Terms & Conditions

1. The vessel is not booked until a completed and signed booking form together with a deposit of £25 is received and acknowledged by the proprietor.
2. The Balance of the hire fee is payable on the day of the cruise before departure.
3. If the cruise is cancelled by the hirer, the deposit will be forfeited but can be transferred at no cost to a future booking. 
4. Your confirmed number of passengers (received 7 days prior to cruise) will form the basis of your invoice.  We cannot reduce this amount to cover non-attendees on the cruise.
5. Whilst the proprietor will endeavour to operate the cruise as booked, no liability will be accepted for any cancellation, breakdown or unpunctuality or cause beyond the proprietor’s control.  In the event of cancellation all monies paid will be refunded and the hirer shall have no further claim against the proprietor.  Groups arriving late may have their cruise shortened without any refund.
6. For the duration of the cruise the vessel will operate under the control of the Captain and his crew.
7. The hirer is responsible for the conduct of his party whilst on the vessel.  No person is permitted on the roof, or to lean out of any windows, doors or hatches.  The co-operation of the organiser is expected to ensure that members of the party are made aware of these regulations.  Subject to the Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977 the proprietor will not be liable for any injury to persons or their property whilst onboard the vessel.  Children must be supervised at all times.
8. The hirer is liable for any loss or damage to the vessel or its fixtures, fittings and catering ware caused by members of his party.  The hirer may inspect the vessel before embarkation.
9. The total number of passengers in the hirer’s party (a passenger being any person over the age of 1 year) must not exceed the published maximum passenger figures.
10. Passengers are not allowed to bring their own food and drink on board the vessels without prior special permission.

In these conditions, “we”, ‘’us’’, refers to Skipton Boat Trips Ltd. and in respect of all public trips and private charter bookings Skipton Boat Trips and “you”, ‘’your’’ refers to the customer.

These Terms and Conditions of booking cover all direct bookings with us including public trips and private charter bookings. Whilst the majority of the Terms and Conditions cover all products please be aware of the variations particularly in regard to cancellations and amendments. 

Privacy

Any personal information that you disclose to Skipton Boat Trips Ltd. is subject to our privacy policy which governs the collection and use of information that is supplied.  You understand that through the use of the services you are purchasing, you consent to the collection and use (as set forth in our Privacy Policy) of this information.  As part of providing you with the services, we may need to provide you with certain communications, such as service announcements, administrative messages and customer feedback notifications.  These communications are considered part of the services we provide and you may not be able to opt-out of receiving.

1) Tickets – General

1. • All prices on our website are quoted in Pounds Sterling.
   • Once purchased, tickets are non-refundable.
   • You must have a paper or e-ticket, which is valid, fully paid and available for inspection for the journey being made. You must use it in accordance with these conditions and it must be handed in prior to embarkation or be visible and capable of being scanned on an electronic device. All tickets remain our property and you must return it to us once you have finished using it if we so request. On arrival at Skipton Boat Trips, you must bring your paper or e-ticket to the wharf office so that it can be redeemed for a boarding pass. 
   • Our tickets can only be used by the person for whom they were bought, or to whom they were issued. Tickets are barcoded and scanned or checked prior to boarding. Therefore any tickets that are copied, resold or passed on for further use will be invalid.
   • Where tickets are available for travel on the services of more than one operator, the conditions which will apply to each part of your journey will be those of the operator whose service is being used. Third party operator conditions are available on request.
   • If you wish to travel outside the availability of your ticket, or before or after the times that it is valid, you may be asked to pay an additional fare. We reserve the right to deny boarding or to require you to disembark if the additional fare is not paid.
   • If you buy a ticket with a credit or debit card to which you do not have legal right, the ticket will be invalid from the date of issue and you will be liable to pay the full fare for any journey(s) made using that ticket.
   • Whilst we try to ensure that all information displayed on our websites, particularly times and prices, is accurate it is possible that errors may occur. If we discover an error in the price of a ticket you have purchased, we will try to inform you as soon as possible and give you the option of either reconfirming your purchase at the correct price or cancelling it. If we are unable to contact you for any reason, we reserve the right to treat the purchase as cancelled.
   • If you present a mispriced ticket at embarkation or in the wharf office when collecting your boarding pass, we reserve the right to withdraw the ticket, cancel it and refuse travel unless and until another ticket has been purchased at the correct price for the intended journey. Cancellation under any of these circumstances will entitle you to a full refund of any sums you have paid.

