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by Tim MarrowPosted on Posted in Canal Blog, Narrowboaters knowledge
cape fox narrowboat galley saloon
cape fox narrowboat interior kitchen living area

cape fox narrowboat galley saloon

Last summer the Met Office put an extreme heat warning in place, and so we published Five Cool Ideas for Narrowboating in a Heatwave. Some areas of the UK were even affected by drought, and so people were asked to limit what water they used. This wet July has been a different story, with the Met Office explaining that although a southern shift of the jet stream has caused high pressure and record high temperatures in Europe, low-pressure systems have caused this cooler weather here in Britain.

However, even in the pouring rain, most narrowboaters still know how to have a good time! The UK canal boating season is from spring until autumn, and British boaters know that they must expect the unexpected when it comes to the weather. So here are four ways to enjoy your narrowboat holiday, even if it rains.

On the Cut

If you’re planning a holiday in England you will need to pack clothes that suit both summer sunshine and rainy days – just in case. So be prepared to bring a light raincoat and a warm jumper. When the boat is underway, encourage a sense of team spirit and camaraderie among your crew by all pitching in with the locks, whatever the weather. If you have younger children, or vulnerable crew members on board, just make them aware that the deck and gunwales can get slippery in the rain. The steerer (dressed in waterproofs) can enjoy the rural views as you travel, and those below deck can supply the steerer with hot drinks and biscuits. If the steerer is you, be proud of your tenacity! Then, after you’ve moored up at your planned destination, enjoy a dry change of clothes and a sense of smug satisfaction.

On the Boat

However, you don’t have to be cruising for the whole holiday; travelling is only a part of it. If you get caught in the rain simply check your guidebook (supplied with the boat) for your nearest suitable mooring, and moor up for a while. Make snacks in the galley, and get comfortable using the TV and Wi-Fi. You could even turn on the central heating if necessary! Make yourself at home and perhaps persuade your group or family to play board games or card games until the rain eases off.

In a Book

Can you imagine curling up with a good book while the rain patters down on the narrowboat roof?

Steve Haywood has written several good travelogues about cruising the canals. ‘Narrowdog to Carcassonne’ by Terry Darlington is an autobiographical account of taking a narrowboat through France. For historical fiction about boating women, try ‘Water Gypsies’ by Annie Murray, or for real-life women’s experiences I recommend ‘Ramlin Rose’ by Sheila Stewart. Being far from digital distractions can be a welcome reprieve from modern life.

On the Bank

And finally, you will of course spend a good part of your holiday off the boat, exploring villages, towns, shops and tourist attractions. Take shelter in one of these Three Waterside Pubs to Visit on Holiday. Our blog is full of some great suggestions of places to go, from Ely Cathedral to the colleges of Cambridge University; museums, and art galleries can all be explored on a rainy day. Click ‘Blog’ (top right) and look for ‘Follow Blog’ in the right sidebar to receive more helpful holiday tips about the Fenland Waterways. (We never share or sell email addresses, we’ll only be sending you our local, insider knowledge, every two weeks.)

Whatever the weather, the scenery here on the Fenland waterways in Cambridgeshire is second to none. Just take a look at where you could go exploring, by seeing our suggested Fox Boats routes.

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by Tim MarrowPosted on Posted in Booking budget tips, Narrowboaters knowledge

children on narrowboat break

Want to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life?

Need a break that will suit your whole family?

Want to enjoy quality time together and learn new skills?

A narrowboat holiday offers a unique and unforgettable experience for families, allowing you to travel at your own pace. Immerse yourself in the beauty of the Fenland countryside, explore charming towns and villages, and create lasting memories. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll take you through everything you need to know to plan the perfect family holiday in Cambridgeshire.

Is a Narrowboat Holiday Right for Your Family?

Are you looking for a different kind of family adventure? Look no further than a Fox Narrowboats holiday. Picture yourself and your loved ones cruising along our unusual waterways, surrounded by breath-taking scenery and big skies. A Cambridgeshire narrowboat holiday offers a unique blend of relaxation, exploration, and quality time with your family. The flat, reclaimed land of the Fens has a very different vibe to the rest of the English canal network.

