Inland Waterways - Canal Boats
Canals are part of our cultural heritage but
today, what was the commercial network of the industrial
revolution, has become the leisure playground of boat-owners and
holiday-makers who wish to take the time to discover the beauty of
the UK countryside.
This guide provides an introduction to
Inland Cruising and arms you with the information to get started
with essential information on the equipment that you will
need, the cruising routes available, where you can find training,
inland holidays and where you can buy a canal boat.
Canal boats come in all sorts of sizes and shapes, and the type
of boat you choose depends on the number of berths (beds), the
amount of space and the level of comfort you want. Most boats most
come equipped with all the modcons such as televisions, dvd
players, toilets, showers, and kitchens, and there is no need for
you to take any equipment.
Three ways to discover the inland waterways are:
River cruisers are modern sleek boats that are easy to steer as
they have a steering wheel like a car. They are also come in a
variety of sizes. Smaller
day hire boats have less facilities than the larger cruisers
used for holidays. More about inland
cruisers >
Despite the name, narrowboats are surprisingly spacious with
plenty of headroom, and come in different lengths depending on the
number of berths you need. If it is your first time on a
narrowboat, it is a good idea to choose a smaller narrowboat as it
is easier to steer. The steering a narrowboat is different to other
boats and requires a bit of practice, but don’t worry, you will
soon get the hang of it. More about
narrowboats >
These spacious vessels are wider than narrowboats,and offer a
more generous living area that includes many of the features of a
modern home. In spite of their size, barges are easy to handle as
they are steered using a steering wheel, but their size means they
can only be used on the major canals and rivers. More about barges >
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