Favourite Boats in Show - sponsored by

The Favourite Boat in Show award is a tradition of Crick Boat Show. The competition is sponsored by insurance company Haven Knox-Johnston. Two trophies are awarded at the 2024 Show - one for the most admired narrowboat; and one for the most admired wide-beam.

For the first time this year, the competition will be judged by a combination of an expert judging panel and a public vote.  Voting takes place during the show at the Haven Knox-Johnston marquee on the Quayside.

Voting takes place during the Show at the Haven Knox-Johnston marquee on the Quayside. All voters are entered into a draw to win £100 M&S vouchers and voters can choose to also enter a draw to win a year's free boat insurance from Haven Knox-Johnston (T&C apply)

The winning boat is announced at Crick Boat Show in the afternoon of Monday 27 May and the prize draw takes place on 5 June 2024.

2024 Winners

Narrowboat

1st place: Highgrove  – Kingsground, presented by Lakeland Leisure Estates

Runner up – Stone Bespoke Narrowboats: Albert Ross

and tied in 3rd place – Braidbar: Est Tempus - No 207 and Boating Leisure Services Curiosity

Widebeam

The favorite widebeam is  Lunar – The Bespoke Boat Company

See list of past winners »

Seminars

Boat Ownership Seminars

Whether you're just considering getting afloat, a novice or a seasoned boater, there is a seemingly endless amount to be learned about boat ownership and boating. Mark Langley, Technical Editor of Waterways World, hosts a series of Seminars to support both new and experienced boaters.

Seminars will take place on Saturday, Sunday and Monday;

Seminars are designed to cover the most pertinent questions to consider when

• buying a new or second hand boat
• designing a new boat or refitting an older one
• designing, improving and maintaining electrical systems for best performance
• reducing your impact on the environment with green boating
• living afloat
• maintaining your boat - its engine and services; upgrades and safety

All talks are followed by an open question and answer session.

For more information on these talks click on the button below.

Boat Ownership Seminars »

Special Talks

For 2024, we also have two Special Talks taking place in our Seminar Theatre

See Special Talks »

See Seminar timetable »

See Special Talks »

Guarantee your front row seats at the Seminars

The seminars at Crick Boat Show are completely free to attend. However, as the seminars can get very busy you can guarantee a seat near the front of the Seminar Theatre by reserving a place at the Show Information Point for a nominal fee of £1. Bookings can be made ONLY ON THE DAY of the seminar, and are on a first-come, first-served basis and close 20 minutes before the Seminar starts.

Attendance at the Future of the Waterways Talk must be pre-booked at the Show, with a charge of £5 – all of which will be donated to the Canal & River Trust to support their work in maintaining our waterways.

Masterclasses 2024

Following the success of the Masterclass Theatre since 2022, there is be a new selection of presentations by exhibitors in 2024. Come to a Masterclass to learn from the experts...

Masterclasses take place in our Masterclass Theatre marquee and each is about 30 minutes long. Below you will find information about the Masterclasses taking place at the 2024 Show.

For 2024, we also have two Special Talks taking place in our Masterclass Theatre.

See Special Talks

See Masterclass Timetable »

The Low Impact Narrowboat

ePropulsion - Simon Boyde

The design of your boat hull, propulsion and other systems on board can deeply impact energy consumption on board, both while moored and underway. We can, through better design choices, reduce the impact our boats have on the canals and rivers on which we cruise. This brief talk introduces these ideas and how you can reduce the impact on the environment your next boat will make.

Blacking Boats Single Pack and Two Pack

Hempel Paints

A lively discussion on the correct application of one pack bitumen free (Pro Blacking) that's both resistant to UV & DIESEL and also stays black. We will also cover the correct application for two pack (Hempadur) and aftercare.

Waterways For All - Is that Possible?

Accessible Waterways Association - Tracey Clarke

To introduce the Accessible Waterways Association. A new organisation that has been set up to inform, represent, and assist people who live with disabilities, impairments, or any other accessibility issues, and who want to enjoy the Inland Waterways and their surrounding environments in the same way everyone else does. This may be as a boater (either living aboard or holidaying), hire-boat owner, angler, cyclist, gongoozler, walker/wheeler on the towpaths, or a volunteer or staff member of any of the many waterways authorities. This is open to all who care about the accessibility of our beloved canals and rivers.

Electrical Systems for the Unique Challenges of 'Loooong' Canal Boats

Autonnic Research Ltd - Chris Shelton

Join Autonnic's masterclass, seeking to help canal boaters to examine some of the common issues faced with the architecture of electrics aboard the 'long' boats found on the UK inland waterways. Let's think about the structure of gathering, storing and transmission of electrical power in a different way!

