will it be narrow enough

[marrk chalmers]

hi new member quick question thinking of getting a converted life boat which has a width of 2.7m will it be to wide for the locks , Coming from some where in essex wanting to get on the great ouse then the nene towards peterborough any advise welcome . thank you Mark.

[Jen-in-Wellies]

Welcome to the forum.

The narrow locks on the Northampton Arm between the Grand Union Canal and River Nene will stop you. Seven feet maximum width (2.1m aprox). If the lifeboat is still seaworthy, a sea passage might be possible?

[magnetman]

If the width was 9ft (2.74m) or less it would be worth looking at road transport. Depending on length it may be possible to put it on a trailer. 

I would ask someone like 

 

https://www.centralboathaulage.co.uk/

 

about it. 

 

No connection I just googled it. Looks like up to 31ft long might be doable. 

 

 

They won't want to put their trailer in the water so there will be lifting costs each end but it is cheaper than a wagon.

[ditchcrawler]

Just now, magnetman said:

If the width was 9ft (2.74m) or less it would be worth looking at road transport. Depending on length it may be possible to put it on a trailer. 

I would ask someone like 

 

https://www.centralboathaulage.co.uk/

 

about it. 

 

No connection I just googled it. Looks like up to 31ft long might be doable. 

 

 

Or Hiab onto the back of a lorry like this Boats Transported - Terry Peach Ltd Tel 023 8061 9887 (hiabhiresouthampton.com)

[marrk chalmers]

i was thinking of going on the great ouse before northampton , don't ming the long way . never been on a boat before.

[Sailbadthesinner]

Nene and Great Ouse locks are big wide locks, no problem if you're coming from somewhere in Essex presumably by sea.

 

[marrk chalmers]

Just now, magnetman said:

If the width was 9ft (2.74m) or less it would be worth looking at road transport. Depending on length it may be possible to put it on a trailer. 

I would ask someone like 

 

https://www.centralboathaulage.co.uk/

 

about it. 

 

No connection I just googled it. Looks like up to 31ft long might be doable. 

 

 

They won't want to put their trailer in the water so there will be lifting costs each end but it is cheaper than a wagon.

thank you , that would be the best way  ,but working on i tight buget i thought i'd cruising up the grand union the on to the great ouse

[rusty69]

If it is a sea going lifeboat and you have the skills bring it up the coast and in through the out door 

[Jen-in-Wellies]

8 hours ago, marrk chalmers said:

i was thinking of going on the great ouse before northampton , don't ming the long way . never been on a boat before.

This has to involve a sea passage. No way of doing it by inland waterways except via the narrow Northampton Arm from Essex.

[rusty69]

The other point worth making is that even if you could get down the Northampton flight via the inland route, Peterborough on the Nene is reached before the Great Ouse. To get to the Great Ouse you need to go through the middle level or out into the Wash and back in again 

Edited December 1, 2023 by rusty69

[magnetman]

Also interesting to know what 'converted lifeboat' means..

 

If it is one of the one-piece type which are often orange or yellow it may prove to be rather unpleasant for actually going boating as the helm is fully enclosed. 

 

On the other hand if it is a conversion of an open ships lifeboat it might a very practical cruising motoryacht. 

 

I wonder if a RNLI lifeboat will come out to collect a broken down lifeboat off the coast or if they would think it was another lifeboat...

 

 

[rusty69]

8 minutes ago, magnetman said:

Also interesting to know what 'converted lifeboat' means..

 

If it is one of the one-piece type which are often orange or yellow it may prove to be rather unpleasant for actually going boating as the helm is fully enclosed. 

 

On the other hand if it is a conversion of an open ships lifeboat it might a very practical cruising motoryacht. 

 

I wonder if a RNLI lifeboat will come out to collect a broken down lifeboat off the coast or if they would think it was another lifeboat...

 

 

Where we moor at Wells, there are about 4 old lifeboats, and the working lifeboat. One of the old ones is a Dunkirk little ship that is now regularly used as a trip boat. I'm sure if it ever broke down the lifeboat would go and help them. That is if they weren't out on another shout to rescue dog walkers cut off by the tide, which seems to be their main role. 

Edited December 1, 2023 by rusty69

[Tony Brooks]

9 hours ago, marrk chalmers said:

i was thinking of going on the great ouse before northampton , don't ming the long way . never been on a boat before.

 

Perhaps a little research online to find a UK inland waterways map showing lock widths.  If going by river and canal, that is the only way. Maybe you should do some research into the relevant navigation authority's regulations in resect of mooring and licensing. The Ouse and Nene are the Environment Agency, the Middle Levels that link the two is the Middle Level Commissioners, and the Canals is the Canal and River Trust. You can't just turn up and moor to a random bit of bank for as long as you like. It is also potentially very dangerous to "wild moor" on rivers when they go into flood. Most or all the banks on rivers are owned by someone who may or may bot allow mooring and who may or may not charge for doing so.

 

Please do a lot more research before you spend too much money, boat living may be more expensive and more difficult than you think.

Edited December 1, 2023 by Tony Brooks

[Scholar Gypsy]

As well as the width issues -- as others have explained the Northampton Arm locks are 7' wide -- you should also check the draft (how much water you need) and probably more importantly the air draft of the boat (there are some quite low bridges around.,,)

[marrk chalmers]

thank you all for you free kind advice , looking into it all now , cheers all . an eye opener

[Alan de Enfield]

59 minutes ago, marrk chalmers said:

thank you all for you free kind advice , looking into it all now , cheers all . an eye opener

 

Is it one of the 'big orange things' ?

 

[IanD]

Or this?

 

 

[magnetman]

The joys of single-use boats.

 

[Alan de Enfield]

18 minutes ago, IanD said:

Or this?

 

 

 

 

Once seen, it can never be unseen !

[ditchcrawler]

6 hours ago, rusty69 said:

The other point worth making is that even if you could get down the Northampton flight via the inland route, Peterborough on the Nene is reached before the Great Ouse. To get to the Great Ouse you need to go through the middle level or out into the Wash and back in again 

Middle Level should be OK depending on draft, both air and water.

[matty40s]

7 hours ago, Jen-in-Wellies said:

This has to involve a sea passage. No way of doing it by inland waterways except via the narrow Northampton Arm from Essex.

You could get up the GU as far as Wolverton Aqueduct then just chuck it over the side onto the Great Ouse.

 

Seriously though, you do not have the headroom with one of those lifeboats to get under bridges on the Nene and Middle Levels.

[GUMPY]

22 minutes ago, ditchcrawler said:

Middle Level should be OK depending on draft, both air and water.

It won't get through Upwell  if it's more than 1.96metres / 6ft5" air draft.

[ditchcrawler]

The are draft willl probably also limit where it will fit on the Gt Ouse, not up to Bedford, 

[matty40s]

1 minute ago, ditchcrawler said:

The are draft willl probably also limit where it will fit on the Gt Ouse, not up to Bedford, 

...but if you have chucked it off Wolverton Aqueduct, it will probably be flat packed squashed anyway.

[rusty69]

7 minutes ago, matty40s said:

You could get up the GU as far as Wolverton Aqueduct then just chuck it over the side onto the Great Ouse.

 

Seriously though, you do not have the headroom with one of those lifeboats to get under bridges on the Nene and Middle Levels.

Quite a few of the nene locks are not open now until Apr 2024 anyway 

Edited December 1, 2023 by rusty69