Ex-SolentBoy
Well-Known Member
This would make a wonderful barge none were ever built so it would be unique and if I did have the money its what I would go for but scaled down to 65ft to keep it below the TRIWV regs
No link?
Anyone know about narrowboats?
- Thread starter Ex-SolentBoy
- Start date
No link?
DanBurrill
Active Member
If you're who I think you are then she is indeed a very nice boat, and a pleasure to survey.
As several have mentioned before, there aren't really any mass-produced narrowboats, although the closest you get these days are probably the ones built in China (which I haven't seen), or Poland. I recently got to have a good look over a wide-beam and a semi-trad from Amber boats that were built in Poland (only in the water, they were the boats we had to practise on for the Boat Safety Scheme examiners course). The general quality of the fitout was good, and what steelwork was visible seemed to be put together well (we did notice one or two slight areas of concern, but if the biggest criticism I can make of a boat is that half a dozen oversized clips were used on the gas pipe so that it moves slightly under light manual force then overall it's a pretty good boat). I certainly wouldn't have a problem suggesting that somebody in the market for a new narrowboat or widebeam should take a look and see if they fit the bill.
My brother-in-law's uncle has a Norton Canes and they've got a very good reputation if what you want is a narrowboat with classic lines (I won't call them replicas as that would get me shot by the serious canal geeks).
I'd also agree that taking a narrowboat (or even a fat narrowboat) across the channel probably isn't something I'd ever recommend, although for somebody with experience of sailing at sea it's certainly doable in the right weather conditions and with sufficient preparation. They're also not ideal for a lot of the continental canals, which can be built on a much larger scale than the ones we're used to in this country. A barge of some kind or a steel motor cruiser would be a much more suitable option if that kind of trip is envisaged.
Gumpy
Well-Known Member
Yes its me, one day I will tell you about tbings I discovered that we both didnt see, if you still have my number give me a call.
As for a link to the barge, that drawing is the only evidence that I have ever seen, its not mentioned in any books was never built, I saw that in a thread about the wide boat Progress that one of the subscribers on Canalworld is rebuilding. The drawing and hull shape took my fancy but im afraid I just dont have thst sort of cash.
As for a link to the barge, that drawing is the only evidence that I have ever seen, its not mentioned in any books was never built, I saw that in a thread about the wide boat Progress that one of the subscribers on Canalworld is rebuilding. The drawing and hull shape took my fancy but im afraid I just dont have thst sort of cash.
Malabar
Well-Known Member
30 years ago Peter Nicholls had a very good name for good-looking sound boats. Colecraft also built very pretty hulls. So many narrow boats look like a blown up pencil box.
Seajet
...
I had the pleasure of being deckhand on a 38metre barge on the Burgundy canals; re build standard, one thing to beware of is that such boats ( smaller craft may be different ) don't use fenders, they are sized to fit into locks with bare inches to spare both side to side and end to end !
So they use thick steel rubbing strakes at waterline level, in the case of our hotel barge it was a weekend job repainting the scrapes.
It was also a legal requirement to have sensors all along the bilges and an alarm in case of flooding, but that was because the 'peniche' was commercial.
A VHF was also required, though a handheld would have been fine; check the latest regulations though.
As already linked to by NB Williwaw, Terry Darlingtons' " Narrow Dog To Carcassone " and the sequel " Narrow Dog To Indian River " will be worth their weight in gold to you, not intentionally instructional ( but they are ) and very funny !
So they use thick steel rubbing strakes at waterline level, in the case of our hotel barge it was a weekend job repainting the scrapes.
It was also a legal requirement to have sensors all along the bilges and an alarm in case of flooding, but that was because the 'peniche' was commercial.
A VHF was also required, though a handheld would have been fine; check the latest regulations though.
