Association of waterways cruising clubs

An affiliated group of boat clubs offering their members mutual facilities relating to boating on the inland waterways of England and Wales.

BRitish Marine

Trade body for the UK leisure, superyacht and small commercial marine industry, representing 1400+ member businesses, through regional and group specific member associations which include:

• British Marine’s Inland Boating Association with over 100 independent companies offering river and canal holidays on hire boats, hotel boats, plus passenger trip boats and business services
• British Marine’s Passenger Boat Association representing all sectors of the passenger boat industry, including scheduled transport services, pleasure trips, private & business hire
• The Broads Hire Boat Federation including operators of holiday hire cruisers and day-hire craft on the Norfolk Broads
• British Marine’s London and Thames Valley Regional Association which has over 250 members, of which over 80 operate their business alongside the non-tidal and tidal River Thames
• The Yacht Harbour Association, representing marina and mooring operators, boatyards, professionals, consultants and suppliers of equipment and services to the marina industry, both in the UK and overseas

inland waterways association

The only independent, national charity dedicated to supporting and regenerating Britain’s navigable rivers and canals as places for leisure, living and business.

National Association of Boat Owners

Listening to boat owners, speaking out for boat owners, representing boat owners.

Royal Yachting Association

The national governing body for dinghy, motor and sail cruising, all forms of sail racing, RIBs and sportsboats, windsurfing and personal watercraft, and a leading representative body for inland waterways cruising in the UK.

ABNB

ABNB has been trading since 1995 and we are known throughout the Inland Waterways for the high quality of the information we provide about each boat.  Our brochures are unrivalled and our small, professional team have a wealth of knowledge. We are based at North Kilworth Marina

Accessible waterways association

Set up to inform, represent, and assist people who live with disabilities, impairments or accessibility issues, and who want to enjoy the Inland Waterways and their surrounding environments.

Activity Alliance

Pushes for inclusion to be at the heart of all plans in sport and activity and disabled people to be prioritised, locally and nationally.

ANDY’s BOAT MOVES

Boat relocations and tuition for new or inexperienced boaters

Angling Trust

A not-for-profit, membership organisation, recognised by Government as the National Governing Body for Angling.

Aqueduct Marina

An award-winning, 5 Gold Anchor, Clean Marina accredited narrowboat marina. Based on one of the best locations in the country on the Middlewich Branch of the Shropshire Union Canal in Church Minshull. We are a full-service marina with a busy boat yard, brokerage caravan site and cafe.

AsHBY CANAL Trust

The Trust is constituted to assist the maintenance of restored lengths of the Ashby Canal and support further restoration of the Ashby Canal from Snarestone to Moira.

Association of Nene River Clubs

Represents the boat clubs on the River Nene and on the Middle Levels.

Aylesbury Canal Society

The Aylesbury Canal Society has been promoting the use of and providing moorings on the Aylesbury Arm of the Grand Union Canal for over 50 years. The Society and its members have always been involved in waterways campaigning, which is needed today as much as it was back in the 1970s when ACS was formed.

Basingstoke Canal Society

Working to secure an environmentally sustainable long term future of the Basingstoke Canal for the benefit of its users and the community.

Bedford & Milton Keynes Waterway Trust

The Bedford and Milton Keynes Waterway Park will establish a new blue/green multi-use parkland corridor and navigable waterway linking the Grand Union Canal in Milton Keynes with the River Great Ouse in Bedford.

BIRMINGHAM AND MIDLAND MARINE SERVICES

Providing inland and open water marine support, Including commercial vessels, safety, rescue & support, safety / rescue teams and training

BIRMINGHAM CANAL NAVIGATIONS SOCIETY

The Birmingham Canal Navigations Society, works very hard to achieve the goals that it set itself when formed in 1967:
To conserve the 250 years old canal system, to improve the status of the canal, to educate about the historic and ecological importance of our canals and to encourage the use of the canals.

Boaters Christian FELLOWSHIP

The Boaters’ Christian Fellowship is a group of Christians from all denominations who appreciate the Inland Waterways.

Bradley Canal Restoration Society

A local canal restoration society striving to bring back to life the infilled section of the Bradley Canal, in the heart of the Black Country.

