245. Narrowboat novices! The process of hiring a canal boat
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- Опубликовано: 23 июл 2021
- Lots of folk ask me about hiring a narrowboat for a holiday so I thought I'd make a video about it. By coincidence, friends and fellow RUclipsrs Greg & Lou Virgoe, and John & Mandy, had decided to book a week's hire - their first time on a narrowboat - so I tagged along to document the hiring handover.
Greg & Lou's video: • We Swap Vanlife for Bo...
John & Mandy's video: • From VANLIFE to BOATLI...
and their channels:
/ gregvirgoe
/ johnmandy
Greg booked the hire with ABC Boat Hire www.abcboathire.com/
Note: this video is not an advertisement for ABC and I received no payment or benefit from them for making it (other than their permission to film); I pointed Greg in their direction when he asked me about hiring but he sorted the holiday out.
The RYA helmsperson's course I mentioned:
www.rya.org.uk/training/cours...
If you have enjoyed the video, a tip can be left via
www.ko-fi.com/davidjohns
or / cruisingthecut
Get your Cruising the Cut mugs, t-shirts and other merch here: cruisingthecut.myspreadshop.c...
Info
Q&A: www.CruisingTheCut.co.uk/f-a-q/
Filming Gear: www.CruisingTheCut.co.uk/gear/
Contact Me
Twitter: / cruisingthecut
Instagram: / cruisingthecut
Facebook: / cruisingthecut
Web: www.CruisingTheCut.co.uk
Theme music: "Vespers" by Topher Mohr and Alex Alena, from the RUclips music library
#narrowboat #canal #cruisingthecut #narrowboats #canals #liveaboard
how much does it cost for a week ?
It varies massively depending on how big the boat is, and when it is (even a week or two here or there can make a huge difference depending on school holidays etc). Plus how busy the hire firm is and where they are in the country and what standard their boats are (etc).
However, it’s never cheap (think several hundred pounds upwards, usually) so often best shared as a group of friends.
Budget on £1,000-1500 a week in summer for a 4-6 berth.
I don't think that you'd see much change from £1000 for a boat for a week for 4 people in high season.
Well I suppose comparing it to staying in a hotel for a week might be an idea.
We paid £700 for 4 Days for a 4 berth 60ft boat from the Wyvern Shipping Company in Leighton Buzzard, this was at Easter 3 years ago. We’d never done it before and the staff spent 2 hours with us prior to sailing giving us advice etc. They company also sent us videos to view before the hire. They also took us to our lock and helped/showed us how to manage a lock. We felt well prepared and would definitely recommend the Wyvern Shipping Company
Lou and I would like to say a huge thank you to you for making our narrow boat week so memorable and enjoyable. It was a pleasure meeting you and having you there to guide us was the icing on the cake. Happy travels 😁
Greg, I had a blast and it was such a pleasure to finally meet you all. Let's do a campervan meetup next...
@@CruisingTheCut that sounds like a cracking idea 💡 😁
@@CruisingTheCut so now that you are training future Narrowboat captains, shouldn’t you be getting a Brevet promotion to Commodore?
Absolutely enjoyed your video and I was verb envious of your holiday. But please tell me, didn't you gents help with the cooking and dishwashing?
@@joebuchanan9563 yes, I cooked for us all one night and I’m sure the tea towel was in my hand a couple of times 😁
I like the new direction your taking your channel expanding the narrowboat experience beyond just live aboard.
"you are".
We had such a great week, enjoying the canal system and our time aboard the boat, of course this was made possible by not only ABC but also YOU, David, and your reassuring advice and guidance. Loved this video and it genuinely represented our lovely week on our first Narrowboat. 😁
Thank you, I was really chuffed to be invited along and had a great time with you all. Cheers!
Were the ladies doing all the cooking and dish washing? Were you allowed to grill out along the tow path?
