New to narrowboating

How to operate a canal / narrowboat

If you’ve never been on a canal boat holiday before, we understand the prospect of a holiday on the water can be a little daunting – especially when it comes to being in charge of your own boat and operating the locks!

Black Prince expertise

Firstly, let us reassure you that our expert team at Black Prince will meet and greet you on arrival at one of our bases, and are on hand to give you a full induction. We’ll talk you through the facilities on board, how to drive the boat, how to operate a lock and everything else you need to know for your holiday. Our handovers are industry accredited and all of our bases have been audited to make sure we maintain a high standard.

Don’t be afraid to ask as many questions as you like and to make you feel more comfortable, we can even stay on board for the first stretch of your journey until you feel confident.   Once you have set off, there is a detailed boat manual on board and round-the-clock assistance should you need help.

Of course, it’s good to be prepared before you go.  Take time to check out our online guide on our website, or check out the full guide to a Narrowboat holiday here.

Where should I start?

So, where to start planning your canal boat holiday. You’ve probably got an area in mind that you’d like to explore so check out where our bases are that you start from. You can also check out our boats, starting with our 2-4 berth canal boat

We’ve also put together a list of frequently asked questions for canal holidays,  check these out but do let us know if there is anything we haven’t covered by calling us on 01527 575115 or sending us a message via chat or via email on  holiday@black-prince.com.