Why do narrowboats pass on the right?

[Neil2]

As a kid I was in Sweden in the Sixties - they were the last country to change and killed twenty people on the first day.

I remember that, 1967 wasn't it? Often wondered how many casualties there were.

 

Actually if the world was to adopt a consistent approach it should be everyone driving on the left. Because of the right eye dominant thing I believe it is safer to drive a vehicle with steering on the right side.

[system 4-50]

Its a daft idea having two directions of traffic using the same street. All roads should be one-way. (There might be some problems with congestion in some small coastal towns as a result owing to the inability to leave.)

[Aunty_Rinum]

As a kid I was in Sweden in the Sixties - they were the last country to change and killed twenty people on the first day.

Ireland is planning to change over in phases. Goods vehicles on the first day, private cars on the second, public transport on the third day, and so on.

They hope it will avoid the problems the Swedes had.

[J R]

 

OMG , What's the French for Help I'm sinking, get me out of here???

 

Ant (oin) & Dec (ceis) ?

[MartinClark]

Its a daft idea having two directions of traffic using the same street. All roads should be one-way. (There might be some problems with congestion in some small coastal towns as a result owing to the inability to leave.)

 

They had this problem at Royston Vasey.

[Smoothhedgehog]

As to the topic why do narrowboats pass on the right?

If you think about it horses travel the toe path as the road on the left, when you meet another boat the rope goes over the top so it does not need untying thus pulling the boat on the right hand side.

[Rob-M]

As to the topic why do narrowboats pass on the right?

If you think about it horses travel the toe path as the road on the left, when you meet another boat the rope goes over the top so it does not need untying thus pulling the boat on the right hand side.

 

The side the horse is on would depend which way the boat is travelling and which side the tow path is on.

[Alan de Enfield]

The side the horse is on would depend which way the boat is travelling and which side the tow path is on.

 

Now you are just getting bogged down in minor details.

[Rob-M]

 

Now you are just getting bogged down in minor details.

Not on those modern tarmac tow paths

[MtB]

Ireland is planning to change over in phases. Goods vehicles on the first day, private cars on the second, public transport on the third day, and so on.

They hope it will avoid the problems the Swedes had.

 

 

Hmmm there's a better rendition of that joke:

 

Ireland are changing the rules and all cars must drive on the right. If it works out ok, all the lorries and buses will too.

 

[colmac]

Beamez Moi Aloft Monsieur Scotttee?

CT

he he ha na ! Very good.

[Aunty_Rinum]

Hmmm there's a better rendition of that joke:

 

Ireland are changing the rules and all cars must drive on the right. If it works out ok, all the lorries and buses will too.

 

I like your version, but 9 months to reply could be a record.

[Ray T]

As to the topic why do narrowboats pass on the right?

If you think about it horses travel the toe path as the road on the left, when you meet another boat the rope goes over the top so it does not need untying thus pulling the boat on the right hand side.

 

 

Perhaps I am wrong but I thought when horse boats passed one of them, can't remember which, dropped its tow rope for the other to sail over.

[Phil Ambrose]

Just throwing this in, ships /boats passed thus before canals were thought of.

Phil

[Rob-M]

The best reason I can find is that boats used to be steered by an oar at the stern that was mounted to the starboard side so boats passed port to port so as to protect the steering oar.

[Liam]

So it's not because of your ability to hide behind the chimney when you're passing somebody that you fell out with in the pub the night before? :-D

[magnetman]

I suspect the original reason may be simply because it better not to pass on the wrong side

[Wanderer Vagabond]

 

Perhaps I am wrong but I thought when horse boats passed one of them, can't remember which, dropped its tow rope for the other to sail over.

Yes, you are right, the horse pulling the boat furthest from the towpath stops closest to the canal and drops the tow rope into the water allowing the boat nearest to the towpath to pass over it.

[Thorfast]

The best reason I can find is that boats used to be steered by an oar at the stern that was mounted to the starboard side so boats passed port to port so as to protect the steering oar.

I think it was more to do with the fact that the boats had to dock on the side without the steer board so the other side was then called The port side. ( Port side also known as larboard side from the old English lade = loading. )

Edited September 20, 2015 by Thorfast

[FadeToScarlet]

Different canal companies had different rules on which side to pass on.

[Rob-M]

Different canal companies had different rules on which side to pass on.

I was told that the Gloucester and Sharpness used to be pass on the left navigation.