Narrowboat Wet Dock on the Aylesbury Arm
Covered Facility for Narrowboat Painting
Aylesbury Canal Society’s wet dock offers a purpose-built, sheltered environment for maintaining and repainting your narrowboat — ideal for DIY projects and long-term care. Situated on the Grand Union Canal at Circus Field Basin, our wet dock gives you everything you need to work in comfort, whatever the weather.
Full Weather Protection
Unlike basic sheds or tarpaulins, our permanent covered dock shields your vessel from rain, sun, and wind — essential for consistent painting and repair work.
5 * Reviews
We cannot recommend this facility enough. Good space, modern facilities, access to fantastic kit to get the job done, and extremely helpful advice from experienced boaters. Going down the Arm was pretty easy as well and absolutely worth doing. Thank you to the team for the help! We hope to come back one day to Winter Moor here
Book The Wet Dock
View availability and hold your dates today; a £25 deposit per day will be charged to secure your dates.
The cost of a day’s hire is £56.40 Inc VAT, invoiced at the end of the hire along with the electricity cost.
How your Wet Dock hire booking works
Booking your Wet Dock hire happens in two stages. Here’s what to expect.
Choosing your dates
Your first selected day is the day you bring your boat into the dock — this will happen between 9 AM and 11 AM, depending on whether the dock is being vacated that day. Then select each day you’ll be in the dock, up to and including the day before you leave. Don’t select your departure day itself.
For example: if you’re booking the dock from Monday to Monday, select Monday through to the Sunday before you leave — not the Monday you come out. This is because another hire may be entering the dock that same day, right after you’ve left. Most of our hires run Monday to Monday and last one to three weeks.
Paying for your booking
- Now, at booking, pay a £ 25-per-day deposit to hold your dates. Read and agree to the documents linked below, and upload a copy of your boat’s third-party insurance (minimum £2,000,000 cover). If you don’t have this to hand, you can email it over later, but we must receive it before your booking.
- After you depart: we’ll send a final invoice for the days hired, metered electricity, and any sanding discs purchased during your stay.
Please read and agree to the following before booking
Why Choose Our Wet Dock?
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Full Weather Protection: Unlike basic sheds or tarpaulins, our permanent covered dock shields your vessel from rain, sun, and wind — essential for consistent painting and repair work.
- Still Air Heating Option: Central heating radiators provide optional temperature control to support quality paint application in colder months.
- Excellent Lighting: Natural and artificial lighting ensure high visibility throughout the workday.
- We stock a range of sanding discs on site.
- Surfaces are maintained to minimise contamination and disruption.
- The workspace supports both hobbyists and professionals.
On-Site Amenities for Wet Dock Customers
You’ll have exclusive access to:
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Dedicated Kitchen Area: Sink, kettle, and microwave just for dock users.
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Private Shower Facilities:
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Laundry Room: Two washers and dryers for your convenience.
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Toilets:
Additional Workshops
Located adjacent to the wet dock:
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Dirty Workshop: Ideal for heavy-duty tasks; includes workbenches and vices.
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Paint Workshop: A clean, dust-free space suitable for painting.
Perfect for DIY Boat Owners
Whether you’re repainting your boat, sanding down for maintenance, or preparing for a full refit, our wet dock and support facilities are tailored to help you get the job done — comfortably, safely, and to a high standard.
What is the Aylesbury Wet Dock?
The Aylesbury Wet Dock is a premium covered facility provided by the Aylesbury Canal Society for narrowboat maintenance and repainting. It offers a purpose-built, sheltered environment at Circus Field Basin on the Grand Union Canal (Aylesbury Arm), ideal for DIY projects and professional work in all weather conditions.
Why should I choose the Aylesbury Wet Dock over other options?
Our wet dock provides full weather protection (rain, sun, wind) with a permanent cover, unlike basic sheds or tarpaulins. It includes excellent natural and artificial lighting, an optional ‘Still Air’ central heating system for better paint application in colder months, and the Mirka dust-free sanding system with integrated extraction for a cleaner, safer workspace.
How much does it cost to hire the wet dock?
The hire rate is £47 per day + VAT, excluding heat and electricity. Please contact us for longer-term bookings or package details.
What facilities are available to wet dock users?
Wet dock customers have exclusive access to: • Dedicated kitchen area (sink, kettle, microwave) • Private shower facilities • Laundry room with two washers and dryers • Toilets
Adjacent workshops include a Dirty Workshop (for heavy tasks with workbenches and vices) and a Clean Workshop (for detailed work and painting preparation).
What sanding and preparation equipment is provided?
We supply the advanced Mirka dust-free sanding system with integrated dust extraction. A range of sanding discs is stocked on site. The workspace is maintained to minimise contamination, making it excellent for traditional coach painting and high-quality finishes.
Is the wet dock suitable for DIY boat owners or only professionals?
It is perfect for both. The facility and support amenities are tailored for DIY narrowboat owners undertaking repaints, blacking, sanding, or full refits, as well as professional users. Helpful advice from experienced boaters is often available
How do I book the wet dock?
Call us on 01296 252101 or use the contact form on our website. We recommend booking in advance, especially during popular seasons. Let us know the length of your boat and the nature of the work when enquiring.
What size narrowboats can use the wet dock?
The dock is designed for standard narrowboats. Please provide your boat’s length and beam when booking so we can confirm it will fit comfortably. (Contact us for exact dimensions if needed.)
Are there any additional costs?
Heat and electricity are charged separately. All other listed facilities are included for wet dock hirers. Longer stays or winter use may have special rates—please enquire.
Where is the wet dock located and how easy is it to reach?
It is located at Circus Field Basin on the Aylesbury Arm of the Grand Union Canal. Boaters report that navigating down the Arm is straightforward and well worth the journey through beautiful rural surroundings close to London.
Can I stay on my boat while in the wet dock?
Yes, most customers live aboard during their stay. You have full use of the shower, laundry, kitchen, and toilet facilities.
Book the day Today
Dates go quickly, especially at weekends and holidays. Secure your date today
What Customers Are Saying
“Thank you Jackie, for talking me through the booking procedure and being so efficient and helpful, and thank you Richard for getting seven novices through our maiden voyage on a narrow boat with your excellent guidance. We all agreed we want to do this again – and wondered why we had waited so long in the first place.”
“We thoroughly enjoyed our day out on Catalina. Highly recommended. Thank you to Richard for making us feel so welcome.“
“What an amazing day out Nick and the team were really helpful and friendly. They made sure we understood all the safety instructions. Remember to kill the engine if anyone falls in. The boat was clean and life jackets are available. Working toilet and charging facilities also available. We had so much fun. We turned left and sailed for a couple of hours to “The Halfmoon” it’s a pub with a beautiful bear garden and great food. We will definitely be back.
Thank you Nick.“
“We hired Catalina for a birthday treat with friends. Everything from start to finish was great. Jackie was really helpful from my first enquiry through to the end. Richard was fantastic and gave us the best briefing we’d ever had when renting a boat. Catalina was lovely… and had everything we could possibly need on a day boat including a kitchen, clean flushing toilet and hot water. The route was lovely. Beautiful countryside and very peaceful. Loved it. Will definitely hire Catalina again and have no hesitation recommending the Aylesbury Canal“
“Great canal boat hire today along the Aylesbury Arm. Richard was our host and really looked after us. Would recommend as a good day out.”
“Another wonderful day on the canal on Catalina. The boat was impeccably clean and even has drinking and hot water on board. A fabulous venue for a multigenerational gathering. Thank you so much.“
Get In Touch!
01296 252101