Information
Waterways for All
Whether boating, fishing, walking or just sitting by the side of the canal watching the world go by, the waterways and canals of the UK are a resource that should be cherished and shared by all with courtesy. You can call it a canal boat, a narrow boat or a barge, but whatever name you choose it will give you access to hundreds of miles of canals, rivers and waterways.
Boat Handling and Safety
It is important that you undertake you boating holiday in a safe manner, and if you decide to take a canal narrowboat holiday or short break with the Ashby Boat Company you will receive instruction on the operation and handling of your narrowboat. There will also be a copy of the, Boater’s Handbook – Basic Boat Handling and Safety, provided on your boat. If you wish to view the Boater’s Handbook on video click here or you can download a pdf version here
To view the relevant sections on video you can click on the following links: 1) Setting Off 2) Handling the boat 3) Locks 4) Bridges and Tunnels 5) Man overboard
Also available is the Boater’s DVD that we can post to you. These run for about thirty minutes and are based on the information contained in the Boater’s Handbook and the experience of two families taking a boating holiday on the canal/waterways network for the first time. It contains very helpful visual information on how to “quickly learn how to navigate safely through locks, bridges and tunnels while enjoying the pleasures of life in the slow lane”. Spending fourty minutes watching this informative film is time well invested. Copies of the video or DVD are present on all weekly and short break hire boats.
Fitting out a Narrowboat
Here is an example of fitting out a narrowboat which you may find interesting to browse, to help you understand the narrowboat that you are hiring.