Joe London

Again I am thankful for the genuine responses. I can assure you this was never intended as a wind up. I have been a boat owner in the UK and Europe for well over 10 years. I have found the boating scene to be very friendly. I have absolutely no canal or Thames experience other then doing my inland RYA many years ago on the tidal Thames. Based on the responses here it would seem most of the canal users hate the widebeams. I have still not been deterred by some of the negativity on here. Having read some of the canal magazines it would appear that people use widebeams on some of the canals. Waterwaysworld did a 25 page article about them. I didn’t pick up any of this negativity from the article. http://www.waterwaysworld.com/downloads/widebeam_guide.pdf I have sufficient funds to build whatever I fancy. I will not be using it as a houseboat in London. I live in a 6 bedroom house. I would like it as a fixed chill pad, and the ability to occasionally take it out of London, leave it moored up close to the quaint villages I have yet to visit for a few days at a time. When I am away from my home birth I am aware that finding a visitor mooring for a 70 foot will not be easy, hence I want my luxuries and gennie to make it a more pleasant experience and negate the need to be plugged into power. Actual cruising will be very minimal. A google search for Widebeam rental will reveal a company called Moonboats renting widebeams on the K&A. They will rent to anyone without any prior experience (with restricted cruising grounds). According to their website they have 6 plus boats available. If they and the people renting from them can make it work why can’t I? @Alan. Yes It will have a steering wheel with a rudder display and full zeus joystick control linked with both the engine and bow and stern thrusters. Yes I know you don’t need them, however they are incredible pieces of kit. If all the widebeams on the canals had joystick controls the narrowboat users might not hate them as much. Seeing pictures of the inside of the best the narrowboat has to offer vs the widebeams I understand why some of you sound pi**ed off! I have read up fairly extensively on widebeams and it seems some of the newer boat have chimes in the hull to enable them to move through the water with a much reduced wake at cruising speeds. I live in North West London and would meet up for a pint with anyone on here who thinks I am a troll taking the piss. It was a genuine question and the genuine responses are appreciated. Regards Joseph

Thanks for the non sarcastic comments. Why will my cruising speed be any less then someone in his 60x7 narrow boat? I will have 150 plus HP and should be able to move at the legal speed limit. I have no intention of constantly cruising. I want the space for when I am moored up. I will cruise far far less then your average narrowboat owner. Mike: I did say I was looking to pay well north of 200k. I don’t see why a decent yacht quality interior should cost more then 25k vs the floating flats mentioned. Floating flats are 150k (Abode Widebeam). Adding another £50-£75,000 for my other upgrades. Engine, thrusters, gennie, air con, joystick etc. I have had a wonder down some of the canals and have seen a fair few Widebeams on the move. With a competent skipper at the helm I fail to see the issues. By all means please explain to me why I mistaken.

Hi, I am looking to commission a new build 70x12 widebeam. I am aware of the cruising restrictions due to its size. I live in London and intend on cruising the Thames, Grand Union and the K&A. I would like a very highly specked boat with all the bells and whistles. I want a fresh interior, not unlike a modern 5 star hotel suite. My specification (Air Con, Generator +++) will cost me well north of £200k. I am looking for a boat builder and would like some assistance from the boating community on this forum. I want a builder who has a good track record, a high quality builder, a firm that will stick to the build specifications, a firm that have the ability and willingness to be creative and have the capability to build my dream boat to a high standard yacht finish. Can anyone recommend a boat builder?