Sponsors
National Historic Ships UK acknowledges the financial support of its sponsors
Registration number
481
Status
National Historic Fleet
a12admin
Details
Function
Cargo Vessel
Subfunction
Narrow Boat
Location
Morcombe
Current use
Museum based
Available to hire
No
Available for excursions
No
Info required
Yes
Construction
Builder
Walker, W H & Brothers, Rickmansworth
Built in
1936
Hull material
Iron
Rig
None
Number of decks
1
Propulsion
Towed
Primary engine type
None
Boiler type
None
Boilermaker
None
Dimensions
Breadth: Beam
7.21 feet
(2.20m)
Depth
3.61 feet
(1.10m)
Length: Overall
72.13 feet
(22.00m)
History
The butty MERAK was built in 1936 by Walker Brothers, Rickmansworth for the Grand Union Canal Company and is a narrowboat constructed of oak and iron frames and oak planking. She is one of 12 pairs built by Walkers in 1936 and known as the Star class.
MERAK was separated from MEROPE while she was working but is now paired with her at the Boat Museum, Ellesmere Port where she is now preserved ashore in secure offsite storage. She is the only Star class butty surviving in working condition.
Although this vessel is on the National Historic Fleet, we are currently lacking information on this particular vessel. If you have any information on this vessel past or present, please contact us.
Key dates
-
1936
Built by Walker Bros. of Rickmansworth for the Grand Union Canal and paired with MEROPE
-
2012
Reunited with MEROPE afloat at the Boat Museum, Ellesmere Port
Grants
-
Aug 2016
Awarded by ACE Museum Resilience Fund of £313k for storage, lifting and moving priority boats and reinstatement of the dry dock at Ellesmere Port.
Sources
Brouwer, Norman J, International Register of Historic Ships, Anthony Nelson, pp163, Edition 2, 1993
Own this vessel?
If you are the owner of this vessel and would like to provide more details or updated information, please contact info@nationalhistoricships.org.uk
