UK & European Canals & Waterways

Boat Ownership, Construction, Maintenance, and Services

Since this page is so large, I've added this table of contents here at the top. I have also subdivided the UK section into categories for ease of browsing.

On this page:

• Special Features
• Diaries of Boat Building/Fit-outs
• Shared boat ownership schemes
• Timeshare schemes
• Boat-swap schemes
• Mainland Europe
• UK:
  • Boat builders, brokers, marinas, chandleries, etc.
  • Diesel Engines
  • Electrical
  • Paint, Coatings, and Sign Writing
  • Heating/Stoves/Hot Water
  • Specialty Products - props, hoods, windows, ...
  • Boat Surveyors, Examiners, Consultants
  • Boat Moving
  • Boat Insurance/Finance

On other pages:

• See also Boat Maintenance Courses.
• See also Canal- and Waterway-Related Organisations under the heading "Commercial - UK".

Special Features

Andy Greener's nb Whisper - gasless; extremely quiet. Interesting for both its technical design and interior design. Should be read for ideas by anyone considering having a boat built.

Narrowboat Elektra - broadly based on Whisper, above

Bill Davies on Buying a Second-hand Boat

Diesel & pumpout price survey

Diaries of Boat Building/Fit-outs

• Project FloatingAbode - last updated 2007; electric propulsion
• Andrew Dyke's The Building Of Narrowboat Lord Toulouse in 2002
• Building 'Oak' and 'Ash' - a hotel narrowboat pair; 2003-4
• Mike Stevens describes the building of Felis Catus III, completed in December 2005
• The Phoenix Project - 2006 conversion of a burned-out Anglo-Welsh narrowboat into a dayboat;
  WARNING: 4.2 MB pdf file - requires Adobe Acrobat Reader to view
• The Building of Narrowboat Drift-A-Way - begun late 2004; Link not working
• Narrowboat Per Angusta - built 2004
• Building of 48 foot narrowboat Cat's Whiskers - completed 2003
• Nb Cutworks being stretched from 51' to 70' - completed Jan 2003
• Brian Dominic's Restoring Rumpus - completed in 2000
• Narrowboat Earnest - completed 1999
• N.B. Locksley - 57' semi-trad; completed June 2004
• nb. Apple Queen - gas-free, 62' narrowboat built by Reading Marine; completed Dec 2002
• Michael Clarke's 62' Narrowboat Sika - completed 2000

  More build diaries can be found on the Other Canal and Waterway-related Personal Pages page, and on the Trip Reports and Blogs page.

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  Shared boat ownership schemes

• Challenger Syndicateships - [had gone bankrupt - now operated by ABC Leisure Group] - UK, France
• Ownerships - - UK, France, Ireland (Holland coming) - narrowboats and Dutch barges
• JD Boat Services - narrowboats, UK
• Ranworth Marine - - luxury motor yachts on the Norfolk Broads
• Jemima D Narrowboat Co-operative - 37 foot narrowboat owned by 12 shareholders
• Carefree Cruising - narrowboats, UK
• The Canal Cruising Society - 61 foot trad narrowboat
• BV 825 'Explorer' Co-ownership Syndicate - UK, France, Portugal - Dutch barge style boat; epoxy composite hull

  Independent web sites for all boat sharers:

• www.boatshare.co.uk - includes shares currently for sale
• Syndicate Boat Shares for Sale
• The Shared Inland Boaters User Group (SIBUG) has been absorbed into the National Association of Boat Owners (NABO)

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  Timeshare schemes

• Canaltime

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  Boat-swap schemes

  Swap time on your boat for time on someone else's elsewhere.

• boatswap.info

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  Boat-house exchange schemes

  Swap time on your boat for time in someone else's house, or vice-versa.

• boat/house exchange

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  Mainland Europe

  When thinking about buying a used boat, a good place to *start* is Apollo Duck. They have numerous listings from both brokers and private owners, allowing you a good first look at what sorts of boats are available at what price.

• Apollo Duck - large website of boat adverts (all types of boats)
• Bowcrest Marine - UK-based Dutch barge boat brokerage, offering boats on the continent
• Challenger Syndicateships - Shared boat ownership scheme - UK, France - [had gone bankrupt - now operated by ABC Leisure Group]
• Classic Boats Ltd. - UK built boats for continental waters; previously had marketed boats built by South West Durham Steelcraft, which was liquidated in 2007
• Michael Carter's Guide to Recreational Craft Directive and CE Marking
• Michael Clarke's EU Legislation affecting Recreational Boating
• Homes Afloat - wide-beam canal cruisers for continental waterways
• Recreational Craft Directive - RYA Guide to Compliance - from the Royal Yacht Association
• Euroship Services - from building kits in steel for all kinds of vessels, through fully completed vessels" (English, Dutch)
• International Institute of Marine Surveyors
• Ownerships - Shared boat ownership scheme - UK, France, Ireland (Holland coming)
• Vardy Barge - boat builder (dutch barges and narrowboats) - (UK and France)

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  UK

  Boat builders, brokers, marinas, chandleries, etc.