Braunston Marina

A major centre for leisure craft and narrowboats at the crossroads of the Grand Union and Oxford Canals.

british canoeing

The national governing body for paddlesports in the UK.

British Rowing

The governing body for the sport of rowing (both indoor rowing and rowing on water). We are committed to ensuring that the sport continues to thrive from the grassroots right up to winning medals at the Olympic and Paralympic Games. We are responsible for participation and the development of rowing and indoor rowing in England and for the training and selection of individual rowers and crews representing Great Britain.

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BROADS SOCIETY

The voice of the Broads’ community, ensuring leisure, tourism, and local economy flourish alongside the natural beauty of this unique, protected landscape

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BUCKINGHAM CANAL SOCIETY

The Society aims to promote the restoration of the Old Stratford and Buckingham Arms of the Grand Union Canal to full navigable order.

Burton Waters Boat Club

A Boat Club on the Foossdyke whose members work together as a group to give mutual assistance in training, cruising, purchasing and much more.

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CALDON and Uttoxeter CANALS TRUST

Aims to restore, preserve, maintain in good order and improve the existing Caldon Canal (Staffordshire) and all former arms of the Caldon Canal including the branch known as the Uttoxeter Canal for the use and benefit of the public

CANAL MUSEUM TRUST

The Canal Museum Trust is the governing body of the London Canal Museum and aims to advance public education in the history and use of inland waterways by the preservation and display for the benefit of the public objects and other material of historical or other interest associated with inland waterways.

CHASING THE BOATS

Waterways, Historic Boats, Landscapes, Cityscapes, People. Guided photo walks a speciality.

Chesterfield Canal Trust

Working to promote the full restoration and appropriate development of the Chesterfield Canal, and to campaign for the construction of the Rother Valley Link, a navigable waterway to join the Chesterfield Canal to the Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

Commercial Boat Operators Association

The prime trade organisation involved in the effort to sustain and increase freight carriage on our waterways for economic and environmental reasons.

Coombeswood CANAL TRUST

Coombeswood Canal Trust exists to promote the use of and extend the navigation of the Dudley Number 2 Canal.

Cotswold CANALs trust

The Cotswold Canals Trust is a charity run by volunteers with the objective to preserve, maintain and improve canals, navigable rivers and inland waterways for the use of the public with the objective to restore the canals from Saul Junction at the western end to Lechlade in the east so linking the two great rivers of Thames and Severn.

Cotswold CANALS CRUISING CLUB

An online based cruising club with members from across the country

Court Above The Cut

A YouTube channel specialising in canal restoration offering drone footage and 360 footage on various restorations across the UK. We show a little history in as well to immerse you in the canal and the reasons it was built.

Coventry CANAL SOCIETY

The prime objective of the Society is to promote and encourage in all possible ways the proper use and maintenance of the Coventry Canal and connecting waterways.

CUTWEB

Cutweb Internet Boating Club is a virtual club with members dispersed across the country

DANIEL ADAMSON PRESERVATION SOCIETY

The Danny is an 120 year old steamship, No 15 on the National Historic Ships register and a regular user of the inland waterways.

DBA – The Barge Association

The club for people interested in leisure and liveaboard barging on the inland waterways of UK and Europe.

DUDLEY CANAL & Tunnel TRUST

Dudley Canal and Tunnel Trust is an Educational Charitable Trust dedicated to protecting the underground caverns, tunnels and canals located in the heart of Dudley and Tipton.  Our mission is to engage and educate the widest possible audience with the unique environment, the waterways, the history, technological advances and the people’s stories associated with the area.  

Dunstable & District Boat Club

Founded in 1964 and became a Founder Member of the Association of Waterway Cruising Clubs. The club exists to promote and facilitate motor boating on the inland waterways.

Electric BOAT ASSOCIATION

The EBA champions the interests of electric boat owners, and helps with issues such as waterway access, charging points, slipway facilities, reduced licence fees and the Boat Safety Scheme.

