Boating Facilities
BW provides a range of basic services for boaters, including water points, refuse disposal, toilets and Elsan emptying points throughout the waterway network. These are generally free to licence holders. Access to sanitary facilities is by a special Yale BW facilities key, available from the Customer Service Centre. Where paid-for facilities such as electric charging points are available, payment is by digital card available from the local office.
Over 200 marinas and boatyards throughout the network provide a wide range of boat sales, boat servicing and repairs, pump-outs and moorings. Many have shops and chandleries and are also a good place to stop for local information and waterway maps and guidebooks.
| Item | Available from | Price (incl p&p) |
|---|---|---|
| Buying a boat – how to get started | Customer Services, local offices or www.waterscape.com/shop | Free |
| Boaters Handbook | Customer Services, local offices or www.waterscape.com/shop | Free |
| Boaters Video/DVD | Customer Services, local offices or www.waterscape.com/shop | £ 2.50 |
| BW facilities key | Customer Services, local offices or www.waterscape.com/shop | £ 5.00 |
| Handcuff key (anti-vandal locks) | Customer Services, local offices or www.waterscape.com/shop | £ 5.00 |
| Service pre-payment cards (electricity, pump-out) | Customer Services, local offices or www.waterscape.com/shop | Varies with number of units |
| Tide times | Local offices or www.waterscape.com/shop | Free |
| Opening hours for manned locks and bridges | Local offices or www.waterscape.com/shop | Free |
| Winter stoppage programme | Customer Services or www.waterscape.com/stoppages | Free |
Our Customer Services Centre is able to give you information on most matters relating to the waterways. If your enquiry is of a local nature you may prefer to contact or visit one of our local offices for more detailed information about a particular area or service.
Boaters Updates
To sign up for your free monthly e-newsletter, simply email your title, first name, surname and postcode to boatersupdate@britishwaterways.co.uk
- The Boaters Handbook (1.3MB PDF)
- Waterway Dimensions (621KB PDF)
- Licence terms and conditions (277KB PDF)