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Boat Size question

Billi

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Billi Gongoozler

Billi

Posted
Posted

First off thank you for being here.

 

My question is this. I will be having my first boat designed and built towards the end of this year and need to know whether my vision for it would fit in with the size of canals. I do not wish to contact the boat builder until I am ready to take it to the next level and hence why I am asking you good people :)

 

I will need 4 double bedrooms (with at least 2 with en suite), 2 offices, a galley, living area and main head. Could such a build fit into the canal system as a whole? I was wondering about turning it around you see. Would a boat at 90ft be able to do this and is 90ft the largest a boat can be on the canal system and would all these rooms I will need fit into a 90ft build? Also, would I need a Wide Beam or a Dutch Barge to get the specifications I wish?

 

Thanks in advance for any feedback anyone can give me.

Billi

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magpie patrick Veteran II

magpie patrickDonate to Canal World

Posted
Posted

Wow you do need lots of space ! Sounds like you are not bothered about being able to do the whole system so would go for wide beam ,but then i'm biast , are there any 90ft narrow boats about ? Does sound very long !

 

In short, no, the only areas of the network with locks that long are the Trent and the North East Waterways of the Aire, Calder and SSYN up to Rotherham, the Severn and Gloucester and Sharpness Canal, and the Thames below Oxford.

 

There are some boats that sort of size on those waterways though, one on the G&S, "Ambulant" was a beautiful sight when under way. So if those areas suit, go for it

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Arthur Brown Influencer

Arthur Brown

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It's your dream design therefore it's right for you! HOWEVER to access (almost) all of the canal network you should not exceed 6ft 10ins wide or (officially)62feet long. There are also water and airdraft requirements. MOST of the network is passable to craft 6-10 wide and 70ft long. For broader beams several places are closed and the network not fully connected, for longer boats the network is very reduced -mainly to bigger rivers with commercial barge locks.

 

Remember also that for a narrow boat of standard proportions the 6-10 overall beam means an inside area about 5'-6" wide, so a standard double mattress leaves a gap of one foot (300mm) for the gangway, -it's not a high privacy situation!

 

For full canal access I'd look at splitting this occupancy into two narrow boats,possibly including a comms link and even a connecting link, or accept a much wider boat with seriously limited network availability.

 

Have a look at the hire websites and look at the layouts they offer. Most of the high head-count boats rely on multi function spaces and one bathroom. rather than your wish for en-suite and private office per double room.

 

There are far too many issues to consider without contacting a specialist designer as this boat must comply with either the EU regs for recreational craft or the DOT requirements for commercial boats.

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TimD Collaborator

TimD

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If you need a boat that size I would forget about canals, and concentrate on what is suitable for large river, coast and sea navigation. Any canals that you can get down (basically the Aire and Calder and Manchester Ship) should be considered a bonus. Otherwise you're in danger of designing a boat that won't go down canals and can only go to sea in calm weather.

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Billi Gongoozler

Billi

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Wow. This is a well oiled forum I can tell. Already I feel at home here. Thank you for your fast responses. Much appreciated.

 

So, I will have to change the dream boat idea it seems if I wish to be able to cover all canals in the UK which is my aim. What would I need then for 2 double bedrooms and 2 studios/ offices, communal living space, galley and head (forgetting the two en suites and other 2 bedrooms?) How long would the boat have to be for these specs and what type of boat would be most practical (I would feel too claustrophobic on a narrow boat)...

 

Warmest,

Billi

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blackrose Veteran II

blackrose

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Posted

(I would feel too claustrophobic on a narrow boat)...

 

Warmest,

Billi

 

Er... careful! I'm not sure if you're allowed to say that on this forum? :P

 

I suggest going to a stationers and buying a bunch of graph paper,then draw to scale a 70' narrow-boat and all the rooms to scale and see if you can fit in all you want,i have a feeling it'll be a bit cramped.

 

Too right - it would consist of a load of back to back, built-in cupboards! :lol:

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Rebotco Rising Star

Rebotco

Posted
Posted

Wow. This is a well oiled forum I can tell. Already I feel at home here. Thank you for your fast responses. Much appreciated.

 

So, I will have to change the dream boat idea it seems if I wish to be able to cover all canals in the UK which is my aim. What would I need then for 2 double bedrooms and 2 studios/ offices, communal living space, galley and head (forgetting the two en suites and other 2 bedrooms?) How long would the boat have to be for these specs and what type of boat would be most practical (I would feel too claustrophobic on a narrow boat)...

