Canal narrow boat & barge engines, repairs & parts

Canal narrow boat and barge engines, repairs & parts

We list suppliers and reconditioners of marine engines & gearboxes suitable for use in UK canal narrow boats and barges.

We list vintage and classic engines & services on a separate page. We also have separate full listings pages for marine engineers and for mobile marine engineers. Some engineering service companies will supply and fit engines. Some chandlers also supply engines.

Working canal boats were traditionally pulled by horses, mules or donkeys but during the 20th century steam and then diesel engines came into use. You can compare the very distinctive sounds of an early single cylinder Bolinder diesel engine, a twin cylinder Lister JP2 and a post war air cooled Armstrong Siddeley. Many of these engines are still running in traditional canal boats after 70 years or more.

Today's pleasure craft can have inboard diesel, or less commonly petrol engines. Outboard petrol engines are used on some smaller craft. Although most boat engines do not run for long hours or work too hard, the common pattern of occasional use does put strain on an engine and they should be regularly maintained, most owners get their engines serviced each year.