{"id":509,"date":"2016-01-24T05:20:29","date_gmt":"2016-01-24T05:20:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/narrowboatingforbeginners.com\/wordpress\/?page_id=509"},"modified":"2017-12-06T20:01:06","modified_gmt":"2017-12-06T20:01:06","slug":"the-narrowboat","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/narrowboatingforbeginners.com\/wordpress\/the-narrowboat\/","title":{"rendered":"The narrowboat"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

N<\/span>arrowboats live up to their name. They\u2019re less than seven feet wide and a boat that can comfortably accommodate four passengers is about 60 feet long. They\u2019re steered from the rear by a person standing in the open turning a tiller. Some private boats are equipped with a steering wheel and a covered stern, but you\u2019re unlikely to hire such a boat.<\/p>\n

\"Line
The throttle or speed lever is very simple: push forward to go forward and pull back for reverse, the farther you push or pull the faster you go forward or back. On some throttle levers, you press a button to shift to neutral. On others, you pull the throttle away from the box to shift to neutral.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Starting up<\/h2>\n

Narrowboats are powered by a diesel engine in the rear of the boat. The engine goes \u201cputt-putt-putt,\u201d but not so loudly to be annoying and you won\u2019t even hear it from the front of the boat. Starting the engine is a simple procedure but there are a number of steps you have to follow.<\/p>\n

\"Line<\/a><\/p>\n

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    \n
  1. First, put the throttle in neutral (by pressing a button or pulling the throttle out)<\/li>\n
  2. Insert the ignition key into the control panel. There are many different types of panels, but most will give you warning lights to indicate low oil level, engine overheating, glow plugs and battery levels.<\/li>\n
  3. Turn the key to the ON position\u2014you\u2019ll hear an obnoxious tone indicating you have battery power. Then turn the key to the GLOW plug position (looks like a light bulb in the picture above), which heats the glow plugs. Leave in this position only a few seconds before \u2026<\/li>\n
  4. \u2026 turning key to the START position (light bulb with a curved arrow) and holding until the engine catches.<\/li>\n
  5. Once started, you can release the key, which will return to the run position. Press STOP to stop the engine before switching the key to the off position.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n

    <\/a>Bilge pump<\/h3>\n

    You may also be instructed to operate the bilge pump after starting the engine, but on many boats, it runs automatically.<\/p>\n

    \"noteDiesel engines don\u2019t have spark plugs and instead rely on the heat of compression to ignite the fuel, but a cold engine is hard to start, thus the glow plugs to heat the fuel before turning over the engine.<\/p>\n


    \n    \"Line<\/a><\/p>\n

    <\/a>Layout<\/h2>\n

    The layout of most boats is similar. There\u2019s open seating in the front that\u2019s not very comfortable but you can\u2019t beat the view. The best seats face forward. Some seats (benches, actually) face backward, requiring you to turn around to see ahead.<\/p>\n

    \"noteAlways push<\/strong> the rear hatch completely open during the day. Even moderately tall people (5\u20198\u201d) can easily whack the top of the head on the edge of the hatch if it\u2019s not completely open. Stepping out through the double doors in the front of the boat is also tricky. And after tying up the stern line, make sure the tiller is not over you when you stand up. It took two nasty bruises before I learned to check for this.<\/p>\n

    If you\u2019re of unusual statue or girth, negotiating the interior of a narrowboat can be a challenge. A 6-foot-tall person can stand upright inside most boats but a narrowboat roof is bowed and the walls slope inward. Traveling the length of a narrowboat is also a challenge. The passage next to the main berth and bathroom is quite narrow and those sloping walls don\u2019t help. You quickly learn to walk like an Egyptian. Carefully study the floor plan, especially the kitchen layout, of a boat you\u2019re considering hiring if you have difficulty negotiating sharp turns. The location of the counter opposite the sink is very important and when possible, choose a boat where the sink, cooker and refrigerator are on the same side of the boat.<\/p>\n

    \"noteCarefully inspect larger boats before you leave the boat hire. These are difficult for the boat hire to clean in the turnaround time and partiers find ingenious places to leave behind unpleasant surprises.<\/p>\n

    <\/a>Pricing<\/h2>\n

    If you go online to book a boat, you\u2019ll need to specify the number of passengers, which canal, length of stay and the departure date. Boat hires sort their boat by number of passengers, number of toilets, amenities and stern styles. Those criteria go into assigning a boat to a pricing band. That price band is sort of a multiplier when calculating the cost of a boat on a certain day. You\u2019ll pay more for that boat in the summer, less in the fall and spring. Bank holidays also affect pricing.<\/p>\n

    The number of passengers is probably the biggest criteria in assigning a boat to a pricing band and it also determines the length of the boat. A 2-4 person boat comfortably fits two, a 4-6 person boat comfortably fits four, and so on. The upper passenger limit is about 12 and these are essentially party boats.<\/p>\n

