Aylesbury day boat hire - Aylesbury Canal Society
Day Boat Hire on the Aylesbury Arm
Day Boat Hire Prices
Monday to Thursday (excluding bank holidays) £150 inc VAT.
Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and bank holidays £186 inc VAT.
From £150 • Up to 8 people + dogs welcome • Full training included • Kitchen, toilet & heating onboard • Perfect for families, picnics & celebrations
5 * Reviews
We hired Catalina for a birthday treat with friends. Everything from start to finish was great. Catalina was lovely… and had everything we could possibly need on a day boat including a kitchen, clean flushing toilet and hot water
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Book Your Day
Select your preferred day below. and book instantly. Limited spots, especially weekends!
Use this booking form to reserve your day
Full payment is taken online via Stripe at the time of booking.
Parking is available on-site
The hire starts at 09:00 — please arrive 15 minutes early for briefing and training
Where Does the Trip Start?
Aylesbury Canal Society, Circus Field Basin, Stocklake, Aylesbury, HP20 1AP Buckinghamshire
Parking is available on-site
The hire starts at 09:00 — please arrive 15 minutes early for briefing and training
Boat Hire Terms and Conditions
Day Boat Hire on Catalina
Available any day (including weekends & holidays) from
9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Perfect for family outings, picnics, birdwatching, or a relaxing day with friends on the peaceful Aylesbury Arm.
Catalina is our charming
31ft traditional stern narrowboat
— your floating home for the day.
Onboard features:
Comfortable front deck seating up to
8 people
Galley kitchen with gas hob, sink, kettle, plates & cutlery (just clean up after yourselves!)
Flushing toilet + sink
USB ports & socket for electric cool box
Radiator in the cabin for cooler days
Life jackets & safety gear provided
No experience needed — watch our safety video before your trip, and receive full hands-on training on the day.
How many people can the boat carry?
The boat has a
maximum capacity of 8 people
This total includes
all passengers over 1 year old
, including children.
What are the hire times?
Our hire times vary by season.
Spring & Summer:
09:00 – 17:00
When daylight hours shorten:
Return time is
dusk
What facilities are provided on board?
The boat is equipped with the essentials for a comfortable day out.
On board you will find:
• Two-ring gas hob
• Kettle and lighter
• Cutlery and crockery
• Four folding chairs (for use when moored)
• Small radiator at the bow end of the cabin for cooler days
Fridge:
There is
no fridge
, but there is a cigarette-lighter socket suitable for an electric cool box. A cool bag also works well.
Do we need boating experience?
No previous boating experience is required.
Before your trip you will receive a
short training video
to watch. On the day of your hire a member of our team will also provide:
safety briefing
Instruction on
steering and boat controls
Guidance on
operating canal locks
Help through the
first lock
Most people feel confident operating the boat after the training.
We’ve never done this before. What training is provided?
After making your booking, you will receive a
training video
to watch before your hire date.
On the day, a member of our team will:
Welcome aboard,
Catalina
Provide a
health and safety briefing
Explain the
boat controls and boating etiquette
Give
practical instruction on steering and handling
Assist you through the
first lock
This ensures you feel confident before setting off.
We’ve hired boats before. Why do we still need training?
Even if you have previous boating experience, we will provide the
training necessary to familiarise you with Catalina
and any specific considerations when travelling along the
Aylesbury Arm
How much does it cost? Is fuel included?
Fuel is
included in the hire price
Hire rates:
Monday (excluding Bank Holidays) – Thursday:
£150
Friday, Weekends & Bank Holidays:
£186
What should we bring with us?
We recommend bringing the following for an enjoyable day on the canal:
Food and drinks for the day
Weather-appropriate clothing
Sunscreen and hats in summer
cool bag or electric cool box,
if you wish to keep food chilled
Cutlery, crockery, a kettle and a hob are already provided on board.
What time should we arrive?
Please arrive
around 15 minutes before your hire time
This allows time for:
Boarding the boat
A safety briefing
Basic training and instructions
Your hire period begins at
09:00
, so arriving slightly early helps ensure you can make the most of your day.
Are dogs allowed on board?
Yes —
dogs are welcome on board
Please note:
• We
do not provide life jackets for dogs
• Dogs remain the responsibility of the hirer
Is alcohol allowed on board?
Alcohol is permitted in
moderation
However, the person steering the boat should
remain responsible and capable of safely operating the boat at all times
Safety on the canal is our priority.
Is there parking available?
Yes, parking is available in the Marina, where the boat is moored.
Full arrival details and directions will be provided once your booking has been confirmed.
