Classic Narrowboats, based at Wheelton boatyard on the Leeds & Liverpool canal offers narrowboats built to the highest quality.  We take time to talk to you, about what you want from your boat.
Our narrowboats come in three distinct styles – "traditional", "semi-trad" and "cruiser".

Links to the specification sheets are available (opposite) in the left hand panel. If you can't find what you are after, or have any other questions, please get in touch and ask us. We value your custom and are more than happy to assist you through out the purchase of your dream boat.  So get in touch and speak to Dave and his team about making your dream a reality!

The Traditional narrow boat Style
(or "trad" for short) is where the cabin design follows that of the old commercial canal boats and refers usually to the size of the rear deck (or "counter") which is short in length, the helmsman standing between the rear doors. The advantage of a trad style narrowboat is that the helmsman has a protected position against wet or cold weather and the additional advantage of the heat from the engine or the boatman’s cabin stove around their legs. There is also a very real feeling of closeness to the canal traditions. Friends can stand on the gunwales or sit on the roof while the main seating area is situated in the bow. The main advantage of the traditional narrowboat being the engine compartment is completely under cover, maximising full use of  space available.

The Cruiser Style narrow boat
A narrow beam pleasure boat with a aft deck of sufficient size to accommodate several people, as opposed to the "Traditional" style that has only room for a helmsman on the aft deck. This was probably the earliest style to be built when canal boat building for the pleasure cruising market started to take off in the 1960s and 70s. It is widely considered  the integral seating on the aft deck makes for a more sociable boat.

The Semi-traditional narrow boat 
A boat built to mimic the traditional style of the Working Narrow Boat but with a "false" rear cabin that allows more standing space at the aft of the boat. This is a cross between the "Traditional" and the "Cruiser Style" Narrowboats.