Nice to see someone encouraging Hirers, instead of other Vloggers using their errors to condemn and humiliate. Well done for your professional approach towards people enjoying a new experience on the canal👍.
Thank you
Top tip for filling water - let the hose run for a few seconds before sticking it in your tank, to clean the hose out.
Don't stick the hose end in the tank at all....use your own...then you know it hasn't been used to flush the toilet/holding tank....also relates to hoses at dump points for motor caravans with holding tanks/cassettes.
John Smith this is a video about hire boats. Do you honesty expect people to pack their own hose when they go on holiday?!
@@spencerwilton5831 bloody well right though.
That was a very thorough handover. I'm not sure all hire companies are quite so comprehensive. Well done ABC.
I did wonder if it was because all three of us were filming but it also did seem to be par for the course rather than something put on for us.
@@CruisingTheCut I’d agree, their service felt natural and in no way adjusted to the fact we were filming.
I'm loving these mini documentaries, really interesting. Look forward to more.
Glad you like them!
I've cancelled cable because content like this is superior to anything on TV, and agenda free.
Seriously the USA needs to build a narrowboat canal system. Near $30 Trillion of debt & nothing to show but pot holed roads & run down airports. Imagine a coast to coast, north-south border canal system that you Brit’s could come visit & enjoy in addition to your awesome system. Such a system would create 10’s of 1000’s of jobs in the USA.
Ah but Random 549 there's a lot of history that comes with our canals which you wouldn't have over there!! Remember they were built for industry but now mostly are used for leisure, and quite right too!
I just frantically told my wife to text her mum (Mandy)! Can’t believe I’m seeing you and my in-laws in the same video. After watching you for years it’s like worlds have collided 😂
Hahahahahahahahaha
Ugh, this just makes me want a narrowboat so much more! lol
I get lost and find these videos every now and again, I'm in the US, and had absolutely no idea that these canals and systems existed. It's a really interesting thing to see, it's part of daily life that you'd never know existed.
In the city of Birmingham the 2nd biggest city in the U.K there’s more miles of canals than there is in Venice. Just another bit of info for you.
@@matty6848 I didn’t know that. WOW!
Absolutely cracking vlog! Love the camerawork, the interviews, the content from start to finish is just so enjoyable AND professional. Informative, inspiring and entertaining. Thank you for taking your work in this new direction. So refreshing and creative. Well done!!!!!!! 👏 👏 👏
Much appreciated!
Never approach a dock faster than you're willing to hit it.
I'm in the northern mountains of California, watching this vlog today. (not burning at the moment, however the air is a rich red color and has a heavy smoke feel)
I must say I find this type of comradery the essence of life really.
All of you look as if you're enjoying just being alive. As we should of course.
Greg, your intrepid overseer is one of the most pleasant of people.
You and your travel companions (John & Mandy and we can't forget Lou) seem so excited to learn about boating. What a joy to watch.
Thanks for sharing this.
I have to say, that's a heck of a lot more introduction and instruction than I've seen given to sailing catamarans before they're chucked off into the unforgiving ocean.
Picked some good people for this. Greg is a total van legend!! His van build is of the highest standard!!
Thank you 😊 that’s very kind of you to say 👍🏼
As much as I miss the old vlogs I have to admit that these mini docs are absolutely brilliant.
Those are some nice people. I'm gonna check out their channels.
Thanks for all the videos. Some channels like to engage in drama but that is something I just don’t appreciate at all.
I have been thinking about what I like about RUclips and the videos I like the most are the ones that shows and explains something. Also videos that feels like you are tagging along.
So I finally got a new computer and I am uploading my boat lock video from Germany. What I really just want to contribute are that sort of thing. You get to go somewhere, see something. It doesn’t need to be spectacular, there are so many interesting things hidden in plain sight.
Don’t know if that makes any sense. Cheers.
Not often you see David as the Old Sea Dog. Another fun video!
