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Anybody in any doubt about the suitability of some of the biggest wide-beams to navigate some of our so called broad canals, needs only to look at the reality of this monster...... Hotel Boat Kailani The boat is 65 feet long x 12 feet wide (20 x 3.7 metres), and proudly boasts that it is a full 5 feet (1.5 metres) wider than a traditional narrow boat. Unfortunately it is totally unsuited to regular use on the canals where it is now trying to earn a living, as anybody who has tried following it as it slows to a crawl to navigate each narrow Grand Union bridge hole will know. The steerer is not able to do this standing in the regular steering position, and instead has to deploy a flexible sideways extension to the tiller, allowing him to watch the tow-path side, whilst another crew member keeps lookout on the other side. The thing travels very slowly even in wider open stretches, and because of its width, and offside vegetation is very hard to pass safely in a faster craft. Also I don't know if it is inexperience or just poor hull design, but the thing both creates a lot of wash, and seems to go up the canal "crab style". Possibly the most remarkable thing about it is that this massive craft can carry a maximum of just 4 fare paying guests, so is regularly holding up much smaller boats that actually have much larger crews. It is not without reason that in times gone past that when experiments were tried with using wide-beam craft they were quickly abandoned because the waterways were considered to need far too much upgrading to allow their regular use. Sorry wide-beam owners - I can cope with the ones of no more than about 10 foot or 10 foot 6 ins beam, but once they get to not only 12 feet beam, but also 65 feet long, in my view it is just selfish to expect to use them regularly on waterways never designed for the purpose...... (Incoming!....)

Ah they'll be out of business in no time then - according to a very knowledgeable forum member that's not a viable business model in today's economic climate Seriously I know Wetherspoons get slated a lot on here but you get what you pay for, and in the days when our monthly internet allowance was 1gb their free wifi and cheap beer were a godsend. We don't need their wifi any more but still go for the cheap beer, and the food, whilst not gourmet, is exactly what you expect for the money you pay. In a lot of towns the youngsters go to 'spoons to meet up (ie drink lots of cheap alcohol) before they go on to a club - the people watching for us oldies can be quite entertaining.

Only if it's a pub. Say anything negative about a boat builder and the thread is deleted or emasculated.

Don't know about that but I had an auntie Ethel that lived in a flat on Canvey island.

I have 5 mins before ime back off to work. I dont know you Wanted and please dont think me rude, but I totally disagree regarding ' I find that hard to believe regarding each person making their own choicess' . I will agree that it all depends on what character you have. I was brought up by horrid people in horrible childrens homes ,which were run by wanna be Victorian nuns and like the other children was not shown any love or compassion, just given the basic care. At !6yrs I was left with no support to fend on my own, with no family at all. I never ever thought of turning to crime I went and got a job and a bedsit and I have never been on benefits, yes Life can be a bitch at times and sometimes things dont go to plan and without any form of family to turn to offer support , it can be hard ... believe me at times depressing and sometimes pardon the pun yer cannot see the trees for the woods. But to me its just an excuse to blame being brought up in care. Thats life and always someone somewhere much worst off than yourself. back to work.

Aha (BOG STANDARD) eh! No problem. Suitable snorkeling gear can be easily knocked up out of old second hand bits ofLee-Sanitation pump out tubing, incorporating a macerator coupling fitting of a size to fit snugly in your mouth, a big bore U bend and a long straight bit of suction tube that reaches the surface, with a big red swallow tailed flag on the top to warn folk that you are submerged and are taking in or discharging explosives.