I haven't got resent experience of the area but our old boat was built at Ramsey (by John who now runs the marina) and she drew over 2ft 6". We did not have any problems except in Well Creek where we had to stay in the middle most of the time and had some difficulty finding places to stop.
The bigger problem if you want to cruise all of the Middle level is air draft. Whilst Ramsey Hollow bridge has I believe been lifted there are still several others which where as low. I would check with the Middle Level Commissioners on their latest recommendations but they used to be a max. air draft of 5ft if you wanted to get under Exhibition Bridge and Infields Bridge. Lodes End Lock is I believe has still not been extended so will have a max length of about 65Ft and there were problems with full length boats turning at Ramsey itself. The last place they could turn used to be at the marina. Trust this helps Paul Simon Kelley wrote: > I'm currently in the process of buying a narrowboat which I'm intending > to keep at Bill Fen Marina at Ramsey on the Middle Levels. I want to > cruise the Great Ouse system as well as the canals and the Fenland > waterways. > > The narrowboat in question has a rather deep draught - about 2'10", the > significance of which has rather escaped me 'till now. I know about > Stanground Lock: I talked to the lock-keeper and it will be possible to > lock down by turning above the lock, entering the lock backwards and > then turning again below the lock. > > What I'm not sure about is any other shallow bits. Is this boat going to > be a complete liability in the Fens, or is it OK once through Stanground? > > I'm hoping that members of the list have brought deep boats through > (maybe for the IWA national?) and can either reassure me or warn me off > in the next couple of days before the sale completes. > > So. what's it like in the fens with a low bottom? > > Thanks, > > Simon. > > <
