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A former Caledonian Canal & Loch Ness cruiser "Abbey Princess", originally built in 1975, was acquired with the aid of a £4,000 grant from Highland Regional Council.
Abbey Princess
A full conversion was carried out by Mr Jim Hogan of Caley Marina, under the supervision of Master Mariner Captain Duncan Robertson, to provide suitable boarding facilities and accommodation for people with special needs. The boat cost £65,000 and thanks to our donors we had the funds to meet it. Funding was received from Highlands and Islands Development Board, BBC Children in Need, British Waterways and numerous local firms. The Trust is grateful for the free berthing of the vessel at Caley Marina.
The conversion involved the fitting of two hydraulic lifts to aid passengers and wheelchair access from the main deck down to the passenger cabin and to allow them to come up to the main deck to experience steering the vessel if they so desired. The wheelhouse was moved from midships to the stern, a new 42hp Volvo main engine and 4.5kw generator were installed and the accommodation area was completely re-furbished. The vessel is 48 feet long with a beam of 9 feet 8 inches with the capability of carrying 12 passengers, of those up to 6 may be in wheelchairs.
Highland Seagull was slightly larger than the Yarrow design, needed because of the operations on a more open stretch of water.
Stanley Ross-Smith surveys the conversion
Highland Seagull taking shape
The completed Highland seagull
1989 Highland Seagull Named
The most important event of 1989 was the renaming ceremony of Highland Seagull (previously named the (Abbey Princess) held on the 30th June at Inverness in the presence of the Earl and Countess of Inverness (the Duke and Duchess of York).It was a pouring wet day but nevertheless everyone enjoyed themselves, especially the eight handicapped representatives who came from districts throughout the Highland Region and Orkney. The Rev. P Sutcliffe rededicated Highland Seagull.
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