Good advice for life on the water.
From your first lock to a winter aboard, find clear, practical help for UK canals and rivers. Start with the question in front of you.
Find your subject
Getting started
Getting startedYour first canal boat trip
A calm first day starts before you cast off.
Read guide ↗
Getting startedChoosing a narrowboat for your plans
The right boat is the one that fits the waterways you will actually use.
Read guide ↗
Getting startedBuying a used canal boat: what to check
Take your time with the paperwork and the parts you cannot see from the towpath.
Read guide ↗
Getting startedBoat licences on UK inland waterways
A licence is tied to the authority and waterway, so check the whole journey.
Read guide ↗
Getting startedHow to plan a realistic canal cruising day
Miles alone tell you very little about how long a canal day will take.
Read guide ↗Boat handling
Boat handlingSteering a narrowboat for the first time
A narrowboat responds slowly, so small early corrections beat a last-second turn.
Read guide ↗
Boat handlingHow to work a canal lock safely
A lock is straightforward when the crew slows down and communicates.
Read guide ↗
Boat handlingSingle handing a narrowboat through locks
Solo lock work takes more walking and more planning, never more haste.
Read guide ↗
Boat handlingTurning a narrowboat at a winding hole
A marked turning place still needs a look at the bank, wind and traffic.
Read guide ↗
Boat handlingNavigating bridges and tunnels
Headroom and visibility can change along the same trip.
Read guide ↗Routes and conditions
Routes and conditionsA canal route planning checklist
A good route is one you can still use when something closes.
Read guide ↗
Routes and conditionsPlanning a canal ring without rushing
A ring is satisfying only when its tightest day still feels manageable.
Read guide ↗
Routes and conditionsCanal to river: what changes for a boater
Flow, weather and landing places matter more once the banks open out.
Read guide ↗
Routes and conditionsWhat to do when a river has a strong stream warning
A warning is a reason to reconsider the journey, not a challenge to beat.
Read guide ↗
Routes and conditionsHow to check canal stoppages before travelling
A route can be open on the map and closed on the water.
Read guide ↗Mooring and services
Mooring and servicesFinding a suitable canal mooring
A peaceful stretch is useful only if the boat can lie there safely and legally.
Read guide ↗
Mooring and servicesHow to tie up a narrowboat
Good lines hold the boat without making it fight the bank.
Read guide ↗
Mooring and servicesUsing canal water points without blocking them
A water stop goes more smoothly when the hose and waiting space are ready.
Read guide ↗
Mooring and servicesElsan and pump-out: choosing and using the right facility
Waste systems are different, and the disposal point must suit yours.
Read guide ↗
Mooring and servicesManaging rubbish and recycling aboard
A small cabin stays pleasant when waste has a plan.
Read guide ↗Wide beam boating
Wide beam boatingPlanning a route for a wide beam boat
The narrowest point on the route decides what a wide beam can reach.
Read guide ↗
Wide beam boatingWide beam or narrowboat: which suits your cruising?
Cabin width is only one part of the choice.
Read guide ↗
Wide beam boatingTaking a wide beam boat through locks
A lock that takes the beam on paper can still demand careful handling.
Read guide ↗
Wide beam boatingMooring a wide beam without obstructing the cut
Extra width changes how you choose and occupy a berth.
Read guide ↗
Wide beam boatingMoving a wide beam between disconnected waterways
Sometimes the safe route is by road rather than through a narrow lock.
Read guide ↗Life aboard
Life aboardLiving aboard a canal boat: the daily realities
The appealing view comes with water, waste, fuel and maintenance to manage.
Read guide ↗
Life aboardContinuous cruising: what to understand before you start
It is a travelling way of life with licence conditions, not simply a cheaper berth.
Read guide ↗
Life aboardHeating a boat through a British winter
Warmth depends on safe equipment, fuel storage and ventilation working together.
Read guide ↗
Life aboardReducing condensation on a canal boat
Moisture from cooking, washing and breathing has few places to go in a small cabin.
Read guide ↗
Life aboardWorking from a canal boat
A working day needs power, signal and a lawful place to stop.
Read guide ↗Maintenance
MaintenanceNarrowboat engine checks before setting off
A short look in the engine space can prevent a long afternoon adrift.
Read guide ↗
MaintenanceBoat batteries: understanding the basics
A battery bank is only useful if you know what it powers and how it is charged.
Read guide ↗
MaintenanceLooking after a boat's fresh water system
Clean water depends on the tank, hose and plumbing as much as the tap.
Read guide ↗
MaintenanceHull blacking: what a boat owner should ask
A coating job is easiest to assess when its preparation and timing are clear.
Read guide ↗
MaintenanceWhat to do if a narrowboat propeller is fouled
A rope or bag around the prop can turn a small snag into a serious problem.
Read guide ↗Safety and emergencies
Safety and emergenciesBoat Safety Scheme certificates explained
The examination is a periodic check, not a replacement for maintenance.
Read guide ↗
Safety and emergenciesCarbon monoxide on boats: a practical safety guide
Carbon monoxide is invisible, so prevention and working alarms matter.
Read guide ↗
Safety and emergenciesFire safety aboard a canal boat
In a small cabin, a clear exit and an early warning make all the difference.
Read guide ↗
Safety and emergenciesIf someone falls into a canal or river
The first task is keeping the person in sight and the boat under control.
Read guide ↗
Safety and emergenciesWhat to keep in a canal boat emergency kit
The useful kit is the one you can reach when the lights go out.
Read guide ↗Heading somewhere?
Use the map to look around your route, then check current notices with the navigation authority.
Open the map ↗