While I do miss your cruising vids, this current content is really fun and interesting. Your past experience shows out with the great camera work, editing and voiceover. Your content is always the highest quality and great fun to watch. Thanks David.
when I was a kid my Mum and Dad took us kids for a holiday on a Narrowboat, we made a total pig's ear of it the whole time , but I remember it as being one of the best holidays of my life :)
Kudos on consistently strong wordplay in your thumbnails 😆
In the words of Harry Chapin’s song “Greyhound”: “It's got to be the going not the getting there that's good”. Going there in at 3 - 5 mph takes getting used to, but that is part of the adventure.
Absolutely
What a lovely bunch of people! How daunting to start with but it just goes to show how 'do able' enjoying our canals on a narrowboat is. Thank you.
Brilliant video, just super to see my 3 fav RUclipsrs together!
David, your vlogs keep getting better which is a very high bar. Wonderful of you to help neophytes safely enjoy the journey. And thanks to your cohorts for allowing you to share a part of their adventure.
Many thanks!
David. Great upload. Good to see you're well.
Glad you enjoyed it
@@CruisingTheCut I like the direction you are taking your channel in. "Keep on chug chug chugging!"
You sir are an amazing Presenter and filmmaker. All yor videos are just a pleasure to watch !
I was waiting for David to attach a bungee cord to the throttle so it wouldn't get much past tickover :)
What terrific people they were, glad they enjoyed their time aboard.
Thanks to David and Greg & Lou Virgoe, and John & Mandy for sharing their first experience with us. Shall have to have a look at your times on your vlogs.
Cheers from Canada
I was concerned at first when you said you didn’t feel as involved in doing your own trips. But I can see why this is much more enjoyable. From the viewer perspective I’m
Enjoying these new vlogs just as much, and I hope you are truly enjoying making them!
My wife and I and my sister and her husband hired a narrow boat some years ago on the Trent and Mersey Canal. What a wonderful and relaxing few days. Thoroughly recommend it. Beautiful scenery and very friendly people. Lots of local beers in the pubs along the way. Would do it again in a heartbeat.
As a family, we've hired a few times now, 3 times for a total of 3 weeks. Beforehand we did a bit of research and we've gotten better each time, I would say I am the best of the family at steering especially if there's a side current from the overflow of a lock.
I'd like to say that canal boating is long periods of calm followed by brief periods of madness :P
I think we had the
Dusky Warbler (2019, 69ft, 5 people)
Emerald Dove (2020, 60ft, 4 people)
Meadow Lark (2021, 66ft, 6 people)
I think we could have gone for a smaller boat for the first holiday as we had a fold out table / bed combo in the front of the boat, it was a lot of fun and we were respectful (at least we tried to!) of those who were already there. We didn't make it as far as we planned on the first trip as we ended up visiting a pub every night! Our lack of dedication to the beans on toast dinner meant we didn't reach Stratford in time and had to turn around early. We did go through the 12th longest Canal Tunnel in Britain, about 2700 yards, it took about 45 mins.
We once had some weeds wrap around the prop, we managed to get it off with a quick burst of reverse however. We luckily didn't need to open up the weed hatch and fish it out
I was nervous for them 🤣. But all was well. Off to watch John & Mandy, Greg & Lou 😊
Every hire should come with a complementary Cruising the Cut mug. I am pretty shure that there’s a ton of people wanting to cruise the cut because of the awesome content from this channel. Thanks again. Maybe some day when we can travel I will visit England. 👍🏻✌🏻🇨🇦
yes he will be very popular doing that.
I was only thinking a couple of days ago, that that would be a good idea - hiring a small Narrowboat for a couple of weeks. Et voilà. Up crops David with the recipe that is assuredly, foolproof.Now all I need is for the borders to open up. I'm the full quid having been a student of David's for the past few years. I know where to buy the cheese sandwiches.
That completely sums up our experience hiring I think. A lot of boat owners could (should) watch this and see not all hire boats are let out on the cut with no help or no idea.
