Re: [bolger] Cruising English canals, Weston Martyr
Another good site on cruising the English canals is:
http://www.canaljunction.com/
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
http://www.canaljunction.com/
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
--- Inbolger@yahoogroups.com, Sam Glasscock <glasscocklanding@y...>
wrote:
Sam,there is a whole lot of us here who are true visual
thinkers/dreamers and God knows we have an endless thirst for
pictures,lots of pictures,the bigger-the-better pictures,in living
colour pictures,with scratch-n-sniff patches pictures,wall-paper
size pictures,inside shot pictures,outside shot pictures,people in
pictures pictures,pictures of people in boats pictures......
(pant,pant,pant)....file-filling-group-expanding pictures,website
creating pictures.....any pictures PLEEEEAaassse.....especially
after such a tantalizing brief tease of a post like yours
proclaiming that Topaz was great on Florida Bay......
(pant,pant.....wooooh!)
O.K.,now that I've I've caught my breath back,good to hear that you
had a fine time Sam and that all is safe and sound.One day,in some
distant year,I hope to cruise south in Windermere and see for myself
what all the fuss is about :-)
Welcome back Sam!
Sincerely,
Peter Lenihan,who will also TRY to not go crazy chasing his own tail
while awaiting some new eye candy from the South.........
wrote:
> Topaz was great on Florida Bay. I'll try to get someTry? Try??!! Whaddya mean TRY?! Holy jumpin'fried egg sandwiches
> pictures up.
Sam,there is a whole lot of us here who are true visual
thinkers/dreamers and God knows we have an endless thirst for
pictures,lots of pictures,the bigger-the-better pictures,in living
colour pictures,with scratch-n-sniff patches pictures,wall-paper
size pictures,inside shot pictures,outside shot pictures,people in
pictures pictures,pictures of people in boats pictures......
(pant,pant,pant)....file-filling-group-expanding pictures,website
creating pictures.....any pictures PLEEEEAaassse.....especially
after such a tantalizing brief tease of a post like yours
proclaiming that Topaz was great on Florida Bay......
(pant,pant.....wooooh!)
O.K.,now that I've I've caught my breath back,good to hear that you
had a fine time Sam and that all is safe and sound.One day,in some
distant year,I hope to cruise south in Windermere and see for myself
what all the fuss is about :-)
Welcome back Sam!
Sincerely,
Peter Lenihan,who will also TRY to not go crazy chasing his own tail
while awaiting some new eye candy from the South.........
Apart from the breadth limitation, there is also a tight limit in
some canals on headroom and draught. For example, the Huddersfield
Narrow Canal can handle boats up to 72ft by 6ft 10ins beam by 3ft
6ins draft by 6ft 2ins "air draught", as it's sometimes called.
I guess this is why, despite the climate, narrowboats do not have an
enclosed steering station. It looks like this design, with the masts
folded down, would sqeeze through.
Howard
some canals on headroom and draught. For example, the Huddersfield
Narrow Canal can handle boats up to 72ft by 6ft 10ins beam by 3ft
6ins draft by 6ft 2ins "air draught", as it's sometimes called.
I guess this is why, despite the climate, narrowboats do not have an
enclosed steering station. It looks like this design, with the masts
folded down, would sqeeze through.
Howard
--- Inbolger@yahoogroups.com, Dan Burrill <dan@b...> wrote:
> Bruce Hallman wrote:
> >http://www.choiceforum.co.uk/np_pics/aug04/021.htm
> >
> > Has anybody 'round here cruised these English canals?
> > There seems to be a large sub-culture associated
> > with these canals and it looks fun.
>
> I've been on a couple of canal boat holidays, and growing up in
> Birmingham I spent a great many hours wandering the towpaths and
> watching other people wearing themselves out going through locks.
It's
> good fun, but personally I get quite bored going in a straight line
all
> day and I'm not a big fan of huge diesel engines, which is what
most
> narrowboats are powered by. Narrowboats are available for hire on
most
> of the canals and a significant number of people use them as
> live-aboards, connected to shore power and water.
>
> > Bolger's Weston Martyr #487, designed for these canals,
> > has a beam of 6'9" which is the maximum to fit through
> > the locks.
>
> I must admit, I've been wondering what PCB would come up with if
asked
> to design a narrowboat, and now I've seen it, I'm suitably
impressed.
