Navigating with a wide beam canalboat

In this video we talk about and show how easy or hard it is to navigate with a wide beam boat.
Sometimes it can be extremely tight and sometimes totally impossible.

[@Urbanfux]

Hi really enjoyed your video, I have seen loads of vids showcasing the beautiful interiors of the widebeam but this is the first showing how tricky it can be to manoeuvre. was really useful thank you 👍

[@leesaunders7535]

Thank you for documenting your boat and journey, I can not wait for our house to sell to start our journey on a Wide Beam, Videos like this help they really do, Keep it up.

[@Inspiration2022]

Thank you very much.

[@AnnaMarieKenward]

I remember Foxton locks from a narrowboat holiday many years ago. We did quite a few canal holidays when our kids were young.

[@peterclarkson7317]

Although the canal bed on wide canals is wide enough for wide beam boats, over the years the encroaching vegetation has started to take over. Reed beds being one of the worst offenders along with overhanging trees. Of course where the banking has slipped into the canal and build up of sediment does nothing to help. Just done the K&A in a narrowboat, and there were places we had to squeeze through, so not sure how the fat boats do it. They do it seems tend to stick to the western half I noticed

[@lowellirish]

Well, that settled it for me! I'm sitting on the fence as an American contemplating "wide beam, narrow? Locks? Bridges? Turn around?"...I like the idea of a wider boat, especially selling my 3,000 sf home on 3 acres of land, and moving into a closet...lol. BUT!! I think if it were a wide beam? 9 or 10 feet would suffice x 56'

[@shirleygreaves9650]

Gorgeous boat, thanks for showing how difficult navigating can be. X

[@pfirth]

Thanks for responding and sorry if I sounded pissy. I was expecting (for no particular reason) to see more of a tutorial on how to handle a wide beam boat in a narrow canal. I didn't know there were wide beam narrow canal boats, but would be interested in finding out more as canal boating is on my bucket list and sounds like 12' would be a lot more comfortable than 6'.

[@Inspiration2022]

Sounds like a good idea for a video that I could do in the future that's. If you have subscribed to the channel and you see a video as a tutorial it will be because you gave me the idea. 🤜

[@thomasmackenzie7811]

I'm such a worryer , I would be constantly stressed out about if I would fit !!!!! Other than that I Love your Boat!!!! Many Thanks 👍!

[@Inspiration2022]

Thank you very much. That's very kind. Is like anything when you get used to it it just becomes normal and easier.

[@caravanstuff2827]

I'm sure you've already thought of putting a camera on the front like a rear facing camera on mother homes and caravans that you can monitor on a screen in the bridge??.❤️🇬🇧

[@Inspiration2022]

@@caravanstuff2827 I do have cameras on the front and I can monitor but to be honest once you have got the neck with lots of practice it's not so difficult

[@dpfeehan2002]

great driving, I still think of living on a widebeam

[@Artimus128]

Bravo well done , useful info that 👏👏

[@trevorsbarkingmadchannel4501]

Wow are all the wide canals that tight ? Very pretty cruise tho. Best wishes

[@Inspiration2022]

Not all but you do come across narrow b quite often

[@foreversingle1975]

Well done

[@michaeldavies9533]

Hi, don't know why some narrow boaters seem offish with widebeam owners , because in older times they were mainly used by bargers.taking coal etc , maybe they need to be reminded, Regards from Hereford

[@JohnSmith-bx8zb]

Just a pity that there is not a wide beam route across Birmingham

[@369dabbler]

12.5 feet too wide 10.5 the sweet spot for me

[@LdevArt]

i would always prefer a widebeam. narrowboats are not big enough at 7 feet wide. but judging by the rooms in my house being big enough at 10 feet wide to fit everything in -that would be my preferance for a widebeam-and about 55 feet long

[@Inspiration2022]

A friend of mine has got a 10 ft x 60 ft and he is very happy with it. I think a 10 ft wide makes it a lot easier to handle and you definitely will have more options of where you can go. Mum's 12 and 1/2 ft. Wide. And it definitely restricts me.

[@Inspiration2022]

However, I do think it was the right choice for me and if I could get away with a 14 ft wide I would do

[@stevenscott6414]

Preshumaby you pay more for the size of your boat to be on the canals. For preshas little work being dun to acomadat your size. I thought a standurd narrow boat was hard presed in some stretchas. But a wide beam.! Do's it come with copeas amounts of vallium ?🤗🤔😁❤

[@Inspiration2022]

Yes, it can be a little stressful sometimes trying to navigate around especially through the tunnels but I wouldn't want to change that. It literally keeps you on your toes.

[@YoutubeHero666]

Jeezz love the wide beams but it's not exactly relaxing navigating! You did great.

[@Inspiration2022]

Thank you very much

[@stanleybuchan4610]

I've heard wide-beams are soon going to be hit with extra charges. True or not?