  When thinking about buying a used boat, a good place to *start* is Apollo Duck UK. They have numerous listings from both brokers and private owners, allowing you a good first look at what sorts of boats are available at what price.

  Note: marinas, boatbuilding, services, etc. are all thrown together below. Since many of the listed businesses provide multiple services, I have not attempted to separate them into multiple categories. Use the search function of your browser (usually Ctrl+f) to look for a keyword related to what you are looking for, for example, "build", or "mooring".

• APCO's Boat Yards, Marinas and Chandleries member list

• Acorn Engineering - "largest Retail catalogue for narrowboat equipment in the UK"
• All Aboard Marine Services - boat maintenance (Newbury, on K&A)
• Alvechurch Boat Builders - boat building; boat brokerage; eco-hulls
• Alvecote Marina - (Tamworth, Staffs.)
• Amber Boats - Polish boat-builder of narrowboats and broad-beam boats, with UK sales and service office at Evesham Marina
• Anglo-dutch Barges - (Sunderland, Tyne and Wear)
• Apollo Duck - large website of boat adverts (all types of boats)
• Aquafax - marine equipment
• Aqualine Marine - boat building; boats built in Poland with UK components
• Aspley Wharf Marina - boat sales, chandlery, moorings, day boats (Huddersfield, W. Yorks.)
• Avon Boating - boatbuilding (Stratford-upon-Avon)
• Barnowl Narrow Boats - boat builders (Lye, W. Mids.)
• Bath Narrowboats - boat building, boat brokerage, maintenance and repair services
• Baxter Boatfitting Services - fit-outs, repairs, drydocks, painting, services, chandlery (Yardley Gobion, Northants., on GU)
• BerthSearch - moorings (mostly yacht berths, but some inland marinas)
• Big Fish Narrowboats - boat building of narrowboats and broad-beam boats (Sharpness Docks)
• Bill Fen Marina - moorings, services, chandlery, boat brokerage (Ramsey, Cambs.)
• Birmingham Chandlery - on-line shop
• Black Prince Narrowboat Holidays - boat sales
• Blackwater Meadow Marina - mooring, chandlery, boat repair, fitouts, engines (Ellesmere, Shropshire)
• Blisworth Marina - services, moorings (Gayton Junction, on GU)
• Blisworth Tunnel Narrowboats - see Mill Wharf Boat Company below
• Blue Haven Marina - boat building, repairs, repainting, mooring (Rugby)
• Bluewater Boats Ltd. - boat builders: Dutch barges and wide beam (Harbury, Warks.)
• Boat Finder Brokerage Services - boat brokerage (Northwich, Cheshire)
• Boat Manuals UK - Trevor Husselbe prepares boat owner manuals to fulfill RCD requirements
• Boat Owners Marine Store - chandlery (Castleford, W. Yorks.)
• BoatsandOutboards.co.uk - large site listing boats for sale
• Boats Broad and Narrow Ltd. - boatbuilding: narrowboats and broad-beam (nr. Castleford, West Yorks., on the Aire & Calder)
• The Boatshare Company - shared narrowboat ownership scheme
• Boat Shop UK - on-line boat adverts; canalside businesses for sale; DIY facilities and on-site brokerage in Leighton Buzzard
• boatshop24.co.uk - large site listing boats for sale [was boats-for-sale.com]
• Boat Showrooms - boat brokerage (cruiser) and marina (3 locations on R. Thames: Shepperton, Hamble, and Harleyford)
• Boats To Go - listing of boats for sale
• Boat Window Boat Sales Ltd. - narrowboat shells, sailaways, and fit-outs (Normanton, W. Yorks.)
• Bon Viveur Boats - boat builders; epoxy composite, Dutch barge style boats, one model of which is trailerable
• Bourne Boat Builders - narrowboat builders (Sandbach, Ches.)
• Braidbar Boats - narrowboat building; services (Higher Poynton, Ches.)
• Branson Boat Design Limited - full-sized Dutch barges supplied in "kit" form; boat design
• Braunston Marina - moorings, services, boat brokerage (Braunston, Northants.)
• Bridgehouse Marina - moorings, chandlery, boat brokerage (on Lancaster Canal)
• British Waterways Marinas Ltd - moorings, chandlery, new boat sales, used boat brokerage, maintenance and repairs (18 locations)
• ABNB - Andy Burnett Narrowboat Brokerage - (Crick, Northants.)
• Burton Waters Marina - boat sales (few narrowboats), moorings, service, chandlery (Burton Waters, Lincoln)
• Calcutt Boats - boat building and fit-outs, engine marinisation, engines & gearboxes, boat sales, chandlery, moorings (Stockton, Warks.)
• Calder Valley Marine - boatbuilding, boat brokerage, chandlery, Izuzu and Beta marine engines (3 locations in W. Yorks.)
• canalboatsales.com (Crick Marina, Northants.)
• Canal Marine - on-line shop (Middlewich, Ches.)
• Canal Shop - Whilton Locks - (Daventry, Northants.)
• Central Craftworks - boat building (narrowboats and Dutch barges)
• Challenger Syndicateships - Shared boat ownership scheme - UK, France - [had gone bankrupt - now operated by ABC Leisure Group]
• Chertsey Meads Marine - moorings, brokerage, chandlery, services, Enfield drives, hire boats, day boats (on Thames, at Chertsey, Surrey)
• J.M. Clarke Narrowboats - ceased trading - boat building (Blisworth, Northants.)
• Classic Narrowboats - boat building, fit-outs, boat brokerage, repairs, services, moorings (Chorley, Lancs.)