> It's the first one I've seen with sails, though considering the
normal
> environment for them is a canal <20 feet wide and <5 feet deep,
that's
> not surprising. I've heard of the occasional narrowboat that's
taken a
> trip up the Bristol Channel between the Avon and Severn rivers, and
at
> least one was part of the rescue fleet at Dunkirk (though I believe
she
> was towed across the channel).
>
>
> > Weston Martyr is such a cool boat,
> > but could be warmer if made of wood. <g>
>
> Traditionally, narrowboats were often made of wood, though as they
were
> (up until 40 years or so ago) nearly all working boats, they tended
to
> be built far more substantially than would be economical these
days.
> There are also a few examples of ferrocement narrowboats, at least
one
> dating back to the end of the 19th century.
>
> Having seen the kind of abuse these boats take on a daily basis,
I'd be
> exceptionally wary of building one out of anything but steel, and
fairly
> thick steel at that. That way, when you have a collision with
another
> narrowboat (almost certainly built from steel) the worst that's
likely
> to result is a dent, if you've chosen to build out of wood or
fibreglass
> you might need to rebuild a significant proportion of your boat.
>
> People generally line the interior with wood and often fill the
space in
> between with insulating foam. Some sort of cabin heater (a solid
fuel
> stove is traditional) is also an essential requirement for year-
round
> cruising comfort.
>
> Dan
Bruce Hallman wrote:
Birmingham I spent a great many hours wandering the towpaths and
watching other people wearing themselves out going through locks. It's
good fun, but personally I get quite bored going in a straight line all
day and I'm not a big fan of huge diesel engines, which is what most
narrowboats are powered by. Narrowboats are available for hire on most
of the canals and a significant number of people use them as
live-aboards, connected to shore power and water.
to design a narrowboat, and now I've seen it, I'm suitably impressed.
It's the first one I've seen with sails, though considering the normal
environment for them is a canal <20 feet wide and <5 feet deep, that's
not surprising. I've heard of the occasional narrowboat that's taken a
trip up the Bristol Channel between the Avon and Severn rivers, and at
least one was part of the rescue fleet at Dunkirk (though I believe she
was towed across the channel).
(up until 40 years or so ago) nearly all working boats, they tended to
be built far more substantially than would be economical these days.
There are also a few examples of ferrocement narrowboats, at least one
dating back to the end of the 19th century.
Having seen the kind of abuse these boats take on a daily basis, I'd be
exceptionally wary of building one out of anything but steel, and fairly
thick steel at that. That way, when you have a collision with another
narrowboat (almost certainly built from steel) the worst that's likely
to result is a dent, if you've chosen to build out of wood or fibreglass
you might need to rebuild a significant proportion of your boat.
People generally line the interior with wood and often fill the space in
between with insulating foam. Some sort of cabin heater (a solid fuel
stove is traditional) is also an essential requirement for year-round
cruising comfort.
Dan
>http://www.choiceforum.co.uk/np_pics/aug04/021.htmI've been on a couple of canal boat holidays, and growing up in
>
> Has anybody 'round here cruised these English canals?
> There seems to be a large sub-culture associated
> with these canals and it looks fun.
Birmingham I spent a great many hours wandering the towpaths and
watching other people wearing themselves out going through locks. It's
good fun, but personally I get quite bored going in a straight line all
day and I'm not a big fan of huge diesel engines, which is what most
narrowboats are powered by. Narrowboats are available for hire on most
of the canals and a significant number of people use them as
live-aboards, connected to shore power and water.
> Bolger's Weston Martyr #487, designed for these canals,I must admit, I've been wondering what PCB would come up with if asked
> has a beam of 6'9" which is the maximum to fit through
> the locks.
to design a narrowboat, and now I've seen it, I'm suitably impressed.
It's the first one I've seen with sails, though considering the normal
environment for them is a canal <20 feet wide and <5 feet deep, that's
not surprising. I've heard of the occasional narrowboat that's taken a
trip up the Bristol Channel between the Avon and Severn rivers, and at
least one was part of the rescue fleet at Dunkirk (though I believe she
was towed across the channel).
> Weston Martyr is such a cool boat,Traditionally, narrowboats were often made of wood, though as they were
> but could be warmer if made of wood. <g>
(up until 40 years or so ago) nearly all working boats, they tended to
be built far more substantially than would be economical these days.
There are also a few examples of ferrocement narrowboats, at least one
dating back to the end of the 19th century.