Glad to hear you have had a good experience
Yippie! Miss you so much. The world is a better place with you in it! Thank you for sharing yourself.
They did well for their first time, especially because it looked a bit windy on their first day
It was blowing an absolute STINK as you can hear on some of the audio, the windjammer couldn't take it!
The wind wasn’t an issue due to David’s Great instruction 👍🏻
Very interesting, whenever I get to England...
In Sweden the main canal across the country, Göta Kanal, is nicknamed "The Divorce Ditch" because of strained relationships when doing canal locks. No such nickname for UK canals?
Hahaha no, not that I’m aware of
😀😁😃😂😃😅😂😃😅
Many moons ago, myself and a couple of school friends rented a boat for a week. The orientation was just a few minutes of where to add (and if necessary remove) fluids, then they waved us on our way. I think every kid in the 70's went on at least one field trip to a canal so lock function and operation was well known. In the first lock, as I was desperately trying to keep the boat from crashing in every direction, an Aussie guy in the boat beside me said "relax, if they didn't want you to bang into things they wouldn't have given you a metal boat".
We did try water skiing using the boarding plank and mooring rope at full speed, and every night was spent either miles away from civilisation or just 5 minutes walk to another pub.
It'd be so nice to travel that journey once more, but even nicer to be 20 and with those friends again.
Dear David, We hired a narrowboat in 2019. After watching 2 videos we thought we were prepared. Up the Oxford canal we went with shear beginner's luck to Cropredy. On the return trip I met a very kind gentleman who looked like you and helped me with a lock.. But perhaps it was just an archetype of you, gentle and diplomatic. Well at the lock the nice experienced boater asked if we were continuing on past Banbury. I said yes we would be. Unfortunately I never saw that kind gentleman again to thank him. Maybe he was reticent to follow after watching my husband yelling at me to catch up with the boat and me tearing down the tow path so as not to be left behind. Given the 2 mph speed there was no need to freak out about it. I laugh about this nuttiness now, but also lament the fact that we were ill prepared. After this long-winded and very gripping story I have to say narrowboating and the vlogs we have enjoyed kept us loving the memory. Kind help from more experienced boaters is an act of mercy.
oh I wish i had the money to do this, maybe i'll hit the lottery one day :) another great video :)
As an American, I've long enjoyed your channel and others to show me a way of life so different from my own. Nice to know that I might even be able to navigate a NB if I ever made it to the UK. All the best from Missouri.
9:20 I know you've often mentioned the speed of narrowboats and being overtaken by moderately motivated pedestrians but that shot is still unbelievable 😂 you're just walking alongside them!!
A well documented introduction to the pleasures of a narrowboat for holiday use.
For that David, thank you.
However, it is to be hoped, that we don't, by our constant enthusiasm and advertising of such joy, kill the goose that laid the golden egg.
Sadly inevitable. We should all just shut up, but I'm as bad as anybody at evangelizing English canals. And I haven't even been on them in over 30 years :(
That was comprehensive handover indeed. The two young men got the hang of it quite swiftly, well done. Thanks for sharing this very enjoyable video David, Keep up the good work.
Never really been into boating but your channel is great. Very well presented, informative and interesting.
Thank you
While I enjoy the new informational format, I'm missing your cruising vids. I know you feel like it's a saturated space. But your wry humor, combined with the relaxing churn of the engine, is a unique pleasure.
Thanks. However, I don't enjoy either cruising or making those videos anymore, see vlog 238.
Oh, happy memories! My dad (Naval officer) did this when we were stationed in London in the early ‘70’s - I was about 7 or so. The narrow boat was no where near as fancy or pretty as that one, and it was ‘72 or ‘73 - b/4 fancy microwaves and tech. ;) He rented a boat & we went down the Thames for a few days (w/dog too.) It’s such a great memory. I loved living in England. & Going through the locks was very cool for a kid & my dad knew all about the locks and explained what was happening. It was the best - so pretty and peaceful. So glad this video popped up in my recommendations.
