BOATS ON SHOW

BOATS ON SHOW
Our guide to the fantastic craft being exhibited at Crick this year
AINTREE BOATS
www.aintreeboats.co.uk
0151 523 9000
With a workforce offering over 100 years of combined experience, Liverpoolbased
Aintree Boats builds an array of hand-crafted boats. The company
prides itself on taking full control of each build, from the moment the 10mm
base plate is laid to the last stroke of the signwriter’s brush. The team also
helps customers plan their boats through one-to-one discussions.
Inside the Aintree Beetle, looking aft
from the forward deck.
(Left) The 25ft Aintree Beetle was
designed by WW’s Mark Langley.
AQUEDUCT MARINA AND
KNIGHTS NARROWBOATS
www.aqueductbrokerage.
co.uk
01270 525046
The companies, both located in
Church Minshull on the Middlewich
Branch of the Shropshire Union, are
working in collaboration to provide
quality new builds, as well as offering
excellent services for existing boatowners.
Knights Narrowboats
produces custom-built sailaways and
fully fitted narrowboats in a range
of designs. Meanwhile, Aqueduct
Marina provides maintenance and
engineering options, including
blacking, shot blasting and re-plating.
A number of the boats
on show are subject to a
booking process – simply
because they are now
in private hands, with
the owner ‘loaning’ the
boat to the exhibitor for
the event. If you want to
see a particular boat, we
recommend you contact
the builder in advance of
the show to book a slot.
AQUA NARROWBOATS (UK) LTD
www.aquanarrowboats.co.uk
01283 701041
BOOKING
REQUIRED
As well as being a specialist in luxury canal-boat hire and holidays,
Aqua Narrowboats operates a marine repairs service offering
narrowboat engineering, electrics and refurbishments. Based at
Mercia Marina on the Trent & Mersey Canal, the company has
recently developed its production of new bespoke narrow- and widebeam
boats, which have been well reviewed in Waterways World.
❖ 57ft semi-trad with an
oak-panelled interior and
Craftsman engine and
bowthruster.
Knights Narrowboats’ interiors are well-designed and user-friendly.
❖ 60ft semi-trad stern narrowboat fitted out in ash and
oak. Lots of glass mirrors make it a truly unique and
contemporary boat.
(Below) A sleek look for the
dinette and galley.
(Right) The modern saloon
with contemporary stove.
(Left) Making a feature of
storage in the galley.

BC BOAT MANAGEMENT LTD
www.bcbm.co.uk
01270 811500
With bases in Cheshire and Northampton, BCBM manages shared-ownership
narrowboats on English canals, as well as share schemes and boats on the
Norfolk Broads, River Thames, French canals and in the Mediterranean.
Whether it’s a full or half share scheme, the company aims to take the
hard work out of boat-ownership to allow its customers to simply enjoy the
waterways.
❖ Breaking Dawn, a 61ft semi-traditional narrowboat.
BESPOKE BOATS
www.bespoke-boats.com
07799 627 474
Based in Cropredy on the Oxford Canal, near Banbury, Bespoke Boats offers
a range of modern narrowboats and wide-beams. It specialises in interiors
with contemporary design features constructed from high-quality materials.
Its aim is to provide its customers with “a boat of distinction, a boat to last,
a boat to enjoy”.
❖ Jon Buoy, a 58ft cruiser stern with an eye-catching ice-breaker
nose. The interior has innovative storage solutions and the latest
lifestyle gadgets, including a Bluetooth stereo system.
The show build in progress.
Cosy interiors and innovative storage
solutions can be found on BC Boat
Management’s craft.
A high-spec finish for Jon Buoy.
BLUEWATER BOATS LTD
www.bluewaterboats.co.uk
01926 811699
A bespoke hull building and fit-out
company based in Warwickshire,
Bluewater Boats produces a range
of craft, including narrowboats,
Euro cruisers, Dutch barges and
wide-beams. The company works
closely with customers and provides
guidance on everything from the
choice of hull to interior layouts.
❖ 60ft bespoke wide-beam
with a collapsible hydraulic
wheelhouse.
BOOKING
REQUIRED
Boating Leisure Services has won
‘Favourite Boat in Show’ two years
running. Last year’s offering was this 60ft
traditional tug Columbus.
BOATING LEISURE SERVICES
www.boatingleisureservices.com
01604 833599
Part of Heyford Fields Marina at Bugbrooke,
Northampton, Boating Leisure Services has been
providing mechanical and electrical services to
boatyards since 1998. The company has been building
award-winning craft since 2012 and now specialises in
commissioned builds incorporating new technology
and novel features.