Having seen the kind of abuse these boats take on a daily basis, I'd be
exceptionally wary of building one out of anything but steel, and fairly
thick steel at that. That way, when you have a collision with another
narrowboat (almost certainly built from steel) the worst that's likely
to result is a dent, if you've chosen to build out of wood or fibreglass
you might need to rebuild a significant proportion of your boat.
People generally line the interior with wood and often fill the space in
between with insulating foam. Some sort of cabin heater (a solid fuel
stove is traditional) is also an essential requirement for year-round
cruising comfort.
Dan
Thanks again, Bruce. I wasn't expecting an ocean-going sailing canal
barge -- a true Bolgerism, isn't it? Having survived a few English
summers, I'd need the hull insulated to keep out the cold, and to
minimize condensation, even in summer.
You're right about subscribing to MAIB, but the difficulties of
subscribing from abroad were discussed in this group recently. I'm
holding out for another book like BWAOM, which is largely a
compilation of articles published elsewhere. Any chance of that, I
wonder.
Howard
barge -- a true Bolgerism, isn't it? Having survived a few English
summers, I'd need the hull insulated to keep out the cold, and to
minimize condensation, even in summer.
You're right about subscribing to MAIB, but the difficulties of
subscribing from abroad were discussed in this group recently. I'm
holding out for another book like BWAOM, which is largely a
compilation of articles published elsewhere. Any chance of that, I
wonder.
Howard
--- Inbolger@yahoogroups.com, Bruce Hallman <bruce@h...> wrote:
> > Howard Stephenson >
> > Is there a picture of Weston Martyr anywhere, Bruce?
>
> If you don't subscribe to the magazine Messing About
> in Boats, you should!
>
>http://hallman.org/bolger/487/487.gif
>
> ...holds a scan.
>
> Personally, I am very curious to try a dipping lug
> rig, and I imagine that Weston Martyr #487 would
> be spectacularly fast on a broad reach.
> Howard Stephenson >If you don't subscribe to the magazine Messing About
> Is there a picture of Weston Martyr anywhere, Bruce?
in Boats, you should!
http://hallman.org/bolger/487/487.gif
...holds a scan.
Personally, I am very curious to try a dipping lug
rig, and I imagine that Weston Martyr #487 would
be spectacularly fast on a broad reach.
Is there a picture of Weston Martyr anywhere, Bruce?
Talk of English narrowboats and canals recalls a painful memory for
me. Last year I had a week's canal cruise lined up -- did a lot of
research and even paid a substantial non-refundable deposit -- when a
change in work priorities brought on by the start of the Gulf War
meant I had to cancel. I'd waited nearly 40 years for the opportunity
and now I'm unlikely to have the chance again, ever.
Steel is really the way to go with these boats. In the fresh water it
would last just about forever, and it's much better than anything
else at standing up to the inevitable hard knocks from lock gates and
walls, not to mention other steel hulls.
Howard
Talk of English narrowboats and canals recalls a painful memory for
me. Last year I had a week's canal cruise lined up -- did a lot of
research and even paid a substantial non-refundable deposit -- when a
change in work priorities brought on by the start of the Gulf War
meant I had to cancel. I'd waited nearly 40 years for the opportunity
and now I'm unlikely to have the chance again, ever.
Steel is really the way to go with these boats. In the fresh water it
would last just about forever, and it's much better than anything
else at standing up to the inevitable hard knocks from lock gates and
walls, not to mention other steel hulls.
Howard
--- Inbolger@yahoogroups.com, Bruce Hallman <bruce@h...> wrote:
>http://www.choiceforum.co.uk/np_pics/aug04/021.htm
>
> Has anybody 'round here cruised these English canals?
> There seems to be a large sub-culture associated
> with these canals and it looks fun.
>
> Bolger's Weston Martyr #487, designed for these canals,
> has a beam of 6'9" which is the maximum to fit through
> the locks.
>
> Weston Martyr is such a cool boat,
> but could be warmer if made of wood. <g>
>
> see also:
>
>http://www.grannybuttons.com/
http://www.choiceforum.co.uk/np_pics/aug04/021.htm
Has anybody 'round here cruised these English canals?
There seems to be a large sub-culture associated
with these canals and it looks fun.
Bolger's Weston Martyr #487, designed for these canals,
has a beam of 6'9" which is the maximum to fit through
the locks.
Weston Martyr is such a cool boat,
but could be warmer if made of wood. <g>
see also:
http://www.grannybuttons.com/
Has anybody 'round here cruised these English canals?
