Our aims
- To encourage the preservation, restoration and use of working and ex-working narrow boats*.
- To promote the maintenance of the waterways system to a standard suitable to facilitate the navigation of such boats throughout the year.
- To represent the interests of the users of such boats in their dealings with all waterway authorities and other relevant organisations.
- To promote awareness of historic narrow boats through an archive, website, newsletter and other activities.
- To promote and campaign for the retention and/or reinstatement of appropriate traditional and historical waterway furniture, features and working practices.
* working and ex-working canal narrow boats, those being cargo carrying, towing, ice breaking, maintenance or official inspection craft originally built prior to 1965.
Our constitution
Read it here.
Our history
The Club was formed at the 1966 Inland Waterways Association (IWA) National Rally of Boats at Marple, and is one of the oldest inland waterway boat clubs. Originally called the Narrow Boat Owners Club (NBOC), in 1989 it added Historic to its official name. In 2012 the name changed again, to Historic Narrow Boat Club. We are a national boat club, dedicated to preserving the working heritage of our canal system, from the boats themselves to details of the waterways on which they travel.
Traditional cargo-carrying narrow boats are the largest craft designed for the narrow canal network and are often the first to pinpoint navigation problems relating to draft or beam. As an active pressure group for navigational and heritage interests, we draw attention to these issues so that maintenance can be carried out before the situation worsens to the detriment of all - boaters, anglers or other users.
Our logo
The shape of the Club's logo reminds us of the water on which we all depend. Water supply, depth and navigability have always been fundamental issues throughout the Club's existence.
Our database of existing narrow boats
We have an extensive archive of details about historic narrow boats, and we are always pleased to add more information. If you have some research that you would like to add, or are seeking help about a boat, please get in touch with our Archivist on the contact link at the foot of the page, we'd be delighted to hear from you.
Our calendar of events
If you would like to see historic boats on display, take a look at our calendar to see when events are being held - they may not be organised by us, but our members take their boats to many of them.
We also organise our own events which are generally free to enter, and we welcome boaters and non-boaters alike. Come along and chat - we love talking about our boats!
Our fund raising and donations to good causes
We do not give grants to individual boats, but we do donate to causes such as:
Foxton Inclined Plane Trust (link is external)
IWA Chester (link is external) to help with their River Dee campaign
IWA (link is external)'s Inglesham Lock appeal
Lichfield & Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust (link is external)
Montgomery Waterway Restoration Trust (link is external)
Shrewsbury & Newport Canals Trust (link is external)
Waterway Recovery Group (link is external) (WRG)