Butty stern...?

[AJLintern]

Unusual to see a departure from the usual trad/semi/cruiser style stern treatment: http://www.abcboats.co.uk/10801.html

Doesn't look bad, would be nice to see more builders trying something different

[Theo]

Pity about the straight tiller. It would have looked better with a trad curved one.

 

N

[bowten]

Unusual to see a departure from the usual trad/semi/cruiser style stern treatment: http://www.abcboats.co.uk/10801.html

Doesn't look bad, would be nice to see more builders trying something different

Now that is nice.

[Laurence Hogg]

Whittle boats did this years ago, they looked nicer than the ABC one with recessed cabin sides and a proper styled rudder, despite being good boats they didnt catch on then, peraphs this will make a refreshing change and be a success.

[Starcoaster]

Can someone clarify this for me please? This is a new build, with an engine, with the stern having a tiller like an elum and designed to look like a non- powered butty?

(scuse if I sound a bit think but just want to be sure.)

[Tam & Di]

Can someone clarify this for me please? This is a new build, with an engine, with the stern having a tiller like an elum and designed to look like a non- powered butty?

(scuse if I sound a bit think but just want to be sure.)

 

 

Exactly

[AJLintern]

Pretty much Star. Though I don't think they've tried to replicate a butty as it's got more cruiser stern in it, so more a styling thing really.

[Chertsey]

John Shotbolt built one or two as well.

Maybe people get bored building the same old thing all the time...

[Doorman]

Here's a nice example built by Doug Moore, whom I believe was based in Chorley or Barnoldswick, Lancashire, some years ago. The owner who originates from Yorkshire, quipped that it was the only thing he would ever have dreamed of buying from a Lancashireman.

 

 

His wife steered this powered butty behind his narrowboat into our Marina at Overwater. He then breasted them up and moored them in a double berth without touching the sides. Splendid driving by a really interesting guy!

Edited May 21, 2012 by Doorman

[alan_fincher]

Although this seems to have received a generally favourable response, I guess my question is "why ?".

 

Yes, it's a bit different, but I bet it handles a whole heap worse than a counter sterned boat, (and possibly may stop rather less well too).

 

A counter sterned motor gives you just about the best possible options too for stepping off the back of it at a considerable range of angles to the bank, if you need to. With the shape of that back end, and those quaint little "seaty things", that is not going to be the most convenient boat to operate efficiently.

 

If the intention is you are supposed to be able to sit on a "seaty thing" whilst steering, I very much suspect you will regularly need to be getting to tour feet to give the required swing on the tiller.

[AJLintern]

Don't see that it's much less convenient than a standard cruiser stern really, it's just pointy instead of rounded Pity the underwater shape doesn't blend in smoothly though, but I guess that would add significantly to the cost.

[carlt]

Don't see that it's much less convenient than a standard cruiser stern really

You step off a counter deck, you climb out of a butty well deck.

[RLWP]

For me, it's a hideous parody

 

Richard

[alan_fincher]

Pity the underwater shape doesn't blend in smoothly though, but I guess that would add significantly to the cost.

If you mean "shame there is a kind of flat area over the propeller, rather than it having a nice conventional butty shape back end", then be grateful that it does!

 

The uxter plate and counter of a motor narrow boat are not just a convenient area to stand on, and operate the boat from. They are an absolutely essential part of what makes the propeller "grip" the water rather than pump air, and generally be reasonably efficient.

 

The saving grace here, (if any!), is that it does retain some of the features that sensible design says a motor boat needs.

 

I rather get the impression from many of your posts that much of your knowledge about narrow boat operations is theoretical, rather than from practical hands on experience, (please forgive me if that is not the case!). I think if you tried taking this boat on (say) an intensive 200 mile, 200 lock journey, you might start to understand why sticking with convention makes for a more practical boat!

[RLWP]

 

I do hope that helm is removable, otherwise locking down is going to be an interesting experience

 

Richard

 

MORE: Still, I suppose in the future you could always cut it in half and make two square counter boats out of it

Edited May 21, 2012 by RLWP

[alan_fincher]

For me, it's a hideous parody

 

Richard

Yes,

 

But there are far, far more expensive, and much more conventional offerings from builders that some consider absolutely "top notch" of which exactly the same can be said, of course.

 

As I've been told off for rubbishing people's pride and joy in the past, I'll not post any photos!

 

However, have you seen a boat on offside moorings not far from your own, that (along with "rivets" and recessed panels), is "tug style" with a tug deck at the front, but "semi trad" with taff rails and a pram hood at the back. Smart boat, but (IMO) also a hideous parody.

 

Then there was that award winning boat from the now defunct William Piper boats......

[carlt]

If you mean "shame there is a kind of flat area over the propeller, rather than it having a nice conventional butty shape back end", then be grateful that it does!

 

The uxter plate and counter of a motor narrow boat are not just a convenient area to stand on, and operate the boat from. They are an absolutely essential part of what makes the propeller "grip" the water rather than pump air, and generally be reasonably efficient.

Motorised butties have fishplates that are just as efficient and not nearly as ugly as this monstrosity, however.

[alan_fincher]

 

I do hope that helm is removable, otherwise locking down is going to be an interesting experience

Presumably those chains are meant to limit the amount it can swing by ?

 

Although they are likely to scrape paint off as they do perform that role, I think, as they inevitably will, when someone manages to let the tiller slip from their hand whilst in reverse!

[Grace and Favour]

I like the extra facility of fitted wheels - so at least it can be driven up a slipway instead of all the fuss with trailers, cranes, bankmen and chains.

[RLWP]

Presumably those chains are meant to limit the amount it can swing by ?

 

 

Isn't that exactly what you don't want though? As I understand it (WARNING) a butty has a short helm for locking down so the rudder can be put hard over. That way it doesn't get lifted off by the cill, or damaged if the boat surges backwards. Thos chains would stop the helm going hard over

 

I'm probably wrong though and it will be an excellent boat

 

Richard

 

I like the extra facility of fitted wheels - so at least it can be driven up a slipway instead of all the fuss with trailers, cranes, bankmen and chains.

 

Fool of fools - those are fenders for the Shroppie shelf

 

Richard

[onionbargee]

Jesus that's the worst boat building nasty of all time, it looks like a ride at the fun fair, it should be banned from the cut, i would die of embarrassment if i had to steer that horror. I bet it is a pig to steer too. What a plum !!

 

 

I'm having one built with a stuffed horse with a mini tractor inside to pull it along the towpath.

[adam1uk]

This boat was at Crick last year -- so it's taken almost a year for anyone to become excited about it...

[carlt]

-- so it's taken almost a year for anyone to become excited about it...

Who's excited about it?

 

I think the fact that the only "innovations" in narrowboat design are really just pastiches of old working boats is depressing, not exciting.

[alan_fincher]

This boat was at Crick last year -- so it's taken almost a year for anyone to become excited about it...

Yes, I was aware it is hardly new.

 

We might realistically expect they have a bulging order book by now, then!

[Athy]

Who's excited about it?

 

I think the fact that the only "innovations" in narrowboat design are really just pastiches of old working boats is depressing, not exciting.

 

Come now, Mr. T, surely you remember the innovative narrowboat 'Whitefield' whose design owed very little to that of traditional narrowboats. I wonder if the queue to buy her has shortened yet.

 

But seriously, there have been many innovations over the last 20 years or so, but most of them pertain to interior fittings and creature comforts rather than to the shape of the shell.