Guide to Inland Boating

Twenty-fourth Edition GUIDE TO INLAND BOATING www.inland-boatbuilding.co.uk new OFC.indd 1 15/05/2017 10:34 LOOK FOR THE LOGO On a daily basis over 1600 fully accredited British Marine Members deliver quality boating, competitive pricing and peace of mind Buy British Marine. Buy with condence. Look for the logo. britishmarine.co.uk/logo British Marine Inland Boatbuilding is an association of British Marine. IFCMAA15182 BM.indd look 24 for the logo resize CBA 148x210 .indd 1 29/03/201615/05/2017 15:3410:36 Chairman’s introduction Way back in 1989, when this Association was formed, it was decided that it would be useful for a guide to be published giving information and advice about buying a narrowboat. is first guide was three pages long! We’re now in our 24th edition and you’ll see that the guide has grown, to give comprehensive detail on all aspects of inland waterway boating. In the first guide there was mention of the ‘Certificate of Compliance’, a check by surveyors to confirm the boat was built to the required standards, which was just the start of increased regulation and build requirements. is Certificate is now the Boat Safety Scheme’s BSS Certificate and the late 1990s saw the introduction of the Recreational Craft Directive, setting minimum requirements for new craft. is Directive is now in its third form and encompasses changes to existing craft as well as new. ese important requirements assist you, as a boat buyer and owner, in providing confidence that your boat meets minimum safety levels. British Marine Inland Boatbuilding has been involved with forming these requirements, from members’ vast experience with boatbuilding. e Association is made up of those involved with boatbuilding and allied services for the UK inland waterways, with many expanding their net to cover other markets. Members’ activities cover many aspects of boatbuilding, so even after you’ve bought your boat, remember that there are members who can assist you with such as boat painting, chandlery, insurance, surveys and much more! British Marine Inland Boatbuilding is an Association of British Marine and so all members are therefore members of British Marine and adhere to a Code of Practice, giving you some assurance that they are carrying out business in accordance with best practice and legal standards. We’re a cheerful lot and will be happy to talk about boats and boating. So give us, or our members, a call – we’re happy to help. Also, don’t forget, linked to the guide is our useful website at www.inland- boatbuilding.co.uk, where you’ll find details of all current members and what they can do for you. Certainly back in 1989, they would not have been thinking about websites! Paul Smith Chairman, British Marine Inland Boatbuilding 1 001 introduction1.indd 1 15/05/2017 10:37 Contents 1 CHAIRMAN’S INTRODUCTION 3 CHOOSING YOUR BOAT BRITAIN’S WATERWAYS NARROW CANALS THE BROAD WATERWAYS THE SIZE OF YOUR BOAT MAP 1 MAP 2 NARROWBOAT STYLES BOAT DIAGRAMS WIDE BEAM BOATS 11 FITTING OUT YOUR BOAT FITOUT FROM STERN TO STEM ELECTRICS 20 BUYING YOUR BOAT CONTRACTS THE REGULATIONS 27 RUNNING YOUR BOAT THE COST OF BOATING WATERWAY LICENCES MOORINGS LIVING AFLOAT TRAINING DIESEL FUEL 48 BOAT SHOWS 49 CONTACT DETAILS 50 BUY BRITISH MARINE Photo: Georgie Clarke Photography Cover image: Tristar Boats 2 002 contents1.indd 2 15/05/2017 10:38 Choosing yourHistory boat BRITAIN’S WATERWAYS but also minimising the problems of water ere are now some 3,000 miles of supply to the highest levels. For us the connected waterway available to the result is a delightful legacy of ‘contour’ cruising owner. canals, which connect major industrial e waterway system is made up from centres, but wind through the rural a mix of broad canals, narrow canals and countryside between. navigable rivers extending from Guildford As engineers became more skilled, the deep in the south east to Skipton on the canals got straighter and faster. Locks were Yorkshire moors, and westward to Bath grouped into ‘flights’, and tunnels driven and Bristol. Our map clearly shows the through hills. extent of the system and an indication of the maximum craft beam for good measure. NARROW CANALS Locks are, of course, used to raise or Early canal engineers mostly chose to build lower boats between levels – in effect to locks which were 7ft (2.13m) wide and would take boats ‘up and down the hills’. Since accept the typical 72ft (21.9m) working boat water is drained from a higher pound of the day. (the section between locks) and has to be e boats fitted snugly into the locks as replaced every time a lock is used, early you can see and soon became known as canal engineers tried to remain on the narrowboats, which is still the term we use same level for as long as possible. today – even though the boats are now a In many places they were able to work couple of inches narrower. Mostly they were around the contours of the land, not only worked horse-drawn in the early days, and building fewer locks (and saving money) decorated in ways we now find traditional. 