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Welcome to the HNBC

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Welcome to the HNBC

The Historic Narrow Boat Club was formed in 1966 and is a not-for-profit club dedicated to preserving the working heritage of UK canals, from the boats themselves to details of the waterways on which they travel.  We are passionate about working boats, traditional skills, the built heritage, and the practices and courtesies of the working boat people.

We are an active pressure group for navigational and waterway heritage interests and we welcome all who support our aims, whether boat owners or not.  By supporting the Club, you are helping to ensure that the UK’s canals retain their unique heritage value.

We hope you enjoy exploring this website.

13 December to 10 January is voting time for seats on CRT Council

Keep an eye out for voting details from Civica

Vote for HNBC members: Ian McCarthy (Volunteering), Eric McDowall (Private boating), Lucy Waldron (Business Boating)

Six good reasons to join us

  • Our quarterly newsletter, full of interesting articles.
  • Discount offers on boating equipment and services.
  • Access to the ever increasing wealth of information in our narrow boat register and archive.
  • Help and advice on historic craft maintenance through our members' forum
  • Small, sociable rallies.
  • Twice yearly members’ meetings – the AGM in March and the winter social in November, both with interesting speakers.

How to join

You can join us as an individual, joint or associate member.

Read more about how to join

 

 Newsletter

The Club's Newsletter is published quarterly. This is a high quality and lavishly illustrated colour publication with many fascinating features of interest to enthusiasts of historic boats.

Read "taster" Newsletter articles here. Back issues are available in limited quantities from the Club shop.

Why not join the club and get your copy hot off the press every quarter?

 Front cover of Newsletter 2023/4

Find historic boats...

Events   view all

Wed 10 January
HNBC Committee (Zoom)

This will be an ordinary committee meeting, by Zoom on a Wednesday evening.

Wed 24 January
HNBC Committee (Zoom)

The topic for this meeting will be the Keay and the Hemelryk Awards for 2023.

Sat 2 March
HNBC Committee

To be held at Whittington Village Hall, Whittington, nr Lichfield

Sat 2 March
HNBC AGM

To be held at Whittington Village Hall, Whittington, nr Lichfield

Club shop

Have you bought your copy yet?

   

Following on from the successful first volume of Mr Weaver’s photographs of the Birmingham Canal Navigations, HNBC has now published the promised second book.

This perfect-bound, soft back volume of 136 pages covers most of the other waterways of England and Wales, with 220 photographs taken by Mr Weaver between 1950 and 1982.

 

£12.00  plus p&p

 

 

 

Our Club Shop always has an range of interesting products available through our mail order service. Please browse the various categories using the links below

Blank Cards  -  Christmas Cards  -  Club plaques  -  Maps and books

Navigation issues

It is so important to tell C&RT, and us, if you get stuck on the waterways.

C&RT's general contact phone number is 03030 40 40 40, their emergencies number is 0800 479 9947, or you can use their Contact Form. 

C&RT Region by Region - a list of email contacts, and a map of 2019 Regions, is here.

Please let us know too so that we can chase it up. 

Here is our pinchpoints form, or you can email navigation@hnbc.org.uk

DON'T JUST SORT IT, REPORT IT

Thank you!

Latest stories   view all

Chasing the Boats
The HNBC's annual Social will be on Saturday 18 November 2023 when our guest speaker will be Kev Maslin.
 
Kev is a Black Country lad, currently based in Tipton at the heart of the West Midlands canal network. A former photojournalist, he has been promoting and documenting the UK inland waterways for around 35 years. He specialises in photographing historic narrow boats and the people who lovingly maintain them for work and pleasure.
 
Easter Boat Gathering Celebrations at the National Waterways Museum

From Good Friday 7th April to Bank Holiday Monday 10th April 2022 

Following last year’s successful Easter Boat Gathering event where we were able to enjoy good weather and meet up with friends after the two-year imposed break due to the pandemic, we are pleased to say planning is in full swing for this year and we look forward to seeing you all again. 

HNBC CELEBRATES CAPITAL SUCCESS

London’s Limehouse Cut had a slightly different look to it at the end of May 2022 when 31 historic boats came together for one of the HNBC’s ‘campaigning’ gatherings. Like Brownhills and Hebden Bridge in previous years, the London event had the dual purpose of shining a light on a less frequently boated or lesser appreciated part of the system while showcasing historic boating to the general public

Red diesel for boats

The government published its response on 3 March 2021 to its consultation on the use of red diesel. The good news for boaters in mainland UK waters is contained in paragraphs 4.6 and 4.7, different rules apply for Northern Ireland:

4.6 Following consultation, the government has decided to maintain the entitlement to use red diesel beyond April 2022 for all commercial boat operating industries, including but not limited to the fishing and inland water freight industries. 

Recent updates   view all