We provide comprehensive wide-beam training. This is given during an extended and very thorough handover when we show you through Merryweather and teach you how to steer her, operate locks, swing bridges etc. We also show you the basics of engine maintenance and go through your planned route to help explain any particular locations where knowledge is power! When you book with us we send you our hirers’ manual and an on-board inventory. We also recommend these excellent publication The Boater’s Handbook and a film Boater’s Handbook DVD by the Canal and Rivers Trust for additional information. These publications provide excellent information for all canal users, especially if you are hiring a boat for the first time or setting out with a boat on your own.

Burbage Wharf SN8 3BJ on the A 346 around 3 miles south of Marlborough.

Please note that this is a gated locked site so you do need to book to visit - there is no open access to our wharf.

Please click on our Routes Section for Merryweather’s cruising range.

Famous places include Windsor, Warwick, Bath, Oxford, London, Henley, Bristol….and loads of really beautiful out of the way rural moorings, pubs and villages!

The Canals and Rivers are generally open for navigation from March to October. In the other months the navigation authorities may carry out lcok or bank repairs which require a section of waterway to be closed - but usually there is plenty of crusing if you plan around these.

Remember that rivers such as the Thames can suffer from flooding and thus be closed to navigation. This is unusual in the main boating season but don’t over plan just in case such a weather event changes things….

When planning your route please remember that the maximum speed on the canal is 4 mph (a brisk walking pace), but in practice, you travel at a speed that does not create a breaking wash and you slow down to tick-over speed when passing moored boats. If you allow an average speed of 3 mph then add 15 minutes for each lock and swing bridge, you can thus calculate how far you can travel.

STOPPAGES and NAVIGATION RESTRICTIONS:

As with any working historic system sometimes tbreakdowns or damage occurs and the relevant navigation authority may need to carry out emergency repairs on sections of the canal or locks. We will make you aware as soon as possible to help your planning if this is before your start date - but once crusing you will need to sign up to the stoppage alerts system to keep abreast of any emergencies whilst you are out cruising. We’ll brief you on this upon arrival.

You have gated private parking at Burbage Wharf for one vehicle included in the price - your vehicle can remain for as long as you hire Merryweather

There is also space for a car to be parked at the Wharf for the duration of your hire but, as is customary, we cannot accept any liability or repsonsibility for the vehicle or its contents whilst so parked.

You should have all that you will need, from diesel and gas, to a well equipped kitchen with fridge and freezer, washing machine, smart TV, multifuel stove, gas cooker, pots & pans, tea pot and cafetière, cutlery, crockery and glasses, bedding and towels. A first aid kit is also kept on board.

Here are some useful suggestions:

Clothes: casual, some warm, and mostly comfortable depending on the time of year. The master cabin has a large wardrobe with copious hanging space as well as an ironing board and iron. Just think about what you would normally wear when going out whther just to a pub or to a theatre/ upmarket restaurant along your route AND that you are on an outdoor holiday.

We suggest waterproofs (coat and possibly trousers), an umbrella or rain hat, a sun hat and layers of clothing to cope with all weathers so that your holiday isn’t spoilt by being under-prepared.

Footwear: Walking boots or wellies, deck/non slip comfy shoes, and slippers for indoors (the tow-path can become very muddy in wet weather and we’d like you to have comfy cosy feet onboard!).

Insect repellent and sun cream… and after-sun: The sun is stronger when you are on the water.

Torches: You may go to the pub in daylight but it might be dark when you return.

Board games and cards: Why not forget the telly and tablets – play games instead.

Books and magazines: Canals are excellent places to relax with a good book.

Media. Our smart TV allows for anything from old school DVDs and USB downloads, to your bringing your own dongle to allow for downloads (always subject to reception!) We do not include wifi in the hire fee as so many people have so mnay sifferent ways they can connect to the wider world these days!

Whilst there is a washing machine aboard with a spin function, there is no dryer as such but we do provide a clothes horse to air dry clothes, and there are radiators too. Please remember that the washing machine is a devourer of elctricity/battery power and should be used sparingly i.e once every other day, or so.

Because your route is very rural, there are very few canal side shops. We strongly recommend that you set off well stocked.

You can bring your supplies with you, or use the local supermarkets nearby in Marlborough. Alternatively we are happy for you to book an online delivery to Burbage Wharf , but please ensure the delivery is due once you are here (you DO need to be there to receive it).

Many people make good use of the great pubs along or near the canal, but the kitchen has ample storage, with a standard under counter fridge and seperate freezer.

