The canal / narrowboat thread

Crick to Caen Hill (Nr Devizes).

The Caen flight, in the last couple of miles, has 29 locks alone.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caen_Hill_Locks

Thanks. There'll be two of us, plus dog. She won't drive, so I get to do it all (and she does all the locks....)

That’s the same with us.
I suppose the locks don’t move & you can’t damage them by operating them but the boat handling can go tits up really easily and you can look a proper prat if you hit anything!

We often pull ours through on ropes (even singlehanded on a middle rope)..........perhaps it don't look cool to some but saves a bit of angst sometimes, especially if the Mrs arm is getting tired and nobody around on lock flights.

In laws are looking at buying a Linssen 380 and wanted to test something whilst getting a bit of tuition from yours truly on their first ever trip so we joined them for 24 hrs of their long weekend on the Thames this weekend.

Tbh, I've always thought non tidal boating was a bit crap and the weather looked iffy, but we had a brilliant time, even with a possessed toddler and a pregnant wife who'd rather be anywhere than on a boat in the rain.

Pootling along at 5kts made for a much more relaxing pace than normal Solent boating, we didn't bend or break anything which is a first for boating weekends and met some great people along the way. By the time we left, the inlaws could lock in/out on unattended locks without any help, mangling the fenders or using the bow thruster, so result all round..

Highly recommend Hobbs of Henley if anyone fancies hiring too.

I had another few days with the Narrowboat trust a couple of weeks ago, only 1 small drama when the ellum got lifted off the butty in a shallow section and we had to use a Tirfor off a bridge to put it back!

Meanwhile the previous trip met Mikron's boat going down Napton - lock 9 is well known for being a bit tight - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLQJCRsasnk

If you fancy a bit of real boating (and don't mind very basic facilities) the trust is an absolute bargain, £20 a year and you get to play on a working pair! No qualifications required (they are for the captain but not for crew). Previous experience is useful, if it's the first time you've steered you'll find it tricky but you'll get trained.

https://www.narrowboattrust.org.uk/

My brief steer of the Narrowboat Trust butty through Braunston last weekend.


IMG_3699 by Ian, on Flickr

4 weeks until we have a weeks holiday on a narrowboat. With two kids, we are starting easy on the Lancaster canal, so no locks to deal with. If anyone is familiar with the area, any hints and tips on what to see, where to eat and drink, much appreciated!

Can of worms opened. To do a full job you would remove it and replace, or cut in patches if only certain areas are thin, however a lot will just over-plate without removing the old. The quality of either can go from as good as new to a total basket case.

If over plating or increasing thickness dont forget this will as weight. Its not unheard of for over-plated boats (often older lighter boats initially) to have issues with being too heavy for the hull design, swim is all wrong, engine room vents and front deck drains underwater, etc.

Struggling to think off the top of my head who would take on the work, friends of mine own the boatyard and drydock in Northwich and I am sure could find you someone who would do the work for you, either directly or contacted via their yard, certainly not a bad starting point for asking.

http://www.northwichdrydock.com/



Daniel