Help me plan my route and stoppages?

[EdwardMeades]

Hello wise and unquestionable forum,

 

I have just purchased (get the keys on Friday) a 55ft Narrowboat. I need to get her from her current mooring at Goole to her new one at Orchard Park, Northwich. 

I am new to boating, but will be taking my Father with me who has some limited experience (Two weeks cruising per year for the last 5 years). I also plan to get a full engine "health check" and service completed, she's only done about 15 hours in the last 4 years!

The boat is an owner fit out, and really only geared up for being on shore power. We have a couple of leisure batteries and inverter, but hot water is via immersion. I'm not against buying a generator.

 

Now to planning my route, I know it will take around 8 - 9 days. I am right in the middle of a demanding project at work, so only looking to do 2 - 3 days on the cut before stopping off somewhere with guaranteed shore power and internet connection. I am struggling to identify Marinas along the way I can book into as a visitor, and can guarantee they have shore power.

 

If anyone can offer advice/ help on planning the route it would be appreciated!

 

Many thanks

[Mad Harold]

56 minutes ago, EdwardMeades said:

Hello wise and unquestionable forum,

 

I have just purchased (get the keys on Friday) a 55ft Narrowboat. I need to get her from her current mooring at Goole to her new one at Orchard Park, Northwich. 

I am new to boating, but will be taking my Father with me who has some limited experience (Two weeks cruising per year for the last 5 years). I also plan to get a full engine "health check" and service completed, she's only done about 15 hours in the last 4 years!

The boat is an owner fit out, and really only geared up for being on shore power. We have a couple of leisure batteries and inverter, but hot water is via immersion. I'm not against buying a generator.

 

Now to planning my route, I know it will take around 8 - 9 days. I am right in the middle of a demanding project at work, so only looking to do 2 - 3 days on the cut before stopping off somewhere with guaranteed shore power and internet connection. I am struggling to identify Marinas along the way I can book into as a visitor, and can guarantee they have shore power.

 

If anyone can offer advice/ help on planning the route it would be appreciated!

 

Many thanks

As the Figure of Three locks on the Calder and Hebble are out of action ( rumour has it that they will be fixed by Easter) your journey will be rather longer than 8-9 days.

Aire and Calder to Castleford junction,Leeds Liverpool to the Bridgewater and onto the Trent and Mersey.

If you are pushed for time you could wait for the Figure of Three to open,or consider road transport,but a 55ft battleship won't be cheap.

[Alan de Enfield]

5 minutes ago, Mad Harold said:

consider road transport,but a 55ft battleship won't be cheap.

 

I'd reckon about £1000 (about the same as paying a 'skipper' £100 per day + fuel).

 

Apart from the enjoyment factor of doing the cruise yourself, if you have time constraints and a boat not suitable as a 'liveaboard' by road works out to be much quicker, much more convenient and about the same price as paying someone to do it for you.

 

No problems with lock, or other closures and the boat is delivered the same day.

 

Simples !

 

http://bargemovers.com/

 

https://www.esfrisby.co.uk/gallery/

 

http://www.waterways-great-britain.co.uk/a-b-tuckey-boat-transport-service

[EdwardMeades]

16 minutes ago, Mad Harold said:

As the Figure of Three locks on the Calder and Hebble are out of action ( rumour has it that they will be fixed by Easter) your journey will be rather longer than 8-9 days.

Hmmm, my sense of adventure is starting to tingle...

5 minutes ago, Alan de Enfield said:

 

I'd reckon about £1000 (about the same as paying a 'skipper' £100 per day + fuel)

I figured it would be around the £1000 - £1400 mark to get it transported by road. At very least I could claim fastest barge of the day?

[Alan de Enfield]

1 minute ago, EdwardMeades said:

At very least I could claim fastest barge of the day?

Sorry, I thought you said it was a 55 foot narrowboat - a barge may cost more.

 

My 14 foot beam cost £2300 to move 205 miles because being wide it needed escort vehicles and could only travel during certain hours.

 

 

 

[EdwardMeades]

10 minutes ago, Alan de Enfield said:

Sorry, I thought you said it was a 55 foot narrowboat - a barge may cost more.

Yes it is a narrowboat, excuse my misuse of the terminology. She is under 2m beam so from my understanding not classed as abnormal load and escort is not required.

[Alan de Enfield]

46 minutes ago, EdwardMeades said:

She is under 2m beam

Are you sure ?

 

2 metres is 6' 6", most modern NB's are around 6'10" whilst older ones are  ~7'.

 

It would be a very narrow 'narrowboat at 6'6"

[EdwardMeades]

4 minutes ago, Alan de Enfield said:

Are you sure ?

Looks like abonormal load restrictions are for anything over 2.9m. 

The boat is 6'10'' so just over 2m

[Alan de Enfield]

4 minutes ago, EdwardMeades said:

Looks like abonormal load restrictions are for anything over 2.9m. 

Correct and then again being 14 foot extra regulations come into force.

We were only allowed to travel at times specified by the Police (ie not 7am to 9am & 4pm to 6pm) and must have a second person and "convoy exceptional" escort vehicle to clear the road.

 

In built up areas we occasionally had to go the wrong way around those little pedestrian 'islands' in the middle of the road and stop all oncoming traffic.

Road bridges are 16'6" high and the boat is 15' 6" so we had to use a low loader that could hydraulically drop his bed-height to 4" (100mm) and I had to strap the radar arch. GPS, aerials, and throttle controls down to even achieve 15' 6".

 

There wasn't a lot of clearance under the bridges.

 

 

[christyschuster]

Where did you purchase it?

[Alan de Enfield]

10 minutes ago, christyschuster said:

Where did you purchase it?

 

Purchase what ?

[LadyG]

38 minutes ago, christyschuster said:

Where did you purchase it?

Read the thread  , please.