• Coates & Company - narrowboat building (Cambs.?)
• Colecraft Engineering - boat building (Itchington, Warks.)
• Collingwood Boatbuilders - (Liverpool); reportedly a successor company, in some respects, to the Liverpool Boat Company, which ceased trading
• Continental Cruising Barges - builder of barge-style GRP cruisers for European waterways (Ramsgate, Kent)
• Coventry Boatbuilders and Chandlery - wooden boat building and restoration
• Cowroast Marinas - Moorings, chandlery, engineering, brokerage (2 locations, on GU and on Oxford)
• Crick Marina & Crick Wharf - on Grand Union in Northamptonshire - moorings; fuel; pumpout; maintenance; dry dock
• Crown Narrowboats Ltd. - boat builders (Manchester)
• Daddys Boat Co. Ltd. - boat builders (Kidderminster, Worcs.)
• Darren Aldridge Boats - boat builders (Rugby)
• Mel Davis Boatbuilders (Mansfield, Notts.)
• R W Davis & Son Ltd - boat building (narrowboats and broad- and wide-beam barges); boat brokerage - (Saul, Gloucester, on Gloucester & Sharpness Canal)
• DB Marine - Dutch Barge builders (Knottingley, W. Yorks.)
• Delta Marine Services - boat builders: Luxemotor Dutch barges, broad- and wide-beam river barges, and narrowboats
• Denham Marina - boat brokerage, chandlery, services (Uxbridge, Middx on GU)
• Devizes Marina - brokerage, engineering, chandlery, dayboat (Devizes, Wilts., on K&A)
• D & J Narrowboats - boat builders (Kibworth, Leics.)
• Douglas Marine - boat building, repairs, moorings, chandlery, hardstanding and undercover storage (Preston, on R. Douglas)
• Dursley & Hurst Ltd. - boat fit-outs (Leigh)
• Dutch Barges Ltd. - represents buyers looking for a Dutch barge
• DWR Boat Services - narrowboat carpentry and fit-outs (nr. Atherstone, on Coventry Canal)
• Elton Moss Boatbuilders - trad and semi-trad narrowboat builders (Sandbach, Ches.)
• Ely Boat Chandlers - (Ely, Cambs.)
• Fallwood Marina - moorings, boat sales, boat building, service (Leeds, on L&L)
• Farndon Marina - moorings, boat sales, transport, chandlery, full marina facilities (Farndon, Newark, on R. Trent)
• Fernwood - boat builders (narrowboats and Dutch barges) - (Grantham, Lincolnshire)
• Five Towns Boatbuilding - temporary web site (Stone, Staffs.)
• Floating Homes Ltd - boatbuilding (narrowboats and broad-beam) (Stilton)   Note: last site update was in 2005
• Fox's Marina - boatbuilding, repairs, moorings, hire boats (March, Cambs.)
• Freedom Boats - chandlery, boat brokerage, hire boats (Macclesfield, Ches., on Macclesfield)
• Stephen Goldsbrough Boats - boatbuilding, repairs and maintenance, chandlery, moorings (on GU at Knowle, Solihull)
• Grand Waterway Voyages - boat building (Bromsgrove, Worcs.)
• Grant & Livingston - Marine - boat building (Canvey Island, Essex)
• Great Haywood Marina - opened July 2007 (on T&M near junction with S&W)
• Grosvenor Marsh Narrowboats - boat builder (Brierley Hill, W. Mids.)
• Harefield Marina - moorings, chandlery, boat sales, repairs, crane (Harefield, Middlesex, on GU)
• Harleyford Marine is now Boat Showrooms - boat brokerage (cruisers/yachts) (3 locations on R. Thames: Shepperton, Hamble, and Harleyford)
• Ben Harp Narrowboats - narrowboat and Dutch barge builders (Great Haywood, Staffs.)
• Harral Brokerage Services - (3 locations in Cheshire)
• L.R Harris & Son - moorings, boat building, chandlery, engines (Syston, Leics.)
• Hartford Marina - marina, boat sales, boat repairs, chandlery (Huntingdon, Camb., on R. Ouse)
• Harveys Boat Builders - boat builder, chandlery (Tamworth, Staffs.)
• Barry Hawkins Boatbuilders - liquidated
• Heartwood Narrowboats - boat builders (Stoke on Trent)
• Heron Boatbuilders - Bankrupt (Mirfield, W. Yorks.)
• Herons Rest Marina - moorings (Llangattock, on Mon & Brec, in Wales)
• High Line Yachting - 3 locations W. of London; boat building, brokerage, moorings, brassware, plaques, painting, signwriting
• Russ Hubble Boats - narrowboat and broad- and wide-beam boat builders (Colmworth, Beds.)
• S M Hudson Boatbuilders - builders of Josher-styled, traditional narrowboats (Glascote, Staffs.)
• Issima Motor Yachts Ltd - boat builders (London); boat "Whisper" now apparently part of Ownerships shared boat ownership scheme
• Jalsea Marine Services - boat brokerage, chandlery, transport, repair (Northwich, Ches. and Ely, Cambs.)
• Jannel Cruisers chandlery (Burton-upon-Trent, on T&M)
• JD Boat Services - boatbuilding, repairs, refits, shared ownership - Gailey, Staffs. (S&W)
• JG Marine Services - repair and maintenance of narrowboats and dutch barges (Braunston, on GU)
• JL Pinder and Sons - boat building, drydock, on-call repairs, Barrus and Perkins diesel engines - Stoke Prior, Worcs.
• Kate Boats - boat building; on the Grand Union canal at Warwick
• Kendall Narrowboats - boat builders (Croughton, Cheshire)
• Kings Bromley Wharf - services (nr. Lichfield on T&M)
• Kingsground Narrowboats - boat builders (Bicester, Oxon.)
• Kings Lock Chandlery - in Cheshire, at the junction of the Trent & Mersey canal and the Shropshire Union canal
• Lambon Hull - steel boat builders - narrow, broad-beam, wide-beam, dutch barge; repairs (Rushock, Worcs.)
