Various ways to save on a boat hire
- Book early, before the end of the year for a trip in the following year
- Pay cash, sending a bank transfer rather than credit card
- Although rare, the boat hire may offer concessions (discounts) for seniors and children
- Book a flotilla, if you can convince enough people to join you that you require two or more boats!
- Ask about canceled or one-way trips. Last-minute cancellations do happen and occasionally boat hires need someone to move boats to another base and you get to save on a one-way trip.
- Book yearly, some boat hires have increasing discounts each year you travel. Loyalty rewards, however, usually require no more than a 12-month gap between bookings, but it never hurts to ask.Sadly you usually can’t combine multiple discounts
Ring cycle
For the same reason, I recommend against planning a ring route for your first trip. The advantage of a ring is that instead of retracing your journey to return your boat, you can make a loop by traveling more than one canal. The Four Counties Ring, for instance, including the Shropshire Union, the Staffordshire & Worcestershire, and the Trent & Mersey canals, can be done in a week if you travel eight hours a day, but that’s a lot of pressure for a beginner crew.
Number of locks
You might want to choose a canal with relatively few locks or at least consider what route avoids the highest concentration of locks. I’d recommend a beginner not attempt Caen Hill, for instance, but you can avoid it if you confine your canal journey to the Bath to Devizes portion of the canal, stopping (or beginning) at Foxhanger Wharf in Devizes.
Some authorities suggest beginners choose a lock-free canal, like the 42 restored miles of the Lancaster Canal that almost makes it to the Lake District, but locks are an essential part of the experience, I think.
Wide vs narrow canal
I recommend a beginner pick a wide canal with locks that can accommodate two narrowboats abreast (at least 14 feet wide), because that means your narrowboat will easily navigate through the many bridges and locks you’ll encounter. The downside is that larger locks take longer to fill and drain and you’ll often share locks with other boats, but that just gives you more time to chat with other boaters.
Popularity
Popular canals also mean more traffic. I’m not suggesting you intentionally pick an unpopular canal—just be aware that your expectation of how much distance you travel each day may be unrealistic, especially during summer. An advantage of a popular canal, however, is that you’ll be able to fully research the canal before you arrive. You’ll find more books and documentaries about the Llangollen and Kennet & Avon canals than the isolated Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal in Wales, picturesque though it is.
Transportation, laundry,
groceries, towpath, pubs
Other practicalities include transportation to your canal. Are you brave enough to drive on the left side of the road and negotiate roundabouts? Or do you prefer to take the train? Are there grocery stores on your route? If you’re going for distance, you’ll need to cook and eat your meals on board. Are there laundries in the towns and villages along your route?
And even though you take a narrowboat trip to get away from it all, most of us can’t ignore work and family completely. Frequently we’ve had little or no cell service on our trips, so you might want to choose a canal that goes through moderately large towns if you need to stay connected.
All canals have towpaths, although the quality of the path varies widely. One of the great delights of a canal trip is walking along beside your boat, so look up the quality of the towpath. Some towpaths are challenging on a bike, something to consider if you rent a bike.
Pubs are very common, but check your route and your timings. We’ve moored up in the middle of nowhere with not a pub in sight, meaning another night without a hot meal and a local ale.
Time of year
The time of year will also affect your trip. We’ve always traveled in the fall, during the off season. The canals are less congested and we’ve had decent weather, even in Wales. Just be aware if you plan too late or too early, some of the attractions you hope to visit may not be open. Savings can be significant depending on the season. Early September is a great time to book a trip. There are still many fall festivals but the kids are back in school, meaning fewer boats on the canals.