Explaining Boat PV Solar Systems and their Benefits

Run By The Sun Ltd - Simon Butt

An introduction to boat PV solar systems including:

• Getting to know the different solar module types, and how to choose the right ones
• Choosing the correct solar charge controller to suit/li>
• Other system components and wiring options/li>
• What can the solar system be expected to do? What is the benefit to me?/li>

Solving The Water Challenge

Water Freedom – John Howard

Water remains the biggest challenge for most boaters. Water points are infrequent, regularly inoperative, and there's often a queue. Most boaters live in what could be described as a state of water poverty, taking only very short, infrequent showers and washing dishes in the absolute minimum of water. Thinking about the irony of being 'water poor' despite being surrounded by it, in 2015, Water Freedom's founder, John Howard, set out to solve the water problem and developed the first version of a product that’s now regularly described as ‘life changing’ by hundreds of boaters across the UK and beyond. John will talk about the journey, the development challenges, and what’s now possible.

The Electric / Diesel Electric Boat Systems

Steve Wedgewood of Kings Lock Chandlery

A complete insight into the world of electric boating, from the design stage to ownership. Steve's aim is to stimulate the thought process and give real world feedback, based on first hand experiences.

Compliance for Sailaways

Bas Edmonds of HPi Verification Ltd

"I am fitting out a sailaway boat, do I need UKCA marking using the Recreational Craft Regulations?"; "I have heard that there is a '5 year rule'. Does this apply to me?"; "What is Post Construction Assessment?"; "If I have a Boat Safety Certificate, do I still need a UKCA mark?" If you have ever asked any of these questions, then this is the Masterclass for you. HPi Verification Services Ltd are a UK-approved body and the experts in boat compliance - come along and hear the facts.

Paint Technology

Marineware Ltd – Simon Crawford

Paint technology: past, present and the future for inland waterways. Including owner and professional options. 

Electrifying Waterways:  I-20 Motor Installation on a 60ft Canal Boat

Steve Bruce of ePropulsion UK

Join Steve Bruce, Managing Director of ePropulsion UK, at the Crick Boat Show for an insightful presentation on a groundbreaking project. Steve will delve into a recent installation of the innovative I-20 motor, powered by twin G102 batteries, on a 60ft canal boat. This session will cover the customer’s decision to transition to electric propulsion, highlighting the benefits of cleaner, quieter cruising. Discover why ePropulsion was the chosen provider for this eco-friendly solution, and explore the future of electric boating with us. Don’t miss this engaging exploration of sustainable marine technology!

Internet on Inland Waterway Boats

Wifionboard – David Walker

Being connected onboard is no longer a luxury. With home working, TV streaming or just booking a table it is essential to modern life whether we like it
or not! Being able to get high speeds to access these services is key and sharing marina WiFi just doesn’t give full service Internet all day long.
In this Masterclass we discuss ways to get internet on an inland waterways boat - whether Wifi, Mobile or Starlink.

See Masterclass Timetable »

Special Talks in the Seminar Theatre

The Future of the Waterways

A challenging and thought provoking presentation by Peter Johns, Waterways World Publisher and Crick Boat Show Organiser, followed by a response from Richard Parry, Chief Executive of the Canal & River Trust. Our waterways have changed dramatically over the last 80 years from little more than a set of muddy ditches carrying the dying remains of commercial trade, to a vibrant modern leisure industry. That success brings its own challenges with growing maintenance costs and ever competing demands for funding and resources. If it was impossible to envisage the current state of the waterways in 1944, is it even possible to envisage what they might look like in 2104?

Attendance at this seminar must be pre-booked.  Seats are available to purchase at the Show Info Point during the show, with a charge of £5 – all of which will be donated to the Canal & River Trust to support their work in maintaining our waterways.

Fund Britain’s Waterways (FBW)

FBW was launched at the end of June 2023 to highlight the impact of insufficient funding for Britain’s 5,000 miles of inland waterways. Through FBW, more than 120 organisations, including IWA as a member of its steering group, are campaigning together for national and local government to act now and protect the public benefit and natural capital of our waterways. Come and learn about the challenges and progress with the campaign from the FBW team.

« See all Seminar information

Special Talks in the Masterclass Theatre

The Challenges of Maintaining a 200-year-old Waterway

John Ward (head of project delivery) and Dean Davies (head of direct services) of the Canal & River Trust will share their experiences to give an insight into how Canal & River Trust construction projects are prioritised, designed, and delivered in the canal environment where even the simplest of repairs can pose difficulties with design, logistics, heritage, and temporary works.

