Description

GRAND CANAL COMPANY BARGE 67M FOR SALE
A rare opportunity arises to acquire a traditional heritage Grand Canal Company barge. A spacious holiday home, a cruiser for rivers and canals, and a part of the national heritage of Ireland. 67M was built by Vickers in Grand Canal dockyard Ringsend Dublin in 1936. Built to the traditional maximum dimensions for the Grand Canal locks 61ft by 13ft. Draught now 3ft 6inch which can be adjusted by emptying of filling the original ballast tank at the stern. Original hull sides were overplated in year 2000. Original tiller and rudder still provide steering. Rudder fitted with man overboard steps. Original bulkheads fore and aft retained for structural strength. Bedford 330 diesel 98HP 6 cylinder diesel engine refurbished in 2015 in spacious engine room with storage for generator, batteries, diesel fuel, anchors etc.
Historic photos and records show 67M as the last vessel to carry cargo from Dublin to Athlone before the Grand Canal closed in 1960.
Spacious sun trap wheelhouse with seating can also sleep two persons. Storage under plus ventilated gas locker under holds one current plus one spare 13kg gas cylinders for gas cooker and gas fired instantaneous water heater. Engine throttle and controls and gauges in wheelhouse. Forward looking camera to aid steering. Navigation lights, bow spotlights and horn fitted.
Mains 230 volt ac lighting and sockets throughout with generator and shore connection points. Battery 12 volt dc sockets and LED lighting throughout. 300 watts solar panels on wheelhouse roof, via solar controller to three 100AH services batteries in engine room. Separate 100AH dedicated engine starting battery charged from the engine alternator. 600 watt 12v dc inverter gives 230v ac to household appliances for computers etc.
Fire extinguishers, first aid kit, anchor and chain, mooring ropes, gangplanks, barge poles.
Bathroom with shower and sea toilet, gas fired water heater and wash basin. 250 litres of fresh water storage tanks with automatic pump, plus additional 250 litres fresh water stored in front cabin.
Fitted kitchen with sink, cupboards, and four ring plus double oven gas cooker.
Large saloon with heritage diesel stove, back boiler and gravity feed (no pump required) to radiators. Also a separate heritage log stove. Seating here can also sleep 2 persons.
Bedroom 2 with two single beds.
Storage room with emergency escape hatch fitted.
Bedroom 1 is the original boatmans cabin in the bow, now with a double bed.
67M has travelled extensively on the River Barrow to New Ross and River Shannon to Killaloe, with her history and travels published in the hard copy book “67M, the Story of a Barge”.
67M has more recently been my home for three years, but I am now moving to another home and must let her enjoy a new life and new adventures with a new owner.

Specifications

Accommodation

Spacious wheelhouse entrance with seats that also act as bunks.
Saloon with two settees that also act as bunks. Diesel stove and also Log stove.
Kitchen with sink and hot and cold water, gas fired four ring cooker with double oven, storage cupboards.
Bathroom with sea toilet and was basin and shower, gas fired hot water boiler.
Bedroom 2 with space for two single beds or one double bed.
Storage room with emergency exit hatch.
Bedroom 1 with double bed in original boatmans cabin.

67M galley kitchen

67M log stove

67M saloon

67M bathroom

67M stores space

67M front cabin

67M front cabin bedroom 1

67M floorplan

67M bedroom 2

67M bedroom

67M plan with dimensions

67M wheelhouse

67M wheelhouse

Construction

Riveted steel hull with welded steel overplating of bilges both sides in year 1999.
Steel cabin top and wheelhouse with wooden framed windows.

67M in dry dock May 2025

new bigger propellor May 2025

67M at Kilaloe

Equipment

Diesel engine.
Rinnai gas fired water heater.
Diesel stove.
Log fired stove.
Gas fired 4 ring cooker with double oven.
230 volt lights and sockets throughout.
12 volt sockets and LED lights throughout.
300 watt 12 volt to 230 volt inverter.
Fresh water pump with expansion vessel.
12v bilge pumps in engine room and in bow cabin.

67M log stove

230 volt and 12 volt switchboards

67M diesel stove

wheelhouse engine controls

Navigation Equipment

Port, Starboard, Steaming and Stern Navigation lights.
Front spotlights for days of restricted vision.
Engine controls and displays in wheelhouse.
Forward looking cctv camera with display at tiller.
Engine throttle and stop controls at tiller.

67M at work around 1940

67M revisits Athlone 60 years later

67M at Athlone White Bridge

67M, the Story of a Barge

Engine(s)

Bedford diesel 98HP reconditioned in year 2010.
Cooled from ballast tank at rear of barge (no messy weed filters!).
Dedicated 12 volt engine starter battery.
Horizontal access into large engine room under wheelhouse.

diesel fuel tank

PRM gearbox

Bedford 330 engine

Safety Equipment

Lifebelts, lifejackets, fire extinguishers, first aid kit.

67M at work around 1940

67M at Kilaloe

67M at Bolands Lock Grand Canal Tullamore

67M in a family photo

67M at Shannon Harbour

67M Grand Canal Lock 34

Location Map