Canal boat rental in/around Venice?

I assume you are talking about a barge - similar to the canal boats in the UK or France? Something that you can live on and treat as home away from home. I have not seen such a beast in or around Venice. I googles Canal boats in Venice and came up with www.danfluvial.com They have a few boats that hold 8/10 and rent for ca Euro 2500 - 3000 er week. I couldn't find any indication of whether these are self sail or crewed boats.... The pick up is at various towns along the lagoon. Another option is to rent a typical Venetian Canal boat by the day - Brussa is Boat. Cost is Euro 150 per day. Also look at www.hlidayboat.net/italy.htm - but their boats only accomodate up to 6. You will need to think about things such as where you will moor each night, where you will moor during the day, a lot of the piers are private - are there mooring costs involved? Have you been to Venice and seen how the boats operate there - the Grand Canal is like any major road through a city with thousands of boats, most going (it seems) at top speeds, shooting out of side canals in front of you and so on. One nice thing is the chance to cruise the canals feeding into the lagoon - going up to Padua for example, or visiting the islands at the mouth of the lagoon.

Yes, we are looking at renting a "floating motor home", a boat we can sleep/cook on, and which we can pilot around the waterways. We're not planning to use it around Venice so much, but around the waterways as you suggest. I've only found one sizeable company (leboat.com) which rents what we're looking for...I was hoping to see if anyone here has had any experience with that (or any other) company. Hopefully that clarifies what I'm looking for!

Look at Locaboat. I've never used them in Venice, but it seems like I have everywhere else. Leboat seems to have a good reputation and I'd probably give them a shot if Locaboat didn't have what I needed.

I've never seen hire boats on the lagoon or in Venice. I've also never seen them on the Brenta Canal. I'm very familiar with English canals and using them but have never considered taking a boat onto the lagoon or the Brenta. The lagoon is notorious for its shallows and sand bars and of course all the other traffic. I wasn't impressed by opportunities on the Brenta. It didn't look well maintained although there is the one tour boat which goes to the mansions along. I never saw any other boats on the Brenta. I'd be sure to check on licensing requirements.

I've never seen hire boats on the lagoon or in Venice. I've also never seen them on the Brenta Canal. I'm very familiar with English canals and using them but have never considered taking a boat onto the lagoon or the Brenta. The lagoon is notorious for its shallows and sand bars and of course all the other traffic. I wasn't impressed by opportunities on the Brenta. It didn't look well maintained although there is the one tour boat which goes to the mansions along. I never saw any other boats on the Brenta. I'd be sure to check on licensing requirements.

We rented from Le Boat many times in Europe and have done different canals and did Venice 6 years ago. I would highly recommend them. I also saw Locoboat rental. The were out and back out just south of Venice. We spent a night tied up in dock space in Burrano. We stayed at a marina across from and looking at St. Mark's in Venice. We drove our boat around Guidecca. You cannot drive the Grand Canal. That is for Vapparetos, Water Taxis and Go dola's. Our boat was about 38feet long. Our boat did not have a bow thruster. I would recommend one with a bow thruster if available. It would make it alot easier to dock.
A few years later we had it on the Canal Du Midi. Makes it alot easier.

Also, If i had to do it again, I would have picked out and back from Chioggia. I think Locoboat does that.

Check out this website - http://www.canalboatholidays.com/italy_canalbarge_hire.shtml

We travelled to Venice having hired a boat from 'LeBoat' their hire base is in Casale on the river Sile. We took our time and had a boat that could sleep 6. As a visitor you can't just moor anywhere you like, but there are enough designated mooring places for it not to be a problem. We took 3 days to travel down the river Stile, into the lagoon and then onto Venice via Murano. We stayed for a week in a marina next to the football stadium (Porticciolo S. Elena) it's not particularly glamourous, or cheap, but we could easily walk everywhere and there were some good local restaurants nearby.