2) Public Trips and Private Charter Bookings

1. • You may board one of our vessels provided you have a ticket which is valid and available for your journey. Our trips are at times heavily patronised so we cannot guarantee to provide you with a specific seat. On arrival at Skipton Boat Trips, you must bring your paper or e-ticket to the wharf office so that it can be redeemed for a boarding pass. 
   • Children under the age of one may travel free of charge provided they are accompanied by the holder of a ticket and do not occupy a seat to the exclusion of a full-fare-paying customer. Children aged 1 (one) to 12 (twelve) years inclusive may travel at the child rate except on those services where it is advertised that no child fares are available.
   • Passengers under the age of 16 years must be accompanied by an adult (16 years +).
   • Some tickets for ‘Public Trips and Private Charter Bookings’ products are for specified sailings and notwithstanding that we cannot guarantee to run any particular service, a valid ticket ensures that there is space for manifested passengers. In exceptional circumstances, should we for unforeseen reasons not be able to operate a service we will contact you as early as possible.
   • Some ‘Public Trips and Private Charter Bookings’ cruises are restricted to adults only. Prices and Age Categories may vary from product to product. Please refer to our website for further details. 

3) Private Charter Bookings – Conditions of Hire

1. • The vessel is not booked until a completed and signed booking form together with a deposit of £25 is received and acknowledged by the proprietor.
   • The Balance of the hire fee is payable on the day of the cruise before departure.
   • If the cruise is cancelled by the hirer, the deposit will be forfeited but can be transferred at no cost to a future booking. 
   • Your confirmed number of passengers (received 7 days prior to cruise) will form the basis of your invoice.  We cannot reduce this amount to cover non-attendees on the cruise.
   • Whilst the proprietor will endeavour to operate the cruise as booked, no liability will be accepted for any cancellation, breakdown or unpunctuality or cause beyond the proprietor’s control.  In the event of cancellation all monies paid will be refunded and the hirer shall have no further claim against the proprietor.  Groups arriving late may have their cruise shortened without any refund.
   • For the duration of the cruise the vessel will operate under the control of the Captain and his crew.
   • The hirer is responsible for the conduct of his party whilst on the vessel.  No person is permitted on the roof, or to lean out of any windows, doors or hatches.  The co-operation of the organiser is expected to ensure that members of the party are made aware of these regulations.  Subject to the Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977 the proprietor will not be liable for any injury to persons or their property whilst onboard the vessel.  Children must be supervised at all times.
   • The hirer is liable for any loss or damage to the vessel or its fixtures, fittings and catering ware caused by members of his party.  The hirer may inspect the vessel before embarkation.
   • The total number of passengers in the hirer’s party (a passenger being any person over the age of 1 year) must not exceed the published maximum passenger figures.
   • Passengers are not allowed to bring their own food and drink on board the vessels without prior special permission.

4) Combination Tickets

1. • Any tickets issued by Skipton Boat Trips which include 3rd Party Attractions e.g. Skipton Ticket are subject to the Terms and Conditions of the relevant attraction provider. Skipton Boat Trips has no liability in respect of the performance or the provision of the attraction which it sells as agent of the attraction provider.

5) Replacement tickets, Refunds and Compensation

1. • If your ticket is lost, damaged or can no longer be read, we may, at our discretion, replace it free of charge, provided we can confirm that it is valid. In order to verify your purchase, we will need your Skipton Boat Trips booking reference number which is contained in your confirmation e-mail and shown on the original ticket page. Please note that it is not possible to verify your ticket purchase with your credit or debit card reference because this does not contain the details of the ticket(s) purchased.
   • We do not accept liability for any loss resulting from our failure to provide an advertised service, or where delay occurs to those services, for any reason. We may, however, at our discretion, consider a refund on any ticket which is unused or only partially used as a direct result of a failure on our part to provide the advertised service for which the ticket was purchased.
   • Refunds will not be granted other than in the circumstances described above.
   • No refunds are possible after the valid date of the ticket has passed. All requests for refund or replacement ticket(s) must be made in writing to The Reservations Manager, Skipton Boat Trips Ltd., Wharf Office, Waterside Court, Coach Street, Skipton, BD23 1LH, England and be accompanied by the relevant tickets purchased, your Skipton Boat Trips booking reference (contained in your confirmation e-mail and on the original ticket page) and any payment reference issued when your purchase was confirmed. Refund cannot be authorised or transacted at any other location or by any other means.
   • Any refunds agreed will be made entirely at our discretion and without prejudice.
   • We reserve the right to withdraw any ticket at any time although we will not do this without good reason.