BOOKING
REQUIRED
Examples of the outstanding
joinery that can be found on
all Bluewater Boats’ craft.
❖ Silver Melody, a 58ft 6in semi-traditional
narrowboat built on a Tyler Wilson shell
featuring a solid oak interior and granite
worktops in the galley.

BOURNE BOAT BUILDERS
www.bourneboatbuilders.co.uk
01270 876321
A Staffordshire-based family-run company with over 40 years of combined
boatbuilding experience. As well as providing new-build shells, sailaways
and completed boats, Bourne Boat Builders also offers a range of services,
including: refurbishment, coach-painting, mechanical and electrical repairs,
dry-docking and upholstery.
BRAYZEL NARROWBOATS
www.brayzel-narrowboats.co.uk
01995 601515
With over ten years’ experience in the industry, Brayzel Narrowboats
promises “a more personal approach to boatbuilding”. It encourages the
involvement of its clients in every stage of its builds and will incorporate
their preferred materials and equipment wherever possible.
❖ 45ft sailaway, cruiser-stern with a Cauldon Shell and Beta
38 engine. The boat comes with galley, bathroom, plumbing,
gas and electrics and is designed to be used from day one,
while the owner completes the fit-out.
Brayzel’s showbuild
in progress.
BURSCOUGH BOATS
www.burscoughboats.com
01704 891675
This Lancashire-based company prides itself on the high standard of its boats’ steelwork and the ability to realise
customers’ design dreams. The team works closely with clients to produce the perfect craft.
CALCUTT BOATS
www.calcuttboats.com
01926 813757
This Warwickshire company offers a whole range of boating
services, and also builds its own class of craft. Its boats’ interiors
have evolved over the years to include an array of modern and
comfortable features, including proper flushing toilets, showers with
decent water pressure and full-sized ovens.
The Clipper Class is a comfortable and practical cruising craft.
Show visitors can view the
expert craftsmanship that
goes into Bourne’s boats.
❖ Calcutt Boats’ most successful production boat, the
50ft Clipper Class, is equipped with a Hurricane heating
system.
BRAIDBAR BOATS LTD
www.braidbarboats.co.uk
01625 873471
BOOKING
REQUIRED
Based by Bridge 15 on the Macclesfield Canal, Braidbar Boats has been
building narrowboats for more than three decades. Producing just seven
luxury boats each year, the company takes particular pride in its interior
craftsmanship, which it describes as “traditional and timeless”. Braidbar
actively encourages people to meet the team, see how they work and discuss
their ideas.
❖ 58ft 6in semi-traditional narrowboat on a Tim Tyler shell. The
fit-out includes granite worktops, oiled solid oak flooring and
walk-through bathroom.
COLLINGWOOD BOAT BUILDERS
www.collingwoodboatbuilders.co.uk
0151 298 9602
Based in Liverpool, Collingwood Boat Builders
produces craft from 30ft to 70ft in a range of styles,
including narrowboats, wide-beams and Eurocruisers.
Customers can choose their preferred specification
from just the hull to a fully fitted, ready-to-cruise vessel.
FERNWOOD BOATS LTD
www.fernwooddesigns.co.uk
01476 500118
Based in Lincolnshire, Fernwood Boats
is a small, specialist company with a
team of highly experienced craftsmen
committed to producing boats to suit
customers’ individual needs. The
company launched its first boat in 1997,
and since then has earned a reputation
for taking on unique design and
engineering challenges.
ELECTRIC BOAT ASSOCIATION
www.electric-boat-association.org.uk
01491 681449
The Electric Boat Association, founded in 1982, is a
non-profit organisation dedicated to the promotion of
electric-powered cruising in the UK. The quiet, emissionfree
engines are environmentally friendly and therefore
beneficial to all waterways users and wildlife.
BOOKING
REQUIRED
Integrity was Braidbar
Boats’ 2015 show offering.
❖ Whyfry, a bespoke semi-trad
narrowboat featuring a heritage
stove and modern equipment
for residential use or extended
cruising.
An example of Fernwood
Boats’ bright and
spacious interiors.

ELTON MOSS BOATBUILDERS
www.eltonmoss.com
01270 760160
This Middlewich-based company is at the heart of the network and specialises
in custom-designed wide-beams and Dutch barges, as well as narrowboats. It
supplies the craft for sister company Carefree Cruising’s shared-ownership
fleet; such boats have to be hardy, withstanding up to 46 weeks a year of
traversing the cut under 12 different owners.
