Cheshire cat Posted March 20, 2019 Report Share Posted March 20, 2019 A question in response to someone having a rant on another forum. In the days of horse drawn boats did horses meeting each other pass each other on the left or the right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul C Posted March 20, 2019 Report Share Posted March 20, 2019 Logic says that its not necessarily a left/right issue; BUT that it would need to be boat nearest towpath = horse nearest edge, so that the ropes don't tangle. With the boats passing on the right, and the towpath could be either side, you can't say horse left/right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick-n-Jo Posted March 20, 2019 Report Share Posted March 20, 2019 Check out the DVD "Towpath Encounter" from Sight Seen Partnerships to see exactly how it was/is done. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pluto Posted March 20, 2019 Report Share Posted March 20, 2019 I suspect it also depends upon whether both boats are loaded or only one. The light boat should pass on the inside as it is easier for it to sail over the submerged line. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Schweizer Posted March 20, 2019 Report Share Posted March 20, 2019 (edited) 2 hours ago, Pluto said: I suspect it also depends upon whether both boats are loaded or only one. The light boat should pass on the inside as it is easier for it to sail over the submerged line. That reminds me of what our Pisces Captain told us, there is no left and right on the canal (or port and starboard!), but inside and outside, inside being the towpath side. Edited March 20, 2019 by David Schweizer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan de Enfield Posted March 20, 2019 Report Share Posted March 20, 2019 (edited) 4 hours ago, Cheshire cat said: A question in response to someone having a rant on another forum. In the days of horse drawn boats did horses meeting each other pass each other on the left or the right? Its always worth reading the bye-laws Vessels passing 17. Except as provided in Bye-law 19 where two vessels meet in any part of the canal where they cannot pass in safety the master of the vessel which is nearest to that part of the canal where the vessels can pass in safety shall navigate his vessel back to such passing place and allow the other vessel to pass: Provided always that (a) a vessel which is not towing another vessel shall give way to a vessel which is towing another vessel or vessels; (b) vessels which are unladen shall give way to vessels which are laden; (c) on the Aire and Calder Navigation, the Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation, the Trent Navigation and the Weaver Navigation, a vessel which is proceeding against the tide or stream shall give way to a vessel which is proceeding with the tide or stream. Course of Vessel when passing or overtaking 18. Without prejudice to the generality of Bye-law No. 16 the following Bye-law shall apply to vessels passing or overtaking other vessels on any canal:- (1) Except as hereinafter mentioned where two vessels proceeding in opposite directions meet the master of each vessel shall steer his vessel to its starboard side in such a manner that such vessels pass freely with the port side of each vessel nearest to the port side of the other vessel; Provided always that (a) where one but not both of such vessels is a hauled vessel the masters of such vessels shall steer the vessels in such a manner that the vessels pass freely with the hauled vessel between the towing path and the other vessel; ……………………………………….. ……2.(b ) where a hauled vessel is overtaking another hauled vessel the master of the vessel overtaken shall slacken his hauling line and steer his vessel away from the towing path in such a manner as to permit the overtaking vessel to pass freely between the towing path and the vessel overtaken and the master of the overtaking vessel shall keep his vessel as close as possible to the towing path whilst passing the other vessel. Edited March 20, 2019 by Alan de Enfield Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul C Posted March 20, 2019 Report Share Posted March 20, 2019 Remind me which way the stream flows on a canal summit pound? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray T Posted March 20, 2019 Report Share Posted March 20, 2019 (edited) From Tom Foxon's book The Trent & Mersey Canal: "Cheadleton Wharf in 1899. The photograph illustrates the difficulties often caused when wharfs were located on the tow path side of the canal. Two boats are manouvering to pass each other while their passage is obstructed by a boat being unloaded. The empty boat Perservance , would first have to pass his towline over the moored boat then drop it for the approaching loaded boat to pass over, and horse-boats didn't have brakes!" Edited March 20, 2019 by Ray T Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheshire cat Posted March 20, 2019 Author Report Share Posted March 20, 2019 Not a straightforward answer then thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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