Hire Boats

[Chris Lowe]

Guys I want to take my mate his missis and daughter on the cut next year and they have never done it before, locks don't bother me but I'd rather not have to take newbies through a long lock flight although I think they'd pick it up quickly.

 

Who would be a good base to hire from, & much as I like it I'm not going up the Llangollen peak season, & I'll probably be looking for a 65 footer with 2 bogs, I know some bases do them.

 

It'll be an experience for me as well a 45ft Swanline is the longest I've ever steered.

 

At the moment Union Wharf Narrowboats are looking my favourite.

 

 

[Paul C]

Lots of hire firms do a boat approx 65ft with 2 loos - in fact at that length, it would be unusual for it NOT to have 2 separate bathrooms.

 

Why avoid the Llangollen? Part of the fun is that there's loads of other boats/boaters, and also its relatively few locks for a week long trip from near Hurleston. And there's tons of choice of hirers in that area too. And the canal basically has a bit of everything - tunnels, aqueducts (of course), staircase locks, lift bridges. And being a popular route, its well maintained, the locks are easy to do (and have a relatively low rise each), and if anything breaks CRT are fast to fix it to avoid upsetting their vested interests in the various hire firms. There are no long lock flights on the Llangollen either. 

[Chris Lowe]

4 minutes ago, Paul C said:

Lots of hire firms do a boat approx 65ft with 2 loos - in fact at that length, it would be unusual for it NOT to have 2 separate bathrooms.

 

Why avoid the Llangollen? Part of the fun is that there's loads of other boats/boaters, and also its relatively few locks for a week long trip from near Hurleston. And there's tons of choice of hirers in that area too. And the canal basically has a bit of everything - tunnels, aqueducts (of course), staircase locks, lift bridges. And being a popular route, its well maintained, the locks are easy to do (and have a relatively low rise each), and if anything breaks CRT are fast to fix it to avoid upsetting their vested interests in the various hire firms. There are no long lock flights on the Llangollen either. 

 

I know I've done it a few times

[Guest]

26 minutes ago, buccaneer66 said:

Guys I want to take my mate his missis and daughter on the cut next year and they have never done it before, locks don't bother me but I'd rather not have to take newbies through a long lock flight although I think they'd pick it up quickly.

 

Who would be a good base to hire from, & much as I like it I'm not going up the Llangollen peak season, & I'll probably be looking for a 65 footer with 2 bogs, I know some bases do them.

 

It'll be an experience for me as well a 45ft Swanline is the longest I've ever steered.

 

At the moment Union Wharf Narrowboats are looking my favourite.

 

 

 

Ashby boats have two 69 (not 65) footers with 2 loos.

 

You could pootle down to Braunston and back doing as many or few locks as you wish.

[Chris Lowe]

Just now, The Happy Nomad said:

Ashby boats have two 69 (not 65) footers with 2 loos.

 

You could pootle down to Braunston and back doing as many or few locks as you wish.

 

Now thats not a bad idea

[Dyertribe]

Ok serial hirer here with serial hirer friends.

we look at routes and usually chose those with the most locks!

I would rather eat my left tit than go to the gym/ do formal exercise, but give me a flight of locks and I’ll walk miles, set up locks, you name it. PLEASE don’t choose a route that has few locks, you would be doing your friends a disservice IMHO

Edited July 15, 2022 by Dyertribe

[Chris Lowe]

I like locks but I don't want a route that plunges them into locks within a few miles, they'll have to learn though and they are younger than me.

 

But if I meet any of you cruising next year don't challenge my mate to a card game, he's a croupier at a top casino & you'll loose, mind he's also a scoutmaster so when I can't remember how to tie a bowline he'll know.