What is included in the hire price?
- All the fuel you’ll need for a normal cruise
- Sheets and towels (but we offer a discount if you bring your own), except for the top bunk
- As much of our time as necessary to explain how everything on board works, and to solve any problems that arise during your cruise
- Third-party insurance
- Insurance for the boat
- Lifejackets or buoyancy aids for the whole party, provided you tell us in advance how many people will need them, and how heavy the people are.
Please see our Terms and Conditions document for complete information.
What is not included?
- Extra cleaning if you bring the boat back dirty
- Extra time if you being the boat back late
- Personal accident insurance
- Insurance for your personal effects
- Parking fees for your car. Normally we arrange handover at a mooring close to residential streets with on-street parking, but you leave your car there at your own risk. We can arrange for more secure parking elsewhere; please ask about this when you book.
Please see our Terms and Conditions document for complete information.
What do we need to bring with us?
- A passport or driving licence (our insurers insist on this)
- A damage deposit of £200 (we return this immediately when you bring the boat back clean and undamaged)
- Waterproofs, sensible shoes, warm clothing, sun-hats and sun-cream
- A mobile phone (don’t forget its battery charger)
- A sleeping bag for the top bunk, if you plan to use it.
We’ll send you a more complete list shortly before your holiday.
Will we be shown how to work the boat?
Yes! We do insist that hirers have previous boating experience, but we also understand that every boat and every waterway is different. We’ll spend as much time as necessary to explain what you need to know. We’ll also hand you our 14-page user guide, containing instructions and information, and we’ll accompany you for a short distance, if you want us to, until you are confident to set off on your own. Please allow an hour at the start of your cruising time for this handover procedure if you haven’t used Zinfandel before.
What if something goes wrong?
We’re at the other end of the phone! The first thing we ask you to do is to call us with any question or problem that arises during your cruise, no matter how trivial. We’ll advise you by phone, and if necessary we’ll come out to help you.
If there’s a mechanical problem, we’ll bring in an engineer – we have a good relationship with the local boatyards and can get help quickly if required. We also have Gold cover from River Canal Rescue, who can help if the boat needs to be towed away for repair.
Our insurance policy provides third-party cover in case of accidents – full details are available on request.
If the boat is unusable, you’re entitled to a refund (see our Terms and Conditions document for full details).
I own a boat. Can I hire mine out too?
Are you on the canal system? In that case, probably not. Have a look at the British Waterways advice page to see their conditions for obtaining a hire licence. We think most boat owners would be unable to satisfy the conditions. Zinfandel is only hired out on Environment Agency and Cam Conservancy waters, so those conditions don’t apply to us. We have a hire licence from the Environment Agency.
Some of the Boat Safety Scheme checks are applied to a higher standard if the boat is to be hired out. Full details of these can be found on the Boat Safety Scheme website. In particular, if you have gas systems on board (most boats do, but Zinfandel does not), you’ll need the appropriate certificate from a CORGI-registered gas installer or a qualified Boat Safety Scheme examiner.
You need an insurance policy that covers you to hire, of course. We are very happy with our insurers, Mercia Marine. We suggest you talk to them.
Check the conditions of your mooring agreement. Many marinas refuse to accommodate boats that are hired out.