Narrow Boat Hire

Narrowboat Hire Frequently Asked Questions

Arrival & Departure

Each narrowboat has different arrival and departure times. Please see details on the boat your are interested for times etc. If for any reason you are unable to arrive on time please contact the start base or Booking Office in order that special arrangements can be made well in advance of your holiday. A late arrival charge may apply.

Tuition

No previous experience is necessary, as our narrowboats are extremely easy to handle and full tuition is given at the start of every holiday. Comprehensive cruising information is in a manual on the boat and details are sent out with the holiday documents to introduce you to the theory of locks and the 'rules of the road'. We provide our own 24hr emergency help line.

Maps & Guides

A number of guides are available for planning your trip or locating all the sites of interest, pubs, shops and facilities along your route. The guides relevant to each route are indicated on the route information pages . These may be purchased at the start of your holiday at the marina.

Licences & Restrictions

You do not need a driving licence for a narrowboat and the boat itself is licenced by us for The Canals & Rivers Trust. There are a few waterways outside their jurisdiction for which you will need to purchase an additional licence as you enter them, such as the Rivers Avon, Thames and Wey. Our start bases can provide details when you arrive to pick up your boat. The maximum number of people on board is restricted to the number of berths, with an absolute maximum of twelve.

Buoyancy Aids

There are buoyancy aids available free of charge for both children and adults at the marinas (compulsory for children under the age of 18 and non-swimmers). They do not need to be booked in advance and should be requested upon arrival at the marina so the correct size can be fitted.

Young Children

A narrowboat holiday is superb for families. Cot-sides can be provided for very small children on standard berths. Simply indicate this on the booking form.

Cots

If you would like to use a travel cot or you are bringing your own to use, please contact the booking office. Space is obviously limited and for health and safety reasons we can advise on suitable boats that they can be accommodated on.

Bedding

On all our boats freshly laundered bedding is provided for each person on the crew list to the bed layout requested.

Pets

This really is a holiday the whole family can enjoy together. We charge for each pet (found on the booking form). We request that the narrowboat is returned in a clean and tidy condition and reserve the right to refuse pets or charge for any additional cleaning or repairs required as a result of pets being on board during your holiday.

Fishing

Fishing is prohibited on British rivers between 15th March and 15th June. Fishing is allowed outside these dates and on canals at any time, but a licence is required. This is available from any post office with a 1-day, 8-day or annual licence to choose from. For reasons of hygiene,we regret that live bait may not be kept on the boat.

Mobile phone charging

All of our boats have a 12-volt electricity supply with a car-type cigar lighter socket that can be used with a mobile phone car adapter lead (bring your own lead). On some boats there is a 240-volt electricity supply that can be used for your own equipment at your own risk. 110- volt AC supply is not available in the UK .

Extras

The only compulsory charges in addition to the boat price are a fuel deposit and the cost of fuel consumed.

Fuel

The boat is ready fuelled for your holiday on arrival, but there is a fuel deposit payable with your holiday booking. This is shown on the booking form and is not included in the hire cost. When you return the boat to us the balance is refundable after deducting fuel used. However if you have used fuel in excess of the deposit you will be asked to pay the difference.

Parking

There is ample open air parking at our bases which is provided free of charge. We regret that we cannot accept responsibility for loss or damage to hirers? vehicles.

Look Before You Book

We welcome inspection of our boats before you book. Please phone the bases before you arrive to ensure they are open and boats are available for viewing.

What to wear and bring

A canal holiday is very informal so bring casual, comfortable clothes suitable for operating the boat and locks. These will tend to be T-shirts and jeans, or trousers, with shorts for hotter days. A good sweater or coat is also useful for cold mornings or evenings, as are gloves when operating locks. Gardening type gloves are ideal. The most important item of clothing for the holiday is a pair of nonslip, flat rubber soled shoes. Trainers etc, are suitable but not leather or hard soled shoes - a shoe with a firm grip will avoid slips around the boat and locks. Other items we recommend you bring are waterproof clothing such as anoraks, sunglasses to avoid the glare off the water, a washing bag and night wear. A pair of boots can be useful especially if you want to do any walking.