No way!!! l watch all of you guys. This should be great 🤗💜
Seems like speed was the biggest learning curve for this crew. Hope they took all of your "slow downs' to heart for the rest of the week on the canal. They got a good education from the hire boat company. Pretty impressive really and, of course, they were lucky to have you on the first days. Personally I'd want the full helmsman course. Very informative!
When I was showing new members how to steer a club-owned narrowboat I'd tell them that they had already arrived at their destination - the cruising is the holiday. People get told to slow down past moored boats, but not always why; the boat is about two metres wide and about half a metre deep, which means that for every metre the boat moves forward roughly a ton of water has to flow around it, and the faster that ton is moving the more damage it can do.
Silly hats are mandatory for all good holidays. Great video and I'm hoping we're privileged enough to see any campervan follow-up
Liked the bit where the locks were explained by Gayton Marina staff. Great video as ever.
Absolutely great footage! Having been on several narrow boat holidays I can totally feel the excitement of the crew on this holiday and the information given about how to Narrow Boat is totally valuable to anyone wishing to have a Narrow Boat Holiday. One of the great things is that the world goes by at 4 mph and you can be listening to music, have a beer, or a glass of wine and be 'anywhere in the world' in your head as you cruise through countryside not accessible by road. SO relaxing! Instead of going to Ibiza folks... Go on a Narrow Boat and learn what 'true' relaxation is!
You have always managed to navigate the locks quite nicely but I see having more than one to help doing these seems like a more pleasing way to do things.
That was great David. good to see it from that perspective
Thanks, David, how nice to see U again. God bless =^..^=
Another top video!
I live at Colemere, North Shrops and it gets VERY busy come July on the Llangollen branch with hired craft, so for a first timer I would suggest hiring later in the season, the first day will still be daunting because of so much to take in (and scary scenarios in your head) but you'll have fewer distractions around you compared with early season. Alternatively, if you're too nervous of the canals then I'd recommend hiring a fibreglass cruiser on the Norfolk Broads or the Scottish Great Glen for two weeks. The rivers and lochs are wide and easy to manoeuvrer and it'll give you the experience and confidence for hiring a narrowboat in the future.
P.S. Whatever you're doing there will always be someone to see you mess up and nobody around when you look like a pro, so relax and don't let it stress you out when you have an audience nearby.
what a great video, thank you....im a Brit living in Oz & did two trips from Blisworth Canal Boats in Northhamptonshire via the Grand Union & Oxford canals. Its was just the best, i'd choose a canal boast trip over the Italian or French Riviera any day.
22:33 "...been there, read the t-shirts....." 😆 Viewing this was somehow simultaneously deeply calming and anxiety-inducing as Greg & Lou, and John & Mandy learn the ways of narrowboating!
Only been on a narrowboat wonce,and inside they are a lot bigger than expected and yes everyone on the canal are polite and appreciative had a nice tranquil time.
I won't be surprised if next year You sir will have own show about alternative living on Channel 4. As always great production. Greetings from York, North Yorkshire.
Thank you for making this video! I'm from the states but have been wanting to do exactly this ever since finding your channel. I looked at other companies but the info was confusing. This seems way more enjoyable and a better way to see the real England versus staying in hotels and rushing from place to place to cram every tourist attraction in.
Sat down to have a snack, pull up RUclips and of course a new video! I've always thought I'd be afraid to pilot a narrowboat but these guys got it so quickly, maybe I'd be fine as well lol
Yes, people either seem to get it straight away or not at all. The only way to find out is have a go!
What a nice friend you are to help them with the locks! Very nice episode as always.
❤Absolutely loved this. Very well put together. No flannel, no lecturing. Photography, framing and pace just perfect. And all in HD. It answered a lot of questions I had about canal boating, and I've been around boats most of my life. I wish there was more stuff of this quality on youtube.
