| Our Boats |
| Rosina
Emma |
4 berths
or up to 12 passengers - self-drive or skippered - day or period hire Now available through Canal & Tipi Experience |
| Lancing |
for up to
42 passengers - charter hire - day or part day hire |
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| ‘Lancing' |
 ‘Lancing’
is a traditional narrowboat built by Yarwoods of Northwich for the
Grand Union Canal Carrying Company in 1936. It was converted to passenger
carrying use in 1972 and has been owned and operated by Kennet Cruises
since 1977. Facilities have been improved over the years and ‘Lancing’
has returned to service in 2002 after a major refurbishment which
has seen the passenger accommodation totally replaced with a completely
weatherproof steel roof and fully glazed sliding windows and comfortable
seating. |
| ‘Lancing’ provides accommodation
for up to 42 passengers and 2 crew. The interior configuration can
be varied to provide accommodation for parties of up to 22 passengers
all seated at tables or with progressive removal of the tables additional
passengers can be carried. Without tables, but where food is to be
served it is advisable to limit the party size to 36 passengers. |
Click photos for larger view. |
| ‘Lancing’ is equipped with
a toilet and a bar serving canned beers, wines, spirits, soft drinks
and a range of coffees, tea and hot chocolate and snacks. Radio, tape
and CD equipment is available for passenger use. A PA system is also
in use. |
| Passenger access to ‘Lancing’
is via a wide cross deck which is at a similar height to our landing
stage and other regular boarding points. Four steps then lead down
into the saloon. The cross-deck and doorways are wide enough to accommodate
a wheel chair but at the present time a lift is not available. Wheel
chairs would have to be lifted down into the saloon and this would
be the responsibility of the party organisers. |
| ‘Lancing’ normally operates
from its base at Burghfield Bridge, Reading and from either Chestnut
Walk or Queens Road Car Park in central Reading to provide cruises
on the Kennet & Avon Canal between Reading and Aldermaston. |
| ‘Lancing’s’ passenger
licence gives it wide plying limits and it is able to operate anywhere
on the Kennet & Avon Canal between Blakes Lock, Reading and Hanham
Lock, Bristol; the River Wey; the Basingstoke Canal from its junction
with the Wey to Ash Vale; the Grand Union Canal from Brentford to
Aylesbury and the Paddington branch; the Regents Canal to Limehouse
and the Rivers Lee and Stort. We are open to offers to visit these
waterways in connection with special events. |
| Historically, ‘Lancing’
was No. 154 in the GUCC fleet and was associated with the butty ‘Langho’.
It was based primarily at Bulls Bridge, west London and operated over
the main line of the Grand Union canal. It was the first boat to be
repainted in the Yellow and Blue livery of the Docks and Inland Waterways
Executive on nationalisation in 1949 and this was the subject of a
Giles cartoon at the time. |
| Towards the end of its carrying career
Lancing capsized and sank in Regents Canal Dock when its cargo of
steel bars shifted trapping a young girl in the back cabin. Fortunately,
she survived in an air pocket and was safely recovered. ‘Lancing’
was converted to a passenger boat at Marple, Cheshire and first operated
on the Macclesfield Canal under the name of ‘Rainbow’.
The limited depth of the Macclesfield Canal in 1972 proved to be too
great a problem and it reverted to its original name and operated
with the Warwickshire Fly Boat Company at Hawkesbury Junction before
coming on to the K & A in 1977. During 2001 ‘Lancing’
has undergone a major refurbishment programme. |
Lancing
Kennet
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