> That is almost certainly the case. Unfortunately at present, we have
> to work with what we've got, but that's a modification we may well
> undertake before next year. Pictures, incidentally, are included at:
> http://www.cromfordcanal.org.uk/whs.html
>
> Brian L Dominic
>
Looking at the pictures, my view would be:
The looby is roughly in the right place, but the boat hull is 'wrong'
for a horseboat, with its swim bow and shallow draft. What was very
striking about MARIA and SYMBOL at Preston Brook was their sharp bows
and long swims, which would allow them to grip the water against the
pull of the tow-line. Given that it's impractical to do anything about
the hull-shape, possible palliatives might be:-
1) a longer line (the Horseboating Society uses lines about 100 yards
long) - this would be more elastic and ensure there was less sideways
pull;
2) this would also allow the line to be led back to a point near the
steerer, who could release it in emergency to prevent the momentum of
the boat dragging the horse into the water. A bridle from the looby to
the tow-line would control the direction of pull, set up as follows:-
the bridle has a splice or ring at the end through which the towline
passes on its way to the anser hook or pin at the stern;
the bridle passes round the looby or mast and back to a cleat near the
steerer, who can adjust the direction of pull by tightening the bridle
so the towline pulls from the looby, or slackening it to make the
towline pull the stern across and let the bow angle out towards the
canal centre. This arrangement was sometimes used in working days.
3) The effective area of the rudder could be increased by clamping an
auxiliary blade to the existing blade, e.g. as follows:-
a) using a plate about the same height as the existing blade but twice
the length;
b) welding a length of L-section angle to the bottom of this plate and a
handle (of rod or strip) to the top;
c) clamping the plate to the existing blade and drilling a couple of
holes through both near the top;
d) welding bolts into the holes on the plate.
The plate could then be fixed to the existing blade by lowering it,
using the handle, at an angle so the L-section engaged the bottom of the
blade, tilting the plate to the vertical so the bolts go through the
holes and support the plate until nuts are tightened to clamp plate and
blade together. Good enough for one trip a year and easy to take off for
the rest of the year.
Sean
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