Canal Boat — February 2018

canalboat.co.uk Canal Boat February 2018 27

LENGTH: 52ft

STYLE: Semi-trad

FIT-OUT: Oak and painted

tongue & groove

BERTHS: 2+2+2

ENGINE: Beta 38 Tel: 01452 723492

BOW THRUSTER: Vetus 55kgf

£85,000

Fantasia II

whole family was on board - and it’s been
designed accordingly.
Not all Aintree boats have been full
fitouts, because the company also builds
shells and sailaways. Even so, 200 boats is
still pretty good going and it’s an
achievement well worth marking.

EXTERIOR
If Fantasia II’s name doesn’t give you a hint
about the owners’ love of Disney, then the
sign writing will. The letters are huge and
mimic a typeface used by Disney and are
surrounded by stars. And while the boat
might be a rather sober dark blue, the

detailing adds a zing of colour, with

coachlines in an electric blue, and a paint

which has an aluminium-effect finish. This

paint is also used for the sign writing.

Robin Wagg, who did the lettering,

apparently wasn’t sure about the font or

the paint but in spite of his misgivings he’s

achieved a stylish and individual look.

Aintree build their own steel work and

we’ve always liked the shape and the

quality of the workmanship. This boat has

Aintree’s rather pretty curvy bow and

there are nice details such as scrolls in

the cants. The cabin sides are nice and

smooth.

All the window frames and mushroom

vents are in a chrome finish, to give a very

contemporary look. There’s a good sized

glazed pigeon box to provide extra light

inside, and the roof also houses a couple

of flexible solar panels as well as a TV

aerial and an internet antenna (essential

requirements for the younger members of

the crew).

The nose contains the gas locker, while

the well deck has a lift-up cover to give

access to the bow thruster and its battery.

There are also lockers both sides of the

well deck providing somewhere to sit; one

is available for storage, while the other