Are trad style boats really that much better in the cold/wet?

[Neil2]

I spent 4-5 hours heading North on the T&M last Thursday into what we call up here a "lazy wind" - as in too lazy to go round you so it just goes straight through. As for this "wrong clothing" argument there's really nothing short of Arctic expedition gear that would keep me warm in these conditions and I don't particularly enjoy dressing up like a spaceman anyway.

 

Cruisers are great for long hot days, on the river especially, but I'm increasingly persuaded of the virtues of the trad. It may be another age(ing) thing...

[Up-Side-Down]

 

I'd say this is an understatement! In cold weather one stands inside the hatches with the back doors closed. The Epping stove roaring away at your feet ensures lovely warm legs and a nice warm updraft through the hatch

 

If you only have 'cabin heating' and no Epping, then no, you don't derive much benefit. I know this because both my boats are trad, but only one has a proper back cabin and Epping stove and one is FAR better than the other to steer in freezing weather!

 

 

MtB

 

As the above - but with the addition of a good quality cape (+hood) in foul weather. It funnels the heat from the Epping to the upper part of the body which it keeps dry. It also prevents rain, snow and the like from getting into the back cabin and heat escaping into the great wide world.

[Kae]

Trad stern, stood on top of the Beta 38 which vents around your legs (no external engine venting), nice and warm in the winter with the back doors closed

 

Bit warm in the summer though!

[Stilllearning]

 

They were probably escaping the noise of the BMC?. I'm sure it wasn't anything personal.

In fact the cruiser stern boat had an LPWS4 raw water cooled, so unfortunately that excuse doesn't work....

[Mac of Cygnet]

. I think it was Billy Connelly who said *there is no such thing as bad weather - just the wrong type of clothes*.

 

 

 

Bloody Billy Connelly - before long he'll have written all the Bible and Shakespeare. It's a Scandinavian proverb, quoted by Amundsen, who ought to have known. Billy Connelly, more convincingly said "There's no such thing as bad language - it's just our morals are f****d up".

[KevMc]

It's only really a question for those northern climes where there isn't a lock every 5 minutes isn't it .

[Mrs Tawny Owl]

I much prefer our cruiser stern, much more sociable.

 

I find having to stand on the gunnels to be sociable not very comfortable or pleasant. Delivering tea to the steerer is harder too, as I don't like to distract them when I can't see what they're coming up to, might be a critical moment.

 

I also find steering a trad very uncomfortable, having to reach behind to grab the tiller does my back and shoulder in, and turning sideways isn't much better.I'm much better standing beside the tiller on our Cruiser stern, and stepping forward when I need to.

 

We don't live on her, and we don't CC so haven't got to move whatever the weather. Having said that when we are out we usually keep moving anyway to get back home before the holiday finishes.

 

We cruised up the Shroppie last Easter, and yes there was a lazy wind coming from Siberia, but with enough clothes on it was fine.

 

Sue

Edited October 15, 2013 by Mrs Tawny Owl

[sassan]

I'd say a cruiser stern for a holiday boat, but always a trad stern for living in.

• It's basically a shed, the space in the boat where I can leave tools everywhere and not get in trouble with the missus.
• Extra space in the engine room to hang bikes in the winter
• Heat from the engine warms the front of your body
• Some protection from rain
• Can sit on the roof to save legs on long journeys
• I tend to prefer being alone when steering anyway, if we have guests, socialisation is done at the bow end, with trips along the gunwhales if people want to try driving, or bring me a cup of tea.
• If I need to work on my engine, it's in a nice warm dry room, not a pit filled with dirty water that I have to lie on my front, on a dirty deck, outside, to get at.

[Up-Side-Down]

 

I'd say a cruiser stern for a holiday boat, but always a trad stern for living in.

• It's basically a shed, the space in the boat where I can leave tools everywhere and not get in trouble with the missus.
• Extra space in the engine room to hang bikes in the winter
• Heat from the engine warms the front of your body
• Some protection from rain
• Can sit on the roof to save legs on long journeys
• I tend to prefer being alone when steering anyway, if we have guests, socialisation is done at the bow end, with trips along the gunwhales if people want to try driving, or bring me a cup of tea.
• If I need to work on my engine, it's in a nice warm dry room, not a pit filled with dirty water that I have to lie on my front, on a dirty deck, outside, to get at.

 

 

I'd second all that ................. in conjunction with the aforementioned cape of course!!

[IanD]

The best trad stern boat I ever steered was Keith Jones's Firefly, the steam-powered boat which was available for hire for a few years in the (IIRC) 1980s. Hardly any noise, and a half-million BTU gas-fired boiler inside the left rear door which dwarved the heat output of any stove. I particularly remember when it peed down and blew a gale all day and I was warm and toasty and dry standing inside the doors with the hatch pulled back and waves of heat billowing up inside my waterproof, watching the miserable steerers on cruiser stern boats going the other way...

[comfortably numb]

We were undecided between a Trad and a Cruiser stern but in the end opted for the latter because our dog loves to sit at the stern and we didn't want to be tripping over her. I can really see the advantages of a trad for winter or bad weather cruising but being under no time constraints we just stay moored if the weather forecast is too bad.

