News | Collidge & Partners

As the colder months approach, narrowboat owners know it’s time to prepare their vessels for the winter season. Proper preparation is essential to ensure your narrowboat stays safe, warm, and functional as temperatures drop. Here are some practical tips to keep your boat in top shape through the winter.

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Owning a canalboat brings unique joys, but it also comes with its share of responsibilities. One of the best ways to protect yourself, your boat, and others on the water is to prioritise safety. By following these essential tips, you can minimise the risk of accidents and avoid unnecessary insurance claims.

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Mooring your narrowboat securely is essential to preventing vandalism and theft. Whether you're stopping for the night or leaving your boat for an extended period of time, implementing effective security measures can give you peace of mind and protect your valuable investment. 

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As the school summer holidays approach, boaters may want to plan boating trips and holidays with their families. Parents can involve and entertain their children to make a trip successful, even though it may be challenging.

You will have plenty of hands-on activities for kids on and around the boat, even at a young age. They can assist with crew tasks. They can handle lines during docking, leaving, or moving the boat. They can also guide the helm as a bowman.

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As a first-time canal boat owner, carefully selecting the type of boat you purchase is vital. You need to take into consideration your needs and aims as a narrow boat owner. Our guide explains three common types of canal boats on UK Inland Waterways: Traditional Stern, Cruiser Stern, and Semi-Traditional Stern, to help you choose the best type for you.

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As winter begins to fade and the spring months promise to arrive, it is time for narrowboat owners and inland waterway enthusiasts to prepare their vessels for the upcoming season.

Whether you've spent the colder months cruising, or your vessel has been moored, some essential maintenance and checks are crucial to ensuring a smooth and enjoyable experience on the UK's picturesque waterways.

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Amidst the beauty of our waterways, it's important to remember to protect your boat and keep it safe. Having the appropriate canal boat insurance coverage is essential before sailing.

To safeguard your investment in the maritime industry, it is crucial to get a precise evaluation of your boat. This will prevent any chance of having insufficient insurance coverage when making a claim.

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Locks are found in most inland waterways throughout the UK, which means a narrowboat owner must know how to use them if they are planning on cruising and traveling in their vessel. Locks are devices that are used for raising and lowering vessels over hills on stretches of water on the canal...

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As boat owners, we should always be aware of the potential consequences of our boats causing water contamination through various leakages or spillages of harmful material such as oil or fuel. Some insurance policies may not provide cover for a claim involving the cost of contamination clean-ups...

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Whether you have purchased a narrowboat for seasonal or regular use, or you are making the jump to year-round canal living, there are many reasons for opting for the canal lifestyle.

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This handbook gives you a rundown of all the basics for narrow boating. It has the essential knowledge and techniques needed to boat as safely as possible, whilst enjoying yourself along the way!

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Zurich customers now help support the largest sea grass recovery operation in England to save vital seabed habitats around UK coasts, part of a new initiative with the Marine Conservation Society. Click to read more.

Lithium-ion batteries are viewed as more environmentally friendly than regular wet cell batteries. However, despite the environmental advantages, Lithium-ion batteries are still capable of increased fire risk... Read more.

Our landscapes are crisscrossed with almost 2,000 miles of canals, all asking to be explored, so the question that faces canal boat owners is which one will you pick? Click to read more

Boat fires can have the ability to spiral out of control very quickly and could easily result in the destruction of the vessel. Even fires that could be considered small, can cause considerable smoke and heat damage to your boat. This blog aims to inform you of the causes for common boat fires and advice on how to prevent them. 

As a narrowboater, there may come a time where your narrowboat takes on water, and in the event of this you may need to adjust the stern gland.

Narrowboat owners mostly use wet cell batteries on their boats, however as technology is improving they are now considering the others advantages of gel and AGM batteries.

Explaining the potential dangers with using portable generators on Narrowboats.

Many narrowboat and other rivercraft owners use solid fuel stoves to heat up their boat during the winter...

We offer boat breakdown cover to give boat owners real peace of mind when cruising on the inland waterways.

When purchasing a Narrowboat it is important to remember that you will require a Boat Safety Scheme certificate. Here are a few things you should keep in mind.

Top 5 Marinas we think are worth a visit when planning your next trip on your narrowboat.

In this article, we share why it’s important to keep your weed hatch clear of debris on your narrowboat.

Sharing our top tips on how to lower your narrowboat running costs.

If you’re a first-time narrowboat buyer then you should check out our useful thoughts and contacts to guide you through the buying process.

Before your next trip, be sure to check there are no signs of water inside your boat and that your oil levels are correct.

For those of you who have not yet had the chance to get out on your boat this year, we have put together a few tips on how to get your boat ready for the sunnier days.

In our guide, we cover all the elements of our comprehensive narrowboat insurance, so you can be sure it is the right cover for you and your boat.

Want to find out how to keep your boat well protected against the risk of theft? In this article, we outline the best ways to prevent this.

When you buy your first boat, all the considerations can be daunting but we're here to help with arranging the right insurance that meets your requirements. Take a look at our small boat insurance cover.

Are you a new narrowboat owner with unanswered questions on the inland waterways? 

If you're a narrowboat owner, check our list of services available to you on the inland waterways.

Top tips on how to handle a Narrowboat with access to courses to improve your knowledge. Our narrowboat insurance includes protection in the event of an accident.

Carrying out general boat maintenance is simple and could end up saving you a lot of money in the long run on potential call out charges. We've put together a list of useful equipment to keep on board and top tips on how to prevent a breakdown.

Here at Collidge & Partners we wanted to provide our clients with an interpretation on how to implement the government’s guidance on COVID-19 and as a boater.

There are a few considerations that you should bear in mind before starting to sell on the canal network.

Owning a wide beam can be tough when planning a trip as many inland waterways are not suitable for the size of these vessels.

Many boaters forget the importance of carrying out the relevant checks to prepare their boat before travelling on the inland waterways.

Sinking is a major risk and can leave boat owners with a hefty bill, not only for the cost of damage to their boat, but also the costs of recovering it from the waterway.

With the winter season just around the corner, you should start preparing your narrowboat for cold and sub-zero temperatures. Making all required arrangements for your narrowboat ahead of the winter season will avoid costly repair bills, unsafe trips and an uncomfortable stay.

For over 30 years, we have been looking after the insurance requirements of canal and rivercraft owners, delivering exceptional customer service and excellent value for money.