Your Hire Narrowboat!
How Do You Choose?

Narrowboats, (or canal boats), are floating homes, with everything aboard to make your holiday a comfortable and enjoyable experience.

Layout of boats differ from boat to boat, and from company to company, but most have water cooled diesel engines, central heating, showers, cookers, fridges, TV’s and radios.

In some boats, the double bed converts to a table, to utilize space. In others, the dining table is permanent, depending on the number of people travelling.

This one is an ideal 2 person boat with one fixed single bed, (ideal for storage!) and one double bed that converts to a dinette.

It has stove, sink, shower, easy to operate flushing toilet, everything you need.

If there is only two of you, this boat is ideal.

And, the smaller boats are cheaper!

Anglo Welsh have the Premier, Royal,classic or Cruiser fleets to choose from, depending on your budget.

This has two fixed beds in the forward compartment, and again the double bed, converting to the dinette.

These are lovelly boats to cruise,With a cruiser stern and quite a bit of space.

An ideal cruising boat for the first time out!

See the Anglo Welsh fleet here.

All Black Prince boats are superbly fitted out, and have six bases around the system.

The Duchess is 52ft long, and has a fixed double bed in the rear compartment.

So, if there are two travelling, no putting the bed up and down each time!

The table at the front converts to a bed for extra guests, and there is an extra bunk forward that folds down.

On the Duchess, there is also a nice lounge area with two very comfortable easy chairs to relax in after a days cruising.

See more Black Prince boats here.

All hire companies give a thorough run down on the boat, how to steer it, how to moor, and how to do the daily checks.

The narrow boat is easy to sail, and moor, so most pick it up very quickly.

Remember, you are only travelling at 4 mph!

The boat carries enough fuel for a two week cruise. If the trip is longer, filling is easy, and there are plenty of bases to re fuel.

Also, with water, there are plenty of water points along the canal. Filling is easy, and hoses are provided on the boat.

Toilets on the boat are easy to operate, clean and hygienic. They can be easily pumped out if needed at any of the many bases around the canal system.

Narrowboats have three different stern types. Cruiser stern, traditional stern, and semi traditional stern.

The traditional stern, on the left, so called because the working boats had this type of stern, has a small rear deck, where the steerer stands. There is shelter provided by moving forward into the hatch. Great in windy or wet weather, but not a lot of room for other travelers.

The semi-traditional (right)s has a larger rear deck allowing more people, and protection with solid sides. Travelers can also sit on the locker in the hatch area. This is the Alvechurch boat Empress, a beautifull example of the Semi trad. The cruiser stern, (left) offers large rear deck area and seating for steerer and crew. Not a lot of protection from weather, but very easy access getting on and off the boat. The large deck can be seen here on the Alvechurch boat Jackdaw, as she cruises near Braunston.

Most hire companies have boats with a choice of stern arrangements, and which one you choose depends on your own taste. Or, what boat is available from which base.

The hire company you choose will give advice on which stern is for your own particular needs.

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