Fat boats on the North Oxford

[Dr Bob]

CRT have just put out the following info.

Shame they didnt ban them entirely (or allow them one trip back to Braunston).

Notices, Canal & River Trust <notices@canalrivertrust.org.uk>

4:18 PM (10 minutes ago)

 

 

Notice Alert

Oxford Canal
Location: Movement of wide-beam boats between Braunston Junction and Hillmorton Locks on the North Oxford Canal
Starts At: Bridge 93/94, Braunston Junction
Ends At: Lock 7, Hillmorton Top Lock (Os)

Thursday 11 February 2021 16:00 until further notice

Type: Navigation Restriction
Reason: Information

---

 

Original message:

 

Managing the safe movement of wide beam boats on the North Oxford Canal

The north Oxford Canal between Braunston Junction and Hillmorton Locks is a narrow canal, not suitable for wide-beam craft. The maximum craft dimensions for boats on the canal are:

Length 21.96m (72ft)
Beam 2.13m (7ft’)
Draught 1.09m (3ft 7’’)

Access to the marinas on the North Oxford is permitted but only at pre-agreed times and must be done in a single journey (i.e. not stopping between the marina and the destination)

How to arrange movement of wide-beam craft on the north Oxford canal

Boaters should notify enquiries.westmidlands@canalrivertrust.org.uk not less than two weeks ahead of the boat movement with the following information:

• - Boat index and name
• - Planned date and time of movement
• - Direction of movement
• - Contact number for the person who will be navigating the boat

Planned wide-beam boat movements on the north Oxford will be published on the Trust’s notices and stoppages web page

[J R ALSOP]

Well it's a start, just need to work back down GU to Berko

[David Mack]

What is needed now is a movable width restriction at the A45 bridge just north of Braunston Junction, which is only unlocked when a wide boat passage is scheduled.

[Tracy D'arth]

2 minutes ago, David Mack said:

What is needed now is a movable width restriction at the A45 bridge just north of Braunston Junction, which is only unlocked when a wide boat passage is scheduled.

Excellent idea, how about a tonne bag full of concrete at both sides?

[jeanb]

13 minutes ago, Dr Bob said:

CRT have just put out the following info.

Shame they didnt ban them entirely (or allow them one trip back to Braunston).

Agreed!

[Nightwatch]

Hadn’t seen this thread before now. Ihave commented on the ‘other’ one.

[frangar]

Hopefully a total ban will be put in place for widebeams from Wigrams to Napton soon as well......

[Sea Dog]

5 minutes ago, frangar said:

Hopefully a total ban will be put in place for widebeams from Wigrams to Napton soon as well......

And the GU from the southern portal of Shrewley Tunnel please... 

[archie57]

44 minutes ago, David Mack said:

What is needed now is a movable width restriction at the A45 bridge just north of Braunston Junction, which is only unlocked when a wide boat passage is scheduled.

I don't agree with this at all - this is a blind bridge, to be approached at caution, but wide enough for two boats to pass easily , something I've had to do many times over the years. Any restriction in width would cause chaos!

[frangar]

3 minutes ago, archie57 said:

I don't agree with this at all - this is a blind bridge, to be approached at caution, but wide enough for two boats to pass easily , something I've had to do many times over the years. Any restriction in width would cause chaos!

I think he means the second A45 bridge as you go north....not the one between the stop house and the turn.....

[archie57]

I was referring to the northernmost one - both these bridges are the same width.....

[Victor Vectis]

HOORAY!

[Big Bob W]

CRT actually making a sensible decision. Who'd have thought it!

Its been quite a while since we have had good news!!

[Ray T]

30 minutes ago, archie57 said:

I was referring to the northernmost one - both these bridges are the same width.....

This one?

[Steilsteven]

?

[matty40s]

2 hours ago, archie57 said:

I don't agree with this at all - this is a blind bridge, to be approached at caution, but wide enough for two boats to pass easily , something I've had to do many times over the years. Any restriction in width would cause chaos!

Not when you've got pillocks moored like this...

[blackrose]

13 minutes ago, matty40s said:

Not when you've got pillocks moored like this...

 

Yes a pillock on a narrowboat!

 

In my experience, 9 times out of 10 it's a narrowboat that's causing the problem.?

Edited February 11, 2021 by blackrose

[matty40s]

3 minutes ago, blackrose said:

 

Yes a pillock on a narrowboat! ?

Indeed, his front end was on the last ring, and his centre line was tied to a mooring pin banged in very close to the bridge.....his back end wasnt tied....swinging out every time a boat passed.

I dont just pick on widebeams you know!

Edited February 11, 2021 by matty40s

[roland elsdon]

Boat at Pooh corner.

[Mike Todd]

I see that CaRT have already been lobbied and conceded a one week notice period instead of two weeks with an 'emergency' option. Let's hope that the principle is not up for negotiation.

[rustynewbery]

22 hours ago, David Mack said:

What is needed now is a movable width restriction at the A45 bridge just north of Braunston Junction, which is only unlocked when a wide boat passage is scheduled.

That was one of my suggestions to the Ombudsman back in 2018 the other was the now imposed restriction.

 

As to the claim for passing two boats through that bridge at the same time, good luck with that one!

[fanshaft]

23 hours ago, J R ALSOP said:

Well it's a start, just need to work back down GU to Berko

The Canal & River Trust has a statutory obligation under the 1968 Act to maintain the Grand Union Canal for wide beam boats max 3.81 metres (12 ft 6 in) beam between Camp Hill and Berkhamsted. It can  (and does) impose navigation restrictions e.g. for passage of the tunnels.

[Alan de Enfield]

2 minutes ago, fanshaft said:

The Canal & River Trust has a statutory obligation under the 1968 Act to maintain the Grand Union Canal for wide beam boats max 3.81 metres (12 ft 6 in) beam between Camp Hill and Berkhamsted. It can  (and does) impose navigation restrictions e.g. for passage of the tunnels.

 

Look at my post number ???

 

From July 9th 2019

[TheBiscuits]

4 minutes ago, Alan de Enfield said:

 

Look at my post number ???

 

From July 9th 2019

 

In which thread?  This one isn't 24 hours old yet.

[Alan de Enfield]

1 minute ago, TheBiscuits said:

 

In which thread?  This one isn't 24 hours old yet.

 

Sorry the earlier version of this one "March of the Widebeams" where we seem to have duplicate postings running alongside each other.

Thought I was still on that one - but I'm not.

 

 

March of the Widebeams - General Boating - Canal World