[Default] On Sat, 15 Nov 2008 16:44:45 -0000, "Trevor"
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> finished tucking into their plate of fish,
chips and mushy peas. Wiping their mouth, they swiggged the last of
their cup of tea, paid the bill and wrote::
>** Something I have possibly not made too clear in the past is that I may
>well be 'single-handed' for some of the time - but would still wish to enjoy
>the option of continuous cruising. Would I need to advertise for temporary
>crew perhaps (wow - this opens up a *whole* new world of thought {thinks:
>blonde or brunette?} so itÂ’s a good job that my wife can't completely read
>my mind - well not to the best of my knowledge .. LOL).
So long as you take your time, singlehanding will be fine.
>
>** Is a 50/60foot narrowboat manageable by one person, with care - and
>bearing in mind that the waters are, more or less, non tidal (or have much,
>if any, current) and that the wind is likely to be the most influential
>force on the boat?
The wind will blow you EVERYWHERE - the bigger the boat the more
"sail" (ie cabin side) you will have and the smaller the boat, the
more easily it will be blown around!
>Quite as an aside, I've noticed rather a dearth of
>fenders - are narrowboaters extremely tidy in this respect or are they not
>considered a necessity of life on the waters?
Boat width = 7'. Narrow lock width = as little as 7' 1". Need I say
more?
You will need fenders to stop you rattling on the piled banks - you
can buy long hosepipe-type fenders or make your own from: hose pipe
and a length of rope! There are posher fenders, woven from rope,
available but if you forget to take them in the first narrow lock may
well take them off!
Brian L Dominic
Web Sites:
Canals: http://www.brianscanalpages.co.uk
