Canal boat floats in Delphi

DELPHI, Ind. (WLFI) - Get a peek into the past in Delphi. A two-thirds replica of a canal boat will soon float in the Delphi canal. A Department of Transportation grant for $1.1-million funded the project. Scarano Boat Builders in Albany, New York, crafted the boat over two years, but the concept was many more years in the making. President of the of the Canal Association Dan McCain said the canal boat has been a dream for more than 30 years.

"This has been a dream for many, many, many of those years. When people would ask, 'Are you ever going to have a canal boat?' The answer was always yes, we just don't know when. Now today we know when, it's here," he said.

"We've been waiting for this for quite awhile. It's nice to see it's in the canal now and it's actually floating on it's own. I think it's going to bring a lot of people up and I think we're going to get a lot of stuff out of this. I think it's really going to help the community of Delphi," said Vernon Cripe who was there to see the arrival.

The boat holds 40 people. It will be christened on June 20 and will take its maiden voyage down the canal. Rides will be free that day.