Scorpio & Malus

Both boats were part of the extensive orders placed by the Grand Union Canal Carrying Company  in 1935 to modernise their fleet.

Both boats are of steel construction. They are 71feet long with a beam of 7feet 1inch and a maximum draught of 3feet 6inches.They are painted in the livery of British Waterways Transport. They worked with different partners in the Grand Union Carrying fleet until nationalisation in 1948 when they were transferred to British Waterways Transport. On the dissolution of the transport fleet both boats were passed to the Maintenance Division where they remained carrying the goods required for the maintenance of the waterways. On joining the Heritage Boats fleet they were extensively restored. Malus has a full set of running gear and cloth covers and represents a boat capable of moving perishable items about the waterway system. Her live aboard cabin has been reconstructed with the help of retired working boat crews to represent a boatman's cabin of the period. Scorpio has has her cabin restored to the appearance of those boats no longer used as commercial carrying craft, but as a base from which men could work.