March of the Widebeams

[Ianws]

5 minutes ago, matty40s said:

I also came across this 14' monster at the weekend, which has been on this 13 mile pound for about 4 years now. 

He always moors leaving as little walking distance to his car as possible.

There were quite a few narrowboats before this so we were on tickover, strong winds on Sunday andthe offside is shallow and there was a fallen tree to the left. The front end brushed his, he was straight out shouting that "you dont know how to steer, there is at least a 100 foot to the bridge and your an f'in tosser"

I just pointed out the fact that he was IN the navigation channel again, and should moor more considerately. More abuse I couldnt hear as concentrating on getting through bridge hole, but I did wiggle my arse at him which made Kath giggle a bit.

1. You've got a great view when approaching the bridge hole from the first picture, not.

2. That's ugly. Why spend fortune on what looks like a floating skip, at least from the outside.

3. There's a certain arrogance that they are okay to be there yet, while you couldn't pass unimpeded, how would they expect a similar sized boat to them to be able to pass. 

 

 

2 minutes ago, Ianws said:

1. You've got a great view when approaching the bridge hole from the first picture, not.

2. That's ugly. Why spend fortune on what looks like a floating skip, at least from the outside.

3. There's a certain arrogance that they are okay to be there yet, while you couldn't pass unimpeded, how would they expect a similar sized boat to them to be able to pass. 

 

 

I'm not sure if I should have said arrogance or entitlement, perhaps both. 

[Big Bob W]

8 hours ago, matty40s said:

I also came across this 14' monster at the weekend, which has been on this 13 mile pound for about 4 years now. 

He always moors leaving as little walking distance to his car as possible.

There were quite a few narrowboats before this so we were on tickover, strong winds on Sunday andthe offside is shallow and there was a fallen tree to the left. The front end brushed his, he was straight out shouting that "you dont know how to steer, there is at least a 100 foot to the bridge and your an f'in tosser"

I just pointed out the fact that he was IN the navigation channel again, and should moor more considerately. More abuse I couldnt hear as concentrating on getting through bridge hole, but I did wiggle my arse at him which made Kath giggle a bit.

That's the guy that moors with the ratchet-straps isn't it?

I expect (hope) he gets a hammering every weekend from the Gayton hire fleet!

[rusty69]

8 hours ago, matty40s said:

I also came across this 14' monster at the weekend, which has been on this 13 mile pound for about 4 years now. 

He always moors leaving as little walking distance to his car as possible.

There were quite a few narrowboats before this so we were on tickover, strong winds on Sunday andthe offside is shallow and there was a fallen tree to the left. The front end brushed his, he was straight out shouting that "you dont know how to steer, there is at least a 100 foot to the bridge and your an f'in tosser"

I just pointed out the fact that he was IN the navigation channel again, and should moor more considerately. More abuse I couldnt hear as concentrating on getting through bridge hole, but I did wiggle my arse at him which made Kath giggle a bit.

Well to be fair he has got a sign on top of his boat indicating the position for ' Maxview', and you haven't yet reached it. Another 20ft and you will see right through that bridge.

[roland elsdon]

So matty made his  ratty fatty even more tatty.

Excellent.

 

 

 

 

Edited June 2, 2023 by roland elsdon
Stammer

[frangar]

8 hours ago, matty40s said:

I also came across this 14' monster at the weekend, which has been on this 13 mile pound for about 4 years now. 

He always moors leaving as little walking distance to his car as possible.

There were quite a few narrowboats before this so we were on tickover, strong winds on Sunday andthe offside is shallow and there was a fallen tree to the left. The front end brushed his, he was straight out shouting that "you dont know how to steer, there is at least a 100 foot to the bridge and your an f'in tosser"

I just pointed out the fact that he was IN the navigation channel again, and should moor more considerately. More abuse I couldnt hear as concentrating on getting through bridge hole, but I did wiggle my arse at him which made Kath giggle a bit.

He really needs to meet a similar sized craft as his own….love to see how they would both react. 

[Ray T]

This is good, innit!  "Oxford Canal (north) - narrow canal."

 

"Widebeam access to........."

 

So much for having to book a passage.

Sign at Braunston.

Edited June 24, 2023 by Ray T

[john6767]

1 hour ago, Ray T said:

This is good, innit!  "Oxford Canal (north) - narrow canal."

 

"Widebeam access to........."

 

So much for having to book a passage.

Sign at Braunston.

There are two of those signs, one each direction approaching Braunston Turn on the GU, they have been there a couple of years.  They are supposed to book the passage, I get regular notifications from the stoppage system about widebeam movements, so some at least do book.  Does not make it right though.   
 

The Notifications for widebeam transits of Braunston and Blisworth tunnels is getting very frequent as well.

