The UK has over one thousand miles of navigable canals and rivers, which are home to an estimated seventy thousand boats. To the untrained eye, canal boats can all look similar, but there are very important distinctions, and a new buyer has several important choices to make. This book discusses those choices, taking into consideration the various boating profiles. From those choosing to live on board permanently to constant cruisers, weekend boaters, and fair-weather cruisers, each will require a different type of boat if they are to fully enjoy their vessel.

This book covers finding and buying a boat, the legalities of purchase, the different features and utilities, finding a mooring, boating health and safety, the cost of boating, boat maintenance, boating etiquette, and many other frequently asked questions. This is the inside story on buying, maintaining, and using a narrowboat, from someone who has done so for over five years.