Obviously I had no choice but to subscribe and click the bell!
A very big hello from Ireland....
Thank you so much! 😊
I have a dream of coming from US with all the family to hire a cruise. This has been most valuable and encouraging. Many thanks.
Brilliant, David. Explains why so many hire boaters tend to zip along a bit - what’s slow for them after life on land, is, by boaters standards, really fast.
As someone who hopes to one day be in the same situation, this was such a good video showing the process of starting out.
Thank you for showing this I really enjoyed it
Great! Cheers
I cannot wait to be in England again, but for now watching your videos is the next best thing, thank you 😊
Happy to hear that!
Got to be honest not really interested in narrowboats but I could watch you all day that’s why I have subscribed Spot on mate
Thank you
Another fine vlogumentary, great to see the holiday potential of NB - the 5 of them looked like they thoroughly enjoyed the week :) Hopefully be me next year, having done many rivers and canals in other countries, have never taken out a NB :)
Very interesting to see other people trying it for the first time.
Another brilliant video David! A subject matter that I don't believe I have ever seen recorded for youtube before. I've called the BBC and advised them that you shall be taking over as Production Manager on Monday.
The way you document is next to non! Very enjoyable viewing! Thanks David!
Yet another excellent production from CtC - as 'One' would expect - nothing but the best. Now are you going to prove me wrong in the future, I wonder.........
Wonderful to hear from newbies trying something new and then giving us feedback just refreshing to see. Thank you David for your vlog your commentary was spot on very clear and concise 💙 👍👍👍😊
I wish I could do this just once....it's so beautiful and peaceful. One of these days.... 🛳️💨
Watching this made me smile, as a hirer for the last 15 out of 30 years, so much was wonderful to listen to. Wait but shown how to tie knots, escorted up the canal by the hirer, lol never before. The usual thing were absent, SLOW down, where not to moor etc. I actually LOVED watching this even more than your usual offerings, not out of interest (because you are great) but because it all applied to my experiences :-). Wonderful thankyou
You’ve always made it look smooth. There’s more to it than that! What a great thing to lease a narrowboat. Loved the sheep and horses grazing. Love the houses and business “floating by” … haha! Cows kept them up at night .. mooooooo 🐮 “This is the life!” Closing locks is good exercise! Probably scary getting rammed in a tunnel. It was fun listening to the four talk over their highs and lows! Lots of smiles. 😊😀😁😎😉
This one will get some views David.
Well done, David. Great story.
Another high quality, informative vlog David thank you! I’m adding a link to this from our front page.
David that was a brilliant display. I really would love to have a chance to experience the experience of 'Cruising the Cut'. Thank you for sharing.
A little fast for the first time but they will survive.
Haha they, did - see their videos (link in video description)
How exciting, but not my idea of a relaxing vacation. I am afraid that I would be absolutely exhausted after the trip!
You and me both!
Next holiday is going to be a lot more relaxing 😁
That was awesome David!!! Thank You, and hope You are well and Happy. Must admit, I miss Your videos, but stay true to You ♥
I'm still churning them out!
Just hired an abc narrow boat out last weekend with my dad. The abc hire boats are lovely to hire out, only bad thing that happened is falling into the canal when a storm when over us 😂
No!!!
I love this blog!!
Your channel actually giving a different vibe in life, love it like going on an adventure to calm down from the hectic.
Best line of the day “warp speed” . Great program today As usual !
Sometimes it can be plaid speed.
@@t1n4444
We're going to get kilt....
Really enjoyed the vlog. It's interesting to see the experience from a newbie perspective
Glad you enjoyed it!
@@CruisingTheCut you could make a 40min vlog about paint drying and it would be very interesting, full of information and extremely entertaining 😀
Tend to clear the hose a bit first before putting it in the water smells from the hose if not!
“Warp speed once again” … lol