Waterway Exploration...
Below are our articles on the subject of Waterway Exploration. If you can't see what you are looking for our other categories are displayed on the left under 'Our Quick Links'...
A Beginners' Canal Exploration Guide
With over 2,200 miles of waterways to explore, choosing where to begin a journey of discovery can be a daunting task, so we present a guide to the best stretches for beginners....
Adjusting Your Lifestyle to Life on a Boat
How it will be necessary to make certain adjustments in your lifestyle and expectations if you choose to become a boat dweller as opposed to living in a house. How things like space and storage are al...
All You Need To Know About Boat Surveys
The reasons why you need a boat survey when you are considering buying a used boat and the importance of hiring a qualified marine surveyor to carry out the task. Other reasons why you may also need t...
Avoiding Boat Accidents
Some of the most common reasons why boating accidents occur and how many of them could have been avoided. The importance in understanding things like boat safety, the potential dangers, risks and haza...
Boat Insurance
The main reasons why it’s important to take out adequate boating insurance and some of the kinds of things that can go wrong which might not always be your own fault, hence the reason why insurance is...
Boat Theft Prevention
How it’s just as important to take your boat’s security against theft just seriously, if not more so, as you would with a car or your home. Ways in which you can secure your boat and the importance of...
Boating and The Environment
The main areas of focus when it comes to the impact of boating upon the environment and practical ways you can help to preserve the environment and support conservation....
Boating Etiquette
Some of the general etiquette issues surrounding most common types of boating and how it’s important to be aware of what’s expected of you and any guests you may have with you....
Britain's Canal Cruising Rings
In presenting sample bites of the waterway system, Britain’s canal cruising rings are ideal for one or two week long holiday voyages....
British Waterways - Rules and Regulations
How British Waterways produce a number of publications many of which can be downloaded from their website which incorporate rules, regulations, guidance and advice aimed at the variety of different ac...
Building Your Own House Boat
If the boats on the market fail to tickle your fancy and you have your own definite ideas about what you want, then why not take on the challenge of designing and building a boat yourself?...
Canal Cruising in Scotland
What it lacks in size, Scotland’s canal system makes up for in sheer quality, as this stranded northern outpost of the British network offers some of most famous and historic canals in Great Britain....
Choosing The Right Cooker For Your Boat
How you can choose from a vast range of cookers for your boat and how the size of your boat, whether you’re going to be more or less permanently moored or cruising a lot and the type of water you inte...
Collision Avoidance
The most common causes of boat collisions and how boat collisions don’t necessarily have to be as the result of a collision with another boat. How to best avoid collisions and the effects that a colli...
Common Reasons Why People Fail to Adapt to Life Aboard
How the actual realities of living on a boat end up with people feeling disillusioned or not what they expected from the experience after all. Common reasons why people fail to adapt to this kind of l...
Common Reasons Why People Want To Live Aboard
Some of the more common reasons given for people who choose to live on a boat. How there are so many diverse characters who live afloat and why they find it so special....
Communication Systems Onboard a Boat
The various types of sophisticated communications systems that can be found on a boat these days but how it’s important to seek advice first as you could end up spending thousands of pounds when in re...
Dealing With Fire, Explosions and Fumes
How it’s crucial that everybody on board is aware of the risks, causes and dangers of fire, explosion and fumes on boats and are fully instructed in how to deal with them and about fire safety, preven...
Do I Need a Licence To Live on a Boat?
The various operating authorities which issue boat licences in the UK if you intend to live on a static boat or to move around with your boat and which licence might apply to you. How each of the oper...
Employing a Crew To Do The Sailing
How you can go about finding a crew you can employ to sail your boat for you. The importance of getting reliable references and explaining the specifics of both the boat, the trip and what’s expected ...
Essential Boat Maintenance
How it’s vital to maintain your boat regularly if you want to be certain there has been no damage to it which you might be unaware of or of any potential hazards or dangers caused by wear and tear or ...
Experiencing Life Aboard: Canal Boat Holidays
Is living on a boat for you? One of the best ways for novices to experience what is life is like afloat is to book a holiday cruise....
Exploring France's Canal du Midi
France boasts a vast wealth of waterway delights but few are as celebrated as the Canal du Midi, an engineering marvel that runs through a landscape studded with historical gems....
Exploring the Norfolk Broads
England’s holiday boating heartland can be found in East Anglia where the Broads’ labyrinthine waterways are a rich source of natural beauty and exploratory adventures....
Facts About Living on a Boat
With more canals per square mile than any other European country, Great Britain is a haven for waterway lovers, both visitors and those who live afloat....
Fishing for Food: A Beginner's Guide
If you see living on a boat as a retreat to a more natural and self-sufficient way of life then why not try catching your own supper....
