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Dalesman

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  1. March of the Widebeams

    in General Boating

    Posted

    On 12/09/2021 at 17:00, Neil2 said:

     

    As MtB was alluding, in another thread I was trying to explain the difference between the waterways on either side of the Pennines.  Like all Southerners, I think he assumes "up North" is one homogenous area. 

     

    Of course aside from the Manchester Ship thingy there's only one genuinely wide canal in the North West and that is the Bridgewater Expressway, where the shouts of "SLOW DOWN" can be heard as far away as Llangollen. 

     

     

    What about the Leeds and Liverpool that is a wide canal in the North West last time I looked

    • Greenie 1

  4. Where is Sam Springer when you need him ?

    in General Boating

    Posted

    On 23/01/2021 at 12:10, Alan de Enfield said:

     

     

    Reading gas holder to be demolished for flats - BBC News

     

    Plans to demolish Reading's landmark gas holder to make way for a block of flats have been approved.

    Councillors agreed the plan to tear down Gas Holder No.4 in Alexander Turner Close after initially refusing the demolition on safety grounds.

    Danescroft carried out a risk assessment and put measures in place to prevent the spread of contamination to satisfy the council.

    Once the tower is removed, 130 flats will be built on the site.

     

     

    Credit_Alan-Fincher_via-Canalworld.net_-e1479828144588-740x493.jpg

     

    Even in the seemingly egalitarian world of boaters, there’s a social pecking order and this is rarely more pronounced than where Springer boats are concerned. Springer was a company based in the Midlands that began mass-producing cheap and cheerful live-aboard narrowboats in the 1960s. While their affordability allowed countless people to join the boating lifestyle, the standard of their construction is sometimes, perhaps unfairly, questioned by the sniffier residents of converted working boats or higher-spec residential craft. But there’s still something hugely endearing about the Springer. These are boats made solidly and entirely without pretension, and as a consequence Springer boats have provided a friendly and affordable introduction to the canal network for thousands of boaters.

     

    Sam Springer spotted the growing market for purpose-built live-aboard boats in the late 1960s when he was working as a steel fabricator making water tanks in Market Harborough, close to the Grand Union and River Welland. He decided to move into boat-building later claiming “I used to build water tanks, building boats is the same thing but in reverse”. Although his boats were well constructed, Springer had a reputation for using whatever steel was available, meaning that his hulls weren’t always as thick as they could have been. His approach can be summarised by the popular yarn that early in his career, Springer acquired some scrap steel that had once formed an old gasometer and drove back and forwards over it with a truck to remove the bend so it was flat enough to use. Because of such shortcuts, his boats were recognised as providing great value for money and his yard was soon knocking out 400 a year, accounting for almost 50 per cent of the market and at a much lower price than any competition.

     

    Springer boats were built to all sizes but most have two distinguishing features: a raised splash board at the bow and, less visibly, a v-shaped hull rather than the usual flat bottom. They were also among the first boats to be built entirely out of steel rather than with a wooden cabin. Springers do have a tendency to look a little boxy, which does nothing for their reputation among waterways connoisseurs, but they are still lovable boats with a colourful history that, as the years have passed, has lent them a certain rakish charm. Belying their reputation, Springer boats also appear to be impressively hard-wearing with thousands still in use despite the fact the company closed down in the mid-1990s. And Springer boats aren’t just confined to the English waterways – in 1990, the boatyard built the Typhoo Atlantic Challenger, a 37-foot craft shaped like a bottle that crossed the Atlantic from New York to Falmouth. Not bad for a company whose first boats were made from a scrapped gasometer.

     

    Springer Add.jpg

  12. The Union Flag

    in General Boating

    Posted

    On 15/08/2020 at 17:51, Bewildered said:

     

    Although the name does originate from flying the union flag on a jack staff on the bow of a ship

    The bow of a war ship, merchant ships fly the pilot jack ie a white flag with the union flag in the centre.

  13. March of the Widebeams

    in General Boating

    Posted

    1 hour ago, Tam & Di said:

    The lack of 'style' is particularly noticeable when compared with New Dawn above, which has plenty of sheer, good side decks for easy movement when crewing, and dollies fore and aft which are unencumbered by bulwarks and are easy to use. But it obviously costs more to build - you pays your money and takes your choice.

     

    Tam

    It was built as a live aboard for use on the Leeds & Liverpool and other Northern waterways.

     

  17. Bridge Repairs in Skipton

    in General Boating

    Posted

    A WELL used swing bridge over the Leeds and Liverpool Canal in Skipton is due to be unexpectedly closed this week because of ‘safety concerns’.

    The Canal and River Trust says Gawflat Bridge, a popular crossing to Aireville Park from Skipton Railway Station and Broughton Road, was due to be replaced in the spring of next year.

    But, a recently damaged bridge mechanism has meant it will have to close earlier than expected, and will not be replaced for several months, because of a lack of funds, says the trust.

    The charity, which is due to put up explanatory signs, says the bridge will be closed in the ‘open’ position so boats will be able to continue using the canal, and so leisure operators will not suffer further disruption caused by the coronavirus lockdown, but all other traffic, pedestrians, runners and cyclists, school and college students, will have to use the bridge at Brewery Lane.

    The alternative crossing, is about 250m closer to the town centre, is accessed next to Hall Croft and comes out next to the council offices at Belle Vue Square.

     

    Vehicle access to the park, to Aireville Plant Nursery and Craven College, will be by Gargrave Road.

    The trust’s Sean McGinley, director for Yorkshire and North East, said: “We apologise for the local disruption this will cause – and it is not a decision we have taken lightly.

    “However, we need to ensure the safety of our staff, volunteers and boaters and we do not have the funding to carry out the repairs this summer. “

    He added: “Locking the bridge in a ‘closed’ position would stop all boats from travelling along the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, and would be another blow for the leisure and hire boat companies who operate in the centre of Skipton after months of lockdown restrictions.

    “Whilst we appreciate that there will be inconveniences, there are alternative routes that allow vehicles and pedestrians to cross the canal. There is no alternative route if we were to close the canal to boats, and it is important that the canal is open for both private boaters and especially boat hire companies now that restrictions are beginning to lift.”

    The trust says it will cut back plant growth on the footpath behind Hall Croft, and will put up diversion signs.

    The trust is coming to the end of a major £2 million project involving the resurfacing of 11 km of canal towpath between Gargrave and Kildwick.

    Skipton councillor, Andy Solloway, who sits on the county, district and town councils, said he hoped the bridge could be reopened sooner than planned.

    “This is going to be very disruptive, especially considering that the leisure centre cafe, play areas and other park facilities are opening up.

    “I also can’t believe that the Canal and River Trust can’t find some external funding sources to do more immediate repairs to this bridge. The footpath behind Hall Croft is far from an ideal alternative, especially from an accessibility point of view.

    “The trust have done some great work on the upgraded towpath, they mustn’t blow all that goodwill with a long closure of this vital access to Aireville Park

     

     

     
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