HDPE FAQs
The arrival of HDPE narrowboats has caused plenty of discussion within the industry. We look at what the material offers – and some of the questions that remain
When Formation Plastics unveiled its prototype HDPE narrowboat at the 2025 Crick Boat Show, it inevitably attracted plenty of attention – and a fair amount of scepticism. A year later the company returned with a second boat, this time built to order for private owners and earning positive reviews.
Managing the new normal
Britain’s canals are increasingly being tested by prolonged drought, extreme heat and intense rainfall. James Francis Fox asks how the network can adapt
If you have been caught by this summer’s drought-related stoppages, found yourself marooned far from your intended destination or spent another airless night unable to sleep aboard your boat, there may be little comfort in being told that such conditions are becoming part of a wider pattern.
Dangerous Boats
River Canal Rescue managing director Stephanie Horton reports on the growing number of unsafe boats on the move
At River Canal Rescue, we’ve been seeing a deeply troubling trend: more and more boats cruising our inland waterways are simply not safe. In fact, around 16% of the 3,500 breakdowns we attend each year now relate directly to dangerous conditions – from poor wiring and battery setups to CO leaks and overloaded circuits. That figure has jumped from 12% in just 18 months.