Food Storage & Cooling
The various considerations when looking at storing food on a boat and the importance of keeping perishable and fresh food items in coolers if you’re out on a trip....
Fuel Conservation & Keeping The Costs Down
The various ways in which you can reduce your boat’s fuel consumption or, in some cases, use alternative cheaper fuels. How not all fuel conservation tips can be adopted by everybody but how each and ...
Heating, Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Onboard Your Boat
How heating will definitely be a consideration if you’re living year round on the boat especially in colder climates over the winter with the UK being a prime example. How you’ll also need to consider...
How Can I Keep My Boat in Water During Winter?
Air circulation devices are available to keep the frozen waters at bay when vessels choose to brave the winter season in the water....
How Much Does It Cost To Live On a Boat?
How there are so many variables which make it impossible to accurately predict how much it would cost to live on a boat. The variables involved and the kinds of things you’ll need to take into conside...
How Much Storage Do I Need?
How maximising the amount of storage space on your boat will involve making a lot of ruthless decisions and compromises about what is and isn’t necessary. Looking at areas on the boat where necessitie...
How To Barbecue On A Boat
How to barbecue on a boat. Preparation of food and some basic safety advice and tips....
How To Choose a Boat To Suit Your Needs
How you shouldn’t let sentiment and any kind of romantic notion about what living on a boat would be like influence your decision when choosing the right boat to buy. Why it’s important to look at cer...
How To Cope With Seasickness
What seasickness is, how it affects you and how there are a number of over the counter and prescriptive medications available to help prevent or at least reduce the effects of seasickness as well as o...
How To Deal With The 'Man Overboard' Emergency
How it’s important that people on a boat all understand the drill procedures if there is a ‘man overboard’ situation. The importance of the role of the skipper in how to turn the craft around and of t...
How to Furnish Your Boat Practically
The types of considerations such as space and practicality when it comes to choosing furniture for your boat. How adaptability and dual purpose items might help you save space and considering quality ...
How To Get Your Boat Out Of Shallow Water
How to avoid getting into shallow water on your boat in the first place where possible and what you should do if you’re in danger of going aground....
How to Handle Stormy Weather
How certain equipment, some preparation and some prior knowledge of what to do in the event that your boat is unable to escape a storm will be your best chance of survival. Some useful tips for manoeu...
How To Launch Your Boat
The various methods, techniques and equipment which are used to get larger boats of different types from land into the water and how it’s important that you employ the services of specialists from boa...
How to Navigate Locks
The main basic principles of navigating locks on rivers and canals and how it becomes a fairly basic procedure to understand once you’ve been through them a few times. The basic safety precautions you...
How To Set Up Your Galley
How to set up and organise a boat’s galley. The importance of being able to quickly locate items and ways of making a galley safer when it comes to storage....
How You Should Store Your Boat In The Winter
The things you must do if you intend storing your boat over the winter months and how that will differ depending upon whether or not you’re bringing your boat ashore and keeping it in a storage facili...
Identifying Shoreline Food To Eat
How to identify edible food on the shoreline and how to prepare and cook it....
Importing a Boat, What Are the Duties Etc?
There are indeed additional cost factors to consider before importing a vessel from the US, and these can take the shine of the enticing prices somewhat....
Introduction to the Waterways of France
Is there a more perfect home for the laid-back way of life enjoyed by the liveaboard community than the seemingly endless scenic waterways of France?...
Living on a Boat - Winter Considerations
How preparation is the key to surviving winter living on a boat. How life for you and your perspective about boat dwelling may change dramatically over the winter months but how overcoming any problem...
Living on a Boat With Pets & Children
How there will be many additional factors to consider if your dream of living on a boat involves children and pets too. How it’s important to gauge the opinions of any older children you have and the ...
Mail & Banking Considerations
How the internet has eased a considerable number of issues surrounding the sending and receiving of mail and managing your banking if you live on a boat but how you’d still need to make some kind of a...
Mooring Your Boat Considerations
How obtaining a permanent mooring for your boat is your first priority unless you’re simply on the move most of the time. Where you should go to find out about moorings and how the costs can vary from...
Moorings Business: Do I Need a Licence to Live There Permanently?
If you are already in possession of a private licence for your vessel then you don’t require any further permission to use your boat as your permanent residence....
On a Boat: Cooking In Rough Weather
How to cook on a boat in bad weather and the importance of preparation and organisation and remaining calm....
Onboard: Ensuring Your Stove Is Secure
How to ensure your boat stove is safe and fitted securely and additional considerations if you’re going to be cooking out at sea....
Paying Taxes If You Live on a Boat
Given that a boat cannot officially be classed as a property, the question of Council Tax liability for live-aboards may be a confusing one. Our guide demonstrates that ultimately all boat dwellers ha...
