I am interested in renting a canal boat for a 3-4 day excursion. Thinking of either a canal in the UK or in France. Does not necessarily need to be a long boat, depending on the canal. Any suggestions? Any good resources?
It would be for 4 people. We would captain the boat and manage the locks, if required. Looking for a canal that goes by towns/sites for us to stop at. Thinking of June/July if in the UK or May/June if in France.
Posted by
Lynnwood, Washington
8855 posts
Looked at previous url and laughed aloud at $38,000 price tag. You can do much better!
https://www.black-prince.com/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIuZOLgau39gIVFQutBh3V3gg8EAAYAyAAEgJkyvD_BwE
Posted by
FL USA
1560 posts
On YouTube check out "foxes afloat" for their vlogs on canal boating. You are in luck as their last four videos are all about hiring and using small canal boats for a vacation excursion.
https://www.foxesafloat.com
Posted by
Irving
3182 posts
Posted by
Bend, Oregon
272 posts
Try locaboat.com and leboat.com.
Posted by
Vancouver, Washington
292 posts
Now you’re singing the secret song that enchants my husband enough to fly across the pond. Seriously, I haven’t got him to Europe without the promise of at least a week plying the canals of Europe in years. Flying is not his thing but a week captaining our own canal boat is the magic carrot for him. I really love it too. There is nothing more serene, intimate and personal than to slow your pace and heart beat to the flow of canals, villages and locks.
I would highly, highly recommend the French canals over the UK. (Sorry UK). The French canals are well maintained with lots of facilities at marinas and most locks are automated. You’ll find many European families cruising on rented boats and there is a certain conviviality on the canals. We found the UK canals lacked services like fresh water, moorings and were overgrown with grasses making it difficult to moor up along the canals. The UK has lots of live aboards that seemed to be angry, old hippies in slowly sinking junks mad that you dared invade there space. Totally different vibe.
We particularly like the Alsace region between Lutzelbourg and Strasbourg and the Canal du Midi from Narbonne to Toulouse but avoid the Midi from late June through Mid September (too popular) . We’ve rented from LeBoat before and investigated other companies but we are absolutely life time customers of Nicols Boats, a French boating company that make their own canal boats so they are purposed built and really well thought out. Everything is top notch and very functional without a lot of extra charges for things like sheets towels and dish soap. You can check them out at www.Nicols.com and order a brochure.
Any specific questions, feel free to ask. I highly recommend self driving cruising. Cheers!
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33720 posts
I'm sorry that thenosbigs had bad experiences, but in all the years I've been boating here I haven't had the same problems. A Nicholson map will show you water points and there are plenty of shops and facilities on many British canals. Some more, some less.
As for the angry hippies, I've never found that. If you foul their lines or exceed the speed limit so their boat rocks perhaps, but I don't do that. In fact the vast majority of the people on the canals do what they can to help each other out...
The problem I see is that you want a short break (most rentals are 7 days, only the 10 day rentals will leave a 4 day short break available) at peak season, during the pandemic when many people are staying home or close to home, and want to say somewhere isolated, like a narrowboat.
You have cast your net wide, taking in all of Great Britain and all of France. The small boatyards may be in the best position to help, but you will need to do homework, and plenty of it, and quickly. I need to lower your expectations so that you are not distressed when many come back, "Sorry but...".
Good luck.
By the way, 4 adults (any mobility issues?) or 2 big 'uns and 2 little 'uns?