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| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Steve T |
Posted - 26 Mar 2014 : 18:11:44
Hi all
I'm always one for a challenge, and love travel of all kinds.
I have a Norman 23, currently on the Broads.
I fancy trying the canals for a season, but don't want to be limited to a single short trip and want to take our own boat.
Is it possible to trailer my boat to the Ouse or the Wissey and then travel via the canal system in a big circuit as a beginner?
I'm thinking up the east side, across to the north west, back down the west side, across to the Thames and end up in Essex to be trailered back to Norfolk.
I thought it might take a year, taking it on in short trips, maybe three or four days at a time, and maybe a couple of two or three week linger trips, leaving the boat moored for three or four weeks at a time, between sections.
It's just an idea, but sounds like a great one!
Anyone done this? Best routes? possible in an N23? Would we learn enough in the early days to tackle the harder sections?
...or am I just an idiot for even thinking this might be a great break from the Broads for a season?
Any advice most welcome.
Cheers
Steve
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| 15 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Steve T |
Posted - 12 Apr 2014 : 13:58:09
Sounds like the trip I had in mind - we always have a couple of meal kits on board (and a few chilled bottles) so don't really plan a lot, just go when we're ready and stop if we are tired or like the look of somewhere.
How did you get on with the Trent and Thames with the tides? Easy to plan to do these stretches either side of slack water?
Thanks for the map tip - I'll see if I can hunt a set down.
Cheers
Steve |
| shirmot |
Posted - 11 Apr 2014 : 20:26:31
steve there are loads of 14 day moorings on the canals. they are usually sign-posted. get yourself a set of good maps, we used the geo maps for our cruising which had all the info we needed: moorings, pubs, towns etc.we didn,t really plan it as such, just went with the flow(literally) and managed to get around the thames ring,twice, rivers lee and stort and the london canals, river avon and severn, on to worcester up to brum then across to northampton to cambridgeshire.
great adventure.
shirmot |
| Steve T |
Posted - 11 Apr 2014 : 19:24:11
Thanks Adi - It's a break from work I'm after, not another full-time career on the canals
When you do a 300+mile trip, how many hours are you on the move for?
I'm guessing 12 hours a day for 14 straight days? If so, I need to at least double your times.
14-day moorings? Told you I was a newby to the canals, on the Broads you use Marinas or 24-hour free moorings, so a trip like this means using the free ones each night and then booking a medium term berth at a Marina for the stops between the sections. Is this how it works on the canals?
Are there 14 day moorings on the canals we can use for the stops?
Cheers
Steve
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| shirmot |
Posted - 10 Apr 2014 : 22:55:17
hi steve, go for it! we cruised continually for around four years on our 23 ft norman and loved it. we moved the boat at weekends and took advantage of 14 day moorings where ever possible. yes there is a lot of cabbing involved but honestly it was great, even the kids enjoyed most of it. one bit of advice if you leave the boat on the canals; get a big padlock on your cabin door!
good luck
shirmot
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| IanM |
Posted - 09 Apr 2014 : 06:58:16
I think Adi gets up half an hour before he goes to bed on those trips...  |
| adi-n-chez |
Posted - 08 Apr 2014 : 18:22:07
Steve
Summary of whats involved during our longer trips below !
2004 Leicester ring 150 miles 101 locks (10 Days)
2005 Four counties ring 228 miles 168 locks
2006 Llangollen including Weaver & Anderton 341miles 248 locks
2007 Birmingham / Seven & GU 240 miles 299 locks
2008 Aborted London back via Lincoln 412 miles 225 locks
2009 Llangollen 317 miles 210 locks
2010 River Thames (Inc Tidal) 342miles 214 locks (Via Sewer Tube ! )
2011 Boston 233 miles 56 locks (9 day trip)
2012 Rochdale via Trent 324 miles 250 locks (The Killer!)
12hr days can become the norm !!!
Adi
Sewer Tubes ? I'd rather have a D**ncr*ft (Only Kidding) |
| Steve T |
Posted - 06 Apr 2014 : 21:27:44
Hi Adi
Thanks for that - sound about as crazy as us!
Have you written any detailed logs of the trips? Anything I can read that might give me a clue how hard HWMBO will have to work, while I shelter in the cockpit with a glass of summat?
Are any of those 2 to 3 week trips a real physical ordeal? I kinda thought of drifting along, nice n relaxed, between pubs for a couple of weeks at a time.
We don't mind work - you can't do locks without a bit of sweat I guess, but it's not supposed to be like waterboarding!
What's a "normal" day like for you on these trips?
Cheers
Steve |
| Deano |
Posted - 05 Apr 2014 : 23:14:13
quote:
Originally posted by adi-n-chez
do take into mind that we cruise further than most during a day !
do take into mind that we cruise further in a day than most do during a week!
