Salvaged tug a treat for Nessie watchers

• Floating feeling: Dan Clark, left, and volunteer Dale Paton aboard the Scot II.

A historic ice-breaking tug abandoned for years on an island beach is on its way back to its former home as part of ambitious restoration plans.

Scot II's steel plate hull produced a wash on Loch Ness that was often mistaken for Nessie because it swept across the water for a considerable distance behind the vessel.

Now a former Caledonian Canal lock keeper plans to return the 75ft-long tug to its former glory and put it back into service on the waterway.

The 57-ton Scot II is the oldest remaining vessel on the Fort William-Inverness canal and is thought to be the oldest ice-breaking tug in Britain,

The boat was a familiar sight on the canal, of which Loch Ness forms part, for 60 years until it became a bar and restaurant at Laggan in 1992.

It was sold by canal owner British Waterways five years ago, but subsequent private restoration plans failed and the vessel became a rusting hulk beside a boatyard on Bute, where it remained sunk for nearly a year. Fort Augustus cruise boat manager Dan Clark has just succeeded in his second attempt at buying the Scot II, which is now on the first leg of its journey home.

Clark hopes to rebuild the tug so it can return to ice-breaking duties to keep the waterway open during the winter.

It was closed for three weeks at the turn of the year because of the big freeze. Clark said vessels such as fishing boats and yachts were currently denied passage over the shortcut across the Highlands during such periods.

The Scot II, which is expected to be able to carry up to 70 passengers, as before, would also resume duties as a bar and restaurant, be used for events such as weddings, and act as a floating museum.

Clark said: "When it was operating as a cruise boat, "sightings" of the Loch Ness Monster increased dramatically, so the local economy might benefit from it being back. Scot II put out a large wash because of the shape of its hull, which remained well after the boat was clear because waves hit the shore and came back again."

The loch-ness.org information website also stated: "Scot II, with its ice-breaker bow, was the cause of many monster sightings, as it caused wonderfully sinuous waves which people mistook for the monster, sometimes more than 20 minutes after the vessel had disappeared from view."

Clark, who is working with his father James, a former Scot II captain, has assembled a team of volunteers including former crew members, to start repairs while funds are raised for the project from local businesses.

He said 75,000 is required for essential work on its hull and damage caused by the sinking. However, the cost of full restoration, including a complete new superstructure, is estimated at 750,000.

The vessel was built for the then Department of Transport by Henry Robbs of Leith in 1931 to replace Scot, the canal's previous icebreaker. It was steam-powered until being fitted with a rare prototype diesel engine 30 years later.

As well as ice-breaking work, the tug pulled barges, assisted with the removal of lock gates for maintenance and operated canal cruises.

Clark said: "This is the boat's last chance. A survey of the hull has shown it is in good condition, but a lot of money needs to be spent on restoring the vessel, which is the most historic on the canal.

"We will start work without funding to preserve what's left so it does not deteriorate any more. We want to create a replica of what was there before."

Scot II had been left by its previous owner at the Ardmaleish boat yard, near Port Bannatyne on Bute.

It has now reached Ardyre on the Cowal peninsula, on the mainland opposite, awaiting good weather to complete its journey north. It will be towed via the Crinan Canal and Loch Linnhe to the Caledonian Canal in an expected three-day operation.

Nick Walker, of the Puffer Preservation Trust, who is providing the former German customs boat Duke of Normandy to tow Scot II, said: "I'm very excited by the project - it was the smartest boat in the trade. It is disgraceful it has been allowed to reach this state."

Clark appealed for anyone interested in assisting with the restoration to contact him at: [email protected]