Canal boats for Sale in Ireland, the rest of Europe and Canada
Our unbeatable Ownership Programme makes owning your own boat simple and worry free. So, if you thought boat ownership is not for you - think again! As the No:1 provider of boating vacations, we have decades of boating experience and the world’s largest fleet of self-drive canal boats. Own a river boat on the Shannon in Ireland or based in one of our many bases in Europe and Canada and enjoy a wealth of advantages. Rest-assured you can leave the hassle to us and focus on enjoying beautiful cruising grounds with your family and friends.
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Boat Ownership Brochure
Turn a dream into reality with Le Boat's Boat Ownership Programme:
- The Ownership Programme is simple and flexible
- Discover all 9 of our destinations with over 8 weeks of holiday every year
- Receive a guaranteed monthly income
- Learn how our Boat Ownership Progamme works
Here's how it works...
1. YOU BECOME THE ENVIABLE OWNER OF A ‘TOP-OF-THE-RANGE’ BOAT
For an initial outlay, you become the enviable owner of one of our top-of-the-range Horizon boats. Or we have a variety of other boat types from our charter fleet that are also available under the scheme.
2. YOU GET A GUARANTEED MONTHLY INCOME
We charter out your boat when you’re not using it and we give you 8% of the purchase price each year - paid monthly and regardless of charter activity.
3. YOU ENJOY 8 WEEKS HOLIDAY… ANYWHERE!
You enjoy an average of 8 weeks a year on your boat, or a sister boat, from a choice of 32 bases in 9 countries in Europe and Canada. Why not explore them all?
4. WE PROVIDE FREE EXPERT UPKEEP AND MOORING
We insure your boat, maintain it, and look after it like one of our own – at no extra cost to you.
5. WE BUY BACK THE BOAT FOR A GUARANTEED AMOUNT*
After 8 years, you can sell the boat back to us for 50% or 60% of the purchase price (depending on the boat you choose)! Alternatively, you can extend the contract and stay in the program longer, or simply keep your boat.
Explore Europe…and Canada too!
Our owners take an average of 8 weeks holiday every year. And they can be taken on any boat in any of our 17 cruising regions across 9 countries.
Canada
France
Germany
England
Scotland
Ireland
Italy
Netherlands
Belgium
What our current owners say...
Jacques S.
Country: France
Boat: Horizon 1
"My handy skills are very limited, but with the Le Boat ownership programme you don’t have to worry about the handy work. It allows me to cruise without worrying about the maintenance of my boat."
Ute et Marc W.
Country: Germany
Boat: Horizon 2
"We appreciate the large choice of boats and destinations, the possibility to take a boat for a few days spontaneously if we feel like it, the excellent owner care which continuously offers new owner extras, and the wonderful feeling of owning a boat without having to worry about the drawbacks of ownership -A worry free package for boating enthusiasts."
Introducing Liberty
Introducing our new boat, part of our Luxury range, available on the waterways in 2025.
The Liberty provides unmatched comfort, effortless handling, detailed amenities, and bright, inviting spaces, setting a new standard for self-drive boats.
You can become the proud owner of this brand-new model through our unbeatable Ownership Program.
Horizon fleet: Houseboats for sale through the ownership program
The Horizon fleet offers the best in comfortable, modern and easy cruising; there are no other boats like them on the European (and Canadian) waterways!
Key feature's include:
- Roomy and comfortable saloon and kitchen with generous headroom and over-sized windows for uninterrupted views
- Spacious cabins with USB ports
- Spacious ‘fundeck’ with table, sink and BBQ hotplate
- Sunbathing area(s)
- Bow AND stern thruster for easier handling and wide walkways for easy access to all sides of the boat
The first Horizon model was launched to rave reviews and is available in many destinations. With one master en-suite cabin, and a smaller cabin for two additional people or just for storage, it’s the perfect boat for couples or families with small children.
- Sleeps: 5 (2+3)
- Cabins: 1 (+ 1 smaller cabin which is not en-suite)
- Bathrooms: 1
- Size: 11.5m x 4.25m
Horizon 1 available in all cruising regions.
The Horizon 2 is similar to the Horizon 1 (2+3), but with two en-suite cabins. Although the master cabin is smaller, it is perfect for two couples looking for a bit more privacy or a family who would like two bathrooms.