We provide buoyancy aids for all crew due to the likelihood of your cruising on rivers. this includes foe under 16’s right down to 2yr olds but we do need to know the age and approx size of all children in advance to ensure we have the right sized equipment available for you. There is space aboard Merryweather for you to bring a crib/ travel cot, so parents with a young child are entirely welcome!

Doors can be locked at front and back to keep very young children safe indoors. The stern deck is fully enclosed by a solid taffrails and there are two gates to allow access on/off either side of the boat right by the steering position.

Merryweather is solid-floored in the living area with rugs so your pet is welcome but, please, no pets in the carpeted master bedroom. Please also bear in mind you may need to bring something for your pet to sleep on and that we would expect the boat to be left just as clean as when you boarded. We do make an extra charge for any work involved in clearing up pet hairs on carpets or beds, mess, or any scratch/chew damage.

We are fully insured with public liability of up to £5 Million. We do not provide cancellation insurance, so you may wish to take out your own holiday insurance to cover cancellation, personal accident and loss of personal effects. Please read our Terms & Conditions carefully – insurance does NOT cover any damage caused to the sterngear or driveline by ropes falling around the propellor or by the boat being ‘cilled’ in a lock i.e rudder bent/ broken.

No, we are too small to offer this facility and take payments only directly by BACS or International Money Transfer. Our many hirers over the years have not found this a problem, but a little more precise information will be required if paying from abroad to ensure that anti-laundering regulations are complied with, given that the amounts being transferred can be quite large.

Please refer to the supplied Hirers Manual and then call us if necessary. We will do all we can to help you and the emergency phone is manned 24 hours a day. If you are a long way away we have a network of contacts to ensure that you can be attended to reasonably promptly.

On Canals you can moor anywhere along the towpath unless signs tell you otherwise, and it is FREE. You cannot moor next to a lock, swing bridge, winding hole or a water point. You cannot moor on Private Moorings. Some places such as pubs have their own offside moorings, but generally you should ask before you moor overnight at these places.

Moorings on Rivers are harder to come by and are often charged at around £10/night. There are some free transit moorings. When mooring on a river itr is important to ensure that you remain aware of wether conditions and river levels and that ropes are left slightly slack overnight to allow for level changes.

You will have a full water tank, empty toilet casettes and plenty of cooking gas when you join the boat. Dependant on your use, you will need to top-up with fresh water every couple of days (the tank holds in excess of 140 gallons). This is covered in the handover. We ask you to refill with diesel when cruising at least once per fortnight. The fuel tank holds in excess of 200ltrs: you should expect to use around 70 litres for a week, assuming you are relaxing and stopping to visits sites: you’ll double this if cruising for 14hrs a day daily!

On your return we will dip the diesel tank, check you have emptied the casettes, measure the gas used and then deduct the cost of diesel and gas from your deposit before returning the balance to you within three working days.

Our boats are self drive hire (viz. ‘Bare Boat Charter’). We are not able to crew the boat for you except in emergency. Only the hirer may steer the boat unsupervised. All other members of the crew including children must be under the supervision of the hirer.

A full onbaord inventory will be sent to you when you have paid your hire fee. A full onboard inventory for up to 4pp is provided, including cookware. Dishwashing sundries are not included - you should bring your own.

Our boats have central heating, cooker, fridge, toilet, shower, smart TV and USB + 240volt sockets (so bring your phone/tablet/laptop charger) – see below. Please be respectful of your neighbours if using audio equipment; sound travels across water very effectively.

Merryweather has a full 240V system onboard: you can plug-in to the standard British three pin or USB sockets during the day. However, at night, the boat’s domestic battery could go flat with appliances left on charge overnight. You can bring your own electronic equipment, e.g. laptops/tablets/phones, but please be aware of a 2000W maximum power limit, so please check that your hairdryer is less powerful than this otherwise it will not work! Whilst we do have solar panels to assist with battery charging, we don’t have the battery capacity to guarantee health dependency appliances (e.g. Breathing Machines) will remain working overnight: as such we cannot accept any booking where a life-dependant requirement for overnight 240V supply is necessary for the above reasons.

Fishing rods are welcome, however, you must have a valid rod licence and keep clear of other boats. Live bait must not be brought onto or used from the boat!

Bikes are welcome and can mostly be placed on the roof, but please bring a protective blanket to protect our paintwork, and any locks for security purposes. We recommend a maximum of 4 bikes.

Canoes and Paddleboards are great fun on the canal and can also be carried on the roof (maximum 2 please). Please note you should have an appropriate BCU Licence to use the canoes on the canal, and a seperate licence may also be required on river navigations. Once again please bring a protective blanket and locks for security purposes. Canoes must NOT be towed by the narrowboat nor share any locks with powered boats.