It was the boat that we looked for, or should I say I !!! Knowing a tiny little bit about boat set ups, my party consisted of Husband and his parents and our 11 year old. I wanted to be able to have a big enough boat that gave us permanent sleeping places (it would be hell to have the lounge area as a bed also....different sleeping patterns) without the cost being too expensive for a party of 5 that takes a boat that sleeps 8.

The only easy way to do this was to look at a big company brochure. After settling on a few choices then it came down to cost and location. So we go from guildford on friday.

(don't ban me again........ )

For our first holiday on the cut (Leeds & Liverpool in 2003) it was the proximity of the canal that was the first determinant - after that we looked for a small family run yard and stumbled on Snayagill boats and it was a good choice.

They've changed hands since but I understand they are still very good.

We had a boat from Snaygill in October this year and found them very good to deal with. (And, as a bonus, a canny bit cheaper than other yards in the area!)
We chose them because we fancied the L & L, our previous trips being on and around the midlands canals.

Hi there,

Well - - I have to be honest - - it was the hire company that was first decided upon - - and then the canal - - and the boat was, I guess, third in the process (altho the demarcations were slightly blurred)

The Hire company was ABC - - and that was because they were (still are I believe) participating in the Tesco Clubcard Scheme - - and we'd saved up enough of the Clubcard Points to pay for an entire week's holiday - in a 69' Narrowboat - - and after considerable humming and harring we decided that the Llangollen would be the best place to start - - in Late August.
And I thought a reverse layout cruiser stern would probably suit us.

It was a fantastic holiday - with no regrets

So - year two - - we'd saved sufficient Tesco Points to do the same canal - - - - but for a fortnight! Heh heh!

and year three . . . . we'd saved sufficient to have another fortnight - but we ventured onto the GU and Oxfordshire

We've got the bug - - terminally - - and this year we buy our own boat . . . negotiations are taking place as I type . . . . . .

1) company - we also used Tesco vouchers

2) Area - where we fancied going, nothing to do with the canal

3) Boat - only the two of us so not that important

We now have our own 60' NB (though not yet fitted out) so hope to be using that in future.


What the hell are we going to spend the Tesco vouchers on

Continue to hire with them.

One of the downsides of owning your own boat can be doing the same stretch of canal again and again.

It is also a very interesting 'experience' hiring once you are owners and noting how you are treated in the 2 by other boaters.

our last hols sept 09 was on the mon and brec as we knew we couldnt navigate this canal when we eventually get our own nb,it was fantastic and covered it tip to toe

First time we hired, many years ago, we went through one of the agency type companies (Hoseasons/Blakes), looked for a ring we could comfortably complete in a week (the Stourport) then a boat that suited. The hire company was excellent - our last night was spent in the yard chatting, over a bottle of wine, with one of the staff who lived on board in the yard. Alas, they no longer exist.
Our last hire was with one of the large companies we had previously used and liked, we then decided a route, yard and boat, in that order.

We fell out with the agency after our second hire. We had some problems with the boat which reduced the enjoyment of our holiday. The agency refused to get involved in obtaining any redress.

We've cruised the Stourport three times from three different bases and can recommend it for a one week cruise.

After many years of hiring we now have a share.

Same here, and same canal! :D