Narrowboats, (also known as canal boats,) provide a cosy and comfortable home away from home. Our traditional Fox boats are designed to navigate our local canals and rivers, offering a peaceful and slow-paced way to travel. With all the necessary amenities on board, including comfy beds, a kitchen, saloon and bathroom, you’ll have everything you need for an enjoyable holiday.

What Safety Tips Do Families Need to Know?

While children of all ages can enjoy a boating holiday, it’s important to assess their safety and ability to follow instructions. Younger children may require constant supervision to ensure their safety, and yet older children can actively participate in becoming valued members of the “crew” helping with steering, mooring and operating the locks. Just a few simple precautions will keep everyone safe. Life jackets supplied on board will provide peace of mind, especially if you have young children. Choose sensible, flat, comfortable shoes for everyone when the boat is underway, and save your fancy shoes for when you’re heading ashore for an evening meal! Prepare for the unpredictable UK weather by packing comfortable clothes, shorts, fleeces and waterproofs for everyone.

You may need to remind the children of the importance of staying away from the water’s edge while on board the narrowboat. Running on the towpath is to be avoided, and so teach everyone to keep a safe distance from the edge. Make sure children are supervised on board and explain how to stay safe during the journey. Be aware that locks have tall, slippery sides and fast-moving water: Children should never operate a lock without adult supervision.

Essential Planning

You can get the kids excited about the upcoming narrowboat holiday by involving them in the preparations and talking about the safety tips they will need to know. Explain the potential dangers, and that they may need to wear life jackets, depend on their age. It will be important to follow instructions and be mindful of their surroundings. Watching videos together can help to prepare your family before you go. Try YouTube for canal boat safety tips, and Robbie Cumming for boating inspiration.

Watch: Robbie Cumming Stars in Canal Boat Diaries

Younger children may enjoy the old ITV programme Rosie and Jim.

You may also like to plan your narrowboat holiday around family-friendly attractions and activities. Research destinations that offer playgrounds, nature reserves, and museums suitable for children. This will keep the children are entertained and engaged throughout the journey. There is also lots of inspiration for a family boating holiday on our blog.

Would boating suit your family? Check availability now for your next family adventure.

You may also like: The Top 5 Tips for a Family Narrowboat Break

For more essential tips about family boating holidays enter your email address in the box in the right side bar (‘Follow blog’) and we’ll send you articles direct to your in -box. (We never share or sell email addresses, this is just to send you our latest blog posts.)

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by Tim MarrowPosted on Posted in Booking budget tips, Canal Blog

fox narrowboat moored at denver sluice fens

With 70 years’ experience of running a hire boat business and marina, our family-run company, founded by renowned boat builder Charlie Fox, has a level of expertise that you can trust. But if you’ve never been on a narrowboat holiday before, you may have a few questions about getting afloat.

Where Can We Go?

We can offer you quieter holiday routes in the Cambridgeshire Fens and a choice of narrowboats, so you can select the perfect boat for you.  Our hire boat base is conveniently located in March, between Cambridge and Peterborough, and is a short travelling distance outside of London. Our marina is less than 100 miles from London, and is accessible by train from Kings Cross in about 90 minutes.

Read: The Narrowboat Holiday That Londoners Will Love

With so many waterways to choose from across the Fenlands the variety of routes is amazing. You will cruise through rivers, canals and open sections during your hire boat holiday.

Find the perfect route and plan your holiday here.

We can also offer you the choice of taking three or four night breaks as well as one week, ten day, two-week or even longer holidays.

Is it Difficult to Drive?

If you’re new to boating our RYA trained instructors will show you how to handle the boat and operate a lock. The boats are easy to control and surprisingly responsive; in fact it’s easier than learning to ride a bicycle! Are you wondering if it’s difficult to learn the ropes? Will you be nervous about turning the boat, or mooring? Remember, you’ll never be travelling faster than 4 mph and learning to steer a boat is fun for all the family. Even supervised children can steer, and they did so during the canal age, when whole families lived and worked on boats.