Your boat will be fully equipped with all the necessary crockery, cutlery and cooking utensils. All of the boats have CD and DVD players so you can bring along a supply of your own favourite CDs or DVDs with you. Freshly laundered bed linen is provided on all boats including duvets, duvet covers, bottom sheets, pillows and pillow cases.

LUGGAGE: We recommend that your luggage is of the soft bag type a large suitcases are difficult to store on the boat. Where this is not possible we suggest that you leave suitcases in the car.

Where to go and what to do

There is a great temptation to undertake long circular cruises or rings only to discover that it is all proving to be much harder work than you first thought. We always recommend an out and return route for beginners - many experienced boaters also prefer this. Working through the locks does take some effort and whilst this activity is part of the enjoyment of a canal cruise, you do not want to make it a chore. A cruising day of about 8 hours is the most that you should plan for, and remember that you might want some time to do other things as well.

As a rough calculation when planning a route, add the number of locks to the distance in miles and divide the total by 3 to give cruising time in hours.

Guide books for all canals and navigable rivers are available in our marina shops. Places of interest and the facilities you may need are listed and described alongside the maps, so you will always know in advance what is to be found around the next bend.

Water

All our boats carry around 100 gallons or 450 litres of water which is delivered to the taps by an automatic electric pump. You are advised to refill your water tank every day. This reduces the filling time, which can be lengthy at some taps and avoids the risk of running out at an inconvenient place or time. There are many water points along your route all will be shown in the various canal cruising guides. Nearly all boat yards have water points (there may be a small charge), but do remember to ask first as there are no special rights or agreements.

Toilets

All of our boats are equipped with fresh water flushing toilets designed to need emptying only once a week with average use. Should the toilet tank need emptying during the holiday it is a chargeable service that is provided by most boat yards. Having been emptied during the turnaround, the toilet should be entirely trouble free providing it is used correctly. Only human waste and toilet paper should go down the toilet.

Any other items (including sanitary articles, nappies, wet wipes, kitchen towels and quilted toilet paper) should not be flushed down the toilet, but placed in the bags provided to hygienically transfer these items to a suitable bin.

Cruising

The maximum speed allowed on the canals is 4mph. If the wash from the boat creates a wave along the back your speed is too high.

The waterways are a resource to be enjoyed by everyone and we would ask you to respect other users. Please slow down when going past other boats particularly when moored.

Fishermen generally prefer you to slow down when going past them. but it is important that you try to stay in the centre of the canal where the water is deepest.

You are not permitted to cruise after dark. The boat is not fitted with navigation lights and the insurance becomes invalid.

Mooring

Most visitor moorings on canals and rivers governed by The Canals & Rivers Trust are free of charge. In fact you are permitted to moor anywhere on the towpath side of the canal free of charge so long as you are not causing an obstruction. However at certain privately owned sites there may be a fee for overnight mooring. The River Thames is a typical example, as well as parts of the Kennet and Avon canal and Bristol Dock.

Locks

Locks are part of the enjoyment and we will explain during your handover how to operate them. There is no mystery to using locks - just a series of step by step tasks. With the gates closed you open 'paddles' to let water in or out, raising or lowering the water level, so that you can move the boat to a new level. To open the paddles, you use a windlass (L shaped handle) to turn a series of cogs and wheels. Keep a firm grip while operating it and never leave it unattended on the paddle gear.

Bridges & Tunnels

Boats travelling downstream on a river have the right of way. On canals if you are approaching a bridge and can see a boat coming in the opposite direction that will reach the bridge before you slow down and give way to them. As you enter a tunnel, switch on your headlight and give one long blast on your horn. Keep your speed moderate and stay clear of any boat in front.

Do you accept bookings from stag and hen parties?

Yes we do. You can cruise into the city of Birmingham from Alvechurch or Bath from Hilperton.

Do you have any boats that have wheelchair access?

We don't currently have any in our fleet but Willow Wren operate a boat. You can contact them on 01788 562183.