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April 2024 issue

On the cover of the April issue… Review boat Stargazer, a 60ft bespoke narrowboat from JF Boat Building, cruises along the Trent & Mersey Canal at Kings Bromley.

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April 2024 on sale from 29 February

A Stellar Narrowboat

Boat Review

JF Boat Building is a new company gaining a reputation for high-quality, bespoke narrowboats. Mark Langley looks at its latest example: 60-footer Stargazer

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From Warships to Canal Boats

Reader's Story

In 2002, Peter Hudson took command of newly built Royal Navy assault ship Albion. Twenty-two years later, he became the owner of a bespoke narrowboat. In conversation with Bobby Cowling, he says that the two experiences were surprisingly similar

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Soldiering On

Liveaboard Life

Liveaboard Lee Wells has spent over 20 years on the K&A. He tells Amelia Hamson how living with arthritis impacts his boating and woodturning business

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The Central Kennet and Avon

Cruising Guide

There’s no other waterway quite like the K&A – and the central section is the best bit of all. Steve Elliott explores the canal and its fascinating surroundings

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Working Boats in the 1950s

Looking Back

Late former boatman Phil Garrett shared his diaries with Roger Mawby, giving a rich insight into operating boats in the twilight years of canal carrying

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Boathouses on the Thames

Around the Waterways

Photographer Howard Davies captures the variety of boat shelters on the banks of the royal river

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Boat Fires

Boat Ownership

Fires have killed 30 boaters in the last 20 years. Tony Jones provides invaluable advice on how to protect your boat and crew, and what to do in the event of an onboard blaze

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Off-the-Cuff Cruise to Liverpool

Cruising the Waterways

After a traumatic meeting with a film crew, Emma Culshaw-Bell set off on a solo trip to Liverpool Docks

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Refitting Sunbeam

Boat Ownership

Fifteen-year-old narrowboat Sunbeam looks as good as new, thanks to a recent repaint and completely new interior. Co-owner Ruth Smith describes the project

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The Carrying 'start-up' of the '60s

Looking Back

At a time when commercial traffic was dying on the waterways, one young couple reintroduced canal carrying at Leicester. We look back on the history of Seymour-Roseblade

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Accessible Boating Holidays

Accessible Boating

In the first of series of articles on accessible boating, Alison Cannon looks at holiday hire options around the network

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A Tale of Two Solutions

Boating Forum

Chris Leader relates how he uncovered an issue with the raw water cooling system of his GRP cruiser and fixed it

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A Decade of Roving Trading

Last Word

Andy and Helen Tidy reflect on their time travelling and trading on the inland waterways

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