Preparing Freshly Caught Fish
How to clean prepare, gut and cook a freshly caught fish. The main methods of gutting a fish. Typical ways you can cook it....
Preparing Your Boat For Sale
Preparing your boat for sale. The advantage of using a marine broker. The things you should check before inviting people to view it and the little touches that can make all the difference to its appea...
Questionnaire: Are You a Natural Live-a-board?
If you are thinking about adopting a new life as a liveaboard but are not sure how well suited you are to a lifestyle afloat then try this simple questionnaire....
Raising The Finance To Buy Your Boat
How raising the finance to buy a boat is not as easy as doing the same for a house. Some possible options that might be open to you and things you’ll need to consider....
Renovating an Old Boat
How renovating an old boat might end up being a cheaper alternative to buying a brand new boat but how it’s important to have a marine surveyor examine the boat so that you can determine whether or no...
Renting a Houseboat
How renting a boat to live on can be an ideal alternative to buying one outright but how it can be difficult to find one unless you’re proactive in your approach . Things you’d need to consider and th...
Rules Of The River
Some of the more common rules and regulations you need to be aware of if you’re boating and how the Boaters’ Handbook which can be found on the British Waterways website can be an invaluable tool to h...
Safety & Survival Gear For Your Boat
the different kinds of survival and safety equipment that you should consider carrying on board a boat which will may help you to survive in the event of an emergency or the need to wait for rescue....
Safety Onboard
A general overview of the major safety issues you should be taking into consideration when looking at safety onboard a boat or other type of sea faring vessel. How a responsible and knowledgeable app...
Sailing Rig Types
The basics of what a sailing rig consists of and some of the more popular choices of rig for those who intend living on a boat and cruising around from place to place. How your only real limitations a...
Sailing Your Boat Abroad
How it’s not only important for all of the people on board to be carrying their own correct personal documentation if you intend to sail into a foreign port but how it’s also important that the boat i...
Sailing: Meal Planning
How to plan your meals on board a boat and the types of things you should be looking to buy....
Solar and Wind Power - Are There Limitations?
Solar and wind power both play a useful role in generating energy for boats, but both have their limitations, particularly in the somewhat unpredictable climate of the British Isles....
The Practicalities of Living on a Boat
A general article looking at some of the most basic practicalities of living on a boat permanently and deciding whether or not you think you’re prepared to adapt to this lifestyle and are willing to m...
The Rebirth of Britain's Canal System
Today, canals are valuable to the heritage and leisure time of Britain, but only recently they were seen as hazardous ditches - so what changed?...
The Right Fuel to Cook Onboard a Boat
The different types of fuel you can use on a boat stove and the pros and cons of each as well as the determining factors when making your choice....
Things To Look Out For When Buying a Second Hand Boat
Some of the factors you should be considering when buying a used boat. The types of things you should be inspecting, the kinds of questions to ask and the importance of employing the services of a rep...
Tips On Keeping Your Boat Clean
How keeping your boat’s interior and exterior clean will not only improve your quality of life on board but will also help to keep your boat well maintained which will enable it to perform better....
Traditional Boat Toilets
The variety of boat toilets which are available and how the type of boat you have, whether you’re cruising canals, rivers, oceans or seas or are permanently moored, the fresh water capacity and whethe...
Understanding Boating Terms
The flood of unfamiliar boating terms can be confusing at first and so to help ease the pressure we present a guide to some basic canal boat terminology....
Understanding How Locks Work
Besides being able to kick back, relax and enjoy the scenery, one of the few skills required of canal cruisers is being able to work a lock with confidence....
Understanding Your Boat's Electrical System
How a basic understanding of the different methods for generating electricity onboard a boat will enable you to decide which options are going to suit your needs best and will be the most practical so...
Upgrading Your Sailing Skills - Types of Courses
How you can go about upgrading your sailing skills and the types of courses that are available from the very basic to the advanced including skippering courses. How the Royal Yachting Association (RY...
Water Filtration Onboard
The various types of water filtration, water purification and water desalination systems you can carry or install on board your boat and how to obtain clean drinkable water in an emergency....
What Are 'Bridge Hoppers'?
Bridge hoppers are the bane of the British waterway network, but who are they and why do they provoke such animosity?...
What is The Boat Safety Scheme?
How all craft need to undergo an inspection every 4 years under the Boat Safety Scheme which is jointly administered by British Waterways and the Environment Agency and only applies to craft using the...
What is Your Address If You Live on a Boat?
The question of how you can receive post as a liveaboard is common concern for those considering life on the water....
Winterising Your Boat
The main factors to consider when it comes to preparing (winterising) your boat if you’re not going to be living on it over the winter months. How having a boatyard do this for you the first time or, ...