Between them, John and Dean, spend almost £80m a year on repairing the historic structures and waterway networks for which the Trust are responsible. Whether it be replacing a lock gate, repairing a culvert, rebuilding one of the iconic canal arch bridges, or a major project like a reservoir embankment, there are many challenges their teams face in completing that work.

Meet the Vloggers

Are you a fan of Fran & Rich and their YouTube Channel ‘Floating Our Boat’? Come and meet one of the inland waterway’s most loved couples at Crick Boat Show, as they pair up with boat insurance providers Haven Knox-Johnston, for an open Q&A session at 4pm on Saturday 25th May in the Masterclass Theatre.

Learn about the continuous cruising lifestyle and how they became successful boating vloggers. Find out about their plans for 2024. No questions are off limits in this friendly ‘fireside chat’. Email questions in advance to marketing@HavenKJ.com and make sure to be there in person to join in the fun!

« See all Masterclass information

Free Boat Trips

At Crick Boat Show, visitors can take a free trip out onto the water to experience the Grand Union Canal on one of our trip boats. Trip boats run every 10 minutes from 10.10am each day of the show and each trip lasts 30 minutes. 

All trips are run by LNBP Community Boating who will be collecting small donations.

This is a popular attraction, so we advise that you book your free trip at the Trip Boats Marquee on the Quayside soon after you arrive at the show. 

Find out more about LNBP Community Boating

Real Ale and Cider Festival 2024 - sponsored by

Following the enormous success of previous years there will once again be a Real Ale and Cider Festival in the The Crick Tavern marquee at Crick Boat Show. Sponsored by Lee Sanitation, this year you can enjoy the choice of 50 cask ales, 20 ciders and perries, and over 20 gins.

And thanks to LeeSan sponsorship, the bar is also going plastic-free, with drink 'papers' instead of 'glasses', as well as further improvements to speed up queues at busy times.

Remember - the widest range of beers and ciders will be available on Saturday and Sunday, so don't leave it too late to visit The Crick Tavern the for the greatest choice.

There will be live music in The Crick Tavern each afternoon and evening with headline tribute bands on Saturday and Sunday nights.

Crick Music Festival 2024 - sponsored by

Crick is proud to be Britain's biggest inland waterways festival, but the Crick experience wouldn't be complete without a full weekend of live music entertainment. Enjoy a wide selection of music performed in the Crick Tavern Marquee in the afternoon and evening. On Saturday and Sunday, the evenings build to the appearance of a headline act.

Entry to the evening entertainment is included in the price of your ticket - making a trip to Crick Boat Show incredible value for money.

All evening entertainment is included in the price of your day/weekend ticket, making a visit to Crick Boat Show excellent value for money.

Take a look at our full list of music acts and schedule below.

See 2024 music schedule »

See details of other acts for 2024 »

The Waterways World VIP marquee

The Crick Snug

On Saturday and Sunday evenings the VIP Marquee will transform into The Crick Snug - a quiet, music-free bar for those who wish to enjoy an evening apart from the bustle and live music entertainment in the much larger Crick Tavern marquee. The Crick Snug is open to all, serving a smaller range of real ales, wines, ciders and soft drinks.

On Saturday evening, the Crick Snug will host a Pie & Mash evening.  Book a table and join us for a table-service meal in the cosy Crick Snug.

Pie choices:

• Steak & Ale
• Chicken & Mushroom
• Spiced Parsnip & Butternut Squash (Vegan)

All served with a choice of chips or mash, peas or mushy peas.

Delivered to your table on proper crockery together with a jug of delicous hot gravy.

Our Pie & Mash Night is now fully booked for Saturday 25th May at 6.30pm.

The Crick Snug tables will all be reserved for Pie & Mash guests between 6pm and 8pm.

Tables are reserved from 6.30pm and your meals served shortly thereafter.

Bookings for 1 will be placed on a mixer table, so be prepared to make new friends!  Bookings for 2 or 3 people can select whether to share with another pair or sit alone.

The Canal & River Trust Marquee

We look forward to welcoming visitors to our Marquee to find out about the recreation, health, and wellbeing opportunities available on our waterways.  And to learn about ways to support our #ActNowForCanals campaign, ensuring our network is secured for the benefit of current and future generations.

At Crick 2023, the Canal & River Trust Marquee hosted a ‘national treasures’ exhibition, shining a light on the 2,000 miles of historic and natural treasures in our care. We’ll have some examples on display of the 15,000 historic artefacts in our collection, as well as archive images.  And, following extensive restoration work, the Canal Museum at Stoke Bruerne’s historic working boat ‘Sculptor’ will be moored in the Marina for visitors to see.

