Le Boat’s 2027 and 2028 seasons are now open across 18 destinations, and the 11.5m Horizon 1 keeps a premium self-drive cruising option within LBG’s under-12m remit.
Le Boat has opened its 2027 and 2028 self-drive boating seasons across 18 destinations in nine countries, giving holidaymakers the option to plan inland-water cruising well ahead. For LBG, the important detail is that part of the hire fleet remains comfortably below 12 metres, including the 11.5m Horizon 1.
Le Boat says no licence or previous boating experience is required for its holidays, with base teams providing orientation before departure. That makes the format one of the clearest ways for people to experience living aboard and handling a small cruiser before considering ownership.
Horizon 1 stays within the LBG size boundary
The Horizon 1 measures 11.5m by 4.25m and sleeps up to five people across two cabins and a convertible saloon arrangement. It combines inside and outside steering positions with bow and stern thrusters, which can make marina and lock manoeuvring less intimidating for a small holiday crew.
The boat also includes a large upper deck, outdoor seating, a barbecue hotplate and access to the water from the aft area. Those features make the holiday more about using the waterways and stopping along the route than simply travelling from one base to another.
Eighteen destinations create very different trips
The current new-season programme spans waterways in England, Scotland, France, Ireland, Canada, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. The experience can therefore range from rural canals and locks to lakes, rivers and towns reached directly from the water.
Route choice matters as much as boat choice for first-time crews because daily distances, lock frequency and shore access vary considerably. A shorter boat does not remove the need to plan, but it can help a small crew keep the scale of the holiday manageable.
Hiring can be a useful step before ownership
A week on a self-drive cruiser reveals practical preferences that are difficult to learn from a showroom visit. Storage, sleeping arrangements, helm visibility, deck access and how much living space a crew really needs become obvious once the boat is used day after day.
That makes under-12m hire boats especially relevant to LBG’s broader ownership coverage. A boating holiday can stand alone as a trip, but it can also help future buyers understand whether they enjoy the routines of cruising enough to make a larger commitment.
Source
Le Boat