Night Cruising

For obvious reasons, hire companies forbid their hirers to travel at night. Probably there's a prohibition in their insurance coverage.

But British Waterways rules permit cruising 24 hours a day, and as a private boat owner I hope this never stops. All you need is a white light at the front of the boat, common sense and sobriety. In windy weather, the air is often much calmer at night; there's little or no other traffic to bother you; grotty urban scenery can look quite different at night and out in the country when the moon is full the effect is sublime.

Of course, you do need to be extra careful when working the locks, especially where there are no helpful street lights ... don't try this after an evening in the pub!