What style of narrowboat?

[Dominic M]

I'm sure this has been debated at some length before on CW, but I am adding an information guide for buyers to my site. I already have a number of views of both my own and others as to which sort of boat they prefer, and for what reason(s). I'd be interested to hear why some of you lean towards having a cruiser stern, or a trad, or a tug, or a semi-trad, or a narrow beam "Dutch" barge. And what you don't like about them as well.

[WJM]

If you have small kids you just cant beat a semi-trad with its closed safety zone at the back.

 

Also, if you do big mileage a semi-trad scores because you have a number of options for sitting down that you dont get on either trad or cruiser sterns.

Edited February 22, 2008 by WJM

[Maverick]

I'm sure this has been debated at some length before on CW, but I am adding an information guide for buyers to my site. I already have a number of views of both my own and others as to which sort of boat they prefer, and for what reason(s). I'd be interested to hear why some of you lean towards having a cruiser stern, or a trad, or a tug, or a semi-trad, or a narrow beam "Dutch" barge. And what you don't like about them as well.

 

When I bought my first narrowboat it had to be a trad as they look the best. I still hold with that view. My second boat is a cruiser stern. Its much more user friendly with 2 or 3 at the back and a lot less chance of someone falling or getting knocked overboard.

 

If I bought a third boat it would be a cruiser stern whilst still looking at the trads and wishing I had one.

 

Buy a trad if your boating alone else buy a cruiser stern for comfort and safety

 

Edited to add: its a dam site more easier to get around the engine and weedhatch on my cruiser stern. The trad was a nightmare.

Edited February 22, 2008 by Maverick

[steelaway]

I'm sure this has been debated at some length before on CW, but I am adding an information guide for buyers to my site. I already have a number of views of both my own and others as to which sort of boat they prefer, and for what reason(s). I'd be interested to hear why some of you lean towards having a cruiser stern, or a trad, or a tug, or a semi-trad, or a narrow beam "Dutch" barge. And what you don't like about them as well.

Hi There

 

A 57ft narrow boat will go every where, Any boat longer or wider introduces restrictions.

A criuser stern is nice to sit on and socialise but little protection from the elements. Trads are much warmer if you are a serius traveller, semi are, as you would expect some where in between.

Good Luck

Alex

[WJM]

Maverick - sounds like you need a semi-trad. It would give you all your pluses and none of your minuses!

[blackrose]

Like any boat itself, the choice of stern will be a compromise.

 

My big cruiser stern on my widebeam can accomodate 4 or 5 people sitting around and it's great in summer, but I wish I had somewhere more accessible to store all the junk I don't want inside the cabin! However, I'm sure if I had a trad with a proper engine room I'd be longing for more deck space...

[WJM]

Looks like another case for a semi-trad!

[Stroudwater Boy]

Our first boat was a semi and we loved it, just right, except that you get cold when we normally go out as we avoid the school holidays like the plague. So we went for a trad this time and still happy and I can stand inside the doors with my "winter tiller" on and stay nice and toasty.

 

As always there is no right answer, if you are only looking for summer use my vote would be for a semi but if you want to get out and about year round then trad must be a winner.

[WJM]

My Semi-Trad 'Top Tip' for bad weather boating - leave the cover on the stern, opened at just one corner. It is never going to be as toastie as a trad but it does keep the legs warm and dry.

[NFA]

Hi WJM,

 

A semi trad has the most uncomfortable cockpit seating ever designed.

 

You can't sit comfortably in a seat with an acute angle back. Unless you are already suffering from spinal problems.

 

Select a trad or a cruiser, depending upon your requirements.

 

The semi trad is neither and is just a compromise failure.

[Dominic M]

Thanks for the responses. As with everything there are pluses and minuses for different styles. And within the trad lovers, there is the debate as to whether an engine room is a handy area or a loss of valuable cabin space too.

 

I remember back in the late 80s/early 90s most private boats were trads - the semi had yet to make its mark on the canal world. Some owners readily confessed they would never have a cruiser because they didn't want to be mistaken for being a hire boat!

 

No proponents of the narrow beam Dutch barge style out there then?

[Yoda]

I like my boat with a shape end for ice breaking and a flat end for my helicopter to land on. The bit in the middle is the sauna and kitchen where I keep the women. Non-traditional I know but suits my needs.

[stewey]

...Some owners readily confessed they would never have a cruiser because they didn't want to be mistaken for being a hire boat!

As a hirer/timeshare boat user I resent that!

 

Of course if I ever buy a boat then I will, of course, agree with you!!

 

Stewey

[Dominic M]

I like my boat with a shape end for ice breaking and a flat end for my helicopter to land on. The bit in the middle is the sauna and kitchen where I keep the women. Non-traditional I know but suits my needs.

Sounds fantastic. Is it a traditional aircraft carrier with a lap dancing club amidships then?

 

 

As a hirer/timeshare boat user I resent that!

 

Of course if I ever buy a boat then I will, of course, agree with you!!

 

Stewey

Please don't shoot the messenger!

[WJM]

"A semi trad has the most uncomfortable cockpit seating ever designed. "

 

You are talking about the tumblehome angle. A comfortable seat can be designed around it. Have less tumblehome, or put an insert inside the cockpit. I can sit comfortably for hours in mine, sometimes as a variation I sit sideways with my feet up, left hand on the tiller, right hand trailing in the water. Ok I made that last bit up, but I would if my right arm were long enough.

 

With a trad you stand all the time. With a cruiser you can sit, but you must stand up to see ahead properly. You can do all of this in a semi too, but with the added variation of being able to sit on the back and see properly without having to stand up.