 

In the winter we stay in the marina for most of the time so we put up the pram hood which gives us such a wonderfully large room for changing out of wet clothes/footwear, towelling down the dog, and extra storage space too. It also means I can do my winter engine maintenance under cover.

 

In winter we might go out occasionally for a day or two but only if the weather is decent, therefore our need for a Trad is less so than some people's.

[Pykebird]

I had assumed that with dogs I would have to have a cruiser, hence the reason I bought one. But having borrowed a trad from a friend, they all just sat on the back counter quite happily and I steered from inside the hatch. Now with only 2 dogs this is how we travel and it works for us. Unless it is pouring down and then they are confined to barracks which doesn't go down too well.

[Naughty Cal]

Thank god I have a double glazed, heated and insulated wheelhouse!! all this talk of getting wet and cold is giving me goose bumps

 

Peter

Was about to say the same. Dont get this standing outside in the elements game. Would much rather be under cover with the heating on

 

Yes, trads keep you completely warm and dry, even in a force 5 gale...

 

Dude, someone better tell you.. Canal boaters don't look cool! (especially those with grey beards)

 

Trad stern steerers either have that 'alone on the stern' look or the 'overcrowded, get out of the arc of the tiller, someone's going to fall off the stern in a minute' look about them to me.

I dont think you would want to be in anything approaching open water in a narrowboat in a Force 5. It isnt pleasant in a boat designed for lumpy water.

[Captain Fizz]

I am of the trad stern fraternity. Partially closed hatch with my patent brolly holder in use if raining and a cape as Mike suggests when the wind is sub-optimal for the brolly. Cosy!

[trackman]

Each to his or her own, but we'd never swap our trad for a cruiser. Apart from the arguments about weather protection, as live aboards, a cruiser stern would waste so much useful cabin space we enjoy!

Also, our engine etc are well protected from damp, condensation and such, as am I whilst servicing same.

[Top cat]

I prefer the semi trad style ,there is room for compny in good weaher but when it is cold and wet I have a tonneau cover I can partially deploy which keeps me a bit warmer, but it could be impoved.

I also prefer to have the engine in as separate compartment to the living space. All the trad stern boats I looked at while we were buying had awkward acess when going from the cabin to back deck and getting to the engine was difficult (of course other trads could be ok in that respect).

I have sometimes wondered whether a trad with a big hatch and the engine in it's own compartment would be better. I can see issues with a big heavy hatch so would welcome comments from someone who has one.

 

TC

[churchward]

I prefer the semi trad style ,there is room for compny in good weaher but when it is cold and wet I have a tonneau cover I can partially deploy which keeps me a bit warmer, but it could be impoved.

I also prefer to have the engine in as separate compartment to the living space. All the trad stern boats I looked at while we were buying had awkward acess when going from the cabin to back deck and getting to the engine was difficult (of course other trads could be ok in that respect).

I have sometimes wondered whether a trad with a big hatch and the engine in it's own compartment would be better. I can see issues with a big heavy hatch so would welcome comments from someone who has one.

 

TC

I have been on a boat with a wide hatch and it was was easy enough to open. It should be OK if the runner system is up to it.

 

The downside of a wider hatch is that it leaves very little roof at the sides. This takes away one of the pleasures for me which is to sit on the roof with my legs into the hatch and steer from there. Very nice when the weather is better.

[nicknorman]

It think its a matter of degree. Ours is 2" wider than standard and a bit longer. This still makes it fine for perching on the roof at the side. I wouldn't want the hatch too much bigger because it exposes the contents of the engine room to the weather. But having the extra 2" makes a surprisingly noticeable difference when there are 2 people there.

[billS]

But having the extra 2" makes a surprisingly noticeable difference when there are 2 people there.

 

I will just have to take your word for it on that.

 

Back to hatches - we have an extra wide one, but it is aluminium (I think) so weight is not a problem. We can't sit on the roof comfortably though, but a cushion helps.

Edited October 16, 2013 by billS

[Top cat]

I perch on the top of the side on the semi trad and have a triangular seat that plugs onto the side and back. The downside is that it wears the paint, so I rarley bother with it.

 

TC

[Pykebird]

Not sure what size a regular hatch is, mine is almost 3 foot long by 2 foot 8 wide. Plenty of room for 2 to stand, and I can sit on roof either side and steer, using my foot for gears.

[dmr]

Just come down the Thames from Oxford in not very nice weather at all.Culham Reach below Abingdon was even more bleak and windswept than usual, but stood inside the trad with the doors closed I managed to stay relatively dry and happy. A bloke went past on a cruiser stern and it did not look pleasant at all. Only trouble is the rain runs down my waterproof coat and follows the route of the crotch strap on the life jacket which leads to a cold and embarrassing wet patch.

 

..............Dave

[Philip]

Course nothing beats an actual cruiser with a canopy to completely shelter you from the elements in this kind of weather

[Naughty Cal]

Course nothing beats an actual cruiser with a canopy to completely shelter you from the elements in this kind of weather

Of course. And of course the heating will be on and the gin and tonic flowing

[Speedwheel]

A trad stern is obviously better because you can steer and not be wearing any trousers at the time.