NORTHWICH BOAT COMPANY
www.thenorthwichboat.com
01270 760160
Northwich Boat Company produces a range of narrowboats, wide-beams
and Dutch barges available as sailaways or fully fitted. The boats are built in
conjunction with colleagues based in Trebic, an area of the Czech Republic
renowned for its skilled woodworkers, where customers can go to view their
build in progress. The team carries out stringent checks once the finished
vessels are delivered to the UK.
❖ 65ft wide-beam Kingsley barge, designed as a liveaboard.
Sister companies Elton Moss and Northwich
Boat Company will be displaying an
impressive Kingsley barge at the boat show.
JD NARROWBOATS
www.jdnarrowboats.com
01332 792 271
Since 2003 this Shardlow-based company has been building and repairing an
array of narrowboat shells up to 68ft in length. As well as being a bespoke
narrowboat fit-out and sailaway specialist, the company also undertakes work
on wide-beam boats, and offers an array of services, including hull blacking,
repairs, refits and much more. All work is completed on site.
NARROWBOATS LTD
www.narrowboatsltd.co.uk
01606 47078
This Cheshire-based company has a selection of narrowboats and widebeams
ready for sale but also builds boats to fit customers’ requirements. Onsite
services include repaints, surveys, joinery and overplating. It also offers
a boat transportation service and has a distinctive cradle lifter at Wincham
Wharf for taking craft in and out of the water.
A DUMMIES’ GUIDE TO…
BUYING A NARROWBOAT
Whilton Marina has been buying and selling boats for over 40
years and provides some simple advice for first-time buyers
When you come to buy a narrowboat
you will soon discover that there
are a variety of styles on the market
and lots of things to take into
consideration. There is also plenty of
choice so don’t panic buy and get the
first one you see. Looking for a boat
is very exciting, but remember this is a
big investment and you have to know
exactly what to look for. Do some
serious, in-depth research before you
make a purchase, otherwise it could
be a very costly mistake.
SOME THINGS TO
CONSIDER
Each style of narrowboat has its own
benefits and once you know how
often you are going to use the boat,
what length you need and where you
are going to moor etc, this will help
you choose which style is best suited
to your needs.
So consider these questions:
l Are you going to use the boat for
occasional use or to live on for long
periods?
l How often are you going to go
cruising?
l Where are you going to moor?
l Do you prefer the idea of a new or
used narrowboat?
l How many people will be living on
the boat?
l Do you have a style in mind
already: traditional, semi-trad,
cruiser, wide-beam?
l What length of boat is going to
best suit you?
l Budget is a major consideration;
how much do you have to spend?
NARROWBOAT STYLES
The finer points of how the boat is
fitted out or which boatbuilder to use
will be your next consideration. But
first you need to know what type of
boat will best suit your lifestyle. So
let’s have look at the four main types
of narrowboat on the market:
Traditional narrowboat
This style originates from the working
boat which at one time was used to
transfer cargo along the canal system.
The interior of this style of boat has
the largest inside area, which was
ideal when the boat was used to carry
goods. Nowadays it offers families the
maximum living space. The exterior
area on the stern deck, however, is the
smallest of the four boat types.
It is a classic and attractive design,
making it a very popular choice for
today’s buyers. The ‘trad’ narrowboat
is the ideal choice for long-term
use and for families, due to the
large interior, which makes staying
on the boat for long periods more
comfortable.
Trads come in a variety of lengths,
from around 40ft to 70ft; it’s worth
mentioning that the length of any style
of boat will be used to determine your
mooring fees.
The exterior stern deck is the
smallest area on the boat and
therefore isn’t the most sociable when
cruising – generally there is only room
for one person on the back deck at any
time. This can make cruising a lonely
experience if you like company.
Semi-traditional
narrowboat
The semi-trad is the modern day
version of the traditional narrowboat,
and has the benefit of a slightly larger
stern deck. This makes it possible for
more than one person to be in this
area at any one time. The deck also
has sides which can have benches
fitted to provide seating and storage.
It also has the advantage that
a pram hood can be fitted in bad
weather giving some protection when
cruising; it can then be removed in the
warmer months. By having the pram
hood covering the stern deck, it not
only gives the helmsman some shelter
but also provides additional covered
storage space, ideal for wellies and
outdoor equipment. This style is a
popular choice for families and people
with dogs.
Cruiser
As the name suggests, this boat has
been designed for the best cruising
experience. The open-plan deck area
is longer than a semi-trad and has
safety rails around the edge. If you
need to enclose the stern deck there
are covers you can attach to the side
rails.
