This web site is written with the intent of helping prospective new barge owners buy the boat of their dreams, and in the hope that the more popular wide beam boats become on the UK canals, the greater the chances of the wide beam network being expanded.

This Years DBA - The Barge Association Rally is being held at Bisham Abbey on the River Thames over the August Bank Holiday weekend. There will be around 25 barges in attendance. Members visitors day is on Sunday. email Ian for more details

For the latest on New Build VAT see the

► Message Board Forum

The site covers all new build barges, including Replica Dutch Barges, River Barges, Broad Beam and Wide Beam narrowboat style barges. The site gives an indication of where in the UK (and European continent) a broad beam barge can cruise (map and chart) plus future plans of broad beam network across the UK.

There is also advice on buying a new build barge and the diy fit-out of our own 60ft Replica Dutch barge Elessina,  including addressing some of the issues we encountered during our  barge buying process.

If you have an interest in boats and are considering a broad beam canal type boat / barge, you will most likely find something of interest amongst the following pages (if you wish to read all pages, click on the 'next page' hyperlink at the bottom of each page).

Our own barge was fabricated during the early months of 2004, and fitted out on it's mooring. Latest photos can be seen by clicking here.