Learning how to plan a narrowboat journey is one of the best ways to make your time on the canals more relaxed, enjoyable and safe. Whether you are hiring a boat for a week, setting off for a long weekend, or preparing for an extended cruise, a little preparation goes a long way. Narrowboat travel…
If you are planning a canal holiday, liveaboard journey or long narrowboat cruise, one of the first questions is simple: how far can a narrowboat travel in a day? The short answer is that many narrowboats cover somewhere between 10 and 20 miles in a day on a fairly easy route, but that figure can…
Planning a canal journey is one of the pleasures of narrowboating, but working out how long it will take can feel confusing at first. Canal travel is slow by design. The pace is part of the charm, yet it also means that distance alone is not enough when planning a route. This guide has narrowboat…
If you spend any time cruising the UK inland waterways, you will soon come across the word stoppage. It might appear in a navigation notice, on a canal app, in a marina conversation, or on a handwritten sign near a lock. For new boaters, stoppages can feel confusing and inconvenient. For experienced boaters, they are…
Knowing how to check canal stoppages is one of the most useful skills for any narrowboater. Whether you are planning a weekend away, a long summer cruise, or a winter relocation, stoppages can affect your route, timing, mooring plans and access to essential services. Some stoppages are planned months in advance for lock repairs, bridge…
If you are new to boating, one of the first practical jobs to understand is filling the water tank. This guide to water points on canals explained covers what they are, how to use them, what kit to carry, and how to avoid common problems at the tap. Canal water points are part of everyday…
If you are new to narrowboating, the phrase elsan points can sound a little mysterious. In reality, they are simply one of the essential services that keep life afloat clean, practical and manageable. This guide has elsan points explained in plain English, including what they are, where to find them, how to use them, and…
If you are new to narrowboating, the phrase canal services can sound a little vague. In practice, it refers to the everyday facilities that keep your boat comfortable, safe and manageable while you cruise or live aboard. This guide has canal services explained in plain English, from water points and toilet disposal to rubbish, fuel,…
Fuel is one of the everyday essentials of life afloat. Whether you are planning weekend cruises, continuous cruising, or living aboard full time, understanding how narrowboat fuel works will make boating easier, safer and less stressful. This narrowboat fuel guide covers the main fuels used on UK inland waterways, including diesel, LPG, solid fuel and…
Red diesel has long been part of canal life, but the rules around it have changed in recent years. If you own, hire, or are thinking about buying a narrowboat, it is important to understand what you can use, where you can use it, and what records you should keep. This red diesel narrowboat guide…