5) Rescheduling Public Trips – One Hour Cruise

1. • If your ticket is lost, damaged or can no longer be read, we may, at our discretion, replace it free of charge, provided we can confirm that it is valid. In order to verify your purchase, we will need your Skipton Boat Trips booking reference number which is contained in your confirmation e-mail and shown on the original ticket page. Please note that it is not possible to verify your ticket purchase with your credit or debit card reference because this does not contain the details of the ticket(s) purchased.
   • We do not accept liability for any loss resulting from our failure to provide an advertised service, or where delay occurs to those services, for any reason. We may, however, at our discretion, consider a refund on any ticket which is unused or only partially used as a direct result of a failure on our part to provide the advertised service for which the ticket was purchased.
   • Refunds will not be granted other than in the circumstances described above.
   • No refunds are possible after the valid date of the ticket has passed. All requests for refund or replacement ticket(s) must be made in writing to The Reservations Manager, Skipton Boat Trips Ltd., Wharf Office, Waterside Court, Coach Street, Skipton, BD23 1LH, England and be accompanied by the relevant tickets purchased, your Skipton Boat Trips booking reference (contained in your confirmation e-mail and on the original ticket page) and any payment reference issued when your purchase was confirmed. Refund cannot be authorised or transacted at any other location or by any other means.
   • Any refunds agreed will be made entirely at our discretion and without prejudice.
   • We reserve the right to withdraw any ticket at any time although we will not do this without good reason.

6) Rescheduling Public Trips, and Private Charters

1. • All ‘Public Trips, and Private Charters’ products offered are based on purchasing tickets for specific dates and times. 
   • If customers wish to rebook, they must notify the office as soon as possible. Rebookings are only available if the original tickets can be resold. The customer should check in with the office and if the tickets have been resold, then a new date (within a 12-month period) can be selected. If the tickets are not resold, then we are unable to rebook customers to a new date. 
   • As well as the notice periods detailed above, bookings can only be rescheduled within 12 months of the original travel date booked.

7)  Suspected Fare Evasion and ticket tampering

1. • If we think that you have used or tried to use any ticket to defraud us we may cancel the ticket and not re-issue it. If this happens you will forfeit the right to any refund for the unused portion. If sufficient grounds exist for us to believe that you have attempted to defraud us, then we may instigate legal proceedings against you.
   • Your ticket is invalid if we believe that it has been tampered with deliberately, or if it is damaged to such an extent that it cannot be read. In the case of suspected tampering, we will not replace it and you must surrender the ticket if asked so to do by a member of our staff.

8) Access

• • In order to avoid accidents and for the health, safety, and comfort of our passengers no wheelchairs will be allowed on any of our vessels. 
  • If you use a wheelchair, you must have enough helpers to enable you to make your journey safely including embarking and disembarking the vessel.  Crew cannot, for reasons of health and safety, carry or lift passengers into our vessels.
  • If you do need a carer or any other attendant you must have valid tickets for all concerned and all passengers must be able to board safely and promptly by themselves or with the aid of a carer.

9) Special Requirement Notification

• • Customers requiring specific accessibility provisions, special accommodations, or dietary preferences must communicate such needs to the company no later than 24 hours preceding the scheduled departure time of their booking. Failure to provide timely notification may result in the company’s inability to meet the requested provisions.

Luggage, belongings and animals

10) Public Trips and Private Charter Bookings

1. • For safety reasons, and for the comfort of passengers, we have to restrict the amount and type of luggage which you can take with you on our services. You may, at the discretion of the crew, take with you the following items, provided they do not obstruct access to safety and lifesaving equipment, gangways, stairs or passageways and are not put on seats:
   • Personal luggage
   • Other items provided they are not deemed likely to injure anyone
   • Guide Dogs, Hearing Dogs, and well behaved dogs are permitted aboard but must be on a lead throughout the trip. Only service dogs are permitted on trips where food is served.

11) Lost Property

1. • We deal with lost property in accordance with our lost property procedures, which are available for inspection on request.
   •  If you find any unattended property on our vessels or facilities, do not touch it but please alert a crew member immediately.
   • If we think unattended property may be a security threat, the police or security services may be called to attend and the item(s) may be destroyed.
   • We will not be responsible for any delay in returning property left on our vessels.
   •  It is your responsibility to collect lost property. If you request that such property is sent to you and we agree to make such arrangements this is on condition that you are responsible, in advance, for any costs incurred.

12) Photography

1. • From time to time Skipton Boat Trips or other authorised parties will carry out photography and/or video recording and/or other forms of monitoring on or in the vicinity of the vessels which may feature visitors. By purchasing a ticket you are deemed to have accepted these Terms and Conditions and thus you agree for us or a third party authorised by us, to use these images at any time now or in the future. You also agree that the copyright and intellectual property appertaining to such images remain with Skipton Boat Trips or an authorised third party.

