With 18 boats to choose from this information explains the key layout options available. With so many flexible layouts, we are sure to have the right boat for you.
Best hire boat for a luxury holiday
Our Platinum Fox Fleet, Darwin’s Fox and Einstein’s Fox have many additional features for those that appreciate the finest of narrowboats.
Best hire boats for couples and small families
Our smallest boats range between 45 ft to 50 ft and all have one fixed cabin, additional sleeping in the saloon and one bathroom.
Foxcub (2-4 Berth) Foxglove (2-4 Berth) Foxtail (2-5 Berth) Fennec Fox (2-5 Berth)
Best hire boats for families and small groups
Our mid-sized boats range between 58ft to 62 ft they all have two sleeping cabins and additional sleeping in the saloon. The 4-6 berth narrowboats have one bathroom and the 4-7 berth narrowboats have two bathrooms.
Tibetan Fox (4-6 Berth) Snooty Fox (4-6 Berth) Arctic Fox (4-7 Berth) Foxtalbot (4-7 Berth) Foxglacier(4-7 Berth) Darwin’s Fox (4-7 Berth) Einstein’s Fox (4-7 Berth)
Best hire boats for larger groups
Our biggest boats range from 64 ft to 69ft have between 2-3 fixed cabins and additional sleeping in the saloon. All of our biggest boats have two bathrooms.
Flying Fox (4-7 Berth) Lazy Fox (5-8 Berth) Wily Fox (5-8 Berth) Foxterrier (6-9 Berth) Foxhunter (6-9 Berth) Cunning Fox (6-9 Berth) Urban Fox (6-9 Berth)
Cruiser Stern and Semi Traditional Stern
The stern is the back of the boat. It is where the tiller (steering) is and where you will stand to “drive” the boat.
Our Foxy Fleet have Cruiser Sterns. Our cruiser stern decks are popular with young families and the less mobile as they offer easier stern access. They have a seating bench around the stern safety rail for up to 4 people to enjoy during non-cruising times.
Our Silver Fox and Platinum Fox fleets have Semi Traditional Sterns. A semi-traditional stern has an elevated steering position for greater visibility and improved weather protection in the steering cockpit. Popular with dog owners, the lockable doors provide the bonus of an ideal pen for dogs. Though there isn’t a guard rail to protect the steerer around the back deck, the semi-traditional stern has seating for 2 to 3 people on the storage benches when cruising.
Traditional and Reverse Layout
Traditionally, narrowboats were built so that one of the sleeping cabins was at the back of the boat near to where the helmsman (“driver”) stands. A reverse layout has the saloon and galley (kitchen) at the back so that the helmsman is less isolated whilst cruising.
Understanding the Layout of our Boats
Our boats are described as 2-4 berth, 2-5 berth, 4-6 berth 4-7 berth, 5-8 berth or 6-9 berth. This is because they all have both fixed permanent beds and additional make up bedding in the saloon area which are made up at night and folded away during the day.
For some novices this is confusing.
Taking a 2-4 berth boat as an example: There is permanent bedding for two people, with make up bedding so that it will accommodate up to four people in total. Utilising the make up beds is more budget friendly, but if you like a little more space and comfort you may choose to book a boat with more sleeping cabins and not use the make up beds at all. On many of our boats the bedding is flexible allowing you to choose whether to have a double bed or two single beds. This is shown on our boat plans with a dotted line down the middle of the double bed.
What next? We have three classes of boats offering the following
Our original Foxy Class of 8 comfortable, modern and superbly equipped cruiser style narrowboats, ranging from a 45ft x 2 berth to 69ft x 9 berth craft. Our cruiser stern decks are popular with young families and the less mobile as they offer easier stern access. They have a seating bench around the stern safety rail for up to 4 people at non-cruising times.
Our Silver Fox Class is a luxuriously appointed fleet of semi-traditional narrowboats, designed, built from new and maintained by Foxhangers themselves. A semi-traditional stern has an elevated steering position for greater visibility and improved weather protection in the steering cockpit. Although there isn’t a guard rail to protect the steerer around the back deck, the semi-traditional stern has seating for 2-3 people on the locker benches when cruising. Popular with dog owners, the lockable doors double up as a useful pen.
The Platinum Fox Class is our premier boating experience. Designed and built bespoke by Foxhangers for those who appreciate the finest of vessels. A traditional narrowboat on the outside, blended with a clean, modern and beautiful style inside. Incorporating unique features such as a king size bed, hydraulic bow thruster, granite surfaces, underfloor heating in the bathrooms and three televisions. Your floating home from home.
Compare our canal hire boat layouts here
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