How to be a boater
A practical and entertaining guide to getting started with canal-boat life, covering buying, navigating, living aboard, and joining the boating community.
Talk: Yes | Workshop: Yes | Course: No | Audience: Public
How to Be a Boater is a lively and engaging talk for anyone who’s ever looked at a canal boat and wondered what life on the water is really like. If you’ve dreamed of swapping traffic jams for towpaths and morning alarms for misty sunrises over the cut, this session will show you how to turn that idea into reality. Blending practical advice with real-world stories, it offers an honest look at the challenges, surprises, and joys of becoming part of the boating community.
The talk guides you through the essentials of getting started, beginning with how to choose and buy a boat. We compare different types and layouts, explain the pros and cons of various heating and toilet systems, and highlight what to check before you commit to a purchase. You’ll also learn how to navigate the canal network with confidence, from working locks and managing moorings to finding water points and essential services along your route. Everyday realities are covered too—including how boaters handle post, deliveries, and life without a fixed address.
Alongside the practicalities, How to Be a Boater celebrates the social side of life afloat. Discover the welcoming world of canal communities, the events and initiatives you can join, and organisations such as the Barge Travellers Association and the Canal & River Trust that support and connect boaters across the network. By the end, you’ll not only understand how to begin your journey onto the water—you’ll be itching to cast off and start it.
The talk guides you through the essentials of getting started, beginning with how to choose and buy a boat. We compare different types and layouts, explain the pros and cons of various heating and toilet systems, and highlight what to check before you commit to a purchase. You’ll also learn how to navigate the canal network with confidence, from working locks and managing moorings to finding water points and essential services along your route. Everyday realities are covered too—including how boaters handle post, deliveries, and life without a fixed address.
Alongside the practicalities, How to Be a Boater celebrates the social side of life afloat. Discover the welcoming world of canal communities, the events and initiatives you can join, and organisations such as the Barge Travellers Association and the Canal & River Trust that support and connect boaters across the network. By the end, you’ll not only understand how to begin your journey onto the water—you’ll be itching to cast off and start it.