• Lancaster Canal Boat Sales
• Ledgard Bridge Boats Limited - Ceased trading April 2009
• Lees Narrowboats - Bankrupt - boat building (Hyde, Cheshire)
• LeSkerne - Link not working; boatbuilders: narrowboat, widebeam, dutch barge, peniche, euro classic (Trimdon Grange, County Durham). Apparently the reincarnation of South West Durham Steelcraft, which had to enter liquidation.
• Lime Kiln Chandlers - online chandlery
• Little Brown Mouse - boat building in joint venture with Jonathan Wilson Boatbuilders; also fit-out kits
• The Little Shop of Chandlery - Stoke Prior, Worcs.
• Liverpool Boat Co. Ltd. - Ceased trading - reported related to Collingwood Boatbuilders
• Longboat Engineering - engine service and repair (Blisworth, Northants)
• Longport Brokerage - (Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs.)
• Louis and Joshua Boatbuilders - (Doncaster, South Yorks.)
• Luxury Afloat - boat building (Ruddington, Notts.)
• Lymm Marina Boat Sales - boat sales, moorings, chandlery (somewhere in Cheshire)
• MGM Boats - boat building (Burton-on-Trent, Staffs.)
• M&P Steelcraft - boat building (narrowboats and broad- and wide- beam boats; Dutch barges), boat design, chandlery, boat brokerage (Trowbridge, Wilts.)
• Macclesfield Canal Centre - moorings, services
• Maesbury Marine Services - boat building, fit-outs, moorings (Maesbury, Salop.)
• Mailspeed Marine - mail order and online chandlery
• Mainline Solutions - safety exams, CORGI work, fire protection, eco products, boat handling courses
• Metrofloat - boatbuilders (contemporary broad-beam "apartment" boat)
• Mid Devon Hire Boats and Moorings - moorings (Tiverton, Devon, on Grand Western Canal)
• Milburn Boats - narrowboat builders (Daventry, Northants.)
• Millar Marine Chandlery (Shardlow, Derby: Bridge 26, Grand Union Canal)
• Mill Wharf Boat Company & Blisworth Tunnel Narrowboats - boat building, brokerage, painting, boat safety examinations and advice (Blisworth, Northants.)
• Andrew Moore Boats Ltd - ceased trading - narrow and broadbeam boat builders (Chilton Cantilo, Somerset)
• Move Your Boat - on-line boat adverts
• Nantwich Canal Centre - boat building, repairs, services (Nantwich, Ches.)
• Narrowboat Sales Ltd - new narrowboats and broad-beam boats built in Poland (Alvecote, nr. Tamworth, Staffs.)
• narrowboatsearch.co.uk - listing of hundreds of boats for sale on UK inland waterways
• Narrowcraft Limited - boat brokerage (Alvecote, nr. Tamworth, Staffs.)
• The New and Used Boat Company - boat building and brokerage - narrowboats and "broadbeam narrowboats" (Droitwich, Worcs.)
• New Holland Steel Barges - boat building (Peterborough)
• New Mills Marina Ltd. - moorings, services, engineering shop available for use (on Peak Forest Canal)
• Peter Nicholls - steel boat builders - motor yachts, and broad- and wide-beam boats (Braunston, Northants.)
• Norbury Wharf - boat brokerage; moorings; repairs; wet dock; dry dock; chandlery (Stafford, on SU)
• Northern Marine Services - narrowboat, and broad-beam tug and trawler building; fit-outs (nr. Lymm, Ches.)
• The Northwich Boat Company - narrow- and wide-beam boatbuilding; "producing in excess of 50 boats per year" (Sandbach, Ches.)
• Norton Canes Boatbuilders - Josher-style traditional narrowboats; painting, services, moorings (Walsall, W. Mids., on BCN)
• Nottingham Castle Marina - boat sales, moorings, chandlery (Nottingham)
• Old Canal Smithy Ltd Engineers & Chandlers - (border of Lancs. and West Yorks.)
• Orchard Marina and Boat Builders - boat building, renovations, brokerage, fit-outs, services, moorings, chandlery (soon) (Rudheath, Ches, on T&M)
• Otherton Boat Haven - boat building, fit-outs, boat brokerage, repairs, services, moorings (Penkridge, Staffs., on S&W)
• Oxfordshire Narrowboats - services, repairs, painting, chandlery
• Ownerships - Shared boat ownership scheme - UK, France, Ireland (Holland coming)
• PB Mechanical Services - services, engines, boat brokerage (nr. Chorley, Lancashire, on L&L)
• Perkins Narrowboats Ltd - narrowboat builders (Nottingham)
• Pickwell & Arnold - Link not working; boat builders, fitters and marine engineers; narrow- and wide-beam boats and dutch barges (Todmorden, Lancs.)
• Pillings Lock Marina - moorings (Barrow upon Soar, Leics., on GU. Leicester section)
• Piper Boats - boat building (narrowboats and replica Dutch barges)
• William Piper Narrowboats Ltd. - boat building, painting (Towcester, Northants.) [no relation to Piper Boats above]
• Preston Brook Marina - boat brokerage; moorings
• Puffer Parts - chandlery (Riddlesden, Keighley in West Yorks., on L&L)
• Ranworth Marine - shared ownership of luxury motor yachts on the Norfolk Broads
• Reading Marine - boatbuilding and services (K&A)
• Reeves Boatbuilders - narrowboats and broad-beam boats (Napton on the Hill, Warks.)
• Richard's Narrowboats - fit-outs (Birmingham, W. Mids.)
• Ricochet Narrowboats Ltd. - boat building (narrowboat, broad-beam, Dutch barge), fit-outs, alterations, service and repair (Shardlow Marina, Derby.)
