Please feel free to ask us any questions you may have about the boats and boating. We will be delighted to see you any time at our bases if you would like to see the boats. We are open 7 days a week 9.30am - 5.30pm.

If you are travelling from abroad, even if you have booked through a travel agent, please let us know your arrival time and  contact us by telephone, fax or E-mail and  to ensure your boat is suitable for your requirements. We now have a fully Secure Online Booking Form.

Our hire fleet based on the Herts & Essex border just off the M25 offers comfortable, centrally heated boats for year round cruising in and out of the Greater London area, on the Rivers Lee and Stort, up or down The Grand Union Canal, to the Oxford Canal and on the Thames.

Our aim with the fleet is to provide the best, but economical boats, usually with comfy sleeping for even the tallest people - plenty of head room. All the boats have large cruiser stems and roomy foredecks. We trust on all our boats, your needs will be catered for. Buoyancy aids and wet weather gear are available free of charge. Apart from weekly hire, all the boats can be booked for short breaks which are Friday-pm to Monday-am. Monday-pm to Friday-am.

Within the last few years our customers have been as far afield as Skipton in North Yorkshire, Bath and Bristol, Liverpool, Godalming, Ware, Bishops Stortford, Oxford and Lechlade and even, by mistake - Greenwich. Some only go to Little Venice - in the heart of London - and visit London sights for a few days. Stansted Airport is only 10 easy miles from Broxboume and there is a direct link from Liverpool Street Station. Junction 25 on the M25 also leads you quickly to Broxboume.

Bedding comprises sheets and duvets on doubles, with sleeping bags on bunks and single berths. Towels and toothbrushes are about all you have to provide. (For overseas visitors, we will be happy to provide a large and small towel per person.) Remember a boat is like a car in that it works on 12 volts, so if you have something that can plug into the cigarette lighter on a car, you can do the same on the boat, obviously no 240 volt appliances will work. All the boats have normal size fridges with freezer compartments, washbasins, stainless steel sinks and flushing toilets. Radiator central heating and constant hot water. Luggage can be stored at the boatyard while you’re away. Cars can be left in the car park opposite the Boat Centre.

We are confident that the experienced boater will enjoy our boats and the first time boater will be equally at home after tuition and a short while at the helm. Unlike some continental countries, no licences are required by the driver of the boat as all tuition you will need is given. The controls are very simple, you can see very clearly what the boat is doing and where you are going. Our cruising area offers many contrasting waterways, remote countryside, hills and meadows, pubs, towns and the beautiful Lee Valley Park. The Lee & Stort Navigations link Hertford and Bishop’s Stortford along the Lee Valley to the Thames. The Lee & Stort, with some 42 miles of water, offer a variety of recreational opportunities and a wealth of scenery from rich industrial heritage to rural countryside - and wildlife habitats.
The destinations you can pick from our bases are too numerous to list but you can see from a map that the possibilities are endless - North, South, East or West. Our customers are amazed by the varied town and countryside in our area. Even into London it is amazingly green and peaceful. Out of London offers all that can be experienced in some of the northern canals.

There are 12v car type sockets on all boats for charging mobile phone, but bring your own lead.  TVS' and usually available, free of charge, but very much subject to availability.

Narrow boats are 6.10" wide.  These boats are only licenced for the rivers Lee & Stort, if you wish to enter the canal system, we will refund any licence you have to pay.  We will refund the Thames licence (above Teddington) for bookings of 2 weeks or more.

TYPICAL INVENTORY ON ALL BOATS
There will be 2 or more china and cutlery items than the number of berths.
Wine glasses, tumblers, mugs.
At least 3 saucepans, frying pans, colander, baking trays, pyrex casseroles, jugs and glass bowls.
Tea pot,  egg cups, ashtrays.
Cheese grater and usual kitchen implements.
Bread board, chopping board, set of kitchen knives, scissors, corkscrews, tin openers and bottle openers.
Washing up bowl, stainless steel sink and drainer, plate drainer, oven gloves, tea towels, kitchen roll, mop and bucket, broom . Dustpan and brush, toilet roll (1), loo brushes and a bathmat in the showers. Towels are provided for overseas visitors.
Folding chairs, 12v hairdryer, coat hangers.
Central heating, fire extinguishers and fire blanket.
Where appropriate there are cushions on seats.
Each boat has a 12v car radio/cassette or CD player.
Bedding - doubles - duvet, sheet or fitted sheet, 4 pillows.
singles - large sleeping bag, cotton liner and pillow.
bunks - smaller sleeping bag, cotton liner and pillow.
Lock handles, mooring spikes, lump hammer, boat hook and/or pole.
A hose for filling the water tank.
Please bring your own FIRST AID REQUIREMENTS.

CLICK TO SEE LAYOUTS & DETAILS OF BOATS 2 - 6 Berth Boats 8 - 12 Berth Boats