A blog about boats, fishing, water sports and having fun on the ocean
Can you rent a narrow boat?
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The minimum hire is one month and monthly increments thereafter; you can hire for any duration provided it is for bona fide continuous cruising with a minimum crew of two adults over 18. Great value for money extended holiday option. Try the boating life before you buy your own boat.
How much does it cost to hire a narrowboat in the UK?
Hire boat prices vary depend on time of year and boat size but are probably between £350 to £450 per person per week. Hotelboat Holidays are usually all inclusive, fully catered and serviced, costing between £1,000 to £1,500 per person per week.
How far can you go on a narrow boat in a day?
How far can I travel? During the summer months you can expect to cruise for anywhere between four and seven hours a day. Travelling at 3-4mph for four hours a day will mean you cover around 80 to 100 miles in a week.
Narrowboats are fairly straightforward to drive but they take a little practice to master. Accidents are rare and even with minimal training, a combination of common sense, care and caution should carry you through your holiday without any problems. The speed limit on the canals is 4mph.
Can you rent a narrow boat? – Related Questions
Do I need a licence to drive a narrowboat?
You do not need a licence or certificate to steer a boat for up to 12 people, the maximum canal boat size. What does the boat hire charge include ? The hire charge is quoted for the boat with up to its specified maximum number of people. A full tank of fuel gives two weeks cruising time on average.
Can you drink and drive a narrowboat?
“No person shall navigate any vessel on any canal or take any part in the navigation, mooring or handling of any vessel on the canal whilst under the influence of drink to such an extent as to be incapable of having proper control of the vessel.”
How do you steer a narrow boat?
What is the simplest boat?
Jon Boats are among the simplest and most popular boats around. Many consist of little more than an aluminum hull with a flat bottom and a squared-off bow, bench seats, and an outboard or electric outboard engine.
How old do you need to be to drive a narrowboat?
“How old do they have to be to drive the boat?” Children aged 12 and up can drive the boat but they have to be supervised by you when they’re at the wheel.
No, you are the pilot. They go over everything with you. The canals are not wide, so there’s really nowhere for you to go, other than in the direction in which you are headed.
Which side do you pass on a canal?
But on most canals, unless there’s another boat coming towards you, you’ll steer down the middle as it’s likely to be shallow near the edges. When you do meet an approaching boat, keep to the right and pass ‘port-to-port’ (the left side of your boat passes the left side of the approaching boat).
Can canal boats travel at night?
Can I drive a canal boat at night? If you own a canal boat, it is not illegal to drive your canal boat in the dark – however, if you are renting from a canal boat supplier, such as ABC Boat Hire, these hire boats are not permitted to be driven at night.
Is it hard to steer a canal boat?
A narrowboat handles very curiously because it’s flat-bottomed and draws very little water. It’s surprisingly maneuverable, but moving at such low speed, you have to anticipate your turns and wait for any movement of the tiller to have any effect. Once the boat does turn, it will continue to turn for some time.
Can narrow boats reverse?
While reversing, narrowboats often have a tendency to veer to one side – however, once you’ve established the optimum speed needed for reversing, turning your canal boat around becomes fairly simple.
Can anyone drive a canal boat in the UK?
Unlike a car, you do not need a licence to drive a canal boat or any other kind of pleasure craft on the canals.
The speed limit for the majority of inland waterways in the United Kingdom managed by the Canal & River Trust is 4 mph (6.4 km/h). All speed measurements on Canal & River Trust waterways are expressed in terms of speed over the ground, rather than speed through the water.
How far can you travel in a canal boat in a day?
As previously mentioned, your canal boat is not permitted to travel at more than four miles per hour – and you also have to allow around 15 minutes for passing through each lock.
Can you over take on a canal?
Only Overtake A Slower Boat If They Wave You On.
You usually overtake on the left, but agree this with the other skipper beforehand. And remember – its your responsibility to steer clear of the other boat. If you both end up on the mud there isn’t much point!
How often should you black a narrowboat?
Some people opt to have it re-done every 12 – 18 months, where others will leave it 3 – 5 years. If you can afford to do it more often, there is no harm in doing so and your boat will benefit from it.
How long do narrowboats last?
If you take good care of it, the narrowboat battery may last for as long as six to eight years. If you don’t take good care of it, it can fail within a couple of seasons.