©Castaway Canal Boats
To check availability for narrowboat hire or for boat handling courses, please talk to Diana on
0779 4674141
We can take your call between 9am and 9pm seven days a week.
Or email us: castawayboats@aol.com
If you decide to make a booking we will send you a booking form and a copy of our terms and conditions by email or post. We will hold a provisional booking for five working days, but please be aware that your holiday or course is not confirmed until we have received your deposit.
HIRE AGREEMENT TERMS AND CONDITIONS
1. Hire Fee
The Hire Fee is the payment due to Castaway Canal Boats for the use of the boat and its inventory of equipment during the Hire Period. The fee includes diesel fuel and liquid propane gas used by the boat during the Hire Period. The boat will be supplied to the Hirer with a full tank of water. Water is normally available from British Waterways Watering Points at no charge. Any fees incurred for filling with water or emptying the toilet tank when away from the boat’s home mooring will be at the Hirer’s expense. There is no fee for water or toilet tank emptying at the boat’s home mooring at Hampton Wharf.
2. Booking arrangements.
A deposit of 25% of the Hire Fee is due on booking and the booking is not guaranteed until this sum has arrived in the Castaway Canal Boats bank account in cleared funds and the Castaway Canal Boats has received a copy of the Booking Agreement properly completed by the Hirer and the Castaway Canal Boats has confirmed this to the Hirer in writing. The balance of the Hire Fee is due not later than 28 days prior to the start of the Hire Period.
3. Cancellation
In the event that the Hirer cancels the booking Castaway Canal Boats will refund the Hire Fee less an administrative fee of 10% provided that the boat can be re-let for the Hire Period. In the event that the boat cannot be re-let the Hirer remains liable to pay the whole of the Hire Fee. The Hirer is strongly recommended to obtain cancellation insurance and holiday insurance through a suitable third party insurance company.
In the event that Castaway Canal Boats cancels the booking prior to the start of the Hire Period a full refund will be made but Castaway Canal Boats will have no further obligations to the Hirer and is not responsible for any consequential losses incurred by the Hirer. Castaway Canal Boats will not cancel the Hire unless it is forced to do so by circumstances outside its control such circumstances include but are not limited to: mechanical breakdown, non-return of the boat by previous Hirers, damage to the boat making it unusable, flood, lack of water, canal closure or restrictions, ice and force majeure.
4. Hire Period
Weekly Hire is a period of 6 nights. If the boat is booked from Tuesday to Monday the Hire Period will normally start at 2.00pm on the Tuesday of the Hire Period and will end at 12.00 on the following Monday unless stated otherwise on the booking confirmation form sent to the Hirer by Castaway Canal Boats.
5. Hirer
The Hirer shall be the person or persons named on the Hire Agreement. All adults onboard must sign the Hire Agreement and are jointly and severally responsible for the performance of the Hire Agreement. The names and addresses of all persons onboard during the Hire Period must be noted on the Hire Agreement and no other passengers may be carried during the Hire Period. Carrying of passengers other than those stated in the Hire Agreement will invalidate the boats insurance and if this happens Castaway Canal Boats reserves the right to take immediate possession of the boat and no refund will be given.
Castaway Canal Boats may cancel any booking and refuse to handover the boat if in Castaway Canal Boats’ opinion the Hirer is not able to take charge of the boat due to ill health or infirmity or if the Hirer is unable to demonstrate a reasonable level of competence in controlling the boat following Castaway Canal Boats’ standard handover procedure. A full refund will be given to the Hirer if Castaway Canal Boats cancels the Hire Agreement for this reason and the Agreement shall be discharged without further liability on either the Hirer or Castaway Canal Boats.
6. Lead-hirer
Any group or family hiring a boat from Castaway Canal Boats must nominate a Lead-Hirer. The Lead-Hirer will be the person with whom all official communication regarding the Hire will be conducted by Castaway Canal Boats and the Lead-Hirer will be the boat’s skipper for the duration of the Hire and will be responsible for the safe operation of the boat and for the security and safety of the boat its systems the other Hirers onboard and where appropriate other waterways users and their boats.
7. Pets
No pets are allowed onboard Castaway Canal Boats’ boats.
8. Smoking
Smoking is not allowed onboard a Hire boat.
9. Safety and Training
The canal system is 200 years old and there are inherent dangers in its use and in the use of any boat. The Lead-Hirer is responsible for ensuring that all adults onboard have read the “Boaters Handbook” a copy of which will be sent to the Lead-Hirer with the booking confirmation and a further copy of which will be available onboard the boat.
A full safety brief and demonstration of the boat’s systems and tuition in basic boat handling will be provided by Castaway Canal Boats at the start of the Hire. All Hirers must attend. The Hirer is responsible for ensuring that they comply with all instructions given by Castaway Canal Boats. The Hirer must also comply with all British Waterways regulations and instructions given by British Waterways staff.
A folder containing operating instructions for the boat and its systems will be onboard the boat and it is the Lead-Hirer’s responsibility to familiarise themselves with its contents before the boat is moved from its mooring.
The handover procedure is important for the Hirers safety and enjoyment of the waterways and the Hirer should expect the handover procedure to take not less than three hours to complete.
Life-jackets or buoyancy aids will be issued to all onboard and Castaway Canal Boats recommends that these are worn by all Hirers at all times whilst the boat is underway and whilst working on or walking around locks rivers weirs or other deep water.
10. Late arrival.
In the event that the Hirer arrives at the start of the Hire Period later than 2 hours after the scheduled handover time Castaway Canalboats reserves the right to postpone all or part of the handover demonstration until the following morning and the Hirer may not move the boat until the handover demonstration has been completed.