How far can we travel?
Our recommended route is:
From
Circus Field Basin
, through
Locks 14–9
, to
Wilstone
, where the canal is wide enough to safely turn the boat around.
To allow plenty of time for the return journey, we recommend
turning around no later than 13:00
Can we moor anywhere?
You may moor on the
towpath side of the canal
where:
The water is
deep enough
for the boat
The bank is
clear of vegetation
It is
safe to step on and off
Please
do not moor on lock landings
(the area immediately before and after a lock), as these areas must remain clear for boats using the lock.
Can we decorate the boat for a celebration?
Yes — decorations are permitted.
However, all decorations
must be removed at the end of your hire
, and the boat must be returned in the same condition it was received.
Is the boat suitable for elderly or disabled passengers?
Everyone is welcome to hire our day boat. However, this is a
self-drive hire
, so at least some members of your group must be able to:
• Steer the boat
• Get on and off safely
• Operate canal locks
Important:
The step from the pontoon onto the boat can vary depending on water levels. When water levels are low, the step down may be deeper.
If you have accessibility concerns, we recommend contacting us before booking.
What safety equipment is provided?
Your safety is important to us. The boat carries:
Life jackets
for all passengers over 1 year old
First aid kit
Fire blanket
Fire extinguisher
What happens if we break down?
In the unlikely event of a breakdown:
Call the contact number provided during your training.
Ensure someone in your group has the
what3words app
, so we can locate you easily.
We will:
• Attend to assess the issue
• Attempt to repair the fault
• Tow the boat back to the basin if required
Can we stay overnight?
No. The boat is
not licensed or insured for overnight stays
and is not designed for sleeping on board.
Catalina
is strictly a
day-hire boat
and must be returned at the end of the hire period.
What if rain is forecast and we want to cancel?
Our day boat operates in most weather conditions.
If you decide to cancel your booking due to
a forecast of rain
, the booking will be
non-refundable.
What happens during severe weather warnings?
Weather warnings are handled in accordance with the official guidance at the time.
Red weather warning
– We will contact you to
reschedule your booking
Amber weather warning
– You
may be offered the option to reschedule
, depending on the type of warning issued.
Yellow weather warning
Bookings will normally proceed as planned.
What happens if the Aylesbury Canal Society cancels the booking?
If the
Aylesbury Canal Society
needs to cancel your booking, we will either:
Offer an alternative hire date
, or
Provide a full refund
Book the day Today
Dates go quickly, especially at weekends and holidays. Secure your date today
Click Here
Discover more things to do in Aylesbury
Navigating through locks when hiring out our dayboat
When the Aylesbury Arm was built, there was no such thing as health and safety. Today, 200 years on, the exposed lock mechanisms are old, stiff and heavy to operate. Don’t be afraid, but be careful. This 6-minute video takes you safely up Lock 14.
Book Today
Locks
If following our recommended route, you’ll be turning – and possibly mooring for a while – above lock 9 at Wilstone. Here’s a quick 1 minute video on the easiest way to do it.
Click Here
What Customers Are Saying
“Thank you Jackie, for talking me through the booking procedure and being so efficient and helpful, and thank you Richard for getting seven novices through our maiden voyage on a narrow boat with your excellent guidance. We all agreed we want to do this again – and wondered why we had waited so long in the first place.”
We thoroughly enjoyed our day out on Catalina. Highly recommended. Thank you to Richard for making us feel so welcome.
What an amazing day out Nick and the team were really helpful and friendly. They made sure we understood all the safety instructions. Remember to kill the engine if anyone falls in. The boat was clean and life jackets are available. Working toilet and charging facilities also available. We had so much fun. We turned left and sailed for a couple of hours to “The Halfmoon” it’s a pub with a beautiful bear garden and great food. We will definitely be back.
Thank you Nick.
We hired Catalina for a birthday treat with friends. Everything from start to finish was great. Jackie was really helpful from my first enquiry through to the end. Richard was fantastic and gave us the best briefing we’d ever had when renting a boat. Catalina was lovely… and had everything we could possibly need on a day boat including a kitchen, clean flushing toilet and hot water. The route was lovely. Beautiful countryside and very peaceful. Loved it. Will definitely hire Catalina again and have no hesitation recommending the Aylesbury Canal
“Great canal boat hire today along the Aylesbury Arm. Richard was our host and really looked after us. Would recommend as a good day out.”
Another wonderful day on the canal on Catalina. The boat was impeccably clean and even has drinking and hot water on board. A fabulous venue for a multigenerational gathering. Thank you so much.
Get In Touch!
01296 252101