One of Bristol's iconic yellow ferry boats has returned to work in the harbour after years out of action. Almost 100 years old, Ferryboat Emily had been out of action since the start of the pandemic, but she has just undergone a major revamp.
Emily is described as one of the city’s oldest and most charming boats in the harbour in her bright yellow and blue colours of Bristol Ferry Boats, and is back on the water after her refurbishment. Bristol Ferry Boats operational manager, Carrie Browne, said: “It’s been fantastic to give a new lease of life to one of our oldest and most popular boats.
"We have replaced her engine, given her a fresh coat of paint, replaced areas of wood and fitted new glass into her windows. We’ve also installed a new, more efficient propeller and given her a full deep clean ready for the new season.
Read next: Bristol Harbour Festival 2023 announces return this summer including changes to layout and new zones
“Perhaps the most significant change has been to lower the floor and remove some of the roof to increase headroom, which has given her the slight appearance of a beautiful Venice water taxi. She is now in tip top condition and ready for passengers wanting to enjoy the sights of the Bristol Harbour for the next 100 years."
Build in Bideford in 1927 and originally known as Heather Spray, she joined the Bristol Ferry fleet in 1992 as their first enclosed vessel and was renamed Emily. To ensure the boats are looking their best and are safe for carrying passengers, refurbishment takes place every year at The Underfall Yard in Hotwells.
The annual maintenance of the boats which includes the use of historic boat-building knowledge for wooden vessels, is timely and costly. Emily’s revamp took 10 months by specialist boat builder and maintenance manager John Raymond-Barker.
A labour of love, he said: “Emily has to be the prettiest boat in our fleet, to see her now as a semi open boat really suits her proportions and makes her a fantastic boat for parties and day trips.
“To see her out on the water again makes me incredibly proud of the achievement and I’m looking forward to seeing her bring pleasure to passengers for many more years to come.”
Once the boats are examined, repaired, repainted and then audited by the Maritime Coastguard Agency, the boats are given the green light for launch and use by the public. The new daily waterbus season re-opens on April 1 with trips to Beeses Riverside Bar in Brislington for re-opening celebrations taking place on the same weekend.
Read next:
- Bristol Bears legend Joe Joyce 'gutted' as he may have played his final game for home town club
- Bristol property closed by court order after drug and antisocial behaviour offences
- Bristol nursery hits back at Ofsted ‘inadequate’ report after 'awful experience'
- Former teacher jailed for making thousands of indecent images of children
