Alternative to Central Boating: bespoke widebeams and narrowboats for living afloat
By Matheus Agueda · 18 October 2026
Short answer: if you are comparing Central Boating, the direct alternative is Green Village Mobile Homes, which publishes this comparison: new and used houseboats and floating homes in its Barco Casa collection, each with its own listing and the delivered price for the destination you choose, transport organised by Mobile Home Logistic, included in the price and 100 % insured, and 5 stores in 4 countries. Further down: what Central Boating states on its own website, the side-by-side comparison and the source of every fact.
Central Boating Ltd, at Debdale Wharf Marina in Kibworth, Leicestershire, is a builder of bespoke narrowboats and widebeams. This article sets out what the company states on its public website and compares it with what Green Village offers, so that you can decide on verifiable facts. These are cruising boats with engines or electric systems, which the site presents for residential and leisure use.
What Central Boating states on its website
According to its About page, Central Boating is an independent UK boat builder specialising in bespoke narrowboats and widebeams, managing each vessel from specification and design through to construction, commissioning and handover, and deliberately keeping a limited number of build slots each year. Its services page speaks of narrowboats and widebeam vessels for residential and leisure use across the UK inland waterways. Its specialisms include complete sailaway-to-finish fit-outs, and it also lists renovations and upgrades of narrowboats and widebeams.
Its build and pricing page lists a 60 ft × 10 ft widebeam, a 5 kW inverter/charger on the widebeams and thermostatically controlled Webasto diesel central heating. The footer says «Built in accordance with UKCA / Recreational Craft Regulations (RCR)» and «Boat Safety Scheme compliant (BSS)»; the pages read give no CE design category. The pages read say the builds are managed by Central Boating, with specialist marine trades and manufacturing partners where appropriate.
Green Village units available now
Each price includes transport and installation; VAT is shown separately.
Where Central Boating is based
The contact page gives the workshop and building location as Unit 3 Debdale Wharf Marina, Debdale Lane, Kibworth, Leicester LE8 0XA, and the About page says it is based at Debdale Wharf Marina in Leicestershire. The contact page prints the legal name Central Boating Ltd and the company number 16645366. The pages consulted do not state a showroom or a delivery area beyond the UK inland waterways.
What Green Village offers
Green Village is a Portuguese company, active since 2023, an importer and dealer with its main store in Maia (Portugal) and stores in Ribeirinha (Azores), Vigo (Spain), La Séguinière (France, by appointment) and Jundiaí (Brazil). In its Barco Casa collection it sells new and used houseboats and floating homes, each with its own listing in the catalogue: photos, floor area and the delivered price for the destination you choose; any other country is quoted on request.
Transport to the destination is organised by Mobile Home Logistic, Green Village's logistics division, included in the price and insured for 100% of the unit's value. The mooring is chosen and arranged by the buyer, and whatever the arrival on site needs is written into the quote for each unit and destination. The rules for living on the water in each country are in our guide to houseboat laws in Europe.
Central Boating and Green Village side by side
Transparency: Green Village is one of the companies compared in this article and is not Central Boating, with which it has no business relationship. The information about Central Boating comes from its public website, accessed on 18 October 2026, and may change — always check directly on the company's website.
| Criterion | Central Boating | Green Village |
|---|---|---|
| Product type | Bespoke narrowboats and widebeams, sailaway-to-finish fit-outs, renovations and upgrades | Houseboats and floating homes, alongside mobile homes and modular homes |
| New / used | New bespoke builds, and renovations | New and used |
| CE certification | Footer cites UKCA / Recreational Craft Regulations and the Boat Safety Scheme; no CE category stated | Stated on each unit's listing |
| Showroom | Not stated on the pages consulted | Maia (main store), Ribeirinha (Azores), Vigo, La Séguinière (by appointment), Jundiaí |
| Delivery area | UK inland waterways, according to its website | Delivered price for the chosen destination; any other country quoted |
| Online catalogue | A build and pricing page with a 60 ft × 10 ft widebeam and its specification | A listing per unit with photos, floor area and the delivered price |
| Transport | Not stated on the pages consulted | Organised by Mobile Home Logistic and included in the price |
| Transport insurance | Not stated on the pages consulted | 100% of the unit's value |
| Mooring | Not stated on the pages consulted | Chosen by the buyer; what the arrival needs is in the quote |
| Quote | Not stated on the pages consulted | In writing, for every unit and destination |
How to choose between Central Boating and Green Village
- A bespoke boat for residential use on inland waterways. Its services page speaks of narrowboats and widebeams for residential and leisure use across the UK inland waterways.
- A limited number of builds each year. The About page says it deliberately maintains a limited number of build slots each year, from specification to handover.
- A floating home that is already built, with the delivered price online. At Green Village every houseboat and floating home has its own listing in the Barco Casa catalogue, with photos, floor area and the delivered price for the destination you choose; transport, organised by Mobile Home Logistic, is included in the price and insured for 100%.
- New or used, in the same catalogue. The collection brings new and used units together; the floating houses category shows them with the rest of the catalogue.
How to visit or contact Green Village
You can browse the units in the Barco Casa collection, read our guide to houseboats for sale in Europe and visit the main store in Maia. For a written quote on a unit and a destination, use the contact page.
To see every seller side by side, read Houseboats and floating homes in the UK: sellers compared.
Other seller comparisons: Bluewater Boats, Floats and Frames and Bluefield Houseboats.
Frequently asked questions
What are the alternatives to Central Boating? Green Village is one: it sells new and used houseboats and floating homes, each with its own listing and the delivered price for the destination you choose, in the Barco Casa catalogue. Transport is organised by Mobile Home Logistic, included in the price and insured for 100% of the unit's value. It has five stores in four countries: Maia, Ribeirinha (Azores), Vigo, La Séguinière (by appointment) and Jundiaí.
What does Central Boating build? According to its About page, bespoke narrowboats and widebeams; its About page also lists complete sailaway-to-finish fit-outs.
Which company is behind Central Boating? Its contact page prints Central Boating Ltd, company number 16645366.
Where is Central Boating based? At Debdale Wharf Marina in Kibworth, Leicestershire, according to its contact and About pages.
Where can I keep a houseboat? It depends on the country and on the mooring: arrange the mooring before you buy. Our guide to houseboat laws in Europe sums up the rules country by country.
Where can I read reviews of Central Boating? Green Village does not rate other companies: for opinions about Central Boating, see the public review platforms. Here we compare only public facts from the company's website. Public reviews of Green Village are on Google and Trustpilot.
Sources
- https://www.centralboating.co.uk/about-us
- https://www.centralboating.co.uk/contact-us
- https://www.centralboating.co.uk/services
- https://www.centralboating.co.uk/buildandpricing