Category: Techniques

Narrowboat and canal videos from fender maker Trafalgar

[ad name=”intheboatshed-post”]

Narrowboat owner Barry McGuigan talks about his boats Narrowboat trip from Whaley to Buggsworth Basin

The British canal system is an astonishing web of narrow man-made waterways carrying long low-powered narrowboats that chug along at walking speed. The contrast with the pace of modern life could not be more complete, and so hiring a narrowboat makes for a great, peaceful day out or holiday.

So I thought I should link to these videos put up by Trafalgar Marine Services showing something of the canal around their base in Derbyshire. In the first, Brian McGuigan talks about his 70-year old motor narrow boat and butty, and the second provides a slightly scary time-lapse video of a run from Whaley Bridge to Buggsworth Basin. These boats don’t go this fast, let me tell you!

By the way, we last came across Trafalgar when the company’s Michael Dawson sent us an illustrated explanation of how to make a moustache or u-bow fender.

By the way, I’ve discovered this site selling old-style narrowboat and barge plans. There’s even a set for a Humber Keel! Now that might be a present idea for next Christmas!

Share this with a friend using the Share this link below.


Book a room in South-East England

Thorne’s restored Chamberlain dory skiff

[ad name=”intheboatshed-post”]

Thorne Luckhard’s dory restoration

Thorne Luckhardt’s Chamberlain dory skiff

Read all about Thorne’s Luckhardt’s Chamberlain dory skiff restoration here – and also about his latest project, an interpretation of the John Gardner version of the fast Herreshoff-designed rowing boat built in riveted clinker ply. It’s amazing what you can find on Craig’s List!

Share this with a friend using the Share this link below.

Winter fun in Spain with the Light Trow

[ad name=”intheboatshed-post”]

Ben Crawshaw

Ben Crawshaw’s having fun chasing maximum speeds with his GPS

While we’re living with the wettest and windiest winter weather I can remember, Ben Crawshaw has dressed up warm and is having a riot sailing and rowing his Light Trow down in Spain. One thing that’s driven him on lately is using a GPS, which has led to some astonishing maximum speeds and to the discovery that sheeting in both sails and using his rudder gets the best possible speed from his boat.

Of course I’m hugely impressed by the speeds he’s logging. In reality I suspect some of these are peaks due to currents, wave action and the odd GPS artifact, but there seems to be every reason for thinking the boat is performing pretty well nevertheless.

For more on the Light Trow, click here.

Share this with a friend using the Share this link below.