Our heritage boats are more than museum pieces, they are functioning canal vessels that can be used. At the Heritage Boats Project, we believe in sharing these unique resources so are able to offer the boats for hire for a number of chaperoned uses. This can provide you with access to a wonderful piece of history whilst helping us to secure the future of our project.

Setting the scene with heritage working boats From the existing fleet of heritage working boats there is a diverse set of boats available for commercial use. All are restored, painted to theirtheir working livery and can provide a real favour of what life was like on the canals at the beginning of the last century. The boats can provide unusual and powerful photography or advertising opportunities. They have been used to create an authentic historic backdrop for film and television production companies. After all, why have a replica when you can try the real thing? Learning and team building on the water What better way to understand the evolution ofthe canals than to spend time on a proper working boat? As well as our involvement in education programmes we also offer opportunities for companies to use our working boats for team building events. Life for boating families was tough and relied on seamless team-working from everyone to ensure both safe and timely passage. For colleagues to work together overcoming the challenges of canal life - such as juggling locks and tunnels with looking after their cargo - can be a memorable and effective way to strengthen your team.

Corporate hospitality and waterside events

Perhaps your newly opened office is near a canal or maybe you’re holding an event at a waterside location – a heritage working boat moored alongside could be the ideal addition! Our boats can be used as a remarkable extra to an important waterside event. The vessel can be brought to almost any location on the canal network, complete with a skilled crew who can answers any questions people might have or show them round. Could a heritage working boat be the asset your occasion needs? Yes. It could.

Talk to us

Contact us today to discover more about hiring our heritage working boats. Alternatively, if you would like to find out more about sponsorship opportunities, events we’re attending or the history of the project please follow our links.