‘The Boys are Back in Town’, sang Thin Lizzy, and tribute band Dizzy Lizzy will be headlining the entertainment for visitors to Crick Boat Show, as they take a good look at the largest selection of new narrowboats and other inland craft gathered together in one place
Britain’s biggest annual inland waterways boat show returns to Crick in Northamptonshire on the late spring bank holiday weekend, with over 20 boatbuilders already booked in – and more expected to confirm their attendance. It’s always been the show to go to if you’re thinking of buying a narrowboat – but it’s not just about narrowboats these days, with increasing numbers of widebeams on display, plus cruisers too.
In fact the variety of craft last year was such that the coveted award ‘favourite boat in show’ award, voted for by show visitors, was split into two categories, with Bourne Boats winning the narrowbeam class, and Elton Moss the widebeam – who will be the winners this year?
Do be aware that some of the boats being exhibited are so popular that the builders operate a strict booking system – so if there are some that you particularly wish to see, it can be a good idea to contact them before the weekend to reserve a slot.
It’s not just new boats on sale, though: there will be everything you need to fit out and equip your boat, from engines to tiller pins, and from traditional solid fuel stoves to the latest LED lighting – and for those not looking to buy their own new boat there will be brokerages, hire companies and shared ownership schemes. Together with canal societies, clothes stalls, crafts and food, there will be over 300 exhibitors.
And to keep you informed and entertained, there will be seminars on buying, selling, owning and maintaining boats; boat handling taster sessions; free boat trips; historic and wildlife displays and family activities in the Canal & River Trust Marquee at the show; and as ever a varied programme of live entertainment in the Wheatsheaf real ale bar marquee. This year it’s headlined by tribute bands Dizzy Lizzy with a selection of Thin Lizzy classics like The Boys are Back in Town and Jailbreak on Saturday evening, followed by Abba Revival on Sunday night.
Children up to 16 get in free, and adults get a reduction on their tickets if they buy them in advance from crickboatshow.com by 20 May. It’s easy to get to by car as it’s just off M1 Junction 18, Rugby railway station is six miles away, and by boat it’s on the Grand Union Leicester Line just over five miles north of Norton Junction. The show’s open from 10am to 6pm on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 May, and from 10am to 5pm on Monday 28 May.
Boats:
boatbuilders and fitters
ABC Boats
Aqua Narrowboats
Banks Martin
Bear Boating
Bickerstaffe Boat Company
Boating Leisure Services
Braidbar
Colecraft
Elton Moss Boatbuilders
Finesse Boats
The Fit Out Pontoon
Innovative Eco Homes
JD Narrowboats
Lifestyle Boat Solutions
New & Used Boat Co
Nottingham Boat Co
Ortomarine
Pintail Boats
Smithwood Narrowboats
Tristar Boats
Viking Canal Boats
Wharf House Narrowboats
Willow Boats
Gear:
Boat engines, fittings, equipment etc
Advanced Marine Decking
AJS / Quick Nautical Equipment
Amanzi Marine Services
Amtrim
Aquafax
ARS Anglian Diesels
ASAP Supplies
Aten Lighting
Barrus
Battery Store
Bedazzled LED Lighting
Beta Marine
Caldwells Windows
Canvasman
Central Marine Services
CES Europe
Channelglaze
Cheshire Marine Equipment
Craftmaster Paints
Duratank
DW Electrical Services
Ecotoilets
Elite Furnishings
Engines Plus
Extinguish Fire Solutions
Fischer Panda
Fuel-Guard
Go First Trading
Harworth Heating
Hempel UK
Hercules Hydraulics
Intellitec MV
International Paint
Kildwick
Kings Lock Chandlery
Kinver Canopies
Kuranda
Lace Plate Company
Le Tonkinois Varnish
Lee Sanitation
Loom-Tech
Lynch Motor Company
Mactra Marine
Mannbuck Steels
Marine 16
Marine Industrial
Marineware
Michigan Marine Propulsion
Midland Chandlers
Miracle Leisure Products
Mr D’s Thermal Cooker
Multicell International
Northern Fabrication Services
Owatrol
Permateek
Philip Douetil
Photonic Universe
Quick Nautical Equipment
River Canal Rescue
Run by the Sun
Sail & Trail
Shoreline Marine
Sofabed Barn
T W Marine
The Tankbusters
Tek-Tanks
Titan Boat Canopies
Top Box
Transcool Leisure
Tuffblack
Vetus
Volt Master Systems
Webasto Marine Heating
Wesley Marine Windows
Wilsons Upholstery
Services:
Brokerage, finance, insurance, training, boat share, marinas
ABC Leisure Group
ABNB
Ashwood Marina
Assist Insurance Services
BCBM
Bisham Abbey Sailing & Navigation School
Boatfinder Brokerage Services
Braunston Marina
BWML
Carefree Cruising (Boatshare)
Castle Marinas
Debdale Wharf Marina
Droitwich Spa Marina
Dunchuch Pools Marina
Evesham Marina
GJW Direct
Herbert Woods LLP
Hill Farm Marina
Lakeland Leisure Estates
Mercia Marina
Mercia Marine (Underwriting)
Narrowboat Skills Centre
Narrowboats Ltd
North Kilworth Marina
Overwater Marina
Rugby Boat Sales
Shawbrook Bank
Tingdene Marinas
Venetian Marine
Virginia Currer Marine / High Line Yachting
Watercraft Training
Waterside Mooring, Canal & River Trust
Weltonfield Narrowboats
Whilton Marina
Willow Wren Training
Yelvertoft Marina
Image(s) provided by:
Martin Ludgate
