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
Boat Handling Taster Courses 2023
If you have been hankering to own a canal boat or try a boating holiday but are nervous about how to navigate the waterways, the Boat Handling Taster Sessions at Crick Boat Show 2023 are an ideal way to build confidence and get a feel for what’s involved. They are also useful for anyone who may want to refresh their skills after a break from boating. The Sessions are 2 hours long and take place throughout the weekend, expertly led by RYA accredited trainers, Watercraft and Narrow Boat Skills Centre.
Sessions will take place on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. The trainer will talk you through the basics of casting off, mooring up, boat etiquette, rope handling, breaking down boat jargon as well as the dreaded lock navigation! There’ll be an opportunity to take the tiller and steer the boat under the supervision of an experienced boater.
Each session can accommodate up to four people, so the whole family can enjoy the waterways together (children must be aged 12 and over). Bookings of fewer than four people will share the session with others booked on to the session.
Places are extremely limited, so advance booking is recommended to avoid disappointment. Bookings are now open at £39 per person. Time slots available on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
Bookings for 2023 courses are now open at £39 per person
Courses for 2023 are 2 hours long. Please note, that Boat Handling bookings do not include entry to the Show, tickets for which need to be purchased separately.
Boat Handling Taster Sessions are provided by RYA accredited Training Centres Watercraft and Narrowboat Skills Centre
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.
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.
Masterclasses 2023
Following the great success of the Masterclass Theatre at the 2022 Show, there will be a new selection of presentations by exhibitors. Come to a Masterclass to learn from the experts ...
Below is information about the Masterclasses confirmed to date at the 2023 Show. More are to be added. Full details will be here a couple of months before the Show.
Masterclasses take place in our Masterclass Theatre marquee and each is about 30 minutes long.
The Low Impact Narrowboat
Cadal Craft Ltd – Simon Boyde
Cadal Craft offers innovative new designs for hull, systems and interior to reduce carbon footprint, lower environmental impact and increase energy efficiency. The hull is designed specifically for electric/hybrid propulsion, lowers energy consumption, improves board make efficient use of waste heat and solar power. Other benefits include additional usable space onboard, reduced risk from frozen pipes and reduced energy costs. Founder Simon Boyde, from a professional marine background, explains these innovations and how you or your business can benefit
Water Management
Adam Comerford – Canal & River Trust
National Hydrology Manager, Adam Comerford, will outline the challenges and opportunities facing the management of water within the Trust’s canal network.
Water resources are more important than ever to our canal system. Pressures such as climate change, growth in canal water demand (increased use of our network), changes to environmental legislation and potentially reduced funding could leave us with less water in the future to maintain navigable levels. However, protecting and achieving more value from our water will help us achieve the Trust’s vision of living waterways that transform places and enrich lives.
Series Electrical Propulsion
Kings Lock Chandlery – Steve Wedgewood
Vetus electrical propulsion systems. A presentation to demonstrate the practicalities, functionality and durability of Vetus systems. Presented by Steve Wedgwood who has an in-depth, first-hand knowledge of the installation of Vetus systems.
Paint Technology
Marineware Ltd – Simon Crawford
Paint technology: past, present and the future for inland waterways. Including owner and professional options.
Webasto Heating and Systems
Steve Wedgewood
An insight into the workings of Webasto heating, and air conditioning, for creating a comfortable and welcoming environment. Also, tackling and discussing some common misconceptions and myths.
Mobile Broadband Onboard
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. Using the Mobile broadband, with 4G+ and 5G gives high speed and a cost effective solutions, for all types of users.
We have been providing systems since 2013 to boaters and have a range of solutions to meet all types of user requirements.
Trade & Preview Day – Friday 26 May 2023
In association with 
Exclusive early access to the Show
For just 1,000 pre-booked visitors plus invited, qualifying boating/waterways related businesses, the gates to Crick Boat Show open a day early with a Trade & Preview Day before the three days on which the Show is fully open (Saturday 27 to Monday 29 May 2023).
This exclusive day will take place on Friday 26 May 2023. Preview Day tickets are available only by booking in advance and not at the Show gate – so book early to make sure you’re one of the 1,000.
Visitor Preview Day tickets are on sale from 1 December 2022. Trade Ticket applications (free to qualifying waterway related businesses) open in February 2023.
Why come to Crick Boat Show on Preview Day?
