Stern Talk – which to choose for your narrowboat holiday?

There are 3 main types of stern to choose from when deciding which boat to pick for your boating holiday. Generally it is down to personal preference, but there are pros and cons to each type. Here is a round-up of the three types, to give you a better idea of the differences between them:

Traditional:

A small, rear deck with only space for the skipper to stand, with no guard rail behind. This type of stern was used on the old working narrowboats, as space for transporting goods was more important than a communal area for everyone to gather. Traditional stern narrowboats are the least common but we do still have a few in our fleet.

Semi-Traditional:

At first glance, this type of stern looks very similar to the traditional variety, with space for only the steerer to stand, occasionally with a guard rail. However, in front of the person steering there is bench seating, so the other passengers can keep the skipper company. The semi-traditional narrowboat is a good compromise between the traditional and the more modern cruiser stern and is still a popular choice for hire boaters. It is especially good for those with children or pets, as they can be in a safe, enclosed area.

Cruiser:

The cruiser stern has the largest deck area, with space for others to stand and join the person steering. It is often seen as the most sociable type of stern for this reason and was developed due to the increasing popularity of boating holidays. The stern usually has a safety rail, so again this is a good choice for families and probably the most common variety that we have in our fleet.

For friendly boating advice or to talk through your holiday options, give us a call on 01252 796400, or visit out website: www.waterwaysholidays.com/canal_boat_holidays.htm