Planning Stage....

We have made the decision that we would like to buy a canal boat and hire it out to help offset the cost of it. It will also be a fun business venture (hopefully!). We looked around for the type of boat we would like - a 6 berth to accommodate families with three or more children. We also prefer the reverse layout with the living/dining quarters at the back of the boat. This means that while someone is driving the boat, they can still chat to everyone else on board.

We have found one boat called the Dalton Dame at the Blackwater Marina in Shropshire. We have made an appointment to visit it on Tuesday! This will enable to decide whether we want to proceed with buying it, and we can then start booking the survey and blacking of the hull of the boat. It's quite a long journey, three hours away, but we need to look at it.

While we wait to see the boat, we are writing all the documentation that we need to give to the Canal & River Trust for our application for a business license. This includes terms and conditions, booking form, handover checklist etc. There's lots to think about but it's all very exciting!