Graham Davis Posted July 8, 2019 Report Share Posted July 8, 2019 22 minutes ago, hider said: Get the daft beggar through the bridge then rebuild it for narrow boats so he can't get back in to the proper canal made for proper size boats. Preferably let these barge skips sail all the way to the coasts, out to sea and then not let them back in. B***** off to the Continent with the stupid boats. They are perfectly suited to the relevant BRITISH canals. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
haggis Posted July 8, 2019 Report Share Posted July 8, 2019 I think this might be a long running thread with all the obstacles this boat has to encounter before it gets to London. Blue Lias bridge, Braunston tunnel to name but two. haggis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hider Posted July 8, 2019 Report Share Posted July 8, 2019 1 hour ago, Graham Davis said: They are perfectly suited to the relevant BRITISH canals. Would you care to list all the relevant British canals where you could moor one and get 2 others to pass one another in the same place? It will be an amazingly short list. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan de Enfield Posted July 8, 2019 Report Share Posted July 8, 2019 13 minutes ago, hider said: British canals where you could moor one and get 2 others to pass one another in the same place? Is that BW / C&RTs definition of a 'wide canal' suitable for 12' 6" beam boats - or - have you just made it up ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matty40s Posted July 8, 2019 Report Share Posted July 8, 2019 1 hour ago, Alan de Enfield said: Is that not the problem (and the reason C&RT are spending money to widen the bridge) ? He did buy a boat which according to C&RTs published information WAS SUITABLE for the canal. Forum member may believe it to be unsuitable but the 'track-owner' says otherwise. Absolute maximum navigation width does NOT mean the boat is SUITABLE for the upper GU, just that it should fit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tuscan Posted July 8, 2019 Report Share Posted July 8, 2019 2 hours ago, Up-Side-Down said: Have spoken to the owner of the fat boat and its beam = 12' 6". He is very upset about all the speculation that has taken place on the forums. But then I haven't noticed him contributing to this forum and nipping things in the bud by posting this somewhat critical dimension. Apparently work on the bridge masonry commences today – indeed it may well have started by now! But isn’t the next bridge at Blue Lias advertised as being only 12’ wide ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frangar Posted July 8, 2019 Report Share Posted July 8, 2019 2 hours ago, matty40s said: If he had bought a boat suitable for the canal, there would have been no speculation. Indeed. Just because it (possibly) fits a lock or bridgehole doesn’t make it suitable...I can think of any number of places that 2 narrowboats are a squeeze to pass...so what happens when he meets another entitled owner of an equally unsuitable boat? He also could have moored up in a slightly more suitable spot while waiting as well. I’ve little sympathy I’m afraid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan de Enfield Posted July 8, 2019 Report Share Posted July 8, 2019 (edited) 23 minutes ago, frangar said: Indeed. Just because it (possibly) fits a lock or bridgehole doesn’t make it suitable... I agree - BUT when C&RT state the "maximum craft dimensions" on their website a boater would expect if his boat meets those dimensions he should be able to 'boat'. Maybe it is C&RT that need educating what the true 'usable' dimensions are, and, where they fall below those stated they are legally required to bring them back to those 'usable' dimensions. Edited July 8, 2019 by Alan de Enfield Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan de Enfield Posted July 8, 2019 Report Share Posted July 8, 2019 41 minutes ago, matty40s said: Absolute maximum navigation width does NOT mean the boat is SUITABLE for the upper GU, just that it should fit. If you go over a bridge marked with a 10 tonne weight limit, and as you go over it, it collapses, despite you GVW only being 9 tonnes, is the truck driver to blame ? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matty40s Posted July 8, 2019 Report Share Posted July 8, 2019 27 minutes ago, Alan de Enfield said: If you go over a bridge marked with a 10 tonne weight limit, and as you go over it, it collapses, despite you GVW only being 9 tonnes, is the truck driver to blame ? The bridge is probably looked after properly. The Grand Union offside is currently starting to look like an extension of the National Forest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naughty Cal Posted July 8, 2019 Report Share Posted July 8, 2019 1 hour ago, hider said: Would you care to list all the relevant British canals where you could moor one and get 2 others to pass one another in the same place? It will be an amazingly short list. A few for starters. Aire and Calder Sheffield and South Yorkshire navigation Fossdyke Nottingham canal 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roland elsdon Posted July 8, 2019 Report Share Posted July 8, 2019 Hang on wasnt it reported at 4 m wide earlier. Did it shrink in the water? If its only 12’6 that’ll be fine, for another few yards Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Davis Posted July 8, 2019 Report Share Posted July 8, 2019 36 minutes ago, Naughty Cal said: A few for starters. Aire and Calder Sheffield and South Yorkshire navigation Fossdyke Nottingham canal I wouldn't bother Racheal, he's only stirring. