2008/10/12 Martin Clark <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote... > > > >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 > --
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 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
