For those who bought a widebeam - regrets? or still happy?

[kazbluesky]

I've been looking at a few widebeam boats on apolloduck and I must say some do look lovely inside. I understand about these big ones not being able to go where the narrowboats can, but to those who own them and live on them, what do you think? Does it really hold you back or diminish the enjoyment of living on the water?

[youthoftoday]

It's just completely different. Main thing I've missed is manoeuvrability (although mine's comparatively quite short).

For us, living on a widebeam is so much easier than in a narrowboat that any negatives are very much outweighed.

[dekker]

I've been looking at a few widebeam boats on apolloduck and I must say some do look lovely inside. I understand about these big ones not being able to go where the narrowboats can, but to those who own them and live on them, what do you think? Does it really hold you back or diminish the enjoyment of living on the water?

Wide beams are good for space and living on, but although I am tall I would not want to lose the flexibility of cruising routes and destinations. I like Birmingham, Llangollen the Caldon etc.etc

[Robbo]

I think it depends on what your going to do with the boat and where. I'm in Leeds and the majority of the canals here up north are designed for wide beam boats.

Edited October 19, 2014 by Robbo

[The Bagdad Boatman (waits)]

We where 10 years in a 13ft 6inc by 62ft barge first on the northern waterways from York to Foxton, Shefield and Hull to Liverpool, Manchester and Preston. Lifted out at Liverpool, dropped in at Worcester. Then up to Stratford, down to Avonmouth, over the Kennet and Avon, up the Thames, then down to Bishop Stortford and back up the Grand Union. Yes there are narrow cannals but the wide cannals have them beaten into a cocked hat. You benefit from a much more comfortable lifestyle. We had a narrow fibleglass cruiser first and a narrow boat after but the wide boat was by far the best.

[peterboat]

I agree with the above post I dont think I could do narrow boating now just spoiled for room. However I do look at 72 footers with a trad engine with green eyes they just seem to look so right

 

Peter

[sueb]

We where 10 years in a 13ft 6inc by 62ft barge first on the northern waterways from York to Foxton, Shefield and Hull to Liverpool, Manchester and Preston. Lifted out at Liverpool, dropped in at Worcester. Then up to Stratford, down to Avonmouth, over the Kennet and Avon, up the Thames, then down to Bishop Stortford and back up the Grand Union. Yes there are narrow cannals but the wide cannals have them beaten into a cocked hat. You benefit from a much more comfortable lifestyle. We had a narrow fibleglass cruiser first and a narrow boat after but the wide boat was by far the best.

That's bigger than my bungalow

[DeanS]

Started on a narrowboat, then moved onto a widebeam. Love the extra width space...makes a real difference when living aboard permanently. I envy those with 14ft wide boats:) I also envy narrowboats with old engines/engine rooms.......you cant beat them....;-)

 

If I was a single boater....a narrowboat would do me nicely...40ft. ..but with the family on board...widebeam is the mimimum.

[Bettie Boo]

We've only been on ours (57ft x 10.10) since last February, so just 8 months.

 

I Love it!

 

It's big enough that we can have our own space without tripping over each other. Put it this way; it's large enough that I can re-arrange the loose furniture layout without having to do an interior re-fit. It's actually bigger than an apartment we had in Bath when we were first married.

 

When we were looking, it started out with narrow boats, then we went to see our first widebeam and we were both hooked. Loads of people live quite happily on narrow boats. For us, it wouldn't work, we are on the boat 24/7, and although hubby is my best friend, I would have more than likely killed him by now if we were doing this on a skinny boat.

 

As for feeling restricted about where we can go...well by the time we get back up to the Midlands this winter we will have done over 600 miles since the end of July. And haven't stopped off to explore 1/16 of all the places we've passed by. I don't feel restricted at all

 

Down sides:

 

- you have to open and close all four gates on every lock, and if there is only the two of you it can make for some pretty long days if your trying to get somewhere by a certain time/date

 

- No way could we ever do 4 mph on the K&A or GU without doing a fair bit of damage to the banks, moving around the system in a WB is certainly not for someone in a hurry. Our normal top speed is about 2.5 mph and under 1 when passing moored boats

 

- And of course everything costs more.....insurance, moorings, lift outs, paint, some pump-outs, EA license etc etc

 

- Having to put up with the odd: obnoxious, flat capped, bearded, self righteous, grey haired, obtuse, plumb in mouth, miserable ol' git who will shout at you that you have no right to "have that thing on my bit of the canal" ... I think these ones just need a hug really though

[MtB]

 

- And of course everything costs more.....insurance, moorings, lift outs, paint, some pump-outs, EA license etc etc

 

 

An EA license costs more because they charge by deck area, but if you stuck to CRT waters (and bought EA visitor license for the Thames) you only pay for length.

 

Absolute bargain for a widebeam to pay the same CRT license fee as a narrowboat, length for length!

 

MtB

[DeanS]

1 narrowboat down the Rochdale 11 = 22 lock gates

2 narrowboats down the Rochdale 11 (sharing) = 11 lock gates each.