[Guest]

13 hours ago, Ray T said:

This is good, innit!  "Oxford Canal (north) - narrow canal."

 

"Widebeam access to........."

 

So much for having to book a passage.

Sign at Braunston.

Can't see the problem it's a sign for access and says no mooring for widebeams 

[cuthound]

It would be much more effective it it was placed in the canal just north of Braunston turn, along with another one 7 foot 6 inches further across the canal... 😅

[zenataomm]

3 hours ago, peterboat said:

Can't see the problem it's a sign for access and says no mooring for widebeams 

The problem is that it was originally decreed that Fatties needed to book passage in advance and adhere to their proposed timings.

This was because being a narrow beam waterway with narrow bridge holes etc. and an under water profile not designed for easy passage without bottlenecks.  Heated tempers and bloody mindedness is on the cards without planning.  Especially in the narrows between Midland Chandlers and north of the road bridge.  

[Lady M]

Not originally, it was only decreed that fatties should book passage in advance and not moor on the N Oxford after some incidents and much complaining by the narrow boating community.  I find it rather annoying that the standard email about these bookings asks narrowboaters to take care.  Last time we went that way it was apparent that more cutting back of offside vegetation would make it easier to pass a wide beam boat.  The warning signs unfortunately do not mention the need to make a booking.  

[Guest]

13 minutes ago, zenataomm said:

The problem is that it was originally decreed that Fatties needed to book passage in advance and adhere to their proposed timings.

This was because being a narrow beam waterway with narrow bridge holes etc. and an under water profile not designed for easy passage without bottlenecks.  Heated tempers and bloody mindedness is on the cards without planning.  Especially in the narrows between Midland Chandlers and north of the road bridge.  

 

2 minutes ago, Lady C said:

Not originally, it was only decreed that fatties should book passage in advance and not moor on the N Oxford after some incidents and much complaining by the narrow boating community.  I find it rather annoying that the standard email about these bookings asks narrowboaters to take care.  Last time we went that way it was apparent that more cutting back of offside vegetation would make it easier to pass a wide beam boat.  The warning signs unfortunately do not mention the need to make a booking.  

CRT need to sort ot out!

[Lady M]

CRT shot themselves in the foot by permitting new marinas on the N Oxford, between Braunston and the narrow locks at Hilllmorton, to have wide beam access and berths.

[Hudds Lad]

All they had to do was add "with prior booking" to the first sentence 🤷‍♂️ you had one job, etc.

[MtB]

1 hour ago, Hudds Lad said:

All they had to do was add "with prior booking" to the first sentence 🤷‍♂️ you had one job, etc.

 

 

Good point. 

 

Hang on though. Don't CRT have one or two other things to do, besides designing that sign?

[Alan de Enfield]

5 minutes ago, MtB said:

 

 

Good point. 

 

Hang on though. Don't CRT have one or two other things to do, besides designing that sign?

 

Sourcing new clothing and vehicles, designing new logo's, painting duck-lanes, collecting money, topping up the pension fund, issuing misleading 'Boaters Updates', arranging to have towpaths tarmacadamed (as opposed to macadamed)

[Grassman]

Why don’t CRT just make one of the bridge-holes narrower by means of a removable and lockable steel frame. Then when a fat boat wants to travel on that section they have to pre-book a CRT person to unlock and remove the frame. A charge of about £100 a time should cover it 🙂.

[Victor Vectis]

Better still put it in at Berko.

[Graham and Jo]

I see  bridge 24 at Long Itchington has narrowed 6 inches. A small step in the right direction.

 

C&RT notice

 

Cheers Graham 

[Victor Vectis]

YES!

 

I was just about to post a link to the this notice myself.

[Hudds Lad]

"Unfortunately movement of the towpath side waterway wall underneath this bridge has caused the canal width to reduce by 120mm, and so, for the foreseeable future,  we’re having to for the foreseeable future reduce maximum beam for navigation from the published 12’6” to 12’."

 

That's a lot of foreseeable future  

[magnetman]

Foresights are a wonderful thing. 

[Hudds Lad]

Just now, magnetman said:

Foresights are a wonderful thing. 

Especially Bruce  

[Cheshire cat]

I guess it won't stop some people from trying to get through and ending up wedged.

 

Does this mean that there are plenty of fat boats on the wrong side of the restriction?

[Ewan123]

7 hours ago, Grassman said:

Why don’t CRT just make one of the bridge-holes narrower by means of a removable and lockable steel frame. Then when a fat boat wants to travel on that section they have to pre-book a CRT person to unlock and remove the frame. A charge of about £100 a time should cover it 🙂.

Seems nice, but it would surely get damaged/vandalised often enough that the expense of maintaining it (in addition to the original install) could become prohibitive.