208. Widebeam "narrowboats" on the British canals; the pros and cons

#narrowboat #narrowboats #canal #canals #liveaboard #cruisingthecut
If a traditional narrowboat that's 6'10" wide is just too limited in width for you then you might want to consider a widebeam for the canals of Britain. However, there are limitations on such craft so in this video I talk to widebeam owners Julie and Mark Weir about their experiences on a boat with an 11' beam.
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Theme music: "Vespers" by Topher Mohr and Alex Alena, from the KZbin music library

[@RealLuckless]

Kitchen in the back just makes logical sense: Means you're closer to the hot tea while underway...

[@jameswitte5167]

And cheese sandwiches ...

[@davidelliott5843]

Don’t need a kitchen to make a cup of tea. Just stick a kettle in the back.

[@AKUJIVALDO]

@@davidelliott5843 and when wife makes sandwiches and tea/coffee while you driving/piloting you can still chat if you have electric/hybrid boat...

[@AnnaMarieKenward]

Exactly. Lol

[@jordanroark1552]

As a relatively landlocked American, I love following this channel and seeing where your adventures take you! Of course I knew canals were a thing in England, but I had no idea the scale of them and that there were people who chose to live afloat them. Thank you for documenting this lifestyle for those of us unable to witness it in person!

[@MrSheckstr]

The Americas got a late start on the canal business, which means what canal remain are the large scale industrial kind that would not be ideal for recreational living like what the narrow boat canals of the UK.

[@chuckkline2970]

What a nice couple. They really explained it well in my opinion. Good luck and happy living to you both.

[@dmwi1549]

Surprising that with the last 30+ years of canal restoration and improvement there has not been a project to link the North and South wide boat accessible canals. Very nice boat!

[@Random-rt5ec]

I live in New England Boston, MA & after watching your videos I wish we had a canal system here

[@mikeu5380]

Cheers from northern Japan. You might take a look at William Least Heat Moon's account of his cross-continental travels in his book "River Horse." ...and become inspired!

[@thomastrout9997]

Great subject matter and excellent presentation. Formidable production and I thought the editing was particularly nice. Love it when you stretch your reporter muscles...

[@Innerspace100]

Agreed! David has a past in regional news television and really shows it here. Great little repotage piece, this, and I hope we'll get to see a bit more of that in the future. He's properly good at it(!).

[@mattl1811]

"Call of the Wide" made me chuckle... great couple, great interview, beautiful boat!

[@Cnupoc]

im from eastern europe and my father had a dream to buy a boat like this for the rivers in Russia. He never achieved it tho. I'm 35 now and i found your channel randomly, after a few videos on these boats, it looks like his dream translated in to mine now. This boat is fantastic!

[@paulie-g]

Wouldn't work on Russian rivers between the flat bottom that requires very calm water and nowhere near enough power to deal with currents. You need a keel and a bit of power. A small old river barge would be ideal to build on.

[@AKUJIVALDO]

@@paulie-g nonsense, my boy. Yes, big rivers need boat side be higher and more powerful engine. But keel? Not really. 57 feet narrowboat weight about 15 tones. And OP wants wide beam. Which mean even more weight in the bottom of the boat. Then there is ballast...and interior furniture, furnishings, ect... If you find cheap hull, yes you can use the barge hull too, but it is not necessary.

[@marshalllhiepler]

I like the widebeam design. But, people must understand; they are not for the narrow-minded.

[@EdGreenberg]

groan

[@for.tax.reasons]

LOOK AT ALL THIS SPACE FOR ACTIVITIES. I'm so glad we're carrying on with the series where you go poking around other people's boats it's all I've ever wanted from life

[@wbharris1031]

They would have even more space if they build bunk beds lol.

[@johnvititoe6051]

I really appreciate your clear, concise and CLEVER narration. Outstanding vlogs.

[@snchilders]

Excellent segment. Thanks for taking us aboard a wide beam.

