Canal in sportscruiser

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tinstaafl

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Navigating the Forth & Clyde Canal and possibly Union Canal in a 25ft sportscrusier... Good idea or not?

People seem to do this sort of thing in Canada (trent-severn waterway, etc) all the time.

Obiously it would depend if I could get the boat to run slowly enough but I suppose I could change the prop to drop the tickover speed if necessary.

Simon
 
i'm not too familiar with those canals but i had a small 'norman' running a large HP outboard on a couple of canals for a while.
You need to check the minimum width of the canal (namely the locks) and the width of your boat. The narrowest locks in the UK will be too narrow for your boat.

Regarding the engine.. my current 23ft with 200hp sterndrive was ok on the broads but a very small nudge on the throttle was showing over 4kts.

Dropping the size of the prop a few sizes would surely help that no end.

Other than that i think it should be fine..

oh and check the air-draught of the bridges on the canals with that of your sports cruiser..

regards,

Nick
 
Thx Nick

I think the canal was originally built to accomodate small steamers, hence the idea in the first place, as I assumed width and bridge height would not be an issue. I'm bored at work so I'm checking the waterscape website now.

Simon
 
i agree on that one.. you do have to be careful with where you moor. Some parts of canals are fantastic quiet places. Others attract the Vicki Pollard gang...
 
met a couple last year who done the forth & clyde in a searay 280 - radar arch just made it through one bridge in particular.

the best bit about the tale was when thay got to maryhill locks the lock-keepers told them not to stop & ushered them :through pronto /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
i say a check your air draught as the forth and clyde
has a drop lock,and several low road bridges.
(steamers long gone) also mystique spot on
not all canalside animals have 4 legs ,
as for speed signs say 4knots,if your boat
is ok at that speed now then unless you are
intending to do a lot of canal cruising changing the
set up for a trip that non stop takes 2 days or less
seems hardly worth while.

that said the falkirk wheel is well
worth seeing.good picts to be had.
 
can you control the boat at low speeds. Biggest problem is entering the locks where you run the risk of clobbering the knuckles which have no problem doing damage to shiny gelcoat.

Can you fit an outboard or would it be out of reach?????
 
I think the canal was originally built to accomodate small steamers, hence the idea in the first place, as I assumed width and bridge height would not be an issue. I'm bored at work so I'm checking the waterscape website now.
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Wrong.....

The original canal was bridgeless.....well swing bridges...

There are now numerous bridges and I believe the max air draft is 9 ft


John
 
Thanks for all the advice. Point taken about newer, lower bridges having been built - don't know why that hadn't occurred to me /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

If we did the trip it wouldn't be in our current boat. We're planning switching in the spring - waiting for more red diesel news, etc - and since we were planning on a Doral Monticello we would be able to drop the arch if necessary.

Why would fitting an outboard help, just out of curiosity? Do you get better lower speed steerage?

Simon
 
Why would fitting an outboard help, just out of curiosity? Do you get better lower speed steerage?
======================================

I have seen a few boats go this route. You get better speed control and steerage providing you pick the right motor.

This only has to give 4 knots max so could double as backup however it has to be user friendly and controlable from a position other than hanging upsidedown over the stern

/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Possibly extended tiller with throttle etc or remote.

If negotiating the canals in windy conditions it can be difficult enough without having to continually put the engine to neutral due to dead slow ahead being 6 knots /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif Using the lower powered outboard say 10 hp would mean continuous thrust and so better speed control and manoevering.

If you go to this page you will find many pictures of the Scottish canals including low bridges and the drop lock.
 
Change the prop to a MUCH lower pitch - that way you don't need to run engine at absolute tickover all the time, AND it will give more THRUST at lower SPEED (Don't confuse the two).

Also consider fitting a rudder to the outdrive. The ease of this will depend on whether the drive has just a flat piece of metal as a cavitation plate or whether it houses the exhaust as well.

We used to cruise the canals with a boat with an outboard too powerful - and steering at 4mph is almost impossible. Dad fitted two plates of aluminium to the cavitation plate to act as rudders - steering improved massively - just don't forget to remove before travelling any faster or goodness knows what would happen - very unpleasant handling!

Can't see what on earth an outboard would do for you.
 
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