Bulk Cratch

[mykaskin]

Hi Folks,

 

A comment Tam made reminded me about a question I've been meaning to ask.

 

Victoria also has a Bulk like cratch, but it doesn't sweep round backwards like others I've seen (more of a small normal cratch lent forwards).

 

I realise why they are used - unloaded, the boat isn't as high, but why the forwards rake?

 

Are all small deck boards/cratches called Bulk Cratch's or are of a particular type?

 

My deck board also has the problem of slipping forwards, taking the top plank with it, thus having to push it backwards all the time. Is there a good way of stopping this without screwing the top plank to the mast!?

 

I take it, the best way of getting a top cloth is to get one made to fit all the corners, like the one shown in:

http://www.canalworld.net/forums/index.php...mp;#entry345498

 

My Dad seems to think it shouldn't lean forwards, but I disagree and it looks like it's made that way - can anyone confirm this?

 

...and last but not least, why "Bulk"?

 

Gratuitous excuse to show a picture of Victoria with small cratch board.

 

Cheers,

 

Mike

[alan_fincher]

Gratuitous excuse to show a picture of Victoria with small cratch board.

 

Cheers,

 

Mike

No excuse required Mike - she looks wonderful.

 

(But if that's an anode I can see, I'm not sure it's protecting the bows much!).

 

I believe "bulk" is only applied to those cratches stretched over the kind of framework that Tam's picture showed.

 

I had assumed, (probably wrongly!), that it was because they were "bulked out", to give their shape.

 

I'd not seen a photo of one on a trading boat anything like that recently until Tam posted, (although believe my brother did for a while have something similar on a Town, (might be wrong, though).

 

Of course you will realise, but others may not, a high sided boat like your Royalty can only ever have something quite low, if it is to stand any chance of getting under things whilst running empty. The bows on those things are formidable

[mykaskin]

Of course you will realise, but others may not, a high sided boat like your Royalty can only ever have something quite low, if it is to stand any chance of getting under things whilst running empty. The bows on those things are formidable

 

Tell me about it! Last weekend I had to climb a top gate paddle to jump on the bow (the stern had drifted into the middle of the canal), and that was after 5 large blue barrels full of water had been placed in the front!

 

Mike

 

ps. The anode now touches the water, but it's still not completely under!! Still worried about taking her through Brum, can anyone spell "scrape!"?

[magpie patrick]

Just considering language... (no NOT that that type)

 

Bulk because they were needed for bulky goods that ran out of volume before running out of weight, leaving the boat high in the water?

[Phil Speight]

Hi Folks,

 

A comment Tam made reminded me about a question I've been meaning to ask.

 

Victoria also has a Bulk like cratch, but it doesn't sweep round backwards like others I've seen (more of a small normal cratch lent forwards).

 

I realise why they are used - unloaded, the boat isn't as high, but why the forwards rake?

 

Are all small deck boards/cratches called Bulk Cratch's or are of a particular type?

 

My deck board also has the problem of slipping forwards, taking the top plank with it, thus having to push it backwards all the time. Is there a good way of stopping this without screwing the top plank to the mast!?

 

I take it, the best way of getting a top cloth is to get one made to fit all the corners, like the one shown in:

http://www.canalworld.net/forums/index.php...mp;#entry345498

 

My Dad seems to think it shouldn't lean forwards, but I disagree and it looks like it's made that way - can anyone confirm this?

 

...and last but not least, why "Bulk"?

 

Gratuitous excuse to show a picture of Victoria with small cratch board.

 

Cheers,

 

Mike

 

I could well be wrong but I always understood that "A bulk " was an addition to the front of the deckboard ( giving a forward swept profile ) on an otherwise normal cratch that gave a rakish appearance and was therefore considered stylish by the boatman in days of yore.

Phil

[Tam & Di]

I could well be wrong but I always understood that "A bulk " was an addition to the front of the deckboard ( giving a forward swept profile ) on an otherwise normal cratch that gave a rakish appearance and was therefore considered stylish by the boatman in days of yore.

Phil

 

 

A bulk cratch is made by fixing two shallow distorted "D" shaped boards to the edge of the cratch deck board. A piece of canvas is nailed to the timber under the board and then stretched back over it and nailed in place. You should be able to make out what I'm saying from the photo

 

I sort of guess they were originally used with shallow sided boats like joshers and would throw the water off more thoroughly if the deck was awash in a lock or wherever. In reality they make it more difficult to jump down off the top planks onto the deck to breast up or whatever, and were just for flash on Towcester, though we did at times get water on the deck when the gate paddles were thrown up quickly in a deep lock.

 

Edited to continue the waffle:-

Had to stop abruptly - dinner called. Having dealt suitably with my lamb shanks, roast potatoes etc, followed by marinated figs with cream, washed down with a bottle of Ciaranne .............. (digestives still to come)

 

From the pronunciation it could be spelled "bulk", or "baulk". but I think it is most likely a boatman's corruption of "bulwark" - the little "wall" at the fore end of a ship or barge. Same thing - this would throw the bow wave away from the deck, and would be very sensible for boats under tow, e.g. on rivers. With a narrowboat water would be able to get into the hold under the cratch board without the canvas cover. and the "D" shaped wings would help throw it off.

