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How common are sunken narrowboats?


Heather22

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I've had two boats that decided to try to sink - both events were in tunnels. One was a wooden ex-working boat - a floating length of timber got jammed between the boat and tunnel wall in Islington tunnel and punched a hole. That was fairly simply dealt with by means of an emergency patch nailed on when we came out the other side. The other was a butty loaded with coal in Husbands Bosworth tunnel - Di noticed the water can trying to shift on the cabin top and realised the butty was beginning to list badly. The pound was seriously low and we'd hit a pile of bricks in a bridgehole shortly before. Luckily the hole was in the one section of hull which was free of coal, and I was able to stand in the water and push a bolt up while Di got a nut onto it. That was supposed to be temporary measure, but it was actually several months before we did get into a dry dock to do more serious repairs.

But these two events have been spread over some 60+ years of pretty much full time boating, so are not exactly indicative of anything being a strong likelihood. Also they were neither of them so serious they could not be dealt with.

Yes, boats can sink - that is the nature of boats. But cars break down on motorways, and even walking has its dangers, and there is really nothing to do that would ever avoid all risk. He who hesitates is sometimes saved 😁 - you just have to find the level of risk you can live with.

 

Tam

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Just watched ‘We are England’ via the link. It is so difficult for anyone to get to grips with living afloat. Even more difficult if you haven’t got enough money.

 

What a cheerful young las Jess is considering her PTSD and financial situation. She needed a helping hand from an experienced boater. The mobile Mr Fix it did himself no harm in the film. Seemed a nice chap.

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