13) Health & Safety 

1. • For your own safety and the safety of others, you must follow instructions given by our crew when embarking/disembarking or on board any of our vessels. Instructions or advice contained in on-board safety notices should be followed.
   • For safety reasons you must not smoke on our vessels nor at any facilities controlled or used by us.
   • For safety reasons you must not use roller skates, roller blades, hoverboards, skateboards or any equipment of a similar nature on our vessels or any facilities controlled or used by us.
   • Passengers should consider themselves to be sufficiently medically fit to undertake any journey for which they have a ticket. If there is any doubt potential passengers should seek medical advice before booking.
   • On some vessels, tables and chairs are fixed and cannot be moved. Larger or less mobile passengers may not be able to access such seating. Please seek further information prior to booking or boarding.

14) Conduct

1. • The Captain may refuse to carry any passengers, or direct any passenger to disembark, where the behaviour of that passenger is liable to cause nuisance or offence to the other passengers or put at risk the safety of the passenger, other passengers, crew or vessel.

15) Liability & Limitation

1. • Our liability for death or personal injury arising from our negligence shall not exceed the limits under the Convention of Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims 1976 and SI 1998 No. 1258 paragraphs 4(b) and 7(e).( LLMC 1976 ) This limits our liability to 175 000 special drawing rights per passenger.
   • We shall not be liable for any loss, damage or delay to any persons or their possessions whilst embarking or disembarking from the vessel or during the voyage unless such loss or damage is caused by the negligence of the crew (including the Master) on board the vessel.
   • Passengers are advised to limit valuables and property brought on board to that which they can safely carry. All personal property is the passenger’s responsibility and must be kept with them at all times.
   •  Our liability for loss of or damage to property shall not exceed the limit set out in accordance with LLMC 1976.
   • We shall not be liable for any indirect or consequential loss whatsoever including loss of profit.
   •  In the event that LLMC 1976 does not apply then the limits of liability as per the Athens Convention 1974 are contractually incorporated into this contract.
   • To the extent that the LLMC 1976 applies:
   •  Our liability for death or personal injury or loss of or damage to luggage and valuables arising from our negligence shall be limited in accordance with its terms;
   • We shall be entitled to the benefit of all limitations, rights and immunities conferred by the LLMC 1976 ; and
   • Any damages payable by us up to the LLMC 1976 limits shall be reduced in proportion to any contributory negligence by the passenger and by the maximum deductible (if applicable) specified in the LLMC 1976
   • Skipton Boat Trips cannot be held responsible for any disruption to services in the event of responding to instructions from third parties including, but not limited to, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, and any Emergency Services.
   • Skipton Boat Trips cannot be held responsible for any cancellations or delays or other losses arising from weather conditions, tides, acts of God, strikes, terrorism, acts of third parties or other matters beyond the control of Skipton Boat Trips.
   • We reserve the right, when necessary and without notice, to alter timetables or re-route vessels for reason of safety or to stop them visiting a pier. Although any such action will be exceptional, we do not guarantee to operate any services in accordance with published schedules, or at all.

16) Customer Comments and Feedback

1. 1. Any passenger complaints should be made within fourteen days of the event.
   2. Should you need to discuss any elements of your cruise, please send a detailed written account to our Customer Service Team including your booking reference number

To contact Skipton Boat Trips Customer Service Team:

By email:

info@canaltrips.co.uk

By post:

The Reservations Manager

Skipton Boat Trips Ltd. 

Wharf Office, Waterside Court, 

Coach Street, 

Skipton, BD23 1LH

 What to expect

You should expect an acknowledgement within three to five working days of receiving your complaint.

A full investigation will then take within 10 to 14 working days. Please note that special events may take up to 28 working days.

If you are complaining on behalf of someone else, include their written consent with your email as this will speed up the process.

The Customer Service Team will aim to respond in full to your complaint within the agreed time, however, if the issue is complicated, any delay will be explained and you will be kept informed of progress.

17) 13. Law & Jurisdiction 

• • In the event of any dispute or claims between Skipton Boat Trips and any passenger (s) which cannot be resolved by agreement than the parties agree that any such dispute shall be decided by English law.
  • The parties agree that any dispute shall be resolved by the English courts which shall have exclusive jurisdiction.

If you have purchased your tickets via a third party/agent, please contact them directly. Due to the number of third parties we work with, and how much their terms change, it is not possible to list them all on our website. 

These Terms and Conditions of booking cover Self-Drive Day Boat Hire. Please be aware of the variations particularly in regard to cancellations and amendments. 