 

widebeam = 44 lock gates. No sharing allowed

[frangar]

 

- Having to put up with the odd: obnoxious, flat capped, bearded, self righteous, grey haired, obtuse, plumb in mouth, miserable ol' git who will shout at you that you have no right to "have that thing on my bit of the canal" ... I think these ones just need a hug really though

I didn't know we had met?...although I never wear a flat cap...I prefer a wide brim!

 

Cheers

 

Gareth

[Phil Ambrose]

 

An EA license costs more because they charge by deck area, but if you stuck to CRT waters (and bought EA visitor license for the Thames) you only pay for length.

 

Absolute bargain for a widebeam to pay the same CRT license fee as a narrowboat, length for length!

 

MtB

The EA waters I'm on charge only by length but the BA do charge by area.

Phil

I didn't know we had met?...although I never wear a flat cap...I prefer a wide brim!

 

Cheers

 

Gareth

I can't see you getting cake anytime soon.

Phil

[Old Son]

1 narrowboat down the Rochdale 11 = 22 lock gates

2 narrowboats down the Rochdale 11 (sharing) = 11 lock gates each.

 

widebeam = 44 lock gates. No sharing allowed

So you are using twice as much water as two narrow boats too!! Bargain

[DeanS]

So you are using twice as much water as two narrow boats too!! Bargain

 

yes, but on my last trip on the L&L the bottom of my widebeam dredged the entire canal 10ft wide all the way there and back, allowing 2 narrowboats to be able to pass each other, which was impossible beforehand. ;-)

[Old Son]

Then that must be a win for CART and any narrow boats on the L&L!

[Robbo]

So you are using twice as much water as two narrow boats too!! Bargain

 

Incorrect... I would be using the same amount of water as two narrow boats sharing a lock.

Edited October 20, 2014 by Robbo

[Old Son]

 

Incorrect... I would be using the same amount of water as two narrow boats sharing a lock.

 

Or put another way, when two narrow boats share a lock they each use half the water that you do!

[MtB]

Ahem.

 

A lock cycle uses the same amount of water no matter how many boats are in it or what size they are.

 

Let the 1000 post argument about this commence...

 

 

 

MtB

The EA waters I'm on charge only by length but the BA do charge by area.
Phil

 

So, to get this straight, widebeams take up almostg twice as much space on the canal but pay the same license money as a narrowboat, everywhere except on the Thames and the Broads.

 

Yes?

 

 

MtB

[Robbo]

Ahem.

 

A lock cycle uses the same amount of water no matter how many boats are in it or what size they are.

 

Let the 1000 post argument about this commence...

 

 

I could be pickky and say different amount of water, but water drops and raises by the same amount in the up and lower pounds for whatever size they are.

[MtB]

 

I could be pickky and say different amount of water, but water drops and raises by the same amount in the up and lower pounds for whatever size they are.

 

In which case you'd be wrong.

 

The amount of water 'used' in a lock transit depends on the volume added or removed to get that rise or fall, which is the same regardless of any boats in the lock.

 

 

MtB

[Guest]

I'm sure the OP is finding this enthralling but perhaps not really helpful in helping them with their original query.....

[NickF]

view from issMike the Boilerman" post="1421589" timestamp="1413800151"]Ahem.

 

A lock cycle uses the same amount of water no matter how many boats are in it or what size they are.

 

Let the 1000 post argument about this commence...

 

 

 

MtB

 

 

Oh no. Not that argument again. I'm not going to comment, it's all been said before!

[Robbo]

 

In which case you'd be wrong.

 

The amount of water 'used' in a lock transit depends on the volume added or removed to get that rise or fall, which is the same regardless of any boats in the lock.

 

Are you sure? I thought it's due to that boats displace the same amount as water is that the water levels are the same if the lock had no boats or full of boats, but the actual amount of used water was different, but didn't matter as it's the water levels that count.

 

Edit, rethink, ya right. It uses the same amount of water to go from one level to another. Feel a bit of dummy now.

Edited October 20, 2014 by Robbo

[MoominPapa]

- Having to put up with the odd: obnoxious, flat capped, bearded, self righteous, grey haired, obtuse, plumb in mouth, miserable ol' git who will shout at you that you have no right to "have that thing on my bit of the canal" ... I think these ones just need a hug really though

That'll be me this morning, following the Dutch Barge down Wilton. Some hints, guys. If you spend less time worrying about if you're going to make it to Blisworth in time for your tunnel slot, and more time doing stuff, you stand a better chance of getting there. Also, you really don't need a rope when going down in a wide-beam, but if you insist on using one, don't hang your boat up with it, and if you do, that's the time the bank crew really does have to move fast. Anyway thanks for the drained pound above the bottom lock, the wait while the CRT volunteer lockie ran water down for that means we probably won't catch up and get stuck behind you for an hour or so.

 

MP.

 

ETA. At least it was pretty. (Ok, very pretty) and not a fat narrowboat.

Edited October 20, 2014 by MoominPapa