Search the Community

Hello! Is it straight forward to replace / install a new starter battery to a narrowboat? How do I find out which battery to buy and is there a specific procedure to follow when it comes to removing the old one and fitting the new replacement? Thanks

Hi, I'm buying a used narrowboat, ABC are the brokerage. Are there any searches/checks I can do to check for any outstanding debts/finance secured against the boat from the previous owner? Thanks

Hi, does anyone know anything about a boatbuilder called Wedgwood Narrowboats or if they were good quality? Thanks in advance. https://www.apolloduck.co.uk/boat/wedgwood-57-traditional-for-sale/746003

Latest from CRT: Notice Alert Leeds & Liverpool Canal Location: Duck Race, Appley Bridge, Finch Mill swing bridge 43 Is it just me or does the concept of a 'race' using the natural flow of water in a canal sound somewhat bizarre. Signed 'a cynic'

Hi All... Hope you are all well? Looking to buy my first narrowboat, it will be my partners 2nd. He had a Liverpool Boats, cruiser stern. We have been on a few holidays since he sold it in 2012, after a job offer in NZ, however that fell through. At the moment, after Covid-19 it is very much a sellers market at the moment, with very few good quality and cared for boats on the market. We have looked at the usual agency websites, such as Apollo Duck, and also contacted a number of Marina brokerages in the UK, as well as visited a few very nice craft in Leicestershire. Would anyone recommend any sites, or specific marinas with good craft at the moment? Specifically Semi Trad, or Trad. Thank you

Hi all, Forgive me if this question sound stupid. I'm very new to boating but I absolutely love the UK's narrowboats! I however live in Belgium. Would it be possible to use a narrowboat on Belgian canals? Would that also include the more rougher one's with freight traffic such as the "Schelde"? Thanks in advance, ETVL

Hi there can anyone help to identify the location in the old postcard below? Many thanks!

Hi. I'm doing some research for a book, a thriller. The plot involves a family traveling from Llangollen to Sharpness near Bristol via the canals and finally a small section of the River Severn to the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal to Sharpness . They are doing it in a 30 foot river boat type (birchwood 33 gt) Can anyone confirm that this rout would have been possible in the late 1990's between 1995 and 2000. The rout they want to take is: Llangollen to Hurleston Locks Shropshire Union Canal to Autherly Junction stop Lock Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal to Stourport-on-Severn River Severn to Gloucester Gloucester and Sharpness Canal to Sharpness The places I am concerned about are through Worcester and Gloucester. It seems to be possible now from what I can see here: (https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/enjoy-the-waterways/canal-and-river-network) But would it have been possible in 1995? Any help would be appreciated. Thank you

Hey all, I hope you don't mind me posting here - it seemed directly relevant to the thread! I’m a producer with Barcroft Productions, a London-based production company. We produce a wide variety of factual full length documentaries for networks including the BBC, Netflix and Discovery. We’re currently making a homes series for a very well-known online platform and we’d love to include a person/couple who live on a residential boat in the UK. The only thing that makes it tricky is that it needs to be: 1. Ideally a boat that is still being worked on but that will be finished in August (although one that has just been finished might also work), and 2. The boat itself probably needs to be quite impressive, luxurious or visually striking on the inside for it to work for the series. Is anyone in the midst of a major build or refit that might fit the bill? Or know anyone else who is? We’re on quite a tight turnaround time so I’m open to suggestions, any help at all would be massively appreciated! Just to stress, it doesn’t necessarily need to be a lavishly expensive boat. We recently made a show for Netflix called Amazing Interiors that featured a young couple who lived on the Thames who had saved up to do a DIY refurb on their boat but used a lot of salvaged materials to cut costs, the main thing is that the end product looks really nice. Link here if you want to check it out, it’s the main story in episode one: https://www.netflix.com/title/80184067 If you're interested, you can contact me at thomas@barcroftmedia.com Thanks! Tom

I am asking for opinions please of a tentative business idea my partner has. He has recently retired as a police sergeant and is looking to combine his love and addiction of canals, by offering a service to other narrow boat owners. He has had a connection to the canal most of his life, going back to his childhood and has owned a narrowboat of his own for nearly 20yrs. Can you see a requirement/demand where you may require your boat moving for you to a new location, whether temporary or permanent. We know the problems of wanting to be one place but the car is in another and its such a hassle, going backwards and forwards. A further service offering, water top up, loo emptying, oil and fuel top ups, coal collection and general cleaning of inside and out. If there are any other services that you think may be of interest, please let me know. Thank you Gill

I found this photo showing a broad canal being infilled above a lock in the midst of what looks like an ironworks. I have been unable to determine the location. I did think it might be the Nutbrook Canal at Stanton but have now discarded that idea. Any suggestions as to where this is?

