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News, stories and updates.

Notes from the towpath: what's new at BoatStays, owner stories, and the slow life on Britain's waterways.

Community update

October 2026

5 Oct 2026

What's new on BoatStays: October 2026

Dates you can trust, calendars that talk to each other, and owners who confirm within 24 hours. Nothing for you to set up.

33,000 boats on Britain's canals. Most of them move for three weeks a year.

BoatStays

3 Sep 2026

33,000 boats on Britain's canals. Most of them move for three weeks a year.

Britain has more than 33,000 licensed boats and most private narrowboats move for three or four weeks a year. What that costs owners, and why sharing a boat changes more than the maths.

Not one clean river in England. Here is why we give back to the water.

BoatStays

9 Aug 2026

Not one clean river in England. Here is why we give back to the water.

New Environment Agency figures make hard reading for anyone who loves being on the water. Here is what they say, and why a share of every BoatStays booking goes back to the waterways.

BoatStays

8 Jul 2026

BoatStays is here: Britain's boat owners invited to share their vessels

Our official launch. A new owner-hosted platform for narrowboats, river cruisers and dayboats, with a founding-owner offer for Towpath Talk readers who list before 30 September 2026.

BoatStays

16 Jun 2026

A vessel for happiness

Your boat is already telling a story, through the care you've put into it, the routes you've taken, the small touches that make it feel like somewhere. Here's why sharing it is the best thing you can do with it.

BoatStays

6 Jun 2026

The slow miles

There are 2,000 miles of navigable waterway in Britain, and over 33,000 licensed boats on Canal & River Trust water alone. Most of those boats sit on their moorings for most of the year. We think that is about to change.

New on our socials

Straight from the towpath.

Photos, moments and small updates as they happen.

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Our latest posts appear here. In the meantime, come and say hello on Instagram or Facebook.