Aim

We need to replace our big canal boat that runs on diesel with an electric one that is more environmentally sustainable.

We are Fountainbridge Canalside Community Trust. We offer boat trips on the Union Canal in Edinburgh that support our charity and our community. We offer greenspace volunteering projects, health and well-being projects and are developing a new community space for the area.

We are crowdfunding to build a new boat with unique renewable energy features (electric engine, heat pump, solar panels etc). This will make the boat trips a more peaceful and wildlife filled experience and save CO2 at the same time. We will use the boat as an environmental classroom work as well as revitalising our boat hire income that supports our charitable activities.

We are raising £225,000 to build and launch our new widebeam canal boat. It has been designed with volunteering and customer experience in mind. It will look similar to our old boat but will take us forward for the next 20 years. 

We have already raised almost £200,000, including £10,900 through our first crowdfunding campaign, but this is our final push to get to our goal. What we raise ourselves will be matched by the AVIVA Foundation.

There are three simple ways to get involved and support our project:

1. Make a donation

Every pledge gets us closer to our goal. You can do this by donating at  https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/electric-canal-boats or by visiting www.fcct.scot/welcome and click the crowdfunding button.

2. Spread the word

Share our project with friends, family and your wider network. The more people we reach, the more likely we are to succeed.

3. Come along to the Edinburgh Canal Festival on 20th June 2026

We will have a stall at Edinburgh Quay where we will be speaking to people coming to the Festival, explaining our progress and asking for donations. Come along and find out more. Over 5,000 people attended our festival last year.

This project successfully funded on 31st July 2026