Read: What’s it Like to Actually Steer a Narrowboat?

What’s it Like on Board?

A narrowboat is the perfect way to enjoy being close to nature with all the modern conveniences of staying in a holiday cottage. Fox narrowboats all come equipped with radiator central heating, a microwave, hairdryer, WiFi, flatscreen TV with Freeview, full size oven, fridge, electric power points, and comfortable duvets and bed linen. It’s a cosy home from home, where you and your crew can comfortably relax after a day of boating, exploring, eating out, and sightseeing. Our competitive prices are fully inclusive of fuel, gas and VAT.

Find your perfect boat here.

Our boats are built right here at our marina and are unlike any others on “the cut”. But what exactly is so distinctive about a Charlie Fox Boat, and how many were built?

Read: Charlie Fox Narrowboats: Where are They Now?

A Fox Narrowboats holiday will introduce you to one of England’s best kept secrets, a network of waterways that meanders through some of the stunning Fenlands. You also cruise past pubs, cottages, windmills and wildlife. On these waterways you are the skipper; this is a holiday where you dictate the pace.

Freedom from Routine

Shopping and cooking are more like an adventure than a chore when you’re on a boating holiday, and every night you will be moored in a different place. Eat inside at a dinette table, or outside on the deck, enjoying the view. There are no “parking” charges – moorings are free!

Want to learn more about narrowboating? For surprising and unusual tips and ideas for days out on the Fenland Waterways, enter your email address in the box in the right side-bar (‘Follow blog’) and we’ll send you articles direct to your in box. (You will not receive any marketing emails, just two articles a month about boating info!)

 

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by Tim MarrowPosted on Posted in Canal Blog, Narrowboaters knowledge, Navigation articles
benwick river nene middle level cc kevin banks

benwick river nene middle level

If this is your first time on a narrowboat our experienced staff will show you how to steer the boat, use a lock and moor the boat. Then you can head off on an adventure, being the skipper of your own destiny! But how far can you actually get on your first day afloat?

We suggest travelling at a leisurely pace so that you can enjoy the journey. Don’t attempt to get too far too soon. A popular mooring among our customers for their first night of the holiday is Benwick, a little village near Peterborough on the navigable River Nene.  Heading towards Ramsey, it will take about two hours to reach Benwick by boat. Benwick can be visited if you are doing the Middle Level ring, and there is a shop and a pub in the village. The Middle Level is an interconnected waterway combining natural rivers and manmade canals, and it dates back to the 17th century. Since the draining of the Fen, over the years the land has sunk, and most of the area is now below sea-level. The Middle Level rivers now have to be pumped up to sea-level to drain the land.

Benwick’s High Street is built on a roddon; the silt banks of an old river. The public mooring in Benwick, has only room for a couple of boats please offer other narrowboats to moor alongside you to keep things polite, it has convenient piled sides, concrete top and bollards, which is easier to negotiate than a wild mooring. The Five Alls pub is about 10 minutes’ walk from the mooring. This rural, family-friendly pub offers food to eat in or takeaway for pre bookings only. Check out their Facebook page for the menu, and upcoming special events such as a disco or a Bingo night.

https://www.facebook.com/fivealls/

Alternatively, cruising towards Whittlesey on your first day afloat, you can moor at Manor Fields above Whittlesey Lock. There are a range of takeaways and restaurants just a short walk from the moorings. This charming town has an interesting maze of streets, and two beautiful churches.

If you are headed towards the River Great Ouse you can spend the night at Church Bridge moorings in Upwell. In this picturesque village you’ll find a newsagents and grocers, a butchers, a bakery and a pub.

You can plan your route and choose your mooring for your first night by looking in the guidebook provided with the narrowboat. There are also links to navigation guides, cruising times and notices here: Navigational Data. A handy table shows the navigation cruising times from our hire boat base in March, to popular moorings and holiday destinations. Some locks are tidal and only navigable by appointment, which can add time on to your journey, so take it easy and be flexible!