[@acerone10]

Nice to see Julie and Mark and of course Eric. Thanks David for the tour.

[@tvideo1189]

My wife and I brought our 43 foot long 24 foot wide trimaran down from Cleveland via the Erie canal, then down the Hudson and ICW back here to Florida. We tried to be as courteous as possible in narrow stretches about giving way... and so did everyone we met. A little courtesy goes a long way.

[@phil18751]

One of my Favourite vids so far, what a lovely couple and a great Interview, well produced got them on the boat in there comfort zone, it was like I was there having a chat and a cuppa with them.

[@annabodhi38]

That dog, lol! What an amazing way to live. They are such a lovely couple, and they seem to be very happy. Thank you for the video and for all your hard work. It is appreciated.

[@justinehayward2553]

Another great and informative film. We considered a wide beam. We ended up renovating a 70’, slightly by a few inches, wider narrowboat. It’s surprising that with having 7 people stay one time, it never felt cramped or tight- surprised us. We went for the bed at the back that can be folded up and has its own door- the kids also side cabins with their own doors-(remember Grey Lady on a YT broker’s website?) On the other hand, the living room lacks that Squareness for discussions and does have its limitations without a doubt. I occasionally wonder if we made the right choice. Anyway, time will tell. They seem two very happy people, happy with their choice. All the best.

[@nagak112]

One Hundred Thousand(101k now) Subs. Well done Mr.David. Outstandingly good content, enjoyable even for a global audience who may never get onboard a narrow boat ever but still enjoy your videos for the scenery, the quality & narration.... Quite Brilliant. Good luck and I wish more people discover your content

[@MKelly5967]

Outstanding! Answered so many of the questions I’ve had since getting interested in the canals. Thanks to them for letting you film and thank you for another great video.

[@ringding1000]

A great episode! Thank you for the closer look at all the different aspects of canal life. As a Yank, I would never have guessed that "wide" boats were a thing.

[@gregarioussolitudinist5695]

used to live in a single wide trailer, it was 14 wide by 65 feet long. Had three bedrooms and two full bathrooms. Master had its own full bath with garden tub and small walkin closet. It was laid out very similar to this boat with the difference being it had doors on the two long sides.

[@oleander3489]

Fantastic video .. really get a different perspective of other boat sizes .. such a loverly couple

[@joecousins8363]

Great video, that Dutch barge looked fantastic!

[@jsabo7098]

An excellent look into another option on some canals. Excellent cutaway to the map with narrow only canals faded out. Very informative. Great vlog!

[@williamreimund9001]

I like your videos showing other people's boats, different style boats, and talking to them about how their life is! Keep up the good work thanks for doing this!

[@calci2679]

I LOVE your narration. Your journalism background really does come in handy! Your videos are so professional and nice!

[@pattiwhite9575]

Now that is a nice boat. She has done a bang up job decorating. It feels so comfy.

[@juliomartinho7216]

Wend i lived in the UK i lived in a narrow boat in the canal!!! I was in Lower Park Marina in Barnoldwisk near Colne in Lancashire😃 I love it!!! The boat name was the Cats whisper and its was great!!! Now im Living in Portugal up in the Mountains!!! I miss the UK ❤️

[@douglynch8442]

Was curious about widebeams, thanks for the video and a 1st hand perspective.

[@starwater9828]

"The Call of the Wide" - full marks for some of these titles!

[@dawnym3943]

Brilliant vlog! I love that narrow boaters (and wide beamers!) have started to vlog together, showing different styles of living, opinions and a general camaraderie amongst you all! Keep it up, all your vlogs are so inspiring ⛴❤️

[@karenmsuk]

I am not a youngster and, having grown up on and around the canals, there has always been a group of narrow leisure boat owners who think there should not be wide beams. However, wide locks were designed to take wide boats as they could haul more and generate more revenue for the canal owners. So, technically, if you are on a canal with wide locks and you are a wide beam, you have, this is the controversial bit, more right to be there. The other thing to remember is the CRT need all the income they can get in order to maintain and improve. I have seen what disuse and neglect can do. Waterways fall into disrepair, less traffic uses it, more disrepair as nobody is using it and before you know it the stretch is closed and then needs a group of people who care to get together and fight tooth and nail to get it reopened. Just my opinion but food for thought.

