The canal / narrowboat thread
Discussion
spitfire-ian said:
Pretty sure you guys came past us in Braunston tunnel in the summer...was bloody spooky seeing an old working pair so deep underground...oooo, were they ghosts?
I'm more of a yachtie but like getting away on the canals for a bit...no excuse not to as there's a hire business in the extended family and I live just metres away from the canal myself. Only really annoying bit compared to yachting is the concentration. You can steer a yacht for some time just by feel and not really needing to pay that much attention. A narrow boat is like some kind of 80s 911 turbo...lose concentration for a few seconds and you're in a tree. Albeit a lot more slowly with a lot less damage, and 60' away from the point of impact too!
Rower said:
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??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.
Mexican cuties said:
bit new to this lovely river chilled out lark, but don't want to take ours out of the water - want to use her in the winter, realise we need a dehumidifier and some low voltage tube heaters, any other tips, much appreciated
If your engine is cooled by river (raw) water you must make sure it doesn't freeze in the system or stopcock - that's what the heaters are really for. Consider also the freshwater system as you don't want any bursts. I use two oil filled rads, one in the engine bay and one in the saloon, plugged into shore power (mains). Shore power is essential to keep a boat operational overwinter and it keeps the batteries charged too.Depending on what waterway you're on, water levels can rise dramatically over winter so make sure your mooring arrangements are adequate or that there will be someone around to slacken the lines if you're not around.
Excellent thread!
We've had numerous (i.e. 20+) week-long holidays on UK canals, sometimes just me + missus + dog, other times a group of us, but always on a hire boat so we can select our location and route and make best use of the time available.
Large group = many locks (i.e. Warwickshire Ring, including Hatton Flight, or K&A including Caen Hill); me + missus = more gentle cruise (i.e. Llangollen, incl. Pontcysyllte Aqueduct).
We have considered buying our own boat (or buying into a timeshare arrangement), but having carefully weighed up the pros and cons (particularly while I'm still working) we are happy to continue hiring. Hoping that grandkids will enjoy it too, once they're old enough
The canalside pubs certainly add greatly to the slow pace of life
Alan
We've had numerous (i.e. 20+) week-long holidays on UK canals, sometimes just me + missus + dog, other times a group of us, but always on a hire boat so we can select our location and route and make best use of the time available.
Large group = many locks (i.e. Warwickshire Ring, including Hatton Flight, or K&A including Caen Hill); me + missus = more gentle cruise (i.e. Llangollen, incl. Pontcysyllte Aqueduct).
We have considered buying our own boat (or buying into a timeshare arrangement), but having carefully weighed up the pros and cons (particularly while I'm still working) we are happy to continue hiring. Hoping that grandkids will enjoy it too, once they're old enough
The canalside pubs certainly add greatly to the slow pace of life
Alan
just a question, regarding prep for winter, on our freshwater system we have also in the engine bay the neutra salt system, used to flush out fresh water or salt water engines, tested it yesterday, defo has antifreeze in it, so I assume we can just flush the engine with this solution. thanks for the tip on the heaters, have 2 small tube ones for the engine bay, one larger one for the cabin and a dehumidifier, my god that dehumidifier is the nuts, cant believe how much water it collected.
many thanks
many thanks
I live within walking distance of the Thames in Reading and regularly see all sorts of boats as I cycle along the towpath, narrowboats and the relaxed pace of life thereon really appeals to me.
We're going to do a holiday aboard one as soon as our son (nearly 3yo) is a competent swimmer. Bit worried about a 'man overboard' situation before then. I also want him to be able to properly understand/appreciate/help out with all the locks etc - I was fascinated by those as a kid - so probably looking at him being 7 or 8 before it's really do-able.
