bizzard Posted August 1, 2011 Report Share Posted August 1, 2011 Some folk seem to have difficulty judging the length of their boat,my observation.It seems the longer the boat,the more conflict marks there are on the front, ie the more ragged the fender ect. So why not fix a garden bamboo cane vertically onto the prow,stick it into the fender somehow,so that the top can be seen from the back and adjust spectacles to focus on it,if worn.Perhaps a wee flag on top.Or for night use a bit of fluoresant tape, or even hollow out the stick,poke a wire up it to an LED bulb,it will warn off low flying aircraft too,if you happen to be sailing near an airport after dark. bizzard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lady Muck Posted August 1, 2011 Report Share Posted August 1, 2011 I'm gonna make the dog walk down the towpath ahead of us waving a flag. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BGA Posted August 1, 2011 Report Share Posted August 1, 2011 Some folk seem to have difficulty judging the length of their boat,my observation.It seems the longer the boat,the more conflict marks there are on the front, ie the more ragged the fender ect. So why not fix a garden bamboo cane vertically onto the prow,stick it into the fender somehow,so that the top can be seen from the back and adjust spectacles to focus on it,if worn.Perhaps a wee flag on top.Or for night use a bit of fluoresant tape, or even hollow out the stick,poke a wire up it to an LED bulb,it will warn off low flying aircraft too,if you happen to be sailing near an airport after dark. bizzard. And for the more technically minded a Car's reversing senser mounted on the front, Beep, Beep, Beep STOP!!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bizzard Posted August 1, 2011 Author Report Share Posted August 1, 2011 I'm gonna make the dog walk down the towpath ahead of us waving a flag. Harness the dog,like a Husky to haul the boat along,save fuel. bizzard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan_fincher Posted August 1, 2011 Report Share Posted August 1, 2011 (edited) I'm missing something here..... Simply stand at the back, and look at the front...... The front is where you can see the front is......... Simple! EDITED TO ADD: On the subject in another thread of "Sunset Rising" on the T&M, this is a spot where it is quite important that you can assess what is coming the other way before proceeding!......... Edited August 1, 2011 by alan_fincher Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DickBrowne Posted August 1, 2011 Report Share Posted August 1, 2011 (edited) But where's the back, Alan? I can see the front, but if you were reversing and asking me to judge where to stop from that photograph, I'd be scraping your blacking, sorry. Anyway, you have a modification on Bizzard's suggestion at the front with your light. Almost. I'll get m'coat, shall I? More seriously, Simon Piper had a widebeam at Crick, which he'd built for the son of Theo Paphitous from Dragon's Den, and that replaced talent, boatmanship and observation with a CCTV camera wired to a monitor at the helm. Edited to correct apalling spelling Edited August 1, 2011 by DickBrowne Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keble Posted August 1, 2011 Report Share Posted August 1, 2011 (edited) I'm missing something here..... Simply stand at the back, and look at the front...... The front is where you can see the front is......... Simple! Wow, you must be very tall! CCTV cameras are cheap - £50 or so. Now there's a solution that's possible but maybe excessive?! ETA Dick got there first Edited August 1, 2011 by keble Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RLWP Posted August 1, 2011 Report Share Posted August 1, 2011 Some folk seem to have difficulty judging the length of their boat,my observation.It seems the longer the boat,the more conflict marks there are on the front, ie the more ragged the fender ect. So why not fix a garden bamboo cane vertically onto the prow,stick it into the fender somehow,so that the top can be seen from the back and adjust spectacles to focus on it,if worn.Perhaps a wee flag on top.Or for night use a bit of fluoresant tape, or even hollow out the stick,poke a wire up it to an LED bulb,it will warn off low flying aircraft too,if you happen to be sailing near an airport after dark. bizzard. Meh Richard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WotEver Posted August 1, 2011 Report Share Posted August 1, 2011 Meh Thank you for such a deeply considered observation, sir. Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest wanted Posted August 1, 2011 Report Share Posted August 1, 2011 I'm more of a learn how long your boat is fan, I'm still at the gently tapping other things stage, but it's getting better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RLWP Posted August 1, 2011 Report Share Posted August 1, 2011 Thank you for such a deeply considered observation, sir. Tony There's only so much advice I can have rammed down my throat Richard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlt Posted August 1, 2011 Report Share Posted August 1, 2011 There's only so much advice I can have rammed down my throat That's very uncharitable. I made this wall light out of a 4 litre milk bottle, at the weekend. It's amazing what you can achieve if you put your cynicism aside and embrace novel ideas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Odana Posted August 1, 2011 Report Share Posted August 1, 2011 We pondered the idea of Droitwich Canal pennants on tall sticks as novelty canal souvenir items this weekend - very decorative on reedy windy canals. Though I DO like the idea of reverse reverse parking sensors. We could have done with some electronic "you are now entering a tunnel. please close your side hatch" alarms yesterday. That, or functioning brains. We had neither. Oops. