cereal tiller
Well-Known Member
i own a narrow boat which has held a thames licence for 14 of its 15 year existence.
how many thames forum members own similar craft?
how many thames forum members own similar craft?
how many thames forum members own narrow or wide beam canal boats?
- Thread starter cereal tiller
- Start date
apollo
...
TrueBlue
Well-Known Member
There must be some - but who's going to stick their heads up??
Gumpy
Well-Known Member
I have owned narrowboats and now own a barge does that count?
Captain Coochie
Well-Known Member
Cuchilo is a river / canal cruiser but shes not a narrow boat .
No Regrets
Well-Known Member
No, No and No.
Narrow boats are truly horrible contraptions, fit only for burying dead bodies en masse.
Wide beam narrow boats, AKA Barges are a little better, but still utterly pointless.
Compared to a half decent cruiser, less manoeuvrable, slower, less glamourous, less seaworthy and a bit like social leprosy.
Your choice of course...
Narrow boats are truly horrible contraptions, fit only for burying dead bodies en masse.
Wide beam narrow boats, AKA Barges are a little better, but still utterly pointless.
Compared to a half decent cruiser, less manoeuvrable, slower, less glamourous, less seaworthy and a bit like social leprosy.
Your choice of course...
cereal tiller
Well-Known Member
thank you for your objective and kindly wisdom.
am sure that you could furnish unenlightened boaters as to why canal craft account for a higher percentage of thames traffic each year?
i do believe that most of mankind's conflicts are borne out of petty and prejudicial beliefs.
it would be polite to assume that you are not "in denial",so,why such a vitriolic response?
am sure that you could furnish unenlightened boaters as to why canal craft account for a higher percentage of thames traffic each year?
i do believe that most of mankind's conflicts are borne out of petty and prejudicial beliefs.
it would be polite to assume that you are not "in denial",so,why such a vitriolic response?
No Regrets
Well-Known Member
Canal craft account for a higher proportion of Thames traffic because the Thames is a nicer place to be.
It ain't rocket science is it!!
The trouble is, people take craft designed for an environment in which almost unlimited parking exists, and then spoil the Thames by the wretched things.
Narrow boats are a pain in Thames locks, with their pathetic speed and steering, and take up too much space.
You may consider my views to be prejudiced, but after an hour or two on board a friends very new and expensive Narrow boat, I concluded it failed badly on most counts:
1/ Horrible long narrow interior, crummy bed and claustrophobic.
2/ Useless in locks.
3/ Crummy view, unlike a flybridge cruiser.
4/ Boats are supposed to enjoy a little glamour. NB's do not.
I concluded that the horrible thing would be best suited to the canal, and advised my mate to head back to the Grand Union ASAP.
On a side note, your 'Caps' key appears to be broken
It ain't rocket science is it!!
The trouble is, people take craft designed for an environment in which almost unlimited parking exists, and then spoil the Thames by the wretched things.
Narrow boats are a pain in Thames locks, with their pathetic speed and steering, and take up too much space.
You may consider my views to be prejudiced, but after an hour or two on board a friends very new and expensive Narrow boat, I concluded it failed badly on most counts:
1/ Horrible long narrow interior, crummy bed and claustrophobic.
2/ Useless in locks.
3/ Crummy view, unlike a flybridge cruiser.
4/ Boats are supposed to enjoy a little glamour. NB's do not.
I concluded that the horrible thing would be best suited to the canal, and advised my mate to head back to the Grand Union ASAP.
On a side note, your 'Caps' key appears to be broken
dash300
Well-Known Member
Narrowboats are the liveaboard boat of choice these days it would appear.
If you don't pay for your moorings the length is not an issue.
Hired one this year on the LLangoglan(rough spelling) to see what it was all about.
Definately not for me I am afraid not the canals or the narrowboat; but worth doing to see how the other half live. Thirty plus years on the Thames has made me a trifle prejudiced I guess.
If you don't pay for your moorings the length is not an issue.
Hired one this year on the LLangoglan(rough spelling) to see what it was all about.
Definately not for me I am afraid not the canals or the narrowboat; but worth doing to see how the other half live. Thirty plus years on the Thames has made me a trifle prejudiced I guess.
No Regrets
Well-Known Member
If I wanted to cruise a canal, I would opt for a NB.
Like most Narrow Boaters, I choose to cruise the Thames instead
Like most Narrow Boaters, I choose to cruise the Thames instead
DWT
Well-Known Member
NBs on the Thames
I am inclined to agree with most of what No Regrets says. They are not my cup of tea and when I spent some time on a friend's narrow boat on the K&A three or four years ago it was a relief to get back to the river. It was pretty well appointed though and certainly very cosy in the Winter and I understand why people like them. It also gives the owners more options with a huge variety of rivers and canals available to them.
My friend with the NB, a feisty lady who was then in her seventies, I think was involved in some sort of campaign to be allowed to take her NB on the Caledonian Canal where I understand they were not allowed at all. Some stretches can be pretty wild and probably less suitable for a NB than the Thames, but I do not approve of that sort of discrimination.
