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Frequently asked questions
We offer a range of boat sizes with accommodation for two to 12 people.
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We’ve given answers to the most frequently asked questions about our canal boat holidays.
From ‘Do I need a licence to drive a canal boat?’ to ‘Can I bring my hair dryer?’, we’ve put together the answers to some of the most often asked questions about our canal boat holidays.
FAQs about canal boat holidays
Do I need a licence?
You don’t need a licence to steer a canal boat and it’s easy to learn how to operate a boat. When you arrive at one of our boat yards, one of our experienced instructors will guide you through everything you need to know. The boat handover process, which includes instruction, takes around one hour.
Which side of the canal should I be on?
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.
Where can I moor at night?
You can moor on the towpath. Just don’t moor next to locks, bridges, opposite turning points or on a water point.
What's a wide beam boat?
Wide beam boats are twice the width of narrowboats and can only navigate broad canals. Wide beam boats are also called ‘broad beam boats’, ‘canal boats’ or ‘barges’. We offer wide beam boats for hire at our Silsden base.
What's a cruiser stern?
The stern (back) of a ‘cruiser stern’ narrowboat is usually larger and has more open space. Access is easier and there is space for five crew members as well as the person steering.
What's a semi-traditional stern?
A semi-trad stern has a larger area on the rear deck protected by solid sides. It offers less weather protection for the person steering, but several people can usually sit on the lockers in the deck space. We offer a choice of cruiser stern and semi-trad stern boats.
How fast does a canal boat go?
Canal boats travel at around three miles per hour (walking pace), but you’ll need to slow down when passing moored boats.
How does a lock work?
A lock is a chamber with gates at either end. By emptying or filling the chamber with water, boats can move up or down a canal. With the lock gates closed, open the sluices (paddles) to let the water in or out. When the water level under your boat is the same as the level it’s moving to, you can move your boat in or out of the lock.
How long does it take to go through a lock?
Typically it takes around 15-20 minutes to go through a lock.
What is a windlass?
A windlass is an L-shaped handle used to open and close lock paddles. Remember to keep a firm grip on the windlass and never leave it unattended on the paddle gear.
What is a winding hole?
A winding hole is a place where the canal is wide enough to turn. Many of our routes are ‘out and back’ so you’ll need to plan where you turn your boat, roughly half-way through your holiday.
How deep is a canal?
Canal depth varies and some canals are deeper than others. But most of the UK’s canals were built to take fully laden freight-carrying vessels with a six-foot draft. With a build-up of silt over the years, it’s usually much shallower at the sides of canals.
Can I bring my dog?
Yes, our holidays are pet-friendly and dog-friendly. The first pet travels for free. You can have up to three well behaved pets. Second and third are charged at £25 each for a short break, £35 for a week. Don’t forget to bring their bed, food, bowls and any toys they might need to stay comfortable.
Will my boat have heating?
All our narrowboats have gas central heating with radiators throughout for cosy year-round canal boat holidays. Our luxury boats also have a multi-fuel stove.
Will my boat have a flushing toilet and hot water?
Yes. The toilets on our boats are fully flushing high specification chemical toilets and the showers are fed by the boat’s water tank.
Can I cook onboard?
All our boats have well equipped kitchens (galleys) with a full size gas oven, a small fridge, pots and pans, crockery and cutlery. Some also have microwaves.
What bedding is provided?
All bed linen is provided – sheets, pillows, pillow cases, duvets and duvet covers to suit the combination of single and double beds on your narrowboat for each of the crew members. Towels are also provided.
Do you provide life jackets?
Buoyancy aids are available on arrival at the boatyard. They are not automatically provided as they have to be individually sized for each narrowboat crew member. We keep a range of sizes to suit adults and children so please request buoyancy aids when making your booking.
Can I charge my mobile phone?
Yes. Our boats have 240 volt 3-pin sockets powered by the on-board batteries. Some of our boats also have USB ports. Only charge devices when the engine is running to avoid draining the boat’s batteries.
Can I bring my hair dryer?
Your narrowboat has a 12v electrical supply and a 12v hairdryer will be supplied on board as part of your boat inventory. No electrical appliance should be left plugged in unattended. Only use one appliance at a time. Wherever possible, run the narrowboat engine whilst using the appliance so that you are charging the batteries.
Can I bring my hair straighteners?
Hair straighteners are usually less than 1,000 watts so you can charge them on our boats. The same applies to cool boxes, blenders and phone and computer chargers.
Are there any electrical appliances I can’t bring?
Yes. Unlike at home, there is a limit to the power that is available on a narrowboat. Our canal boats have a device called an inverter, which converts the power from the on-board batteries into a 240-volt supply. The inverters have a power limitation of 1,000 watts, which excludes many domestic electrical appliances. Usually, the following are more than 1,000 watts and therefore are not permitted on our canal boats: kettles, irons, hairdryers, vacuum cleaners and any form of heaters.
