Canal Life

As editor of a yachting magazine and a couple of sailing websites, I am used to seeing everything from dinghies to cruising and racing yachts, motor cruisers and rigid inflatable’s. But narrow boats like this are a different matter.

They are built to sail Britain’s inland waterways and canals, and have evolved into pleasure craft from the original cargo carrying duties from one part of the country to another.

Today, the Canal and River Trust, which succeeded the old British Waterways, a couple of years back, tells me it cares for 2,000 miles of historic waterways on which there are estimated to be at least 30,000 licensed narrowboats, and possibly as many as 5,000 more which are kept on private moorings.

This narrowboat was photographed this morning on the Grand Union Canal which leads from the heart of London, through the Chilterns to rural Warwickshire and on to Birmingham, although with several branches off.

I’m told the key element is that a narrowboat can be no more than seven feet wide to be able to navigate canals and narrow locks, although most are now just under that width.

Today they are used primarily for holidays and touring, or as permanent or part-time residences, are usually powered by modern diesel engines and As editor of a yachting magazine and a couple of sailing websites, I am used to seeing everything from dinghies to cruising and racing yachts, motor cruisers and rigid inflatable’s. But narrow boats like this are a different matter.

They are built to navigate Britain’s inland waterways and canals, and have evolved into pleasure craft whereas they were originally intended for carrying cargo from one part of the country to another.

Today, the Canal and River Trust, which succeeded the old British Waterways, a couple of years back, cares for 2,000 miles of historic waterways on which there are estimated to be at least 30,000 licensed narrowboats, and possibly as many as 5,000 more which are unlicensed and kept on private moorings.

This narrowboat was photographed this morning on the Grand Union Canal which leads from the heart of London, through the Chilterns to rural Warwickshire and on to Birmingham although with several branches off.

I’m told the key element is that a narrowboat can be no more than seven feet wide to be able to navigate the canals and narrow locks, although most are now just under that width.

Today they are used primarily for holidays and touring, or as permanent or part-time homes, are usually powered by diesel engines and usually fitted out to high standards with Internal at least six feet headroom and come with all facilities from central heating to flush loos, showers and full cooking facilities, probably television and even broadband.

While I may be familiar with the terms of keelboat sailing, motor cruising and dinghies, I readily admit that canal boats are another world.

But as the Trust rightly points out our canals and rivers are national treasures, rich in history and wildlife. We must protect them for the future generations.