I found myself in a bit of YouTube vortex the other night looking at film of the Falkirk Wheel - wonderful piece of engineering!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tBH9SE-Kw8
We're going to do a holiday aboard one as soon as our son (nearly 3yo) is a competent swimmer. Bit worried about a 'man overboard' situation before then. I also want him to be able to properly understand/appreciate/help out with all the locks etc - I was fascinated by those as a kid - so probably looking at him being 7 or 8 before it's really do-able.
I found myself in a bit of YouTube vortex the other night looking at film of the Falkirk Wheel - wonderful piece of engineering!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tBH9SE-Kw8
Edited by PurpleTurtle on Monday 30th October 13:37
Edited by PurpleTurtle on Monday 30th October 13:39
PurpleTurtle said:
We're going to do a holiday aboard one as soon as our son (nearly 3yo) is a competent swimmer. Bit worried about a 'man overboard' situation before then. I also want him to be able to properly understand/appreciate/help out with all the locks etc - I was fascinated by those as a kid - so probably looking at him being 7 or 8 before it's really do-able.
Well, you could wrap him up in a super-dooper lifejacket and just hoik him out with a boathook like a dog. Or tie him to the rail I suspect most people who drown can swim. I can't swim and haven't drowned! People say 'What! You can't swim? But you have a boat!' 'Exactly, it keeps me out of the water!'.
Simpo Two said:
PurpleTurtle said:
We're going to do a holiday aboard one as soon as our son (nearly 3yo) is a competent swimmer. Bit worried about a 'man overboard' situation before then. I also want him to be able to properly understand/appreciate/help out with all the locks etc - I was fascinated by those as a kid - so probably looking at him being 7 or 8 before it's really do-able.
Well, you could wrap him up in a super-dooper lifejacket and just hoik him out with a boathook like a dog. Or tie him to the rail I suspect most people who drown can swim. I can't swim and haven't drowned! People say 'What! You can't swim? But you have a boat!' 'Exactly, it keeps me out of the water!'.
I'd be a lot more relaxed knowing that he's not going to go overboard at any moment, which is a distinct possibility with a toddler!
My parents took theirs up the Severn estuary from Avonmouth to Sharpness. They were obliged to hire a pilot for the job and it was done on an exceedingly calm day. I can only imagine crossing the English channnel could get pretty hairy in anything other than the calmest conditions and would need to be done under experienced supervision. The scope for disaster is great!
Edited by theboss on Thursday 28th June 08:20
Just back from another trip on the Narrowboat Trust working pair, Braunston historic boat festival at the weekend then up the north Oxford and Coventry back to Alvecote (near Tamworth).
Hard work - bow hauled the butty down the thick of Atherstone flight, then back up for the motor and do it all again before towing the butty down the other 6 locks.
What shocked me was the number of boats coming towards us who have no bloody idea what they're doing - and mostly they weren't hirers. Sensible procedure, when they see us, knock it into tickover and aim for the gap between us and the bank, actual action, slam astern, spin broadside across in front of us meaning we have to stop and wait for them to sort themselves out. Meanwhile the butty's floating into the reeds, moored boats etc.
Hard work - bow hauled the butty down the thick of Atherstone flight, then back up for the motor and do it all again before towing the butty down the other 6 locks.
What shocked me was the number of boats coming towards us who have no bloody idea what they're doing - and mostly they weren't hirers. Sensible procedure, when they see us, knock it into tickover and aim for the gap between us and the bank, actual action, slam astern, spin broadside across in front of us meaning we have to stop and wait for them to sort themselves out. Meanwhile the butty's floating into the reeds, moored boats etc.
Simpo Two said:
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... 
skinnyman said:
My parents have got one, 'only' cost them around £30k, but the mooring fees are £2.5k/pa. Daft thing is, for the amount of time they get to go out in it they'd be better off renting each time.
Financially perhaps, but hiring a boat isn't the same as owning one. If you own one you can use it whenever you want, leave your stuff on it etc. If you hire one you get (generally) a fixed week but choose any waterway. I like both.Gassing Station | Boats, Planes & Trains | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff