Blog Categories GeneralNarrowboat AdviceHow To Guides On NarrowboatingNews From Whilton MarinaBuying A Narrow Boat AdviceFacts about the CanalCrick Boat ShowNarrowboat Maintenace and RepairsMust Attend Boating EventsNarrow Boat ProblemsNarrowboat CruisesSelling A Narrow Boat AdviceCustomer Stories Blog Archive July 2024May 2024April 2024February 2024January 2024November 2023More... Blog Menu Blog Categories All General Narrowboat Advice How To Guides On Narrowboating News From Whilton Marina Buying A Narrow Boat Advice Facts about the Canal Crick Boat Show Narrowboat Maintenace and Repairs Must Attend Boating Events Narrow Boat Problems Narrowboat Cruises Selling A Narrow Boat Advice Customer Stories Blog Archive Most Recent July 2024May 2024April 2024February 2024January 2024November 2023October 2023August 2023July 2023May 2023March 2023January 2023December 2022May 2022March 2022January 2022November 2021September 2021July 2021More... Our favourite narrowboat vlogging channels Tue Jul 2, 2024 We get asked questions all the time about owning boats and living on them, and we have a wealth of knowledge in the sales office that we share with our customers, but a.... Read More Keeping your boat afloat with regular hull maintenance Fri May 31, 2024 Boats are in a constant battle with the elements and the water all around them, and therefore regular maintenance is the key to stop the water from winning!Whatever your boat is ma.... Read More Are you ready for summer cruising? Tue Apr 2, 2024 Top Tips for getting ready for summer cruising on your canal boatNow the summer is here, that long narrowboat cruise will be in your thoughts. It can be a fun filled experience;&nb.... Read More Using A Centre Rope Tue Jan 2, 2024 A correctly deployed narrowboat centre line can make a huge difference to your cruising pleasure and safety, particularly if you are a solo cruiser.Having a centre rope allows you .... Read More Mind Your Manners! - How to be a Considerate Boater Mon Nov 13, 2023 Knowing how to be a considerate boater and having a basic knowledge of what to do and what not to do on the canal will go a long way to making your time on the canal a happy and pl.... Read More Re-naming your canal boat Tue Aug 29, 2023 Why are boats named?There are many reasons why boats are named, but they are mainly named for identification and communication purposes. They are also often named for sentimental, .... Read More Solar Panels Thu May 11, 2023 Solar Panels People regularly ask us about solar panels, and they often think that they can be quite independent with a just few panels on the roof. This, however, is not as true .... Read More Which Inverter Is Best For Your Boat? Fri Mar 10, 2023 A question that we are often asked is, “Which Inverter should I get?There are, however, a few questions to ask first.1. What do you want to be able to use while out and about.... Read More Life on Contented - Part 2 Mon Mar 7, 2022 LIFE ON CONTENTED - PART TWOOver the years we have made Contented our own home. She is no doubt completely different from when we were handed the keys. We have learnt that where th.... Read More Weedhatch Explained. Tue Jul 6, 2021 Weedhatch Explained.A weedhatch is a device used to gain access to the propeller and shaft, saving you from having to get in the water whilst on the inland waterways A n.... Read More Check your boats safety systems ready for Spring Cruising Wed Mar 24, 2021 Tips on checking your boats safetysystems ready for Spring cruisingVentillationVents can get dusty orgreasy over time and get clogged up so that they work inefficiently and reducet.... Read More Hatches,Vents and Cratch Boards Mon Mar 8, 2021 Hatches, Vents and Cratch BoardsThere are various ways of getting extra light and ventilation in to your boat, below are just a few…..Houdini HatchesHoudini hatches are fitt.... Read More Different Stern Styles Explained. Mon Jan 25, 2021 Stern TypesThere are three stern options on a narrowboat, Traditional, Semi-Traditional and Cruiser Style. Here we explain the difference between them in order to help y.... Read More What is a boat licence? Mon Oct 19, 2020 What is a Boat Licence?If you want to keep and use any type of boat (even a Kayak or a canoe) on