----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Captain Beeky" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>> I think the SARA boat could be deployed before major problems were
>> reached (assuming they
>> were not providing backup).
> Do you think their boats could haul a narrowboat back upstream say 30
> mins after high water ? I suppose it might be a "fun" ride being towed
> at a fast speed downstream to Portishead.  Surely the best you could
> hope for would be an escort/guide to a safe haven. But that won't work
> if your engine has stopped.
> Beeky

These sort of small boats have no pulling power at all. We had problems with 
a fuel blockage in Rose of Yorkshire (30ft steel narrowboat/cruiser), and 
called out Humber Rescue. We got a tow from them, but even with two great 
big outboards on the back (two 130 hp if they are the same engines today) 
could only manage about 4 mph.

Their lack of the knowledge of the Humber also showed when they tried to tow 
us across Hull Middle near low tide, and we bounced on the hard shoal as 
each wave passed. Eventually they also grounded, but with a bit of map 
reading we found a deep channel between banks, and they pulled us downstream 
through it before we lost all the water.

In the meantime Dad moved the fuel pipe to the diesel heater tank in the 
engine room (done before but not in such a situation), and got the engine 
running again. We thanked them for their assistance, and gave a donation 
(which probably only just cover their fuel costs!) - they offered us a spin 
in their boat, and my Sister's boyfriend took them up on it.

We then took ages to get back to Hull again pushing the outgoing tide, while 
they were off in a whoosh of spray.

Anyway, the morale of this story is, they are built for speed, not for 
towing!

Mike

---
Mike Askin
nb. Kismet
http://shoestring.zapto.org/




 
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