How not to use a narrowboat
Discussion
dhutch said:
FiF said:
While having sympathy for the criticism of the use of the term barge when referring to narrowboats, presumably a TV producer might consider the average viewer attention span and want to avoid the steam train rivet counter approach, eg narrowboats, wideboats, tugs, inspection launches, Leeds and Liverpool short boats, Dutch barges. Just saying.
I half get that, but I don't think there is harm in using the term narrowboat, it's not overly complex, you can even say narrowboat a type of barge, throw in canal boat, canal tug. This barge was used on the Leeds and Liverpool canal which make it a L&L shortboat as they where not as long as most narrowboats. Whatever. Dutch barge? We're not in Holland now! 
Daniel
Well as for Dutch barge, thread topic is about on the Thames, quite a few Dutch barges on there, even ones built in England.
FiF said:
Errrm, rivet counter mode on, L&L short boats were 60ft x 14ft iirc.
Well as for Dutch barge, thread topic is about on the Thames, quite a few Dutch barges on there, even ones built in England.
Yes, 60-62ft long, 14ft beam, or there abouts as per the local Yorkshire boat preceding them, with the locks from Wigan onwards built to that size. The locks from Liverpool to Wigan being 72ft to suit the local boats of that area the Mersey flat, and also a full length narrowboat. Boats built for this area being called L&L longboats by some, including Ambush as s a surviving example. Well as for Dutch barge, thread topic is about on the Thames, quite a few Dutch barges on there, even ones built in England.
Comment about Dutch boats (imported or by style only) being slightly tongue in cheek, including a photo of our own boat which is a vaugely Luxmotor hull form. 58ft x 6ft10 so she can go everywhere including the Huddersfield broad canal, Calder and Hebble, etc.
paul_y3k said:
Slightly off topic .....
You'll fit right in here!paul_y3k said:
...but living near to Lechlade, the wife and i have hired a few day boats / weekenders over the last cpl of years. Enough times to be thinking about buying our first boat..
however it's this sort of thing that really makes us question are doing it .....
Obviously buying your first boat is a big step, their not cheap and their are some horror stories, but I certainly wouldn't let this thread put your l off. Such abhorrent behaviour is remarkably* rare and the vast majority are a friendly relaxed bunch, with boat-boat collisions being reasonable uncommon even with the jokes about it being a contact sport. however it's this sort of thing that really makes us question are doing it .....
- Literally, whole thread remarking on it!
We diy our four yearly drydock if only to ensure the quality of the job and because it's actually quite good fun, we then also do the majority of the other work ourselves, which is becoming less common like home diy but is how we have always done anything.
The boat was built by my grandfather and mother as a retirement exercise for him as a keen sailor and engineer, it's now co-founded by him (90 and in a home), mum, dad and myself (32yo) each chipping in £100/month, up recently from £50/month to cover this last drydock.
It's been a quieter year this year as me and my partner have bought a house project, but usually some one is on it about every other weekend for 6months of the year continuously moving it around the system, plus a couple of weeks. Mainly with friends and family. We're getting a load weekend in this year with Lowri's brother and his girlfriend.
It's not for everyone but there are a huge number of ways of boating round the canal and we enjoy it a lot.
Daniel
FiF said:
@dhutch, Daniel, just looked at the photo of your narrow boat again, it's a steamer!!!!!!! Respect! 
Indeed so. It's a fairly silly bit of kit, bit we love it very much!Not been updated in a long time, but some information here: http://emilyanne.co.uk/
Daniel
paul_y3k said:
slightly off topic, but living near to Lechlade, the wife and i have hired a few day boats / weekenders over the last cpl of years. Enough times to be thinking about buying our first boat..
however it's this sort of thing that really makes us question are doing it .....
I've just come back from a great day on mine.however it's this sort of thing that really makes us question are doing it .....
A friend has a big Freeman on the Thames (just upgraded from a small one) and absolutely loves it (the boat and the river). Every sport or pastime will have the occasional dick in it so as said, get one
(a boat not a dick)
Hutch, Simpo,
Thanks for the replies, for us we're not looking to spend a vast amount the first time around and have a budget of around 15K - 20K. I know it's not going to buy a gin palace, but hopefully something with a cabin (and mrs has stipulated a decent toilet! / shower).
Is there a pistonheads for boats ?