[@MatthewHuntley1961]

Great video. I always enjoy your work! As a technical person, I do have to say; properly done wiring is Never Overdone. It sets things up for ease of maintenance.

[@Ben-311]

“And there’s Eric for scale.” Lol, nicely done!

[@10p6]

Awesome. You answered all the questions I never got around to asking. Sucks though that the main sections of the canals for wide beam are not connected together. I shall design my narrowboat with slide-outs like on a RV.

[@millomweb]

Could be tricky with water seals ! I did wonder about a double-decker where the top deck slides off the back to become a 'trailer' for going through tunnels. And then when you need shortness for locks, you stack !

[@marcmetcalfe1820]

You read our mind!! What a great vlog. Mark and Julie are where we want to be!

[@matthewoliver6655]

Very good, thank you for posting this video. I like the idea of a wide beam, but I think I would go with a narrow beam. They seem cozier and they get everywhere

[@francissmith9443]

I have been enjoying your canal narrowboats videos. I'm American, but I lived in London from 2004-2007. On walks in the greener parts of London, I would sometimes go across canals and see these narrowboats and wondered what was in them. I knew one lady at my church in central London who lived on a canal boat. I never got to go inside one in person, so your videos opened my eyes to canal boat interiors and the canal boat life. I love these boats.

[@hanshendriksen72]

David, congrats for reaching a 100K! Onwards and upwards!

[@derekelliott3971]

It wasn't long enough! I was really enjoying that! Congratulations on the 100K David

[@clearlake3492]

Derek Elliott It wasn't long enough? Surely 65 feet is more than ample....

[@maxboonkittypoison]

I agree with you it was not long enough.

[@Richardparent879]

They have the right mindset, quality of life is one with no stress and joy of the simplest things in life! Fresh air and beautiful scenery! Envying you all!

[@Jennifer62389]

My cousin mentioned this site and I checked it out loving England. This Narrow boat is very nice, spacious, comfortable and pretty good storage. And going down those waters seems so peacful.

[@endlesssabbatical9612]

congrats on the 100k subscribers. excellent content

[@dennisporter753]

Very nice wide beam .. they are a nice couple as well.. thanks for sharing! Cheers..

[@srqlisa7881]

The contraversy between wide and narrow is silly that is like saying a fiat shouldn't share the road with a rolls royce. I like the wides now that I see this one (my first). thanks for sharing. : ) peace

[@Hayes955]

I'd really like to see a video on one of those dutch barges. This is all so interesting.

[@PoppysMum2]

Really enjoyed that. Very balanced view. And fab to see Mark and Julie looking relaxed and happy

[@leslielutz1874]

David. This is fantastic. I love love love the information on canal boats you share with your viewers like me. That's one major reason why I'm here. I love your channel, great work.

[@michaelpilling9659]

Great film. Superb information. Thank you to Julie and Mark for letting us into your wonderful home.

[@VanderlyndenJengold]

... and Eric.

[@thehealthjunkie8996]

Beautiful boat, I love it. Great little interview!

[@sidneybowerman558]

It's a typical wet n windy Bank holiday, much to wet for the allotment. However I have had a great couple of hours delivering coal and diesel from a narrowboat, and then sitting in on a chat with a lovely couple who have a widebeam. My thanks over the years David for your videos never seem enough.

[@minnesotaboy]

Thank you for the nice look into another style of boat. Choices are good things!

