley, Birmingham. The name was chosen by Edward Paget-Tomlinson, from a suggestion made by Bob May, author of BCN in Pictures and owner of the ex Matty tug Govenor.

The story behind the project funding written by Mike Butler, one of the main players in the project, can be read in full here.

Plans for the Workboat Phoenix.

Summary of the Specifacation for the workboat:

Length 11m (38')
Breadth 2m (6'6")
Depth, Stern & Cabin, 1.05m
Depth, Hold, 0.9m
Draught, Light, 0.55m

Bottom, Swim, 8mm plate steel
Sides, Counter, Bulkheads 6mm plate steel
Deck, Cabin 4mm plate steel

Plywood lined and insulated cabin
'classic' coal fired stove
Fluorescent lighting
Sink and draining board
Toilet compartment
Bench seat with lockes below, fitted with
mattress to act as a bed

Lister type TS2 air cooled engine or equivalent
HRW :1 reduction gearbox
Manganese Bronze 3 bladed right hand propellor
431.8mm (17") diameter, 254mm (10") pitch
Semi-Balanced rudder
Welded handrails at front of cabin,
suitable as mooring points
Horn and spotlight fitted within vandal
proof enclosure at front of cabin