THE Lancaster Canal Trust trip boat 'Waterwitch' has been taken out of the water for her three year refit.
Built by Pipers of Stoke-on-Trent and supplied as a bare steel hull, she was fitted out by trust volunteers and painted in corporate colours, and now caries the coat of arms of parishes, towns and cities the canal connects.
The lift went with accomplished ease by Bob Woodhouse, Plant Engineer, of Lancaster, ably helped by two of his sons, Jack, 8, and Bob, 6.
Marine engineer Neil McGarry was on hand to assist and a further group of volunteers were clearing the site near Hincaster Tunnel ready for the forthcoming Waterways Recovery Group camp.
Boat Operations Manager David Joyner then began pressure washing the high and dry hull in preparation for a detailed inspection and repaint.
Although David finished the day with a nice clean hull, the same could not be said for him, but he returned home tired yet highly satisfied with the day's work.
On the following day he was joined by three more volunteers and they finished the cleaning and scraping and managed to get a coat of red lead paint on the hull.
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