We’ll be providing extra information on our local East Midlands waterways.  Stretching for over 295 miles, these ‘national treasures’ include 11 reservoirs, over 1,700 bridges, culverts and locks, and two major visitor destinations - Foxton Locks and the Canal Museum at Stoke Bruerne.

Visitors to the Canal & River Trust Marquee will also be able to try their hands at traditional canal arts, see how a lock works and find out what it takes to care for this fragile, aging network. There will be opportunities to talk to members of our boating, East Midlands and Museums teams, including some of our volunteers.

For more information about the work of the Canal & River Trust, go to www.canalrivertrust.org.uk, call us on 03030 404040 or email customer.services@canalrivertust.org.uk

You can find out more about Canal & River Trust in this short video:

Find out more about Canal & River Trust

For Children

Free entry for children

There is free entry for children on Saturday 25, Sunday 26 and Monday 27 of the Crick Boat Show 2024 so bring along the whole family on these days, and pay only for the adults, providing excellent value for parents, grandparents and carers.

There is no free entry for children on the Trade and Preview Day (Friday 24 May 2024) so if you wish to bring children on this day, they will need a ticket to enter the Show.

Children's activities

In the Children's Area of the Show Village there will be inflatables.

Canal & River Trust will be providing many fun activities for all ages in the Canal & River Trust marquee.

Historic Boats

Each year a number of historic boats make the journey to be part of Crick Boat Show and for 2024 we have matched the record number we had on display in 2023, with three returning and four new historic boats to explore. 

The boats on display are owned by members of the Historic Narrow Boat Club, which works to preserve the working heritage of UK canals from the boats themselves to details of the waterways on which they travel. We are grateful to them for their support in making it possible to bring so many boats.

Lamprey

Built in 1934 by W. J. Yarwood and Sons of Northwich for Birmingham-based carrier Fellows Morton and Clayton, Lamprey was one of a batch of boats powered by 9hp Bolinders and named after fish. Lamprey was one of very few motorboats to carry a forecabin, but this was removed in 1953 when the boat was purchased by the British Transport Commission (Docks and Inland Waterways Executive, North West Division Fleet). 

Lamprey was later hired to Willow Wren Transport Services and Anderton Canal Carrying Company and continued to be used as a carrying boat, before being abandoned in the early 1970s. In 1979 she was sold into private ownership and was restored at Ellesmere Port by Ian Kemp.

Lamprey came into its current ownership in 2012 and has since been undergoing further restoration and was awarded the HNBC’s Hemelryk Award in 2020.

Sandbach

First seen at the 2022 Show, Sandbach makes a welcome return to Crick this year.

Sandbach was built in 1946 for the London, Midland & Scottish Railway (LMS), which owned the Trent & Mersey and Shropshire Union canals at the time.

One of a pair of tug/icebreakers built with wheel steering and a wheelhouse by W J Yarwood & Sons of Northwich. Sister tug was Beeston, both built 25ft long, although Sandbach was lengthened to 35ft less than a year later. 

On the nationalisation of the waterways in 1948, Sandbach was transferred to the British Transport Commission (later British Waterways Board) as part of the maintenance fleet, based initially in Middlewich, and later (by the 1970s) on the River Weaver. 

Later abandoned and sunk, she was rescued by Malcolm Braine in 1982, and restored at Norton Canes. The original engine was a Russell Newbery DM2 but now has a 1953 Bolinder 1052, (two cylinder 23 hp).

Sculptor

Crick stallwart Sculptor is maintained by Friends of the Canal Museum who will be at the Crick Boat Show to talk to visitors about the history of the boat and canal carrying.

A Small Northwich motor boat by W.J. Yarwood, Sculptor was built in 1935. It was registered on 5th May 1936 and its cabin was described as a dwelling to accommodate 'three persons or man, woman and two children'. It was paired with butty Toucan and delivered to the Grand Union Canal Carrying Company as part of a fleet of 12 pairs. Sculptor and Toucan began their cargo carrying days taking general goods from the Midlands to London.

Sculptor was commissioned by the Ministry of War Transport department in 1943 to be used as a fire fighting facility based on the Grand Union Canal in Greenford, Middlesex. The alterations made to accommodate pumps are still evident on its hull.

After the end of the war Sculptor was returned to the Grand Union Canal Carrying Company and in 1948, when the canals were nationalised, was passed to the Docks and Inland Waterways Executive's South Eastern Carrying Fleet where extensive work was carried out on the boat's bottom and keelson. Shortly after it became a maintenance boat for the Engineering Department at Northwich. Its engine was replaced in 1960 with a 2-cylinder air-cooled Lister HB2 diesel engine.

