Inland BoatChecklists

Inland boat maintenance checklist.

Before-cruising observations, a monthly review and seasonal planning for UK narrowboats, widebeams and inland cruisers. Start with your boat's manuals and maintenance history.

Inland Boat editorial checklist | Updated

Green narrowboat moored beside a tree-lined canal with a stone bridge in the distance

Review progress

0 of 24 reviewed0 need attention0 need professional checks

Reviewed does not mean repaired or safe to depart. Outstanding work still needs resolving; this checklist is not a survey, a BSS examination or a manufacturer's service schedule.

Before each departure

Before cruising

Routine observations before starting the engine or leaving the mooring. A new leak, fault or alarm needs investigation before departure.

0 of 8 reviewed

  • Look for unexpected water or a rising level in accessible spaces. Confirm that fitted bilge pumps and alarms are ready, following their instructions. New or unexplained ingress needs attention; a pump does not fix its cause.

    Not yet reviewed | No follow-up noted

  • Follow the engine handbook for fluid checks with the engine stopped and safe to approach. Look for fresh oil, fuel or coolant leaks. Never remove a hot pressurised coolant cap or reach near moving machinery.

    Not yet reviewed | No follow-up noted

  • Check the normal fuel indication and look or smell for a change from usual conditions, without dismantling fittings. Fuel fumes or fuel in the bilge require qualified help before starting the engine.

    Not yet reviewed | No follow-up noted

  • Confirm normal operation using the boat's handbook and a safe, clear setting. Keep people clear of the propeller. Investigate stiffness, loose controls, unusual vibration or a new stern-area leak before departure.

    Not yet reviewed | No follow-up noted

  • Look for worn lines, loose fittings and trip hazards. Keep access and escape routes clear. Check that lines will not reach the propeller and that fenders and deck equipment are secured for the journey.

    Not yet reviewed | No follow-up noted

  • Confirm alarms are within their replacement dates and test as the maker specifies. Check accessible ventilation openings are unobstructed. Do not treat an alarm test as a check of the appliance, flue or fuel system.

    Not yet reviewed | No follow-up noted

  • Check normal instrument readings and look for damaged cables, heat or burning smells. Deal with the shore-power connection only by its safe disconnection procedure; never unplug under load or work on live circuits.

    Not yet reviewed | No follow-up noted

  • Check the relevant navigation authority's notices and conditions for the planned waterway. River flow, flood warnings, lock restrictions and available moorings can change the departure decision even when the boat appears ready.

    Not yet reviewed | No follow-up noted

A regular planning prompt

Monthly review

Monthly is a useful reminder, not a service interval. Busy cruising, a liveaboard installation or a developing fault may require checks much sooner.

0 of 8 reviewed

  • Look for leaves, dirt and obstructions at accessible drains, gutters and scuppers. Keep intended drainage and ventilation paths clear without altering their design. Inspect window and hatch areas for new water staining.

    Not yet reviewed | No follow-up noted

  • Note new rust, coating damage, impact marks or signs of leakage visible from a safe position. Do not enter the water or crawl under an unsupported boat. The underwater hull and anodes require a planned inspection.

    Not yet reviewed | No follow-up noted

  • Review wear at attachment points and chafing areas, and consider changing water levels. Arrange replacement or professional attention for damaged fittings. Do not loosen a loaded line without a safe alternative arrangement.

    Not yet reviewed | No follow-up noted

  • Compare accessible bilge conditions with your usual observations. An increase in pump activity, water, oil or fuel is an issue to investigate. Do not discharge contaminated bilge water into the waterway.

    Not yet reviewed | No follow-up noted

  • Check installed monitoring information and externally visible condition only. Follow the maker's instructions for your battery chemistry. Do not open sealed batteries, disturb high-current connections or guess charging settings.