[@Sam-pn2kc]

100k subs well done

[@hottubmobileneil]

I am not Neil , You have a lovely cozy home , I can see why you love it . Thanks for sharing

[@bctruck]

I lived in the cab and sleeper of an 18 wheeler for 40 years. Now, retired, I could adapt quite readily to a narrow boat. What an interesting life! I’ll be stuck aground until I die but it is nice to see another lifestyle.

[@GeorgeWMays]

I am absolutely fascinated by these things. Thanks so much for sharing your videos. Greetings from Texas.

[@sherlockholmes6632]

Congratulations you got there in the end 100k.

[@leedesigner1977]

Really enjoyed this, feel like I’ve been wanting you to cover widebeams for ever 😂 Proper chuffed. I feel a standard narrowboat is the way forward for me still though. Thanks David. Lee

[@kenwilliams2219]

Beautiful craftsmanship on that boat. Very fun and good for them to follow their dreams.

[@judycurtis44]

Thank you David for a very informative blog. I've often wondered what life was like on a wide boat and that was perfect. It answered all questions. Keep up giving me a great narrrowboat experience, I love "touring" with you. 😻😻

[@graceygrumble]

We have the expression 'Live and let live', from the Dutch, I think, with those barges! ;) Seriously, if you're on the canal there is no hurry. If you have a problem with widebeams, it's not the widebeam owners who are at fault. It's you who's got a problem.

[@janoswimmer1042]

Lovely videos, keep up the good work! I got addicted to watch them!

[@johnmcgovern6551]

I just love your commentary. Keep them coming.

[@petegaskell4274]

I ended up here after the 'exploring alternatives' video and so pleased to see you stuck with it. Obviously from your profession you make these videos a pleasure to watch. I'm considering this life style after 3 years fulltiming in my motorhome, seems like the obvious choice as I don't think i can stay in the same place now! Looking forward to being educated by your channel, cheers

[@mickeverett3835]

I lived on a narrowboat for 15 years, and loved it. The only reason I gave it all up, was to move to Canada, which I certainly do not regret. Interesting tour of this couple's wide beam boat, but why did the tour not include the most important bit, the engine room ?

[@jillosler9353]

Possibly because the engine room on both narrowboat and wide beam are the same? This vlog was about the differences in space.

[@Anonymous-wq2uy]

12:34 what he says makes so much sense, I was working 12 hour shifts at Rathbones Bakery in Wakefield working close to 24 shifts a month so I could earn £2200 a month. My wife is from abroad and one day she explained how living expenses in her home country would be about £250 a month (including eating out once or twice a week). So I started looking into it and about 6 months later we have moved. Wifes father gave us an acre of land next to there house and I've built a 2178 sq feet single story house. Its cost me £25,000. Best decision I've made my life and I'll never look back. My electric bill last month was about £22 that's because we have two roof fans running 24/7 also four outdoor bulbs running through the night. My gas bill was £1.75 for the month. Yes thats not a typeo it was £1.75.

[@Garethprice1979]

Where did you move to?

[@robgazzard4432]

Really glad you have done a vlog on widebeams. More please!

[@pmoraisjr]

Love this video and the information about the wide boat. Thanks!

[@tazb7742]

Love the widebeam!

[@oldmanhuppiedos]

Find the Cavalier king charles blenheim the most beautiful. The electrical installation is nicely executed.

[@nsn73]

I like their good attitude about the cons of wide boat living. I enjoyed the video!

[@paulstanding7267]

Thank you for an amazing and informative vlog as you and the couple said it is down to what you want wide or narrow and where you want to go on the canals 😀👍👍

[@mjadams8070]

That discussion was very interesting. Gives one an inside view of owning a narrow/widebeam boat and cuising the canals. It's the resentment in sharing the waterways, which isn't owned by anyone, that amazed me.

