What Is The Best Size Narrowboat?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Generally speaking, a

30-40 foot boat

is ample as a holiday boat, whilst a 50 plus foot boat is ideal for extended cruising or living aboard. There is a myth that boats must be no longer than 57 feet long, because some locks have a maximum length of 60 feet.

Where can a 60ft narrowboat go?

60ft will enable coverage of almost all and 62ft will get you through most of

it except the Calder & Hebble, the Huddersfield Broad Canal, River Derwent and the Ripon Canal

(including Yorkshire Ouse above York), which is why there are so many 62ft boats on the system.

What is the average length of a narrowboat?

Narrowboats vary from

70 feet to 20 feet

! The longer the boat, it is often the more expensive to buy, moor, insure, license, repaint etc.

What sizes do narrowboats come in?

Modern boats are usually produced to a

maximum of 6 feet 10 inches (2.08 m) wide

to guarantee easy passage throughout the complete system. Because of their slenderness, some narrowboats seem very long. The maximum length is about 72 feet (21.95 m), which matches the length of the longest locks on the system.

How do I choose a narrowboat?

  1. 1 It’s a great way of life, but it’s not for everyone! …
  2. 2 Know its purpose. …
  3. 3 There is a boat for everyone’s budget. …
  4. 4 Know your sterns and lengths. …
  5. 5 Research the running costs. …
  6. 6 Residential Moorings can be hard to find.

How far can you go on a narrowboat?

As previously mentioned, your canal boat is not permitted to travel at

more than four miles per hour

– and you also have to allow around 15 minutes for passing through each lock.

What is the smallest canal lock?


Westwick Lock

is the smaller of the two locks and is length 57 foot, beam 14 foot 6 inches.

Will there be a Season 7 of travels by narrowboat?

As of this moment, I

‘m on the Lancaster Canal

– which will be the subject of Season 7. I’m also extremely busy re-releasing all of my back catalogue onto Amazon Prime.

Is it cheaper to live on a narrowboat?

Living in a narrowboat

can be cheaper in terms of bills due to the reduced energy consumption

. However, there are a number of costs you need to consider; fuel. heating, cooking and toilet emptying. The boat’s main electrical system will be run off batteries which are re-charged when the engine is running – as in a car.

How long does a narrowboat Hull last?

There are two types of coatings which can be used to protect the hull, Bituminous and Two Pack Epoxy. Epoxy paint is more expensive but it will last

5 – 6 years once

applied and a Bitumen finished coating will last around 2 – 3 years.

What is the difference between a barge and a narrowboat?

As nouns the difference between barge and narrowboat

is that

barge

is a large flat-bottomed towed or self-propelled boat used mainly for river and canal transport of heavy goods or bulk cargo while narrowboat is a barge used on the narrow canals of england.

Can you live on a narrowboat?

Although there are maintenance costs such as blacking the hull, engine services, general maintenance, moorings fees and licence fees etc. living on a narrowboat

can be cheaper than living on the land

. The yearly costs of living on a boat of course depends on each individuals circumstances.

Are narrow boats seaworthy?


Yes

, narrowboats can and do go on places such as this and Breydon Water, Trent Falls, Bristol Channel and the Tidal Thames. But you can see they struggle here in these tidal waters, so clearly they would be in great danger in the sea or coastal waters on anything but the calmest days.

Are narrowboats a good investment?

A narrowboat, or a widebeam boat should be considered as a second home from home, or, perhaps even as a new primary home for some buyers. The purchase of a narrowboat is indeed

a large investment

, however it’s an investment for your future, with happier and more peaceful times ahead.

Do narrowboats depreciate?


They do have a tendency to depreciate faster than other craft

. For more serious cruising, a narrowboat can comfortably cruise with up to 12 people aboard.

How much is a narrowboat Licence?

The Canals & Rivers License cost depends upon the length of your boat, ranging from £538.75 (if you pay ‘promptly’) for a boat up to 18′ long (5.5m), to

£1,206.71

( for one up to an incredible length of 77′ 1′′! (23.5m)) – for a 12-month licence at 2020/21 prices.

David Evans
Author
David Evans
David is a seasoned automotive enthusiast. He is a graduate of Mechanical Engineering and has a passion for all things related to cars and vehicles. With his extensive knowledge of cars and other vehicles, David is an authority in the industry.