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Blacking your narrowboat: DIY or boatyard?

by Richard | Sep 18, 2026 | Guides

Every steel narrowboat needs its hull protected below the waterline. Blacking means lifting the boat out, cleaning the hull and putting on fresh coats of protective paint. Most owners with bitumen coatings do it every two to three years. The big choice is whether to...

Latest Listings

New Surveyors

W&S Marine Surveyors (Waterways & Sea)

W&S (Waterways & Sea) Marine Surveyors is run by Lee Ottery, an Affiliate of the International Institute of Marine Surveying. Lee surveys narrowboats, barges, motor cruisers and yachts, offering pre-purchase, hull and insurance surveys. Lee is also a Boat Safety Scheme examiner, on the register for private boats. Based in Milton Keynes, he covers much of the Midlands and southern England, from Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire down to Kent, Surrey and Somerset. Contact Lee by phone or email.

New Boat Movers & Transport

Tony Tug Boats — Boat Transport

Tony Tug Boats moves boats by road around the UK and into Europe. Tony Anderson can take any vessel up to 32ft long or 3,500kg gross, lifting from a slipway or by crane, with blocks to set the boat down on. That suits cruisers and small boats rather than most narrowboats. Based near Milton Keynes, the business also deals in boat sales, spares and the restoration of Freeman cruisers. Contact Tony for a quote.

New Boat Services

Ship Shape Stove Services

Ship Shape Stove Services specialises in stoves on boats. The business offers servicing, repairs, new installations, safety checks and spare parts, and runs a stove care plan for regular servicing. Founded in 2017 and based in Harlow, Essex, the team works on boats across London, the Midlands and further afield. Contact the office to book.

New Surveyors

JRH Marine — Marine Surveyor

JRH Marine is a marine surveying business run by Jo Rees-Howell, specialising in steel inland waterway craft such as narrowboats and widebeams. Jo is a member of the International Institute of Marine Surveying (IIMS) and the Yacht Designers and Surveyors Association (YDSA), and is fully insured. Based in London, JRH Marine travels to boats across the UK. This is a surveying service, not a Boat Safety Scheme examination. Contact Jo by phone or email for survey types and prices.

New Boat Safety Examiners

Benjamin Jacobs — Boat Safety Scheme Examiner

A mobile Boat Safety Scheme examiner based in Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, on the Grand Union Canal. Benjamin is on the BSS register. He covers a wide area including London, the Home Counties, East Anglia and the East Midlands. Book by phone, WhatsApp or email. Prices are not published, so ask when you book.