This is typically the style of craft
that hire companies use when
renting out boats to holiday-makers.
The uncluttered open-plan deck is
perfect for people to gather around
the tiller, allowing the crew to enjoy
sociable cruising together. It is a very
desirable design for families who are
going on holiday.
The only downside to having
such a large deck area is the limits
it imposes on interior space, but if
exterior room is more important to
you then the cruiser is the ideal boat.
Wide-beam
Photos by:
Mark Langley,
Graham Booth,
Rupert Smedley
Although not technically a ‘narrow’
boat, wide-beams can be considered
a family member. The large interior
lends itself for free-standing furniture
and long-term living. The wide-beam
is very spacious and is ideal for
recreational cruising, either all-yearround
living or seasonal.
It has become a popular and
alternative choice for buyers who
want to live in urban areas, providing
affordable waterside dwellings in
major cities. Some people say that
when inside a wide-beam it feels
more like a small apartment rather
than a boat.
The only issue with wide-beams
is that narrow waterways cannot be
navigated.

MEGASTAR NARROWBOATS
www.megastarnarrowboats.co.uk
07824 444 336
Based in Pontefract, near the River Calder, MegAStar is one of the more
northerly boatbuilders. The company has over 35 years’ experience designing
and building fully fitted narrowboats and wide-beams, as well as sailaways.
Customers are involved in every stage of the process and no two boats are
the same.
❖ 57ft semi-cruiser with reverse layout and oak interior.
A simple contemporary exterior.
NEW & USED BOAT CO
www.newandusedboat.co.uk
01905 794445
Based at Mercia Marina and Droitwich, the New & Used Boat Co is a ‘onestop
shop’ concept, offering a full range of boats for all budgets, and suitable
for both newcomers and those with long experience of the waterways. The
company has a strong emphasis on tailoring everything to its customers’
needs – from the boats themselves to the financial arrangements.
❖ Four vessels including an impressive 62ft x 12ft Canterbury,
the luxurious floating home Abode and liveaboard wide-beam
Neptune.
The New & Used Boat Co produces a
range of narrow- and wide-beam craft.
Canterbury will be on display
at this year’s boat show.
SMITHWOOD NARROWBOATS
This new company is debuting at the Crick Boat Show and has a number of build slots available this year. Based in Swan
Lane Wharf, Coventry, it is well positioned in the heart of the UK network. It offers bespoke, quality narrowboats and
sailaways for a range of budgets and customer requirements.
❖ Eclipse, a 57ft semi-trad narrowboat, finished with granite worktops, oak lining and a Canaline engine.
The interior of a MegAStar
Narrowboat’s craft.
STEM TO STERN LTD
www.stemtostern.co.uk
01785 257 272
With nearly 15 years’ experience in the industry, Stem to Stern produces
quality, bespoke narrow- and wide-beam craft. The small team has a ‘handson’
approach to projects, with all construction, except steelwork, done inhouse.
The company welcomes regular visits from customers to check how
builds are progressing.
❖ 62ft traditionally styled narrowboat with modern Vetus
engine and generator. The spacious interior has off-white
panelling finished with oak trim.
STOKE-ON-TRENT BOAT BUILDING
www.stokeboats.co.uk
01782 813831
Established for over 30 years, and having built 200 boats,
‘Stokeboats’ draws on this long experience to produce
an array of craft, from sailaway to fully fitted, standard
or bespoke, cruising and liveaboard. The company
also offers a full range of boatyard services including:
rebottoming, refitting, boat lengthening, boat painting
and bottom blacking, plus engine and electrical services.
❖ 60ft traditional narrowboat with a top
specification including specialist electrical
system for carefree extended cruising.
The interior is fully painted and has many
interesting features.
(Above) An example
of Stoke-on-Trent
Boat Building’s fine
craftsmanship.
(Left) A typical
‘Stokeboats’ interior.
SEEING THE BOATS
With so many boats on show at Crick,
and thousands of visitors eager to see
the most popular ones, it’s essential to
make the best use of your time.
Some boatbuilders welcome allcomers,
but a fair number require
that you book a place in advance, and
some others will give you the chance
to make an appointment for an
extended view. The boats are quietest
at the start and the end of each day,
but remember that there can be long
queues to get in to the show before
the 10am start time. Traditionally
Saturday is the ‘buyers’ day’ at Crick
and Monday the ‘locals’ day’.
Many of the boats on show have
been built for individual customers’
requirements, so are not available to
buy on the day. Instead, treat them as
a showcase for the builders’ work.
