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Frequently Asked Questions
- What makes you different?
- How did it all come about?
- Does Escape the Rat Race rent boats out?
- So what is on offer from Escape the Rat Race?
- Do you want me to check in every now and again?
- What is the cost of securing a boat and starting out?
- What information do we need to give you to board the boat?
- I have a pet - Can I bring it with me?
- Where do I start from?
- I have another question not covered here - What do I do?
1. What makes you different?
- Escape The Rat Race was the first company to specialise exclusively in long term narrowboat breaks.
- Other legal and insured operators tend to specialise in short term
holiday hire and charge huge fees for long term cruises.
- Longer cruises of this kind are different to a couple of weeks rental -
requiring specialised understanding of what is needed.
Unlike a boat booked with us, many long term hire arrangements
are uninsured and often illegal.
- Our boats are correctly licensed and fully insured for what we do.
Without being too technical, you simply put down a deposit against
breakage/damage and pay a monthly fee to occupy the boat. While you are on
board, you will legally be a minority owner (though without the costs
involved) - at the end of the stay you hand the boat back. while you are on
board, Escape the Ratrace looks after you, providing maintenance and
servicing as required. you are simply responsible for your consumables:gas,
diesel etc.
- Our boats are carefully prepared and set up for living aboard.
We prepare our boats such that when you arrive for your “Escapeâ€,
the boat welcomes you like an old friend.
- You can go anywhere - Many other boats only travel along common tourist routes.
We give you the freedom to travel where you wish, winding your way along many different canals and rivers.
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1. How did it all come about?
The company was begun by two friends in 2005, Tim Penrose with a background in hospitality and leisure, and Alex Welby,
who has had a lifetime dealing with boats - he owned his first one when he was 8!
Tim owned a narrowboat and casually lent it to friends.
Once, while he was away for 6 months he rented it on a handshake to 2 people he had met off the internet.
They had the boat for six months and hired it from Tim. Alex (the very practical one who can restore most things and is especially
good with boats and technical stuff) had known Tim for a number of years and
had even used the boat himself. After a
bit more talking and another boat bought Escape the Ratrace was born! Now, while still friends, Alex runs the company. Tim has left to concentrate on his many other business interests.
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2. Does Escape the Rat Race rent boats out?
No, we do not rent our boats, but we can help if you would like to stay on a narrowboat for an extended time! In retrospect, our first let was an amateurish affair - a friendly informal agreement which may have made sense to those who agreed it but wouldn't have satisfied a closer inspection!
However, from those small beginnings, Escape the Rat Race now has appropriate procedures to provide a professional service properly fulfilling the needs of those who wish to liveaboard a boat long term.
The present concept may look similar but it is legally as different as a kickabout in the park is when compared with fully professional league football.
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3. So what is on offer from Escape the Rat Race?
Escape the Rat Race is a management company that allows owners to share their ownership with others - who are able to occupy the boats for a period of time.
While on the boats the occupant becomes a minority owner.
Escape the Rat Race manages the boat on behalf of both owners ensuring that the boat is safe, properly licensed and fully insured, and that all is correct as far as British Waterways is concerned.
Maintenance is also fully covered.
Handovers are conducted with care so that - whether the minority owner is a novice or experienced - he or she will understand what is needed to become a helpful and constructive member of the canalling community.
The boat is carefully maintained and looked after.
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4. Do you want me to check in every now and again?
You dont have to! We want you to Escape, though we do expect you to look after your boat - after all it is both valuable and a treasure to those who own it... There are some simple checks that you will need to do - some of these are daily, some weekly, some monthly, but they aren't onerous - they need to be done to keep the boat in good working order - but don't worry about what this involves as all this will be fully explained at the handover.
There is constant advice and support available from Alex.
If something is needed he will either come personally or will arrange for an engineer to visit.
Depending how much you are "on the move" and how long you are out, he will also arrange for regular maintenance.
However the whole aim is that you Escape and are left free to do so.
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5. What is the cost of securing a boat and starting out?
There is a returnable security deposit of £1000 (subject to the boat being in good condition, with a complete inventory on the return).
In addition the first of the occupation fees will also be due before you begin.
But then, with the paperwork signed, it is time to start cruising as a part owner of the vessel.
Your Escape begins...
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6. What information do we need to give you to board the boat?
Straightforward really. A copy of a passport or driving licence, two (original) utility
bills and 2 references.
Once these have all been checked, the agreements are signed. With payment made the boat is booked... it will be prepared and waiting for you on the day arranged.
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7. I have a pet - Can I bring it with me?
Yes - certainly if it is a cat or a dog - the only point to be made is that the security deposit covers any damage - whether caused by human or pet!
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8. Where do I start from?
Because of the nature of the long stays on these boats and cruising habits of the minority owners on a boat it is hard to say!
Normally there is a mutual plan developed - sometimes the new minority owner is happy to collect the boat from where the previous minority owner leaves it.
Escape the Rat Race seeks to serve and will try to arrange delivery to the place the new owner needs it. Ideally this is free but sometimes we do charge anything up to £250 for this.
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9. I have another question not covered here - What do I do?
Call or e-mail us! We are a small business whose watchword is service so please ask.
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