Carrick Craft Ireland Canal Boat Rental

Welcome to Carrickcraft, the largest and most experienced cruiser hire company in Ireland. Operating along some 300 majestic miles of silvery waterway, Carrickcraft have provided idyllic cruising holidays in Ireland for over 35 years. No licence is required to cruise the rivers of Ireland, and anyone over the age of 21 can take command of one of Carrickcraft's holiday cruisers. You can book any length of holiday - 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11 or 14 days - starting on any day except Sunday and Bank Holidays. And the longer you stay the better the value - an extra day on a Carlow in High Season is only €85! So check the "Book Now" section and see when you can get away to the most relaxing holiday you can imagine.

Carlow	Clare	Kilkenny
Roscommon	Waterford	Wexford
Tyrone

Banagher The town of Banagher in County Offaly is the location of Carrick Craft's second Marina Base. Banagher is the ideal centre for exploring the lower Shannon and Lough Derg, the largest lake on the waterway system.Further downstream, the Shannon wends its way to Banagher. Banagher is the ideal centre for exploring the lower Shannon and Lough Derg, the largest lake on the waterway system.Many good harbours and small towns are to be found on Lough Derg as well as a number of excellent eating places.
Carrick-On-Shannon The town of Carrick-on-Shannon in the county of Leitrim is justly considered to be the center of cruising in Ireland. This ideal location is where Carrickcraft established it's first Marina back in 1970.The marina at Carrick-on-Shannon was the first marina opened by Carrickcraft over 35 years ago. The town has changed, but move a mile up or down river and it could be the same place as 1974. The north Shannon is probably the most lively section of the river.
Tully Bay Tully Bay is situated just 12 miles from Enniskillen on the Western shores of Lower Lough Erne. It is ideally placed to explore the whole of Lower and Upper Lough Erne and gives easy access to Belleek and Kesh as well as the many restaurants on the shoreside. Enniskillen is only a few hours away by boat and then on to Upper Lough Erne and the Shannon/Erne waterway.
Lower Bann Running from Toomebridge on the shores of Lough Neagh to Coleraine, the Lower Bann is a beautifully scenic river with an excellent navigation system and an unspoilt environment. It is anticipated that a 7-day holiday will allow travellers to see all of the river and to have some extra time to discover the hinterland.

  FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What will I experience?
Slowly, slowly In Ireland and Northern Ireland there is no licence requirement for cruising, and anyone 21 years or over can hire a cruiser. The rivers and lakes of the Shannon and Erne are a wonderful area for quiet relaxation. The real enjoyment of the holiday is in gently exploring this unique waterway, watching the wildlife and the endlessly changing river and landscapes. For those who are new to cruising, it is certainly an experience you won't want to miss.You should also complete the Boat Craft Tutorials on this site before arriving at the marina. They contain a lot of very useful information on navigation and boat maintenance and are great fun too!

Is it right for me?
Although cruising is extremely relaxing, it is essentially an activity holiday, which assumes a small but reasonable level of fitness from at least two crew members. Navigation and routine maintenance are two essential areas where responsibility must be assigned.

How will I navigate?
Navigation on the Shannon, Erne and Shannon / Erne Waterway is very simple. Prior to your arrival, you will be given a Holiday Planner containing essential information on cruising the waterways and on arrival at the marina you will be given a detailed Navigation Chart of the Shannon and Erne Waterways. So long as you learn the simple rules of navigation and follow our charts and maps you will find the rivers and lakes perfectly safe for people who have not experienced a cruising holiday before.

How will I control the boat?
Horses grazing on the riverbank All hirers are required to have a period of classroom instruction during which time information will be given on the routine maintenance, basic navigation and safety procedures. This tuition is provided at set times which will be advised to you on arrival at the Marina.You will also receive a demonstration by an instructor on your own craft. You will have the opportunity to take control of the cruiser as required.

What if I have never been on a boat before?
Don't worry - you are in good company. Half of our clients have never been on a boat before, but they soon get to grips with the very simple controls.