Is probably closer to reality.
Dean - Boating on the Great Ouse.
Freeman 32 "Liberty"
See the photos http://www.flickr.com/photos/54758027@N00/ |
| adi-n-chez |
Posted - 05 Apr 2014 : 22:49:42
quote:
Originally posted by Deano
If you are talking Bedford, York, Liverpool, Birmingham, Wales, Thames... that would take you months, even cruising full time. (Adi will be along soon to tell you that it can all be done in a lunchtime!!)
Dean
Ho Ho !
Maybe doable by tea time as long as you dont stop for lunch !!
Seriously tho - we have done some manic cruises in our 22 & also Dads Sewer tube & most find our timings pretty impossible !
Not made it to the Ouse yet & found that a hard one to do from Leics & back in a fortnight so maybe we will try next!
But other timings we have done -
Oxford down the thames into Brentford & London, back down the Tidal & into the GU at Brentford , back down the GU , oxford , cov, T&M , trent & soar - 16 days
Llangollen from leics , via T&M staffs, shroppie , llangollen , T&M home 2 weeks
Over the pennines - Soar , Trent , Tidal Trent , Stainforth & Keadby , Aire n Calder , Calder n Hebble , Rochdale , Ashton , Peak Forest , Macc, T&M , trent ,home - 16 days (This nearly killed us !)
All of our trips (Some not listed!) have been mad - they dont allow any stoppages or days out as we dont leave the boat anywhere - to do what you are planning will mean leaving the boat in a safe place - I would not leave any cruiser 'on line' only in a mooring that was monitored (ie a marina)
do take into mind that we cruise further than most during a day !
Adi
Sewer Tubes ? I'd rather have a D**ncr*ft (Only Kidding) |
| Dwall |
Posted - 01 Apr 2014 : 08:13:27
Just go for it if you get on to the river Nene you will pass my boat Stonechat at Willy Watt marina pop in for a coffee or beer or 2
Good luck |
| IanM |
Posted - 01 Apr 2014 : 07:10:38
The South Oxford Canal is one of our favourites. Definitely go that way. |
| Steve T |
Posted - 31 Mar 2014 : 18:17:26
Thanks for the replies.
I guess missing the Severn means an Oxford route?
And the Thames, how tricky is the Teddington to the River Lee section, or is cutting back up the Grand Union a better idea?
I'm not worried by a section that requires a careful bit of tide timing - but what sort of current would we encounter on the Trent either side of slack? and for how long?
None of the replies so far are putting me off the trip, just need to trim a bit here and there to make it sensibly safe and do-able.
Please keep the advice coming - all much appreciated.
Cheers
Steve |
| IanM |
Posted - 31 Mar 2014 : 07:43:12
You'll struggle to average 3 mph on the canal sections. We work in "lock-miles" which assumes that a lock takes about the same time as cruising a mile and we work on 3 lock-miles per hour, maybe a bit lower for the really busy bits at peak season. There will be some long lines of moored boats to pass which means slow going and if you try to make up the time on the empty sections you'll probably just catch up a slower boat who will be equally slow to let you pass, especially if you are in "one of those plastic boats". And if you are on a popular section on a sunny Summer day you can expect to wait quite a while at some locks. Better speed on rivers but there can still be delays at locks at peak times.
The N23 is up to the job as long as your engine and confidence are, and as long as you are comfortable with the lack of space! It's healthy to be a bit scared of tidal river sections. I've seen a rescue boat in action on the tidal Severn. Florescent orange rib, twin outboards, enough horsepower to power a rally car and still only just making headway against the tide. As for crossing estuaries... I just wouldn't! |
| df |
Posted - 30 Mar 2014 : 11:09:18
I saw some tiny boats doing the trent falls route when we did it, it's just about timing it right and being prepared to wait at trent falls for the next flood, and up to date charts are vital.
NBAS--The communal colostomy bag of the boating community.
Visit leomagill.co.uk |
| Deano |
Posted - 29 Mar 2014 : 22:11:12
I'd be concerned about Trent and Humber in a small boat. Both are massive tidal rivers, very few mooring points and no bolt holes if it goes wrong. If your engine stops, you end up in Holland or Germany.
Severn to Thames similar...... you would need a pilot, but would struggle to get one to go with you.
You are effectively at sea for both of those..... Would you attempt Gt Yarmouth to Lowestoft in your boat?
Trent - Humber can be avoided, via Selby canal though.
Dean - Boating on the Great Ouse.
Freeman 32 "Liberty"
See the photos http://www.flickr.com/photos/54758027@N00/ |
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