11. Late return or non-return of the boat at the end of the Hire Period.
In the event that the boat is returned later than the return time and date stated on the Hire Agreement the Hirer shall pay to Castaway Canalboats a fee of thirty five pounds for each hour that the boat is late. In the event that the boat is left somewhere other than the agreed return mooring the Hirer shall pay to Castaway Canalboats a fee of thirty five pounds per hour for the time taken by Castaway Canalboats to recover the boat to its mooring.
12. Alcohol and drugs
It is illegal to operate a boat under the influence of alcohol or drugs and the Hirer agrees that nobody with a blood alcohol level greater than that which is the current limit for driving a car shall control the boat or be in charge of the boat at any time.
Castaway Canal Boats reserves the right not to handover the boat in the event that any member of the Hirer’s party appears to be drunk or under the influence of drugs during the handover process.
Castaway Canal Boats may recover the boat from the Hirer and cancel the Hire Agreement in the event that it becomes apparent in Castaway Canal Boats’ opinion that the boat is being operated under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
No refund of any monies paid to Castaway Canal Boats will be due to the Hirer in the event that the boat is recovered from the Hirer by Castaway Canal Boats under these circumstances.
13. Security
The Hirer agrees to keep the boat locked with the curtains closed when nobody is onboard. The Hirer is responsible for returning the boat to Castaway Canal Boats undamaged complete with all the items listed in the inventory and for notifying Castaway Canal Boats as soon as it becomes apparent that any item of the boats inventory has been lost damaged or stolen. The Hirer shall pay Castaway Canal Boats the replacement cost of any missing items plus Castaway Canal Boats’ reasonable expenses incurred in acquiring any missing items.
14. Damage.
The Hirer is responsible for returning the boat to Castaway Canal Boats undamaged and in a clean condition complete with the inventory of equipment Issued at the start of the Hire Period.
15. Boat’s Systems and controls.
The Hirer shall not alter adjust or otherwise interfere with any of the boats gas systems or electrical or mechanical or control systems. The Hirer is however responsible for ensuring that the stern gland greaser is operated daily as demonstrated during the handover.
16. Breakdowns.
In the event of any breakdown or failure of the boat’s equipment the Hirer shall contact Castaway Canal Boats using the 24 hour emergency number noted in the boat’s folder.
The Hirer understands that boats are complicated pieces of equipment relying on many factors to enable them to continue operating. Whilst Castaway Canal Boats will make reasonable efforts to ensure the reliability of the boat and will repair any breakdown as soon as it is able to do so the Hirer understands that Castaway Canal Boats is not responsible for the loss of any cruising time whilst repairs are being completed and the Hirer shall have no claim on Castaway Canal Boats in respect of any breakdown or the failure of any equipment onboard or for any delays caused by repairs to the boat.
The Hirer(s) shall not attempt any repairs themselves or authorise any repairs by a third party without Castaway Canal Boats’ prior approval.
17. Emergencies
It is the Hirers responsibility to keep track of their whereabouts such that any of the emergency services summoned via a “999” call can be directed to the boat without delay.
18. Accidents
The Lead-Hirer is in charge of the boat and is responsible for its safe navigation and return to Castaway Canal Boats complete with its inventory and equipment. In the event of an accident involving a third party the Lead-Hirer must obtain full names and addresses and contact details for all persons involved and also the boat names and official numbers of any boats involved. It is a requirement of Castaway Canal Boats’ insurance that the Hirer must not admit nor allow anyone aboard the boat to admit any liability. The Hirer indemnifies Castaway Canal Boats against any loss claim liability or expenses incurred by Castaway Canal Boats as a result of the Hirer acting or failing to act in a manner which prejudices or invalidates Castaway Canal Boats’ insurance cover.
19. Cruising Area
The Hirer agrees that the boat shall not be operated beyond its permitted cruising range which is from Bristol Docks to Reading along the Kennet and Avon Canal. Under no circumstances may the boat be taken into tidal waters. The boat may only cruise between sunrise and sunset it is not equipped for navigating at night.
20. Speed.
The Hirer agrees not to operate the boat at a speed greater than 4 miles per hour which is the speed limit throughout the Cruising Area. The boat may not be operated at a speed which creates a breaking wash nor any speed which creates a nuisance to other waterways users.
21. Fuel surcharge
In the event that an increase in the cost of fuel occurs between the date that the Booking Confirmation is issued and the date of the start of the Hire Period Castaway Canal Boats reserves the right to levy a surcharge equal to the increased cost of the fuel supplied.
22. Fishing
The Hirer must not allow live bait to be carried onboard the boat. No fish may be landed directly onto the boat. The Hirer is responsible for ensuring that local byelaws relating to fishing activities are observed and that the Hirer has purchased any permits required for the waters in which fishing takes place.
23. Towing
The Hirer agrees not to use the boat to tow another vessel or to be towed by any vessel except under professional guidance in the event of an emergency.
24. Hirer’s personal belongings.
The Hirer agrees that all personal belongings brought by them and used or stored upon the boat are used and stored at the Hirer’s risk and the Hirer understands that personal belongings are not covered by Castaway Canal Boats’ insurance policy. Castaway Canal Boats recommends that the Hirer takes out suitable insurance from a third party to cover the loss of or damage to any valuables that the Hirer might bring to the boat. The Hirer agrees not to take nor allow to be carried on the boat any dinghy, canoe, inflatable, bicycle, barbecue, portable heater, gas cylinder, vehicle, television equipment or any other 240volt electrical equipment other than razors, inflammable liquids or substances, lead-acid batteries, firearms or any other dangerous or hazardous items.