How do I book my holiday?

  1. Choose your boat and start date. Click to check availability
  2. Read our Conditions of Hire below.
  3. To book we require a £200.00 deposit and you can send this to us in one of the following ways:
    1. If you would like to pay by credit/debit card
      complete our secure online Booking Form. We will acknowledge receipt and it is only when we have done this that your chosen boat is booked.
    2. Or if you prefer to send a cheque:
      Ring us on 01873 830001, or email us, to advise the boat and week of your choice. Print out and fill in the Booking Form and send it with your deposit. We will hold the boat for you until your Booking Form is received. Please note that you must ring or e-mail us first so that we can hold the boat for you whilst your Booking Form is in the post.

Conditions of hire

  1. BROCHURE. The descriptions given in the online brochure are as accurate as possible but we cannot be held liable for any small inaccuracies or changes due to improvements to the boats.
  2. BOOKINGS. A provisional reservation can be made by phoning (01873) 830001 or emailing us and getting a confirmation. This will be held for seven days to enable a booking to be made. A boat is not booked until the completed, signed booking form and deposit have been received and a confirmation of booking despatched.
  3. PAYMENT. The hirer is responsible for the whole hire charge and payment must be made 28 days before the commencement of the holiday The hire charge includes VAT at the current rate but is subject to change depending on the rate in force at time of your holiday.
  4. DAMAGE WAIVER. A non-refundable damage waiver of £25 is included in the hire price. This gives you full cover in the event of accidental damage to the boat, loss or damage to equipment and fittings. We reserve the right to make an additional charge for damage or loss caused deliberately or by negligence.
  5. INSURANCE. The boat is covered by insurance for loss or damage to the boat, its passengers and third parties. Personal effects of hirers are not included in this policy. Damage to waterways property, caused by the hirer, is the hirers’ responsibility.
  6. CANCELLATION. Should the hirer cancel the booking we will make every endeavour to rehire the boat. If we are successful the hirer will no longer need to pay the balance of the hire charge, but the deposit will be retained to defray expenses. If we are unsuccessful then the hirer remains liable for the balance of the hire charge.
  7. SICKNESS CANCELLATION COVER. Condition 6 places responsibility on the hirer to pay the full hire fee. However if cancellation is due to the sickness or death of a member of the party (as shown on the booking form) prior to commencement of the holiday then all liability over and above the deposit is covered by our sickness cancellation cover. The company should be informed as soon as possible and the application supported by a doctor's certificate.
  8. PERIOD OF HIRE. The boat will be ready by 3.00pm on your start day. If you do not intend to arrive before 5.00pm please advise us accordingly. Electric boats must be moored at our hire base on the Friday evening of the hire period to enable full recharging for the next hirer. The hire period ends at 9.30am on the last day of hire and hirers must be clear of the boat by that time. If you are not clear of the boat by 9.30am a charge will be made equivalent to the daily hire rate.
  9. HANDOVER. The hirer and passengers undertake to receive instruction from us in boat handling and agree to abide by our procedures as told and shown on the handover. We reserve the right to refuse to handover the boat to any person who, in our opinion, is not suitable to take charge. In this event all money paid will be refunded in full and the hirer shall have no other claim.
  10. REPOSSESSION. We may repossess the boat at any time if, in our opinion, the hirer is unsuitable, is not behaving responsibly or if the boat or any persons are at risk. In this circumstance the hirer remains liable for the holiday cost and no refund will be made.
  11. CLEANLINESS. The boat must be returned in a clean and tidy condition. Failure to observe this will result in an additional charge of £20.
  12. PETS. Pets are not allowed on some of our boats. They are welcome on all other boats but on no account are they allowed on seats or bedding, and they must not be left unattended on the boat. A charge of £15 for each pet is made to cover the extra cleaning necessary before the boat is taken over by the following hirer. Any damage caused by your pet is not covered under the damage waiver cover and a charge will be made.
  13. EQUIPMENT. The hirer is responsible for the boat and equipment and is expected to take all reasonable care of it. The hirer also undertakes to report any equipment damaged, lost or stolen. All equipment is used at the hirers’ own risk.
  14. ACCIDENTS. The hirer is in charge of the boat and is responsible for its safe navigation. No one under the age of 18 years is to steer the boat unless supervised by an adult at all times. In the event of any accident or damage to the boat, other craft or property, it is the responsibility of the hirer to obtain the names and addresses of the owner and hirer of any other boat involved together with those of any witnesses. Do not admit liability or arrange any repairs to the boat. Any such damage must be reported to the hire base as soon as possible.
  15. DELAYS AND RESTRICTIONS. We take all reasonable care to ensure that the boats are handed over in good order and on time, but cannot be responsible for non-completion of the cruise due to navigation restrictions, breakdowns or other unforeseen reason. In the event of us being, for any cause, unable to make a boat available in accordance with the booking contract we will return all payments made to us, but cannot be responsible for any consequential or other loss to the hirer.
  16. NAVlGATION. The hirer must obey our instructions and any instructions issued by the staff of British Waterways. Speed limits must be observed. It is forbidden to create a wash. The boats are not equipped or insured for cruising after dark, it is therefore strictly forbidden.
  17. PASSENGERS. Only members of the party listed on the booking form are to travel on the boat.
    NOTE: Breach of conditions 16 & 17 will result in curtailment of the holiday.
  18. GROUP BOOKINGS. The boats are designed for family parties and group bookings will only be accepted in exceptional circumstances.
  19. BICYCLES & CANOES. Our boats are not designed to carry bicycles and are, therefore, not allowed. Canoes are to be towed.
  20. FISHING. A rod and British Waterways licence is required. Under no circumstances is live bait allowed inside the boats.
  21. HIRERS VEHICLES. Free parking is provided at the base. Your vehicle and its accessories and contents are left entirely at your risk.