Frequently Asked Questions

Does my boat need a CRT license to be moved by Navigation Boat Movers?

No, Navigation Boat Movers holds a business license with the CRT (Canal & River Trust), this enables us to place trade plates on your boat for the duration of the boat being under our control and our responsibility. So if your boat is not licensed, we can still move it.

However, when we leave your boat we take our trade plates with us, therefore the boat may be required to be licensed for the place it is to be delivered to. This may also apply to marinas on CRT-managed waterways.

The boat may also need licenses for other waterways not covered by the CRT boat license. Please contact us at Navigation Boat Movers for more advice on this.

Does my boat need to be insured?

We at Navigation Boat Movers do have Public Liability Insurance, this covers Navigation Boat Movers for legal liabilty for third parties; injury to any person, loss or damage to any property.

However, we ask that the boat owner has adequate boat insurance applied to the boat as required by the Canal & River Trust to be able to acquire a boat license. Your own insurance will cover your boat for other misfortunes that can happen that Navigation Boat Movers would not, or could not, be held accountable or liable for.

Please click this link for our public liability summary of cover for more details.

Also, this would mean that once Navigation Boat Movers have left your boat at a destination, the boat will be covered by your insurance. Please also check your boat has the correct license for the waterway it is to be left on, if you are not sure about any of this above please feel free to contact us for more advice.

How long will the boat move take?

The time it takes is approximately calculated as the length of the canal journey in miles, then add the total number of locks, and finally, divide this total by three and this will give an approximation of the total time required. This is then split up as an average of 7 hours a day moving. This time scale can vary depending on the weather, light conditions, other waterways users, etc. We use CanalPlanAC to help plan any route for a boat move, feel free to check for yourself how long it can be expected to take as a guide.

How much will it cost?

All quotes given by Navigation Boat Movers for the pricing of a boat move are tailor-made for the requirements of the move, and to best meet your expectations. All quotes are negotiable, as we want to provide you with the best service we can give for a fair price.

When planning your requested boat move, Navigation Boat Movers use CanalPlanAC to calculate the route and time required, this forms the guidelines for the movement of your boat. This normally equates to an average of seven hours of travel per day depending on the time of year and the conditions, or any other agreement between Navigation Boat Movers and you the customer.

We use the predicted time the boat move will take in hours, given by CanalPlanAC, along with other factors including; how many crew would be required, the travel expenses for the crew to get to and from the start and end of a boat move, and food expenses, then all of this is then factored into any quote created by Navigation Boat Movers for any potential boat move.

Any quote for a boat move given would not include additional costs for the boat that may and can arise during the move of the boat, including consumables such as fuel or oil, or nightly mooring fees, these will be added to the final invoice to the customer at the end of the boat move. Any possible additional costs that may arise during a boat move will be discussed with the customer where possible before any purchase.

Please use the contact page of our website and message us with the details of your required boat move and we will reply as soon as possible with a no-commitment quote for the boat move. All we ask if you are happy and wish to proceed, is for a 30% deposit of the quote to book and confirm the dates required.

Where are you based?

We are currently based near Derby but are able to travel to any destination within the Inland Waterways of England.

Can I stay on the boat when it is being moved?

Yes, you can! It is your boat and if you wish to remain on board during the move, no problem! Please inform Navigation Boat Movers if this is your intention as this may require alternative arrangements for the skipper/crew.

Do I need to be there at the handover?

Whilst it is preferred that the boat owner is present at handover, alternative arrangements can be made with consultation with Navigation Boat Movers. 

Can you fix my boat if it breaks down?

For minor faults and general maintenance, we can help, but if a breakdown occurs, we at Navigation Boat Movers will contact the client to inform you of the problem and how best it can be resolved either by an external engineer or by using your breakdown cover.

Do you offer a boat towing service?

We do not offer a boat towing service or boat recovery.

Can my pet stay on the boat while you are moving it?

Your pet may stay on board but only if accompanied by and under the control of a person responsible for the animal. Navigation Boat Movers cannot accept responsibility for any animals or pets on board the boat.