Text and photographs copyright of Jim Shead.
 |
Modern Narrowboats, Cruisers and other craft intended for recreational use. For rowing and sculling boats see separate entry.
One of the more popular types of pleasure boat in the traditional river or coastal cruiser style steered from a centre cockpit, normally by a wheel, with in-board or out-board motor. Originally built with wooded hulls now more commonly Glass Re-enforced Plastic. Dimensions vary according to type and cost, but the average broad-beam cruiser is about 30 Feet by 9 or 10 feet 8 with a draught of around two feet.
| A wide beam pleasure boat in the traditional river or coastal cruiser style steered from the rear cockpit, normally by a wheel, with in-board or out-board motor. Originally built with wooded hulls now more commonly Glass Re-enforced Plastic. |  |
| River Thames: Between Sonning Bridge and Marsh Lock Cruiser - September 1996 |
Originating on rivers, lakes and the Norfolk Broads, many privately owned cabin cruisers have been used on the inland waterways since the early 1920s. After the Second World War more were used on the canals, the decline of commercial use being paralleled by an increased interest in the waterways then threatened with closure. Many post war cruisers had hulls of reinforced plastic or fibreglass, in place of earlier wooden hulls, and both wide and narrow beam craft were constucted. Both are full fitted with bunks, cabin furniture, modern cookers, cupboard space, sanitation and television sets.
| Originally the canoe may have been a hollowed-out log pointed at both ends, it was later constructed on a light framework covered by wood bark or animal skins.Today the canoe is any type of double-ended craft, often fairly high at stem and stern, designed to be propelled by paddles. It is a portable craft mainly confined to inland waters, and is of shallow draught. Some types have been provided with masts for racing, there being a special canoe rig with battened sails, as used on the junks and river sampans of the Far East. On still waters and within a confined space they are ideal for even the unskilled novice. Specially constructed canoes, covered in fore and aft, are used for negotiating rapids and racing, which make exciting sporting events. Some have even been used at sea, as are the native canoes of Greenland and the far north. |  |
| Shropshire Union - Llangollen Canal: Between Siambr Bridge No 45 and Llantisilio, Horseshoe Falls Canoes on Canal feeder - June 1997 |
In the 1950s and 60s many former commercial narrowboats and barges were converted for use for private cruising or as hotel boats. They were ideal for large parties but tended to be too big for individuals or the average family group. Many ex working narrowboats were cut in half to make two smaller craft. In recent years the supply of ex working boats has almost vanished and our holiday narrowboats are being constructed by numerous steel narrowboat builders throughout the country.
Originally these were Dutch working barges as the name implies but today many are used, and often built, solely for pleasure use. These steel boats can be seen on most of our rivers and on wide canals. Several trade as hotel boats on the Thames and other waterways.
| A wide boat providing hotel accomodation for guests. Various sizes and styles can be found. On some wide beam canals boats in the style of the modern narrowboat but twice the width can be found, on other waterways Dutch Barges are used as hotel boats and on the River Severn the 'Oliver Cromwell' takes the form of a Mississippi steamer. |  |
| Kennet and Avon Canal: Between Devizes Top Lock No 50 and Devizes Bottom Lock No 22 Harlequin - June 1999 |
| A narrowboat, or more often a pair of narrowboats, providing hotel accomodation for guests. These operate all over the waterways system, not only on the narrow canals, as shorter pairs, like Ashby and Calden or Bittel and Earlswood, can penetrate every part of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal and even into the Rochdale Canal. Hotel narrow boats are also frequently seen on the Thames from the tidal stretches at Limehouse to the upper limit of navigation. It may be summised that accommodation on narrowboats is more confined than on a wide Hotelboat but they continue to be very popular. If you want to know why just look at a traditionally painted pair with shinning brasswork and pots of flowers, there are no more attractive craft on our waterways. |  |
| Avon: Bath Hotel boats at Pultney weir - August 1997 |
A narrow beam pleasure boat in the style of a river or coastal cruiser steered from a centre cockpit, normally by a wheel, with in-board or out-board motor. Originally built with wooded hulls now more commonly Glass Re-enforced Plastic. Narrow cruisers have to conform to narrowboat dimensions to pass the locks and bridgeholes of the narrow canals. Narrow-beam cruisers frequently have outboard motors.
