Of course, buying a narrow-boat isn't a very sensible way to start your boating career, and like most people we got started by hiring a boat for a holiday. Middlewich Narrow Boats, from whom I borrowed this picture, supplied the boat 'Laurel', on which we made our maiden canal voyage.
Two things seem important about arranging your first narrowboat adventure (apart from the location and the quality / service of the hire company - there are many to choose from). The first is good weather, and if you can organise that you'll probably become a lifelong boating fan. The second is the opportunity to learn the operation of a lock under supervision. Locks are about the only potentially nerve-racking thing about canal boating, and not every hire-boat operator is situated near enough to a lock to provide this important hands on training. Learning from written instructions and diagrams may seem OK until you're actually faced with the real thing...
Having said that, choosing a route that includes reasonable distances without locks can be a good idea. If the weather gets dodgy, it's better if only the helmsperson is out in the elements.
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