Can I get seasick on a narrowboat?

That’s a very interesting question, and I suppose it entirely depends on the susceptibility of the individual. My friend Lee is very prone to motion sickness; I think I could make her seasick just by swaying side-to-side while talking to her. Nevertheless she has endured two narrowboat trips and is looking forward to a third, so I think most people would—under most conditions—have no problems on a narrowboat.

That said, I’m sure there are conditions when one could get motion sickness while on a narrowboat. Normally the water in the cut is pretty still with passing narrowboats being the only source of disturbance. At a maximum speed of 4 mph, narrowboats move at a stately pace and often energetic walkers can outpace a boat. But two boats passing can make quite a disturbance, especially if the boats don’t slow down. However it lasts only a moment.

A person in a moored boat might be upset by a passing boat, but again it lasts only a moment. Remember, you should reduce your throttle to tick over—meaning the prop is only barely turning—when passing moored boats. In reality, a moored boat is quite stable, although there’s always a barely perceptible rocking. That’s why after a narrowboat trip, you may find yourself unconsciously swaying when on dry land. It’s a mild form of “sea legs” that I find occurs most often while taking a shower. I think of “canal legs” as a pleasant reminder of canal trip and have experienced it as much as two weeks after a narrowboat trip.

Fortunately I’ve never experienced being on a narrowboat during a violent storm, but I imagine it could be quite unsettling if strong winds are pushing your boat against the bank. Similarly, you might experience motion sickness if you’re moored on a river. A combination of tidal flows, torrential rains, high winds and passing boats might make for a rough night.

Of course you’re most likely to experience “rough seas” on open water, which you’re unlikely to encounter while on the canal network. Some canals, however, incorporate natural bodies of water, like the Caledonian Canal in Scotland. The Caledonian connects several lochs, including Loch Ness, so the disturbance you feel might be Nessie passing under your boat. The Shannon-Erne Waterways connects those two rivers in the two Irelands and is a combination of rivers, lakes and canals. If you have a queasy stomach, it might be best to avoid these waterways.

One remedy for those who easily get seasick is to avoid narrowboats in favor of wide-beam barges. A ten-foot or wider barge should be quite stable in comparison to a narrowboat. This limits the number of canals you can travel, of course, but there are still plenty of wide canals. I would definitely recommend not hiring lighter boats with fiberglass or glass-reinforced plastic hulls. The flat-bottomed metal hull of a narrowboat or barge is inherently stable.