Keeping your boat on the Canal
If you want to keep your boat on the Canal for longer than 28 days you will need to register it with us and apply for an Annual Licence and Mooring Agreement.
All boats must comply with the Boat Safety Scheme and hold public liability insurance.
- Private leisure boats - annual licence
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Private Leisure Boats that are not registered with another navigation authority, may register with the BCA for an Annual Licence. All boats being on the Canal for more than 28 days require a home mooring and hold a mooring agreement. You may not cruise continuously instead of having a home mooring on the Basingstoke Canal.
Private leisure boats are usable by the owner and their close relations – you may not hire out a private leisure boat to others, this then becomes a Hire Boat to which stricter safety rules apply.
The annual licence fee is made up of 2 elements
- Navigation fee
- Lock use supplement
The navigation fee charged will depend on if your boat’s long term ‘home’ mooring is above or below lock 15. This is due to the lockless areas of navigation you have available without passing through one of the managed sets of locks.
For lock usage there are two options, the first is an annual fee of £130.50 for unlimited (subject to availability) lock usage charged in advance with your annual licence. The second option is ‘Pay As You Go’.
- Moorings
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In order to gain an annual licence you will need to agree with us that you have a suitable place on the canal to moor your boat long term – for more information about moorings please contact the Canal Office.
There are three different mooring rates depending on the bank you moor to:
- Private – Mooring against private property or council land with a garden licence
- Standard – Mooring against council land without facilities
- Premium – Mooring against council land with nearby boating facilities
A small number of adjoining properties enjoy a right to moor on the Canal as part of a legal agreement with one of the County Council owners – if you think this applies to you please contact the Canal Office to obtain a reference number.
- Living aboard
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With the exception of a small number of houseboats you are not allowed to permanently live-aboard at the mooring if your boat is registered with the Basingstoke Canal. You may only live aboard your vessel at the mooring for three consecutive nights.
You may also live aboard your boat during legitimate navigation along the canal, providing it has a cabin constructed for the purpose.
If your boat is registered with another navigation authority, we offer a small number of six-month winter moorings at the Canal Centre, Mytchett. See Visiting Narrow Boats and Cruisers or contact the Canal Office for details.
There are 22 houseboat moorings at Woodham, and St John’s. These moorings are houseboat moorings and are for use by the lease holders only. These long-term residential moorings are managed directly by Surrey County Council and rarely become available.
- Other types of boat
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If you have a work boat, passenger boat, commercial trading/carrying boat, or want to trade with a boat for hire then please contact the Canal Office to discuss your requirements. Different licence conditions, rates, and safety standards apply to these types of boat.
- How to apply
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If you already have an agreed mooring with a reference number issued by the Canal Office then please use the online form to apply for or renew your annual boat licence.
Apply for or renew annual boat licence
If you do not have a mooring agreement, please contact the Canal Office on 01252 370073 or email [email protected].