Canal / Narrow Boat Holiday

[LSainsbury]

Evening,

We've been talked into a canal boat holiday for a few days sometime in June / July time with some friends. I was wondering if any of you lot have been on one before.

Got any tips on what to take, navigating, locks etc?


I've been on a narrow boat before for a day trip (with us doing the work) so I kinda know what to expect.

Cheers!

Lee

[WHISTLED]

Not been but would love to, just my thing that pottering along for a week.

[Cobbydaler]

Get the relevant Nicholson guide

Invaluable for places of interest, pubs & restaurants to eat in etc....

[tweetypie/8]

Originally Posted by LSainsbury

Evening,

We've been talked into a canal boat holiday for a few days sometime in June / July time with some friends. I was wondering if any of you lot have been on one before.

Got any tips on what to take, navigating, locks etc?


I've been on a narrow boat before for a day trip (with us doing the work) so I kinda know what to expect.

Cheers!

Lee

i would love to give it a go,sounds very relaxing.lol.

[Angua]

Colleague does this every holiday (even planning to spend a year doing this when her husband retires). I will ask her for tips when she is back on Wednesday.

[greencreeper]

I'll be watching the thread with interest. My mate has mentioned a holiday he had when he was younger - Norfolk Broads on a boat. I was planning to investigate logistics and costs. I can't swim, so I'm a bit worried about sinking. Then there's mechanical failure, fire, vicious dogs, and food.

Originally Posted by LSainsbury

Evening,

We've been talked into a canal boat holiday for a few days sometime in June / July time with some friends. I was wondering if any of you lot have been on one before.

Got any tips on what to take, navigating, locks etc?


I've been on a narrow boat before for a day trip (with us doing the work) so I kinda know what to expect.

Cheers!

Lee

It's easy as anything mate, once you've done one lock all the others will come naturally.

I did a canal holiday some years ago and it was the best holiday I'd had in ages, there's nothing better than waking up in the morning at the side of the river bank with other boats around you cooking bacon, there's also the benefits of stopping at one of the hundreds of pubs that are dotted round the canal network.

You'll enjoy it mate.

[Scarlett]

One thing I saw some time ago was a strong magnet on a rope, usefull especailly when you watch you car keys sinking into the canal...

[Valerie]

Canal boat holidays are great fun! My tips:

• take lots of books to read - it's so relaxing sitting on top of the boat as it gently makes it's way
• moore up for the night early to get the good places. pubs will often be happy for you to moore at their gardens as long as you stop for a drink!
• Check the toilet is empty when you pick it up! forgot to check once and only discovered when full & smelly
• Moore up well - sat admiring the scenery changing once before realising I was supposed to be tied up
• It is possible to 3 point turn a narrow boat in a wide enough place (my husband did it using the flow of the river) but it's better to plan your journey well instead!

Hope you have a great holiday

[Vlad_Dracul]

Originally Posted by Scarlett

One thing I saw some time ago was a strong magnet on a rope, usefull especailly when you watch you car keys sinking into the canal...

Youcan b a commercially made floating keyring in yachty type stores. Otherwie,just tie you keys to sonething that floats or puch a hole on a tennis ball and thread some string through it..

[Jules]

Sounds like a great idea for a holiday

[papa smurf]

never been on a narrow boat , but i go boating on the norfolk broads every year[cabin cruiser] its great ,its so peacfull its a whole new world ,my sons love it its a great adventure i go at the end of july ,cant wait. top tip take loads of booze and loads xtra in case you run out, things can be expensive riverside we allways take ample food n drink .

[greencreeper]

Expensive though - I was doing a bit of research this morning, and it's definitely a save-up job

[Angua]

Tips from my colleague (a regular boater)

Take more clothes than you think & layer. You can work up quite a sweat doing locks but be cold otherwise & not your best stuff (very easy to get muddy hopping on & off the boat).

Good non slip walking shoes (preferably 2 pairs in case one pair gets wet).

Always keep enough food for emergencies (she takes 4 days worth for a 7 night trip) as relying on shops which may be a long walk from the river (and then closed when you get there). You could end up moored far from anywhere if you time it wrong once it gets dark. Or the pub you manage to get to is not doing food that evening.

Make sure you get some training on how to use all the controls and are sure of what you should do in various situations.

Take a well charged mobile & keep a regular check of landmarks & bridge numbers as you travel (in case of emergencies).

Pay attention to signs especially ones which warn you not to leave your boat unattended (one like this near the Cadbury factory).

Otherwise have fun

[papa smurf]

Originally Posted by Angua

Tips from my colleague (a regular boater)

Take more clothes than you think & layer. You can work up quite a sweat doing locks but be cold otherwise & not your best stuff (very easy to get muddy hopping on & off the boat).

Good non slip walking shoes (preferably 2 pairs in case one pair gets wet).

Always keep enough food for emergencies (she takes 4 days worth for a 7 night trip) as relying on shops which may be a long walk from the river (and then closed when you get there). You could end up moored far from anywhere if you time it wrong once it gets dark. Or the pub you manage to get to is not doing food that evening.

Make sure you get some training on how to use all the controls and are sure of what you should do in various situations.

Take a well charged mobile & keep a regular check of landmarks & bridge numbers as you travel (in case of emergencies).

Pay attention to signs especially ones which warn you not to leave your boat unattended (one like this near the Cadbury factory).

Otherwise have fun

good tips i allso take my sat nav it follows rivers and you can see poi such as post ofices etc which arent allways visible from the boat, and where thers a po theres usualy more shops