[saltysplash]

"A semi trad has the most uncomfortable cockpit seating ever designed. "

 

 

With a trad you stand all the time. With a cruiser you can sit, but you must stand up to see ahead properly. You can do all of this in a semi too, but with the added variation of being able to sit on the back and see properly without having to stand up.

 

 

On our trad we either stand to steer, or sit on the seat which screws into the counter to steer or sit on the seat built by the previous owner which slots nicely between the handrail and the hatch to steer.

 

On every hire boat cruiser stern ive been on the seat was more than suitable for vision while steering. Its the crew that get in the way of your view. My old Harbourgh Cruiser stern didnt have any guard rails round the stern but did have a seat which slotted into the deck and again had no vision probs.

 

The only boats ive ever had to stand all the time while steering was my old semi trad and my mates semi trad

[WJM]

Correction: Insert "Without modifications" into my previous post!

 

If you choose a trad for it's beautiful lines (which I agree on a good shell are quite beautiful), why would you put some joke bar stools on the back of it?!

[pwl]

For what it is worth here is my musings after 20+ years hiring and having just bought our first (2nd hand so you take what you can get).

 

The nicest boat we ever hired was a trad. The internal space gained at the stern was fitted out as a drying room. Great when it was pi**ing it down outside.The worst boat we ever hired for getting to the weedhatch was the same trad. What you gain on the swings... The only think my SO and I agree on is when we get a boat built is will not be a semi. We have hired 3 and HATE them. You have the advantage of space on the stern like a cruiser with the advantage of a windbreak but we feel (our opinion only) that it is trying to look like something it is not and on all 3 the horn controls etc were placed by the main hatch so were several feet away. Some people love a semi as can be seen by earlier posts. I would hire one of each and see how you feel.

 

P

[saltysplash]

Correction: Insert "Without modifications" into my previous post!

 

If you choose a trad for it's beautiful lines (which I agree on a good shell are quite beautiful), why would you put some joke bar stools on the back of it?!

 

 

Because they screw in when you want em and screw out when you dont

[WJM]

"Because they screw in when you want em and screw out when you dont"

 

Like the spoiler on a Rolls Royce? :-)

[saltysplash]

"Because they screw in when you want em and screw out when you dont"

 

Like the spoiler on a Rolls Royce? :-)

 

having never sat on a Rolls Royce spoiler to steer i wouldnt know but if the equipment is there, I certainly wouldnt use it just cause it spoilt the lines of the boat or the car for that matter.

[moggyjo]

With a trad you stand all the time.

No, I always sit on the roof, very comfy

[Dominic M]

Correction: Insert "Without modifications" into my previous post!

 

If you choose a trad for it's beautiful lines (which I agree on a good shell are quite beautiful), why would you put some joke bar stools on the back of it?!

When I am chugging gently along (I have a trad) I frequently sit on the cabin top to one side of the hatch. A custom made cushion fits neatly between the hatch slide and the hand rail. It is simple to drop quickly down into the hatch area if needs be without losing control of the tiller.

 

I have always been uncertain about taff rail seats on the stern. Many people now have them, and good luck to them, but I know of more than one boat handling instructor who thinks they should be outlawed for safety reasons. There was an accident a few years back when a person sitting on one put the boat in reverse, then the rudder jarred on something, round swung the tiller with considerable force knocking the person backwards into the canal. The boat carried on reversing and the hapless helmsman was seriously maimed by the propeller as the boat went over him.

 

I have to agree with the experienced advice that says you should always be in front of the tiller, steering from the hatch area. Standing or sitting out on the rear deck is an accident, possibly a fatal one, waiting to happen

[WJM]

"helmsman was seriously maimed by the propeller "

 

Killed actually - chopped his shoulder and head off - about a year and a half ago in Alrewas.

 

I dont think there should be anything on the rear counter that would prevent you from leaping away from the boat. That includes cruiser stern rails too - but there will now ensue a torrent of defence for an obstruction that 200 years of working boat development decided against, but what did those old fellows know anyway!

[BlueStringPudding]

Having spent a week on a trad (in winter) and now owning a cruiser-stern, both Kev and I would go for a cruiser stern again any time. The trad stern was fine for one person, but rubbish for a couple, and pointless if you have any friends!

 

We found the trad a bit of a pain after a short while: the lack of "getting on and off space" we felt was a bit dangerous at times; as was the lack of any railing to prevent you dropping off the back! (Not that we did, but given time... ) Plus it was a trad with a boxed-in engine, meaning actually getting in and out of the boat meant a very tight squeeze, two very steep steps and an awkward twist to get out the door! If the two of us wanted to be together while cruising, one would have to be inside the boat cabin with head poking out of the cramped hatch and the other would be balanced on the tiny deck - not safe and not much fun. For both to be on the little deck would be an accident waiting to happen and would prevent the tiller from being moved to either side. We knew very early on that when we got our own boat, it wouldn't be a trad.

 

We love the cruiser stern because we can both sit or stand as we travel, and one or two more can comfortably and safely sit or stand on the back deck even when cruising; meaning many a Pimms to be shared. Plus the rail round the back is a good safety point and includes a seat across it (I know some trads have a small rail); and as crew can majestically leap from the stern deck a good three feet in front of the driver, there's no getting in the way. Much safer and much more sociable than a trad, we think. But the bilge is, admittedly, partial to collecting rainwater!

 

When viewing boats to buy, we viewed a couple of semi-trads. They felt as claustrophobic at the stern as the trad but had lost the useful engine room. Although I've never been out on one, I'm inclined to agree with some of the opinions above that a semi trad might be a failed attempt at a compromise and have the benefits of neither!