The Aintree Beetle - the new narrowboat that's small, perfectly formed and affordable

When Waterways World's technical editor Mark Langley pointed out to narrowboat boatbuilder Aintree Boats the current lack of a small, affordable narrowboat on the market, the company told him: "Well then, design it and we'll build it!"
The result is Aintree Beetle, a 25ft narrowboat fitted out with an inboard diesel engine and with room to sleep four people. The production version will sell for less than £30,000, and offer extremely low running costs.
Having generated a great deal of interest at the Crick Boat Show, it was time for Mark and the Aintree team to test their new baby on the water. The following video shows its first outing at Liverpool's Albert Dock. Mark is particularly pleased with the fine handling and low wash - something normally hard to achieve in a square stern (which was chosen for the extra space it offers in such a short length).
To find out more about this charming little vessel, the full story is told in the June and July 2013 issue of Waterways World.
www.waterwaysworld.com
www.aintreeboats.co.uk

[@SEXYMAN12632]

Very nice.

[@travelwithme1583]

Nice video, thumb up for you

[@peterclarke7240]

In the same way we're seeing the rise of "micro-flats" similar to the Japanese concept, I'm wondering if these, and other, cheap alternatives to on land living will start making a comeback?
I imagine, like everything, the sellers and CRT will find a way to price most people out of the equation, though.

[@pinkyman5155]

My boat is 25ft perfect for me and the dog, holds 4 people for a days fun cruising, sleeps 3 with a pinch.

[@Bhatt_Hole]

Excellent resolution!

[@Geoffr524]

That looks like a good boat for rent-to-own, for people to test out before buying it, or a different size.

[@GenaFrog]

No way! Even a 30ft narrowboat has lousy steering because there's not enough swing when turning. Need 60ft to have a boat which will handle well!

[@waynegell565]

it does a good handbrake turn haha

[@GenaFrog]

Sam Spade If you steer this one, bearing in mind it's steered from the tiller at the rear, it needs to be able to 'swing'... if for instance you're in a turning point and trying to turn the whole boat around, you haven't a bow thruster so it's all on being able to put your front end in the turning point and try to get the boat to 'get its arse end out' to turn. Obviously it's more difficult with a smaller boat than one that is 60 ft plus. I used to work in narrowboat hire so boats tended to be brought back and just moored up and needed turning before they were re-let to another family. I particularly remember the little 30 footers as being devils in disguise, everyone thought they were cute but they were like a kid with the terrible two's. The 90ft boats are awkward too being the maximum permitted length as they'd get stuck on silt and we would need a pole to push the boat off. The ideal size boat was 60ft as they swung perfectly but were compact enough to fit everywhere. Hope you understand what I mean.

[@MrJimbaloid]

Yes might be on the water meself soon and size and scale has been the subject of a lot of talks with the missus but flippen eck thanks for that I didn't even know you could have a 90ft er I thought 70 was max. 90ft is huge I've never even found one on the tinterweb.

[@harveysmith100]

I think that was a typo, as far as I know 70ft is the max length.

[@DrVolvo2010]

Always wanted to live on a boat. but with my life, I cannot. That boat there would be an excellent weekend boat for me.

[@fins59]

Nice, maybe make an electric stern drive version.

[@bessiebraveheart]

It looks like a floating coffin. More room in a phone box.

[@stuartmcclean9269]

If a new idea, then why diesel, surely electric would be better???

[@peteon4wheels627]

To small to live in, where are the guests going to sit, on the bank ffs.

[@2KXMKR]

They have two bench seats in the saloon to the front and two dining tables each with two chairs in the dinette. The benches up front fold down to make a double and the two dining tables and chairs form two single beds. It can easily sit up to ten, more if we include the outer space at the bow and stern, and sleep four - a couple and two kids. Whole family around for a day out and mum, dad and the kids can stay the night. They're surprisingly well fitted out for their size. Even have a full bathroom.