With no crowds, Preview Day gives you the opportunity to talk in-depth with companies offering equipment and services for inland boating and to see the boats, before everyone else.
Online booking system for boat viewings on Friday – Preview Day ticket holders have exclusive access to an online system to make bookings for viewings of boats on Friday 26 May. Viewings are 15-minutes and the booking system opens at the beginning of May 2023 once all the boats that will be at the 2023 Show are confirmed. If you’re thinking of buying a boat or want to see how equipment is used afloat, this is the best way to get to see as many boats as possible in your day at Crick.
To add to your enjoyment of the day, you will receive a free hot drink and access to the VIP marquee.and can pick up a Show Gift Bag on arrival.
The Show is open to Preview Day ticket holders from 12 noon to 6pm on Friday 26 May.
All boats - boatbuilder and brokerage, all quayside and boating-related companies in the Show Village and most of the Waterways World Boating Marquee will be fully open on Friday 26 May. The Food & Craft Marquee, an area of the Show Village reserved for general traders and charities, and a the full Boating Marquee will open on Saturday 27 May.
Trade Tickets
Trade registration is now open.
If you are a boating or waterway-related businesses, do not already receive emails about Crick Boat Show, and you wish to apply for Trade Tickets to Trade & Preview Day on Friday 26 May, please email cricktradetickets@wwonline.co.uk, giving your company name and brief information about your business.
For pre-registered Trade visitors, the Show will be open on Friday 26 May 10am – 6pm.
All trade visitors will require formal accreditation in advance and will be issued individual name badges, which are not transferrable.
Lee Sanitation has over 25 years’ experience in the sanitation business, with a reputation for fast, efficient and friendly service. Your one stop pump shop for waste and clean water.
The Canal & River Trust Marquee
Set up to care for a 2,000-mile network of waterways in England and Wales, the Canal & River Trust is now one of the UK's biggest charities.
Canal & River Trust will welcome visitors to their marquee offering information, advice and, of course, comfy sofas so you can take the weight off your feet and relax!
We will have experts from all our boating teams (including boat licensing, leisure boating, business boating and our long-term moorings team, Waterside Moorings) so whether you are a current, new or potential customer, you can talk through any questions you might have.
There will be plenty of information about the wide variety of work the Trust do and will have our very own Canal & River Trust trailer playing some fascinating videos, so do come and have a browse. There will even be an area for dogs to relax, so whether you have a four-legged pal or not, pop in for a chat!
You can find out more about Canal & River Trust in this short video:
Real Ale Bar
Following the enormous success of previous years there will once again be a Real Ale Beer Festival in the bar marquee at Crick Boat Show. For 2023 there will be a new selection of beers and ciders from independent suppliers from around Northamptonshire, Warwickshire and Leicestershire.
There will be live music in the Bar each afternoon and evening with headline tribute bands on Satruday and Sunday nights.
Crick Music Festival 2023 - sponsored by Aquavista
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 Bar 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.
Headliner Saturday 27 May
Dr Feelgood
On Saturday night, Crick will welcome Dr Feelgood. Formed on Canvey Island in Essex in the early 1970s, their original line-up featured the late Wilko Johnson, and they are now one of the most popular and exciting rhythm and blues acts in the world. The band reached the top of the UK album charts in 1976 with Stupidity and their ‘no nonsense live energy’ continues to enthrall audiences globally with hits including ‘Roxette’, 'Back in the Night', ‘Milk and Alcohol’ and ‘See You Later Alligator’. Dr Feelgood are a class act not to be missed.
Headliner Sunday 28 May
Mercury: The Ultimate Queen Tribute
Formed over 20 years ago, 'the world's leading Queen tribute band' have established themselves as one of the most authentic tributes to Freddie Mercury and Queen. Mercury’s choreographed stage show mixes beautifully-crafted harmonies and intricate guitar work with spectacular and authentic costumes, showmanship and energetic performances. The band have previously played Queen’s hits to Brian May himself, as well as Freddie Mercury’s family, and now bring their dynamic and hugely entertaining performance to Crick.
All evening entertainment is included in the price of your day/weekend ticket, making a visit to Crick Boat Show excellent value for money.
Details of supporting music acts will be announced soon. Check back here for details.
The Waterways World VIP marquee
The VIP Tearoom is a quiet space to relax and purchase savouries, homemade cakes and a selection of teas and coffees.
