Canalboat Holidays Ltd - Conditions of Hire

1.	Bookings: Boats are not booked until the completed booking form has reached Canalboat Holidays Ltd (hereinafter referred to as the Company) with a deposit, which is 25% or one quarter of the total hire fee, and confirmation has been sent back to the hirer.
2.	Balance of Hire Fees and Cancellations: The hirer is responsible for the whole hire fee, the balance of which must be paid to the Company 6 weeks before the date on which the hire is due to begin. Should the hirer be unable to take the holiday booked, the Company must be notified immediately and the Hire Confirmation returned. Every effort will be made to re-let the boat at the full published price. If the Company is successful, a charge of 15% of the hire fee is made. If the Company is not successful in re-letting, the hirer remains responsible for the balance of the original hire fee less an allowance for diesel fuel and gas not consumed. (Please see Cancellation Scheme) All hire fees include VAT at 17½ % - the current rate. Should the Government change the rate or scope of VAT either upwards or downwards, the final cost will be adjusted accordingly. Bank charges incurred in the conversion of foreign currencies and the cost of re-presenting UK cheques will be passed on to the hirer.
3.	Insurance: The hire fee includes full insurance of the boat and its equipment excepting the first £250.00 of any claim. Third party risks are covered up to £1,000,000. We therefore require £250.00 to be paid to the Company with the balance of hire fee 6 weeks before the hire is due to begin. This amount is held as a security deposit to be returned (by cheque) during the week following the completion of the cruise, if no loss or damage has occurred and the boat has not been involved in an accident. No replacement equipment can be accepted unless identical to the article damaged or lost, (Please see Damage/Loss Waiver Scheme on the "Your Questions Answered" Page).
4.	Hire Periods and Return Times: Boats are let from and after 2.30 pm depending on the amount of work required, and must returned in a clean and tidy condition by 9.30 am at the end of the hire period. If the hirer fails to return or vacate the boat in accordance with this condition he shall pay to the Company as liquidated damages £30.00 per hour for every hour during which the boat is delayed or occupied. Hirers must therefore allow lime for unforeseen contingencies during their cruise to permit their punctual return. In the interests of other hirers we are absolutely strict about this rule. Hirers returning a boat in an unclean condition will be charged £8 per hour for extra cleaning required.
5.	Accidents: The hirer is in complete charge of the boat and is responsible for its safe navigation. No minor may control a boat without the supervision of an experienced adult. In the event of an accident, the hirer must notify the Company immediately, giving full particulars and names and addresses of witnesses. Do not admit liability under any circumstances. The Company shall not be liable for any death or personal injury to the hirer, his crew or passengers.
6.	Delays and Restrictions: The Company takes great care to see that the boats are in good condition when handed over, but cannot be held responsible for any non-fulfilment of programme, consequent losses, damages or delays due to mechanical trouble or other defects, restrictions of cruising waterways arising from industrial action, obstructions, repairs or damage to navigational works, bad weather, storms, floods, drought, ice or other cause, and reserves the right to restrict cruising waters without notice if unusual or hazardous conditions prevail; also to hand over the boat from an alternative site as circumstances allow. No financial adjustment will be made in any of these circumstances. If, owing to circumstances beyond our control, we are unable to provide the boat booked, every effort will be made to offer an alternative, but if no boat can be made available all monies paid by the hirer will be refunded, the Company having no further liability. The Company cannot give any guarantee regarding the availability of any particular routes.
7.	Repairs: If repairs or service become necessary the hirer must immediately notify the Company who will issue the necessary instructions. The hirer must not undertake or arrange for any repairs, adjustment or service to be carried out. Forfeiture of the deposit will be automatic if any unauthorised repairs or adjustments are carried out. In the interests of other hirers we must be absolutely strict about this rule. Getting boats off mudbanks etc., and removing weeds, ropes or other objects from propellors is the responsibility of the hirer.
8.	Cruising Limits: No boat may be taken on to tidal waters except for hirers on a circular cruise who may navigate the tidal Thames between Brentford and Teddington only, Disregard for this condition and disregard for any restriction imposed by the Company due to unusual or hazardous conditions will make the hirer liable in full for any damage sustained to the boat, and any third party, as cruising beyond limits is not covered by insurance.
9.	Fuel: The cost of all fuel used, both diesel and gas, is included in the hire fee. However, the Company reserves the right to make a fuel surcharge if there is a major fuel price increase after brochure publication. This has been necessary only twice in last 30 years.
10.	Navigation Authority By-laws: The hirer shall observe the appropriate Navigation Authority's By-Laws. The boat shall not cruise after sunset or before sunrise. The hirer shall be liable for any charges made by navigational authorities in respect of loss of water or damage to waterway property.
11.	Hirer's property: The Company cannot accept any liability for loss or damage to the hirer's, the crew's or passenger's property, baggage, motor cars etc., however caused. Under no circumstances may any inflammable liquids, firearms, bicycles, canoes, dinghies, tools, car' batteries, gas cylinders or live bait (this means no maggots etc.) be taken aboard a boat. Hirers property left behind can only be returned if claimed and payment made for post and packing (minimum charge £5.00) Property not claimed will be disposed of by the Company after two months. The Company also reserves the right to silence any car alarms that go off in the customer's absence, and to recover any costs incurred
12.	Company Reservations: The Company reserves the right to decline to accept a booking or to refuse to hand over a boat to any person who, in its opinion, is not suitable to take charge. In this event all hire monies will be refunded in full and the contract discharged without any further liability. The Company also reserves the right to repossess the boat at any time if, in its opinion, the boat is being mishandled or the crew's behaviour is deemed to be detrimental to other users of the waterway; also if a serious accident or damage has occurred. In such cases the Company will not make a refund of any portion of the hire fees.

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