How to go about hiring a boat in London

[Eihab Al-Nakib]

Hi All,

Hope you are well, I wonder if you can direct me where to look. On weekends I usually look for an escape to do some writing and have time away from the city noise. I was walking by Little Vince in Maidavale and the idea of having/hiring a parked boat there came to my mind. I was googling and ended up on your forum, I am basically not looking to sail or live full time on it; I am looking to hire a boat with decent furniture inside to have good time writing or just chill and have a nice meal. Where would I need to look to find something like this, do I have to buy a boat and rent a spot on the river somewhere, or I can find an arrangement to rent boat for weekends on regular basis?

Your help is much appreciated
Eihab

[junior]

Black Prince at Willowtree Marina is about your only option I think.

 

Perhaps a 2 week hire from Wyvern Shipping in Leighton Buzzard would give you time to get down to London, spend a weekend in Little Venice and then get the boat back.

[DeanS]

Have you considered a blow up canoe.....with a foldup table and chairs and picnic basket.....I think you'll be much more relaxed sitting under a tree with your book, than having to spend all that money to try and achieve the same thing ?

[KarlosMacronius]

Try London boaters on facebook, someone may be willing to rent out their boat or may have a office/studio boat you could rent.

[Erin42]

Air B&B has some people who rent out their boats at the weekends

[roggie]

Here is one example https://www.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/107051?s=bpxO

[Guest]

Here is one example https://www.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/107051?s=bpxO

Strange that the ad. Doesn't mention compliance with a hire boat BSS or the additional licence requirements required by CRT.

 

I guess these types of hires are exempt............or perhaps not.

[ditchcrawler]

Strange that the ad. Doesn't mention compliance with a hire boat BSS or the additional licence requirements required by CRT.

 

I guess these types of hires are exempt............or perhaps not.

Do ABC and Viking Afloat say they have hire boat licences and yearly BSS's

[Guest]

Do ABC and Viking Afloat say they have hire boat licences and yearly BSS's

Well a quick check of Viking Afloat's web site would confirm yes they are properly licensed.

[luctor et emergo]

[Whistles whilst looking through the undergrowth for a suitable stick]

[MtB]

Strange that the ad. Doesn't mention compliance with a hire boat BSS or the additional licence requirements required by CRT.

 

I guess these types of hires are exempt............or perhaps not.

 

Is writing a book on a rented narrowboat THAT risky a business...?

 

 

MtB

[Guest]

Is writing a book on a rented narrowboat THAT risky a business...?

 

 

MtB

I don't know Mike, what do you think?

 

Surely you understood the point.

[Lady Muck]

Strange that the ad. Doesn't mention compliance with a hire boat BSS or the additional licence requirements required by CRT.

I guess these types of hires are exempt............or perhaps not.

 

They're not exempt, you need same license insurance etc as any other hotel boat. Don't think most boaters that do this realise that they are breaching their license terms by doing it.

[nbfiresprite]

 

Is writing a book on a rented narrowboat THAT risky a business...?

 

 

MtB

Surly it would depend on the subject of the book.

[Guest]

They're not exempt, you need same license insurance etc as any other hotel boat. Don't think most boaters that do this realise that they are breaching their license terms by doing it.

Does beg the question about what if anything CRT do if/when they see someone promoting their boat on the internet for a use that is outside the terms of their licence conditions. It wouldn't be hard to identify and trace the boaters concerned and inform them of the error of their ways.

 

I am sure the first time a 'guest' perishes in a fire or in a CO poisoning on one such boat that they will become interested then, of course for someone and their family it will be too late then.

[debbifiggy]

Strange that the ad. Doesn't mention compliance with a hire boat BSS or the additional licence requirements required by CRT.

 

I guess these types of hires are exempt............or perhaps not.

I think you'll find that Jessie is a properly licensed hire boat! Whereas most of the other ads for boats on airnb aren't so legit - see previous threads about dodgy boat rentals in London.

[cotswoldsman]

Here is one example https://www.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/107051?s=bpxO

 

I use airbnb quite a lot and it is a great site. They have fairly stringent checks if you want to rent and I guess it would be the same if you wish to list. I have booked a great apartment in New Orleans for January

[MtB]

I think you'll find that Jessie is a properly licensed hire boat! Whereas most of the other ads for boats on airnb aren't so legit - see previous threads about dodgy boat rentals in London.

 

 

Yeah, see TDH??!

 

If the OP drops his pen and injures his foot he can sue the insurance company* as the boat suggested by Roggie in post number six IS correctly insured!

 

MtB

 

 

* Or maybe he sues the landlord... Or himself for dropping the pen. Where's julynian?!

[Guest]

I think you'll find that Jessie is a properly licensed hire boat! Whereas most of the other ads for boats on airnb aren't so legit - see previous threads about dodgy boat rentals in London.

Fair enough, you wouldn't know it reading the ad. though. (Unless I missed it of course). I think given all the other dodgy boat rentals we hear about that they would be keen to promote they are a 'legit' enterprise.

[Eihab Al-Nakib]

Thank you guys for all the suggestions

[MartinClark]

From the point of view of a person renting a boat, when a boat is hired out without the proper safety and licence compliance, it is unlikley that the boat's insurance will be valid.

[Peter X]

Mike the Boilerman's pen:

http://www.hawkin.com/huge-pen