For many of our customers this will be the first time they have holidayed afloat. We do hope that you will find the answers to your queries on this website, but if there are any points on which you are unsure please do not hesitate to telephone. You will be surprised just how easy it is to become skipper of your canalboat.

A fully inclusive hire fee Additional berths Buoyancy aids Canoes, Dinghies and Bicycles Car Parking Clothing Damage/Loss Waiver Scheme Electrical Supply First Aid Fishing Footwear Hire Fees

Hire Periods Inspection of boats Licences Locks More Information Party Bookings Pets Provisions Repairs and service Short breaks Tuition Waterproofs Young Children

A fully inclusive hire fee: The hire fee includes the hire of the boat and a very full inventory, VAT as applicable, car parking, all bottled gas, diesel fuel, lubricating oil, bed linen etc used during your cruise, also colour television. All you need to bring with you are clothes, a personal towel and fine weather.

Provisions: There are many delightful canalside villages where you can do your shopping during your cruise. It is wise, however, to bring enough for the first two or three days with you. Alternatively, there are a selection of shops in Weedon village.

Short breaks: If you have less than a week available or would like to try a short cruise before booking your main holiday, a few days on the Grand Union South is ideal. Please telephone for availability. (01327) 340739

First Aid: All boats carry a first aid box to deal with minor cuts and bruises

Repairs and service: All boats are given a major (aircraft type) overhaul during the winter months and are serviced between cruises, so service calls are extremely rare, but if one does become necessary every effort will be made to get you under way again with as little delay as possible. A phone call will always bring assistance. All service calls are completely free of charge.

Buoyancy aids: Buoyancy aids are available free of charge. These should if possible be ordered at the time of booking. All boats carry a life buoy.

Additional berths: Some of our boats can be fitted with additional upper berths: (please see the individual boat details). The cost of these extra berths is £25 per berth per week. The additional bedding, cutlery, crockery etc is naturally included. Additional berths are only recommended for children and small adults.

Pets: House trained dogs are the only pets allowed. We do ask customers bringing dogs to bring their own bedding for their pets and to keep them off the mattresses and bedding. A charge of £18 per week per dog is payable at the time of embarkation. For safety, dogs must be kept on a lead whilst at the boatyard. (Puppies are not allowed).

Electrical Supply: All boats have hair dryers of the correct voltage for the boat. Electric irons cannot be used. Please see boat detail pages for boats equipped with microwaves and electric toasters. All boats have an inverter with household square sockets for recharging Ni-cad batteries for portable telephones and camcorders. Also a small inverter for electric shavers.

Tuition: All customers who have not holidayed on our boats before will be sent a free boat handling video which we ask you to return to us at the start of your holiday, also a Blue Riband Club cruising guide, which is full of information and is for you to keep. On arrival customers will be shown through the boat and if required will receive instruction on the operation of locks and taken for a short run to familiarise them with the controls. You are encouraged to ask as many questions as you can and will not be left until you feel confident that you can handle the boat.

Car Parking: Cars may be parked free of charge at our yard during your cruise.

Locks: On the River Thames all locks are worked by Thames Conservancy staff These locks open at 9.30am and close at 6 or 7pm depending on the time of year. Canal locks are worked by your own crew with the windlass provided on the boat

Fishing: Almost all waterways are rented to local fishing clubs. Day tickets are usually available from the bailiff. You should also obtain a rod licence from the appropriate Regional Water Authority. There is one golden rule, however - on no account may worms or maggots be taken aboard any of our boats.

Clothing: Bring warm clothes and sweaters for chilly mornings and evenings, sunbathing gear, slacks or jeans. Open neck shirts are the most suitable clothes to wear while cruising, with perhaps a jacket and tie for the odd meal or evening ashore. A pair of wellingtons might be useful and a waterproof coat, A torch is really essential for finding your way back to the boat after an evening ashore!

Inspection of boats: We welcome enquiries and will be pleased to show you through the boats. During the summer months the best time to inspect the boats is between 1 1.00 am and 1.00 pm on turnround days. If you would like to see a particular boat please phone first to make sure that it will be at the boatyard. During the winter months there are always boats that can be viewed. (Please see our boatyard opening times before travelling long distances to look at the boats). We also have some OPEN DAYS during the winter when you can inspect the boats and discuss your holiday plans with us.

Damage/Loss Waiver Scheme: Customers can choose to pay either:

• A £250 returnable damage deposit which is refundable during the week following your holiday, less the cost of any damage, lost or broken items, or:
• a one-off payment of £30 which indemnifies you against loss or damage to the boat; this payment is not refundable. All other conditions of hire still apply.

The waiver scheme has proved to be so popular that we now add it to all bookings, unless you indicate otherwise on the booking form.

Licences: No form of driving licence is required. All boats have current safety certificates and licence fees paid for all British Waterways Board canals and rivers. Short period licences for the River Avon are payable by boat crews at the toll houses. River Thames and River Nene licences need obtaining 14 days in advance from the appropriate Water Authority, licence application forms for these rivers being available from our booking office. The River Nene is very susceptible to flooding, has very few facilities and is not generally advised.

Hire Fees: The balance of hire fee and damage deposit/waiver become due 6 weeks before the commencement of the holiday when you will receive a statement and arrival advice from us. Sometimes with late booking this is not possible. Therefore last moment payments must be prearranged with the booking office.

Young Children: Some boats have bunks with fittings to take cotsides for very young children. These are available free of charge, please order when booking.

Waterproofs: All boats carry two sets of waterproofs in case of inclement weather conditions as part of their standard equipment.

Party Bookings: We regret we are unable to accept bookings from schools, youth groups or persons under 21 years of age. All male or all female crews must obtain written acceptance at the time of booking, and may be asked for an additional damage deposit to be paid.

Footwear: Please bring soft soled shoes as these are much kinder to the decks and safer for you.

Canoes, Dinghies and Bicycles: We have found that canoes, dinghies and bicycles brought by customers cause damage to our boats, and we regret therefore that these items may not be taken.

Hire Periods are from 2.30pm and finish at 9.30am. The period in between is absolutely essential for cleaning and maintenance, so please do not arrive before 2.00pm. The latest time for embarkation is 4.30pm after which the yard is closed.

More Information: Please read our conditions of hire carefully because they contain a lot more information that you will need to know. They are in the interest of all customers and enable us to maintain the highest standard of boats, equipment and service

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