Edited March 23, 2009 by Tam & Di

[Tam & Di]

My deck board also has the problem of slipping forwards, taking the top plank with it, thus having to push it backwards all the time. Is there a good way of stopping this without screwing the top plank to the mast!?

Mike

 

If you've got a totally independent cratch stucture, all pinned together, I wouldn't expect it to shift. Whatever, if it does you could always put a screw eye in the back of the deck board immediately under the top plank and tie or bungey cord it back in some way to hold it firm.

[furnessvale]

If you've got a totally independent cratch stucture, all pinned together, I wouldn't expect it to shift. Whatever, if it does you could always put a screw eye in the back of the deck board immediately under the top plank and tie or bungey cord it back in some way to hold it firm.

 

I certainly laced up the cratches on ALTON with various screw eyes and thinnish line. Without it, I would certainly expect to collapse into the hold on occasions when walking the top plank. (I couldn't permanently fix things with the need to collapse all into the hold occasionally eg Lumb Lane Ashton.)

 

I also built the deck board on ALTON with a 6" forward rake as well as being 4.5" lower than standard GU. I believe this was done in any case by BW/Willow Wren on large GU boats moved down the north to allow for Stoke on Trent low bridges. My take on the 6" rake is that, when running empty a vertical deck board leans back. It just doesn't look right.

 

George ex nb Alton (retired)

[mykaskin]

If you've got a totally independent cratch stucture, all pinned together, I wouldn't expect it to shift. Whatever, if it does you could always put a screw eye in the back of the deck board immediately under the top plank and tie or bungey cord it back in some way to hold it firm.

 

Ah, well, there is no cratch assembly. All there is, is what you see from the outside, plus two large steel braces (if thats the right word) attached to the steelwork inside to the deskboard (on the inside) with a slight bend thus giving the angle.

 

I think, but not obvious to look at, that the top plank is fixed to the deckboard. I don't suppose the assembly is how it should be, but not knowing how these royalty boats are/were rigged I'm at a loss to how to do it best.

 

I'm taking her up to Ellesmere Port, and I'm sure there will be plenty of people there with opinions, all will be welcomed - just don't expect me to agree!!! :-)

 

Cheers,

 

Mike

[BuckbyLocks]

Ah, well, there is no cratch assembly. All there is, is what you see from the outside, plus two large steel braces (if thats the right word) attached to the steelwork inside to the deskboard (on the inside) with a slight bend thus giving the angle.

 

There wasn't any bend when I made it Mike, so there is your answer. Either pressure from the top plank or deliberate action on Tim or Zak's part to give it a lean. The Yarwoods drawings show it as vertical.

 

Steering will suffer if you drop the fore-end too far in, but you will not get far in Brum with the cratch up. That was the reason that the well counter was fitted as it was used as a tug, and not loaded so never had the cratch up anyway.

 

Not sure if we will get to the Port this year, but will look out for you if we do.

 

Cheers.

[mykaskin]

There wasn't any bend when I made it Mike, so there is your answer. Either pressure from the top plank or deliberate action on Tim or Zak's part to give it a lean. The Yarwoods drawings show it as vertical.

 

Thats answered that then - though it does like quite good unloaded with a forward rake. I wasn't sure if it was original or not, but now I know! :-)

 

Steering will suffer if you drop the fore-end too far in, but you will not get far in Brum with the cratch up. That was the reason that the well counter was fitted as it was used as a tug, and not loaded so never had the cratch up anyway.

 

Not sure if we will get to the Port this year, but will look out for you if we do.

 

Cheers.

 

I would have thought that the top of the mast would be as high (if not higher) than the deckboard? I just hope I have enough weight in her to get through Brum in two weeks time. Seems a funny boat to use as a tug, but I suppose that the draft helps it in that capacity.

 

If you don't see me at EP, then I'll be back in the area for Braunston. Which reminds me, what is the history of the JP2 in Victoria? Was it in another narrowboat, or a more salty vessel?

 

Cheers,

 

Mike

[Tam & Di]

I think, but not obvious to look at, that the top plank is fixed to the deckboard. I don't suppose the assembly is how it should be, but not knowing how these royalty boats are/were rigged I'm at a loss to how to do it best.

 

Mike

 

The top plank is generally notched into the top of the deck board, forming a dovetail joint. I don't think royalty boats would differ in this.

[BuckbyLocks]

The top plank is generally notched into the top of the deck board, forming a dovetail joint. I don't think royalty boats would differ in this.

 

The one I copied was certainly dovetailed, but I have no idea how original that was. T S Brandt didn't work Linda with the cratch up, or with a mast box, let alone a mast.

 

Mike, The JP came out of a Blackwater fishing boat, courtesy Exchange and Mart. The owner was replacing it with an electric start JP3. I will let you have more details when we meet up.

 

Cheers

[bargeeboy]

The best I saw was on George Wain's England

I am trying to find a pic of it.

[AMModels]

 

 

 

 

couple of scanned 110 pics from about 92-93

 

With the infamous star class josher butty.

Edited March 28, 2009 by AMModels