The Fenland waterways are a very relaxed place to be and there aren’t too many rules and regulations to remember. However, if you’re new to boating, these five tips should help your first cruise to go more smoothly. Navigate Like a Pro-Skipper: 5 Essential Tips

To check availability for your next narrowboat holiday search here.

Interested in narrowboating? For more tips and ideas for days out on the Fenland Waterways, enter your email address in the box in the right side-bar (‘Follow blog’) and we’ll send you articles direct to your in box roughly every two weeks.

Photo Credit: Kevin Banks

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by Tim MarrowPosted on Posted in Amazing things to do, Canal Blog, Get healthy
walking countryside fenland uk

walking countryside fenland uk

A narrowboat holiday means travelling at a relaxed pace, because nothing ever happens on the canals in a hurry. So even when your holiday boat is moored up, and you’re exploring villages and towns on foot, you’ll want to be taking it easy. Our narrowboat hire base is in the heart of the Fenlands, known for its flat landscape, so it’s one of the best places in the country to walk or cycle. Free walking and cycling maps can now be downloaded from the Fenland District Council website, and printed versions can be collected from various local community outlets. These include some good tips of local places to visit. The maps that cover the areas near our local waterways are the March map and the Whittlesey map.

Fox Narrowboats is in a great position, in the market town of March, on the Middle Level Waterways, not far from the idyllic riverside villages of Upwell and Outwell. On a boating holiday beginning at our marina you can easily explore March, and then cruise on to Whittlesey.

Each walking map offers a mini guide to the town. For example the March map mentions the disused buildings of March railway station, St Wendreda’s church, the local museum, and Fox Narrowboats; we are described as, “A modern marina situated in the heart of The Middle Level Navigation System on the outskirts of the town, strategically centred between Peterborough, Ely and Cambridge.” Grab a copy of this walking map from the council offices, the library or several other local outlets. The maps were funded by Cambridgeshire County Council’s Integrated Transport Block funding and created with input from local stakeholders and community groups, including March Vintage Cycle Club. The Whittlesey Walking and Cycling Map can also be download, or picked up at some local outlets in Whittlesey.

cycling route countryside

cycling route fenland countryside

Whittlesey is a historic market town on the very western edge of the Fens, near Peterborough. The town has a labyrinth of streets with a mix of architecture spanning several centuries. In the centre of the Market Place is the Buttercross, dating back to 1680; which was originally a place for people to sell butter and dairy goods. There is still a market in Whittlesey on Fridays.

To get to Whittlesey by boat turn right from our marina along the Old River Nene passing Floods Ferry and crossing the Greenwich Meridian. At Floods Ferry Junction the Old Nene forks left so take the right turn down Whittlesey Dyke. A navigation guide book is supplied with your boat, so you can easily find your way to Whittlesey, and the journey is part of Fox route 3. March to Ferry Meadows Country Park in Peterborough is a 12 hour return trip, and is ideal for a short break.

There are visitor moorings next to the leisure centre in Whittlesey, above Ashline lock. If you walk to the centre you could check out the restaurants and takeaways or top up with supplies from the various shops.

Continuing on Fox route 3 to Peterborough, the cathedral can be seen across the flat fields. If you then moor at Ferry Meadows Country Park you can walk to the city centre, for shopping, markets, the theatre and restaurants. However, you can also enjoy quieter, riverside walks, or make the most of the park for cycling. After exploring on foot or by bike, you may like to take a break at the café in the park.

So if you’re looking for a walking route to explore while on a Fox Narrowboats holiday just Download or pick up a free walking and cycling map!  Remember, walking can boost your mental health, so book yourself a narrowboat holiday, and be kind to yourself today!

You may also like: Five Things You’ll Love About the Middle Levels

Interested in narrowboating? For surprising and unusual tips and ideas for days out on the Fenland Waterways, enter your email address in the box in the right side-bar (‘Follow blog’) and we’ll send you articles direct to your in box.

Photo credit: Deposit

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by Tim MarrowPosted on Posted in Canal Blog, Narrowboaters knowledge
river nene northampton licenced

river nene northampton

Here are a collection of points to help sustain the waterways environment for boaters encouraged by The Canal & River Trust (CRT), The Green Blue & the RYA.

