QE Fleet

The QE was the first design launched after Black Prince had changed ownership in 1987. This was an ultra-modern, luxurious fleet launched in 1988 with the 70ft 8/10 berth and followed the next year by 2-8 berth classes with many areas moving away from traditional narrowboat designs and towards a more luxurious, floating hotel concept.

Notable features include semi-trad stern, large, deep forward windows, a windowless galley with high level units for extra storage, side doors, two fixed doubles on larger craft, a modern bathroom including curved shower/bath and Microphor toilet. All fixed berths featured interior sprung mattresses and bedrooms initially had blinds rather than curtains.

The interior was fitted with almost all white surfaces, something tamed slightly on later build years and when refitted or updated to add more colour.

The exterior was equally as striking and non-traditional in their grey and blue colour scheme with red border. This was changed for 1995 into the fleets now standard colour schemes. In later years the white louvered windows were replaced for gold top hopper frames.

The last few remaining QE craft were retired at the end of 2001, but almost fifty were running in their heyday, their success in numbers only really beaten by Black Princes’ next design - the Duchess.

For a few years a Princess class was also offered. This had the same QE8 layout but also had microwave, toaster, electric kettle and freezer, though these were removed around 1993 and these craft became standard QE8 classes.