Can I bring a medical electrial appliance?
If the appliance is above 1,000 watts then don’t bring it onto the canal boat. Remember that it’s impossible to guarantee that a battery-powered supply system will be able to provide a constant supply of power to any electrical device, including medical appliances. This is because the batteries are charged when the engine is running; as soon as the engine is turned off, then the electrics will start to run the battery down quite quickly. If you need to bring an electrical medical appliance with you on your canal boat holiday, talk to us first.
Do your boats have WiFi?
Yes, we’ve installed internet hubs on all our boats. These hubs give you free unlimited WiFi access, connecting you to the internet from aboard your boat, signal permitting. They work in a similar way to a smartphone, so are at the mercy of signal strength, which is likely to be poor in rural areas.
Can we bring bikes?
You’re welcome to bring a maximum of 2 bikes at your own risk, but the only place to store bikes is on the roof of your narrowboat, so you will need to bring an old blanket or other protective cover to lay on the roof. You will also need to take great care of low bridges and overhanging obstructions. You cannot put the bikes inside the canal boat at any time to avoid damage to furnishings, so you will also need to bring a suitable lock and chain to secure bikes when leaving the narrowboat.
Can we fish?
You are welcome to fish subject to holding the appropriate rod/fishing licences for the waterway that you are on, but please don’t bring live bait onto your narrowboat.
Where can we park our car?
Your canal boat holiday cost includes car parking at the boat yard. Please note that parking space is limited at some yards, so ensure you minimise the number of cars you bring where possible. Parking is at your own risk.
Do I have to pay for a licence?
Your canal boat will be licensed for the waterway it is on, whether canals or a river. You will have to pay a visitor licence if you go onto the River Avon or River Thames.
How old do you have to be to hire at boat?
The minimum age of the hirer is 18. It is essential that for safety your narrowboat holiday crew comprises at least 2 adults. Crew members under 18 may drive your narrowboat under supervision of the hirer or another member of the crew over 18 years of age.
Can I cruise at night?
Hire boats are not permitted to cruise after dusk or before dawn – you will need to be moored up by nightfall.
Can I drink and drive?
For the safety of yourself and others, you must not drive a narrowboat under the influence of excess alcohol. Doing so would also invalidate your damage waiver.
How long will my holiday be?
We offer a range of holidays from 3-night weekends and 4-night midweek getaways, to one week, 10-day, 11-day, 2 weeks, or more! Cruises can start on a Friday, Saturday, Monday or Tuesday, depending on the boat you choose. Holidays from Silsden are offered every day of the week except Wednesdays.
Are there recommended routes for beginners?
Yes, if it’s your first canal boat holiday or you have young children, we recommend selecting an out-and-back route so that you can decide how much time you want to spend cruising and how much time exploring attractions along the way. There are places to turn your narrowboat, known as ‘winding holes’, along the way.
What is a ring route?
Canal cruising rings are circular routes that allow you to see a new stretch of water every day on your boating holiday. Depending on where you begin, some can take as little as 4 days, others up to 4 weeks. Most canal ring routes require between 6 and 10 hours cruising a day.
What time do I pick up the boat?
Your narrowboat will be ready to pick up between 2pm and 4pm in summer, and 1pm and 3pm in winter, and should be returned to its canal boat base by 9am on the morning of your departure.
What if we break down?
Our teams are on hand 24 hours a day if you need our help. The emergency number is featured in our boat operating manuals.
Can I get some training?
We provide tuition as part of our holiday hire, but if you’d like to take some training before your holiday, we offer an RYA-approved training course in boat handling. To find out more, call our bookings team on 0117 463 3887.
FAQs
Do I need any expertise to drive a canal boat?
You don’t need a licence to steer a canal boat and we provide tuition as part of our boat rental.
Where can I moor overnight and what does it cost?
There are plenty of places to moor your canal boat for free along towpaths, making overnight stops flexible and stress-free. If you prefer additional facilities like water, electricity, or secure mooring, some marinas charge a small fee. Our team can provide route advice, including the best mooring spots along your journey.
What should I pack?
We recommend packing all weather/waterproof clothing and deck shoes, pumps or sneakers and it’s a good idea to bring slippers, sliders or thick socks to wear on board. We provide towels and bedding. We don’t recommend you bring large suitcases onboard our boats, but we can store them for you, if necessary. We’ve published advice on what to pack.
How easy is it to operate locks?
Operating locks is a fun part of the canal boat holiday experience, and it’s easier than you might think. During your handover, we’ll explain how to safely work locks. You’ll quickly get the hang of it, and there’s always help at busy locks if you need it.
