Welcome to www.nauticus.co.uk

For owners and enthusiasts of the Nauticus 22 and Nauticus 27 boats.

Latest updates:

Apologies for the stagnation of the site over the past years. I’ve managed to get the site rebuilt onto a content management system to make it easier to update and am looking for volunteers to help run the site and get it active again. Email mail@nauticus.co.uk

Terry – site owner

The Nauticus

Nauticus Canal Cruisers were originally built in the 1970’s by Malcolm Thomas Plastics and then later by Triton Boats Ltd (see HISTORY). Their main competitors at that time were Viking Boats (they have a factory at Dunmow in Essex, the boats now being sold by Viking Boats of York – see LINKS) and Norman Boats (see LINKS for Norman Boats history).

How many of these boats were built is hard to establish, there are still many fine specimens afloat and there are usually several up for sale priced from £4,500 to £8,500. They are Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP) construction with the hull and decks built by hand laying fibreglass with resin on moulds. This building process produced a thicker hull that could vary in thickness. They were at the luxury end of the canal cruiser market with spacious fitted cabins with stained ply panelling and wood trim and typically 70’s formica tables. As far as I know all the boats were originally the same decor with blue checked upholstery and dark blue carpet. The decks were finished in a light blue. If you see a white decked Nauticus then it was made after the company ceased trading. In fact the Nauticus 27 hull mould was used for the Viking! Some 22ft boats were made, not many, and these had outboards, there was no standard on these and they were added at point of sale.

The engine fitted was a Ford Watermota 1100cc cross flow petrol (the engine used in the Ford Cortina) being “waterised” by WATERMOTA. With boat safety now outlawing a mix of petrol engines and gas, most boats have had the hot water gas heaters removed and therefore lost the original hot water provision. This also applies to the gas radiant heaters. Diesel powered boats don’t have this problem and some Nauticus boat owners have fitted diesel engines with heat exchangers providing hot water.

The boats have plenty of power and the 1100cc petrol engine can push the boat at 10 knots and is easy to steer in reverse with the Enfield Z Drive (some had Transadrives fitted) due to its deep keel. Most boats have a horizontal plate above the 3 bladed prop for stability and some owners have fitted protective frames at the stern to prevent collision damage to the drive. The extending drive means the mooring length of the boat is 30 foot.

The toilet cubicles usually have a portaloo and some have had sinks fitted in place of the wardrobe opposite the galley area. The original boats had a fold down sink fitted on the wardrobe wall and some had an over sink shower. All boats had 2 ring gas hobs above an oven and a fitted sink and drainer. You can stand in the cabin area and a central corridor means two tables seating one person either side make for comfortable accommodation for 4. The tables form the centre of the single beds and the cushions from the back of the seats complete the bed. A triangular cushion completes a double bed in the seating area in the prow and a curtain separates this area from the main cabin.

Luxury extends to the chromed horn, floodlight, navigation lights, and wooden spoked wheel. The large rear seat above the engine compartment doubles as the 5th berth, although with the canvas cover all around the cockpit area it could get cold! There is plenty of storage in the cabin area with drawers and storage under the seats and two cupboards between the front berth and the central ones. A hatch gives roof ventilation and the central side windows slide back. Lights are 12v and switch on by a turn of the lens and are mounted in the roof.

The battery compartment is under the cockpit hatch where there is further storage area and the battery is charged from the alternator and is needed to start the engine. Some owners have added 12v sockets, leisure batteries and charging relays to prevent damage to the leisure battery when starting the engine, the alternator being capable of providing the charge.

There is a fresh water tank with foot pumped water and the petrol versions have a 12 gallon fuel tank. A captains seat (some have a 2nd seat in place of a locker that once housed a gas fridge on some boats) completes the cockpit area. The windscreens are safety glass in an aluminium frame bolted to the cabin roof. Wooden rubbing strakes and stained dowel hand rails on the roof give a pleasing look to the lines of the boat. Pictured is “Kaczka” in a lock on the River Stort, it’s moorings are at Hallingbury Marina.

Mick Fowler – past owner of Kaczka