Think soft and squashy, not stiff and square

A narrowboat looks deceptively roomy from the towpath, but inside you are working with roughly two metres of width and a great many cleverly angled cupboards that swallow only what they choose. Four hard-shell suitcases will fill the saloon before the kettle has boiled. Soft holdalls, rucksacks and packing cubes are your allies here — they squash under the dinette, wedge behind a bunk and fit into the odd triangular space nobody quite understands.

Pack one bag per person rather than splitting outfits across cases. It makes the morning scramble for a missing sock far quicker when everyone has their own kit. Roll clothes instead of folding: a rolled t-shirt takes up less room and creases less. If you are hiring, ring ahead and ask what is included. Most boats come with pillows, duvets, towels and basic kitchen equipment, but it varies, and there is no point hauling a duvet down the towpath for nothing.

Clothing that works on a wet towpath

The British weather does not care that you are on holiday. Layers are the answer: a base layer, a fleece and a proper waterproof shell. Not showerproof, not water-resistant — genuinely waterproof. Two pairs of waterproof overtrousers for the children will save the week; one pair each for anyone who plans to work a lock.

Footwear matters as much as coats. Wellies for the little ones, sturdy boots for adults. Trainers get soaked on wet grass and stay soaked for three days inside a small cabin. Bring one dry spare pair each and a plastic bag in the cratch for muddy boots.

• Two or three fleeces or jumpers per person rather than one heavy coat
• Waterproof jacket and trousers for every member of the crew
• Wellies plus one dry pair of shoes each
• Sun hats and sun cream — yes, really
• A small laundry bag and a few washing pods; some marinas have machines
• Warm socks, doubled up for anyone steering in October

Pack for two-thirds of the days you will be away. A hand-wash in the sink or a launderette stop fills the gap, and a fine afternoon will dry a couple of things on the roof.

Beds, bedding and the art of the tidy bunk

Most hire boats are set up as either fixed beds or dinettes that convert. If your family needs four proper berths, tell the hire company at booking rather than hoping. Bring a fitted sheet from home if you want a familiar feel for small children, and pack a small pillow for anyone who finds boat pillows too firm.

Storage under bunks is the best space on board, so use soft bags that slide in flat. A washbag each, hung on a hook, beats a shared toiletries bag that ends up on the floor. Keep a small basket by each bunk for books, glasses and a torch, and set a rule that nothing lives on the floor after dark — narrowboat floors are uneven, and somebody will tread on it.

Toys, games and keeping everyone sane

Canal days are long and slow, which is the point, but a bored seven-year-old can turn a peaceful stretch into a mutiny. Bring things that work on a table the size of a tea tray and tolerate being dropped.

• A pack of cards, Uno and a magnetic travel game or two
• Colouring books, pencils in a zip case — no loose felt tips rolling into the bilge
• Binoculars, a cheap magnifying glass and a spotter's guide for herons, kingfishers and lock gates
• A fishing net on a short handle for pond-dipping from the towpath
• A tablet with films and audiobooks downloaded in advance, plus a power bank
• Life jackets for the children — check sizes before you travel, or arrange them with the hire base

Leave anything with a hundred tiny pieces at home. There is no vacuum cleaner on board and no patience for a lost dice at nine in the evening.

Feeding the crew from a tiny galley

Boat fridges are small and cool rather than cold, so plan meals that use fresh food early in the week and tins, pasta and long-life items later. Do a main shop before you arrive and take a cool box for the first night's dinner — after a long drive and a handover briefing, nobody wants to find a supermarket at six o'clock.

One-pot cooking is your friend: chilli, curry, sausage casserole, pasta bake. Buy pre-grated cheese, pre-chopped vegetables and part-baked bread if it saves your sanity. Keep a well-stocked snack tin for lock queues, plus squash concentrate, tea, coffee and a large bottle of water. Many canals run through towns with a small Co-op or corner shop within a short walk, so you can top up bread and milk as you go. Book a pub meal for at least one evening — it is part of the holiday.

Little extras that earn their place

A few small things make a disproportionate difference. A head torch each for evening walks along the towpath. Gardening gloves for rope handling. Tea towels, dishcloths and bin bags, which hire boats rarely supply in quantity. Hand gel, plasters, child paracetamol and insect repellent for muggy evenings by the water. A short washing line and a couple of pegs. Spare batteries, a corkscrew and a doorstop for a rattling cabin door.

Finally, pack a notebook and a pen. Children who write down every lock number, bridge and swan spotted tend to remember the week far better than those who do not — and you will want the record too.