- Sleeps: 5 (4+1)
- Cabins: 2
- Bathrooms: 2
- Size: 11.5m x 4.2m
Horizon 2 available in France - all regions (except Aquitaine & Charente), Italy, Holland, Ireland, England and Canada
The Horizon 3 offers three en-suite cabins, allowing larger groups to holiday together, with the privacy of their own bathrooms.
- Sleeps: 7 (6+1)
- Cabins: 3
- Bathrooms: 3
- Size: 13.5m x 4.3m
Horizon 3 available in France - Burgundy Franche-Comté; Canal du midi, Brittany; Lot; Alsace; Germany; Ireland; England; Holland; Canada
The Horizon 4 is perfect for groups of friends and groups of couples with its four en-suite cabins.
- Sleeps: 9 (8+1)
- Cabins: 4
- Bathrooms: 4
- Size: 13.5m x 4.35m
Horizon 4 available in France - all regions (except Aquitaine); Germany; England; Holland; Belgium; Ireland (cannot cruise on the Lough Allen); Canada
The Horizon 5 is the largest model of the Horizon range, perfect for larger groups with its 5 en-suite cabins
- Sleeps: 12 (10+2)
- Cabins: 5
- Bathrooms: 5
- Size: 14.74m x 4.35m
Available in France - all regions (except Brittany, Charente), Holland, Ireland, Germany and Rideau Canal, Canada
What customers are saying about Horizon..
Sune Frandsen says...
"The boat was easy to drive and the boat itself was even nicer than what we had hoped for! I would definitely recommend Le Boat!"
Fred Robinson says...
"As an owner of a Horizon boat I was pleased that the boat met my expectations, being easy to handle and moor with plenty of living space both in the saloon and on the fly bridge."
Built exclusively for Le Boat by Delphia
Delphia is world-renowned for its unsurpassed build quality, innovative designs and the comfort, durability and performance of its sailing yachts. Le Boat are delighted to work alongside this incredible team to design and build the Horizon range - the next generation of boats for the inland waterways!
Or, buy second-hand…
We also have a selection of second-hand boats available to buy outright. Most of these boats have been retired from the fleet and are available to buy and relocate to a waterway of your choice. Plus we have cruisers from individual owners across Europe.
Frequently asked questions
Our Ownership Programme was created for boating lovers who want to cruise more. Not only it will allow you to enjoy several weeks of holiday every year (for 8 years) but it is also a much better value than frequent chartering.
If you want to, but most people choose to spread the cost with financing via a third-party finance provider. We usually find that a minimum of 20% of the purchase price is required as financial contribution.
You will technically own a specific houseboat, in a specific cruising ground. You can choose the boat you want to buy in our list depending on availabilities and you may choose to cruise on your boat at any time throughout the season (subject to availability). However, by joining our program, you benefit from access to other boats in our fleet, across all of our destinations. So you can visit a different Le Boat region every time you cruise.
For no extra cost, you can choose a boat that is the same or a similar boat model as your own, so long as it is within the same or a lower price range. If you wish to upgrade, you simply pay the difference between the charter price of your own boat and the upgraded model you wish to use.
Usage is determined through a points-based system. To ensure you get fair and generous access to your boat, or other boats in our fleet, you will be allocated 42 points each year. Everytime you book a vacation, via our dedicated owner reservations team, we will deduct points from your allocation. The amount varies depending on the time of year. For example, a boat in mid-season for a week is about 14 points. Peak season bookings use up more points, low season less. On top of this, we allocate an additional 42 points which you can redeem against last-minute bookings.
Please note: Boats in Canada require more points than other destinations. Owners can also access to our franchise base in Italy by paying a 25% contribution rate (of the charter price of the cruise). Current owners typically take an average of 8 weeks holiday on board every year, however up to 12 weeks are possible.
The programme lasts for 8 years (always finishing in October), and once the term has finished you have the choice :
- Keep the boat
- Sell it back to us for a guaranteed, pre-determined price of 50% or 60% of the original purchase price
- Sell your boat, with the help of our brokerage service
- Extend your ownership contract
Le Boat are part of Travelopia, forerunners in the specialist travel sector who own a collection of over 50 independently operated brands. This makes us, by far, one of the most financially stable boat charter companies in the world. We offer unrivalled expertise, more boat models than any other company and a history that spans over 50 years. As a Le Boat owner, your investment is with a company with unrivalled financial strength. Your money is safe with us.