NEVER dump rubbish / oil / toilet waste

Never throw rubbish into the waterways or riverbank. Use bins provided or take it home. Dispose of toilet waste or oily bilge water at most marinas or household waste recycling centres. In case of an oil leak use absorbent pads or rolls to avoid oily water being pumped out.

USE ecofriendly cleaning products

Low phosphate detergents are available for marine applications. Aggressive cleaning products should be avoided. Think about the waste water from your shower and sink that empties into the waterway.

LOW speed – LOW wash

Minimise your boat speed and dont create a wash that can damage the river structure, disturb fish and other wildlife.

SLOW down for nesting water birds

ALGAE Blue-Green

During the summer on hot days there are sometimes lots of nutrients in the water, for example if fertilizer is washed off the land algae can appear which can be the blue green type, identified by greenish blue streaks on the water. Algae can be toxic to anything that touches the water including dogs and humans. This can cause stomach problems and skin rashes.

INVASIVE species

You may come across non-native and invasive species in and around our waterways. These can threaten the native wildlife and damage waterway structures. It’s actually a criminal offence to spread invasive species in UK waters.

Species can be identified with an App such as Google Lens. If you come across a non-native one such as Zebra Mussels, the American Signal Crayfish or Giant Hogweed don’t pick it up or move them.

invasive species uk waterways zebra mussel giant hogweed signal crayfish

Links to more invasive species

CRT Non Native Fish

CRT Non-native species

Gov – Non-Native Plants

CHECK / CLEAN / DRY

  1. Check your boat, gear & clothing for mud, aquatic animals or plants. Remove everything you find and leave it at the site.
  2. Clean everything thoroughly as soon as you can using hot water if possible
  3. Dry anything that can be taken out of the water such as ropes and fenders before using them elsewhere.

Some invasive animals and plants can survive for more than 2 weeks in damp conditions

SMOKELESS fuels

Many boats rely on solid fuel stoves for heating. Please only use smokeless fuels or fully dried wood to help reduce harmful emissions.

Some rivers and canals run through smoke control areas. Smokeless fuels must be used here. Don’t cut down trees next to the waterways, it damages the environment. You may see piles of wood the authorities have cut down these are for wildlife to live in, so please leave them for bugs and beasts to live in.

Watch the information Canal & River Trust Video on YouTube

Useful Freephone Numbers

Environment agency 0800 807060
Canal and river trust 0800 4799947

Fox Narrowboats Environment Policy

Image credits: River Nene Northampton Deposit Photos, Zebra Mussel Smithsonian Environmental Research Center CC-SA-2.0 , Signal Crayfish David Perez CC-SA-3.0, Giant Hogweed Fritz Geller-Grimm CC-SA-3.0 

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by Tim MarrowPosted on Posted in Amazing things to do, Amazing things to see, Canal Blog, Fayres & local events
ely folk festival live band

Blackbeard’s Tea Party Ely Folk Festival

Last week we enjoyed our annual St George’s Fayre which takes place in the town of March, where our marina is located.  Visitors enjoyed a free programme of arts, music, demonstrations, displays, dance, comedy and food.

If you missed this event you could still combine this year’s narrowboat holiday with one of these festivals this summer.

1) Strawberry Fayre

This renowned, free music festival had been going for over 40 years, before it was rudely interrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic. This year it returns on Saturday 3rd June and the theme is Revolution. It always begins with a parade around Cambridge’s city centre, and then returns to Midsummer Common for the main event. There are usually over a dozen stages, and marquees offering entertainment until 11pm. Each year the fayre attracts over 30,000 visitors. Strawberry Fayre is run entirely by volunteers dedicated to giving Cambridge a free day out. Check out the Strawberry Fair website  to find out more.

Cambridge is worth visiting at any time of year because of the world famous colleges, art galleries, history, shops and restaurants. To get to Cambridge from March by narrowboat you’ll pass through the Middle Levels, and up the Ely section of the Great Ouse. When in Cambridge your cruise will take you through Midsummer Common to Jesus Green where there are public moorings. You won’t be stuck for things to see and do.

