Hiring a boat for two on the Scottish canals

[Felshampo]

We fancy doing the union canal from Glasgow to Edinburgh in the next couple of years. I have been looking at hire companies and they all seem to have large boats with 6 to 8 berths. Are there any companies with smaller boats? It's not the length that worries us, our boat is 62ft, it just seems a waste. I know there are several companies in England who have smaller boats but how about Scotland. I appreciate it seems to make little difference to the cost but would be easier on us. 

[haggis]

I think almost all of the hire boats are fairly long but I think there are ( or were) a couple of 40 ish footers. 

[Felshampo]

Cheers Haggis. Does anyone know where these boats can be hired from if they still exist? 

[Hudds Lad]

Do Linlithgow Canal Centre do them?

https://www.lucs.org.uk/

 

EDIT: appears they just hire a day boat, might be worth a call though, they may know of others

Edited January 4, 2023 by Hudds Lad
looked at website

[haggis]

53 minutes ago, Felshampo said:

Cheers Haggis. Does anyone know where these boats can be hired from if they still exist? 

From a quick.look at the ABC site they do a 49 foot boat from Falkirk. Black prince possibly do too but we are boating and using a mobile phone so not spending too much time googling. Suggest you phone the folk in Falkirk who manage the hire fleets on the lowland canals ( ABC and BLACK PRINCE ) 

 

6 minutes ago, Hudds Lad said:

Do Linlithgow Canal Centre do them?

https://www.lucs.org.uk/

 

EDIT: appears they just hire a day boat, might be worth a call though, they may know of others

There used to be a hire boat based at linlithgow but not any more. 

All hire boats on the lowland canals now come under Scottish Canals 

[Felshampo]

Many thanks. I'll give them a ring. 

When I did a search on both websites they came up with 6 and 8 birth boats. 

Maybe the dates I put in had only got the bigger boats left. 

[RS2021]

There is only one hire base on the lowland canals and it is at Falkirk, by the wheel. It does, however, offer boats from three companies - Black Prince, ABC and Marine Cruisers. Two berth boats are available, but it is not uncommon for two people to hire a larger boat. Both times we went we had a four berth boat. It didn't cost much more and we enjoyed the extra space.

[Felshampo]

Sounds good. Our boat is 62 ft but we fancied trying something smaller so my OH could do a bit more of the steering. 

[RS2021]

We had a Black Prince Duchess 4. 58ft with a lovely open plan saloon. Marine Cruisers have something similar. As Haggis says ABC do have a 49 footer and he is right Black Prince do have something similar - a 47 footer, so if you do want something shorter the choice is there.

[Felshampo]

Great. Looks like a phone call is needed. 

[David Mack]

20 hours ago, Felshampo said:

Sounds good. Our boat is 62 ft but we fancied trying something smaller so my OH could do a bit more of the steering. 

In my experience longer craft are actually easier to steer!

[Felshampo]

Not when avoiding the lock cill and gates.