• River Canal Rescue Ltd. - breakdown and recovery service for all boats using the inland waterways in the UK
• R. L. L. Boats - boatbuilder - narrowboats, broad- and wide-beam, and Dutch Barges (Keynsham, Bristol)
• Robertsons Boatyard - restorations, repairs, moorings, slipway (Woodbridge, Suffolk, on R. Debden)
• Royalls Boatyard - services, repairs (Hoveton, Norwich, on Norfolk Broads)
• Rugby Boat Sales - boat brokerage (Weedon, Northants., on GU)
• Sagar Marine - builders of Dutch barges
• Sailaway Boats - boatbuilders (div. of Piper Boats) (Stoke-on-Trent)
• Sandhills Narrowboats - boat building (Astwood Bank, Worcs.)
• Sawley Marina - brokerage; chandlery; moorings (off R. Trent nr. Long Eaton, Nott.)
• Sea Otter Boats - 2008: firm has emerged from controlled liquidation; narrowboats and "broadbeam narrowboats" constructed with aluminium; some trailerable; Warning: site plays sound effects
• Selby Boat Centre - moorings, chandlery, brokerage, services, engineering (Selby, N. Yorks.)
• Severn Valley Boat Centre - Ceased trading
• Sherborne Wharf (Birmingham) - moorings; fuel; pumpout; maintenance; painting; chandlery
• Silsden Boats - boat building and boat sales (in addition to hire fleet) (Silsden, W. Yorks, on L&L)
• Sirius Yachts - steel yachts, narrowboats, broad- and wide-beam canal boats, and Dutch barges, including Alleghany style (Stourport-on-Severn, Worcs.)
• Simpsons Boats - 9/08: went into receivership - boatbuilders: narrow- and wide-beam, in both conventional and new "Tug and Butty" design; dutch barges (Sharpness, Glous.)
• Soar Valley Steel Boats - boat builders (hulls and sailaways) (Chesterfield, Derbyshire)
• South Holland Marine & Fabrication Ltd. - manufacturers of Dutch Barge and Narrow boat shells (Boston, Lincs.)
• South West Durham Steelcraft  Firm liquidated. Now reincarnated as "LeSkerne".
• Springwood Haven - moorings; hull and cabin painting
• Starline Marine - boat building, services, repairs, boat brokerage, chandlery, moorings (Upton-upon-Severn, Worcs.)
• Stenson Boatbuilders - narrow- and broad-beam boat building, boat brokerage, moorings, service, chandlery (Stenson, Derby, on T&M)
• Stewart Marine - boat brokerage, moorings, fit-outs, joinery, vinyl signwriting, day boats (Surbiton, Surrey, on R. Thames)
• Stockton Dry Dock Company - boat building (including Josher replicas), working boat repair and restoration, alterations, dry dock (nr Southam, Warks.)
• Stoke-on-Trent Boat Building Company - narrowboats (Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs.)
• Stoke-on-Trent Marina - moorings, services, brokerage, painting, joinery, refits
• Stone Boat Building Company Ltd - boat builders, chandlery (Stone, Staffs.)
• Stowaway Boats - folding inflatable and folding sailing dinghys
• Stowe Hill Marine - Ceased trading June 2009
• Streethay Wharf - boat building, boat brokerage, boat transport, services, repairs, moorings, chandlery, day boats (Lichfield, Staffs., on Coventry Canal)
• Swanley Bridge Marina - moorings, services (Nantwich, Ches., on Llangollen Canal)
• Rod Taylors's Dutch Barges, Narrowboat Sales & Skippering - boat sales (London)
• TB Training provides boat maintenance courses through Reading College (now Thames Valley University), and other independent courses as well. Courses available in Boat and Engine Maintenance, Electrics for Boaters, and Welding for Boaters.
  - Note: lots of useful info in the on-line course notes.
• Thames Boat Sales (Bray, Berks., Chertsey, Surrey, and Reading, Berks.)
• Thames Electric Launch Company - (Goring)
• David Thomas (Boat Builder) - (Braunston Marina)
• Trinity Marinas - boat-building, boat brokerage, moorings, pub, chandlery (on Ashby Canal in Hinckley, Leics.)
• Triton Boat Fitters - liquidated
• Val Wyatt Marine - boat brokerage, moorings (with wifi), services, repairs, chandlery, slipway (Wargrave-on-Thames, Berks.)
• Vardy Barge - boat builder (dutch barges and narrowboats) - (UK and France)
• Venetian Marina Village - boat brokerage, moorings, chandlery, workshop (on Middlewich Branch, Nantwich, Ches.)
• Ventnor Farm Marina - moorings, services, slipway (Rugby, Warks.)
• Viking Marine - brokerage, chandlery, moorings, services, repairs (Goole)
• Virginia Currer Marine - boat brokerage (at High Line Yachting, Iver, W. London)
• Walton Marine - boat brokerage (multiple locations)
• Weltonfield Narrowboats - boat building, brokerage, services, moorings
• Westview Marine Services - boat building (narrowboats and "broadbeam narrowboats"), marina, repairs, chandlery, services (Earith, Cambs., on Great Ouse)
• Wharf House Narrowboats - boatbuilding (Braunston, Northants.)
• Whilton Marina - boat sales, repairs, and moorings (on GU, nr. Junc. 16 of M1)
• Willowbridge Enterprises - heavy crane lift, moorings, repairs, services, fit-outs, chandlery (Milton Keynes, Bucks., on GU)
• Willowtree Marina - moorings (with wifi), boat brokerage (West London)
• Woodworks Boat Fitting (New Ollerton, Notts.)
• Wraysbury Boat House - boat brokerage, service, launches (Wraysbury, Berks., on R. Thames)
• XR&D Boatbuilders (Ollerton, Notts.)

