Boat Transport
& Narrowboat Delivery UK
RiverWays moves narrowboats, widebeams and cruisers by water — nationwide boat transport by RYA-qualified skippers — plus boat chandlers delivering mooring, engine and safety supplies straight to your boat.
Everything your boat needs, in one place.
From narrowboat delivery and boat transport across the UK to hull blacking, teak care, boat cleaning and chandlery supplies — friendly, fully insured help for every boat and every budget. Pick a service to see exactly what's involved.
Boat Delivery & Relocation
Straightforward, fully insured boat transport by water — from a short marina hop to a full cross-country narrowboat delivery.
Signature Delivery & Concierge
Everything in a standard delivery, plus your boat cleaned, stocked and ready to step aboard on arrival.
Skipper Hire
Hire a qualified skipper for a day out, a family cruise, a celebration or to build your own confidence.
Antifouling & Hull Blacking
Hull blacking, antifouling and anode replacement — pressure washed, prepared and finished properly.
Teak Care & Semco Treatment
Teak decks and trim cleaned, brightened and sealed using Semco products for a natural, long-lasting finish.
Boat Cleaning & Detailing
Inside-and-out cleaning, polishing and valeting — for regular upkeep, seasonal refreshes or sale preparation.
Every job priced individually — most enquiries answered the same working day.
Professional maritime experience, handled with care.
RiverWays provides dependable inland waterway services built upon commercial maritime experience and operational excellence. Our personnel come from professional maritime backgrounds including the Merchant Navy and Royal Navy.
Narrowboat delivery & boat transport. Simple. Reliable.
RiverWays Move is boat transport done the proper way — an experienced skipper moves your narrowboat, widebeam or cruiser by water from one location to another. No cranes, no lorries, no road haulage stress: professional narrowboat delivery carried out by experienced maritime personnel.
- —Narrowboats
- —Widebeams
- —River Cruisers
- —Dutch Barges
- —Motor Cruisers
- —Commercial Inland Craft
- —Point-to-point delivery
- —Marina transfers
- —Mooring relocations
- —Brokerage collections
- —Brokerage deliveries
- —Passage planning
- —Lock operation
- —Fuel & water monitoring
- —Safe handover
Water or road? The smarter choice.
Road transport is rarely the best option for inland boats. Hauling a narrowboat or widebeam onto a lorry involves cranes, permits, strict routes and far more handling. RiverWays keeps your vessel in the water, where it belongs.
RiverWays Waterway Delivery
Recommended- ✓Boat stays in the water — no haul-out stress
- ✓No crane hire, lorry permits or low-bridge routes
- ✓Far less handling and lifting risk
- ✓Single professional skipper from start to finish
- ✓Flexible collection and delivery timing
- ✓Live progress updates and photographic reports
- ✓Fully insured, RYA-qualified crew
- ✓Nationwide coverage across the UK canal network
Road Transport
The alternative- —Requires specialist flatbed lorry and crane at both ends
- —Height, width and weight road restrictions to manage
- —Multiple contractors create more moving parts
- —Significantly higher lifting and damage risk
- —Permits, escort vehicles and access challenges
- —Often more expensive once crane hire is included
- —Tight scheduling and weather-dependent crane work
For most inland vessels, moving by water is safer, simpler and more cost-effective. Your boat is designed for the canals — we deliver it that way.
Request a Waterway Delivery Quote
White glove delivery & concierge.
RiverWays Signature is designed for owners who expect more than simply moving their boat. Every vessel is professionally prepared, delivered and presented ready for immediate enjoyment.
Choose how you'd like to arrive.
Essentials
- ·Milk, tea, coffee, sugar
- ·Bread & butter
- ·Sandwich fillings
- ·Bottled water
- ·Fresh towels
- ·Toilet & kitchen roll
- ·Washing-up liquid, bin bags
- ·Basic toiletries
- ·Boat aired before arrival
- ·Heating on (where fitted)
- ·Water tank checked
Premium Arrival
- ·Everything in Essentials
- ·Chilled bottle of Prosecco
- ·Luxury chocolates
- ·Fresh flowers
- ·Fresh orange juice
- ·Breakfast items
- ·Boat cleaned
- ·Fuel checked
- ·Water topped up
- ·Gas bottles checked
- ·Exterior wash-down
White Glove Concierge
- ·Personal shopping to your list
- ·Fresh groceries, bakery, fruit
- ·Wine & champagne
- ·Steaks & soft drinks
- ·Luxury hamper
- ·Children's snacks & pet supplies
- ·Heating prepared
- ·Lighting switched on
- ·Boat professionally presented
- ·Everything ready before arrival
A boat chandlers that comes to you.