As already linked to by NB Williwaw, Terry Darlingtons' " Narrow Dog To Carcassone " and the sequel " Narrow Dog To Indian River " will be worth their weight in gold to you, not intentionally instructional ( but they are ) and very funny !
bobgoode
Well-Known Member
Roger Fuller hulls are very fair to look at and had a good reputation. I would throw in a second for Norton Cannes Boat Builders. They had a good reputation for steering well astern and the lnes were always smooth.
Bru
Well-Known Member
Yep, definitely +1 on Roger Fuller and both Norton Canes and Colecraft were decent builders of mid-range boats
Nobody has mentioned Stephen Goldsborough yet, another builder at the more expensive end of the price range with a reputation for quality. Locally we used to encounter a lot of Stowe Hill Marine boats (I once encountered one rather too closely for comfort but made a very good friend as a result!)
There's dozens more both past and present. With very few exceptions, it's rare to encounter a truly bad hull (some might swim cleaner than others but in reality it doesn't make a huge difference), mostly it's a matter of aesthetics
Nobody has mentioned Stephen Goldsborough yet, another builder at the more expensive end of the price range with a reputation for quality. Locally we used to encounter a lot of Stowe Hill Marine boats (I once encountered one rather too closely for comfort but made a very good friend as a result!)
There's dozens more both past and present. With very few exceptions, it's rare to encounter a truly bad hull (some might swim cleaner than others but in reality it doesn't make a huge difference), mostly it's a matter of aesthetics
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binch
Well-Known Member
Barges
The barge Association will tell you more than you need to know about narrow boats, wide boats, peniches, spitzes, klippers, tjalks, lemmeraaks, etc etc etc.
The barge Association will tell you more than you need to know about narrow boats, wide boats, peniches, spitzes, klippers, tjalks, lemmeraaks, etc etc etc.
PhillM
Well-Known Member
I can only speak as a past rental customer, but these people seem to build nice boats:
http://foxhangers.co.uk/
They are a small family firm and seemed pretty on top of their game, when I last met them (about 3 years ago).
I think they tend to build for themselves but do accept the occasional commission. Scroll down past the hire pages and there is some info about building.
http://foxhangers.co.uk/
They are a small family firm and seemed pretty on top of their game, when I last met them (about 3 years ago).
I think they tend to build for themselves but do accept the occasional commission. Scroll down past the hire pages and there is some info about building.
NB Willawaw
Well-Known Member
One of the best Narrowboat hull builders I ever came across was Mel Davis who operates from a farm in Nottinghamshire.
The best advice is to go to the Crick boat show in May and have a look at the various boats on show there.
The best advice is to go to the Crick boat show in May and have a look at the various boats on show there.
Ex-SolentBoy
Well-Known Member
Great idea. I shall do that, thanks.
TrueBlue
Well-Known Member
You should be aware that there are two major "components" of any narrowboat.
The hull and
The fitout
These are not necessarily joined up.
The fitout is what most folks see and buy.
The hull tends to be what causes problems later and is more difficult to fix. It determines how the boat "swims" and how well the inside "works".
There are fewer hull builders than folks who fit out the insides (including engines, electrics and the rest).
In days of yore there was synergy between the two, nowadays less so because all the profit - or perhaps what masquerades as value added - is in the fitting out stage, with the result that hulls tend to be of a standard nature, some are good and some not quite so.
If you want the boat to "look right" on the outside and work well, then you need to examine the hull builder as well.
The hull and
The fitout
These are not necessarily joined up.
The fitout is what most folks see and buy.
The hull tends to be what causes problems later and is more difficult to fix. It determines how the boat "swims" and how well the inside "works".
There are fewer hull builders than folks who fit out the insides (including engines, electrics and the rest).
In days of yore there was synergy between the two, nowadays less so because all the profit - or perhaps what masquerades as value added - is in the fitting out stage, with the result that hulls tend to be of a standard nature, some are good and some not quite so.
If you want the boat to "look right" on the outside and work well, then you need to examine the hull builder as well.