Mick in Bangkok

Yes I just realised after reading Dr. Bobs first reply that it was called the Warwickshire ring. I plan to hire for 14 days so plenty of time to get around and a few days to spare that I will spend exploring some of the canals leading onto the ring. I would like to see some urban canals as well as rural but also have read some posts in the past saying to head straight for the city centre and not to linger around the suburbs and was wondering how big an issue this was and if this concern is warranted. Also the starting point is optional depending on where the hire boat companies are, I just picked Rugby as I assumed there would be a couple there, I will start exploring hire boat options now as well so also open to advice on which companies are best.

Just looking for advice on my next hire boat cruise, Myself and family did a two week cruise on the South Oxford last year starting at lower Heyford and traveling on to the Grand Union as far as Gayton Junction then back on the same route. This year I would like to try a ring route and looking at the canal maps and am considering starting around Rugby and traveling up the North Oxford and Coventry Canal to Birmingham and onto the Grand Union back to Rugby. Can anyone give advice of traveling through Birmingham and Coventry, are moorings difficult to come by and is city cruising as bad as some have suggested. Also open to suggestions of other ring routs elseward for a two week cruising period. Cheers Mick

Thank you for all of the feed back, I will spend some time looking at these suggestions and see if I can come up with a plan

is there any such thing as AirB&B boat hire for narrow boats?

Last September I enjoyed my first two week narrow boat holiday on the South Oxford with the Oxford Narrow Boat hire fleet, had a great time with my family and now considering my second trip this summer. My overall plan is to come away with enough experience behind me to consider buying a boat for retirement in the coming years. For this purpose I would like my next trip to be on a more traditional boat with a trad stern and if possible an engine room and back cabin or anything close to this that is available for hire. Can anyone point me in the direction of where to look for such a boat, full size if possible. Also I am not committed to go school holidays this year so what is a good time for best hire prices but still good weather. Thanks for any advice.

This boat was advertised around July this year and I did view her myself in September when back in UK. Although I did not place an offer I noted that that was a sale agreed placed very shortly after. As it has again appeared on apolloduck still with sale agreed I am wondering what may have happened in the meantime. https://www.apolloduck.com/boat.phtml?id=565121 Also this is the first and only boat I have viewed and I thought It appropriately priced and in the range I was looking for a permanent cruiser live aboard for retirement. However with very limited experience I would be very interested in other more experienced views to assist me in fine tuning my viewing skills as I intend to keep looking for a 70’ with vintage engine and boatman’s cabin. Any comments would be welcome. Cheers Mick

I have my fist narrow boat holiday booked starting September 8th on Oxford South commencing at Hayford so hope they have plugged the leak before then.

I bought an upmarket leather sofa for our apartment a couple of years ago, the sofa is of Italian leather, only the leather was imported and the frame and carcass made locally by the agent/vendor. As the show room model was too big for our apartment both the frame and leather cover was cut down in size at no extra cost (or saving). Given this experience perhaps by approaching suppliers you may get a similar tailored version to allow a sofa designed to your requirements, i.e. size and ability to deconstruct. The money saved on converting a boat door would then be invested in a better quality sofa.

Also a newbe here so interested in all the comments offered, however 4 above mentions boats larger than 70' being unpopular and high maintenance, surely 70' or 72' would be the limit available?

But distance is relevant to time

this looks very handy

thank you I will look these up

Quality cruising would take preference.

I am very much open to suggested routes for my 1st outing as I would like to get the best out of my holiday.

Can I ask what would be a good canal guide book to purchase for my first trip this summer, are there any favoured publishers. I will likely be traveling the North Oxford but wouldn’t mind a comprehensive book of the network. Cheers Mick