2) March Fest

The 2023 March Summer Festival is also free and will be in West End Park, March, on 9th, 10th and 11th June.

Friday night is ‘Rock in the Park’ and on Saturday there will be a craft fair with, kids zone, live music on an open air stage, a variety of food stalls, a classic car show, dance tent and fair ground rides.

Sunday will be a picnic in the park aimed at children of all ages. There will also be a dog show, circus skills workshop, face painting, live music on the main stage and a junior disco.

Our hire boat base is in March and you will quickly arrive at the town centre. You could start or end your narrowboat hire holiday with this festival giving you a summer to remember.

3) Ely’s Aquafest

A return trip by narrowboat from March to Ely takes approximately 18 hours. There are visitor moorings on the waterfront when you get there. Our boating customers like to visit the antiques centre, the city centre shops, the famous Ely Cathedral and the museum at Oliver Cromwell’s House.  Instead of returning to March you can also carry on towards Cambridge.

If you visit Ely on Sunday 2nd July you’ll be moored in the middle of Aquafest. This family-friendly event takes place at three riverside locations: Lavender Green, Jubilee Gardens and the Maltings Green. There is usually a fun fair, beer tent, burger bar and stalls. Everyone likes the raft race, featuring numerous decorated rafts. To find out more about this free festival visit Aquafest.

4) Ely Folk Festival

If you book a boating holiday around 7th July you could experience three days of great music at one of the UK’s top weekend folk events. Ely Folk Festival offers a real ale bar, lots of kids activities, morris dancing displays, ceilidhs, workshops and music sessions. Tickets are available in advance at Ely Folk Festival.

If you’d like to travel to one of these festivals by narrowboat checkout our bookings page now, and see if your boat of choice is available for the dates you want.

Get more local events and holiday inspiration sent directly to your inbox: Look for ‘Follow Blog’ in the sidebar to the right. (We never send salesy stuff or spam, just a boaty article twice a month!)

Photo Credit: cc-sa-4.0 GiddyStu

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by Tim MarrowPosted on Posted in Canal Blog, Narrowboaters knowledge
living on narrowboat river cam

living on a narrowboat river cam

There are now thousands of canal boats on Britain’s inland waterways, although it’s difficult to estimate exactly how many of those are liveaboards. The inland boating community is diverse, and includes middle-aged divorcees, retired couples, young professionals, people on low incomes, and canal heritage enthusiasts. Some people like the alternative lifestyle, others hope it may be a cheaper lifestyle. Some are foreign tourists exploring England’s canals, and some boaters are able to continuously cruise because they work from home. Recent TV programmes like Canal Boat Diaries and Travels by Narrowboat show the pros and cons of living aboard.

Challenge Accepted!

If you are thinking of living on a narrowboat, here are some things to consider: You will have to declutter your possessions in order to manage living in a smaller space with limited storage. Extra chores will include disposing of your own domestic waste and sewage, and regularly refilling the water tank. Engine maintenance is essential, as your 12volt electric supply and even the running water in the taps will depend on it. The changing price of red diesel will affect your home budget and you will need to buy propane gas in bottles. If your work or personal commitments make continuously cruising impractical, you will also need to find a mooring.

At Foxboats marina, we have a mooring stipulation from our local authority of no more than 10 months out of 12 occupancy of the boats on site.  However, many liveaboards choose to continuously cruise during the summer, and take a mooring in a marina like ours for the winter. This way you enjoy the convenience of a mooring for half the year, and exploring the waterways when the weather is warmer. Many moorings have a good sense of community where you can get to know your neighbours.

Taking the Plunge

If you have considered the potential challenges of life afloat then you are ready to take the plunge. It can be quite freeing to live with less material possessions. Consider the sense of independence and accomplishment knowing that you are responsible for supplying your own gas and electric. You’ll enjoy feeling connected to nature when watching swans, ducks and moorhens glide by outside your windows. You will become more economical with water and you may like to learn new skills such as marine engine maintenance, boat refurbishment or painting roses and castles. The towpath may now be your running track or cycle route if you want to get fit. Will you settle down on a mooring or will you consider a new career as a roving canal trader?

