rogerthebodger
Well-known member
The canals the OP will be using are a lot tighter then the Forth & Clyde Canal as that was designer for sea going boats.
Taking a sailing yacht through the UK canals
- Thread starter skipperob
- Start date
SaltIre
Well-known member
Yup - and he seems to be deciding it isn't a practical proposition.
skipperob
Member
Thanks again everyone, I've abandoned the idea of taking my boat across England by canal.
Much is made in articles supporting the restoration of the canals to their 'proper use' (my words), usually (it seems to me) in support of claims that these holiday facilities (also used by some people who prefer the wandering lifestyle OR who perhaps can't afford to live in what may be termed 'normal housing') should be given more government support.
But when I tried to use them as a realistic transport system I found only 'officialese' language ("yourself"instead of "you", etc.) ; minimal help with an enquiry which naively I expected to be met with enthusiasm and encouragement, but which seemed to me to amount to 'here are the web pages, sort it out yourself' ;
and evidence of a system which is riddled with inconsistencies, complicated charging
(although I was so put off by the list of different charges that I didn't bother to pursue it ; perhaps friendly and knowledgeable advice from someone at the BWA might have helped),
badly dredged canals littered with junk and with unpredictable depths, low and narrow bridges which render useless a stretch which would otherwise be available, poor winter access, and so much else.
It's probably fine for recreational narrow-boaters, but it doesn't seem to me to be anything like a viable public transport facility.
As I've already said, "Oh well, I tried" !
I'm grateful for all your advice which may have saved me from making a bad mistake.
But now I have dropped the idea, so no more advice is necessary.
Thanks again to all of you ; end of thread !
Much is made in articles supporting the restoration of the canals to their 'proper use' (my words), usually (it seems to me) in support of claims that these holiday facilities (also used by some people who prefer the wandering lifestyle OR who perhaps can't afford to live in what may be termed 'normal housing') should be given more government support.
But when I tried to use them as a realistic transport system I found only 'officialese' language ("yourself"instead of "you", etc.) ; minimal help with an enquiry which naively I expected to be met with enthusiasm and encouragement, but which seemed to me to amount to 'here are the web pages, sort it out yourself' ;
and evidence of a system which is riddled with inconsistencies, complicated charging
(although I was so put off by the list of different charges that I didn't bother to pursue it ; perhaps friendly and knowledgeable advice from someone at the BWA might have helped),
badly dredged canals littered with junk and with unpredictable depths, low and narrow bridges which render useless a stretch which would otherwise be available, poor winter access, and so much else.
It's probably fine for recreational narrow-boaters, but it doesn't seem to me to be anything like a viable public transport facility.
As I've already said, "Oh well, I tried" !
I'm grateful for all your advice which may have saved me from making a bad mistake.
But now I have dropped the idea, so no more advice is necessary.
Thanks again to all of you ; end of thread !
ProDave
Well-known member
Most of the British canals are unique in that they were built to specific, usually narrow dimensions, and the boats used on them, narrowboats, are built to the dimensions that the canals were built to.
Your argument is only that you have a sea going yacht that was built for that function, and unfortunately it is not within the dimensions required by many of the canals.
That does not make the canals useless or wrong. but I agree it does limit their use a bit.
Your argument is only that you have a sea going yacht that was built for that function, and unfortunately it is not within the dimensions required by many of the canals.
That does not make the canals useless or wrong. but I agree it does limit their use a bit.