 

Warmest,

Billi

 

 

If that is your first priority you really are restricted to Max. 60ft x 6'10". There's no getting around that.

 

You can't even have a double-decker either due to low bridges!

 

You will either have to accept much less accommodation or much less cruising options.

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Alan de Enfield Veteran II

Alan de Enfield

Posted
Posted (edited)

Firstly I'm no NB designer - just a 'user'.

 

I do not think that your requirements can be made to fit into a NB.

As has been said the internal width of a NB is about 6 foot so with any privacy (doors)between rooms you will not have access to the next room along - it will end up as a series of linked 6' x 6' boxes.

 

To work out your length you can use the following as a guide.

 

6 foot for the 'back' (non-living space)

9 foot for the 'front' (non-living space)

6 foot minimum for the galley (10 foot is probably better if there are lots on board)

6 foot for the head / shower

7 foot for each bedroom / study room

12 foot lounge (12 foot is pretty small - 18 would be better especially if there are lots on board)

Dividing walls ???

 

 

In theory you could probably just do-it with a 72 footer. But personally I think it would be a very unpleasant layout.

If you need the toilet in the middle of the night you would probably have to squeese thru another bedroom to get to it.

 

Again - as had been said hireboats can get up to 10 or 12 people on board but that generally relies on converting seating areas to beds at night and then back to seats during the day.

 

Try putting "free narrowboat design" into google - there are various packages you can use to build up your 'own boat' using various modules (bathroom, bedroom kitchen etc)

 

Edit :3 additional posts whilst I one-finger type my reply. Amazing all saying pretty much the same thing

Edited by Alan de Enfield
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Tesla Proficient

Tesla

Posted
Posted

HOWEVER to access (almost) all of the canal network you should not exceed 6ft 10ins wide or (officially)62feet long.

 

Newbie question, how much of the canal would be excluded with a 62ft narrowboat v. a 57ft narrowboat? And do people feel that 57ft boats attract a premium because of their go anywhere status?

 

Thoughts greatly appreciated.

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blackrose Veteran II

blackrose

Posted
Posted (edited)

Just to clarify, when the OP says he wants to use the boat on the canals, does that necessarily mean he wants to use the boat on ALL the canals? Respondants are saying he needs a 60ft x 6ft 10in boat, but that's only if he wants to cruise every navigable canal. If on the other hand he just wants the ability to cruise on some canals then he could have a longer and wider boat with a shallow draught.

Edited by blackrose
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Alan de Enfield Veteran II

Alan de Enfield

Posted
Posted (edited)

Just to clarify, when the OP says he wants to use the boat on the canals, does that necessarily mean he wants to use the boat on ALL the canals? Respondants are saying he needs a 60ft x 6ft 10in boat, but that's only if he wants to cruise every navigable canal. If on the other hand he just wants the ability to cruise on some canals then he could have a longer and wider boat with a shallow draught.

 

The OP did say "...wish to be able to cover all canals in the UK which is my aim...."

Edited by Alan de Enfield
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The Bagdad Boatman (waits) Rising Star

The Bagdad Boatman (waits)

Posted
Posted

With a wide boat of 13.6 ft and 62ft long you an cruise from York to Leicester and Liverpool to Hull in the north. Or Bristol Gloucester Stratford on Avon and Worcester all the way to Lechlade Braunston and Bishops Stortford in the south. With some areas allowing boats of 70ft.

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Rebotco Rising Star

Rebotco

Posted
Posted

Just to clarify, when the OP says he wants to use the boat on the canals, does that necessarily mean he wants to use the boat on ALL the canals? Respondants are saying he needs a 60ft x 6ft 10in boat, but that's only if he wants to cruise every navigable canal. If on the other hand he just wants the ability to cruise on some canals then he could have a longer and wider boat with a shallow draught.

 

 

OP's post no. 11 says ALL.

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bizzard Veteran II

bizzard

Posted
Posted

With a wide boat of 13.6 ft and 62ft long you an cruise from York to Leicester and Liverpool to Hull in the north. Or Bristol Gloucester Stratford on Avon and Worcester all the way to Lechlade Braunston and Bishops Stortford in the south. With some areas allowing boats of 70ft.

A 12'6'' wide boat with anodes on one side only will only just scrape through Sawbridgeworth lock also probably Roydon lock.

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