Chris's Inland Waterway Page

It has to be said first that the best page to begin any web search for, or follow up any interest in, English inland waterways is the website known as Georges Pages. You will find links there to all known waterway sites, including many personal web pages, boat hire, licensing, routes (and roots!), societies and organsisation - not forgetting the annual Great Internet Get-together. In short there is everything you probably need to know. If you find a site which isn't referenced, let George know!

Much waterway material is discussed on the newsgroup uk.rec.waterways which used to be gatewayed to and from the ‘canals’ mailing list but you now must subscribe separately. The other essential uk inland waterways starting point is the Inland Waterways Association, without whose efforts since the 1940's our present extensive system would simply no longer exist. Follow the link to their web site (linked of course from Georges's too!)

This site is about my own personal interests in, and activities on, the waterways.

 

Firstly, I have lived afloat on the waterways for over twenty years. These have been a continuation of an interest which started off with building model boats in my childhood, building a canoe in my 'teens and moving up through a series a ever larger cruisers and narrow boats to the present day where my wife, Jan, and I now own between us a pair of traditional narrow boats. A motor boat Jackal and an unpowered butty Hereford. These are both historic ex-working boats built in 1927 and 1912 respectively and would have worked together carrying all sorts of cargoes across the length and breadth of the country in the same way that regular lorry couriers do today. I have published a book on the special skills needed to operate this types of boat.   Of course this interest in historic boats developed gradually, and over the years I have been heavily involved in the Historic Narrow Boat Owners Club. If you are interested further then please join us by downloading a form and sending it in. The Club is NOT just for owners of old boats. Anyone with an interest in old boats or the the waterways in general should join, and help us fulfill our aims, listed on the right. A membership form may be printed out from the Club web pages or downloaded directly in PDF format from here. Aims to: a)  To encourage the preservation, restoration and use of working and ex-working narrow boats. b)  To promote the maintenance of the waterways system to a standard suitable to facilitate the navigation of such boats throughout the year. c)  To represent the interests of users of such boats in their dealings with all Waterway Authorities. d) To establish and maintain a narrow boat archive. e)  To campaign for the retention, and/or reinstatement, of appropriate traditional and historical waterway furniture and features   Living afloat brings its own problems. Many of these are addressed by the Residential Boat Owners Association which I strongly recommend all boat dwellers to join. The website includes an FAQ, an application form, views of a members boat and links to other waterway sites. Over the years they have developed into a worthwhile body who have established sound procedures for dealing with local authorities and navigation authorities when it comes to council tax, moorings, VAT etc etc ...and of course the social round!

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