If you need help with reading and navigating this website, please call 0808 291 5072 (local rate) to speak with a member of the ABC Boat Hire team.
If you have difficulty hearing, you can email the team with your requirements for written communication only at info@abcboathire.com.
ABC Boat Hire’s opening hours are:
Monday to Friday: 8:30am until 6pm
Saturday and Sunday: 9am until 5pm
If you require any other accommodations or requirements, or need additional information about the accessibility of our boats and canal boat holidays, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.
The cabins on narrowboats are accessed by steps inside the front and rear doors.
The stern, with its flat deck, is normally easier to access from the bank but has four steep steps down into the cabin. The bow is harder to access from the bank, as you have to step over the gunwale and down onto the deck, but from here, there are only one or two small steps into the cabin.
Once inside the boat, the floor is flat with lots to hold onto for those with less mobility.
If you or your crew need help accessing the boat please contact us in advance, and we will try to position the boat for easier access. Our staff will also, on request, be pleased to help you on and off the boat at our marinas.
The inside of our boats are not suitable for wheel chairs due to the restrictions caused by the width of the bulkheads and doors.
ABC Boat Hire does not currently operate any weekly or short-break boats adapted for wheel chair users or those with severely restricted mobility.
However, we do offer disabled access for day boat hire in service at Goytre.
Canal boat holidays can be, and often are, enjoyed by those with special requirements or who are less mobile. However, for safety reasons, at least two of the crew on each boat should be active enough to operate the boat and locks. (Beginners are always welcome, as instructions on how to operate both the boat and waterways are provided).
If you have any difficulty or require more information about the accessibility on or around the canals, you can contact Canal and River Trust customer services on 0303 040 4040.
You can also obtain information from The Community Boat Association by clicking here or by calling 02476 397400. They represent 125 boats and facilities suitable for use by disabled and elderly individuals or groups, or for educational purposes.
