Powering To The Future

If we said the batteries on this Braidbar cost £15k (and that’s just for three) you’d probably think it’s a misprint, but it isn’t and there’s a good reason why so much has been spent on them.

- Adam Porter

Would you like to look at my boat? It’s got really interesting batteries... that isn’t perhaps the most thrilling boat test chat-up line we’ve ever heard, but when you think about it, plenty of boaters are obsessed by their batteries. Are they charging properly? Are they holding their charge? Am I going to have to shell out for new ones? And I can guarantee that any boater who has a battery monitor will check it at least twice a day – and probably a lot more.

Fortunately, this boat has a lot more of interest about it than just its batteries. It’s built by Braidbar Boats and is one of the first where James Attwood had a significant hand in its design, having joined the company from the multi-award-winning Boating Leisure Services. It’s also a longer boat than most we look at, and it’s based on a very fine shell.

But back to batteries – which is one area where technology is moving quite fast and having an impact on narrow boats. We’ve looked at a couple of boats in the past with the latest lithium batteries, but this boat has a whole lithium pack by Mastervolt, which makes choosing the lithium option a bit easier and everything is included.

EXTERIOR

The 68-footer is based on an impressive sheer line Josher shell by Tyler Wilson. Sheer line means there’s a long sweeping curve along the gunwale line, and together with the nice Josher-style curves of the bow it’s a boat that’s well worth standing back and admiring to fully appreciate the attractive lines. And there are details to applaud, too, many of which are pleasingly discrete.For example, the handrails protrude very slightly from the cabin sides, and the gunwales protrude from the hull side to mimic the wooden handrails and gunwales that old working boats would have had.