ENGLISH HOLIDAY CRUISES LTD

Cruise Holiday Operator and Principle, with associated land tours, flights and hotel accommodation, currently in England and France

erewash cAnal Preservation and DEVELOPMENT SOCIETY

We are continually working with CRT on the Erewash to maintain and improve the canal, to ensure that visiting boaters, walkers, canoeists, paddle boarders, dog walkers (to name but a few) all have an enjoyable experience.

ECP&DA prevented the canal being abandoned in the late 60’s and has worked tirelessly since to ensure that what could have become a backwater remains navigable and accessible for walkers.

Foxhangers

An established boatyard and hire fleet in Wiltshire employing approx. 35 people and providing 12,000 visitor nights each year, grown since its founding in 1997 following the restoration of the Kennet & Avon Canal.

Fox Narrowboats

A long-established family business operating a marina in March in Cambridgeshire, providing narrowboat and day boat hire, and curating a comprehensive blog about Fenland waterways.

Foxhangers

An established boatyard and hire fleet in Wiltshire employing approx. 35 people and providing 12,000 visitor nights each year, grown since its founding in 1997 following the restoration of the Kennet & Avon Canal.

Friends of Exeter Ship Canal

Working to conserve and improve the historic Canal, its waterfront and its wider environment from the Canal Basin to the Exe Estuary for everyone to enjoy now and in the future.

Friends of Grand Union Canal

Launched in August 2020 in the midst of endless lock downs,  we still were able to run small  cleanups along the canal.  Our plan was to have local people look after the part of the canal closest to them, and it worked!    We now regularly  clean  the canal within the London Boroughs of Brent,  Ealing and Hillingdon.  Whilst there are still a few litter hot spots, it’s been very encouraging to see casual littering reduce significantly.

Fund Gloucester’s Waterways

To encourage additional funding for the Gloucestershire Waterways from Government.

GPS Marine Contractors Ltd

GPS Marine routinely transports over 1m tonnes of freight annually on the Rivers Thames and Medway.

Great Ouse Boating Association

Representing boaters on the rivers Great Ouse, Cam, Lark, Little Ouse, Wissey and associated East Anglian waterways of England. 

Historic Narrow Boat Club 

A not-for-profit national club dedicated to preserving the working heritage of UK canals, from the boats themselves to details of the waterways on which they travel.

Herefordshire & Gloucestershire Canal Trust

The Herefordshire and Gloucestershire Canal Trust are working to restore the canal from Over next to the River Severn just north of the A40 at Gloucester to Hereford going via Newent and Ledbury.

HERITAGE ALLIANCE

A membership body, which represents the independent heritage movement in England.

HILLINGDON CANAL PARTNERSHIP

The partnership brings together a wide range of groups in the London Borough of Hillingdon. All groups represented are committed to protecting the canal, achieving improvements in local facilities and promoting greater community involvement.

HUDDERSFIELD CANAL SOCIETY

The Huddersfield Canal Society formed in 1974 and pioneered the restoration of the 20 mile-long heavily-locked Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

InLAND WATERWAYS international

IWI brings together organisations and people who support the conservation, use, development and proper management of inland waterways worldwide.

Kennet & Avon Canal Trust

The charity that restored the Kennet & Avon Canal which runs from Bristol to Reading and now operates 9 trip boats, including 4 for disabled passengers, and the world famous and fully operational Crofton Pumping Station.

Kennet & Avon Trade Association

A local trade association for businesses operating on the Kennet & Avon Canal.

Lancaster canal TRUST

A charity aiming to reopen the Lancaster Canal from Tewitfield locks to Kendal.

LAPAL CANAL TRUST

The Trust’s objective is to make people aware of the Dudley No2 canal and its restoration. We believe that our canal heritage should be preserved for future generations to enjoy

Leeds and liverpool canal society

The Society was formed in 1997 by a small group of people who had the Canal and its heritage at heart and wanted to ensure that knowledge of all aspects of the canal was retained and passed on to future generations.

LEWES ROWING CLUB

Lewes Rowing Club has provided members with the facilities for recreational use of the River Ouse since Victorian times. We are a small boating club with members who sail, motor, canoe or row on the river – or out to sea. As a club we are concerned for the future of the Ouse and have joined several local organisations working to protect the river and campaign for river rights. Members will train as river rangers, recording information relating to the health of the river

Lichfield & Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust

Our aim is to restore, rebuild and reconnect the Lichfield and Hatherton Canals to the national network and make them available for navigation and meanwhile to create a green and blue corridor available for our communities to enjoy.