Entry to the VIP Marquee is exclusively for wearers of the following wristbands:
- VIP*
- Exhibitor
- Show Volunteer.
*To have a VIP wristband you need to be one of the following:
- A subscriber to Waterways World magazine (to subscribe, visit waterwaysworld.com. As a subscriber you also receive 10% discount off advance ticket prices)
- An IWA member (you should show proof of membership at the marquee entrance)
For Children
Free entry for children
There is free entry for children on Saturday 27, Sunday 28 and Monday 29 of the Crick Boat Show 2023 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 26 May 2023) 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.
Favourite Boats in Show
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 2023 Show - one for the most admired narrowboat; and one for the most admired wide-beam, as voted for by visitors to the show.
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 29 May and the prize draw takes place on 7 June 2023.
2022 Winners
Narrowboat
EvenStar – Oakums Narrowboats
Runner up – Braidbar Boats: Desiderata
and in third place – Weston Bespoke Boats: Enterprise
EvenStar - voted Favourite Narrowboat in Show 2022 by visitors.
Widebeam
Time of Life – Finesse Boats
Runner up – The Bespoke Boat Company: The Calveley
and in third place – Thames Solar Boat Company: Thames Solar 10
Chris Harrison and Ricky Lee of Finesse Boats proudly display the Favourite Widebeam in Show 2022 trophy at the stern of Time of Life with the boat's owners.
Historic Boats
Each year a number of historic boats make the journey to be part of Crick Boat Show and in 2023 we will have a record number on display. Boats already confirmed are listed below and others will be added as information becomes available.
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. Lamprey is at Crick for the first time.
Carina
Also a newcommer to Crick this year, Carina was built in 1935, as an unpowered butty by W. J. Yarwood and Sons of Northwich for the Grand Union Canal Carrying Company (GUCCC )and was originally paired with motor boat Libra.
It is recorded as being used in 1970s/80s by the Magic Lantern Company, before being sold into private ownership in 1987 and re-united with its Motor, Libra.
During the 1990s it was operated by BW/Staffordshire County Council as an educational resource boat and paired with motorboat Sagitta, which has been seen at Crick in previous years
From 2013, Carina was trading as a bicycle sales and repair boat based in the centre of Birmingham.
Carina was purchased by her current owner in February 2023 and is currently undergoing refurbishment works. Carina is in the livery of the British Waterways fleet.
Corolla
Also at Crick for the first time, is Corolla, which was built in 1935 for the GUCCC (by Harland & Wolff of Woolwich, London). Up to 1959 Corolla carried general goods, materials, grain and coal between London and the Midlands.
In 1959 the boat was converted to carry passengers and worked between London Paddington and London Zoo as part of the Waterbus/Zoo Bus partnership with the ZSL. During the 1970s Corolla worked as a trip boat in Birmingham before being retired in 1979 and sold by British Waterways.
After falling into disrepair she was restored between 2014 and 2017 and launched in late 2017. She can now be found in GUCCC livery retracing the waterways she used when in carrying condition and also heading to places further afield.
Pegasus
A 1935 Grand Union, Star Class motorboat built by Harland & Wolff as part of the GUCCC expansion. Pegasus is at Crick for the first time.
On nationalisation of the waterways in 1948, Pegasus was passed to British Waterways, initially working in the South Midland Fleet, then passed to the Maintenance Division.
Restored in the 1980s by Ian Kemp, to an immaculate condition, the boat then lay derelict on the Thames for 20 years until purchased by M J Pinnock Water Transport Limited in 2021 and resorted again to full working order. Pegasus is now part of London's fuel boat scene, carrying once more in Britsh Waterways colours.
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).
Purton
Purton makes a welcome return to the Show.
Built by W. J. Yarwood & Sons Ltd at Northwich Cheshire in September 1936. Purton is one of 38 all-steel motors known as a Large Northwich built for the Grand Union Canal Carrying Company Ltd.
Her fleet number was 162. Originally fitted with a National diesel, Purton was re-engined in 1962 with the present Lister HA2 and also shortened to her present length of 57ft 6 in by British Waterways at Knottingley Yorkshire where she worked until 1989. Purton then went into private carrying with West Riding Canal Carriers until she was purchased on the Kennet and Avon Canal by the current owners in 1998, since when time a considerable amount of work has been carried out throughout the boat.
Purton was originally paired with butty Purley, one of 62 built by Walkers of Rickmansworth.
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.
