We are not experienced hirers having hired twice for a two week period both times. The first hire was with Foxhangers in 2007 and we were given a very detailed handover of the boat followed by a walk to the nearest lock where we joined another couple hiring for the first time for a demonstration of how the locks work, safety aspects etc. We were then accompanied on our individual narrowboats to the first lock where the handover staff observed us locking through without any difficulty.
We continued on our way with the other narrowboat following. However it soon became clear over the next day that although we had both had exactly the same handover, the husband on the other boat was just too gungho for his own good much to his wife's unhappiness. She actually remarked to us that she wished he would watch what we were doing and take things a bit more slowly especially entering a lock. On the third day we learnt that she had been so stressed with his handling of the boat that she made her own way back to Bristol and he was joined by a friend on the boat instead. I think this just bears out what others have said - some people are just not teachable and it's not always the hire company at fault.
Our second hire was this year with Wyvern and again we had a friendly and professional handover and a great boat.