Sorry for being away for awhile, Wife's illness got worse but hopefully after Christmas the new medication regime will be sorted and we can get to a level of stability. During the down time we have had a lot of time to decide what we want to do, what is our goal and how to get there. I also managed to visit while Paola was recuperating 4 Marina's and got to look at 17 different boats. We are keeping our house, we would be crazy not to, it is paid for and gives us a home base in the midlands to explore from and if bad things happen the house is always a place to go. We have a maximum fund of £20k, for the start of the project and have decided to go for a GRP in the 23-29ft size, this allows for Canal and River travel, it will not be a CC or full time live in boat, this is for us to go on adventures over time. Time scale, it will take at least until next summer for wife to be well enough to boat, no rush after all I have been on a boat now even though it was for a short time I know its what we want. I will be looking for a solid hull, Kathleen had a solid hull but was too small a 23-29ft especially with the modifications we are planning. Once we have a solid hull the inboard/outboard + fuel tank petrol/diesel will be removed and an electric Torqeedo 4.0 (8-9hp eq) rated upto a 4t boat (From my math a viking 23ft is about 1.5t) with a quad bank (4* Li batteries 100kg) solar/wind chargers to top up (only top up) we will be mooring at a marina as our base of operation thus recharge should be simple (I will do all the math for the powers before any purchase is made) Travel plan is simple start on the canals no set goals just see where it takes us. I am expecting to pay between 5-10k for the boat I could go higher but will primarily be looking for a hull that fits our needs, plan to have it modified internals to fit our needs so what we start with does not really matter as long as it has a strong hull. (I have seen hundreds of boats in that price range especially if you do not mind them having a broken engine) Will have it fitted to handle most UK weather. **Before anyone mentions it I know that this project will cost more than 20k and I will never get my money back on it, hello! I'm the one who bought a 4k boat and was happy selling it for 750, resale value have never played a part in anything I have purchased in my life from computers, houses to boat. 20k is our starting fund, will have 5k per month after that purely put aside to cover modifications of the boat. The only reason we had a cut off point on Kathleen was she was 20ft and that was too small, if she had been 25ft I would have had her picked up and get some one to do what I am now. The other plus side to going electric is it makes the back end of a boat a lot more liveable. While to a lot of people this may seem crazy the simple truth is this money I have set aside for this is just that set aside for this if the entire lot and 6 months of money went down the tube it would not affect our lifestyle or home. In this last couple of months I have been away my wife has come close to dying a few times and if she did pass then at least I know we spent an amazing couple of days on Kathleen travelling the canals compared to that 4k or 40k means nothing at all, (its not her illness that is causing this its the medication explained below) Some may think we are crazy to be doing this with an ill wife after all what happens if she gets ill on a boat, during the last 20 years of her illness she had a 25-30% survival rate (everyone else in the same trials died) you can do all you can with what time you have or you can not its personal choice. I will be taking all the precautions like a medical emergency GPS system. The illness she has is not a fast acting one, if the end is coming we know about it about 3 months in advance, the problem is the medication, for 18 years a certain drug which kept a certain protein at a certain level thus meaning the cancer didn't come back worked fine, yes it caused side effects but it was doable unfortunately last year it stopped working we do not know why it just did and new medication had to be tried, now the new medication did its job but the side effects included diabetes and 70% damage to her kidneys and her red blood cell count dropped drastically the summary is new drug did bad now we try other drug till we find one that does not kill her because that would be a bad side effect. I just wanted to let those know what was going on and why I was not around, visits and online time will still be infrequent while we sort out the medication. Ohh one cool thing, I have access to (when I need it) A VR camera and will be doing multiple full passes for the boat once the project gets going, this will allow me to put on my Oculus Rift VR headset and walk around the boat in full scale at home and plan things, the most fun about all of this is going to be taking a 1970-90 boat and bringing it into the future.

Hi all. Today I have taken my narrowboat out for the first time in a year. I'm currently moored on the canal and am stranded. Today when on the water there was some loud clunks when shifting into gear. The boat then stuck in gear and I ended up crashing into a lock. Traumatic experience... I have just discovered I have no oil in the PRM 120D2 gearbox. Can anyone advise my next step to fixing this issue please? Is it as simple as adding more oil? Many thanks, Jason

Earlier this week I noticed an article on Narrowboatworld about the Basingstoke Canal - I am always interested in anything to do with the Basingstoke having lived beside it for 30 years, been on their 'Board of Directors' for more years than I care to remember and lead a group of 23 boats up Deepcut during the bitterly cold Easter of 2013 which effectively resulted in the canal being reopened after a period of 5 or 6 years of inactivity, especially in Deepcut. The Narrowboatworld article 'Woking wants CaRT to take over canal' is here. I sent a link to colleagues still involved with the Basingstoke; they weren't impressed and directed me to an article on the GetSurrey website which, in my opinion, gives a much more positive and well rounded view of things - the article 'Woking canal-side area to be rejuvenated with 'suspension bridge' and boat basin' is here. I just wonder why Narrowboatworld finds it necessary to always (well nearly always I think) take a glass half empty view rather than a glass (at least) half full view. I have noticed that approach before but never so obviously in a case I knew just a little about. NBW could be talking about a different canal. The good news is that the Basingstoke Canal Society is doing all it can to safeguard the future of the Basingstoke in a time when County Council monies are in short supply and well done to Fiona Shipp and her team for doing such sterling work to keep the canal open - it's well worth a visit.