The original question was how many forum members are NB owners. There are plenty of NBs on the Thames and whatever some of us may think about their suitability they are river users like the rest of us and their views are just as valuable so I hope there are plenty of them and we have not frightened them all away.
I am inclined to agree with most of what No Regrets says. They are not my cup of tea and when I spent some time on a friend's narrow boat on the K&A three or four years ago it was a relief to get back to the river. It was pretty well appointed though and certainly very cosy in the Winter and I understand why people like them. It also gives the owners more options with a huge variety of rivers and canals available to them.
My friend with the NB, a feisty lady who was then in her seventies, I think was involved in some sort of campaign to be allowed to take her NB on the Caledonian Canal where I understand they were not allowed at all. Some stretches can be pretty wild and probably less suitable for a NB than the Thames, but I do not approve of that sort of discrimination.
The original question was how many forum members are NB owners. There are plenty of NBs on the Thames and whatever some of us may think about their suitability they are river users like the rest of us and their views are just as valuable so I hope there are plenty of them and we have not frightened them all away.
ianc1200
Well-Known Member
"I have owned narrowboats and now own a barge does that count?"
No, Julian, because have also had "proper" boats, although I preferred the previous one.
No, Julian, because have also had "proper" boats, although I preferred the previous one.
cereal tiller
Well-Known Member
a man that speaks polite english,thank you .
i have enjoyed regularly cruising the upper thames for more than forty years.
during that time i have owned a timber river boat,a 40 foot twin engined sea going boat,which did get lots of salt water use.
the original question was how many members of this forum owned canal craft,it was not intended to be a cue for vituperative.
another point regarding canalcraft is that all types of them can reach lechlade,some thing that many thames cruisers cannot do.
a week or so ago BOATONE posted on the canalworld forum,he was promoting the TMBA association.
as a result of that posting the TMBA has increased,i am sure that if some of those new members had read some of the comments made in this thread,they might just have thought twice about signing up for a worthwhile association which is for ALL motorboat owners?
pande
Well-Known Member
Captain Coochie
Well-Known Member
This place has never been canal boat friendly for some reason . I guess its to do with them taking up so much space so others cant moor where they want to because they also have a boat that takes up alot of space . I can get in pretty much anywhere in Cuchilo so dont have the same issues as others do .
I also go slower than most as im never in a rush on the river so i have canal boats passing me Im far too busy chilling out to care where i spend the night .
Thinking about it ive only ever had bad attitude from mobo owners on the river but thats not to say narrow boat owners are normal .
I have been on board two narrow boats in my time and one had a KKK cloak in his wardrobe and the other had lord of the rings blaring out on his hi fi and shook his ponytail out in front of me like the timotay girl
Both times i made a very fast exit !
I also go slower than most as im never in a rush on the river so i have canal boats passing me
Im far too busy chilling out to care where i spend the night .Thinking about it ive only ever had bad attitude from mobo owners on the river but thats not to say narrow boat owners are normal .
I have been on board two narrow boats in my time and one had a KKK cloak in his wardrobe and the other had lord of the rings blaring out on his hi fi and shook his ponytail out in front of me like the timotay girl
Both times i made a very fast exit !sturmvogel190a
Well-Known Member
We left the dark side of cruisers to go to a narrow boat as they suit us better for the following reasons .
[1] We can moor up the kennet a short way meaning our mooring costs are close to 75% cheaper than the Thames costs for an hour and a halfs cruising to get out onto the Thames which is a fair exchange in my book
[2] It gives us a 6` x 6` bed superb ....Dogs love it to if swmbo does not see lol
[3] they suit having 2 big dogs better than the Adidas shoe cruiser we had ....not all cruisers though!!!
[4] we often leave our Island mooring to cruise the Thames in company with other narrowboats from the mooring and always raft up at places like Pangborne meadows and Goring wall
[5] Funniest thing is the look on the cruiser guys face after he overtakes us shortly before a lock and then looks back nervously as he realises that we are coming in behind cue panic stations throw fenders aft def con one ,there panic not my helming ability face .
[6]We all choose different boats for differing reasons ,,,surely that is what makes the Thames such a great waterway the variety of craft no??
Don`t hold with the them and us stance...had grief off both cruisers and narrow boats when asking them to move up at places like the wall Goring ,Met nice peeps in both...even No Regrets lol...Back when they had the little small day boat at T&K Steve.
[1] We can moor up the kennet a short way meaning our mooring costs are close to 75% cheaper than the Thames costs for an hour and a halfs cruising to get out onto the Thames which is a fair exchange in my book
[2] It gives us a 6` x 6` bed superb ....Dogs love it to if swmbo does not see lol
[3] they suit having 2 big dogs better than the Adidas shoe cruiser we had ....not all cruisers though!!!
