About Our Family-Run Narrowboat Hire in Middlewich

A traditional family-run canal holiday company based in Cheshire. Discover our 50-year history of handcrafted boat building and narrowboat hire.

Johan Fredrik Andersen founding Andersen Boats in Middlewich

Est. 1975

50 years of making magical holidays.

Boating is in our blood. We were founded in the early 1970s by Johan Fredrik Andersen, a Norwegian boat builder, on a small plot of land by the canal right here in Middlewich.

Since those early days, Andersen Boats has been operated by the exact same family across three generations. We have grown from starting with only two boats to maintaining a 4-star boutique fleet of 16 handcrafted vessels. Because we build and maintain all our own boats, we ensure every guest experiences a narrowboat that is unique, reliable, and perfectly designed for the UK waterways.

1970s

The Foundation

Johan Fredrik Andersen brings his Norwegian boat-building expertise to the heart of Cheshire, launching the very first 'Oslo Fjord' onto the canal network.

1990s

The Fleet Grows

The family continues the legacy, designing and handcrafting new vessels. The boutique fleet begins to take shape, focusing purely on high-quality, comfortable holiday experiences.

Today

3 Generations Later

Still operating from our original Middlewich base, our 3rd generation now manages a pristine 4-star fleet of 16 boats, welcoming guests from all over the world.

Our Handcrafted Heritage

At Andersen Boats, we don't just maintain a fleet; we create it. Our building philosophy combines traditional craftsmanship with modern comfort.

Built by Hand

Every boat in our fleet is designed and individually built by us in Middlewich, from the heavy steel hull to the final interior polish.

Sustainable Interiors

We use only high-quality sustainable timbers, including real Oak and Ash, to create bright and welcoming living spaces on the water.

Boutique Quality

Being a small fleet allows us to focus on the tiny details that make a holiday special, ensuring our 4-Star standard is met every single time.

Setting Sail in 1975

One of the very first boats to join the Andersen fleet was the magnificent Oslo Fjord.

Built by hand with an uncompromising dedication to quality, she set the standard for every narrowboat we have built since. Even back then, our focus was on providing our guests with a hand crafted, reliable, and deeply comfortable home-away-from-home on the water. Today, the Fjord name lives on in every vessel we craft.

The very first Oslo Fjord narrowboat setting off

The First Oslo Fjord

A Legacy of Experience

When we started this company, we realised we had chosen one of the best starting points on the entire canal network. From our base, you can access a vast range of amazing routes in England and Wales.

The video shows the first Bergen Fjord setting off in the mid-1970s, please note this was the 1970's so do not copy what they are doing :-) While boating techniques and on-board comforts have evolved immensely since then, our core commitment to quality remains identical. We are incredibly proud of our part in Middlewich's canal history.