Standard narrowboat width

[Swampfrog]

Could someone please tell me......if a narrowboat is a standard width of 6 foot 10 inches what is the standard measurement of the interior width from gunnel to gunnel?

[RLWP]

There isn't one. The gunnel width changes depending on the boat builder, then the thickness of the lining varies depending on the boat fitter

 

Richard

[mrsmelly]

There isn't one. The gunnel width changes depending on the boat builder, then the thickness of the lining varies depending on the boat fitter

 

Richard

 

Is it not Gunwale or gunwhale not that anyone should give a t%ss

 

Tim

[ditchcrawler]

Is it not Gunwale or gunwhale not that anyone should give a t%ss

 

Tim

Don't know, but some are 4" and some are 5" so that gives a 2" difference straight away before considering the thickness of lining

[RLWP]

Is it not Gunwale or gunwhale not that anyone should give a t%ss

 

Tim

 

It is

 

Richard

[alan_fincher]

Don't know, but some are 4" and some are 5" so that gives a 2" difference straight away before considering the thickness of lining

Plus, whereas on some boats the widest bit of the hull will be at gunwale level, many have an inward bend some way down, meaning that even if it is a nominal 6' 10" at the widest point, it is already less than that at gunwale height before you start to subtract 2 times gunwale width plus 2 times internal lining thickness.

 

The usual answer to these things, when the measure comes out is "surprisingly less than you might have imagined".....

 

 

Oh and I think...

 

Gunwale is correct.

 

Gunnel is an accepted colloquial alternative.

 

Gunwhale is just plain wrong.

[mrsmelly]

 

 

Gunwhale is just plain wrong.

 

A bit like " Pram hoods "

 

Tim

[David Mack]

Plus, whereas on some boats the widest bit of the hull will be at gunwale level, many have an inward bend some way down, meaning that even if it is a nominal 6' 10" at the widest point, it is already less than that at gunwale height before you start to subtract 2 times gunwale width plus 2 times internal lining thickness.

 

 

Only a few boatbuilders build the sides vertical, so you have the same external and internal width from gunwale (or a little below) down to the baseplate. Most simply taper the sides in to fit on a standard size 2m wide baseplate, so the internal width is less at floor level than just below the gunwale, and the back of any fitted furniture will have to be cut to a corresponding angle.