March of the Widebeams

[PaulJ]

 I got a lovely run up the Thames and shall come back richer than when I left so I dont expect alot of sympathy 😀

Nice to see you @matty40s

[ditchcrawler]

2 hours ago, PaulJ said:

 I got a lovely run up the Thames and shall come back richer than when I left so I dont expect alot of sympathy 😀

Nice to see you @matty40s

You saw the topic on the closed lock. 

 

[magnetman]

Looks like the collar strap has been done as its no longer listed as closed 

 

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/river-thames-restrictions-and-closures

Whitchurch lock was listed as closed for emergency repairs on that web page earlier today. 

[PaulJ]

13 hours ago, ditchcrawler said:

You saw the topic on the closed lock. 

 

 

12 hours ago, magnetman said:

Looks like the collar strap has been done as its no longer listed as closed 

 

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/river-thames-restrictions-and-closures

Whitchurch lock was listed as closed for emergency repairs on that web page earlier today. 

Thanks Chaps- watching it all closely with fingers crossed-couple on the K&A (Cobblers Lock) which looking OK now too 🙂

Dont like setting off with bits closed but thats how it is- you'd never go anywhere if you waited 😀

[matty40s]

Are you first in the queue at BT or did you nip through at 2am?😜

[PaulJ]

Technically 2nd but the even wider boat was moored at the back when I arrived

[matty40s]

It has been busy, 3 fattys that went North yesterday went back south this morning. Now 2 which have come through the tunnel have come past followed by a queue of (so far,9 narrowboats).

 

moral of story, if you know of the fatty tunnel restriction, take a day off, or set off before they do.

[Stroudwater1]

2 hours ago, matty40s said:

It has been busy, 3 fattys that went North yesterday went back south this morning. Now 2 which have come through the tunnel have come past followed by a queue of (so far,9 narrowboats).

 

moral of story, if you know of the fatty tunnel restriction, take a day off, or set off before they do.

Its a worry overall. Three were booked in at 8am last week at Braunston, but theres no guarantee anyone coming the other way has received the warnings.

 

By early start do you mean 5am or 6? Leaving it for much after 7 maybe too late, as they may set off a wee bit early. Perhaps a fee per transit would help to fund a CRT attendence. Surely someone from CRT needs to be at the other end stopping people entering near the booked time (Assuming that they have booked of course) 

 

Edit- it seems possibly that CRT do thankfully. 

Edited August 16, 2023 by Stroudwater1

[Lady M]

I think CRT use volunteers for tunnel bookings.   Overall it's important to encourage fat boat owners to book their tunnel transit.  This makes it more difficult to charge a booking fee or limit transits to, say, one per day.  It used to be Fridays only, I don't know what happened to that.  Half a dozen on the same day seems a bit excessive.  On the other hand, having nine narrow boats delayed is not great for the majority population.  It seems we narrowboaters have to give way to everyone else these days.

[Ewan123]

9 hours ago, PaulJ said:

Technically 2nd but the even wider boat was moored at the back when I arrived

As widebeams go I quite like the proportions of that Vanitas. The cabin isn't excessively tall or bulging at the front, and bow is in good proportion (not as small as possible to maximise internal cabin space). 

[IanD]

13 minutes ago, Ewan123 said:

As widebeams go I quite like the proportions of that Vanitas. The cabin isn't excessively tall or bulging at the front, and bow is in good proportion (not as small as possible to maximise internal cabin space). 

The proportions are indeed quite nice for a widebeam, the paintwork/style is -- well, let's say "individual" 😉

 

But then the canals would be very boring if all boats looked the same...

Edited August 16, 2023 by IanD

[Ewan123]

3 minutes ago, IanD said:

The proportions are indeed quite nice for a widebeam, the paintwork/style is -- well, let's say "individual" 😉

 

But then the canals would be very boring if all boats looked the same...

Indeed - I like that paintwork/style but some definitely won't. Plenty would consider my boat to be garish and/or upsettingly non-traditional but there we go!

[PaulJ]

55 minutes ago, Ewan123 said:

As widebeams go I quite like the proportions of that Vanitas. The cabin isn't excessively tall or bulging at the front, and bow is in good proportion (not as small as possible to maximise internal cabin space). 

