Built in Britain. Proven on the waterways.
Since 2019, Oakums Narrowboats has created more than 50 bespoke narrowboats for life across the UK waterways. Every boat is individual, combining British craftsmanship with contemporary design, carefully integrated technology and a clear understanding of how owners actually live aboard.
More than 50 individual boats
Our completed fleet includes diesel, electric and hybrid narrowboats in a wide range of layouts and styles. Many owners are happy to share their boats and experiences, while others—including clients who place a particular value on discretion—choose to remain private. We respect that choice and never use a customer’s identity or personal circumstances for publicity without their agreement.
Prospective customers can explore identifiable examples in our Previous Builds archive and see the breadth of design, joinery and technical work produced by Oakums.
British-built with care and precision
Our current steel hulls are built in Sheffield by the highly regarded boatbuilder Jonathan Wilson. Each Oakums fit-out is then developed around its owner, from the layout and joinery to propulsion, power, heating, storage and life aboard.
That work has been recognised publicly. Larkrise won the visitor-voted Favourite Narrowboat in Show award at Crick in 2021, followed by Evenstar in 2022. Consecutive wins were a meaningful endorsement from the boating public and reflect the care, imagination and precision invested in every build.
Helping move electric narrowboats forward
Oakums was an early and committed adopter of modern electric propulsion for narrowboats. Based on our build records and knowledge of the market, we believe Oakums has delivered more purpose-built electric narrowboats than any other UK canal-boat builder.
Our experience extends beyond fitting a motor. It includes the integration of propulsion, lithium battery storage, solar generation, inverter-chargers, generator support and domestic systems into one practical vessel. Our current electric range uses the 11kW VETUS E-Line as standard, with Törkmar available as an upgrade.
Features that Oakums helped bring into contemporary narrowboat design—including integrated electric systems, substantial lithium storage, larger solar installations, mudrooms and expansive skylights—are now increasingly visible across the market. We see that wider adoption as recognition that these ideas have helped change expectations of what a modern narrowboat can be.
Technology develops through engineering, testing and continuous refinement. The knowledge gained across successive Oakums builds has allowed each generation of boats to improve and has contributed to a stronger electric-narrowboat offering for the wider industry.
Our work speaks through the boats
We are aware that negative comments about Oakums sometimes circulate online from people who do not identify themselves as customers and do not have direct knowledge of the boat, contract or work being discussed. We do not intend to give anonymous commentary greater prominence by repeating it here.
We simply ask prospective customers to judge Oakums using firsthand evidence: completed vessels, published specifications, direct inspections, recognised awards and conversations with people who genuinely know the boats.
More than 50 completed boats, consecutive Crick wins and one of the UK’s most substantial electric-narrowboat build records provide a clearer picture of Oakums than anonymous commentary ever could.
See the evidence for yourself
Explore our completed boats, read about how we build, examine our electric narrowboats and review our warranty and aftercare. Where an owner consents and a suitable opportunity exists, we can also help prospective customers experience an Oakums boat firsthand.
Oakums Narrowboats remains focused on building distinctive British boats with care, technical ambition and a commitment to keep improving.