Slow Down Will You!!!!

[gardencoaster]

Just kind, considerate, and  an ex mastermind competitor. Furthermore I hate the dawdlers who wont give way just as much as the speed merchants and I am neither of these.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Mastermind? I thought the idea was not to 'pass'...

 

(Did you choose a waterways-related specialised subject?)

 

As a newcomer to the forum, I am surprised that the matter of the wash created by speeding boats doesn't worry people as much as their own preferences. On canals like the Oxford, erosion is a problem and already shallow water is worsened as the banks crumble.

 

BW's shrunken budget doesn't allow for instant repair. I wrote to complain about a stretch north of Braunston last August, following a towpath accident, and the area manager said she'd arrange sandbagging as an interim measure to prevent it worsening. Six months later when I passed, nothing had been done.

 

I will readily give way to working boats and those that gain on me but the whole idea of the canals is to slow down, surely.

 

gardencoaster

[bottle]

I know 'speeders and dawdlers' can be annoying but lets not lower our standards to theirs.

[dor]

As for speeding, I passed a narrowboat that was doing 60 mph last week.

 

 

 

But that was on the M5.

[nigel carton]

Wasn't me honest, I try and keep mine in the water!

[tony collins]

I agree with most of what has been said above, but clearly some people seem to think that ANY forward motion past their boat is too fast! What IS too fast? I got shouted at when passing a moored boat as I entered Thrupp wide when I was doing exactly 2mph (I'll tell how I knew in a minute) I thought about stopping and showing the lady concerned how to tie up her boat. Another time we followed another boat for about a mile at almost zero speed. Neither of us had any steerage way. Who was being discourteous on that occasion?

 

Having started my boating life nearly forty years ago on tidal waters I got used to using a spring to counteract movement. I do so still, even on canals when mooring for the night/long time. this usually solves the problems caused by speeding boats.

 

How do I know my speed? Simple I note the time taken to pass a fixed object, in my case with a 45 footer 4 mph equals 8 seconds. twice the time equals half the speed etc.

Night night

 

Tony Collins

[Liam]

People think that because they're only going 2mph they're not causing a problem. Okay, they're not "speeding" but you have to think about how much water you're boat is pushing.

 

If you're in a cruiser you could probably pass other moored boats at 4mph, but if you're going past with a narrowboat/wide beam which swims like a goldfish belly up, it's time to knock the throttle off a little.

[tony collins]

People think that because they're only going 2mph they're not causing a problem. Okay, they're not "speeding" but you have to think about how much water you're boat is pushing.

 

If you're in a cruiser you could probably pass other moored boats at 4mph, but if you're going past with a narrowboat/wide beam which swims like a goldfish belly up, it's time to knock the throttle off a little.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Honest guv I was causing hardly a ripple, my boat has finer lines than most underwater

[Liam]

That wasn't aimed at you, Tony. I meant in general.

 

You almost sound as if you're trying to hide something

[Jon]

While boating, speed will always be subjective. A lot depends on the boat too.

 

For example, I've once crewed two boats to a show (or rather, was a member of the crew). One was a new 66ft boat. Unfortunately, the wrong propeller was fitted, which mean that at tickover, we were still going some. (no, I didn't fit it). Since we were half way through a journey, on our way to a show, we couldn't stop to fix it. However, while passing moored boats, no-one said anything.

 

I was in the boat behind. A 52ft hireboat, goinging significantly slower, but that didn't stop the barage of abuse from the same boat owners that had smiled and said hello to my colleagues who passed them going faster minutes before.

 

I guess what I'm trying to say is that some boats need to go a little faster to retain control (I'd rather be passed by a slightly fast boat, than be scrapped along the side! Also, if you feel someone is going too fast, then tell the politely. Don't shout, particularly if it's a hire crew.

 

The other solution is of course to fit gatso camera's behind bridges, but then that would be unethical. (I'd better be careful, BW might get ideas!)

[DHutch]

Also it depends a fair bit how close you get.

- some of the "hire boaters" can get very close!

 

 

Daniel

[Khayamanzi]

....and the wind speed and direction!

 

I once passed a boat on a straight with a hill to one side. The wind was blowing over the hill and slamming into my boat and as I throttled down I could feel myself sliding towards him. I made the decision to increase the speed to maintain control and not hit him but as I passed the usual disgruntled head appeared from the side hatch followed by a torrent of abuse. I tried to explain but he simply disappeared back inside chuntering to himself!

[John Orentas]

Many, many years ago, spouse to be and myself where in a pub called The Boat & Horses, there was a mural on the wall of a canal boat being towed by two horses, my companion remarked that she had never seen two horses pulling a boat before.

 

I replied that they sometimes put on an extra horse when they came to a hill, see accepted the explanation.

[Jaysay]

I agree with most of what has been said above, but clearly some people seem to think that ANY forward motion past their boat is too fast! What IS too fast?  I got shouted at when passing a moored boat as I entered Thrupp wide when I was doing exactly 2mph (I'll tell how I knew in a minute)  I thought about stopping and showing the lady concerned how to tie up her boat.  Another time we followed another boat for about a mile at almost zero speed. Neither of us had any steerage way. Who was being discourteous on that occasion?

 

Having started my boating life nearly forty years ago on tidal waters I got used to using a spring to counteract movement.  I do so still, even on canals when mooring for the night/long time. this usually solves the problems caused by speeding boats.

 

How do I know my speed? Simple I note the time taken to pass a fixed object, in my case with a 45 footer 4 mph equals 8 seconds. twice the time equals half the speed  etc.

Night night

 

Tony Collins

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Tony has a point. You can fall into the trap of complaining when the problem is perceived rather than actual. I have often been tempted to complain because, say, I do not hear an approaching boat's engine sound being reduced, rather than because the boat has actually caused a problem (e.g. ripped the boat from tha bank, or spilt my wine!). I am not saying that the problem isn't there (it definitely is!), but that maybe it is not always as bad as we think.

Edited May 11, 2005 by Jaysay

[Bernie]

Just querying why the above post has been quoted with no comments from you Jaysay, did you mean to add something?

[Khayamanzi]

Many, many years ago, spouse to be and myself where in a pub called The Boat & Horses, there was a mural on the wall of a canal boat being towed by two horses, my companion remarked that she had never seen two horses pulling a boat before.

 

I replied that they sometimes put on an extra horse when they came to a hill, see accepted the explanation.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

Am I being thick or is there an obvious reason for this comment that I have missed!?

[nigel carton]

Andy,

 

canals don't have hills, thats what locks are for! doh

[Khayamanzi]

Yeah! I got that part - I was just wondering on its relevance to this thread though!!??

[nigel carton]

oh, sorry!

[John Orentas]

Andy, you mentioned hills in some connection or other, it just reminded me of the conversation. That's the way my brain seems to work (or not work) these day's.

[Khayamanzi]

Oh! Thanks for explaining that one - I just thought I was being really thick!