[@justbreakingballs]

It’s not that hard to understand, basically someone who has scraped a basic living on a narrow boat by choice for years and years in a traditional way probably would be prone to a perspective that isn’t too forgiving on these two. They could be viewed as basically rich people living the “good” life by blocking up the canals because they want a boat the size of an apartment. It can’t even navigate the network because it so large. They don’t want to give up their space so think I will just have a nice huge boat, because I’m rich and can so good for me. If every one had a huge boat the canals would be screwed but they can’t and may choose not to because the canal is really suited to narrow boats but we do want one.The point about a huge boat historically being on the canal is limited. Just because an exceptionally large boat operated probably for commercial reasons doesn’t mean everyone could say for example operate a boat that size because it would ruin the canals. That’s the same as here, narrow boats are in existence on the canal and called narrow because they needed to be! These wide beam boat owners will be seen by some as sticking two fingers up and saying I’m all right jack look at my kitchen the size of house and I throw party’s good for me. I can see why “traditional” narrow boaters will view them extremely unfavourably, they probably won’t be accepted by some and disliked by certain sections as rich professionals clogging up the network to live “their dream” by moving an apartment on to the water. That’s my guess on the issues. I personally have never been on a canal boat let alone lived on one but it’s easy to see the potential issues. As a comment said above it’s basically a class war.

[@cmw12]

Someone must be campaigning to widen one or two canals to join the north and south for wide beams…

[@McRocket]

I had seen a few wider boats in your videos (I believe) and I wondered what they were like. Now I can wonder no more. Thank you for this.

[@-thejediorder-6199]

I love canal boating it looked so fun!

[@MichaelsMustang]

Very interesting, I do like the extra space, I actually like the open plan as you have the opportunity to change the interior as your life evolves and is far less complicated buying new furniture than moving a fixed Dinete and lounge.

[@thaterisafella6080]

Professional as always, a thoughtful presentation and surely encouragement that the canals are there for us all to enjoy. Julie's enthusiasm for adventures anew and Mark's generosity of spirit in giving way to the narrower boat, showed that the widebeams don't want to be masters of the canal, merely same-minded enthusiasts with the same rights as others. And Eric? He showed equally good manners - barely a trace of a snore. P.S. Congrats on the 100K - a massive target and well deserved.

[@lindasmith6654]

That is a beautiful boat. Thanks for the tour.

[@markwoodcock01]

Really enjoyed this video, excellent filming and great information from the couple who are living it. Thank you

[@mikeb1013]

Great video as always. I do worry how long the canal lifestyle can continue at the current rate of people moving to live on it. There are 2,200 miles or 3,500 kms of canal. At the last count there were over 38,000 registered canal boats. That means if every boat went out on the open canal rather than many sat in large marinas, there would be only 92m of canal for every boat - and the boat length has to come out of that figure. A rather sobering thought.

[@michaelb2388]

Yes but if every car came out onto the roads there would only be 10 metres for each car... Oh wait a minute, that IS what happens! 😂

[@t1n4444]

A very, very good point indeed. Worth a Google ref the IWA and other residential boaters' forums. Some of you will have seen the IWA's response to HMG's questions on pollution, published just a week or two ago. In short I gather there are "plans" afoot to address this very issue of space but in an indirect way. (This issue was being discussed quite a few years ago, and, several propositions put forward on topics such as linear moorings have emerged since.) However, since then other issues have arisen such as this recent "awareness" about the climate change and atmospheric pollution problem. Several cities have already decided they will ban diesel exhaust emissions at certain times and that these regs "might" extend to the waterways in said cities, namely London, Bristol and Oxford. Plenty more info online if interested. One of the solutions being discussed is to remove linear moorings and oblige residential boaters to moor in marinas, hook up to shore power and use electricity for heating and of course lighting. No mention of cooking as such. Very few marinas able to supply high capacity electricity feeds to run an electric hob of oven. Ergo cooking with (LPG) gas looks to continue for a while longer. Constant cruisers can continue to do so but may be obliged to fit DEFRA approved wood burners, burn only "approved" fuels and so on. There is even mention of burning "approved diesel fuel" in the respect of how much bio diesel is included in the overall fuel. Heritage boats might be exempt but by no means certain what the (new?) regs might allow. This part was included in the section regarding mitigation of pollution. Some comments expressed on electrically powered boats, including hybrid systems, and the need to install the massive infrastructure of charging points. According to the article the inland waterways question was interrupted by the recent general election. We can expect this issue to go through parliament "later"; it is only on hold. Not mentioned in the Paper, so I speculate here, is that the hire fleet industry would like to see the end of residential linear moorings so as to allow more moorings for the hire boats. We live in interesting times as they say. Plus it would tidy up the towpaths so that walkers and cyclists would find the environment a lot more conducive to actually use said towpaths.