Hello, Totally new to boating and looking for a permanent (non residential) mooring on the Bridgewater Canal (preferably close to Manchester) but can't find any information. Have been unable to get a response from bridgewatercanal@peel.co.uk and wondered what everyone else's experience was? Is it usual to have trouble gaining info about this sort of thing? Have seen mwebb@peel.co.uk suggested many times, but he has now retired. Finding it very frustrating. Thanks in advance for any help or advice, it would be very gratefully received! Amelia

I'm looking at buying a 12ft widebeam hopefully next year. what i'm struggling to find is a map that shows the parts of the network that will take a 12ft boat I've been referring to this map http://newandusedboat.co.uk/canal-network-map.php But if I'm reading the Collins Nicholson guide right then what is stated as broad on the map still has 10ft wide locks. Is there a canal network map that shows what parts a 12ft wide beam will fit on. Also while I've been looking for possible marinas a map showing the marinas actual on the canals network map would also seem useful otherwise i find you have to keep trying to switch between canal map and google maps and try and match the two up then go to collins guide to check lock widths or other restrictions. Any help appreciated

From the same blog as the Ashby canal photos - these are of the Chesterfield at Misterton taken in 1962. There are references to earlier photos - methinks I need to join the forum so I can search for them!! http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/85326-dave-fs-photos-ongoing-more-added-9th-september/page-308 More photos from same blog here http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/85326-dave-fs-photos-ongoing-more-added-9th-september/page-291 I like the one of West Stockwith basin frozen over.

Hey everyone, I've browsed for a while as a guest and have finally bought my first boat. A small Viking narrow beam. Its on the aire & calder at the moment. How is the LL for small narrow cruisers? Do many GRP boats use it? What is progress like on the LL with traffic etc? I've checked with canalplan for timings etc but wondered how much the time of year etc had an effect. Lots of questions... Thanks everyone

Hey guys new on here so wasnt sure where to post, just picked up a narrowboat with an sr2 in, but i'm struggling to find out the best way to adapt the throttle for a morse. It came with a morse and 33c cables but it has an original lister throttle cable, I can see some people are using 33c cables and i'm trying find the way around it talked to sleeman and to lister and no one seems to have an answer any help would be appreciated ive added a couple of pictures ( promise i don't keep my engines in this condition as i said only just picked it up!) Cav

Does anyone know how many people descend on the canals every year? Or how many canal boat owners there are? Any statistics are interesting! Thanks

Hello everyone, my name is Patrick Dowse, I am starting a Documentary photo story on the canal boat culture in London over the next two months. I am looking to meet people and get to know them and find out why they choose to live on the boats. I find this lifestyle fascinating. I am based in London and can meet up with people at anytime. My website can be found at : patricklewisdowse.tumblr.com My contact email address is as follows : patricklewisdowse@live.co.uk Thank you Kindly, Patrick Lewis Dowse

Stupid question time! When is a flat stretch of muddy water a 'branch' and when is it an 'arm'. This came up in the pub quiz last night when the quizmaster asked us to identify a town from a series of clues. One clue indicated that the town began to prosper when the canal reached it. But, knowing our interests, asked whether the lump of wet stuff joining the GUC to the Nene via Northampton should be called a branch or an arm. Over to you.....

Some time ago frustration with the state of the waterways caused me to write a 'canal protest song' called 'The Bridge and the Swan' which, when mentioned on this forum, came in for some criticism. Two years later I've been at it again and have produced 'Waterway SOS' which can be found on the 'Songs of the Inland Waterways' website. It's hard to write a protest song which does not oversimplify and is therefore liable to possible misinterpretation so I'd like to make it clear that this is not intended to offend volunteers whose work has been essential in the past in saving our waterways and is continuing to be so. What I object to is the cynical use of non-paid workers to increasingly carry out tasks previously done by paid employees. I'll leave it at that. I look forward to reaction to the song with a little trepidation. The recording is just a 'first effort' and will be replaced with a better quality one where I sing the right words when I manage to record one.

Ditch bricks and mortar and buy a canal boat? It costs a fraction of a house but it's not all plain sailing ...? http://www.dailymail.co.uk/money/mortgageshome/article-3084373/Living-canal-boat-cost-fraction-bricks-mortar-s-not-plain-sailing.html