THIS DOCUMENT IS INTENDED TO CREATE A LEGALLY BINDING CONTRACT. BEFORE COMPLETING THE PURCHASE YOU ARE ADVISED TO TAKE INDEPENDENT LEGAL ADVICE AND FOLLOWING SUCH ADVICE, IF NECESSARY, TO AMEND ITS TERMS TO REFLECT THE TERMS THE PARTIES WISH TO AGREE. 

Please read these Boat Hire Conditions carefully.  They are all part of the hire agreement (the “Agreement”) and describe the rights and duties of both you and the Company.

Definitions (1) – In these Self-Drive Day Boat Hire Conditions and the Agreement the following words have the following meanings:-

1. 1. “Agreement” means the Hire Agreement between You and the Company which is evidenced by Your booking request and the Booking Confirmation and is made on the basis of these Conditions.
   2. “Booking Confirmation” means the written confirmation issued to You by the Company via email confirming the hire period, price, place of delivery and other key particulars of the booking.
   3. “Company” means Skipton Boat Trips Ltd. (trading as Skipton Boat Trips Ltd.) of Skipton, North Yorkshire, 01756 790829, info@canaltrips.co.uk.
   4. “Conditions” means these Self-Drive Day Boat Hire Conditions.
   5. “Deposit” means the deposit in the Booking Confirmation.
   6. “End Date” means the end date in the Booking Confirmation.
   7. “Hire Period” means the hire period in the Booking Confirmation.
   8. “Price” means the price in the Booking Confirmation.
   9. “Security Deposit” means the security deposit in the Booking Confirmation.
   10. “Start Date” means the start date in the Booking Confirmation.
   11. “Written” means that the item has been printed, typed, written out by hand or sent or displayed by email or other electronic means.
   12. “You” and “Your” means the person or persons named in the Booking Confirmation, or anyone added at a later date. If there is more than one of You, each of You shall be individually responsible for complying with the Agreement.

Agreement to Hire (2)

1. 1. When You request a booking You are making an offer to hire a boat on these Boat Hire Conditions. If the Company accepts Your booking, it will issue the Booking Confirmation to You. The Agreement will not be considered an effective contract until the Company has received Your completed online booking and payment and sent You a Booking Confirmation. Bookings will only be accepted on the Company booking form or via the Company website.
   2. You, as party leader, are responsible for ensuring the accuracy of the personal details and any other information supplied in respect of You and Your party.
   3. When You receive the Booking Confirmation please check the details carefully and inform the Company immediately if anything is incorrect.
   4. A provisional or conditional booking is not binding and You may cancel it at any time before the Booking Confirmation is sent out to You by the Company.  Similarly the Company may hire the boat to another party in place of You at any time before a Booking Confirmation has been sent to You.
   5. Nothing in these Boat Hire Conditions affects Your statutory rights.

Prices and Payment (3)

1. 1. The Company’s advertised prices are in pounds sterling (£) and include Value Added Tax (VAT). If the rates of VAT or any other government tax are changed so that a different rate applies to Your hire under these Boat Hire Conditions any difference will be charged, or refunded to You, as the case may be.
   2. The Company reserves the right to correct errors in advertised or quoted prices before or at the time of booking and will confirm the correct Price in the Booking Confirmation.
   3. The Booking Confirmation sets out the total Price payable by You.
   4. You, as the party leader, are responsible for making all payments due to the Company.  Payment is deemed to have been made by You when cleared funds are received in the Company’s designated bank account.
   5. You will need to pay the Deposit before your trip starts.

Your Party (4)

