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Canal Cruising
 This is a holiday designed for every member of the family.
A holiday that brings the English countryside alive with the excitement and adventures of boating.
It offers a real change from every day routine and brings one in touch with a new unsuspected England, remote from main roads and railways, peaceful, pleasant, unspoilt and free from noisy trippers and crowded coaches.
Canals are unique in many ways. Since their construction in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries they have mellowed and matured into a heritage of beauty, framed by every bridge and changing at every bend.
Another intriguing feature is that unlike a river, canals pass along and over the side of hills, often revealing a great panorama of country.
Generally one can moor anywhere out of the way of passing boats, and you are never herded together.
Locks
A series of locks carry the different levels of waterway over the hills, each with its own particular charm.
"The rough-hewn timbers, rope-chafed and weathered by many years of toil, groan at the swirling waters as windlass eases paddles to lift or lower your boat."
The locks are simple to operate and combine pleasant breaks in the cruise with some gentle exercise. On the day of departure all novices are given practical instruction through their first lock from one of our experienced instructors.
Architecture
Canal architecture is a subject of great interest. The aqueduct at Wolverton, only a day's boating north from Linslade, is a masterpiece of engineering and the canal tunnels are an exciting experience, whilst the many canal-side villages and country 'pubs' hold much to be explored.
The many different shapes and sizes of bridges, from the hump backed to the motorway bridge, also hold a great fascination.
Flags
 We can supply 5ft (1.5m) flagpoles which attach to the helm so you can fly your National Flag.
This is especially popular with overseas customers. Please bring your own flag if possible.
Fishing
Canals are a delight for the angler with their quiet backwaters and banks. Roach, perch, bream, carp and tench are but a few that can be caught. After a day's cruising find a likely spot and enjoy an evening's fishing.
However we have a strict condition that no live bait of any kind (including maggots) may be taken aboard. A national rod licence is required.
Skipper & Crew
We regret that bookings by skippers under 22 cannot be accepted.
For family bookings a damage waiver is included in the hire fee.
For single sex crews and when hiring more than one boat at least two crew members per boat must be over 30 and a £200.00 security deposit is charged.
The deposit being returned at the end of the holiday less any deductions for damage or breakages. All single sex crews and multi-boat bookings are at the Companies discretion.
Toddlers
There is plenty of room for a small baby's carrycot on the floor next to the dinette or between the bunks in the sleeping cabins.
We can provide cot sides which are fitted to one of the bunks in the rear cabin. These make very good play pens during the day as well as a cot during the night.
On the canal boats with single bunks in the rear cabin which can convert to a double, we can supply a 4 foot mattress to go between the berths making an extra 4 foot berth. Ideal for accommodating an extra child.
There is no charge for an extra child under 4.
Novices
Even if you have no previous boating experience you will be surprised just how easy it is to become a confident skipper of your canalboat. All the canalboats are purpose built for easy and responsive handling. If you have any doubts over any aspect of canal boating we will do our best to assist.
All our hirers are taken for a free tuition cruise by an experienced instructor at the start of your holiday and shown through a lock. lnstruction continues until you are confident of how to handle the boat. This will ensure a most enjoyable and memorable canalboat holiday. We also send hirers our comprehensive cruising guide and a DVD which covers all aspects of good boating and canal cruising.
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