Cheers
Thanks for the replies, for us we're not looking to spend a vast amount the first time around and have a budget of around 15K - 20K. I know it's not going to buy a gin palace, but hopefully something with a cabin (and mrs has stipulated a decent toilet! / shower).
Is there a pistonheads for boats ?
Cheers
paul_y3k said:
Thanks for the replies, for us we're not looking to spend a vast amount the first time around and have a budget of around 15K - 20K. I know it's not going to buy a gin palace, but hopefully something with a cabin (and mrs has stipulated a decent toilet! / shower).
Is there a pistonheads for boats ?
You're on it Is there a pistonheads for boats ?
That's a healthy budget for a first boat. Browse some brokers' websites, get an idea of what's available and go to see some. My first thoughts would be a Fairline Mirage 29, Freeman 27 or Ocean 30. They are older boats but that means they'll hold their value, and many will have been refitted. The other option is 'sports cruisers' (the pointy ones) - look sexier but less room inside as a result. This is good time to get some money off. PM me if you want more info.
ETA Actually you might have to add a few more K to get one of those but it wasn't doing anything in the bank anyway was it
Edited by Simpo Two on Sunday 20th October 10:06
dhutch said:
It is a bit mad that we have all this dash-cam, youtube, social media which is national and there almost forever. Not just a chat in a pub about one bloke being a fool, it could actually effect his career and reputation. IS that good or bad?
I think Captain Bird's Eye (Jap's Eye ?!) is the only one sabotaging his own career and reputation.
anotherswifty said:
dhutch said:
It is a bit mad that we have all this dash-cam, youtube, social media which is national and there almost forever. Not just a chat in a pub about one bloke being a fool, it could actually effect his career and reputation. IS that good or bad?
I think Captain Bird's Eye (Jap's Eye ?!) is the only one sabotaging his own career and reputation.In a small community you wouldn't behave like a nob out of respect for the rest of your community. And if you did behave like a nob then the community would hold you to account.
These days, society has changed. There is less and less community cohesion and people have become used to being able to behave like nobs with impunity.
In my view, the CCTV, social media and the like allows people who behave like idiots to be held to account.
In the case of our hapless NB captain, he should have considered the possibility that he would be filmed when measuring how to behave.
Maybe he was having a bad day. Maybe he'd drunk too much pop. Maybe he just completely misjudged the situation and lost his rag.
One of the benefits of social media is that he now has the opportunity publicly to admit he was wrong, to offer some sort of explanation for his behaviour and to apologise.
There has been a long thread on the Canalworld forums about this incident and he has (justifiably) received a lot of stick. But there have been people who know him who have testified that he is usually a reasonable sort of chap.
No one is perfect. We all have bad days, make mistakes, screw up or do stupid things.
A bit of Mea Culpa would go a long way.
Simpo Two said:
In my experience boaters come in either way - if anything decides it for me, it's wind not current as landing with a tailwind is harder.
On the inland waterways, the canals, where there is virtually no water flow, you are right, we do approach from either direction, if it is safe to do so.On a flowing river (we had a boat moored at Henley for some time and the river can flow at 4 or 5 knots, easily), the cruiser was;
- On the correct side of the river
- Appraching from the right direction
- Was running at low speed, evidenced by the way the lady stepped off his boat.
- Was absolutely within his rights to moor as he did.
The narrowboat owners actions were;
- Reprehensible
- Dangerous
- Probably bordering on court actionable, if damage was sustained.
(Note; at the time we were on the Thames we had both a 25' GRP cruiser and a 46' narrowboat. We are able to see both sides of the altercation. The narrowboat owner was in the wrong)
Johner said:
Simpo Two said:
In my experience boaters come in either way - if anything decides it for me, it's wind not current as landing with a tailwind is harder.
On the inland waterways, the canals, where there is virtually no water flow, you are right, we do approach from either direction, if it is safe to do so.On a flowing river (we had a boat moored at Henley for some time and the river can flow at 4 or 5 knots, easily), the cruiser was;
- On the correct side of the river
- Appraching from the right direction
- Was running at low speed, evidenced by the way the lady stepped off his boat.
- Was absolutely within his rights to moor as he did.
The narrowboat owners actions were;
- Reprehensible
- Dangerous
- Probably bordering on court actionable, if damage was sustained.
(Note; at the time we were on the Thames we had both a 25' GRP cruiser and a 46' narrowboat. We are able to see both sides of the altercation. The narrowboat owner was in the wrong)
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