1. 1. Personal agreement and obligations: this Agreement is a personal one between You and the Company, and Your identity and the identity of members of Your party are a material factor in the Company’s decision to enter into this Agreement. You must be at least twenty-one (21) years of age at the time of booking and possess the legal capacity to make the booking.  You must be authorised by all other members of Your party to enter into this Agreement and accept the Boat Hire Conditions on their behalf. You are responsible for making all members of Your party aware of the terms of the Agreement.
   2. Medical Issues: if You or any member of Your party has any medical problem or disability that may affect Your booking, please tell the Company before You make Your booking and give full details in writing as early as possible before You travel. If the Company reasonably feels that it cannot properly meet that person’s particular needs, the Company may have to refuse or cancel Your booking.
   3. The use of alcohol and controlled drugs; Company’s right of immediate cancellation: the boat shall not be navigated while anyone on board is, or appears to be, under the influence of alcohol or drugs and the Company may cancel Your booking and refuse to hand the boat over to You or repossess it if You or any member of Your party is or appears to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs. In such a case the Company shall be entitled to recover any loss, damage and expense from the monies already paid by You and if this is insufficient to cover its loss it shall be entitled to bring a claim against You for the balance of such claim.
   4. Company’s right to decline handover for safety reasons: the Company may cancel Your booking and refuse to hand the boat over to You if, in its reasonable opinion, You are unsuitable to take charge of the boat for any reason that may adversely affect the safety of any person or property. In this event (and provided that You have fully complied with Your obligations under this Agreement) the Company will refund the Deposit and any other monies which You have paid to the Company and this Agreement shall be discharged without further liability on either party.
   5. Unreasonable Behaviour: the Company can refuse to hand over the boat if the unreasonable behaviour of anyone in Your party is likely to cause offence to other guests, to members of staff or to waterway users, or if the Company has reasonable cause to believe You or any member of Your party will cause damage or loss to the boat, its services or facilities. If this happens, this Agreement between You and the Company will end and You will not receive any refund and the Company will not have any further responsibility to You. The Company can end a stay after the keys have been handed over, if the unreasonable behaviour of anyone in Your party (including anyone invited onto the boat or property by You) is likely to spoil the enjoyment, comfort or health of other guests, residents, waterway users or members of staff or where You or any member of Your party (or anyone invited on to the boat by you) has broken or is likely to break any of the Agreement, these Boat Hire Conditions, any applicable laws and regulations, or any other terms and conditions applicable to the boat which You have been told about. If this happens, You will have to leave the boat immediately and no refund will be given. You may also be responsible for any costs the Company incurs as a result of Your behaviour.
   6. Company’s right to repossess during the hire: the Company may repossess the boat at any time after commencement of the Hire Period if, in the reasonable opinion of the Company, You are unsuitable to be in charge of the boat for any reason affecting the safety of any person or property including in particular if You or any member of Your party, or anyone invited onto the boat by You, is or appears to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs or if You are not behaving responsibly or if there has been a material breach of this Agreement.

Cancellation Policy (5)

1. 1. This Agreement is a legally binding contract and may only be cancelled in accordance with these Boat Hire Conditions.
   2. If You want to cancel Your booking You must give the Company written notice (the “Cancellation Notice”). The date of receipt of the the Cancellation Notice shall be the effective cancellation date but in order to increase the prospects of re-letting the boat,  You should pre-advise the Company of the impending cancellation by telephone.
   3. The Company shall make the following charges for cancellation, depending on the date on which the Cancellation Notice is received:

1. 1. Insurance and credit card charges are non-refundable, whatever the date of cancellation.

Changes Requested By You (6)

1. 1. This Agreement is a legally binding contract and bookings may only be changed with the agreement of both parties and in accordance with these Boat Hire Conditions.
   2. If You wish to change Your booking, the Company will try to accommodate the changes subject to availability, provided that notification is received in writing from You. 

Cancellation By the Company (7)

The Company may cancel this Agreement by Written notice in the following circumstances:

1. 1. 1. for any of the reasons described in this Agreement;
      2. in the event of an accident affecting the safety or navigability of the boat;
      3. for breach of any of the rules set out under Condition 10;
      4. for non-payment of any sum due under the booking and/or this Agreement.
2. The Company is entitled to recover from You any loss which it suffers as a result of cancellation under any of the provisions of Condition 4 or for breach of Condition 10 and it may retain all or part of any payments which You have made as security for such claims.  

Hire Period, Collection and Return of the Boat (8)

1. 1. The boat will normally be available between [9:30 a.m.]* and  [10:00 a.m.]* for day hires, and from 5:15 p.m. for evening hires, on the date of your hire from our wharf in Skipton or as otherwise shown in the Booking Confirmation, subject to the provisions of Condition 8.7.
   2. You must notify the Company as soon as possible if Your estimated arrival time is delayed or disrupted as this may lead to difficulties and delays in making the boat available to You.  There will be no rebate of the Price for late arrival.
   3. Before You take the boat over the Company will give You such instructions, demonstrations and trials as are appropriate and You will then be required to check and sign the inventory of the Boat and the hand over sheet.
   4. In the event that the boat is not available due to any circumstance for which the Company is not responsible (for example adverse weather or navigation conditions, damage, mechanical breakdown, late return by previous hirer) the Company may substitute the boat with a boat of similar accommodation but if no such boat is available the Company shall refund You with the Deposit and any other payments You have made.
   5. The boat must be returned to the location specified by the Company or as otherwise shown on the Booking Confirmation or notified under Condition 8.g and vacated by You by 4:30 pm for day hires, and it is Your responsibility to allow sufficient time to ensure timely return. 
   6. If You return the boat late or to the wrong place because of poor planning on Your part or for another reason which is Your responsibility then You will be liable to pay £25.00 for the first 30 minutes. Then £50 for every hour or part hour of the delay in returning the boat or giving possession and the cost of recovering the boat to the return point and any other expenses and losses which the Company may incur as a result of the delay including the loss or cancellation of a subsequent booking.
   7. The Company reserves the right to change the places of handover and return for operational reasons. In such event the Company shall be obliged to give You Written notice of the change in sufficient time to allow any necessary replanning of Your itinerary and to organise any transport which is reasonably necessary for You and Your party as a result of such change.

