Solo Boating Through Canal Locks & Tug Tour š¤
Join my solo journey navigating canal locks from Wrenbury to Grindley Brook on the Llangollen Canal, including a tug boat tour with Bonny.

The Narrowboat Pirate
44.9K views ⢠Dec 11, 2025

About this video
This weekās adventure starts with me single-handing Canal locks as I cruise from Wrenbury to Grindley Brook on the beautiful Llangollen Canal.
Just me, Bonny, and a whole lot of paddles to wind. But in true boating-community style, the day takes a turn for the heart-warming when I fall in behind a couple of other boats. They spot me working alone andāabsolute legendsāstart setting the locks ahead. It saves me time, saves my arms, and honestly reminds me why I love this life on the cut. Pirates might be fierce, but boaters? Theyāre pure gold.
With their help, I make cracking progressā¦
ā¦and then the weather traps me for days.
Gales, rain, rising river levelsāthe usual winter chaos. So while Bonny snores and the stove crackles, I dip into the archives and bring you something special from a few weeks back.
I visited a friendās stunning tug narrowboatābeautiful lines, tons of character, and the kind of engine room that makes you want to roll your sleeves up and smell the diesel. I give you a full boat tour, from the boatmanās cabin to the Tug deck, and while Iām poking around, two incredibly talented artists are busy transforming his bathroom wall into a masterpiece. A full muralāpainted liveāright there on a narrowboat. Only on the canals would you find art blooming in a space barely bigger than a broom cupboard!
So this episode has a bit of everything:
š¤ Solo lock-wheeling
ā¤ļø Boaters helping boaters
š§ Weather-imposed captivity
š A tug boat tour
šØ A bathroom mural in the making
------------
Thank you so much for watching. If you are new here, I'm Heidi and I live aboard my Narrowboat The Jolly Roger and travel the UK's Canals in search of Adventure. After selling my house to experience an alternative lifestyle I bought a canal boat and a camper van which as a solo female who loves to travel, gives me the best of both worlds. I have recently got myself a new addition to the crew, a fabulous companion - my little rescue dog Bonny who is an absolute joy and the perfect First Mate. I also work full time off grid from my floating home making badges and trading at canal festivals as The Narrowboat Pirate aboard The Pirate Boat.
-----------
For more info such as Filming Equipment, FAQ and more: š“āā ļø https://thepirateboat.co.uk š“āā ļø
-------------
You can also follow my adventures as the Narrowboat Pirate aboard The Jolly Roger, Pirate Boat here:
š¦ Facebook - https://facebook.com/thenarrowboatpirate
š„ Instagram - https://instagram.com/thenarrowboatpirate
ā¬ļø Website - https://thepirateboat.co.uk
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šµ Music š¹
The Jolly Roger by Heidi Manning
Bonny the Brave by Heidi Manning
Mermaids Flower by Heidi Manning
Stiff Ripples by Heidi Manning
The Thrusting Cutlass by Heidi Manning
Plus Music from Epidemic Sound
Get a Free 7 Day Trial of Epidemic Sound Here https://share.epidemicsound.com/d1a8w6
------------
š„ If you would like to buy me a Rum you can do here :
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/thepirateboat/
-------------
š æļø Alternative way to buy a virtual Rum via Paypal :
https://PayPal.me/TheNarrowboatPirate/
-------------
ā¤ļø Become a Patreon and long term supporter on the channel: The Narrowboat Pirate
https://www.patreon.com/TheNarrowboatPirate
-------------
#Narrowboat #canalboat #boatlife #singlehandedsailing #solofemaletravel
Just me, Bonny, and a whole lot of paddles to wind. But in true boating-community style, the day takes a turn for the heart-warming when I fall in behind a couple of other boats. They spot me working alone andāabsolute legendsāstart setting the locks ahead. It saves me time, saves my arms, and honestly reminds me why I love this life on the cut. Pirates might be fierce, but boaters? Theyāre pure gold.
With their help, I make cracking progressā¦
ā¦and then the weather traps me for days.
Gales, rain, rising river levelsāthe usual winter chaos. So while Bonny snores and the stove crackles, I dip into the archives and bring you something special from a few weeks back.
I visited a friendās stunning tug narrowboatābeautiful lines, tons of character, and the kind of engine room that makes you want to roll your sleeves up and smell the diesel. I give you a full boat tour, from the boatmanās cabin to the Tug deck, and while Iām poking around, two incredibly talented artists are busy transforming his bathroom wall into a masterpiece. A full muralāpainted liveāright there on a narrowboat. Only on the canals would you find art blooming in a space barely bigger than a broom cupboard!
So this episode has a bit of everything:
š¤ Solo lock-wheeling
ā¤ļø Boaters helping boaters
š§ Weather-imposed captivity
š A tug boat tour
šØ A bathroom mural in the making
------------
Thank you so much for watching. If you are new here, I'm Heidi and I live aboard my Narrowboat The Jolly Roger and travel the UK's Canals in search of Adventure. After selling my house to experience an alternative lifestyle I bought a canal boat and a camper van which as a solo female who loves to travel, gives me the best of both worlds. I have recently got myself a new addition to the crew, a fabulous companion - my little rescue dog Bonny who is an absolute joy and the perfect First Mate. I also work full time off grid from my floating home making badges and trading at canal festivals as The Narrowboat Pirate aboard The Pirate Boat.
-----------
For more info such as Filming Equipment, FAQ and more: š“āā ļø https://thepirateboat.co.uk š“āā ļø
-------------
You can also follow my adventures as the Narrowboat Pirate aboard The Jolly Roger, Pirate Boat here:
š¦ Facebook - https://facebook.com/thenarrowboatpirate
š„ Instagram - https://instagram.com/thenarrowboatpirate
ā¬ļø Website - https://thepirateboat.co.uk
-------------
šµ Music š¹
The Jolly Roger by Heidi Manning
Bonny the Brave by Heidi Manning
Mermaids Flower by Heidi Manning
Stiff Ripples by Heidi Manning
The Thrusting Cutlass by Heidi Manning
Plus Music from Epidemic Sound
Get a Free 7 Day Trial of Epidemic Sound Here https://share.epidemicsound.com/d1a8w6
------------
š„ If you would like to buy me a Rum you can do here :
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/thepirateboat/
-------------
š æļø Alternative way to buy a virtual Rum via Paypal :
https://PayPal.me/TheNarrowboatPirate/
-------------
ā¤ļø Become a Patreon and long term supporter on the channel: The Narrowboat Pirate
https://www.patreon.com/TheNarrowboatPirate
-------------
#Narrowboat #canalboat #boatlife #singlehandedsailing #solofemaletravel
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Video Information
Views
44.9K
Likes
6.8K
Duration
27:03
Published
Dec 11, 2025
User Reviews
4.7
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