Books about owning & building canal boats

Book - Sell Up and Cruise the Inland Waterways Ref: 2223
by Bill & Laurel Cooper.

Bill & Laurel are experts on living afloat, having lived aboard a variety of boats for over 30 years. In this thorough and inspirational guide they share their practical, first hand advice on suitable boats, likely costs, insurance, the pros and cons, health, provisioning and the rules and regulations, and much more.

Soft back. 202 pages. 15.4cms x 23.3cms approx. Illustrated in colour and black & white.

Price: £16.99

Book - Narrowboat Planning Ref: 1172
by Graham Booth.

The compact interiors of canal boats require careful planning to make the best use of the small space available. This book provides ideas, inspiration and technical solutions for the design of accommodation in a canal boat. It will help you to plan a new boat or to modify and improve an existing layout.

Part 1 looks at the design of individual areas, examines the space needed for each activity, the pros and cons of each option and how the design of one area can affect another.

Part 2 features 18 carefully selected case studies.

Soft back. 108 pages. 19.1cms x 25.8cms approx. Colour photos and black & white drawings.

Price: £14.99

Narrowboat Builder's Book Ref: 454
by Graham Booth.

The third, completely revised and updated, edition of the standard work on fitting out traditional narrowboat shells. Starting with the purchase of a shell, it takes you through how to find an engine, the tools needed for DIY fitting out, insulation, lining out, water heating, electrics etc. Comprehensive listings of shell builders, engine suppliers and all the other necessary suppliers.

Soft back. 124 pages, 19cms x 26cms approx. Well illustrated with colour photographs and diagrams.

Price: £14.99

Book - Nicholson Boating Handbook Ref: 1674
by Emrhys Barrell.

Described as the essential guide to getting afloat it has sections on where you can go, hiring and booking your boat, preparation, your first trip, boat handling, locks, safety, buying and owning your own boat.

Then follow 34 pages of maps for the UK and Ireland, 10 pages for Europe, and a final section on where to get more information.

Firm paperback with flaps that can folded around to mark pages. 15.5cms x 21.5cms approx. Colour photos. 224 pages.

Price: £9.99

Book - Living Afloat Ref: 690
Edited by Valerie Lee & Beryl McDowall.

Published by the Residential Boat Owners' Association, this book is meant as a basic introduction to those who would like to live on a boat in Great Britain.

It tries to cover all aspects to help you make the decision. Topics covered include moorings, type of boat, services & equipment, safety & security, legal requirements and acquiring your boat. There is a chapter on common questions and members' solutions.

Softback. 96 pages. 14.8cms x 21cms approx. Illustrated with colour and black & white photographs and diagrams. Revised edition 2007.

Price: £7.50

Book - Living Aboard Ref: 1893
by Nick Corble and Allan Ford.

The aim of this book is to help people live the dream and not the nightmare, providing a useful step by step introduction to the basics of making a life afloat.

The book covers different types of liveaboard craft, the good and bad points, moorings, engines, heating, cooking, sanitation, furnishing, survival tips and finances.

Soft back. 143 pages. 12.4cms x 22.6cms. Illustrated with colour and black and white photos.

Price: £9.99

Book - Electrics Afloat Ref: 1186
by Alastair Garrod.

This book is based on Practical Boat Owner's most successful series, with computer generated artwork and clear uncomplicated text it simplifies an extremely complicated subject.

It covers amongst other things, batteries, engine electrics, battery charging systems,DC distribution, AC safety, shorepower systems, grounding and bonding, and also highlights some marine electrical websites.

Soft back. 112 pages. 21.2cms x 29.7cms approx.

Price: £19.99

Book - Boatowner's Mechanical & Electrical Manual Ref: 1499
by Nigel Calder.

How to maintain, repair and improve your boat's essential systems. 17 chapters covering electrics, corrosion, engines, transmissions, tanks, plumbing, steering systems, heaters, refigeration , air conditioning, bow thrusters and rigging.

Hard back. 818 pages. 22.1cms x 28.3cms approx. Well illustrated with black & white photos and diagrams. 3rd edition, 2005.

Price: £45.00

Book - Simple Boat Maintenance Ref: 1400
by Pat Manley.

The book covers 67 of the most common jobs. From engines (cooling system, fuel, servicing etc), fuel, water and gas systems, to bilge pumps, stern gear, repairing fibre glass and inflatables.

Obviously not all jobs refer to narrowboats, cruisers and sailing boats are also covered.

Hard back. 160 pages, 17.7cms x 24.9cms approx. Well illustrated with over 750 colour photographs and diagrams.

Price: £20.00

Book - A Home Afloat Ref: 1256
by Gary Cookson.

Living aboard vessels of all shapes and sizes, barges, narrowboats, tugs, yachts and motor cruisers. Photos and descriptions of the boats and people who own them.

Hard back. 128 pages. 25.9cms x 25.6cms approx. Colour photos throughout.

Price: £19.99