The beauty of narrowboats is that they appeal to all generations.
Whether you’re young, old, retired or somewhere in between, living or holidaying on a narrowboat is a unique way of bringing the family together.
With thousands of miles of navigable canals and rivers in the UK, the possibilities for your waterway adventures are endless. But if you’re stuck for inspiration, YouTube is a great place to start.
From destination ideas to interior design hacks, here are our top picks for the best narrowboat YouTube channels.
1.Foxes Afloat
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Subscribers: 114k
Instagram: @foxesafloat
Facebook: Foxes Afloat
Twitter: @FoxesAfloat
Website: www.foxesafloat.com
In 2019, ex-radio presenter Colin, and his husband, Shaun, sold their house, quit their day jobs, and built a new home and life on a 57-foot canal narrowboat – with their dog, Otis.
Now, their channel, Foxes Afloat, is one of the most-watched narrowboat YouTube channels.
Posting weekly episodes every Friday afternoon, the two Yorkshire lads are on a mission to explore all of Britain’s magnificent waterways on their boat, Silver Fox, sharing amazing sights and stories along the way.
Colin and Shaun campaign for mental health awareness and have donated some of their video proceeds to Mind Charity. So, by supporting these guys, you’re also supporting an important cause.
A video we love…
Foxes Afloat are also currently judging Insure4Boats' competition to find the UK's best narrowboat.
Think that's yours? Enter now for your chance to win a year's free narrowboat insurance and up to £250 worth Amazon vouchers.
2. The Narrowboat Experience
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Subscribers: 37.1k
Instagram: @nbexperience
Facebook: Narrowboat Experience
Website: www.narrowboatexperience.com
If you’re thinking about ditching the rat race and living off-grid but not sure you could manage it – The Narrowboat Experience is the YouTube channel for you.
Annamarie and Kath both live and work full time onboard their 57-foot narrowboat and have done so since 2016.
Along with their two cats, Munchy and Alice, the duo share entertaining stories about life on the water, as well as top tips for surviving as narrowboat nomads.
Annamarie also runs her own art business from the boat, where she sells a range of watercolours and runs virtual painting classes through the Art Skill Academy.
Videos are paused for now, but there are more than 300 to enjoy – so make sure you’re still subscribed.
A video we love…
3. Cruising the Cut
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Subscribers: 189k
Instagram: @cruisingthecut
Facebook: Cruising The Cut
Twitter: @CruisingTheCut
Website: www.cruisingthecut.co.uk
Cruising the Cut is another brilliant narrowboat YouTube channel and blog you should be following.
Its creator, David Johns, was once a local TV news reporter for ITV in the South before giving it all up to buy a narrowboat and cruise the country.
Known for his love of cheese sandwiches, David shares all sorts on Cruising the Cut, with quirky tales of life aboard, beautiful scenery, gorgeous destinations and handy DIY tips and tricks for fellow narrowboaters.
A video we love…
4. Robbie Cumming
Instagram: @robbie_cumming
Facebook: Robbie Cumming’s Canal Boat Voyages
Twitter: @RobbieCumming
Website: www.robbiecumming.com
All aboard the Naughty Lass – that is, of course, the name of Robbie Cumming’s 42-foot narrowboat.
If boating is your thing, you’ve probably seen Robbie on his BBC Four series, Canal Boat Diaries. Here, he embarks on a 300-mile journey across the Midlands and northern England.
But that’s not all Robbie has to offer. His narrowboat YouTube channel showcases the best of boat life, as well as tours of England’s most picturesque towns and cities.
Pre-pandemic, Robbie’s Pub of the Week segment was a firm fan favourite for beer-spiration, so here’s hoping this resumes when normality returns.
Robbie also recently sat down with Insure4Boats for an exclusive Q&A about life and his channel, which you can read here.
A video we love…
5. Boating Beyond
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Subscribers: 10.8k
Instagram: @boatingbeyond
Facebook: Boating Beyond
Twitter: @BoatingBeyond
After quitting jobs and a lifestyle they were unhappy with, young couple Matt and Ali decided to switch to life on a 60-foot narrowboat named Poppy.
