One day

Yes we will be owners one day - we have been doing at least a week a year (usually early or late season) for a few years and I reckon we are close to spending as much on this as keeping our own narrowboat. Just have to find the purchase money - unlikely before we get a couple of kids through uni. Anyway hiring is great way of seeing lots of different waterways. Until then our boat is an old Enterprise sailing dinghy although I tempted to build a folding, trailable camping punt.

Hi All, My first post here but I have found the conversations here both fun and educational (even those about boating!). We have had many enjoyable cruises over the years on lots of different boats and waterways and are hoping for a half-decent bit of weather next week for a trip south on the Oxford aboard the UCC NB Cheviot. One thing I have noted is that hire boats don't seem to come with side fenders any more. When I asked at the Ashby Boat Co last year they said "We don't bother now - they just get or lost caught up". Is it worth asking any more? I do miss them on a breezy night when moored against metal pilings - I'm thinking about bringing my own - it's a start towards boat ownership