Find Your Perfect Canal Barge - Designed Around Your Desires

A green narrowboat named 'Creevous Angel' docked on a canal, with other boats visible in the background, surrounded by trees and a brick wall.

Searching for a Canal Boat /Narrowboat?

You're looking for maximum space and residential luxury on the water. While JD Narrowboats specialises in custom narrowboats (the UK's most versatile canal craft), we understand your need for a spacious, high-quality home. Discover how our bespoke, wide-bodied vessels can deliver the comfort and craftsmanship you expect from the best barges for sale in the UK.

Why Choose JD Narrowboats for Your Spacious Vessel?

The search for canal barges for sale often leads to older, complex boats. We offer a superior option: a brand-new, custom-built vessel tailored entirely to your residential needs.

  • Uncompromising Quality: Our entire build process - from the steelwork up - is done in-house by our family team, backed by 5 decades of experience. We ensure every vessel, large or small, meets the highest standard of craftsmanship.

  • Residential Luxury: We design bespoke, spacious interiors that maximise light, storage, and comfort, giving you the feel of a premium apartment on the water.

  • Guaranteed Reliability: You get the peace of mind of a brand-new engine, new systems, and our comprehensive warranty, addressing the biggest anxieties of owning a large vessel.

Commission a Home Built for Long-Term Freedom

Imagine a spacious, custom vessel that eliminates the risks of buying a second-hand "barge for sale."

  • Built for Your Life: Forget inheriting someone else's layout. We design every square foot around your needs, from a full-sized kitchen to a dedicated study space.

  • Worry-Free Ownership: We eliminate the risks associated with older canal barges for sale, which often require immediate, costly repairs. Our robust, certified new builds ensure your retirement is spent cruising, not fixing.

  • Full Transparency: Our milestone payment plan ensures you pay as you see the physical progress of your boat, providing financial clarity and control throughout the entire process.

"We were looking for the widest canal barges for sale but chose JD Narrowboats for their quality. The resulting wide-beam narrowboat is a stunning home built with exceptional care." - A Client Seeking Residential Comfort

Get Expert Guidance on Your Canal, Narrowboat Project

Ready to commission a spacious, bespoke vessel with the quality guarantee only an in-house builder can provide?

Fill out the quick form below to request:

  • A Comparative Guide to Wide Beam vs. Narrowboat Designs

  • A Custom Design Consultation

  • Detailed Information on Our Residential Build Specifications

Request Your Free Design Consultation

Get My Consultation

Why JD Narrowboats is the Right Choice For Bespoke Build

Attention to Detail

No outsourcing. No shortcuts.

Every stage of your boat’s construction is handled in our dedicated workshop.

We oversee every weld, electrical wire, and wooden join so you can be confident in the quality of every detail.

Experienced craftsmen

Over 50 years of boat building experience

As expert boat builders, JD Narrowboats brings together time-served skill, technical knowledge, and the kind of insight that only comes from building hundreds of boats.

We are experienced and professional.

A skilled woodworker wearing a work apron marks a wooden plank with a pencil, preparing the custom timber for the interior cabinetry of a narrowboat.
A black and white photograph of skilled workers performing a bespoke narrowboat restoration inside a large, professional workshop, with tools and materials visible.
“We would visit the workshop every few weeks to see the progress of our boat. We are delighted with the result. Thank you!”
— Archie Braithwaite - 'Free & Easy'
“Andy and Darren offered amazing insights and experience in regard to our build. We would highly recommend JD Narrowboats.”
— Katherine Ryan - 'Orchid Rose'
A majestic white swan glides across the glistening surface of a body of water, reflecting sunlight.
An atmospheric photograph of narrow boats moored beside a wooden dock, with the sky aglow in the warm colors of sunset.
“We sailed away on the 12th April safe in the knowledge that if anything broke then it would be fixed. We also have 5 years warranty on inverters and such”
— Robin Simpson - 'Maggie May'
“Every potential problem we came to Andy and Darren with, they provided a solution. We have every confidence in their approach because they’ve seen it and done it all before!”
— Ruben Moura - 'Casa Aqua'

Proven Track Record

Over 200 boat projects complete

We’ve created everything from compact cruisers to luxury liveaboards. Each boat is a one-off just like the people who own them. Over 200 new builds which we’re incredibly proud of.

Your Peace of Mind

Every build includes up to a 5 year warranty

Every boat comes with up to a 5 year warranty on our workmanship.

There will also be manufacturer warranties on key systems which can be up to 5 years.