Apex single cylindervengine

[MrM]

I am currently looking at boats to buy, one has an Apex single cylinder engine, has anyone heard of or even better had experience of these ? One boat i'm looking at is 7ft 2 inch, although only slightly wider than a standard 6'10 is that going to be too big for standard locks ? Most sources state locks as 7ft but CRT list them as 7.35 and 7.55 ft on the canals around here. Thanks

Edited August 31, 2014 by MrM

[John V]

I took a slightly spread 7' ( so maybe 7'2") along the Birmingham and Fazely many years ago and in spite of windlasses across her managed to get her stuck firmly in one of the locks (from memory the third lock before the Dog and Doublet) so I would not recommend it if you want to do extensive cruising

[FadeToScarlet]

I am currently looking at boats to buy, one has an Apex single cylinder engine, has anyone heard of or even better had experience of these ? One boat i'm looking at is 7ft 2 inch, although only slightly wider than a standard 6'10 is that going to be too big for standard locks ? Most sources state locks as 7ft but CRT list them as 7.35 and 7.55 ft on the canals around here. Thanks

You won't get up the Llangollen because of Hurleston, and Napton might be too tight also. Bottom lock of the Northampton arm is tight too.

[MtB]

I've never heard of Apex as an engine manufacturer even though I take more than a passing interest in vintage engines.

 

I also bought a boat about 7ft 2in wide and immediately ran into lock problems on the Staffs and Worcs. I spent a TON of money having the pulled in and braced to slightly under 7ft.

 

And finally there is no such thing as a 'standard' lock. Narrow locks vary widely from about 8ft 6in down to many very close to 7ft, and Hurleston which is banana shaped and hard (often imposible) to fit though in a boat more than 6ft 10in.

 

Which boat is this? An historic narrowboat presumably as it is more than 7ft? Or something unconventional?

 

MtB

[David Mack]

A single cylinder V-engine is an 'interesting' concept. V-engines usually have an even number of cylinders!

[RLWP]

A single cylinder V-engine is an 'interesting' concept. V-engines usually have an even number of cylinders!

 

[MrM]

The 7ft 2 inch was this

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/231318952103?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

 

decided against it after a call to they CRT who told me that on my local canals ( i am in Leek) maximum advised is 7ft so for me it is not worth the risk in my opinion as i don't have spare money to play around with, also think the height would cause me issues. I am going to view the earlier mentioned boat at Lyons boatyard this weekend, that is the one with the single cylinder apex diesel inboard. From the pics and info i have received from them it is an ideal first boat as an all steel cruiser style boat which is 6ft 10 wide. If all goes well the fun then begins navigating the canals from Birmingham to the Caldon at Denford.

[MrM]

 

And finally there is no such thing as a 'standard' lock. Narrow locks vary widely from about 8ft 6in down to many very close to 7ft, and Hurleston which is banana shaped and hard (often imposible) to fit though in a boat more than 6ft 10in.

 

 

MtB

Thanks, I am new to the waterways other than a few trips with family and friends many years ago, in recent times I have been restricted to walking many miles of tow paths, locally to here it Bosley locks, Caldon and Leek branches plus Leek and Froghall tunnels so everything looks very narrow, i assumed (incorrectly) all locks were that narrow !

[RLWP]

The 7ft 2 inch was this

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/231318952103?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

 

decided against it after a call to they CRT who told me that on my local canals ( i am in Leek) maximum advised is 7ft so for me it is not worth the risk in my opinion as i don't have spare money to play around with, also think the height would cause me issues.

 

 

 

That is a very charming boat, much more suited to river work. Probably why she's in Tewkesbury

 

You have a good eye for a boat

 

Richard

[MrM]

Thanks Richard the other one is very similar style without the higher part of the cabin, that part is a removable soft top with the rest of the boat steel. Fingers crossed it will be as the info and pictures suggest, more importantly when i step onboard it will feel like 'the one'