3 003-10 choosing your boat1.indd 3 15/05/2017 10:38 Choosing your boat THE BROAD WATERWAYS one if you want to cruise only on the broad Where the landscape was more waterways, particularly the major rivers with accommodating, or the engineers more their deeper water and wider locks, or you ambitious, locks were sometimes built plan to cruise extensively on Continental broader. Fourteen feet was a common waterways. width, so the locks could fit either one ‘wide In the south, the best known waterways for beam’ boat (‘beam’ means width) or two wide-beam boats are the Grand Union Canal narrowboats. travelling north from London, the River ough this was particularly common ames and the Kennet & Avon canal linking for navigations based on natural rivers, or the ames to the Severn. 12ft 6in beam those which joined them, there were ‘canal (3.85m) is the maximum recommended for motorways’ too: most of the Grand Union these more restricted wide beam canals, Canal between London and Birmingham is although wider is possible. Draught on these built to the broad standard, and its engineers southern canals should be no more than 3ft. did not hesitate to work over (or through!) If your boat will have a wheelhouse, make steep hills. sure it can be easily raised and lowered: you will have to travel with it lowered on some of these canals. ere is unfortunately, no wide beam link from south to north. You cannot get a wide beam boat from the Trent to the ames, save by sea or transhipment. But when you’re in the north, or Scotland or Ireland, the canals are usually larger and deeper; those in the North- Grand Union Canal, East are still used commercially. e Leeds & Stoke Bruerne Liverpool Canal is a famous and picturesque THE SIZE OF YOUR BOAT link from east to west. When choosing a boat, you need to consider British Marine Inland Boatbuilding the size of the locks you want to navigate members build narrowboats in both through. traditional and modern styles, and a growing A modern narrowboat will have access number also build wide beam boats. ey to the whole system if it is no longer than provide a finished boat to a high standard, 57ft 6in (17.62m), and not too high (to fit drawing on a lot of experience with owners up under low bridges). Many locks on the canal and down the system. network are capable of taking a boat up to Most boats intended for the waterways 72ft in length, but some locks are shorter, are built in steel, or sometimes in aluminium particularly in Yorkshire. Clever interior or fibreglass. Several British Marine Inland design can make a lovely cruising boat or Boatbuilding members will provide you with home afloat within this compact space. a shell, often with an engine ready fitted – a A wide beam boat can provide a home ‘sailaway’ – so that you can fit out the interior afloat with spacious accommodation, but is to your own design and in your own time, or restricted to the wider waterways. Consider take it to a specialised fitter. 4 003-10 choosing your boat1.indd 4 15/05/2017 10:39 Choosing your boat MAP OF THE WATERWAYS Kendal Lancaster Canal Ripon Ripon Tewitfield Canal Carnforth River Ure Lancaster Galgate Skipton River Leeds & Leeds & York Derwent Liverpool Pocklington Garstang Liverpool River River Canal Canal Ouse Leeds Beverley Hull Bradford Preston Burnley Selby Ribble River Hull Link Halifax Ouse Dewsbury Rochdale Castleford Canal Calder & Goole Hebble Aire & Calder Huddersfield Huddersfield Brigg Narrow Canal Doncaster Sheffield & Manchester River Wigan South Yorks Stalybridge Rotherham Navigation Ancholme Ashton River Sheffield Trent Liverpool Warrington Peak Marple Forest Chesterfield Gainsboro’ Runcorn Canal Canal Bridgewater Fossdyke Canal Whaley Worksop Retford Navigation Ellesmere Northwich Bridge Port Macclesfield Chester Trent & Chesterfield River Witham River Macclesfield Lincoln Witham Navigable Weaver Mersey Canal Canal Drains River Congleton River Dee Leek Trent Alsager Caldon Erewash Newark Canal Llangollen Canal Nottingham Froghall Langley Llangollen Stoke- Boston Canal Derby Mill on-Trent Long Grantham Welsh Frankton Great Eaton River Market Grantham Drayton Haywood Glen Maesbury Stafford Trent & River Canal King’s River Lynn Shropshire Mersey Loughboro’ Soar Arddleen Union Canal Burton Welland Montgomery Canal Canal Measham Wisbech River River Lichfield Coventry Nene Birmingham Great Welshpool Canal Ashby Peterborough Ouse Canal Canal Leicester Berriew Navigations Hinckley Newtown Staffs & Nuneaton Worcs Canal Birmingham Market Oxford Harboro’ River

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