Canal Boat equipment

Uxbridge Boat Centre

Uxbridge Wharf, Waterloo Rd, Uxbridge, Middx. UB8 2QX

Phone : 01895 252019

Fax : 01895 811035

E-mail : ubc@ubc.eclipse.co.uk

for Canal boat equipment visit

www.riverthames.co.uk/boat/chandlery/2442.htm

The canal boat used today has changed little on the surface from the boats used over one hundred years ago. But inside, these 7 foot wide boats are cleverly planned to provide comfortable and even luxurious holiday accommodation for up to 12 people, depending on the boat’s length. They are built to navigate without difficulty, so all you need worry about is which traditional pub or scenic spot to moor at!

narrow boat Sterngear

All narrowboats are steered by a tiller at the rear or stern.

Three types of stern:

Traditional:

Small, open rear deck with a pleasing compact shape. Very rare in hire boats.

Semi-traditional:

More standing area than the traditional type, with fixed seats in an enclosed area, making it ideal for supervising young children.

Cruisers:

These have a more spacious rear deck with seating, edged with a guard rail, making access on and off the boat easier.

Canal boats have reliable, quiet, smooth running diesel engines

Narrowboat Berths (Beds)

All boats have a number of fixed single (one-person) berths which can be left made-up with duvets/blankets throughout the day. Some boats have fixed double berths - usually about 4 feet (1.3 metres) wide, and suitable for two people.

Many boats have a dinette in the saloon which is converted to a double bed at night.

Four-star and five-star boats will usually have separate sleeping cabins so that the saloon is left free for sitting and dining. They may even have canal boat toilets and shower facilities exclusively for each sleeping cabin.

The number of people who can sleep on a boat depends upon whether you wish to use only the fixed berths or to utilise the convertible berths to give greater flexibility.

Canal boats are not allowed to travel after dark, so this needs to be considered when deciding what time of year you would like to travel, especially in the UK when darker evenings in March, April, September and October limit the cruising day. In the summer months you should have no trouble in sailing until 8pm or later if you wish to.

On average, four hours of cruising a day enables you to cover about 80-100 lock-miles in a week and see the sights. More energetic boaters may spend 8 hours a day or longer on the move.

Narrowboat Equipment extras

The equipment provided varies between boats, but there are all the comforts of home, including:

Comfortable beds or bunks with foam or interior sprung mattresses.

Narrowboat Galley equipment equipped with cooker, fridge, crockery, cutlery, pans etc

narrowboat Showers.

canal boat flushing toilets, some with electric flush.

Hot and cold running water.

narrowboat heaters.

canal boat freezers and microwaves on luxury boats.