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tumshie Posted July 8, 2019 Report Share Posted July 8, 2019 46 minutes ago, roland elsdon said: Did it shrink in the water? In my best Dan Shambles: Like a cheap wool cardie in a heavy rain shower. ?♂️ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NB Esk Posted July 8, 2019 Report Share Posted July 8, 2019 10 minutes ago, Tumshie said: In my best Dan Shambles: Like a cheap wool cardie in a heavy rain shower. ?♂️ Tut tut tut tut......(shaking head) used to be such a nice, middle aged person....... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tumshie Posted July 8, 2019 Report Share Posted July 8, 2019 7 minutes ago, NB Esk said: Tut tut tut tut......(shaking head) used to be such a nice, middle aged person....... You never read Dan Shambles? it's good. https://www.goodreads.com/series/79816-dan-shamble-zombie-pi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frangar Posted July 8, 2019 Report Share Posted July 8, 2019 1 hour ago, roland elsdon said: Hang on wasnt it reported at 4 m wide earlier. Did it shrink in the water? If its only 12’6 that’ll be fine, for another few yards Of course the boat may have been ordered with a 12’ 6” beam but that doesn’t mean it was built to 12’ 6”.....it might not also be straight!! Has anyone (Eg CRT) actually measured it?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tumshie Posted July 8, 2019 Report Share Posted July 8, 2019 9 minutes ago, frangar said: Of course the boat may have been ordered with a 12’ 6” beam but that doesn’t mean it was built to 12’ 6”.....it might not also be straight!! Has anyone (Eg CRT) actually measured it?? Or he might just be saying that it's 12' 6" because he's "Very upset about all the speculation that's taken place on the forum" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchcrawler Posted July 8, 2019 Report Share Posted July 8, 2019 I think CRT may have funny tape measures as they say our boat is 56 foot 12 inches Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidg Posted July 8, 2019 Report Share Posted July 8, 2019 6 hours ago, Up-Side-Down said: Have spoken to the owner of the fat boat and its beam = 12' 6". <cough>Mandy Rice-Davies<cough> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naughty Cal Posted July 8, 2019 Report Share Posted July 8, 2019 39 minutes ago, frangar said: Of course the boat may have been ordered with a 12’ 6” beam but that doesn’t mean it was built to 12’ 6”.....it might not also be straight!! Has anyone (Eg CRT) actually measured it?? Given that another fat boat that could get through the bridge but now cant, doesn't that suggest there is a problem with the bridge not the boat? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frangar Posted July 8, 2019 Report Share Posted July 8, 2019 14 minutes ago, Naughty Cal said: Given that another fat boat that could get through the bridge but now cant, doesn't that suggest there is a problem with the bridge not the boat? That depends by how much it doesn’t fit!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheBiscuits Posted July 8, 2019 Report Share Posted July 8, 2019 58 minutes ago, Naughty Cal said: Given that another fat boat that could get through the bridge but now cant, doesn't that suggest there is a problem with the bridge not the boat? It does to me, but I don't care about fatties wanting to navigate that area. Odd that those who do mind private boats seem to think the hotel boat is OK. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Pegg Posted July 8, 2019 Report Share Posted July 8, 2019 (edited) As far I can tell from this thread the most likely facts are;- 1. The boat is intended to be used on the Thames - for which it is eminently suitable 2. Having been built on an inland waterway it is deliberately sized so as to be able to make passage to the Thames by water 3. The WFBC bridge has moved and is now less than the minimum dimensions thereby precluding the above 4. CRT are doing something about as they are legally bound to do 5. Hurleston locks - or even the Blue Lias bridge - are nothing to do with anything related to this boat or bridge If those are the circumstances I can understand why the owner might be more than a little narked by some of the comments on this thread. JP Edited July 8, 2019 by Captain Pegg 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsmelly Posted July 8, 2019 Report Share Posted July 8, 2019 7 hours ago, hider said: Get the daft beggar through the bridge then rebuild it for narrow boats so he can't get back in to the proper canal made for proper size boats. Preferably let these barge skips sail all the way to the coasts, out to sea and then not let them back in. Bugger off to the Continent with the stupid boats. In fairness its narrowboats that are a stupid size. The vast majority of the boats in the world are not a silly seven foot beam. Wide beam boats are superior to narrowboats and far more sensible. However the bone of contention is the stupid place some people put them, the North Oxford is totaly unsuitable for instance. We have a very long stretch of linked waterways to include the Trent, Ouse, Aire and Calder, sheffield and south yorkshire and others that are eminently suitable for sensible dimension boats. The Thames in the South likewise. The problem arises when wider than seven feet beam are put in stupid locations. If we want to cruise inland UK extensively then we are stuck with poxy narrowbeam and have to put up with them worse luck. In reality if all locks were minimum 14 feet not many people would be daft enough to stipulate a 6ft 10 inch beam boat today as they make no sense whatsoever in 2019. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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