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stewey Posted August 1, 2011 Report Share Posted August 1, 2011 That's very uncharitable. I made this wall light out of a 4 litre milk bottle, at the weekend. It's amazing what you can achieve if you put your cynicism aside and embrace novel ideas. I hope the milk isn't still in it, Carl Stewey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twbm Posted August 1, 2011 Report Share Posted August 1, 2011 They're made of steel FFS, and they all have a built in 'that's far enough' sensor. They go bong, possibly clunk, and stop. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveC Posted August 1, 2011 Report Share Posted August 1, 2011 But where's the back, Alan? I can see the front, but if you were reversing and asking me to judge where to stop from that photograph, I'd be scraping your blacking, sorry. Anyway, you have a modification on Bizzard's suggestion at the front with your light. Almost. I'll get m'coat, shall I? More seriously, Simon Piper had a widebeam at Crick, which he'd built for the son of Theo Paphitous from Dragon's Den, and that replaced talent, boatmanship and observation with a CCTV camera wired to a monitor at the helm. Edited to correct apalling spelling Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DickBrowne Posted August 1, 2011 Report Share Posted August 1, 2011 D'you see what I did there? Congrats on being the only one to spot it. So far... Richard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchcrawler Posted August 1, 2011 Report Share Posted August 1, 2011 Wow, you must be very tall! No the cabin is only 10 foot long We pondered the idea of Droitwich Canal pennants on tall sticks as novelty canal souvenir items this weekend - very decorative on reedy windy canals. Though I DO like the idea of reverse reverse parking sensors. We could have done with some electronic "you are now entering a tunnel. please close your side hatch" alarms yesterday. That, or functioning brains. We had neither. Oops. When IWA held the National at Beale Park for the first time there was an award for going up to Lechlade and in the pack was a small flag attached to the end of a length of threaded rod with a small spring clamp on the bottom. The idea being that it could be seen above the banks on the bendy upper Thames. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bizzard Posted August 1, 2011 Author Report Share Posted August 1, 2011 That's very uncharitable. I made this wall light out of a 4 litre milk bottle, at the weekend. It's amazing what you can achieve if you put your cynicism aside and embrace novel ideas. Is it half of a model cruise liner? bizzard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sebrof Posted August 2, 2011 Report Share Posted August 2, 2011 D'you see what I did there? Congrats on being the only one to spot it mention it. So far... Richard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeanS Posted August 2, 2011 Report Share Posted August 2, 2011 I'm missing something here..... Simply stand at the back, and look at the front...... The front is where you can see the front is......... Simple! When I stand at the back of my boat, I can see everything except the end of my boat. Every time I approach the bank, or go into a lock, it is total guesswork. I find putting a person near the front, completely useless, because they always tell me to reverse AFTER I have hit something. I am getting quite good at virtualisation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan_fincher Posted August 2, 2011 Report Share Posted August 2, 2011 No the cabin is only 10 foot long Cheeky! Actually about 13' 6" if you include the 5' 6" of engine room. When I stand at the back of my boat, I can see everything except the end of my boat. Every time I approach the bank, or go into a lock, it is total guesswork. I find putting a person near the front, completely useless, because they always tell me to reverse AFTER I have hit something. I am getting quite good at virtualisation. Yes, Sorry! Generally true of most live-aboard and leisure narrow boats that knowing where the front is involves a degree of guesswork. If on "Chalice" we are in the same situation. There are many complexities to steering "Sickle", (too much draft, and far too much power, mainly!), but one of the big advantages is being able to see the front fully from the steering position. So stopping it just on a gate, or with a nose on the bank when winding, is a real pleasure, lacking in any guesswork. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the grinch Posted August 2, 2011 Report Share Posted August 2, 2011 Cheeky! Actually about 13' 6" if you include the 5' 6" of engine room. Yes, Sorry! so it's only 8ft long then not 10 - bragging again? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiny Posted August 2, 2011 Report Share Posted August 2, 2011 If I stand at the back and look forward I can see both side but I can't see the bit of boat in front of the cabin BUT If I sit down at the back and look through the open back doors I cannot see down the sides but I can see the nose as i can stare through the whole 13' 6" of cabin and out through the front windows. This is very useful when the wind in blowing on rivers or the Shroppie though it tend to confuse oncoming boats as no-one appears to be steering if I am sitting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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