A narrow beam pleasure boat in the style of a river or coastal cruiser steered from the rear cockpit, normally by a wheel, with in-board or out-board motor. Originally built with wooded hulls now more commonly Glass Re-enforced Plastic. Narrow cruisers have to conform to narrowboat dimensions to pass the locks and bridgeholes of the narrow canals. Narrow-beam cruisers frequently have outboard motors.
A version of a Dutch Barge built with a narrow, 7 foot, beam for pleasure cruising on the English Canals. Like other narrowboats they are steel built, often by the same boat builders who make traditional style narrowboats.
| A narrow beam pleasure boat with a aft deck of sufficient size to accomodate several people, as opposed to the "Traditional" style that has only room for a steerer on the aft deck. This was probably the earliest style to be built when canal boat building for the pleasure cruising market started to take off in the 1960s and 70s. It has proved very popular with both owners and hirer although its once dominant position has declined in recent years. Many of the older boats are still in use proving the durability of the steel narrowboat. The older boats were normally built with 6mm thick bottoms, 4mm hull sides and 3mm superstructures - or 6/4/3 as it is often quoted - the equivalent normal thicknesses for narrowboats built today is 10/6/5. |  |
| Avon: Bath Bath Locks - July 1997 |
| A narrow beam pleasure boat built to mimic the traditional style of the Working Narrow Boat but with a "false" rear cabin that allows more standing space at the aft of the boat. This is a cross between the "Traditional" and the "Cruiser Style" Narrowboats. Like other modern sleel narrowboats they are normally built with 10mm thick bottoms, 6mm hull sides and 5mm superstructures - or 10/6/5 as it is often quoted - the equivalent normal thicknesses for narrowboats built 20 years ago was 6/4/3. Many of these older boats are still in use proving the durability of the steel narrowboat. |  |
| River Nene: Doddington Lock No 11 Lorna-Ann moored well out from the Nene bankside - September 1994 |
A narrow beamed pleasure cruiser with a cabin close to the stern of the boat, in imitation of the Working Narrow Boats used for commercial carrying. Like other modern sleel narrowboats they are normally built with 10mm thick bottoms, 6mm hull sides and 5mm superstructures - or 10/6/5 as it is often quoted - the equivalent normal thicknesses for narrowboats built 20 years ago was 6/4/3. Many of these older boats are still in use proving the durability of the steel narrowboat.
| The modern pleasure punt is a flat bottomed boat usually, but not always, propelled by a pole or quant. It is normally 26 to 28 feet long, 33 inches in the beam and 12 to 14 inches deep. This craft is especailly associated with the university cities of Oxford and Cambridge, where they can be seen in large numbers, but is also popular on many other waterways. |  |
| River Thames: Henley Bridge Punt - September 1996 |
In the second half the nineteenth century the increased earnings of much of society and the access to railway travel were two of the many factors which lead to a demand boating excursions, especially rivers. Individuals and families took to the water and there were also organised church, school trips and works outings. Pleasure steamers, partly covered over but with plenty of viewing space and seats facing both inwards and outwards, often at two or more levels, were built to meet this demand. Such craft were either of clinker or carvel build and constructed to the dimensions of locks on the waterways over which they usually travelled. They were well raked fore and aft, often with a transom or counter stern, on the lines of a pleasure yacht. There were regular summer services on most navigable rivers, especially the Thames, Severn, Dee, Dart and Warwickshire Avon. On the Thames Salter Brothers of Oxford started their first Oxford to Kingston service in the 1880s. After the Second World War services on all waterways began to decline and the remaining steamers were replaced by boats with diesel engines.
A flat bottomed boat propelled by a pole or quant, with greater overhang of the swim-ends than the original punt that was used for fishing inland waters. It was about 30 feet long, 18 inches in the beam and 6 to 7 inches deep. Some, however, were up to 35 feet. They could be propelled at almost incredible speeds, the serious skills of punting being much more difficult than they appear at first.
These come in various shapes and sizes and can be found on most inland navigations. They offer meals either while moored, or more usually, while cruising. Their numbers have increased in recent years as eating out has become more and more popular.
A flat bottomed boat about 28 and 30 feet long, 2 feet in the beam and 9½ inches deep. This is a smaller version of the racing punt.
Small cruisers or narrow beam canal boats designed to be transported by road and launched on a slipway. Often of GRP and aluminium construction. One well known type of trail boat are the Wilderness Boats which have their own owners club. There are also trail boat rallies held each year usually on a waterway cut off from the main system.
|
Text and photographs copyright of Jim Shead. |
|
