Windermere boat registration
Powered boats on Windermere, in use, moored, for private use or business need a current Windermere Registration, including boats with outboard or electric motors or other mechanical means of propulsion.
Boat hire
The following four lakes all have water sport centres, and places where you can hire boats, including rowing boats and electric boats.
Steamers and boat cruises
Combining a one-way cruise with a bus, walk or cycle can be a great way to travel around a lake in one day. The following four lakes have passenger boats with multiple stops.
Coniston - National Trust Steam Yacht Gondola
The National Trust Steam Yacht Gondola stops at Coniston Boating Centre, Brantwood and Lake Bank Jetty.
The Coniston Launch service also stops at Coniston Boating Centre, Waterhead, Brantwood, Sunny Bank, Lake Bank Jetty.
Derwentwater - Keswick Launch
The Keswick Launch stops at Keswick, Ashness Gate, Lodore, High Brandelhow, Low Brandelhow, Hawes End, Lingholm and Nichol End.
Park and Sail – park at Keswick Rugby Club for just £4 a day and get 15% off Keswick Launch tickets. The best way to reach the West side of the lake and Cat Bells, where there is very limited parking.
Boating Safety
Read on to discover safety tips for all boat users in the Lake District so you can enjoy your boating experience safely. Our Lake Rangers are here to keep everyone safe and happy on the water and the advice videos below will help you make the most of your adventure.
Safety tips for all boat users
Powered boats
- If you’re in charge of a boat, ensure you keep to the speed limit.
- Ensure you are aware of the lake byelaws.
- If your boat has an engine, it’s classed as powered and power gives way to sail.
- All vessels should give way to commercial pleasure craft.
- Powered craft must be registered for use on Windermere.
- Kill cords can save lives – clip it to kill it. Read more further down this page.
All boats
- Make sure your life jacket or buoyancy aid is ‘CE Approved’.
- Wear your life jacket when you’re near or on the water.
- Fit a carbon monoxide and smoke detector to your boat – it could save a life.
All boats, canoes, kayaks and paddleboards
- Wind direction can change suddenly, be prepared, it can make paddling much harder.
- Look out for large boats turning, they need plenty of room!
- Always pass two ferry lengths to the rear of the car ferry.
- Canoe, kayak/paddleboard with someone else or hire a guide, stay close to shore.
Keep clear of swimmers
- Watch out for blue and white flags, swimmers and divers are in the water and can be hard to spot.
- Keep as far away from swimmers and their support boats as possible.
- Remember boats supporting swimmers can not move out of your way.
- In an emergency, if you do get too close to a swimmer, turn off your engine to stop injury from propellers.
- See our swimming page for details which lakes are best to swim in and how to stay safe in cold water and around other lake users.
Our Lake Rangers are here to keep everyone safe and happy on the water.
Their advice videos will help you make the most of your experience.
Carbon monoxide safety on boats
If you have your own boat please make sure that you have installed a carbon monoxide detector. These can be bought from Ferry Nab or any hardware store.
Kill cords on boats
If you are driving a boat that is fitted with a motor please make sure you are wearing a kill cord at all times. Our Lake Ranger explains how to wear one appropriately.
Life jacket checks
Life jackets should be worn during any water sport activity. Make sure you know how to care for yours.
Boat Safe Code
Be aware
Swimmers are not obvious in the water
- Keep a look out. Swimmers can be very difficult to see, especially when there are waves, sun glare or they do not have the means to make themselves more visible.
- If you see an alpha flag it tells you that there is a swimmer or diver in the water.
- Swimmers and other lake users may be in any area of the lake, any time of day or night.
- Make yourself aware of the lake byelaws for the National Park’s lakes.
- If you are using a powerboat, make sure you have had suitable training.
- Know your lake.
Avoid
Take early action, keep well clear
- Keep as far away from swimmers and their support boats as possible.
- Remember boats supporting swimmers can not move out of your way.
- Your wash can put swimmers and other lake users into serious difficulty.
- Slow down and keep a safe distance.
Turn off engine
Kill the engine, protect the swimmer!
- Always wear a kill cord and ensure it is attached to the driver and the boat. More info on the RYA Kill Cord web page (RYA website opens in new window).
- In an emergency, if you do get too close to a swimmer, turn off your engine to stop injury from propellers.
In an emergency
Call 999 and ask for the coastguard.
Helping our wildlife
During the warmer weather, blue green algae may occur on some waters. While this occurs naturally, it can be toxic and lethal to animals. Our guide to blue green algae explains what to look out for and how to report a sighting.
Invasive non-native species of wildlife can hitchhike on equipment, footwear, clothing and boats. You may inadvertently spread the aliens even if you just go for a paddle! Every time you leave any water such as a river, tarn or lake.
Check – Clean – Dry
- Check your equipment and clothing for living organisms. Pay particular attention to damp or hard to inspect areas.
- Clean and wash all equipment, footwear and clothes thoroughly. If you do come across any organisms, leave them at the water body where you found them or on a hard surface to die out.
- Dry all equipment and clothing. Some species can live for many days in damp conditions.
