mykaskin

Seems sensible to me, but unless your rudder falls off completely, it is more likely to get stuck at an angle, and therefore you could end up going around in circles! This is what happened to us on the River Humber when we caught a large barge sized rope around the prop, which not only stopped the engine dead, but locked the rudder solid as well! I also find that most boats will have a tendency to driff off to the side anyway, even out of gear! On a canal I don't suppose it's really a problem, but a useful trick on a wide river I guess. If I let go of my tiller on Shoestring, she always turns to the left. My other boat is a little better behaved, but underpower will usually eventually pull either to the left, or the right depending on how close the tiller is to centre. I suspect the rudder balance is wrong, or perhaps the rake on the shaft. In reverse Shoestring's stern pulls to the left, so I try to get on the left side of wide locks where possible. I'll have to give it go when actually travelling forwards, and see if it will pull the rest of the boat round. GU Boats like the Narrow Boat Trust's Nuneaton (a large Northwich) were designed to pull to the left in reverse, so that they could put the butty on the starboard (right) side of the motor. This gave the motor the deepest part of the canal when passing other boats when brested up. Unfortunately, since they replaced the original engine, it now pulls to the right causing allsorts of annoyance!

OK - I give up - making the boat turn one way fine, but how do you make it go the other way without a rudder? Surely just putting it in reverse doesn't make it turn enough. Also, how did they test this - did they have a boat without a rudder? I know that both my boats will head off in one direction even when the rudder is held in the middle out of gear. Mike

The BCN main line is the best for overtaking, you can nip around the other side of a toll island, while they slow down even more to get through! Mike

The tides are always suitable, but of course, unless you want to spend some time pushing it, then you may need to continue further out than your insurance lets you. You could probably have timed leaving Teddington to arrive at the barrage if you know what your speed was likely to be. Last time we did this, we continued out with the tide to Tilbury before the tide turned and we then came back in with it. If it was wind against tide, then I would not recomend going to far down, as it starts to get a bit more open after the Isle of Dogs. Worth doing if you get the chance, I have several cruises to the barrier (and beyond) on my website. Mike

We've done something similar, but with the centre rope - a little hard to keep the boat against the wall at times, but then it doesn't matter as the boat will be just as happy in the middle of the lock. This of course is with all paddles up together! Mike

15KV 3-phase if I remember correctly! As some have already guessed I was talking about the car ferry! Here are the piccies: More at: http://shoestring.zapto.org/pics/PrideOfHull/index.html Mike

The Pride of Hull (and presumbably The Pride of Rotterdam), have two 2000KW bow thrusters (electric), variable pitch props, and a really clever rudder system. The rudder goes to 45 degrees, but has an extra bit on it which goes another 45 degrees when needed. This allows the main props to push completely sidewards - if I remember up to 50 tonne of sidewards oomph in combination with the bow thrusters. She had no problem dealing with the force 7 wind that was blowing that day, and turned on the spot. If it does get to much winder, they do have to bring in the tugs though. The Pride of Hull also has 4 engines with piston assemblies 5 feet high, producing 37,800kW in total pushing her to 22 knots. Of course, it's all completely unnessesary in a narrowboat, and remember what isn't needed is just extra expense. I think even boat companies in days of old realised that. Mike

Or Hull

Could it be the thermostat? If the boat is to cold it won't come on at all.

I reversed over a mile in my 60ft narrowboat on the River Lea just below Waltham Abbey. No pole, around corners, past fishermen, at times reaching 4mph (GPS). Practice makes perfect. Mike

I know someone who took a 3ft deep dutch barge up the grand union to Stoke Bruerne. It was slow going by all acounts, but I would think it's a good depth to get you to many places on the canal system. My Dad's boat is Vee bottomed, and draws about 2' 10", and got up the llangollen OK, though do expect to bump the bottom at times.

I've now been living on my boat for getting on for two years (still a short time I know), and I'm enjoying it. I was brought up on boats - though we lived mostly in a house next to a river. If I had the money, I would probably buy a nice house with a canal side mooring, and a boat sitting at the end of the garden waiting for me. Since money is short I find living aboard is a cheap way of owning a boat - but I still own property which is being rented out, which is good insurance for many reasons. It's not as cheap as people think - getting a marine morgage is still not easy, and the running costs are far above that of a house, but if you are going to own a boat anyway...? There are a few boats on the system called Corridor or variations on that theme - if you think you could live in a corridor then perhaps you could live in a boat - especially true for a narrowboat. I also notice a lot more wide beam boats about, and I bet nearly every one has been built to live aboard. I would not mind so much, but so many liveaboards don't go anywhere in their boats, which is a shame. I wonder how many just think of it as a convinient and "cheap" way of getting a home, and how many would be interested in owning a boat otherwise.

I've used the gate based strapping posts on the Regents Canal, which worked quite well. I find holding onto the rope is to difficult, so if you have a shorter than 70ft boat, make a long loop from a stern bollard (dollies?) and back again. Be very careful if you don't tie the rope of first. I find it best to have the boat in reverse gear all ready to hit the throttle if things go wrong

Anyone know why there is a double set of gates at the top of Gatun Locks? Is it just for safety? Mike

I nominate Keadby Lock on the lower Trent. In the old days there used to be coasters either side of the lock, but the upstream wharf is only used these days. It is on the outside of a large sweeping corner, tidal flow of 4mph during springs, poor outside moorings, and perpendicular to the river. The lock is near the shed in front of the coaster at the right of the image. I also know a lot of people have some problems with Selby lock, but at least the walls are clear. Cheers, Mike --- Michael Askin http://shoestring.zapto.org/