Lichfield CRUISING CLUB

A cruising club situated at Huddlesford Junction on the Coventry Canal, with approximately 165 members and 90 boats moored.

LIONHEARTS CRUSING CLUB

A canal boat club based in Great Linford on the Grand Union Canal, in Milton Keynes  with the aims of promoting and facilitating boating on our canals and rivers.

Littlebury Training

An RYA Training Centre based in Stourport-on-Severn.

Lowland Canals Association 

Aiming to promote the interests and well-being of boaters and other users of the lowland canals.

Mactra marine

Mactra Marine are specialists in desalination, they are the exclusive distributor for Schenker Watermakers. They are also sole distributor for Superwind micro turbines and the leisure dealer for PowerUP hydrogen fuel cells.

Maidenhead Waterway Restoration GROUP

The partially restored Maidenhead waterways are now a key green and blue corridor through the heart of town, for the benefit of all who live, work or spend their leisure time here. Stabilising the channels and water levels throughout has also vastly improved the habitats, with for the first time full aquatic connectivity for the increasingly abundant wildlife.

Manchester BOLTON AND BURY CANAL SOCIETY

The Society’s objectives are to restore, reconstruct, preserve, maintain and improve the Manchester Bolton & Bury Canal from Nob End, Little Lever to the River Irwell in Salford, to Church Wharf in Bolton, and to Bury Bridges in Bury.

Mercia Marina

Mercia Marina is a 637 berth marina on the Trent & Mersey Canal with holiday homes, shops, cafes and restaurants.

Medway River Users Association

The purpose of the Medway River Users Association (MRUA) is to bring all river users together, working in collaboration to the benefit of all users.

Monmouthshire, Brecon and Abergavenny Canals Trust

The Monmouthshire, Brecon and Abergavenny Canals Trust is a South East Wales based charity actively working with local councils, Glandwr Cymru (the Canal and River Trust in Wales) and other partners to improve and sustainably restore the Mon and Brec Canal.

Montgomery CANAL

The Montgomery Waterway Restoration Trust promotes the restoration of the Montgomery Canal from Welsh Frankton in Shropshire to Newtown in Powys and its branches. The Friends of the Montgomery Canal is the membership section of the Trust which provides information and allows people to get involved with activities along the course of the canal.

Narrowboat Day Hire

Narrowboat Day Hire provides narrowboats for hire at Cow Roast Marina on the Grand Union Canal, close to Berkhampstead and Tring.

The Narrow Boat Trust

Working to restore and preserve canal narrow boats and canal craft or all descriptions for the benefit of the public and where possible the use of such boats in commercial canal carrying.

National Inland Navigation Forum

A forum bringing together organisations with inland navigational interests.

Neath and TENNANT CANAL TRUST

Preserving and promoting the regeneration of the Neath & Tennant Canals since 1974.

Newbury Boat Company

A family-run marina within a Site of Special Scientific Interest on the Kennet & Avon Canal in Newbury.

Norbury Wharf

Located at the heart of the Shropshire Union Canal at Norbury Junction. Offering full boat yard facilities and hire boats all year round.

NORTHern CANALs ASSOCIATION

The Northern Canals Association is an independent “informal meeting place for waterway restoration”. Formed in 1991, its main purpose is to arrange two or three meetings during the year. At the moment the NCA has 135 members representing 60 different organisations.

OLD UNION CANALs SOCIETY

The Society was formed in 1964 to promote all aspects of canals, but with particular interest in the “Old Union Canals” between West Bridge in Leicester and Norton Junction near Daventry. The Society campaigned through the 1960’s to save these waterways from threatened closure and is now preparing to save them again.

Open SPACES SOCIETY

The Open Spaces Society is Britain’s oldest national conservation body, founded in 1865. The charity campaigns for stronger protection and opportunities for everyone to enjoy commons, greens and paths.