Along with their rescue cat, Mr Jinx, Matt and Ali’s entertaining channel tells us the story of what life is like on Britain’s canals, including some of the funny situations they often find themselves in.
What’s unique about this YouTube channel in particular, though, is Matt and Ali’s age. As a young couple, their take on narrowboat life offers viewers something a little different to most other narrowboat YouTube channels.
Boating Beyond proves narrowboats are cross-generational, so it's a must-watch if you're young and considering a change of scene.
A video we love…
6. Chugging Along
Subscribers: 8.4k
Instagram: @chugging.along
Tim and Sam, otherwise known as Chugging Along, first met when they were both living abroad. Now, they’re back in the UK and living together aboard, documenting their journey.
From their 53-foot narrowboat, Mary L, Tim, and Sam produce fun and informative content from across the UK every week. From the cost of living on a boat and coping with seasonal changes to crazy canal locks and buying your own boat – all bases are covered on Chugging Along.
The couple also do regular live Q&As, too – so if there’s anything you want to know about narrowboats, they’re your guys.
A video we love…
7. The Narrowboat that James Built
Subscribers: 6.15k
Instagram: @the_narrowboat_james_built
Facebook: The Narrowboat James Built
Can you buy a narrowboat, fully renovate it, and live on it for less than renting a 1-bed flat in London?
Well, that’s exactly what James is trying to find out with his YouTube channel.
James started the channel in October 2020, and it became popular very quickly. His initial goal was to make his narrowboat, on the Grand Union Canal in south-east England, ‘livable’ by Christmas.
From laying floorboards and plumbing to building a kitchen and fireplace – this really is a project from scratch.
Now join James as he continues to renovate while cruising to London – and trying to enjoy himself at the same time!
If you fancy yourself as a dab hand at DIY, this is definitely the narrowboat channel for you.
A video we love…
8. Minimal List
Subscribers: 22.5k
Instagram: @nbminimallist
Facebook: Minimal List Narrowboat Vlogs
Twitter: @nbminimallist
Website: www.minimallist.co.uk
Michael, who is American, and Jo, English, first met while travelling in Vietnam in 2014. They later became a couple, and the narrowboat channel, Minimal List, was born.
Since 2017, the trans-Atlantic couple have lived aboard their boat in the UK and documented the experience travelling from city to city.
Jo has also written a book, Away From the Gray, in which she tells the story of quitting her job to travel the world. Michael also sells T-shirts.
Jo’s creative flair knows no bounds, either. She’s even created London underground-style waterways maps for England, Wales, and even the city of Birmingham – which famously has more miles of canals than Venice.
A video we love…
9. My Narrowboat Venture
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Subscribers: 8.14k
Instagram: @my.narrowboat.venture
Facebook: My Narrowboat Venture
Alan, or My Narrowboat Venture, decided to take early retirement in 2018 and bought himself a 45-foot narrowboat named Lazy Daze to live on. Sounds great, right?
With more than 200 videos, join Alan on board as he explores the nation’s canals, carries out DIY work on his boat, and visits historical places of interest.
Alan has visited the Thursford Steam Collection, Crofton Pumping Station, and the Crick Scarecrow & Music Festival, to name just a few.
If you’re looking for a pick-me-up, this channel is a must-watch. Alan’s cheery, positive persona is sure to put a smile on your face.
A video we love…
Specialist narrowboat insurance from Insure4Boats
If, like these brilliant YouTubers, you enjoy exploring the waterways on your narrowboat – or perhaps you’re now inspired to invest in a boat, you need specialist narrowboat insurance.
At Insure4Boats, our narrowboat insurance will protect your boat against theft, accidental damage, malicious damage and salvage charges.
We also provide third party liability and offer protection for the contents of your narrowboat, as well as cover in the event of accidents or injuries.
Get an instant online quote today and find out how we can help.
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