If you’re seriously considering a
purchase, we recommend you take
along a pen and notebook, a digital
camera, and a bag for leaflets and
brochures – plus easy-to-slip-off
shoes, in case you’re asked to remove
them before treading mud into
someone’s carpet. Prospective buyers
have even been observed toting
dictaphones.
Most people will see all they want
in one day at the show, but the
prospective boat-buyer may want to
consider two or even three days.
Though Crick attracts many
narrowboat builders, there are several
more in the local area who do not
exhibit at the show. Coupling a day at
Crick with visits to local boatbuilders
is a well-established technique, but
don’t forget to ring first.
Phone numbers are for contact
before or after the show, not during it.
We have tried to ensure accuracy, but
details may change before the show.
And remember, though it’s easy
to fall in love with your dream boat,
don’t get carried away. The buying
advice in the WW Annual and the
Inland Boat Owner’s Book will help
you on the way to a safe and sensible
purchase. And if you don’t have
either of those books, you can pick
up a copy at the Waterways World
stand!

TINGDENE MARINAS LTD
www.tingdene-marinas.co.uk
01933 449090
Tingdene has seven inland marinas around the UK offering great facilities in
idyllic surroundings. Moorings are available for narrowboats, river boats and
Dutch barges. Its brokerage service covers six of its marinas and it has over
150 boats available to view at any one time.
VIKING CANAL BOATS LTD
www.vikingcanalboat.co.uk
01245 421021
BOOKING
REQUIRED
Operating from London but with its production based in Poland, Viking Canal Boats specialises in the construction
of narrowboats and wide-beam boats. Since 2007 the company has rapidly expanded, with the aim of producing
“boats to the highest standards of craftsmanship and quality, with a reliable after-sales service and unbeatable
prices”.
❖ 70ft fully fitted, bespoke wide-beam with a luxury finish.
TRISTAR BOATS LTD
www.tristarboatslimited.weebly.com
07976 097042
07759 246551
BOOKING
REQUIRED
Based at Redhill Marina on the River Soar, this husband-and-wife business
has many years’ experience of designing and constructing boats of all shapes
and sizes, including wide-beams, Dutch barges and narrowboats. Its staff are
all boating enthusiasts and bring a diverse range of talents to the process.
Each build has a dedicated blog so that customers can see how their boat is
progressing and share pictures with family and friends.
This Viking boat interior gives
some idea of what to expect
from the company’s boat
show offering.
❖ Lynden, a cosy but sleek 58ft cruiser-stern, liveaboard
narrowboat with bespoke details such as a handmade dresser,
sculpted composite work surfaces, elegant inlaid tabletops and
a unique take on signpainting.
Tristar’s show-build
in progress.
WHARF HOUSE NARROWBOATS
www.wharfhouse.co.uk
01788 899041
Situated in a historic canalside building near
the Bottom Lock at Braunston, Wharf House
Narrowboats is a producer of distinctive and bespoke
narrowboats. A two-times winner of the Crick Boat
Show ‘Favourite Boat’ award, the company has an
enviable reputation in the boatbuilding industry.
❖ 58ft cruiser-stern narrowboat with
electric propulsion and dual steering-design
for a disabled boater.
Wharf House’s bespoke boats
have striking design features.
Marsupials on the exterior of Lynden give
it an unusual Australian theme.

Vote for your FAVOURITE BOAT IN SHOW
and WIN £100 of Marks & Spencer vouchers
PLUS Waterways World subscriptions
The Favourite Boat in Show competition is a tradition of Crick,
brought to you by Shawbrook Bank Ltd on the quayside. If you’re
taking a look at the boats in the marina this year, make sure you
pick up a voting slip and return it to the Shawbrook Bank Ltd
stand (Q35). The boat with the most votes receives the award
of Favourite Boat in Show, and this result is announced 2pm
on Monday. The winning exhibitor will receive a trophy and a
bottle of champagne. There is also a prize draw for all who voted
to win a £100 Marks & Spencer voucher and Waterways World
subscriptions!
PREVIOUS WINNERS
2015
Boating Leisure Services – Columbus
LAST YEAR’S WINNER
A 60ft Josher tug-style traditional narrowboat with an oak interior saw the company take the
award for the second year running.
2014
Boating Leisure Services – Shackleton
A 58ft semi-trad narrowboat contrasting a fairly traditional
exterior with a bright modern interior.
2013
Navigations Narrowboats – Emily
A 58ft tug-style narrowboat with a Tyler Wilson shell.
2012
MGM Boats – Snail’s Pace
A 58ft cruiser-stern, reverse-layout narrowboat, custom built for its owners.