There are as many different styles and eras of boats suitable for use inland as there are seagoing vessels – and a lot of them overlap between the two disciplines.
Indeed, a sizeable proportion of boats based on rivers with easy access to the sea, such as the Thames above Teddington lock, or the Lee Navigation in east London, have powerful engines that allow them to achieve planing speeds in open water. However, those further inland will tend to have smaller units that are more economical to run but will still deliver hull speed in nearly any conditions.
An early decision will be whether to opt for a wide beam vessel or a narrow beam one able to navigate the UK’s narrow canals
