Welcome to the HNBOC

Random boat image The Historic Narrow Boat Owners Club was formed in 1966 and is a not-for-profit club dedicated to preserving the working heritage of UK canals, from the boats themselves to details of the waterways on which they travel.  We are passionate about working boats, traditional skills, the built heritage, and the practices and courtesies of the working boat people.
 
We are an active pressure group for navigational and waterway heritage interests and we welcome all who support our aims, whether boat owners or not.  By supporting the Club, you are helping to ensure that the UK’s canals retain their unique heritage value.  Where a traditional working boat can go, so can any smaller boat.
 
We hope you enjoy exploring this website.

BW gets new name

It was announced on Thursday 6 October 2011 that the new charity to replace BW will be called the Canal and River Trust.  Its governing council will consist initially of 35 members - 5 drawn from private boaters, 4 from boating businesses, 1 from volunteers (WRG) and 2 from the historic environment (one each from The Institute of Historic Building Conservation and The Railway & Canal Historical Society).