the Inland Waterways of the UK, including the canals and rivers, you will nee.... Read More Wondering what a Winding Hole is? we explain! Mon Jul 6, 2020 A winding hole is a widened area of a canal (usually in the United Kingdom), used for turning a canal boat such as a narrowboat. HistoryWinding holes .... Read More Tips for Basic Narrowboat Maintenance Tue Apr 28, 2020 Basic tips for maintaining your narrowboatOwning a canal boat can be a great experience, but you'll need to know at least the basics for maintaining your boat. If you look after yo.... Read More Christmas On A Narrowboat Tue Dec 10, 2019 Christmas on a Narrowboat Christmas isjust around the corner! After having an eventful summer the last thing you're thinking about is Christmas. Does anyone else feel it has come a.... Read More Is your canal boat ready for the Winter Time? Mon Oct 14, 2019 Is Your Canal Boat Ready for the Winter?The temperatures are starting to drop and summer cruising is well and truly over. For those of you with boats on Britain’s canals and .... Read More Top tips for self fitting out a sailaway narrowboat shell Mon Jun 24, 2019 Top Tips for Fitting Out A Sailaway NarrowboatYou will need a number of different skills to fit out a narrow boat shell. The key ones are carpentry, plumbing, gas fitting, electric.... Read More Guidance for new narrowboaters who want to continuously cruise Mon Oct 15, 2018 New Boaters usually have many questions, but one of the most frequently asked questions is about continuous cruising. In this article we are going to try and explain just what is a.... Read More How To Avoid Sinking Your Narrowboat Tue Jul 3, 2018 Sinking Is Every Narrowboaters Worst Nightmare!Every boaters worst nightmare is for their boat to sink, especially if it's due to their mistake. Apparently boat sinkings are on the.... Read More How to maintain the gas locker on your narrowboat Mon Apr 23, 2018 The gas locker on a used narrowboat and it's installations will be inspected as part of the Boat Safety Scheme examination, however as there are four years time between each inspec.... Read More Preparing Used Narrow Boats to Pass The Boat Safety Scheme Mon Feb 5, 2018 Our Top Tips for Getting Your Used Narrowboat to Pass the Boat Safety SchemeThe Boat Safety Scheme is a public safety initiative owned by Canal and River Trust and the Environment .... Read More Top Tips For Narrowboating Mon Aug 14, 2017 PreparationStart by preparing your narrowboat for cruising, a great place to start would be to read Venetian Marinas blog about preparing your narrowboat for the season ahead.... Read More How To Clear The Propeller On A Narrowboat Tue Mar 21, 2017 Advice On De Fouling The Propellor On A NarrowboatThere is often a lot of debris in the canals, particularly at this time of the year after winter winds have blown twigs, leaves an.... Read More How To Keep Warm On Your Narrow Boat This Winter Mon Jan 16, 2017 Winter CruisingThere aremany advantages and plenty of fun to have during the winter months on the canalnetwork, so if you fancy staying aboard this winter follow our top tips tosta.... Read More What Is A Nappy Pin In The Boating World And How To Use It Mon Oct 26, 2015 Nappy Pinsalso known as piling hooks, iron hooks or mooring hooks. They are commonlyknown as nappy pins due to their shape.What Is It…A nappy pin is basically a mooring aid .... Read More Mind Your Manners! Narrow Boating Etiquette Wed May 20, 2015 Knowing howto behave on the water will make your boating experience amore pleasurable one. Some issues are caused through inexperience and lack of knowledge;others unfortunately ar.... Read More Winter is here – Are You And Your Narrowboat Prepared! Tue Jan 20, 2015 How to Live on Your Narrowboat Over The Winter Time People who are new to boating often ask whether it’s possible tolive on a narrowboat over the Winter; the answer is Yes it.... Read More Winterising Your Narrowboat, Should You Do It? Mon Dec 1, 2014 The answeris YES! Winterising yourboat will help you avoid costly repair bills should your boat be damaged by thefreezing temperatures during the winter. If you intendto stay .... Read More Blacking A Narrow Boat – What’s All That About? Tue Jan 7, 2014 Why Do We