    Not yet reviewed | No follow-up noted

  • Review accessible hoses, pump behaviour and signs of leakage without opening pressurised or hot equipment. Follow the tank and treatment instructions for hygiene. Continuous pump cycling deserves investigation, not just switching the pump off.

    Not yet reviewed | No follow-up noted

  • Look for visible soot, staining, damage or obstructions from a safe position. Keep fixed ventilation open. Stop using equipment with a suspected fault and arrange competent inspection; this checklist is not a combustion or gas-safety test.

    Not yet reviewed | No follow-up noted

  • Review your separate maintenance log, hours, previous faults and booked work. Schedule oil, filters, belts, coolant and other servicing to the specific maker's time or hours limit, whichever applies first.

    Not yet reviewed | No follow-up noted

Before a change of season or use

Seasonal and annual planning

Plan around the boat's construction, equipment and history. Winterisation differs between occupied boats, unattended boats and boats ashore.

0 of 8 reviewed

  • Check the applicable handbook and service history, including time and hours limits. Arrange competent servicing for work outside your skills. An annual reminder must not replace a shorter interval specified for the engine or drive.

    Not yet reviewed | No follow-up noted

  • Review the last out-of-water inspection and recommendations. Steel narrowboats and widebeams need a suitable corrosion and coating plan; a GRP inland cruiser has different inspection needs. Do not assume a single blacking interval fits all boats.

    Not yet reviewed | No follow-up noted

  • Agree an equipment-specific plan for fresh water, engine cooling and any other frost-sensitive systems. An occupied boat and an unattended boat need different arrangements. Use maker or professional advice rather than a blanket drain-down instruction.

    Not yet reviewed | No follow-up noted

  • Arrange the inspections and cleaning required for fitted appliances before heavy seasonal use. Have gas work carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer qualified for the relevant LPG appliances on boats. Keep service evidence separately.

    Not yet reviewed | No follow-up noted

  • Plan competent inspection of shore power, protection devices, charging and battery installation as needed. Battery chemistry matters, particularly lithium systems. Do not use this page to modify 230 V or high-current wiring.

    Not yet reviewed | No follow-up noted

  • Review alarm replacement dates, extinguisher instructions and the relevant BSS certificate or examination requirements. A certificate records an examination; it does not replace continuing maintenance or prove the boat is safe today.

    Not yet reviewed | No follow-up noted

  • Plan who can check the boat, how changing water levels will affect it and how faults will be reported. Review the relevant mooring rules and any insurer's conditions for storage or unattended periods alongside the maintenance plan.

    Not yet reviewed | No follow-up noted

  • Review completed work and unresolved issues before recommissioning. Follow equipment-specific restart procedures and repeat the before-cruising observations. Seek competent advice for any uncertainty instead of treating completed ticks as clearance to depart.

    Not yet reviewed | No follow-up noted

Fit the plan to your boat.

This is an editorial planning aid for privately used UK inland boats. Steel narrowboats and widebeams, GRP river cruisers and other craft have different hulls, drives, cooling arrangements and batteries. Not every item applies; your equipment handbook and competent advice take precedence.

Commercial and hire craft may have additional operating and inspection requirements. Check with the relevant navigation authority and operator. Keep a separate dated maintenance record of observations, service work and professional recommendations.

Know when to stop.

Gas or fuel fumes, fuel in the bilge, smoke, a CO alarm or suspected CO exposure are not routine checklist tasks. Move everyone to safety and fresh air, avoid ignition sources, and do not re-enter or restart suspect equipment. Call 999 if there is immediate danger or suspected CO poisoning.

Use appropriate qualified help for LPG, fuel systems, 230 V, high-current battery work and combustion appliances. Gas engineers need the relevant boat and LPG qualifications. A successful alarm test does not prove that an appliance or installation is safe.

Sources and further reading

The periods and review prompts above are Inland Boat's editorial grouping, not mandatory intervals from these organisations. Source pages checked on .

BSS preparation | Navigation and licence responsibilities