The Boat Co. North’s story is a passion-fuelled series of events, a beautiful old canal-side mill restoration and a hire boat, Emily, needing a new custodian. The history of Castleton Mill where we are based is intertwined with the canal, so it made sense for this to be Emily’s home. We have since added 3 more individual boats to our fleet, River Dancer, Charlotte and most recently New Dawn. We believe that the Yorkshire waterways can be enjoyed by everyone and being based in Leeds at the heart of the Yorkshire network, means our guests are spoilt for choice. Nature, lively cities, countryside scenery and pubs, are all enriched by navigating the heritage and history of our canals and rivers, meaning it’s fun for all. Boating is very much about the journey, and we invite you to become a part of ours while creating your own.
Meet the skipper
John is our Skipper at The Boat Co. North. His sense of adventure and passion for the waterways led him to purchase his first boat, ‘Wellington’ in March 2013. Since then, he’s spent his life on the canal, exploring all the endless wonder, excitement and eccentricities that it has to offer — as well as meeting some friendly faces over the years.
Now an experienced Skipper, he’s here to help our guests begin adventures of their own. You’re likely to meet John on your first day with us. He’s here to help show you the ropes, answer any questions, share some canal-side stories and set you on your way!