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  Diesel Engines

• Agra Engineering Company - parts for old engines; Bombay, INDIA
• Barrus - Shire engines
• Beta Marine - diesel propulsion engines and generating sets
• Bolinder Diesel Engines
• E. J. Bowman - Bowman heat exchangers and oil coolers
• Michael Clarke's narrowboat engine database
• dieselenginetrader.com - "connecting buyers and sellers of diesel engines" - both marinised and non-marinised engines
• DieselVeg - Diesel to Vegetable Oil engine conversions
• Internal Fire - engine web site, including some marine engines; has manuals in "pdf" format
• Isuzu Marine - Link not working - marine engines
• JLP Marine Diesels - Perkins and Barrus diesels - sales, installation, service - Stoke Prior, Worcs.
• Peter Lock's Restoration of a Kelvin J4 Vintage Marine Engine
• Peter & Rita Forbes' Engine Pages - includes Lister and Ruston & Hornsby
• Lister Engine Forum
• Lister Freedom Range mailing list
• Marine Engine Services - Diesel engines, spares and accessories (Uxbridge, Middlesex)
• AR Peachment - Nanni diesel engines, general marine equipment (Brundall, Norwich)
• Tony Redshaw Vintage Diesels - engines, specializing in Gardner's (Rugby, Warks.)
• RN Diesel Engine Co. Ltd. - Russell Newbery engines
• Thornycroft - marine diesel engines
• Tangent Engineering - Gardner engine restoration (Ireland)

