Do Narrowboats have difficult?

byron

byron

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Do Narrowboats have difficulty in finding moorings? The reason I ask is because of the many many enquiries I have had for the mooring I have available, by far and away (something like 85%) are from Narrowboats. This is despite the fact that I clearly state that a NB isn't acceptable on the mooring.
 
byron said:
Do Narrowboats have difficulty in finding moorings? The reason I ask is because of the many many enquiries I have had for the mooring I have available, by far and away (something like 85%) are from Narrowboats. This is despite the fact that I clearly state that a NB isn't acceptable on the mooring.
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Probably cos your offer was a good deal for a 70 footer compared to marina prices.. Your welsh blood must have become diluted ;)
 
byron said:
Do Narrowboats have difficulty in finding moorings? The reason I ask is because of the many many enquiries I have had for the mooring I have available, by far and away (something like 85%) are from Narrowboats. This is despite the fact that I clearly state that a NB isn't acceptable on the mooring.
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Yes they do.

Apart from the good value of your mooring, most marinas are unsuitable for LTTTs as the pontoons and other facilities are designed for craft of around 45ft or less. So even if a space was available it's difficult to moor an NB on a 40ft finger berth.

NB folk are also less demanding than whatever-you-like-to call-them boat owners, partly because most are designed to be self contained for life's comforts, lighting, cooking, heating and such and are well adapted to out of season cruising.

Before the current trends in chrome fittings and bling, they are well used to the scrapes and bangs that happen in their "true" environment and are happy to moor to a natural bank such as yours.

Whatever folks say about NBs use of bankside space, many appreciate the solitude that your mooring offers (save for the trains).

So it's not only a price advantage.

As an aside would a well constructed (Sagar Marine) Dutch barge be acceptable? Too late for this season as everybody's paid up, but PM me if your boundaries of acceptability stretch that far.
 
If all NB'ers were like you mate there wouldn't be a problem or division. Unfortunately as we all know the Pikey element has tarred the brush ;)

As regards a Dutch Barge. Yes! I rather like them as they have character and would accept one. However there's a big "IF" and that is the size. I don't want anyone bigger than 45' as I want ample manoeuvring room for both boats there. The other thing is I don't want a 'liveaboard' there.
 
How much would a 42ft mooring be for a steel barge/launch? Its not a narrow boat, its non residential and its a nice looking boat. probably be looking to visit the boat every couple of weeks.
 
byron said:
If all NB'ers were like you mate there wouldn't be a problem or division. Unfortunately as we all know the Pikey element has tarred the brush ;)

As regards a Dutch Barge. Yes! I rather like them as they have character and would accept one. However there's a big "IF" and that is the size. I don't want anyone bigger than 45' as I want ample manoeuvring room for both boats there. The other thing is I don't want a 'liveaboard' there.
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I think he's about 45ft, occasional weekends, lives in your direction-ish. A very pleasant couple. I'll have a word - but it'll be for next season, and you may well have let it by then.
 
Whatever the size the annual charge is £3,000. As regards the steel boat, I would like to see it first (photo). I'm not bothered about how much or how little people use their boat I just don't want a domestic mooring there.
 
Thanks

I see now that it is advertised along with a google maps satellite view, on apalling duck.

Did they sell that bit of land just upstream?

How is the chap getting on with Elve? I passed recently and she wasn't there...

I had a look at her when she was for sale at Cookham Dean. Lovely old "Bakdekker" (at least I think thats what she was) and a lot of good hull works had been done, but wow what a big project!
Perkins 6534 in there if I remember right.
 
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Outinthedinghy said:
Thanks

I see now that it is advertised along with a google maps satellite view, on apalling duck.

Did they sell that bit of land just upstream?

How is the chap getting on with Elve? I passed recently and she wasn't there...

I had a look at her when she was for sale at Cookham Dean. Lovely old "Bakdekker" (at least I think thats what she was) and a lot of good hull works had been done, but wow what a big project!
Perkins 6534 in there if I remember right.
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The land above, just under 30 acres, may not be for sale now. He was asking about 10 times more than its value. The land itself is a no-go for anything. Not grazing nor arable and it certainly can never be built on. The only income is a few quid from Anglers and maybe a few more for a few hardy cows to graze in summer only. Indeed much of it is swampy even in the driest of weather. If it had been of any value I would have bought it and added it to my holdings.
Elve has been sold and has gone to the Mudway for restoration. It's that berth I now have available.
 
byron said:
If all NB'ers were like you mate there wouldn't be a problem or division. Unfortunately as we all know the Pikey element has tarred the brush ;)

As regards a Dutch Barge. Yes! I rather like them as they have character and would accept one. However there's a big "IF" and that is the size. I don't want anyone bigger than 45' as I want ample manoeuvring room for both boats there. The other thing is I don't want a 'liveaboard' there.
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Hi Byron, on behalf of NB'ers (used to be one myself), may I respectfully suggest you give them a chance?

I know there is the 'Pikey' element, but I think you'll find most are pleasant, early evening years, family types. The likes of Tim West, David Suchet, perhaps that puts you off!

I guess you'd want to meet anyone before letting them on your land, and I'm sure you'd soon sniff out the Pikey's.

Of course you may just not like the look of 60 or 70 foot of water tank, fair enough.
 
Perhaps Byron is trying to avoid old Family members to whom he is indebted? LOL


[Accepts no further mooring is available for No Regrets past Pangbourne...EVER!]
 
byron said:
My objection to having a NB there is mainly aesthetic. That mooring is a pretty one and like them or not one can hardly say they add anything to the scenery.
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utter nonsense. you have odd aesthetics. they are (or can be) beautiful, romantic, a part of england's heritage, and always admired from the tow path by non boaters. unlike plastic canal cruisers.

as for the scarcity of moorings, it is a bit of a problem, and much worse in the south.
 
kesh said:
utter nonsense. you have odd aesthetics. they are (or can be) beautiful, romantic, a part of england's heritage, and always admired from the tow path by non boaters. unlike plastic canal cruisers.

as for the scarcity of moorings, it is a bit of a problem, and much worse in the south.
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I am sorry if it offends you but I find NBs ugly, boring and uninteresting. To me every real boat plastic, wood or steel has a character of its own, largely I suspect because they lend themselves to customisation. I also like the appearance of many of the Dutch Barges too.
I'm sure NBs look well in the environment they are designed for and plastic boats on a canal generally look out of place and forlorn.
 
There are a lot of very bland, very uninteresting canal boats around. There are also some quite super ones. Unfortunately most of them fall into the former category.

I personally also find that most of the splitters on the river are also very bland and uninteresting although, like canal boats, there are also some quite super ones.

I would say that most splitters fall into the former category as well.
 
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