ORTOMARINE

Ortomarine are one of the UK’s leading electric hybrid narrowboat builders. Their goal is to build environmentally friendly boats that both significantly reduce the vessel’s “carbon footprint” and create a quieter, cleaner and more natural boating experience on the UK’s treasured inland waterways

Pocklington Canal Amenity Society

Formed in 1969 to protect and restore the Pocklington Canal in East Yorkshire.  The Society has some 350 members and its aims are to maintain and restore the canal as a navigable waterway and to raise awareness of its heritage and wildlife for everyone to enjoy.

Residential Boat Owners’ Association 

The only national organisation which exclusively represents and promotes the interests of people living on boats in the British Isles.

RICKMANSWORTH waterways trust

We are a Heritage Education Charity bringing together people from across our community with a love for the canals around Rickmansworth. We present education programmes; conserve the historic canal boat Roger for operational use; have organised the Rickmansworth Festival from 1993 to 2023; operate a shop and information centre at Batchworth Lock; run short boat trips and longer charters. We also have an adoption agreement with the Canal and River Trust for the stretch of the Grand Union Canal between Batchworth and Stockers Locks

RIPON MOTOR BOAT CLUB

Ripon Motor Boat Club (RMBC) has been offering a warm welcome and affordable family boating to its members since it was established back in 1931. While their primary focus is on actively promoting the joys of boating, they’re also extremely proud of the community they’ve created – with their member-run, co-operative approach and excellent facilities providing a superb social element to the club.

River Thames Society

A charity formed in 1962 to help look after the Thames, for its protection and promotion from the source to the sea.

RIVER WEAVER NAVIGATION SOCIETY

A society dedicated to preserving, protecting and improving the River Weaver, from Winsford to its confluence with the Manchester Ship Canal.

RoAM AND ROOST CANAL BOAT HOLIDAYS

We help people find a canal boat holiday. Working with multiple independent hire companies across England and Wales and with various fantastic options across the network, we are on hand to guide holidaymakers towards a choice that would best suit their crew, experience, requirements and budget.

Roving Canal Traders Association 

A non-profit making organisation run to help support and promote the diverse array of existing and potential Canal & River Trust registered Roving Traders on our waterways.

Royal Yachting Association (Scotland)

The recognised governing body in Scotland for all forms of recreational, competitive and professional boating. We represent the interests of a diverse boating community including dinghy and yacht racing, windsurfing, motor and sail cruising, RIBs and sports boats, inland cruising and personal watercraft. Boating takes place in a variety of locations from inland waterways, reservoirs and lochs to rivers, estuaries, coastal areas and oceans.

Russell Newbery Register

Started as an owners & enthusiasts club and formed to promote and preserve a valuable piece of Britain’s Industrial and Canal heritage & history.

SANKEY CANAL Restoration Society

The Sankey Canal Restoration Society aims to restore the length of the Sankey Canal.

Saul junction boat OWNERS club (SJBOC)

SJBOC are a small club of narrowboat and cruiser owners with a couple of historic boats in our membership. We are based on a short ‘in water’ stretch of the Stroudwater Navigation near the western end at Saul Junction where it joins the Gloucester Sharpness canal .

Shire Cruisers

A hire fleet and boatyard which helps customers to explore the Pennine canals and Yorkshire navigations.

Shrewsbury & Newport Canals Trust

Working to restore the Shrewsbury & Newport Canals.

Shropshire Union Canal Society

The Shropshire Union Canal Society has worked to maintain, improve and restore the Shropshire Union Canal network for over 50 years. The society’s activities include restoration work to open up the dry section of the Montgomery Canal in Shropshire, enhancement and maintenance work centred on Ellesmere on the Llangollen Canal, and bringing knowledge of the SU system to a wider audience through talks and guided walks.

SPRINGLEA CRUISING CLUB

Springlea Cruising Club is a member’s club for berthholders at Springfield Marina

Stafford Boat Club Ltd

Stafford Boat Club, based on the Staffs & Worcs Canal, is now celebrating it’s 60th year and has superb facilities for providing DIY services to it’s 40+ mooring members including a slipway for hull blacking etc and a covered wet dock for boat painting.

staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal society

The Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal Society is one of the oldest established and most esteemed canal societies in the country, serving to safeguard, promote and develop the interests of the Staffordshire & Worcestershire canal for the benefit of everyone.

