Our boats are based at Heyford Wharf, Oxfordshire on the South Oxford Canal and will need to be returned here at the end of your hire, unless otherwise agreed at the time of booking.

Diesel for heating and cruising: current cost (Autumn 2022) around £1.90/ltr – assume 60ltrs/ week if cruising 8hrs/day – a bit more in cooler months if diesel heating on.

Gas for cooking £45/13kg cylinder – which may last for up to 8 weeks. Logs or solid fuel for the multifuel stove range.

Toilet Chemical – each loo cassette needs scented chemical fluid adding once it has been emptied and cleaned – available at most boatyards. Typically £10 for a month’s supply.

Extra Licences: some rivers are not covered by the standard CRT licence: an extra licence is required e.g Rivers Avon, Nene, Thames and Wey. Please ask for a quotation.

Post Offices offer poste restante. If you know your route, check on the internet for a post office and arrange to have your mail forwarded. Alternatively some boatyards will hold mail for you – but please ask first!

This is unlikely but if it does simply call us and we will arrange everything. We also try to visit you once a month to check over the engine etc and sort out any minor issues - this visit is always arranged in advance

Boats have a relatively small internal space therefore heat up very quickly, they also get cold quickly so in winter the multifuel-stove in the lounge is usually on. There is also an diesel central heating system which runs off the engine with radiators distributing the heat throughout the boat but does use battery power…which is why most liveaboard boaters use their stoves!

Boats have a ‘calorifier’ which utilises heat from the running engine and from the heating system to heat the hot water supply (just like an immersion tank at home). Lots of hot water is available if you boat every day.

The boats each have a modern electric flush cassette toilet (like modern caravans/RVs), together with a spare cassette. These are emptied (usually for free) by yourself at one of the regularly spaced facilities blocks along the canal system. We show you how to do all of this during your initial handover….

On most canals you can moor anywhere along the towpath as long as there is not signage to the contrary. This can be from a few hours right up to a maximum of two weeks before moving on. You should also comply with Canal & River Trust (CRT) or other navigation authority regulations and moor according to the signage on the towpath/bank. Marinas and boatyards frequently offer short term moorings with facilities. If you wish to hire for the winter but don’t want to move very far, CRT offer winter moorings around the system which can be acquired but it would be at your sole extra expense. For more information visit the CRT website.

Please note that we do not allow our boats to be hired onto any rivers e.g. Thames for extended mooring during the November to February (inclusive) period due to flood risks

Our boats are designed to be as liveaboard vessels for bona fide long term continuous cruising to enable you to enjoy the waterways. We do not offer long term static live-aboard rental in one area unless you can provide us with a written mooring agreement (from the mooring’s owner) prior to booking. You woudl also have to sign a disclaimer for any extra costs incurred by us in visitring your mooring in the event of any battery/ engine/ charging issues caused by lack of cruising.

A minimum of two able-bodied persons over 18 are required to be aboard our boats when cruising. We do not hire to single occupants due to risk assessment/ insurance requirements. Single-handed boating is strictly prohibited. However, provided the boat is moored up/stationary, you may live aboard alone just so long as you have a second adult with you when boating.

NOTE: Two adults (yourself plus one other) MUST be present upon arrival/ during the handover/ training.

Running the engine charges the leisure batteries (there are three) which run the 12v LED lighting system, central heating, and fridge. Solar panels on the roof also provide charge to the batteries. We recommend the engine is run for a minimum 4hrs/day to ensure the batteries remain fully charged – more hours per day in the winter when the solar panels are less effective. USB points are available to connect/charge phones/laptops etc. For larger 240v appliances (e.g. washing machine) an ‘inverter’ provides power. Any electrical appliance producing heat or cold is power hungry and will deplete battery resources. Running the engine whilst using these appliances helps maintain battery power.

NOTE: All batteries are checked in your presence during handover to prove their status, and can be remotely monitored. Should we be called out to battery issues and find that a lack of charging has caused the problem and results in battery replacement, a minimum extra cost to the hirer of £400 is applied

Yes, but it is not guaranteed in every location! However many of our hirers have successfully run businesses/ lectured/ Zoomed whilst afloat without much problem. Obviously there will be a few ‘dead’ spots where the canal is too low but, as long as you check before you moor for the next day or so, you’ll be surprised how ‘connected’ you can remain. Many people simply use their 4 or 5G smartphone as a hotspot but, alternatively, using a USB flash drive, or Dongle, with a long enough lead out of the window or simply buying a 4 or 5G mobile wifi router usually guarantees good coverage.

Most of our boats are insured for a maximum of 4 people* staying aboard overnight (*3pp on The Laird, 6pp on The Viscount). A further 2pp may be allowed as day-visitors. Please note that, except for The Princess & The Viscount, they are designed for 2 people in the fixed double bedroom: the double dinette or fold-out-beds are only suitable for occasional guests because, when folded out, they occupy the entire lounge or dinette. See individual boat descriptions for exact sleeping options.

We will accept certain pets on board our boats, dependant on the time of year, but you must advise us of any proposed pets before making your booking. We reserve the right to decline to accept a pet on the boat at our discretion. Please note that any damage or wear and tear caused by pets will be deducted from your security deposit and may delay its return whilst cleaning/repairs are completed/ costed. It is your responsibility to ensure that the boat is returned in the same immaculate condition in which it was first hired to you.

Yes. Visit Long Term Barge Hire for more information.

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