Is there any tuition given beforehand?
You can complete the Boat Craft Tutorials at any time prior to arriving at the marina. They provide a lot of information and are great fun too! If you do not complete the tutorials, there will be a period of classroom instruction when you arrive at the marina, during which time information will be given on the routine maintenance of the boat and also basic navigation and safety procedures. There will then be an on-board demonstration when an instructor will demonstrate the controls in practice and take you out for a short run. In addition, you will be sent a Captain's Handbook with your final confirmation with a lot of very useful navigation advice.

Do I have to pay for fuel?
Yes - you get the boat full of fuel and when you come back at the end of your holiday, we fill the boat again and you pay for the fuel used! Typical fuel bill is €150 to €200 for a week depending on the size of boat.

Can I bring my dog?
Pets are only allowed on the Mayo class cruisers for a charge of €100 per booking. For those of you travelling on other types of boat, we can recommend excellent local kennels.

Apart from the hire cost, what else do I have to pay?
Unless you add anything extra to your booking like airport transfers or bicycles, the only extra costs will be the insurance (see below) and the fuel. There are no charges for mooring at public marinas. A small charge of around €2 is made if you go through any locks.

What are the pick-up and drop-off times?
We have to clean and service every cruiser before it can be put out on hire, therefore cruisers are normally available for pick-up between 4 and 6pm. In certain circumstances we may be able to arrange an earlier pick up. You will be required to vacate your cruiser by 9am on the day of departure.

Where do I get the navigation chart?
A navigation chart covering the entire Shannon and Erne Waterways has been produced by Carrickcraft and will be given to all hirers on arrival at the marina. The chart shows where you can moor and the different facilities available at each mooring.

Is insurance included?
Insurance for accidental damage and public liability is included in your hire cost. However we do ask for a returnable insurance excess of between €850 and €2,000 depending on the size of the boat hired. This can be reduced to €100, by paying a non-refundable waiver of between €75 and €150, according to the size of boat. We cannot, however, provide for wilful or negligent misconduct. The insurance cover provided is set out in the Conditions of Hire.

Does the insurance cover personal belongings?
The insurance does not cover you for personal injury or loss or damage to your own property. We strongly recommend that you take out Personal Travel Insurance before you travel.

Are towels and bed linen provided?
Bed linen is provided and includes pillows, duvets, blankets and sheets. Hand towels and tea towels are provided. Bath towels are available on request.

What cooking facilities are there?
All our cruisers have a full-sized cooker with burner rings, grill and oven and a small fridge. There is a full inventory on board appropriate to the size of each cruiser. This includes everything from pots and pans to cutlery and crockery.

Is there electric on board?
All electrical services on board eg water, lighting, radio, showers etc. are powered from batteries which are charged from the engine (12V). We can provide an invertor for small electrical items like mobile phone chargers. Any other electrical items can only be used when moored using shore power. The Roscommon, Waterford and Wexford class are equipped with hairdryers and DVD players.

Is there a TV or radio on board?
All of our boats have a radio and CD player, similar to a car stereo. The Roscommon, Waterford and Wexford are equipped with a TV/DVD player and, for all other boats, this can be hired at a cost of €50 for a week. It should be noted however that there is not always a good TV reception when on the water, so they are hired as a DVD player.

Can I book any number of nights?
The minimum hire period is 3 nights. On the Clare, Kilkenny, Mayo and Carlow class cruisers, you can book any number of nights, starting on any day except Sunday. On the Roscommon, Waterford and Wexford, you can only book for 7 nights, starting on a Saturday.

How do I get to the Marina from the airport?
We can offer scheduled transfers from Dublin airport to all marinas on Saturdays and Wednesdays at a cost of 38 euro per person single or 70 euro return. Our scheduled transfers are between 12 and 6pm on arrival and up until 11am on departure. If you are travelling outside these times, we can organise a private transfer at the cost of a taxi or minibus.

Can you arrange ferry-crossings?
Yes. If you contact us by e-mail or phone, we can arrange crossings from Holyhead and Stranraer.

Can I leave my car at the marina?
Yes, unsecured parking is available free of charge at all of our 3 marinas. This is not under cover.