Sculptor retired from the maintenance fleet in 1985 and was restored at Ellesmere Port, returning to its Grand Union Canal Carrying Company black and red wartime livery. Since 1986 the boat has been located at the Canal Museum in Stoke Bruerne as a floating exhibit. In 2012 it was re-bottomed with a wooden hull and is now one of very few composite boats in existence.

Aldgate

After nationalisation in 1948, Aldgate was transferred to the Docks and Inland Waterways Executive of the British Transport Commission (later British Waterways) and leased to Willow Wren Canal Transport Services. Working in the South Eastern division until well into the sixties, Aldgate was at one time paired with the butty Brighton working up to Whitworths flour mills at Wellingborough with Ron Green as steerer. After the decline of Willow Wren she was sold to Alfred Matty & Sons of Oldbury, and used on the phosphorus waste run from Allbright & Wilson to Dudley Port. Following Alfred Matty's death, Aldgate was abandoned on a disused arm in Oldbury and allowed to sink.

She was recovered in the early 1980s by Steve Priest, and after substantial rebuilding was sold to P. Ayres who used her, trading as Colne Valley Carriers. In 2007 Aldgate and Angel were bought as a pair by Nick Wolfe, whose care, time and money (aided by a grant from the Register of National Historic Ships) has brought Aldgate to the condition she is in today. Nick now works Aldgate under the name Nick Wolfe Canal Carrying. Aldgate parted company with Angel in 2008 but the two boats can occasionally be seen together at Badseys Wharf, Hillmorton.

Technical data: length 71ft 6in; width 7ft 0.5in; draft: 3ft (empty), 4ft plus (loaded); gauged for 41 tons; engine - air cooled Petter PD 2 (20hp @ 1500rpm); gearbox -  Parsons 3:1

Renfrew

GUCCCo ‘Big Northwich’ town class Motor Narrowboat

Renfrew was built for the Grand Union Canal Carrying Company by Yarwoods at Northwich and launched in October 1936, fleet number 165, paired with butty ROMSEY.

Renfrew worked for the GUCCCo, DIWE, BWB and Willow Wren up to 1965. In1968 she was purchased by Blue Line Canal Carriers who rebuilt the cabin and fitted the Lister HB2 engine. Finally she towed the wooden LUCY on the Jam Ole coal run. In 1970 she transferred to a family who used her for 40 years for camping trips. In 2011 the present owners returned her to carrying. She has carried elm and oak timber for use in the restorations of LUCY, CLENT and JAMES LOADER.

Between 2012 and 2014 she was chartered by the Dog Kennel Hill Project for their experimental dance show “TUG”, in Nottingham, Watford, Kings Cross and Sale.

The present livery is from the new ‘Wonka’ film, when we spent six weeks working for Warner Brothers on the River Thames at Goring and Culham. Much money was spent on carpentry, painting, filming, safety, catering, lighting, for less than a minute’s appearance. Photographs from the filming are displayed on the boat.

Clover

Clover was built in 1935 by W.J Yarwood and Son in Northwich for Fellows Morton and Clayton Ltd as an Iron composite craft powered by a 15hp Bolinder. Following Nationalisation in 1949 she was purchased by British Transport Commission (D&IWE), South East Division.

In 1965 Clover was solid into private ownership and converted to a pleasure boat. Clover was restored to carrying condition in 1979 and from 1988 she was trading with Captain Cargo Ltd and then South Midland Water Transport Co. Clover was purchased by her current owner in 2006, in recent years she has been re-fitted with a 15hp Bolinder.

Clover can regularly be found trading on the London waterways, with M J Pinnock Water Transport's fleet of fuel boats. In 2014 Clover was the recipient of the HNBC’s Hemelryk Award; this is awarded to an iron/steel/composite narrow boat that has been the most improved during the year.

Effingham

Effingham was one of the first boats to be built to 6ft 10" beam, which allowed passage through bulging locks awaiting rebuilding! She is one of the Admiral class of boats, built at Northwich by Pimblotts in 1959. Effingham was considered to be modern, having opening portholes, toilet and electric lighting throughout.

The hold was covered in cloths laid over hoops and secured with chocks. The hull design is a hydrostatic curved bluff bow. This unique design allowed the vessel to carry a maximum load of up to 29 tons on a badly maintained canal, by creating a bow wave which forced water under the craft, lifting the stern and assisting prop throughput.

Following her rescue as a sunk boat in 2007, major restoration processes have been completed including a new bottom and footings to the side plates, replica boatmans cabin and most recently new stern tunnel bands. Effingham was bought by the current owners in December 2019 and they are continuing her preservation.