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  Electrical

• Battery FAQ - answers Frequently Asked Questions about deep cycle batteries
• AES (Leighton Buzzard) Ltd - specialists in automotive and marine electrics and electronics.
• Ampair Natural Energy - wind and solar power generation (Warfield, Berks.)
• Ampower Services - marine electrical supply products and installation (Stretton-under-Fosse, Warks.)
• Axon Components - marine and automotive electrical specialists (Leeds)
• Barden - batteries, chargers, inverters, wind and solar power
• Beta Marine - diesel propulsion engines and generating sets
• boatelectricals.co.uk - on-line shop for marine electrical gear
• Calibra Marine International Ltd - cabin lights, etc.
• Marine Promotions Ltd. - satellite equipment, TVs, inverters, solar panels
• Merlin - "the power people"
• MML Electrics - "12 and 24 volt lights, pumps, switches, bulbs, ..."
• Moore Power - inverters, chargers, solar
• Onboard Energy - batteries, battery chargers, combined inverter chargers, generators, whipsergen, general chandlery (Nuneaton, Warks.)
• Power Master Systems Ltd - inverters, chargers
• Power Pages - "will answer your questions about modern boat electrics"
• Power-Store - marine electrical products
• RoadPro - 12v and 24v electrical products
• Safeshore Marine - galvanic isolators
• solar boat company - electric propulsion and solar panels (Reading, Berks.)
• Sterling Power Products
• Victron Energy - inverters, chargers, etc.
• Zinga UK - galvanic protection for hulls

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  Paint, Coatings, and Sign Writing

• boatpaint.co.uk - marine paints and related items
• Craftmaster Ltd. - paint for canal boats.
• Cutsigns - mail order boat graphics
• Tim Hobbs - Traditional Signwriter
• Kelcoat - anti-slip protective coating for boat decks, roofs, and gunwales
• Mainline Building Products - hull coatings and marine paints
• Nauteco - "Professional Paints for the Marine Environment"
• Protecta-kote - anti-slip paint
• Rapidpaint's Narrowboat Paint
• Rylard - finishes for narrowboats and canal cruisers
• S.A.B. Signs - traditional signwriting and narrowboat decoration (based in Midlands)
• SAC Boat Names - traditional decals and lettering in vinyl
• Philip Speight, Canal Boat Painter
• Stick On Signs - boat lettering

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  Heating/Stoves/Hot Water

• Alde International - heating systems
• Boat Central Heating - Webasto and Eberspacher products
• E. J. Bowman - Bowman heat exchangers and oil coolers
• Chilli Penguin Stoves - canal boat stoves - heating and cooking
• Graham Cutmore (Engineering) - Alde heating and hot water systems
• Harworth Heating - oil fired bubble stoves and central heating boilers
• Kuranda - Kabola heating systems
• Lockgate Stoves - marine diesel stoves
• Mikuni Heating (UK) Ltd - diesel heating, water and hot air systems
• Webasto - marine heating systems; stoves