There seems to be a large sub-culture associated
with these canals and it looks fun.
Bolger's Weston Martyr #487, designed for these canals,
has a beam of 6'9" which is the maximum to fit through
the locks.
Weston Martyr is such a cool boat,
but could be warmer if made of wood. <g>
see also:
http://www.grannybuttons.com/
Topaz was great on Florida Bay. I'll try to get some
pictures up.
--- ravenouspi <ravenous@...> wrote:
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Shop for Back-to-School deals on Yahoo! Shopping.
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pictures up.
--- ravenouspi <ravenous@...> wrote:
> Sam,_______________________________
> I've got Topaz fever really bad right now. Please
> take pictures, of
> your Topaz in the keys and share.
> Also, any pictures you already have of your boat
> would be soooooo
> nice. Can't get enough Topaz viewing.
>
Do you Yahoo!?
Shop for Back-to-School deals on Yahoo! Shopping.
http://shopping.yahoo.com/backtoschool
--- Inbolger@yahoogroups.com, Sam Glasscock <glasscocklanding@y...>
wrote:
I've got Topaz fever really bad right now. Please take pictures, of
your Topaz in the keys and share.
Also, any pictures you already have of your boat would be soooooo
nice. Can't get enough Topaz viewing.
I've already absorbed the Journey Boats site and Brad Raby's
duckworks articles.
Please?
Rav
soon to be a topaz builder, hopefully.
wrote:
> I will be putting my Topaz in at Flamingo at the endSam,
> of the month,
I've got Topaz fever really bad right now. Please take pictures, of
your Topaz in the keys and share.
Also, any pictures you already have of your boat would be soooooo
nice. Can't get enough Topaz viewing.
I've already absorbed the Journey Boats site and Brad Raby's
duckworks articles.
Please?
Rav
soon to be a topaz builder, hopefully.
--- Inbolger@yahoogroups.com, Sam Glasscock <glasscocklanding@y...>
wrote:
Generally, if you anchor out and there is a breeze you will be fine.
If you are in the populated areas of the Keys it is usually very nice.
Don't let the DC-3 flying over at 30' startle you to badly, they
really help with the bugs. I have some pictures I took out of a second
story window of the DC-3 on a bug run and you can see the TOP of the
wings and it is flying straight and level. Lived in Marathon for a
year and Islamorada for two and had almost no problems with bugs. Key
Largo sometimes has bug problems because they are so close to the
Everglades. I love the Keys!!! If I could afford it I would still be
there. Have a great time. Tom on Sandpiper in SW Florida.
wrote:
> Wow--I hadn't planned on cruising the interior or theis not sprayed for bug control i.e. Everglades National Park.
> west coast--more interested in running across to the
> Keys, exploring around Great White Heron refuge, doing
> some snorkleing, etc. Anybody know what the bug
> situation is likely to be out in the lower keys? If
> it is as Tom describes up on the Little Shark River, I
> had better get my divorce papers in order before I go,
> and also adjust my liquor supply acordingly. Sam
> Hey Sam, Be aware that anyplace that is a Federal park or preserve
Generally, if you anchor out and there is a breeze you will be fine.
If you are in the populated areas of the Keys it is usually very nice.
Don't let the DC-3 flying over at 30' startle you to badly, they
really help with the bugs. I have some pictures I took out of a second
story window of the DC-3 on a bug run and you can see the TOP of the
wings and it is flying straight and level. Lived in Marathon for a
year and Islamorada for two and had almost no problems with bugs. Key
Largo sometimes has bug problems because they are so close to the
Everglades. I love the Keys!!! If I could afford it I would still be
there. Have a great time. Tom on Sandpiper in SW Florida.
Wow--I hadn't planned on cruising the interior or the
west coast--more interested in running across to the
Keys, exploring around Great White Heron refuge, doing
some snorkleing, etc. Anybody know what the bug
situation is likely to be out in the lower keys? If
it is as Tom describes up on the Little Shark River, I
had better get my divorce papers in order before I go,
and also adjust my liquor supply acordingly. Sam
--- Tom <TOMCBRADY@...> wrote:
Do you Yahoo!?