[4] we often leave our Island mooring to cruise the Thames in company with other narrowboats from the mooring and always raft up at places like Pangborne meadows and Goring wall
[5] Funniest thing is the look on the cruiser guys face after he overtakes us shortly before a lock and then looks back nervously as he realises that we are coming in behind cue panic stations throw fenders aft def con one ,there panic not my helming ability face .
[6]We all choose different boats for differing reasons ,,,surely that is what makes the Thames such a great waterway the variety of craft no??
Don`t hold with the them and us stance...had grief off both cruisers and narrow boats when asking them to move up at places like the wall Goring ,Met nice peeps in both...even No Regrets lol...Back when they had the little small day boat at T&K Steve.
No Regrets
Well-Known Member
It's been a while eh Steve! Yours was the Rinker wasn't it (or Regal?)
Hope you're keeping well!
Hope you're keeping well!
sturmvogel190a
Well-Known Member
Yep it was the Rinker...she is still on the river and see her on our jaunts down river sometimes...seeing your old boat once or twice a year makes it a special event somehow..
Think the problems with narrow boats on the Thames is that a lot of them are just using it as a transit lane and have already made up there mind they hate it and the cruisers on it ,there ropes are often to short for the locks and crazy things like letting go ropes when the lock has filled/emptied before starting engine and then drifting across ,wont be told anything coz they have done 3 zillion canal locks this year and therefore have no need of advice etc .
There are many many very acomplished NBrs out there to who do know there stuff though and if used to big rivers like the Thames/Trent then are well versed in locking/navigating these sorts of waterways .
As an asside anyone else up at Goring 2 weeks ago see a certain cruiser used for rehabilitating servicmen come screaming back up the reach piloted by some who had taken aboard to much happy juice bounce every boat on said wall around and then slam into the bridge instead of making the lock?? They all then rushed below deck leaving just one on top steering .....if it wasn`t so dangerous it would have been fyunny face Steve.
Think the problems with narrow boats on the Thames is that a lot of them are just using it as a transit lane and have already made up there mind they hate it and the cruisers on it ,there ropes are often to short for the locks and crazy things like letting go ropes when the lock has filled/emptied before starting engine and then drifting across ,wont be told anything coz they have done 3 zillion canal locks this year and therefore have no need of advice etc .
There are many many very acomplished NBrs out there to who do know there stuff though and if used to big rivers like the Thames/Trent then are well versed in locking/navigating these sorts of waterways .
As an asside anyone else up at Goring 2 weeks ago see a certain cruiser used for rehabilitating servicmen come screaming back up the reach piloted by some who had taken aboard to much happy juice bounce every boat on said wall around and then slam into the bridge instead of making the lock?? They all then rushed below deck leaving just one on top steering .....if it wasn`t so dangerous it would have been fyunny face Steve.
boatone
Well-Known Member
Thanks CT. Although I feel very protective of this forum and am a great believer in free speech, I do sometimes, like an anxious parent, find myself unhappy with the company the kids are keeping
The extreme views sometimes expressed here do us river users no favours. Boats themselves are not delinquents - it's the people driving them that cause problems and narrow minded attitudes are, IMHO, a far greater problem than narrow boats.
The river needs every penny of income it can get and NB's are helping to provide that. If all boat users would exercise more tolerance, learn to live with each other and join forces to ensure the future of the river we will all be better off.
Civil society is just as great an issue on the river as it is in the rest of the country.
rebellion
Active Member
Personally, I have found that canal boaters are much more polite than cruisers, especially when I'm coaching younger rowers, despite being much more difficult to stop if one of the kids do something wrong.
Once I had four crews going round a canal boat, and one decided the best option was to go on the inside of the guy (they were only 2-3 sessions in and new to the river after all). After bracing myself for a tirade of abuse, he just turned to me, shrugged his shoulders and laughed!
Here lies proof that canal boaters are human too, No Regrets.
When I was a Sea Scout we used to rent out a canal boat for a weekend. Not really suited to 6-7 scouts and leaders, but we had fun all the same, and it was more relaxing than a river cruiser.
Sorry for the pretty acidic reception Cereal Tiller, some of the guys on this forum will jump at any chance to hijack a thread and start ranting about the subject. I'm sure many of the canal boaters on this forum have been scared off the thread already!
Once I had four crews going round a canal boat, and one decided the best option was to go on the inside of the guy (they were only 2-3 sessions in and new to the river after all). After bracing myself for a tirade of abuse, he just turned to me, shrugged his shoulders and laughed!
Here lies proof that canal boaters are human too, No Regrets.
When I was a Sea Scout we used to rent out a canal boat for a weekend. Not really suited to 6-7 scouts and leaders, but we had fun all the same, and it was more relaxing than a river cruiser.
Sorry for the pretty acidic reception Cereal Tiller, some of the guys on this forum will jump at any chance to hijack a thread and start ranting about the subject. I'm sure many of the canal boaters on this forum have been scared off the thread already!