Specialty Products

• Axiom Propellers Ltd
• 12v LED Lighting for Boats
• Bargee Bill's Prop Cleaner
• Bilt-Hamber Laboratories - "rust removers that are non-toxic, biodegradable and extremely effective"
• Boat Hoods Direct - tailor made hoods, covers, and canopies
• Boatmans Cabin (High Line) - brassware for boats, vents, grilles
• Boater's Phone Company - antennas; free advice about phone selection for boating use, both voice and data
• Brenmarl Engineering Ltd - narrowboat brassware; Epping stoves; plaques (Saul, Gloucestershire)
• Cabin Care - vandalism window guards
• Caldwells Windows Ltd - narrowboat windows
• Caravan & Boat Seat Cover Centre
• Centa Power Transmission - transmissions
• Channelglaze.com - aluminium marine windows (Birmingham)
• Cleghorn Waring - marine pumps
• Cover-Right - boat covers
• Dipstop Locking Filler Cap Kit for boats
• doorholder.co.uk - hardware useful for boats
• Edge Technology - "Portable power generators for narrowboats" (Crewe, Cheshire)
• Edwardian Bedding - boat beds
• Elite Furnishings - furniture designed specifically for narrowboats (Tamworth, Staffs.)
• Fender Maker Ltd - (Llandysul, Carmarthenshire, Wales)
• Foam for Comfort - cut-to-size foam and latex for mattresses, pillows, cushions, seating
• Garland Hoods - cratch covers, etc. (Milton Keynes)
• General Ecology Europe Ltd. - drinking water purifiers
• Get Knotted - rope fenders and ropes (Warwick, on GU)
• Halls Auto Electrical - Eberspacher heaters (Bristol)
• Hendersons - boat water tanks, shower sumps, etc. (Dereham, Norfolk)
• Hercules Hydraulics - (Paignton, Devon)
• Hydrotechnik - fuel filtering; biodiesel equipment
• Intosofa - self-assembly sofas (easy to get into a narrowboat)
• IS Products - boat security
• JabscoShop - marine pumps
• Jonic - unconventional bed linen sizes of possible use on boats
• KM Joinery - offering the "Captain's Perch" removable tiller seat
• Lee Sanitation - marine sanitation specialists
• Loom-Tech - marine wiring systems
• Lowe Brass - brass rally plaques
• M & R Controls (UK) Limited - chargers, inverters, solar
• Marine 16 Ltd - diesel bug treatment, paint and grp sealants, cleaners
• Marine Injection Services - valve blocks, filters, pipes, hoses, and fittings
• Multicell - marine batteries
• Noisekiller UK - soundproofing
• Peak Forest Canal Carrying Company - coal, diesel, fenders and other boat consumables DELIVERED BY NARROWBOAT; operates Macclesfield and Peak Forest canals, and other northwest waterways
• Percy Lane Products Ltd - windows, including marine windows (Tamworth, Staffs.)
• PRM Marine Transmissions (Coventry)
• ProProtector Ltd - propeller protection device
• Raskelf - memory foam mattress toppers
• Shoreline Refrigeration - manufacturers/suppliers of refrigeration equipment for boats
• SmartGauge Electronics - popular equipment for managing battery banks
• Suzo Handicrafts - lace porthole covers
• Tecma - marine toilets (site in English, Italian, German, French)
• Compact Cookware from Tefal - saves space in boat galleys
• Tek-Tanks Ltd - "water, waste and diesel fuel tanks for the marine environment"
• tel-me - alarm system suitable for boats; click "Products", then "tel-me".
• ThermoBoat - heat insulator for boats
• Thetford - marine toilets
• Tia Environmentally Responsible Products - wind generators, solar panels, Eco Fans; cleaners
• Tradline Rope & Fenders - (at Braunston Marina, and at Stowe Hill Marina)
• Trafalgar Marine Services - fenders, rope, and chain
• Vetus - "marine diesel engines, marine accessories and technical equipment"
• waterbuoy - flotation device for key, etc.; lifts to 1 kg
• Websters Insulation Limited - boat insulation
• Wesley Marine Windows
• WillDo - thrusters, RotaDrive, pump-out systems (web site in Dutch, English, French, German)
• Wilson's - marine trimming and boat covers (Kinver, S. Staffs.)
• Worcester Marine Windows Ltd (Worcester)

Boat Surveyors, Examiners, Consultants

• Anglo European Marine Ltd. - marine surveying and consultancy
• Association of Boat Safety Examiners
• Christopher Berry Marine Survey - based in Bristol
• Bisham Abbey Sailing & Navigation School - Boat Safety Scheme Inspections
• Blue Star Surveys - Boat Safety Examiner and Marine Surveyor (based in Yorks.)
• Boat Safety Scheme - the official safety Standards a boat must comply with in order to obtain a navigation licence
• Michael Carter Marine Surveyor and Consultant - see Marine Surveys Ltd. below
• Andy Clarke - Boat Safety Scheme Examiner - based in Oxfordshire
• Bob Coldwell Boat Safety (on the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal) - still in business but no longer has web site
• Tim Crew - Independent Boat Safety Scheme Examiner - covering mainly the south but will go anywhere
• Eddie Freeman - boat safety examiner (Northampton)
• Trevor Husselbe - has retired from doing boat safety scheme examinations
• International Institute of Marine Surveyors
• Mainline Solutions - safety exams, CORGI work, fire protection, eco products, boat handling courses
• Marine Surveys Ltd. - craft surveys, BSS exams, insurance damage surveys, marine consultancy
• Barrie Morse - marine surveyor
• Paul Smith, Marine Surveyor - specialising in Inland Waterway Craft

Boat Moving

• A B Tuckey Boat Transportation
• Trent Boat Handling - boat handling courses; boat relocation
• Bill Davies tells you about Transporting a Narrowboat [to mainland Europe]
• David & Gill Freeman on Shipping a narrowboat to Canada
• Info on World-wide boat transporting

Boat Insurance/Finance

• Basic Boat - 3rd party liability insurance
• Collidge and Partners - marine finance and insurance
• CraftInsure.com, specialists in boat insurance.
• E&L Boat Insurance
• Euromarine Insurance
• GJW Direct
• Mercia Marine
• Newton Crum - boat insurance
• Noble Marine Insurance - (Newark, Notts.)
• RoyScot Larch - boat financing
• St. Margarets - yacht and boat insurance
• Saga Boat Insurance
• Towergate Mardon - "boat insurance & marine insurance specialists"