Life on board

What’s provided, what’s not

Narrowboat hire companies supply an impressive amount of what you’ll need. Almost all boats will come with a full kitchen, including refrigerator, cook top (and probably an oven/grill) and sink. There’s often a microwave oven and a full range of pots and pans, dishes, cups and silverware, plus the necessary washing up liquid, sponges and drying/tea towel. You’ll even have toast racks (but no toaster) and eggcups, something most Americans will find amusing. We used the eggcups as shot glasses.

Things almost every boat will have

Diesel engine

DC-to-AC inverter

Windlasses

Mooring spikes and mallet

Mooring clamps

Pole and boat hook

Boarding ramp

Life ring (life preserver)

Water tank (at least a hundred gallons)

Hot water tank or calorifier, uses waste heat from the engine

Liquid propane gas tanks

Gas furnace, probably a boiler that heats water that is then piped to registers throughout the boat, may be tied into the hot water system

Fire extinguisher, fire blanket

Appliances, conveniences

TV, CD player, radio and probably a (Region 2) DVD player

Refrigerator

Kitchen sink

Cooker with oven and grill

Bathroom(s) with toilet, sink, shower and/or tub (with switch operated pump)

Kitchen

Plates (several sizes), bowls, coffee/tea cups, water glasses, wine glasses

Forks, knives, spoons

Fry pan

Fish slice (we’d call it a spatula or turner)

Several sauce pans

Colander

Bread box

Serving and cooking forks, spoons

Whisk

Carving knife, cutting board

Kettle

Tea pot

Tin and bottle opener, corkscrew

Tea towel, dish towel, sponge, scouring pad, washing up liquid

Paper towels

Sufficient cups, plates, cutlery, etc., are provided for the maximum number of passengers the boat can accommodate. You’ll also probably have a potato peeler, masher, oven gloves, egg cups, casserole dish, toast rack, butter dishes, sugar bowl, etc.

Waste bin (small)

Bucket, broom, mop, dust pan

Bed and bath

You’ll have towels and bedding for how many people you told the boat hire will be aboard

12V hair dryer

Precious little toilet paper

Small waste bin

What may be provided (especially if you ask)

Buoyancy aid (life vest)

First-aid kit

Waterproofs (rain gear)

Umbrella

What’s probably not provided

Facial tissues

Facecloths

Hand soap

What you might want to bring

Coat hangers

Boat shoes (Crocs slip when wet)

Toilet paper

Facecloths

2-way radio

Ear plugs

Extension cord (to charge multiple devices)

UK-to-US plug adapter

Paper towels

Facial tissues

Hand soap

Plastic storage bags

Garbage bags

Cooking oil (for the fry pan)

Butter

Sugar

Coffee

Tea

Soft drinks

Spirits

Spices

Breakfast food: cereal, rolls, scones

Fruit: bananas, apples, grapes

Jams, honey

Condiments

Cheese

Crackers

Cold remedies

First-aid kit

Clothesline

Storage hooks