Insurance and Security Deposit (9)

1. 1. The Company insures the boat and its equipment against physical loss and damage and against public liability risks.  You are entitled to any protection that may be afforded by the Company’s insurance policy but You and members of Your party may become legally liable to the Company or to third parties for loss or damage caused or contributed to by Your acts, omissions or negligence.
   2. The Company’s insurance policy does not cover personal accidents or Your personal belongings.
   3. The Security Deposit is intended to cover the Company’s policy excess and any uninsured risks or other sums due to the Company under the Agreement.  The Security Deposit is not the limit of Your potential liability to the Company.
   4. The Company may apply the whole or any part of the Security Deposit to payment of any claim which the Company may have against You. Otherwise the Company shall promptly refund the Security Deposit by bank transfer as soon as the Company is satisfied that no loss, damage or accident has occurred and that no other sums are due to the Company from You.

Safety and other Rules (10)

You agree to comply with the following rules at all times during the Hire Period:-

1. 1. 1. To ensure that at all times while the boat is being navigated the minimum age of the operator onboard and in charge is twenty-one (21) years.
      2. Not to tow or be towed other than in exceptional circumstances.
      3. To moor the boat securely.
      4. Not to navigate after sunset.
      5. To observe all speed limits, and not to navigate at a speed which creates a breaking wash or disturbs or inconveniences other waterway users.
      6. Not to race the boat.
      7. Not to bring onto the boat any following; dinghies, canoes,  portable heaters,  bicycles, vehicles, lighting equipment, TV sets, electric tools or cooking appliances, inflammable liquids or substances, gas cylinders, car batteries, fire arms or any other items which might create dangers or hazards.
      8. Not to use the boat for any commercial purpose.
      9. To allow the boat to be occupied only by the persons named in the Booking Confirmation.
      10. Not to allow to be on the boat at any time more than ten (10) persons.
      11. To give way to laden or unladen cargo boats, sailing craft, rowing boats and other human propelled craft.
      12. Not to have or carry any live bait on the boat.
      13. At all times to observe and abide by all regulations, bye-laws and navigational limits and abide by the instructions and advice of the relevant Navigational Authorities and the Company and their respective officers and employees.
   2. The Company reserves the right at its reasonable discretion and without liability to restrict cruising areas or routes in the light of prevailing weather and navigation conditions
   3. If You are reported for improper navigation during the Hire Period or if You are in breach of any of the rules in Condition 10, and if the Company has good reason to believe that it will be involved in any expense or penalty as a consequence, then, at the End Date, the Company may retain the Security Deposit against prospective future liabilities, provided that it shall pay it into a separate client account. If no action has been taken after a maximum period of [six (6)]* months from the End Date the Company shall return the Security Deposit to You together with accrued interest. Where the Security Deposit has been provided by credit card, the Company shall not be entitled to charge the card with more than the Security Deposit and shall be obliged in any event to notify You in writing of the amount and date of any such charge.

Accidents (11)

You are in charge of the boat and are responsible for its safe navigation.  In the event of any accident or damage involving You or any other people or any property You must:-

1. 1. 1. obtain and record the name of any other boats and the names and addresses of any other people involved on the form provided by the Company (when available);
      2. notify the Company as soon as practically possible with full details of the accident and any damage sustained; and
      3. proceed in accordance with and follow the Company’s reasonable instructions.

Looking after the Boat (12)

1. 1. You are responsible for and will keep the boat and its equipment and contents in clean and tidy order during the Hire Period.
   2. You must notify and provide full details to the Company of any breakdown, damage, theft or loss involving the boat as soon as practically possible. You must not undertake or commission any repairs, adjustment or service without the Company’s prior approval.
   3. Although the boat and its equipment are insured against many risks by the Company, You remain responsible to the Company for any damage or loss arising from Your breach of the Agreement, Your deliberate acts or from Your negligence.
   4. You shall be responsible for getting the boat off mud banks or other grounding.

Rights of Entry (13)

1. 1. The Company reserves the right at any time to board the boat to inspect it (including but not limited to where You have complained about the boat). If this happens, the Company will try to give You reasonable notice first. You agree to allow the Company or their representative(s) or contractor(s) immediate access to the boat at any time.

