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Not your average East End punter
Ruth Bloomfield27 Jul 2009
David Carruthers set up London's first punt hire business in Mile End
It is a quintessentially English pursuit usually associated with an afternoon messing around on the Cam or the Cherwell.
But from today a flotilla of punts will be gliding through the slightly grittier surrounds of east London.
The capital's first punts-for-hire business, at Mile End, has been licensed by British Waterways after the authority was approached by fourth-year medical student David Carruthers.
Mr Carruthers, 21, lives in Stepney Green and studies at Queen Mary, University of London, which is on the banks of the Regent's Canal. He decided that what he and his fellow students needed was the chance to test their balance on one of the flat-bottomed boats during time off after lectures.
"An opportunity came my way to acquire some punts that needed a little care and attention. After some help from a boat builder, and a whole lot of elbow grease, I have a small fleet of punts and canoes to hire out," he said.
His three punts cost less than £5,000 each. A new one can cost twice that, but his were in such a state of disrepair it took him six months to replace rotten boards and apply 10 coats of waterproof varnish to each craft.
The punts will be for hire daily, so long as the weather permits, and will go northwards to Old Ford Lock. Alternatively they will go along the Hertford Union Canal towards Hackney Wick to Hertford Union Top Lock.
Simon Bamford, British Waterways' general manager for London, said: "Punting is a popular tourist attraction on other waterways, so we were more than happy to encourage and work with David to help him develop his new hire business on the Regent's Canal. They will add colour and charm to these historic waterways."
Although punts are associated with Oxford and Cambridge, they were designed as cargo boats or fishing platforms on the Thames. Their use grew during the 19th century but they were replaced with motor boats in the Fifties and Sixties.
Mr Carruthers is running the punts in his summer holiday with friends. The hiring point is on the towpath of the Regent's Canal near Mile End Road Bridge and is open every day.
They cost £15 an hour during the week and £18 an hour from 1pm until 6pm at weekends.
Lazy or inept sailors can hire a chauffeur to do the work for them for an extra £12. Hirers must be over 18 and lifejackets are available.
Enjoy the slow pace of water life — if only they could get rid of the rubbish
Miranda Bryant, on the Regent's and Hertford Union Canals
As we pull away from the mooring by Mile End Bridge, I feel less than confident. The punt feels like it could topple over at any time, and the scenery is stark, to say the least.
As we gain momentum and I start to trust David's punting skills, the sun breaks out from behind the clouds, I notice some lily pads bobbing up and down on the water and it starts to feel quite pleasant. Then we float into an empty Strongbow bottle, followed by a shopping trolley — a trend that continues during our two-hour trip. At Old Ford Lock we pass a complete BMW motorcycle dumped in the shallow waters. No matter how much cleaner the canal water has become, you can't get away from the rubbish.
To its merit, the journey does show London from a different perspective. We pass Mile End Park and Victoria Park, and on the way back there's a fantastic view of Canary Wharf.
The pace of life feels different. Passers-by are friendly: we even get asked if we'd like some chocolate cake. David lets punters tie up their boats wherever they like, as long as they bring them back, and there are plenty of sunny spots along Victoria Park that are nice to stop at.
Then the weather intervenes. As David struggles against the wind, and rain begin to fall, the water becomes choppy and I am forced to bail. I'm starting to feel a bit canalsick ...
Reader views (1)
I notice that they are punting Cambridge rather than Oxford style, does that say something?
- Peter G West, Corio, Victorio, Australia, 24/07/2009 12:01
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