byron
RIP
Someone's having a giggle. In my morning post is the latest issue of Canal Boat. What's next? A free subscription to the Sun?
'aving a larf
- Thread starter byron
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Mirror Painter
Well-Known Member
You know you want it.
byron
RIP
Waste not want not I have taken it to the Doctor's Waiting Room.
apollo
...
I got one too, SWMBO thought i had taken a funny turn
joejo
Well-Known Member
I got one as well. I think via insuring with Navigators & General. I did have a [small] read and the feature on generators caught my eye. They list a range of them with various specifications, the omitted specification was how much noise they make. Perhaps that is not considered a feature to worry about in the world of 'Canal Boat'
Actionmat
Well-Known Member
Canal Boat magazine appeared through my letterbox this morning, you may be right about N&G customers.
Has anyone had the urge to paint their watering cans with castle scenes and flowers yet?
Has anyone had the urge to paint their watering cans with castle scenes and flowers yet?
byron
RIP
Tee HeeCanal Boat magazine appeared through my letterbox this morning, you may be right about N&G customers.
Has anyone had the urge to paint their watering cans with castle scenes and flowers yet?
bumperdump
N/A
Here you go people, something to do on a rainy day.
rotrax
Well-Known Member
You may laugh, but if you wish to explore the miles and miles of canals in this country you would be well advised to do it in a tough steel narrowboat.
Your shiny motorboats may not get very far without serious damage from bridgeholes. locksides and hard concrete and steel pilings.
Also, a narrowboats shallow draught and accessible weedhatch are there for a reason.
First Mate and I started our boating on the Thames in 1970 with a plywood 18 foot cruiser.
We soon got bored with the Thames and decided to explore the local canal system. We found it much more enjoyable than the Thames-more pubs for a start-and changed up to a 40 foot steel narrowboat with a wooden top.
We now sail an Island Packet 350 and live aboard for at least eight months every year. We also keep a steel 32 foot yacht in Wellington Harbour, NZ.
In my view, all boaters-of whatever type-deserve respect for their pastime.
Anyhow-I am sure the remarks at the start of this thread were tongue in cheek.....................................
Your shiny motorboats may not get very far without serious damage from bridgeholes. locksides and hard concrete and steel pilings.
Also, a narrowboats shallow draught and accessible weedhatch are there for a reason.
First Mate and I started our boating on the Thames in 1970 with a plywood 18 foot cruiser.
We soon got bored with the Thames and decided to explore the local canal system. We found it much more enjoyable than the Thames-more pubs for a start-and changed up to a 40 foot steel narrowboat with a wooden top.
We now sail an Island Packet 350 and live aboard for at least eight months every year. We also keep a steel 32 foot yacht in Wellington Harbour, NZ.
In my view, all boaters-of whatever type-deserve respect for their pastime.
Anyhow-I am sure the remarks at the start of this thread were tongue in cheek.....................................
rosssavage
Well-Known Member
Hm, N&G customer and got mine today.
Tbh, I'm quite interested in the canals, but not NB's...
I delivered one once (for a client in my old engineering business) and it was utterly horrid to drive!!! I genuinely thought the prop had come off when I first tried to pull up alongside and it wouldn't slow down despite full astern!!
I'd like to have an explore in a small cabin cruiser though.
Tbh, I'm quite interested in the canals, but not NB's...
I delivered one once (for a client in my old engineering business) and it was utterly horrid to drive!!! I genuinely thought the prop had come off when I first tried to pull up alongside and it wouldn't slow down despite full astern!!
I'd like to have an explore in a small cabin cruiser though.
rotrax
Well-Known Member
We had tremendous fun in the plywood cruiser, especialy after getting a 6HP evinrude twin and selling the 25HP lump that was a bit OTT for the canals.
Once you get used to a narrowboats quirky ways, they are fine. Poor stopping is due to their weight and low power. Once you know what is coming it is no longer a problem.
Bottom line though is its horses for courses. A narrow boat fits the canals. Their shape evolved to pass through the locks, bridgeholes and tunnels without touching-when properly handled of course.
I have seen the S/S cockpit cover hoops ripped off a GRP cruiser in a bridgehole-the poor guy had a lot of slack in his cable steering system and scraped the low arch with his Starboard side.
First Mate and I are owners with the Canalboat Club. It gives us a week a year from one of their-IIRC-eight bases on the system at a time of our choosing in a 65 footer.
Doing the local one in May next year-the K&A- leaving from Aldermarston Wharf. Should be good and new territory for us too.
rosssavage
Well-Known Member
You are absolutely right of course..
Prior to that, I had sailed sailing dinghies (turn and stop on a sixpence) and owned / driven plastic boats with big engines.
We started by pulling away and doing a 180 to go upstream - that took a long time and a lot of engine power, but I was expecting that. I just failed to appreciate the lack of stopping power!
I came alongside at MDL Windsor for a pump out, and there was a flybridge moored just ahead of us. Managed to get alongside without too much bashing, but it just wouldn't stop!
Ended up throwing a line over a bollard and tying off to the stern cleat to get the boat to stop. Unbelievably I managed to hook the bollard first time, don't know what would have happened if I'd missed!!
Prior to that, I had sailed sailing dinghies (turn and stop on a sixpence) and owned / driven plastic boats with big engines.
We started by pulling away and doing a 180 to go upstream - that took a long time and a lot of engine power, but I was expecting that. I just failed to appreciate the lack of stopping power!
I came alongside at MDL Windsor for a pump out, and there was a flybridge moored just ahead of us. Managed to get alongside without too much bashing, but it just wouldn't stop!
Ended up throwing a line over a bollard and tying off to the stern cleat to get the boat to stop. Unbelievably I managed to hook the bollard first time, don't know what would have happened if I'd missed!!