Cruising when the water is frozen

[Andrew C]

I'm currently on the Llangollen and heading towards the Shropshire Union Canal and hopefully Chester before Christmas. Having only begun as a liveaboard this April, I've not encountered iced over canals before until seeing the arm at Ellesmere frozen. Is there a news source to go to to check if the Shroppie, (or any other canal) is navigable when temperatures drop below 0, or can any boaters around the area confirm the canal state please? I'm not keen on passing through Hurlesdon locks to find myself stranded🙁

[ditchcrawler]

1 minute ago, Andrew C said:

I'm currently on the Llangollen and heading towards the Shropshire Union Canal and hopefully Chester before Christmas. Having only begun as a liveaboard this April, I've not encountered iced over canals before until seeing the arm at Ellesmere frozen. Is there a news source to go to to check if the Shroppie, (or any other canal) is navigable when temperatures drop below 0, or can any boaters around the area confirm the canal state please? I'm not keen on passing through Hurlesdon locks to find myself stranded🙁

Someone said Barbridge was -5 this morning so I would guess its well frozen. Lots more info on Facebook with more people posting

[Andrew C]

Thanks ditch crawler. Yeah, I've just applied to join a couple of FBgroups this morning but am pending acceptance as of yet, so in two minds as to either Leave Ellesmere for Whitchurch, or just stay put a few days more here before moving on as temperatures rise after this weekend, but then cutting it fine to reach Chester in time. Decisions decisions. Cheers

[MtB]

I'd be surprised if there are ANY canals not frozen. The southern Oxford was frozen already last Friday when I was there, and yesterday the K&A was frozen solid at Devizes as I drove past.

 

 

 

 

Edited December 12, 2022 by MtB

[Andrew C]

Thanks MtB. I think already I'm coming to the conclusion I need to abandon trying to cruise in negative temperatures and wait to travel in the rain instead 🙄. Cheers for the input. 

[Ken X]

From our experience the Llangollen canal does tend to stay ice free longer where it flows but the locks freeze as do the side arms such as Whitchurch, Ellesmere and the Prees Branch.  The weather was such it was one of the few times we wore life jackets as the locks were treacherous.

[beerbeerbeerbeerbeer]

Yes, I’d stay put and sit it out.

Weather forecast reckons it may warm up from the weekend which will give you time to get Chester in the rain before Christmas 👍

[MtB]

6 minutes ago, Andrew C said:

Thanks MtB. I think already I'm coming to the conclusion I need to abandon trying to cruise in negative temperatures and wait to travel in the rain instead 🙄. Cheers for the input. 

 

There's another dimension to it too. Cruising through light ice is likely to draw the ire of other boaters as opinion nowadays amongst boaters seems to be that the moving ice sheets you'll be creating, damage the blacking on moored boats as you pass. 

 

This is total bollux obviously, but it doesn't stop people believing it.

 

Watch and see how this thread develops now! 

 

 

Edited December 12, 2022 by MtB

[Feeby100]

Plus it will damage you blacking or 2 pack protection and other you pass so sit it out 

[MtB]

Just now, Feeby100 said:

Plus it will damage you blacking or 2 pack protection and other you pass so sit it out 

 

Lol. See what I mean?!

 

🤣

 

[Feeby100]

Well it true you maybe blind to it but we are not 

it a fact 

[MtB]

1 minute ago, Feeby100 said:

Well it true you maybe blind to it but we are not 

it a fact 

 

An alternative fact, made up by snowflake boating newbies.

 

 

 

[Jen-in-Wellies]

7 minutes ago, MtB said:

Watch and see how this thread develops now! 

I'll go. Thick ice is a risk to plastic boats. A friend had his sunk this way. Broken ice goes skidding across the unbroken ice and in to the hull, breaking the GRP right at the water line. Some GRP owners will float wood beams tethered to their boats to deflect the ice pucks.

 

[Feeby100]

Really well you the problem then if you do go out and cruse along moored boat say it all lack of common sence  

1 minute ago, Jen-in-Wellies said:

I'll go. Thick ice is a risk to plastic boats. A friend had his sunk this way. Broken ice goes skidding across the unbroken ice and in to the hull, breaking the GRP right at the water line. Some GRP owners will float wood beams tethered to their boats to deflect the ice pucks.

 

One fact to start with

[ditchcrawler]

12 minutes ago, MtB said:

 

 

Watch and see how this thread develops now! 

 

 

That didn't take long

[Tonka]

4 minutes ago, Feeby100 said:

Well it true you maybe blind to it but we are not 

it a fact 

Surely you would have to be pushing the ice onto their paintwork to do damage.

Minus 9 here overnight in Betws-y-Coed 

[MtB]

1 minute ago, Jen-in-Wellies said:

I'll go. Thick ice is a risk to plastic boats. A friend had his sunk this way. Broken ice goes skidding across the unbroken ice and in to the hull, breaking the GRP right at the water line. Some GRP owners will float wood beams tethered to their boats to deflect the ice pucks.

 

 

You'll notice I specified "light ice"! 

 

But yes I agree plastic boats are at risk. Steel boats are not. 

 

 

[Stilllearning]

Just now, MtB said:

 

An alternative fact, made up by snowflake boating newbies.

 

 

 

I used to do a fair amount of cruising through ice. (I can clearly remember descending Hatton when it was so cold that the mooring line I stupidly let fall in the cut came out wet but froze solid as I tried to tie up.) Through all those cruises no one ever leaned out of a boat and complained, in fact often I was waved at and applauded for being out and about.

[MtB]

1 minute ago, ditchcrawler said:

That didn't take long

 

Indeed. I was quite pleased with the speed at which it descended! 

 

😆

[Feeby100]

You sure they where waving or calling you a ……  

[Stilllearning]

3 minutes ago, Jen-in-Wellies said:

I'll go. Thick ice is a risk to plastic boats. A friend had his sunk this way. Broken ice goes skidding across the unbroken ice and in to the hull, breaking the GRP right at the water line. Some GRP owners will float wood beams tethered to their boats to deflect the ice pucks.

 

Yes, plastic boats are vulnerable.

Just now, Feeby100 said:

You sure they where waving or calling you a ……  

I think I made that quite clear. 

[Andrew C]

I understand that the Gollie has a flow, so less likely to freeze. I just wasn't sure what the general temperature to freezing was on other canals (and don't quote the freezing point of water). Was hoping water/canal craft movement, and water impurities might lower the general freezing point. I wouldn't want to travel through anything other than a millimetre or two of ice as it does seem likely damage can be incurred upon more than just my own craft, but others and potentially wildlife. I'll stay this side of Hurlesdon until Sunday when the milder weather arrives, hopefully. Then crank it to Chester

[beerbeerbeerbeerbeer]

No one complains though when the coal boat comes through with the coal do they?

 

I suggest, just to wind things up another notch, it’s only those on linier moorings who never move that do the complaining.

[Andrew C]

3 minutes ago, Feeby100 said:

You sure they where waving or calling you a ……  

😂

[ditchcrawler]

If you are worried about your boat moored on a navigable canal in the winter you should use Ice Boards to protect your hull. A bit like using springs to stop your boat going AWL when boats pass.