Beginner's Guide

Hiring details

If you're new to boating or just want to refresh your captain skills we've got some useful information for you.

A driving licence is not required

In England, Wales, France, Ireland, or Scotland a driving licence is not required. After your instruction lesson you will be given a temporary permit, where required, for the duration of your holiday. Your boat will however be licenced to use the waterways local to your chosen hire base and this will be included within your holiday cost.

You will be given a temporary permit, where required, for the duration of your holiday. If you wish to venture further afield onto other waterways, you should check with the hire base if a separate licence is required. This will usually be payable by you prior to departure and will last for a fixed number of days. This is the case if you wish to spend part of your holiday on the canals and a few days on the Thames as both are managed by different licencing authorities.

Booking Deposit/Cancellation Cover

Cancellation protection is included in brochure prices for UK holidays and covers you against loss of your booking deposit and liability to pay the balance of hire charges if you have to cancel for certain unavoidable reasons.

Start and finish times

Hire duration is normally one or two weeks. Ten and eleven day periods and short breaks are also available. Normal take over time is between 4pm and 5pm and return time is by 9am on the final day. Many holiday boaters spend there last evening at the hire base or moor nearby to avoid having to rush in the morning.

How many people can go?

You don't need a big crew - a boating holiday can be just as enjoyable for a couple. Narrowboats are available in all sizes up to 70ft length, while fibreglass river cruisers - as found on the Broads and the River Thames - are usually shorter but wider. The largest boats can accommodate up to 12 people.

If you have a large party you could hire two boats and travel together, mooring up together at night. An energetic party of 12 will enjoy a canal with many locks to work, such as the Pennine waterways. A couple might prefer a more relaxed holiday with few locks, or a river like the Thames where the locks are operated for you.

Value for money

Simply divide the total cost by the number of people on board and judge for yourself what good value it is! Boating holidays may seem expensive, but a group of 10 friends can hire Lady Elizabeth for a weeks cruising in England’s capital from £22 per person per night, this increases to £39 per person per night in peak, that’s got to be cheap for Capital city accommodation?

A Blakes Holiday Boating holiday represents excellent value for money. The prices are quoted for the boat. A Boating holiday represents excellent value for money. Divide the price of the boat by the number of people on board and you will see what good value it is.

Car Parking

All our hire bases have outside parking and enclosed parking, some are free and some with a modest charge. These are usually secure. If you are arriving by train, we will tell you how to find the base, and can often organise a taxi.

Late arrival

This is individual to each Hire Base. If you are unable to arrive until after 5.00 pm to collect your boat, please telephone the Holiday Hire Base well in advance of your holiday in order that special arrangements can be made

Insurance

Your boat is fully insured and you are only responsible for any damage up to the amount of your security deposit. Your boat is insured by the hire base, but you are expected to take reasonable care. Boatyards either require a refundable security deposit or

Your boat will be fully insured for the duration of your holiday a damage waiver payment. Many boatyards will also offer you optional insurance against the cost of a diving service to clear a propeller fouled by your own negligence.