The canal / narrowboat thread.

[john2443]

As I don't think we have a narrowboat thread I thought it was time there was one so please add thoughts, comment, experiences on the canal.


Normally when I'm on the cut it's on a hireboat or a friends boat, but this week was a bit different.

I've just spent a few days on the Narrowboat Trust's working pair.

Lister -


Reading, on the Thames near Tesco


Reading, on the K&A, town centre


https://youtu.be/Jc8tEq-F-3I

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2eedK6W613o&fe...

[SimonTheSailor]

Love narrow boats, very relaxing !! A great way to explore old England !!

[CAPP0]

Great thread! Many years ago I worked in Coventry all week, home to Kent at the weekend. I bought a 50' trad and lived on the GU during the week. Got a pic somewhere, I'll dig it out. Sold it after 3-4 years but now wish I hadn't.

[2thumbs]

Love hearing the old work boats passing. I've promised myself a boat with a proper engine room one day, complete with shiny vintage engine!

[robm3]

Great thread.
When our 'Grey Nomad' phase of life kicks in, spending a July and August travelling the canals of the UK (and possibly France) are definitely on the list.
Love to hear more from PH'ers who've done this or have a boat.

[Shakermaker]

I've had 2 extremely enjoyable Canal boat holidays with groups of mates, and its a lifestyle I enjoyed for a week and would love to do more of. Will definitely be something to do when children are a bit older I reckon as well!

[spitfire-ian]

Our boat

2015-09-20 10.32.39 by Ian, on Flickr

And the ones I get to play with occasionally

Nutfield and Raymond by Ian, on Flickr

Have loved the canals for years and it is a great way to see the countryside and the cities for that matter.

Nutfield and Raymond by Ian, on Flickr

[Riley Blue]

At the helm of a mate's 60' Dutch barge on the Thames. Probably one of the most relaxing weekends we've had in years. He's just had the barge built so he and his wife can cross the Channel and potter about the French canal system for a few years - lucky swine... We met some really friendly (everyone waves and shouts a greeting) and interesting people (the owner of a company that runs pleasure flights in classic aircraft) and I could happily spend a few years exploring the waterways of Britain though I'd go for something much smaller, the barge is too large for many UK canals.

[kurt535]

Used to love watching that guy rebuild a narrow boat he then used in Narrow Boat Afloat. I think they also sold that one for @80k which seemed cheap to me for a full resto. However, i really have no idea how costly these beautiful boats are!

[woodypup59]

BBC2 8pm Saturday - Britain Afloat.

Last nights (14 Oct) was about narrowboats, esp old working boats.

The chap with Perch had rebuilt it in his back garden - in two pieces - over 5 years.

Fairly accurate for the enthusiast but still interesting for the casual viewer.

My ex-BWB tug in the background at one point :-)

[2thumbs]

woodypup59 said:

BBC2 8pm Saturday - Britain Afloat.

Last nights (14 Oct) was about narrowboats, esp old working boats.

The chap with Perch had rebuilt it in his back garden - in two pieces - over 5 years.

Fairly accurate for the enthusiast but still interesting for the casual viewer.

My ex-BWB tug in the background at one point :-)

Haven't watched it yet, but I built the president model shown

[2thumbs]

I finally got to go on this earlier this year, the Anderton boat lift, built in 1875, that lifts boats from the river Weaver up onto the Trent and Mersey canal. Unfortunately it's plagued with mechanical issues and parts availability so is often out of action for maintenance. Only one lift was working when we went up and we had to wait a while for that to be repaired. It was great though, there's some really interesting old engineering we get to play with as boaters

[williredale]

2thumbs said:

I finally got to go on this earlier this year, the Anderton boat lift, built in 1875, that lifts boats from the river Weaver up onto the Trent and Mersey canal. Unfortunately it's plagued with mechanical issues and parts availability so is often out of action for maintenance. Only one lift was working when we went up and we had to wait a while for that to be repaired. It was great though, there's some really interesting old engineering we get to play with as boaters

I had a very enjoyable week on the water around there a couple of years back. It was my dad and I (and quite a few pubs) and I could see why the way of life captures people. I've wanted to take the wife and kids back since but they've resisted!
The boat lift was ace. Proper engineering.

[Simpo Two]

2thumbs said:

I finally got to go on this earlier this year, the Anderton boat lift, built in 1875, that lifts boats from the river Weaver up onto the Trent and Mersey canal. Unfortunately it's plagued with mechanical issues and parts availability so is often out of action for maintenance. Only one lift was working when we went up and we had to wait a while for that to be repaired. It was great though, there's some really interesting old engineering we get to play with as boaters

One of the seven wonders of the canal world. But I thought it needed both sides to work, as they counterbalance...

[2thumbs]

Simpo Two said:

One of the seven wonders of the canal world. But I thought it needed both sides to work, as they counterbalance...

I thought so too, but apparently not. On the way down the other lift didn't move at all, on the way back up it moved but couldn't carry a boat for some reason.

[Shotgun Jon]

robm3 said:

Great thread.
When our 'Grey Nomad' phase of life kicks in, spending a July and August travelling the canals of the UK (and possibly France) are definitely on the list.
Love to hear more from PH'ers who've done this or have a boat.

France on a narrow boat??? Serious question but how do you get it there? Surely you don't sail it across the channel??

[2thumbs]

Shotgun Jon said:

France on a narrow boat??? Serious question but how do you get it there? Surely you don't sail it across the channel??

It has been done

http://www.narrowdog.com/frenchpictures.htm

Most chose a lorry ride though.

Edited by 2thumbs on Wednesday 18th October 17:44

[Rower]

Shotgun Jon said:

robm3 said:

Great thread.
When our 'Grey Nomad' phase of life kicks in, spending a July and August travelling the canals of the UK (and possibly France) are definitely on the list.
Love to hear more from PH'ers who've done this or have a boat.

France on a narrow boat??? Serious question but how do you get it there? Surely you don't sail it across the channel??

It does sound mad , but it is doable a guy has written a book called 'Thin dog to Carcasonne' and he took his boat over , had to wait for some time until the weather was guaranteed with no wind or dodgy tides , he sealed up all the hatches , windows etc and got across no problem .

[Simpo Two]

Rower said:

Thin dog

Narrowdog

[FiF]

http://www.narrowdog.com

Narrow dog to Carcassonne, story of Stone in Staffordshire , across the channel to Carcassonne.

Narrow dog to Indian River, same culprits down the East Coast USA Intracoastal waterway.