 

41 minutes ago, IanD said:

The proportions are indeed quite nice for a widebeam, the paintwork/style is -- well, let's say "individual" 😉

 

But then the canals would be very boring if all boats looked the same...

 

36 minutes ago, Ewan123 said:

Indeed - I like that paintwork/style but some definitely won't. Plenty would consider my boat to be garish and/or upsettingly non-traditional but there we go!

 

Had alot of compliments about it shouted to me so thats always nice to pass onto the new owners too 🙂

 

[IanD]

7 minutes ago, PaulJ said:

 

Had alot of compliments about it shouted to me so thats always nice to pass onto the new owners too 🙂

 

 

It looks to me like the style and painting have a strong Mughal influence...

 

https://architectureofcities.com/mughal-architecture

[Stroudwater1]

1 hour ago, IanD said:

 

It looks to me like the style and painting have a strong Mughal influence...

 

https://architectureofcities.com/mughal-architecture

Interesting, more thought had gone into this one than you often see. I hope @PaulJ leaves the Gideon bible behind 

 

The interior is fitted out from reclaimed church pews and doors from a Carmelite monastery 

 

https://rugbyboats.co.uk/listings/vanitas-62x10-cruiser-stern-widebeam-2013-nick-thorpe-owner/

[MtB]

3 hours ago, Ewan123 said:

As widebeams go I quite like the proportions of that Vanitas. The cabin isn't excessively tall or bulging at the front, and bow is in good proportion (not as small as possible to maximise internal cabin space). 

 

I agree. 

 

If ever a fatty could be described as easy on the eye, Vanitas is it!

 

Like you, I find the height of so many of them possibly the most ugly aspect. As one walks the towpath one can see over the roof on most NBs, but most fatties are as high as a bungalow. 

 

 

 

 

 

I predict it won't be long before we start seeing two storey fatties on the cut. 

 

 

[peterboat]

7 minutes ago, MtB said:

 

I agree. 

 

If ever a fatty could be described as easy on the eye, Vanitas is it!

 

Like you, I find the height of so many of them possibly the most ugly aspect. As one walks the towpath one can see over the roof on most NBs, but most fatties are as high as a bungalow. 

 

 

 

 

 

I predict it won't be long before we start seeing two storey fatties on the cut. 

 

 

Its similar to mine Mike except Joyce has deeper gunwales, and I have a curved in cabin at the bow, also it's curved up at the stern like a trad! So its nothing like Vanitas 

[MtB]

2 minutes ago, peterboat said:

So its nothing like Vanitas

 

Indeed, and besides yours in made out of solar panels!

 

 

 

 

[peterboat]

9 minutes ago, MtB said:

 

Indeed, and besides yours in made out of solar panels!

 

 

 

 

And a wheelhouse.............with solar panels on the roof 

[matty40s]

Another week, another plethora of widebeams. It seems strange that the end of August has given this flotilla.

We were going to go out chugging for the Bank Holiday but have decided to wait for the fatty season to end first.

2x14 footers, 2 x 10 footers and 1x 12 foot....

 

Then just when you thought it was all over this evening ...

A 12 foot diameter boat....

 

[magnetman]

 

[Hudds Lad]

Saw this one on eBay, wonder if the hull fabricator was off sick the day they did curves at welding university?

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/305081784895

[magnetman]

Oh dear. 

I think this is probably a humour thing. 

 

Or photoshop. 

[peterboat]

1 hour ago, matty40s said:

Another week, another plethora of widebeams. It seems strange that the end of August has given this flotilla.

We were going to go out chugging for the Bank Holiday but have decided to wait for the fatty season to end first.

2x14 footers, 2 x 10 footers and 1x 12 foot....

 

Then just when you thought it was all over this evening ...

A 12 foot diameter boat....

 

Looks like widebeams are becoming the majority on your stretch of water

[ditchcrawler]

36 minutes ago, Hudds Lad said:

Saw this one on eBay, wonder if the hull fabricator was off sick the day they did curves at welding university?

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/305081784895

Do Fabricators go to university