I love it when I discover a fictional character that lives on a boat. Here are three that you may not have heard of: Movies That Feature Narrowboating Life.

You may also like: The Truth About Living Aboard A Boat: 3 Books You Should Read

I spent 13 years living on canal boats and during that time many people I met assumed that I was bravely living without any modern comforts. People would ask me if it was cold in winter, and whether living aboard was a bit like camping? But nothing could be further from the truth: Modern narrowboats are extremely comfortable. Here are four surprising creature comforts you will find on a Fox narrowboat.

Read: Is it Cold in Winter? The Answer Might Surprise You!

If you’ve already enjoyed a few hire boat holidays and now feel ready to take the next step towards owning your own boat. Here are our top three suggestions for getting a boat: Get Afloat! 3 Ways to Get a Boat.

But if you’d like to ‘try before you buy’, check availability now for your next narrowboat holiday, to see if this is the right lifestyle for you.

Peggy

For more inside info about life on boats, enter your email address in the box in the right side bar (‘Follow blog’) and we’ll send you articles direct to your in -box. (We never share or sell email addresses, this is just to send you our latest blog posts.)

Credit: Deposit Photos Narrowboat on the River Cam 

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by Tim MarrowPosted on Posted in Booking budget tips, Canal Blog

boat trip gift voucher

Are you looking for the best gift ideas this year?

Does your mum deserve to get away from it all?

Want to surprise her with a family day out?

This year Mothering Sunday is on March 19th and our annual boating season begins in April, so you can book a day trip in advance and surprise your mum with the news on Mother’s Day. Boating appeals to all ages and is a great way to bring the family together.

1) Day Boat Hire

Our colourfully painted luxury day boats, The March Adventurer and the March Explorer, are both equipped a small galley, a toilet and a seating area. On board you’ll also find a 12v mobile phone charging point, so that you can keep taking pictures of mum’s day out as you travel.

You and your crew will be fully trained in boat handling as part of the boat handover. One of our qualified instructors will explain how to steer the boat and operate the locks ensuring that you feel comfortable and confident before you set off. Day boat hire is a popular choice with families wanting to spend the day together to celebrate a special occasion. Making memories together can sometimes be the best gift.

2) Canal Boat Holiday

If you really want to push the boat out you could book a week on board with the family.

Read: Why Narrowboating is the Perfect Family Holiday

Although a holiday is not exactly the traditional Mothers Day gift, it will be a good opportunity to spoil your mum, and show her that she is appreciated; especially if the crew share the chores on board and take turns at cooking meals. On a longer cruise you would have time to visit Peterborough, Ely or Cambridge. If you stop at the visitor moorings on the waterfront in Ely, mum can visit the antiques centre, the city centre shops, the famous Ely Cathedral and the museum at Oliver Cromwell’s House.  Or in Cambridge she may enjoy shopping, restaurants and punting, while admiring the incredible architecture.

Get into your mum’s good books this year by suggesting that her favourite people get together for a memorable trip on the Fenland waterways.

3) Boating Books

Talking of books, that’s another good idea for a gift! If she dreams of a life aboard, or has already lived aboard a canal boat in the past, there are some great books about parenting on board. From historical novels to a modern travelogue through the French canals, the books in this article show various different aspects of boating with children.

Read: Five Surprising Mothers Day Gifts for the Narrowboat Mum

If she doesn’t want to read about parenting, try Favourite Boating Recipes by Cas Best instead, or the classic ‘Narrow Boat’ book by LTC Rolt. This lovely, lyrical diary of Tom and Angela’s travels back in 1939, has become a classic among canal-boat enthusiasts. Tom Rolt is now considered to be one of the pioneers of the leisure cruising industry on Britain’s inland waterways.

Read: Was This the Very First Narrowboat Holiday?

Whichever option you choose, giving your mum a narrowboat themed book, or experience, will make this Mothers Day a bit different this year and give her something to remember.

Day boat hire starts at £225 Search Day Boat Hire.