[@bazzahead7282]

I absolutely love your vlogs!!!

[@robsin2810]

Thank you David, for another perspective on canal boats. As always, great job, mate🇦🇺👍🙏

[@oldsteam3618]

Really in joy your post. Jolly good time mate. Thank you.

[@kiereluurs1243]

Ow, I didn't expect thàt interior! Very neat.

[@barrywiddowson7987]

So glad to have you back on channel even if not so frequently

[@CruisingTheCut]

Cheers but this is an old video!

[@Beansswtf]

@@CruisingTheCut Certainly from February, just not this one unfortunately! :( Thankfully I only just started watching, so I have a few years of footage to catch up on lol!

[@snowmandanselzer7738]

Over here in the US, I would love to have one of those widebeam boats, but I would only be able to travel from Chief Joseph Dam to Azwell Dam15 miles. In the 1960s the government stopped putting locks in the Columbia River due to the faster moving water, not economically feasible for barge traffic. In the 1800s the Columbia was the main shipping for the area. They used steam boat until the came to faster spots and they would toe the boats and use anchors made out of boulders and pullies. I also want to congratulate you on all the subscribers.

[@centauri61032]

Move to the Mississippi river!

[@robinengland5799]

What a wonderful boat!!! Amazing!

[@moose7472]

I really like your content about others and culture of the canals.

[@CruisingTheCut]

Thank you

[@tobys_transport_videos]

I was virtually in love with the Narrowboat idea when I came across your channel a few months ago, now I'm hooked on the future possibility (after I become a Brit!) of getting a Wideboat and living on it somewhere north of Newcastle...

[@CruisingTheCut]

That'll be Scotland then, no English canals north of (or even up to) Newcastle...

[@williamsmith2919]

Yet another excellent video Davied. You must inspire a lot of people to consider the life afloat. Xx

[@CrazyPetez]

Good to see you back in 2020👍

[@elizabethannferrario7113]

thanks David , gorgeous dog who snores ! beautiful little man , x

[@MrThorp1]

the dog was my favorite part.

[@davehnh]

very interesting to see an alternative option

[@tonybirdwell2917]

Thanks for the info. on wide beams and the entertaining commentary.

[@LCdrDerrick]

I also have this foldable IKEA dinette in my 'narrow flat', you can see on the side and it is not the worst compromise to make for e.g. a nice workout or training area. I'm quite sick of paying rent and I always considered to living in or on an expedition vehicle or a socalled tiny house to cramped for longer periods of time. But I'm so in love with your lifestyle, the boats and the landscape! Even the narrower narrow boats have acceptable galleys, storing areas and beds for my taste. I didn't even know that Britain has this canal network and culture! You are lucky people!

[@clivewitcomb2839]

Usual stellar commentary - especially on the well deck in the morning ;P X

[@dennismckee6162]

SMH, because I became unreasonably excited when I heard we would hear Eric snore in the interview.

[@wsatnutter9674]

great vlog and yes each to there own both narrow and wide they are lovely so each to their own

[@jnelson0615]

Thanks for this. So many questions that I had about wide beams answered.