General Information
 The
canal boat used today has changed little on the surface from the
boats built over one hundred years ago. But inside, these boats are cleverly planned to provide comfortable and
even luxurious holiday accommodation for up to 9 people, depending
on the boat's length. They are built to navigate without difficulty
all the features you will find in your travels, from locks to aqueducts,
so all you need worry about is which traditional pub or scenic spot
to moor at!
Canal boat holidays are offered from Ballinamore (RED base on map) on
the Shannon-Erne waterway from there is access to the upper River Shannon
and the Erne. No licence is required to hire one of these boats,
and tuition is given at the starting base.
 In Ireland we offer Wide Beam narrowboats,
which at 10 feet wide provide more space for living and relaxing,
but are built to the same design principles. All boats are steered
by a tiller at the rear or stern and have a spacious rear deck with
seating, edged with a guard rail, making access on and off the boat
easier. All our boats have reliable, smooth running diesel engines.
 Berths
In most canal boats the dining area seating is converted to
a double bed at night. This gives greater flexibility and allows
a shorter cheaper boat than one where the saloon is not converted
to sleeping at night.
The number of berths in each boat depends upon whether you
wish to use only the fixed berths. A boat described as 4-6 berth
or 4+2 berths has 4 fixed berths (which can be left made up during
the day) and 2 convertible berths.
 A
simple guide is to add up the number of people in your party, then
choose the most suitable arrangement of double, twin or single berths.
Then decide whether you wish to saloon for sleeping.
If in doubt, always go for more space, rather than less. To get
more space for 4 people, choose a boat with only fixed berths, or
choose a 6-berth and leave the convertible saloon berths free.
Equipment
 The
equipment provided varies between boats, but there are all the comforts
of home, including:
Comfortable beds or bunks with foam or interior sprung mattresses
Galley (kitchen) equipped with cooker, fridge, crockery, cutlery,
pans
Shower and flushing toilets
Hot and cold running water
Central heating, with solid fuel stove on some boats
Radio/ radio cassette
See other pages in the Narrowboats section for further details
of boats and canals.
See also the Shannon-Erne
route pages for further details on routes. |
