The Historic Narrow Boat Owners Club (HNBOC) was formed following the 1966
Inland Waterways
Association (IWA) National
Rally of Boats at Marple and is therefore one of the oldest inland waterway
boat clubs. With the increase of modern boats built since the 1960's the club
found it
necessary in 1989 to add
the descriptive word historic to its official name to avoid confusion.
The club has the distinction of being the only club dedicated to
preserving the
working heritage of our
canals in its natural state, ie from the boats themselves to details of the
waterways on which they travel. The HNBOC is a national boat club, which means
it has no
headquarters, other than
the addresses of its officers, but this in turn gives it greater flexibility to
adapt to changes in need.
The shape of the club's logo is an adaptation of
the little drop of water on
which we all depend as water depth, and hence navigability, has always been
seen as a fundamental issue throughout the club's existence.
It is in this
latter respect that the
club can be of the greatest service to the leisure user. Due to their original
need to carry the greatest tonnage possible at any one time, traditional narrow
boats are
the largest craft which can
pass along any narrow canal and hence are often the first to pinpoint problems
relating to draft or beam. These problems can then be brought to the attention
of the
relevant authorities in the
hope that maintenance can be carried out before the situation worsens - to the
detriment of all, whether boater, angler or other user. The Club's nature has
therefore
evolved into that of an
active pressure group for navigational and heritage interests.
The club has always organised its own rallies, at least one of which has been
predominantly a
social event and another
has campaigning overtones. The club rallies are generally free to enter
(although rally plaques are charged at cost if required) and boaters and
non-boaters of all
descriptions are welcomed.
Increasingly however, the club has tended to hold its rallies in conjunction
with other organisations as this has achieved better publicity for all
concerned. The club
benefits from greater
attendences and a greater potential for interest and membership. The other
organisations benefit from a group of historically interesting craft which can
enhance their event.
The HNBOC currently publishes seasonal newsletters to keep its members informed
of its activities as well as of other important waterway matters and includes
items of particular benefit to those interested in historic craft.
The Club presents the
Keay and Hemelryk Awards
- nominally on an annual basis - to persons or bodies,
not necessarily members nor the craft owners, who have made distinctive
progress in the
restoration of a historic craft.