You may also like: 5 Memorable Things to See on a Day Boat Trip

For more surprising and unusual tips and ideas for days out in Cambridgeshire, enter your email address in the box in the right side bar (‘Follow blog’) and we’ll send you articles direct to your in -box. (We never share or sell email addresses, this is just to send you our latest blog posts.)

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by Tim MarrowPosted on Posted in Canal Blog, Narrowboaters knowledge
first time narrowboating on canal

First time canal boat – Fox Narrowboat Fens

Have you ever been sailing?

Had a go on a motor cruiser?

Or are you mystified by nautical terms and the thought of complicated knots and navigating knowledge?

If you’ve already been sailing, or have some experience with a GRP motor cruiser, you may be wondering how different a canal boat can be. A narrowboat holiday can leave you feeling refreshed and re-energised. Even with no previous experience of boating our customers discover it’s easy to master a canal boat.

Setting Off

A narrowboat pivots somewhere near its middle; meaning when the bow goes left the stern goes to the right and vice versa. So when setting off from the bank it’s easiest if one of your crew pushes the bow out from the bank, and then walks back along the towpath to join the helmsman on the back deck. The boat is now pointed towards the centre of the canal and you can set off.

Steering

The first rule of canal boating is that boaters drive on the right. The second rule of canal boating is that we don’t call it “driving” but instead we say “steering!”

Even an experienced boater can find that the amount of control you have over the boat is directly linked to the number of spectators around! If nobody is watching you will have perfect control, and yet, mysteriously, if lots of people are watching you the boat can seem to have a mind of its own! (Fun fact: the word for a person who enjoys watching boats going by is a “gongoozler!”)

Tiller steering is different to wheel steering, but once you get the hang of it you will find a tiller easier to use. Push the tiller to the right to steer left, and to the left to steer right. You can’t steer at all when the boat is in neutral. Cruising forwards is fine, but there is a lot less control over the direction of the boat when the engine is in reverse.

Stopping the boat takes a lot longer than you might expect. To stop you will have to put the boat into reverse, but don’t expect it to stop any time soon. Steel narrowboats have a lot of momentum, so when you want to stop you’ll have to plan ahead. Everything happens much more slowly than it would with a light GRP cruiser, so although you may be aware that you are going to crash in five seconds time, you may not be able to avoid it if you haven’t put the engine into reverse in time!

It can also be trickier to steer on a windy day, as the wind may take the boat drifting across the navigation, but many of our local waterways are quite wide.

However, don’t let any of this put you off. You will be given full training before setting off from our hire boat base, and first time boaters generally enjoy their holidays without any mishaps or difficulty, taking to it like a duck to water.

Mooring Up

On the inland waterways stern and bow lines are only used for mooring. To moor up, slow the boat right down to tickover and gently steer towards the bank at a shallow angle. Gently putting the boat in reverse will bring it to a stop. Step off the boat holding the centre line (mooring rope). Official moorings will have mooring rings or bollards; but at a rural mooring you will need to use mooring pins.

Working the Locks

Before setting off our instructor will give you some basic training in boat handling and explain how to operate a lock. You will need an L-shaped tool called a windlass, (provided with the boat,) to open the paddles on the lock gates, which will either fill or empty the lock, depending on which direction you are travelling in. If you’re completely new to narrowboating ideally you may like one or two people to operate the lock, plus somebody to steer the boat. You will need to temporarily moor the boat to the bollards provided at the lock landing, while you set the lock, ready for your boat to go through.

Read: How to Work a Lock (Even if You’ve Never Done it) for a more detailed explanation, including our top safety tips.

Smaller locks are operated by you and your crew, and some larger tidal locks are operated by lock keepers.

“Lovely day on the waterways of Fenland, took a leisurely trip to Benwick from March.

Youngsters were left speechless with seeing Kingfishers, fish, heron and dragonflies.

Gavin’s instructional tutorial was easy to follow, and we soon chugged down the River Nene. Thanks to Paula and the team for a memorable day!” – Niki D. (Tripadvisor).

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Image Credit: Fox Narrowboats

 

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