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Stoke bruerne canal PARTnership

To protect and enhance the built heritage and natural environment along the Grand Union Canal corridor within Stoke Bruerne parish.

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Strawberry Island Boat Club

SIBC is based on the Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation with some 250 members and 130 moorings, boat lift and recently refurbished clubhouse. SIBC is a participation club and as such members continue to develop and improve the amenities.

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St Pancras Cruising Club

A members’ club based in Camden that exists to promote pleasure cruising on UK inland waterways and to provide facilities for its members and others.

Thames AND MEDWAY CANAL SOCIETY  

A charity formed in 1984 with the primary aim of restoring the Thames and Medway Canal. We improve both the canal and immediate area for the benefit of both the wildlife and the public

Thames MotorBoaters Association 

Representing owners of powered craft registered on the non-tidal Thames.

The Angling Trades Association

The ATA represents angling manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, fisheries, publishers and distributors.  The Association counts amongst its members a majority of the UK’s major angling suppliers, as well as leading retailers, fisheries and publishers.  We are the voice of the British Tackle Industry.  Our aim is to protect, represent & promote the angling trade.

The Baldwin Trust

A small charity based in Leicestershire who provide therapeutic narrowboat cruises on Leicestershire waterways.  With over 40 years of service to the community, in a typical season the Baldwin Trust gives over 2000 people, many of whom have mobility and other challenges, a very enjoyable day out on the water.

The Boating Association

Set up over 70 years ago to promote co-operation and comradeship between all river users and all associated waterways, to ensure the extension, development and improvement of these waterways and of their facilities and amenities so as to make the waterways safer and more pleasant.

The Friends of The Canal Museum

A volunteer group and registered charity set up in 2006 to support The Canal Museum at Stoke Bruerne.

Tooleys BOATYARD

Tooley’s Boatyard Trust exists to ensure that the oldest continually working boatyard on Britain’s inland waterways, Tooley’s of Banbury, is kept as a historic working yard for the benefit of all narrowboat enthusiasts, and the wider public.

Torksey Yacht Club

A small club based at the junction of the Fossdyke Navigation and the River Trent at the ancient village of Torksey.

Trent and Mersey Canal Society

Founded in 1974 when Harecastle Tunnel was closed, and repairs looked unlikely. Later we fought for the repair and re-opening of Anderton Boat Lift.

TrentLink

A discussion Group of 1,600 cruising boaters of narrow boats to seagoing cruisers with a particular interest in the safe navigation of the tidal River Trent that links the “East Midlands” and “Yorkshire and North East” CRT Regions.

Waterways Chaplaincy

The Waterways Chaplaincy offers wide ranging support to those who use and live on the UK’s waterways and canals.  Our chaplains share in both the good times and the bad, with people of all faiths and none.

Waterways Experiences

We are an all-volunteer charity operating three canal boats from a beautifully landscaped boat base on the Grand Union Canal near Hemel Hempstead in Hertfordshire. We enable everyone, regardless of age, physical ability or social disadvantage to experience the fun and the beauty of our waterways.

Wendover Canal Trust

Bringing the Wendover Canal to life, by rebuilding and relining the canal, increasing biodiversity and attracting more people to enjoy our ever-improving green corridor and improve their wellbeing.

Wey & Arun Canal Trust

Working to restore the inland waterway from the River Wey to the River Arun, conserving and enhancing the natural environment of the canal corridor.

Whitchurch Waterway Trust

Caring For the Whitchurch Arm of the Llangollen Canal

Wilts & Berks Canal Trust

The UK’s largest canal restoration project – 72 miles from the Kennet & Avon Canal near Melksham in Wiltshire via Swindon to the River Thames Abingdon in Oxfordshire – estimated to deliver £50m economic benefit annually and £150m wellbeing benefit annually, when complete.

York Motor Yacht Club

Our members all have a common interest in motorboating and our club house provides a superb riverside location for our various boating and social activities. We have an active social programme throughout the boating season from April until November each year.

Your Helmsman

A boat mover, helm instructor and boating coach.