[@Inspiration2022]

The canal and River trust have been talking about this for quite some time. I personally wouldn't have an issue with paying a bit more but we take no more space up on the banks and mooring points than any other boat so the argument is. Would it be fair to charge wide beams more?

[@user-rj5kx8wr6y]

Seems like someone needs to design some middle-beams!

[@smiler7176]

There are - I have one.😀

[@YoutubeHero666]

@@smiler7176 what size is your boat? Who built it just so I can search and see what they look like

[@user-rj5kx8wr6y]

@@smiler7176 how wide? Hope you are getting enormous pleasure from it! I am guessing the width denies you access to a little more than the wide-beams, but not much?

[@icooper5236]

I want a widebeam but I'm fitting a CCTV camera on the bow with a monitor at the stern as backup

[@Inspiration2022]

I already have a CCTV camera system fitted to the boat with many security features. I did use the camera on the front and a screen from where I was steering from. The problem is you cannot see the scale properly and also there is a slight delay. For me it didn't work very well. After a while you just get used to the size and how to handle the boat. And good luck with the widebeam you get it I'm sure you won't regret it.

[@jemeriah]

Like threading a needle at arms length

[@JustmeandB]

Why so many weeds encroaching to the canals

[@Inspiration2022]

@@JustmeandB I think most people would say one of two reasons. One being it's good for encouraging wildlife and two it's cheaper for the canal and River trust not to bother dredging. I tend to think it's because it is cheaper

[@GrahamSwan-yi5gw]

We’re in the process of signing up for a 60 x 12 - would you recommend we reduce the beam? If so what would you suggest?

[@Inspiration2022]

No not till in fact I would suggest you go to 12.6 as you will save a lot of money on tax. As soon as you go to 12.6 you don't have to pay the dat because it falls in a different category and not a luxury. And wouldn't she have practiced? It will be very easy for you to handle

[@GrahamSwan-yi5gw]

@@Inspiration2022 thanks

[@GrahamSwan-yi5gw]

@@Inspiration2022 do you recommend the northern or southern wide beam canals?

[@Inspiration2022]

@@GrahamSwan-yi5gw I think there's beautiful areas all over the country. But if I really wanted to get the most out of the boat I would consider taking it over to France. The rivers and canals are absolutely beautiful over there.

[@nettienoodle20]

​​@@Inspiration2022Hi, am loving your videos, very informative, thank you. Please can you explain about the tax on wider boats? I am considering a 12.5ft but feel navigating a shorter 10ft ish beam would be easier for me as a small female solo cruiser. Thank you in advance.

[@pfirth]

I thought I was going to learn something about navigating

[@Inspiration2022]

What would you like to know? This video really was just to show how easy or hard it was to navigate the canal system with a wide beam. Not navigation as if it was a sea crossing where you would need charts compass etc. But if there's something I can help with I will try.

[@northernoz]

Do you have bow thrusters?

[@Inspiration2022]

Yes we had the boat built with the bow thrusters fitted. It was a no-brainer with the size of vessel this is. I'm a very capable boat handler but this makes it so much easier.

[@jamesyoung4309]

Loads of room

[@daviddishon642]

If I ever win the lottery I will be having a wide bean made to American specs which if in England could only travel on large rivers because they are 90ft by17

[@daviddishon642]

Ft

[@AngloSaxon449]

I'd live on a wide beam boat

[@T3sh1k]

I liked the content of this video but i have 1 huge complaint. playing music over your talking for the first half of the video was extremely annoying for me as i have hearing difficulties.

[@Inspiration2022]

Thanks for your input. I'm trying different ways of doing my videos and still don't know how to do it very well so try and error at the moment but I agree with you. I will try and do better

[@nettienoodle20]

I prefer no music whilst talking, and music during pretty scenes with no talking. Problem with music is we all like different music, I like relaxing music, others like upbeat. But it's your channel so go with what you like. Thank you for your videos, this was really helpful for me.

[@chrismoon7518]

Full size wide beams really should be confined to suitable waterways, its staggering to see them in the most inappropriate places.

[@Inspiration2022]

Please enlighten me. Why is it that you think full-size wide beans are not meant to be on wide canals? Such as the one I'm showing in the video.. do you not think that the canal and River trust should make more of an effort to keep the waterways clear for all uses??

[@Inspiration2022]

I also think we should have more wide beams on the canal system as they are a very attractive and people love to see them.

[@Chappers.Gaming]

The grand union is a suitable water Way it was designed for wide beams back in the days...

[@JohnSmith-bx8zb]

Sadly the situation is not helped with the actions of environmentalists who seem hell bent on changing the canal network from being navigations to some kind of linear wetland as we see on your vlog how the reed beds are being allowed to encroach into the navigation/ canal. Also there are areas that these reed beds have become ‘protected SSI’s’ so the bed and dredging the canal bed is now very difficult or prevented by legislation.

[@Hinhålesjälv]

Loved the video BUT please turn down your music a little :-)

[@Inspiration2022]

I will take it on board