    Larger boats generally have bunk beds or single beds on either side or both. A dinette table usually converts to a double bed. A narrowboat double bed is quite narrow and short, however the aisle side of the double bed in the center of the boat usually has nothing at the foot, so a larger person can stretch out without disturbing the bedding, made easier because of the lack of a top sheet (See<\/span> \u201cDuvets\u201d Life on Board<\/span><\/a>).<\/p>\n

    Realistically most boats are very similar and often amenities such as a second toilet, Wi-Fi, a microwave, extra closets or a fireplace can significantly affect how much you pay.<\/p>\n

    <\/a>Single toilet<\/h3>\n

    Four people can probably share a single toilet for a mid-week break (four nights, return early the fifth day) assuming no intestinal distress, but not an entire week (seven nights, return the eighth day).<\/p>\n

    In my experience, there\u2019s no problem with four people sharing a single toilet except at night. In the example boat layout on the previous page, you\u2019ll see that on the Axbridge, someone sleeping on the dinette double in the front of the boat can reach the main bathroom without passing by the people sleeping in the double bed in the middle of the boat. On the Wensleydale, however, the person sleeping on the dinette double must open a door to get to the bathroom, possibly awakening the sleepers in the double bed. And on the Wensleydale, the person sleeping on the double bed in the rear of the boat also has to open a door to get to the bathroom.<\/p>\n

    The Wensleydale, though still a very nice boat, has another disadvantage compared to the Axbridge. The kitchen arrangement makes it difficult for people to pass one another. You quickly learn to back up or sit at the dinette to let someone through. These are admittedly minor quibbles, but after a week on a boat with four people, the little things add up.<\/p>\n

    Of course the Wensleydale is a cheaper boat than the Axbridge because it\u2019s shorter and has the single bathroom, but you may decide that in the long run you\u2019d be better off with the more expensive boat, especially if you have to unexpectedly rush back to the marina to pump out that single toilet\u2019s storage tank.<\/p>\n

    \"tipA shorter boat, while it may be cramped or lack some luxuries, is a little more maneuverable, especially in a narrow canal. A very short boat, like a day boat, however, is a little too<\/em> maneuverable.<\/p>\n

    You\u2019ll also be surprised how little things like the fact that the Wensleydale has sliding doors for the central bedroom gets very annoying. As the boat lists (tilts), the doors will unexpectedly slide open or shut because the latches that hold the door in place are easily dislodged. You can walk through a door, turn around because someone called your name and then walk right into a closed door when you turn around! The Axbridge also had many more little shelves to hold belongings, which becomes very important. So when looking at a price band, realize some of the little things are important.<\/p>\n

    Then again, how do you put a price on the fact that when other boaters pass the Wensleydale, they shout, \u201cCheese, Gromit!\u201d<\/p>\n


    \n

    \"Sectional<\/a>
    A traditional stern such as would be found on actual working boats only has enough room for one or two people at the tiller<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
    \"Sectional<\/a>
    A semi-traditional stern is common on hire boats and has seating in front of the tiller<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
    \"Sectional<\/a>
    Cruisers sterns are popular because they allow several people to stand at the rear of the boat<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

    Stern styles<\/h3>\n

    Your choices are traditional, semi-traditional or cruiser style, but few boat hires offer traditional, which provides only enough space for the person at the tiller to stand (it does, however, offer more cabin space). Semi-traditional has two benches on either side of the boat in front of the tiller, protected by side walls but open to the top. This allows several people to keep the boat driver company but takes away from cabin space and so is usually found on longer boats. The cruiser stern is larger with a half-moon railing to allow others to perch beside the driver. Several people can occupy a cruiser stern, but remember to leave space for full turns of the tillers.<\/p>\n

    \"noteI prefer the cruiser stern because there\u2019s more room to stand in front of the tiller, making it easier to gauge clearances when passing through bridges and entering locks. Cruiser sterns have probably also saved a few people from falling off the end of the boat although that might be balanced against those people who\u2019ve fallen off the railing and into the canal.<\/p>\n

    <\/a>Conveniences<\/h3>\n

    Conveniences include microwaves, extra closets, shelves, Wi-Fi, multiple three-prong outlets, airing cupboards (where you can hang damp clothes), additional toilets, wood stoves, toaster, coffee maker. Some boat hires offer first-class boats that feature expensive wood paneling and granite counter tops. Such boats usually are longer.<\/p>\n

    Consider yourself fortunate if you hire a boat with Wi-Fi, but test the connectivity before you leave the boat hire. Ask for help if you can\u2019t connect but don\u2019t be surprised if the hire staff gives you a blank look. They\u2019re probably a lot more knowledgeable about turning a lock than upgrading your OS. Of course even if you can connect to the router, it only works if the boat is in cellular range and often speed and data are limited. The Wi-Fi is there to check your email, not binge watch Netflix.<\/p>\n

    \n

    Create a checklist of questions to ask and skills to learn when picking up your boat. You\u2019ll want to know how to:<\/p>\n