Manchester's 'Pirate Boat' Stranded Again as Canal Drains for Second Time
Army veteran Dave Marshall awoke on Wednesday morning to a startling sight: his uniquely decorated canal boat, famously known as the Manchester Pirate Boat, was grounded after a stretch of the Rochdale Canal at New Islington Marina suddenly drained. This marks the second such incident in just six months, sparking alarm among the local boating community.
A Sudden and Dangerous Drainage
Dave Marshall, 53, described waking up puzzled as to why his boat was pinned against the wall. When he peered outside, he discovered the canal had almost completely emptied. "When I woke up I thought 'why the hell am I pinned against the wall?' I looked outside and I could see there was no water again. I was like 'Jesus'," he said. The veteran, who served in the Royal Anglian Regiment, emphasized the danger of the situation, noting, "I've seen three people fall in here. If you fall in this, what are you going to hit and how far are you going to fall?"
He had planned to take his boat, officially named Galderela, into dry dock for pressure-washing, resin treating, and painting, but those plans were abruptly halted by the unexpected drainage.
History of the Pirate Boat and Its Owner
Dave Marshall, a twice-married, twice-divorced father of nine originally from Leicester, has become a familiar face in the former Ancoats area after settling on his boat at the marina 15 years ago. He has adorned the vessel with an eclectic mix of items, including two skeletons and a bike, earning it the local nickname "Manchester Pirate Boat." His military career ended in 1998 after he was struck by an armoured personnel carrier during training in Germany, leaving him with a severely damaged knee. Since then, he has worked various roles, including as a mechanic, hairdresser, and childminder.
Community Concerns and Past Incidents
This is not the first time the canal has drained unexpectedly. Last September, a similar incident occurred, which boat owners attributed to a leak. Dave believes the latest drainage was caused by a botched repair at a nearby culvert. The repeated events have raised serious concerns among the small community of boat owners at New Islington Marina.
In September, residents warned that debris lining the marina bed could puncture the hulls of wide-bottomed vessels, while those with v-shaped hulls feared their homes might topple over upon contact with the solid ground. Many lodged complaints with the Canal and River Trust, the charity responsible for maintaining the canal.
Response and Ongoing Issues
The Canal and River Trust previously pointed to a nationwide water shortage triggered by an exceptionally dry spring and summer the previous year as a contributing factor. As of Monday afternoon, water levels at Islington Marina remained low, though no additional boats had run aground at that time.
The emptied canal has drawn significant interest from visitors to nearby cafés, but for boat owners like Dave, it represents a persistent threat to their floating homes and safety. Amidst the chaos, Dave waded through the shallow waters, retrieving two iPhones and a pair of false teeth, though he failed to find a wallet his friend had misplaced.
