Canal & narrow boat vintage engines, repairs & parts

Canal & narrow boat vintage engines, repairs & parts

We list suppliers and reconditioners of vintage marine type engines & gearboxes.

Working narrowboats were traditionally pulled by horses, mules or donkeys but during the 20th century early diesel engines and steam engines came into use. Rather than working just one narrowboat they were usually worked in pairs, the motor boat which had the engine towing a 'butty boat'. Steam engines found only limited use but diesel engines became standard, evolving from water cooled single cylinder 'semi diesels' like the Bolinder to multi cylinder true diesels like the Lister JP2 and the National, and air cooled engines like the Armstrong Siddeley Meganser. Click the engines above to hear some traditional engines at work.

This type of slow revving reliable vintage engine is very popular with some boat owners today, provided you have space in your boat for an engine room, and room beneath the boat for a large propeller! You also need a fairly roomy wallet, a fully restored vintage engine will cost well over £10,000. There is a thriving market in replacement parts and repair services for vintage canal boat engines. Russell Newbury still build slow revving engines to a 1930's design.

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