Black The Hull?The Basics – The hull is blacked to protect the bottom section of the boat, so specifically the area of the boat that is in the water and just above .... Read More Whilton Marina - Heating Systems Available For Narrow Boats Mon Dec 9, 2013 Heating Options For A Narrow Boat There are basically three heating options available to the boater which can be used together or separately. A diesel fired central heating system .... Read More Narrowboating Guides-Canal Locks Wed Nov 20, 2013 What are Canal LocksLocks are a mechanism buit to enable the canal to go up or downhill by altering the level of the water of the canal. There are several different types of l.... Read More Narrow Boat Cruising Essentials Fri Nov 15, 2013 Before you leave the marina and go on a cruise it is important that you have planned your journey. You wouldn’t go on any other type of holiday without first planning your tr.... Read More Steering A Narrowboat Mon Oct 14, 2013 Advice on Steering A Narrowboat on CanalsNo license is required to steer a narrowboat in the UK. The controls are very simple on a narrow boat and the basic skills are very to easy.... Read More Basic Knots Useful For Narrowboating Mon Sep 16, 2013 Knots for Narrowboating Out of many thousands of knots that have been developed over the years, a basic selection is all you should need for most of your narrowboating requirements.... Read More How To Make Fast Your Narrowboat Mon Sep 9, 2013 Tying up Your Boat To MoorWhen mooring your narrowboat it is essential to make sure that you know how to tie it up securely to prevent the boat from drifting away and also to prote.... Read More Summer Narrowboat Maintenance Mon Jul 29, 2013 Although we are having some fabulous sunny summer weather at the moment and the winter seems far away, it is always a good idea to keep your boat well maintained. The summer .... Read More Boat Safety On A Narrowboat Tue Apr 16, 2013 The purpose of a Boat Safety Certificate (BSC) is to minimise the risk of accidents happening on a narrowboat. The scheme is initiated by The Canal and R.... Read More Liveaboard Narrowboating Advice Tue Feb 26, 2013 Are You Looking For A Liveaboard Narrowboat? If you are considering a life style change and want to set off on a new venture and liveaboard a narrow boat then we can help.... Read More Excellent Guides On Narrowboating Mon Dec 17, 2012 Guides On NarrowboatingVenetian Marina has been doing some excellent narrow boat blogs recently which are full of advice and are really good guides to narrowboating. The late.... Read More Winter Narroboating Advice Mon Nov 26, 2012 Get the best out of Your Narrowboat during the Winter TimeDo not cruise the canals on your narrow boat during very icy weather if the canal is frozen over with thick.... Read More Narrowboat Propeller Maintenance During The Winter Wed Nov 21, 2012 Advice on How To Clean Your Narrowboat Propeller When it is Clogged up With LeavesNow that winter has arrived the leaves are falling fast off the trees into the canals and ri.... Read More Prepare Your Narrowboat For Winter Tue Oct 16, 2012 Winterise Your NarrowboatWinter is almost upon us and it is time to start thinking about winterising your narrowboat. Over the past few winters the UK has had some very .... Read More Clean Your Mushroom Vents! Mon Aug 13, 2012 A safety reminder to all narrowboaters; clean your mushroom vents! Ventilation on a narrowboat is vital for boat safety, without ventilation you could die of carbon monoxide p.... Read More What Type of Toilet Should I have in my boat? Wed Dec 14, 2011 There are two main types of toilet that most narrowboat are fitted with these are the cassette toilet and the pumpout toilet. However in recent years a third type has come on.... Read More Does The Size Of Your Narrowboat Matter? Fri Nov 18, 2011 Does Size of Your Narrowboat Matter?Whilton Marina regularly gets requests for details of narrowboats no longer than 57ft and widebeams.So why do people ask for.... Read More Winter Thoughts Tue Dec 2, 2008 I have just been on to the marina to put a new Boat Safety Certificate on to a boat that a customer has just purchased from us, for the record I am not a boat safety examiner it wa.... Read More