Trawler

That of course is the right answer. Incidentally, in cold water there is only a 50/50 chance of making it 50’ to shore. Hypothermia is real. Again, not a canal problem. Ian, I had read his post as the BSS missing the most likEly scenario of narrow locks where you couldn’t get through the side hatches in their regulations not that they didn’t meet them requirements? anyway, I have diverted enough attention while I am waiting for my son to wake up.

That makes sense and very good points. It seems the only solution in that scenario is the doors fore and aft, and hatches. Hatches create a problem of actually exiting them. On my trawler, the required hatch off the stateroom in the bow has an escape hatch that functions as a skylight. It has a ladder that can be attached. The likelihood of being able to use this in an emergency appears to me to be low especially with power failure at night. There is a forward collision chamber but I think the real emergency would be a fire and smoke coming from the engine below the saloon floor blocking the normal egress. I don’t think we can engineer for all alternatives. For designers of life rafts, for example, it’s almost impossible to climb up a rope ladder into them as the ladder molds to the shape of the hull. We are getting older, not as nimble, and in my case the water is very cold. Same with getting someone back on board that goes overboard. It’s very very difficult. In cold waters you have to assume in the optimistic 1 or 2 minutes to return and locate and come aside the MOB that person is less responsive due to the cold. I have a swim deck, staples, boarding ladder, but lifting someone 180lbs plus up? Life slings. Winches. All have been proposed but the only real solution is to prevent the overboard event itself. it seems prudent not to have people in areas of the NB that couldn’t exit via the top while in a narrow lock. That either leaves just the helmsperson or perhaps someone in the bow outside?

Yes, I know that. I was being playful in my answer. However when you are in the country going further offshore doesn’t really matter so 12 miles is irrelevant. I do clear customs as I transit between Canada and the US as I like to stay coastal. I will go further than 12 miles off sometimes for longer trips. Since it was apparently a sincere question, no, bow thrusters are only used for slow speed maneuvering around constricted areas in the marinas and docking

Not sure why I’m being trolled! 😂 but playing along, I don’t recognize 12 miles. 3 miles is important in Canada as that’s where I can discharge my black water tanks. 100 miles is still coastal. 😂

I thought I was responding to criticism regarding my rudder lock idea not bow thrusters. my view on bow thrusters? I’m in favor generally but never piloted a narrowboat so can’t opine. I think I’d like one on a longer boat for sure. . I have one on my trawler. I don’t need it often as I have twin counter rotating props and can position it where I want by gears alone, combined with having substantial weight and relatively low wind age so I don’t get pushed around much. Last month for three weeks I had to return And back in to a slip with a very expensive yacht next to me 3’ away and winds variable and gusting to 35 knots so I did use it one day for a burst or two. I didn’t need it because really you are only in gear at most a second because you don’t want forward or reverse momentum. I can spin my boat in place with gears only no thrusters. Generally though as you know boats pivot around a point (different if going forward or reverse) and by putting my starboard diesel in gear forward bow swings port and stern starboard and the opposite when I put it in reverse. And the opposite of that with my port engine. So with twins you can do everything by prop walk and prop wash. with a single, as in a NB, it’s much harder I think and prop wash will only work on one side depending whether you have a left or right prop, and really only in reverse. I’d be much happier with a bow thruster I’m sure in that case. I often think about a stern thruster but that’s even less necessary. There would be situations where I’m sure it would reduce anxiety. so my view is put one on, when you need it it will make you much happier. There is no shame in using any tool available to you. be careful with continuous use though as the electric ones can overheat quickly. I’ve seen this debate so often in trawler land. If it reduces workload or anxiety and you can afford it go ahead. It also makes docking easier especially when you single hand but I think properly knowing how to use spring lines is the way to get out of tight spots. That’s what I do. I look forward to joining everyone on the canals and discussing further over a pint! I hope you accept me!

They make the ride a lot more comfortable on my trawler too. what’s the issue?

I carry Epirbs, sat phones, life raft etc on my other boat. So what’s your point? any safety feature for the rare occurrence shouldn’t be discussed because it’s not manly?

I wonder to avoid the sweep of the tiller and someone getting knocked off of there couldn’t be a more limited range of motion and you release the stop device to allow a full range when you really need it, say in docking or shorter locks.

Good to know. moorage space is the only essential.

I’m not asking someone to accept legal responsibility. In my case they do bilge checks, batteries, and look for anything wrong. And to check my boat shed is still floating…

Thanks David. I’m not as worried about the incremental cost, but the pure terror of needing to leave for a month or so and not knowing what to do with a 70’ tube!

But the availability of moorage for a 60’ to 70’ boat should be readily available? That’s the critical part I suppose. (Insurance requires I have weekly checks on my current boat. Different situation though. )

As I want to explore the various interesting canals of the system over several years, taking a month or two on and then perhaps a few months or the winter off, how hard is it to find safe and secure moorage in a marina, perhaps with periodic boat checks to make sure everything is fine? I’m not sure I’ll be able to plan that far ahead though. To avoid backtracking, unless it’s part of a loop, I’m not sure an annual home marina works. Does anyone lift and store them on the hard? is this much worse with longer length boats, say 60’ to 70’?

Agreed incidentally on my larger ocean vessel, where docking is much more important and dangerous as one can’t wrestle 80 tons into place, attaching a line in the wrong way can cause the boat to pivot, and anchoring involves 400’ of 12mm chain, communication is important, sight lines are obstructed (even with multiple helm stations) and yelling won’t work. Hence many of us use these aids https://eartec.com/ultralite/ They are called marriage savers here. not a traditional look though! That solves that problem. can the companion see over the sides while underway (the bench being tall enough)? It appears so.

The biggest issue I struggle with of the traditional stern is when as a couple you want to stand together and have a cup of tea/coffee and talk as one cruises. This doesn’t apply for a solo cruiser. The sociable bow area is more for when one is moored of course. Also, for longer cruising days the helms person is standing for hours at a time, though one can sit in the hatch opening if limber enough, though this isn’t unique to the traditional stern.