Maximum length of narrowboat able to cross the Pennines

[c***@public.gmane.org]

Having hired for years, but not up North, we are going to buy our
first boat next year, and are trying to decide on the length.

Both the ABNB site www.abnb.co.uk/submenupages/57ft_myth.html and the
Nicholson guides give both lock length and maximum narrow boat
lengths, - however they
differ.

I have copied those that concern me below.

In case the columns get messed about, Column 1 is the ABNB length with
max narrow boat length in brackets, Column 2 is the Nicholson length
with max nb length
in brackets, 3 is the canal name. (ns) means that the max boat length
is not specified by Nicholson

1 2 3
62'(62') 60' (ns) Leeds and Liverpool Wigan to Leeds
57'6"(58'6") 57'6"(60') Calder & Hebble
58'(58'6") 57'6"(60') Huddersfield Broad Canal

Has any group member taken a boat greater than 60' over the L&L, or
greater than 58' over the Calder and Hebble / Huddersfield Broad
canal. If so, what length is your boat, and how hairy was it in the
locks?

(Also, have you measured the length of your boat, for it seems that
you may get a little more than you pay for - I know of 3 people who
have. In one case this was an extra 2 feet!)

Many thanks

Charley






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[Martin Clark]

Post by c***@public.gmane.org
Has any group member taken a boat greater than 60' over the L&L, or
greater than 58' over the Calder and Hebble / Huddersfield Broad
canal. If so, what length is your boat, and how hairy was it in the
locks?

I have been through the Huddersfield Broad and the Calder and Hebble
from Cooper Bridge to Sowerby Bridge with a narrowboat that was spot on
60 feet long. It is only just possible with great care to get a
narrowboat of that length (but no more) through these locks, but if you
were planning to do them regularly you should think of getting a length
around 58' 6" to make life easier!

The shortest locks on the HBC and C&H are the two upper locks at
Salterhebble. A few people find they can only safely come down these
locks with a 60 ft boat backwards. It probably depends on things like
the shape of the bows, rudder, etc.

You can't pass through these locks in a broad/wide beamed boat of more
than 57'6" length.

I have put more information about this subject on this page:
http://www.penninewaterways.co.uk/calder/locks.htm

[Steve Haywood]

Post by Martin Clark

Post by c***@public.gmane.org
Has any group member taken a boat greater than 60' over the L&L, or
greater than 58' over the Calder and Hebble / Huddersfield Broad
canal. If so, what length is your boat, and how hairy was it in the
locks?

I have been through the Huddersfield Broad and the Calder and Hebble
from Cooper Bridge to Sowerby Bridge with a narrowboat that was spot on
60 feet long. It is only just possible with great care to get a
narrowboat of that length (but no more) through these locks, but if you
were planning to do them regularly you should think of getting a length
around 58' 6" to make life easier!
The shortest locks on the HBC and C&H are the two upper locks at
Salterhebble. A few people find they can only safely come down these
locks with a 60 ft boat backwards. It probably depends on things like
the shape of the bows, rudder, etc.
You can't pass through these locks in a broad/wide beamed boat of more
than 57'6" length.
http://www.penninewaterways.co.uk/calder/locks.htm
--

As always Martin is the font of information on all matters Pennine, and
no-one can improve on it. I'd say however from experience that I wouldn't
fancy doing the Calder and Hebble in a boat longer that 57.6. Part of it's
the the simple lock size, part of it platform overhanging the gates which
can catch your tiller, and part of it's the way that unbaffled sluices
operated by the hand spike can hit the boat. I remember Woodend particularly
where I almost sank Justice.

Steve


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[Charley Johnston]

Martin and Steve

Thank you for this. Subsequent to posting the question I saw the letter in this month's
"Waterways World" and looking at the website referred to convinces me of the sense of
Steve's advice.

So - decision is to go for a 60' boat, and almost certainly give the C&H a miss.

Martin - thank you for the link. I had looked through your (very impressive) site - but
missed that page.

Regards

Charley


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