Hirer’s Property (14)

1. 1. Vehicles may be left entirely at their owner’s risk in the Company’s car park. The Company will be under no liability for any loss or damage to vehicles or their contents or for Your property on the boat unless caused by the Company’s negligence. 
   2. The Company may take such reasonable action as it shall consider necessary to silence car alarms in the Company’s car park and to recover the costs from You. This is inclusive of any requirements and obligations under the Noise and Statutory Nuisance Act 1993 and/or under the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act  2005 and/or any other relevant legislation.
   3. The Company will return property which it finds which has been accidentally left on the boat provided that it is claimed promptly and that You either arrange for its collection or agree to pre-pay for any postage and packing. [Property not claimed within two months from the End Date may be disposed of by the Company.]*

Pets (15)

1. 1. Dogs are allowed on the boat only.  You shall give notice of any pets You wish to bring at the time of making the booking.
   2. All dogs must be properly house trained, must never be left unattended, and shall not be allowed on the internal cushions.
   3. Pets and pet damage are not covered under the Company’s insurance policy and You will be liable for any damage or loss caused by them.

Inventory (16)

1. 1. You will be required to sign the inventory on taking the boat over. Any shortcomings discovered during the Hire Period must be notified to the Company as soon as practically possible so as to afford the Company the opportunity to rectify the matter. You will be responsible for the cost of replacing or repairing any items on the inventory which are missing or damaged at the end of the Hire Period. 

Exclusion and Limitation of Liability (17)

The Company shall not be liable to pay any compensation, damages, costs or expenses for any claim arising from any cause beyond the Company’s reasonable control which could not have been mitigated or avoided by the Company including but not limited to:

1. 1. 1. 18.1.1.loss of or damage to any person’s property (including the boat);
      2. 18.1.2.non-fulfilment, interruption or delay to the booking;
      3. 18.1.3.breakdowns, mechanical problems, latent defects, damage to the boat;
      4. restrictions on cruising, obstructions, repairs, damage or closure of waterways, non availability of routes, navigational works, storms, floods, droughts, ice, shortage of water or other weather or climactic conditions;
      5. rationing, shortage or non availability of fuel;
      6. consequential loss, damage or expense which You incur including the cost of alternative transport, accommodation or other holiday provision.

The Company’s total liability to You and any person claiming through You in respect of all claims which may arise under this Agreement (other than in respect of claims which cannot be excluded or limited at law, such as claims for death or personal injury) shall be limited in aggregate to twice the Price actually paid by You to the Company in respect of the Agreement in question.

1. 1. To the extent that the terms of this Agreement contradict any laws on consumer rights, the rights conferred on any Party who is a consumer shall remain unaffected.

Special Requests (18)

1. 1. If You have any special requests, You must let the Company know when You make the booking and confirm Your special requests in writing. The Company cannot guarantee that any request will be met.

Complaints (19)

1. 1. You must contact the Company immediately if any problem arises so that it can be sorted out as quickly as possible. It is often extremely difficult (and sometimes impossible) to sort out difficulties properly unless You let the Company know promptly. If, after this, You feel that the problem has not been sorted to your satisfaction, You must, within thirty (30) days of returning from Your trip, provide the Company with a written compaint. The Company has a procedure to make sure it can sort out complaints as quickly as possible. Please help the Company to help You by following this procedure. If You fail to do so, this may affect Your entitlement to claim compensation if this would be appropriate. Should Your Complaint remain unresolved after following the procedure under this Clause 21, you may raise the complaint with British Marine (“BM”), who operate a procedure for complaints received regarding current BM members. Please contact BM for further information.

Third Parties (20)

1. 1. A person who is not a party to this Agreement, shall have no right under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 to enforce any term of this Agreement.

Data Protection (21)

1. 1. To process Your booking we will need to collect and process personal information. This may, for operational reasons, be held overseas. For more detailed information about how we use personal information, please see the Company’s Privacy Policy.

Law and Jurisdiction (22)

1. 1. This Agreement and any non-contractual obligations arising out of, or in connection with, this Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with English law.
   2. Subject to Clause 25 below, You and the Company irrevocably agree that any and every dispute (and any non-contractual obligations) arising out of or in connection with this Agreement shall be subject to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts.

Dispute Resolution (23)

1. 1. Disputes arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, when they cannot be resolved by negotiation, may, with the written agreement of the Parties, first be submitted to mediation under BM’s Dispute Resolution Scheme. Details of the Scheme are available to current BM members on request from BM and/or on BM’s member website.