Narrow boating
Discussion
2thumbs said:
A 'narrow boat' is a type of barge, & reffers to the old open working boats.
a 'narrowboat' is the typical holiday/house type boat you see filling the canal.
Rubbish, both words refer to the same thing. A boat approx 70ft long and 7ft wide used primarily on canals but not exclusively.a 'narrowboat' is the typical holiday/house type boat you see filling the canal.
I'm not going to even get started on the "Is a narrowboat (or narrow boat) a barge?" debate
2thumbs said:
Tis true my friend. Any veteran of the waterways will tell you, & a working boat is a barge by definition, no debate needed
Well my father was a canal fiend in the 1960s when it was all kicking off, and travelled many canals, and I've recently read 'Narrowboat' by LTC Rolt, and I stand by my original assertion. If it's 6'10" it's a narrowboat, whether commerical or pleasure. Calling a narrowboat a 'barge' is viewed as a very numpty mistake on a par with the Daily Mail calling a Spitfire a Hurricane!Death by tray it shall be...
NB I wonder where the OP went and what he wanted?
Simpo Two said:
Well my father was a canal fiend in the 1960s when it was all kicking off,
Kicking off? He missed most of it A lot had happened by the 60s. A few hundred years of commercial canal transport (& its barges) had died a death, the waterways left to ruin, they then got restored slowly by enthusiasts & used for leisure craft. By the 60s canals were mainly fun & holidays.Simpo Two said:
Calling a narrowboat a 'barge' is viewed as a very numpty mistake
I completely agree. My narrowboat is not a barge & a lot of narrowboat owners will throw you in the cut if you dare call their boat a barge. They don't like it!A barge by any written definition I've ever seen is distinguished by its flat bottom, being an open carrier of goods, is towed or towing & travels on a canal or river. I never see any mention of a boats beam unless it is an individuals opinion? An old working narrow boat fits the description perfectly. So to me it's a barge. I accept that like a lot of generic english words it is open to individual interpretation. like Sports car
Edited by 2thumbs on Wednesday 6th February 02:35
2thumbs said:
Kicking off? He missed most of it A lot had happened by the 60s. A few hundred years of commercial canal transport (& its barges) had died a death, the waterways left to ruin, they then got restored slowly by enthusiasts & used for leisure craft. By the 60s canals were mainly fun & holidays.
Yes, I meant kicking off as a leisure pursuit - which must have seemed very odd to the last of the 'number ones' he photographed. A lot had happened by the 60s. A few hundred years of commercial canal transport (& its barges) had died a death, the waterways left to ruin, they then got restored slowly by enthusiasts & used for leisure craft. By the 60s canals were mainly fun & holidays.On the other matter, canals are defined as 'narrow' or 'wide'. Narrowboats fit narrow canals - ie those with 7' wide locks. It's as simple as that.
Edited by Simpo Two on Wednesday 6th February 07:34
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