Read only the mail you want - Yahoo! Mail SpamGuard.
http://promotions.yahoo.com/new_mail
west coast--more interested in running across to the
Keys, exploring around Great White Heron refuge, doing
some snorkleing, etc. Anybody know what the bug
situation is likely to be out in the lower keys? If
it is as Tom describes up on the Little Shark River, I
had better get my divorce papers in order before I go,
and also adjust my liquor supply acordingly. Sam
--- Tom <TOMCBRADY@...> wrote:
> >Sam, I hope your screening is good if you are__________________________________
> anywhere near the
> mainland! The marsh angels can be HORRIBLE. If you
> work your way
> around Cape Sable and up Little Shark River when the
> very first, the
> very first little marsh angel shows up at dusk RUN
> below and close up
> with screens and don't open them for any reason.
> Some friends didn't
> and had to throw their sheets away because the blood
> from the angels
> they had killed would not come out.
Do you Yahoo!?
Read only the mail you want - Yahoo! Mail SpamGuard.
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--- Inbolger@yahoogroups.com, "Peter Lenihan" <peterlenihan@h...>
wrote:
around Cape Sable and up Little Shark River when the very first, the
very first little marsh angel shows up at dusk RUN below and close up
with screens and don't open them for any reason. Some friends didn't
and had to throw their sheets away because the blood from the angels
they had killed would not come out. Other than that it is a great area
and I hope you have a great time. Tom
wrote:
> --- Inbolger@yahoogroups.com, Sam Glasscock <glasscocklanding@y...>
> wrote:mainland! The marsh angels can be HORRIBLE. If you work your way
> > I will be putting my Topaz in at Flamingo at the end
> > of the month, and spending five days or so cruising
> > Florida Bay and the Keys.
>
>Sam, I hope your screening is good if you are anywhere near the
around Cape Sable and up Little Shark River when the very first, the
very first little marsh angel shows up at dusk RUN below and close up
with screens and don't open them for any reason. Some friends didn't
and had to throw their sheets away because the blood from the angels
they had killed would not come out. Other than that it is a great area
and I hope you have a great time. Tom
--- Inbolger@yahoogroups.com, Sam Glasscock <glasscocklanding@y...>
wrote:
Have a nice,safe,trip Sam .Also,do try to get some photos of your
TOPAZ in all sorts of lovely settings,and here is a tough one,see if
you can't bribe someone to take some nice close-up underway shots
from another boat.
Hmmmmm.....let's see what else I can wish for.....Oh yes!....some
nice sunny weather and lots of your favorite cold beverage to sooth
your vocal cords from all *THANK YOUs!* you'll surely be shouting
out to folks who pass and call to you with,NICE BOAT!
Sincerely,
Peter Lenihan,high and dry(almost!) with WINDERMERE well covered in
saw dust.............
wrote:
> I will be putting my Topaz in at Flamingo at the endLucky Devil!!
> of the month, and spending five days or so cruising
> Florida Bay and the Keys.
Have a nice,safe,trip Sam .Also,do try to get some photos of your
TOPAZ in all sorts of lovely settings,and here is a tough one,see if
you can't bribe someone to take some nice close-up underway shots
from another boat.
Hmmmmm.....let's see what else I can wish for.....Oh yes!....some
nice sunny weather and lots of your favorite cold beverage to sooth
your vocal cords from all *THANK YOUs!* you'll surely be shouting
out to folks who pass and call to you with,NICE BOAT!
Sincerely,
Peter Lenihan,high and dry(almost!) with WINDERMERE well covered in
saw dust.............
I will be putting my Topaz in at Flamingo at the end
of the month, and spending five days or so cruising
Florida Bay and the Keys. I'd appreciate any
information on conditions (water clarity? algal
blooms?) in Florida Bay in late summer, plus
suggestions for a cruising itinerary suitable for the
Topaz, a very shallow draft 30' Bolger skiff. Thanks, Sam
__________________________________________________
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of the month, and spending five days or so cruising
Florida Bay and the Keys. I'd appreciate any
information on conditions (water clarity? algal
blooms?) in Florida Bay in late summer, plus
suggestions for a cruising itinerary suitable for the
Topaz, a very shallow draft 30' Bolger skiff. Thanks, Sam
__________________________________________________
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>http://hallman.org/bolger/ClamSkiff/ccskiff1024.jpgAn example of lovely Bolger fenestration.
>
I wonder if windows with the rounded corners would look
good on Birdwatcher? I don't like the originals much.
With a nod to Lennihan and dictionary.com for enlarging my vocabulary
along the banks of the Eno,
Justin