RiverWays Chandlers is a boat chandlers with a difference — genuine marine chandlery delivered to your mooring or picked up en route, anywhere on our UK delivery network. From mooring ropes and hull blacking to leisure batteries and waterway essentials, we source, deliver and where needed fit the parts and supplies that keep your boat reliable, safe and comfortable.
Ropes & Mooring
Mooring lines, springer ropes, fenders, mooring pins, chains and shackles.
Engine & Fuel
Diesel additives, engine oils, coolant, filters, impellers and belts.
Electrics & Batteries
Leisure batteries, chargers, inverters, LED lighting, cabling and 12V fittings.
Plumbing & Water
Pumps, hoses, tank fittings, filters, taps and pump-out accessories.
Paint & Maintenance
Bitumen, hull blacking, primers, top coats, brushes and preparation tools.
Safety Equipment
Life jackets, life rings, fire extinguishers, CO & smoke alarms, first aid kits.
Galley & Interior
Cookware, utensils, cleaning products, cassettes and comfort essentials.
Mooring Delivery
We bring your order direct to your mooring anywhere on our delivery route — no more hauling supplies from the car park.
Fitted On Board
Ask our skippers to fit batteries, pumps or safety equipment during a scheduled visit.
Tell us what you need and we'll source it, quote it and deliver to your boat.
Relax at the bow.
We'll take the helm.
Our fully uniformed professional skippers allow you to relax while we safely navigate your vessel.
Four considered steps.
Request a Quote
Share your vessel, route and preferred dates. We'll respond promptly with a tailored quotation.
Delivery Planning
Comprehensive passage planning, tide & lock scheduling, and route confirmation.
Professional Delivery
Your vessel handled by qualified maritime personnel with progress updates throughout.
Safe Handover
Personal handover with a detailed condition report — the boat ready for immediate enjoyment.
What we need from you.
A short checklist to make your delivery smooth, safe and compliant with UK inland waterway regulations.
Valid River Licence
Current Canal & River Trust, Environment Agency, Broads Authority or equivalent navigation licence covering every waterway on the planned route.
Boat Safety Scheme (BSS)
A current BSS certificate must be in place — this is required by all UK navigation authorities before we can take charge of your vessel.
Marine Insurance
Comprehensive marine insurance with minimum £3m third-party liability, with a policy that permits delivery by a professional third-party skipper.
Keys & Access
A full set of working keys and safe, arranged access to the vessel at the collection mooring on the agreed date.
Fuel, Water & Gas
Ideally a full fuel tank, full water tank and full gas bottles. Any refuelling en route is provided at cost with receipts.
Seaworthy Condition
Functioning engine, steering, lights, horn, mooring lines, fenders and life ring. We complete a photographic pre-departure condition report.
Unsure about licences or paperwork? Mention it in your enquiry — we'll help you get everything in order before departure.
Questions, answered.
Everything owners, brokers and marinas most often ask before booking a RiverWays delivery.
Nationwide boat delivery across the UK's inland waterways.
From London and the Thames to the Norfolk Broads, Birmingham's canal network, the Leeds and Liverpool, the Kennet and Avon, and the Fens — RiverWays delivers narrowboats, widebeams, cruisers and Dutch barges to every navigable region of Great Britain.
London & South East
River Thames · Grand Union Canal · Regent's Canal · River Lee · Kennet and Avon Canal
Midlands
Birmingham Canal Navigations · Oxford Canal · Coventry Canal · Grand Union · Trent and Mersey
North West
Leeds and Liverpool Canal · Manchester Ship Canal · Bridgewater Canal · Lancaster Canal · Shropshire Union
Yorkshire & North East
Aire and Calder · Selby Canal · River Ouse · Calder and Hebble · Rochdale Canal
South West
Kennet and Avon · River Avon · Gloucester and Sharpness · Bristol Floating Harbour
East Anglia & The Fens
Norfolk Broads · Great Ouse · River Nene · Middle Level · River Cam
Tell us about your boat.
A couple of lines is plenty to get started. We'll reply with a clear, honest price — usually the same working day. No obligation and no pushy follow-ups.