Narrow boat holiday - any tips?

[DIKateFleming]

We’re off on a narrow boat holiday for a week on a canal in Yorkshire next week. Any tips on what to pack/ not to pack? How to keep occupied? Weather looks typically varied. I’ve not been on a narrow boat holiday before, and slightly worried that by the end of the week in a confined space we may all want to kill each other.

Nothing to add but interested in the responses. My DH and I fancy doing this.

Layers. You want easy to wear layers, with waterproof jacket, hair bands for the wind and gloves. Extra socks! You want slip on/off shoes without laces for going in and out otherwise to track grass everywhere. I normally wear Leggings, vest tops, denim shirt, head band to keep hair blowing everywhere. Peak cap for sun.

For meals, prepare a lasagne for one night. We do it in tinfoil tray so we can chuck it after. Cereal for breakfast, fruits and nuts for snacks, cake with tea for afternoon, some good ingredients for 1 pot meals so there's not loads of washing. Stop for lunches and dinners as we can.

I love it. Hope you have fun!

Playing cards and a book of playing card games
Torch for walking from pub to boat in dark (essential)
Wildlife / spotting book
Pens/ paper / colouring - if your kids are young enough have a look at Activity Village online- it's very cheap to subscribe and they have loads of stuff you can print off.
Ingredients for pancakes - always a cheer up lifesaver
Sweet treats - narrow boating is exhausting!!

Learn to tie a knot before you go!

Make sure the safety catch (pawl) is in the correct position when you use a windlass when operating a lock, as otherwise you may get smacked in the face by a windlass (and it fecking hurts).

Make sure you don't fall in as that is painful and wet and muddy (and it fecking hurt as well).

It’s a lovely holiday, both fun and relaxing. Cards, books and board games are a good idea and make sure you eat out when you can, the kitchens aren’t great. We took a big pan of chilli for the first night and almost treat it like camping food wise.

Insect repellent is a must!

Have a lovely time.

How many of you are going? I'm assuming family rather than a gang of mates? Narrow boats go very slowly so you can take turns walking along the tow path to get some exercise and space. Could you take a couple of bikes? That helps side trips as you obvs won't have any other transport. Pack some treats that you keep stashed for emergencies. Head phones for music/iPlayer watching.

Can have a rule that if you don't want to be disturbed you sit at the front and noone is allowed to bother you, that way you get some space whilst still on board. May have to draw up a roster!

Make sure you all understand how to operate the toilet. Don't over flush! You do not want that overflowing.

Be careful in the locks, if you haven't done it before it takes a little practice to get the knack but it's fine. Little ones in the cabin when you are going in/up/down if necessary. If you go through bingly I think a keeper helps you so that's good but there can also be a bit of a wait.

Cards, games, torches for exploring at night, wellies, waterproofs of all sorts. Think of it like luxury floating camping and you'll be fine. Have a great trip!

Take a chill pill with you. It's slow and lovely. A book. Tea bags. Wine. Waterproofs. A pack of cards/some games. When we were younger I went with my friends parents - they would look up things like the local swimming pool we could walk to to get of the boat for a few hours. If you don't have kids this might not be a bother.

Waterproofs for the “driver”-they are not always provided, plenty of thick warm socks. Plenty of tinned food, eg chilli, curries plus wine, chocolates and treats-remember you might have to moor up miles from
a shop!

Gloves for everyone who will be helping with mooring or locks. Rope burn is no fun!

Gloves, gloves and more gloves!

Board games and DVD player, I love canal boat holidays. Very chilled.

Are you taking children? If so how old? Books, boardgames, cards, audio books, a radio/ CD player/ wireless speaker to all listen to music together not seperately on headphones, if so. Layers and extra towels and fleece blankets.

An extra seperate pair indoor shoes so as not to tread mud through the boat, ideally ones you can wash off if you jump off the boat wearing them and land in mud.

If you're driving there and have room in the car take a couple of bikes, not one for everyone but it's useful to be able to cycle to a shop if it's further away from the canal, plus some older children prefer to cycle along the tow path - our older two took turns doing that (they cycle way faster than the boat goes) the entire way - luckily they're similar size and could easily share a bike.

Thank your for all the recommendations, it’s me, DH and my best friends, plus 10 yr old DD. We’re taking bikes, and now packed some cards and board games. Also packed some DVDs and downloaded a few things on iPlayer. Hadn’t thought about gloves, so will pack them, and indoor shoes. Will also dig out the torches.

Bingley 5 rise is meant to be the highlight of the trip (although I’m secretly excited about Salts Mill), hopefully that will go well

Which way are you heading? Going from Leeds will give you plenty of lock practice, there's loads of the buggers. Bingley 5 rise sounds exciting but look, don't get toooooo worked up about it or you might be disappointed :-)

Follow the instructions for what can and can't go down the loo to the letter. Towards the end of the week if you think you have flushed it, but it doesn't look as though anything has moved do not keep flushing it as the tank may be full. They can be unlocked with a short length of hosepipe and empty tin of peaches, but it's probably best to pay for a pump out.

Remember to fill up the water tank regularly. We always try to shower quickly as the water tank is filling to maximise water storage.

Take wellies/walking boots.

If you can see another boat approaching in the opposite direction to you and you have just come out of a lock, you can leave the gates open for them to go straight in. If you have double locks which can fit in 2 boats at once, see if there is anyone nearby to go in with you.

Offer to help solitary boaters or couples at locks, but don't be offended if they say no. They probably have their own routine and have them down to a fine art.

Everyone needs full waterproofs, including trousers. Okay, it might not rain, but if it does you get soaked. Also waterproof hats or plenty of bobble hats. We owned a narrowboat for 10 years after 5 years of hiring. I spent a lot of time in full waterproofs!
You will be given some instruction (hopefully, although I think some hire companies just show a dvd), which you may well forget by the time you get to a lock, but don't panic. They might even take you through a lock if there's one nearby. I think the thing to be aware of most is safety. Always keep all parts of your body within the profile of the boat. Never jump off a moving boat, or leap for the bank - bring the boat to the side and step off, taking a line (rope) with you if necessary. Don't walk up and down the gunnels while underway or walk up and down the roof. Don't moor on bends, near bridges, opposite winding holes or on water points (unless you're actually filling up with water). Moor up securely with well secured lines. Slow down when passing moored boats.
Don't allow a line to fall down near the prop, it will get tangled round the prop. Never run near a lock edge. Take your time with everything.
It might sound alarming, but I have made all the above mistakes and learnt the hard way, including falling in on several occasions. Fortunately most (but not all) canals are shallow. I am sure you will have a wonderful time and I hope the sun shines on you.
P.S. I always had a hot water bottle handy for chilly nights.

Following on from Longearedbat, glasses (either kind) don't float, so consider strapping on specs (an insurance company asked my Mil why she hadn't jumped in to rescue a pair!) and hold onto wine glasses if going through tunnels or into locks.

Lots of warm blankets, warm coats and waterproofs.
Life jacket for any children who are going to be getting on and off the boat. Even if they're good swimmers it isn't good if they fall in a lock.
Hot water bottles, hot chocolate, warm socks
Shoes with good tread for hopping on and off the boat, matches (if the oven is gas and doesn't have a self starter)
Gloves, balaclava hats
Waterproofs (the driver will be outside and any locks need you to be outside) binoculars (with a strap round the neck) ditto camera
Did I mention lots of warm clothing?
Dh reckoned the worse they had was when it was raining so hard the waves were breaking on top of the boat.