Questions
Straight answers about the records, claims and privacy.
- Is The Boat Index an official register?
- No. It is an independent record run by Towpath Digital Ltd. Most UK inland boats aren’t on any register of who owns them: navigation authorities licence boats, they don’t record title. The exception is Part 1 of the UK Ship Register, which some owners choose to use.
- Where does the boat data come from?
- Most records come from public boat records, collected in April 2026. A small number were added by owners, who can also correct their own boat’s record.
- Why isn’t my boat listed?
- The collected records don’t cover every boat. If yours is missing, create a free account and add it.
- What does "claimed by its owner" mean?
- Someone has linked their account to the record. It does not prove ownership. If you think a claim is wrong, contact us.
- Why can’t I see the licence number?
- Licence (index) numbers are kept private so they can’t be used to pass off a boat or in scams.
- Is a boat name personal data?
- A boat’s name on its own identifies a boat, not a person. We never show owners’ names or contact details. If a record says something about you, use correct or remove a record.
- How do I get a record corrected or removed?
- Use the correct or remove a record page. Owners can also correct their own claimed boat.
- What does it cost?
- Nothing. The Boat Index is free for boaters, and there’s no paid plan.
- What if a boat I’m buying shows as stolen?
- Don’t pay, and don’t confront the seller. Call the police on 101 and quote the boat’s BR-number.
Correct or remove a record · Contact us
Last changed 20 October 2026.