Modern mass-produced boats are often narrower due to leaning hull sides and a 2meter wide base plate. These boats are typically made of steel, with some older boats featuring wooden or glass reinforced plastic (GRP) cabins. Widebeams are wider than narrowboats, and Dutch barges are larger still. The interior layout of a narrowboat is crucial for its enjoyment and long-term use.
There are different types of boats with varying dimensions, such as narrow beams, river cruisers, and wide beams. Canal boats come in various shapes and sizes, but narrowboats typically have a modest beam of around 6ft 10in. The interior of a narrowboat is an important factor in the enjoyment of time onboard, as it is where you will spend most of your time when not piloting the boat.
Narrowboats are rather tight on the inside, unless you have a massive widebeam. For most people, this compact nature can be made to be comfortable. Boats are built to be under 7 feet wide so they can pass through canal locks. However, there are recreational wide-beam “narrowboat-style” craft available, which tend to be about ten feet wide.
The interior of a narrowboat is essential for the enjoyment of your time onboard, as it is where you will be spending most of your time when not piloting the boat. There are different styles like traditional, semi-traditional, cruisers, and wide beams for a narrowboat.
In summary, narrowboats are generally 6 feet 10 inches wide, with a beam between 6ft 10in and 7ft. They are designed to fit through canal locks and are typically made of steel.
📹 Inside An Open-Plan Canal Boat in Central London | Design Notes
Rachel Allen welcomes us into her open-plan barge, situated in Central London. Designed, conceptualised and decorated …
How thick is the hull of a narrow boat?
The minimum steel thickness on the hull is 4mm for insurance purposes. Modern narrowboats typically use 10/6/4mm plating or steel thickness specifications, with 10mm on the hull base, 6mm on the sides, and 4mm on the roof. Blacking the hull is essential for maintaining boat condition and protecting it from rusting. It should be done every 2-3 years, with Two Pack Epoxy paint allowing 5-6 years before reapplying. While DIY hull blacking is possible, the time and effort required make it worth the cost.
How thick is the base plate on a narrow boat?
Modern narrowboats are typically built using 10/6/4mm plating or steel thickness specifications, with 10mm on the hull base, 6mm on the sides, and 4mm on the roof. Blacking the hull is essential for maintaining boat condition and protecting it from rusting. It should be done every 2-3 years, with Two Pack Epoxy paint allowing 5-6 years before reapplying. While DIY blacking is possible, the time and effort required make it worth the cost.
Can a narrowboat go on the ocean?
If you’ve purchased a conventional steel canal boat, your destinations are limited by its practicality, such as canals, rivers, and occasional tidal waters. Canal boats are not designed for going out to sea, so it’s essential to check your boat’s specifications to determine its limits. River cruisers and larger steel craft like Dutch barges may have a type rating for inshore coastal waters or further afield.
It’s also important to know the limits of how far inland you can go due to width, depth, and height, as well as the specific conditions and conditions. Therefore, it’s crucial to check your boat’s specifications and know your boat’s capabilities before embarking on a journey at 3 mph.
Can a narrowboat go to the sea?
If you’ve purchased a conventional steel canal boat, your destinations are limited by its practicality, such as canals, rivers, and occasional tidal waters. Canal boats are not designed for going out to sea, so it’s essential to check your boat’s specifications to determine its limits. River cruisers and larger steel craft like Dutch barges may have a type rating for inshore coastal waters or further afield.
It’s also important to know the limits of how far inland you can go due to width, depth, and height, as well as the specific conditions and conditions. Therefore, it’s crucial to check your boat’s specifications and know your boat’s capabilities before embarking on a journey at 3 mph.
How far do you have to move your narrowboat?
To renew your narrow boat licence, CRT requires that you cruise continuously, not just moving between mooring spots. They advise traveling over 15-20 miles for the duration of your licence. Work/school commitments and time constraints can affect whether continuous cruising is suitable for you. Weekends and evenings may be spent moving to new mooring spots, and sometimes visitor moorings may be fully occupied.
If you have a car, you need to factor in time to move it to the new location. Services like bank accounts, insurance, doctors, and dentists may not be available without a permanent residential address.
During winter, when weather is dire and stoppages and floods restrict movement, CRT Winter Moorings can be useful. These visitor moorings can be rented for up to three months at a reduced rate.
How wide is a narrowboat bed?
Longways and cross doubles are common installations on boats, with the lengthways bed using a standard 4′ wide mattress. The lengthways bed is easy to DIY construct and can be left made up, and linen is widely available. The bed aligns with the bow up attitude of the boat, and when correctly ballasted, the mattress remains level. However, the width restriction on narrowboats can be challenging, as the maximum width is 6 inches less than a standard double bed.
Cross doubles use a bed running across the boat, with the bottom hinged to fold away during the day. The mattress is in two or three sections, allowing for a full standard width bed of 4’6″ and even 5′ and 6′ mattresses if cabin space permits.
The disadvantages of cross doubles include daily stowing of the bed, uncomfortable heads-down tails-up nights, and the need for custom mattresses, which can be expensive for regular bed replacements. However, there are no issues with hogging the bed.
How wide is a 20 foot boat?
Small pontoon boats are vessels below 20 feet long, with varying types and sizes. 20 feet long boats are 8 feet wide and have a 7-foot beam. Compact or mini pontoons are smaller than 20 feet and are used for fishing and navigation in small waterways. They can comfortably accommodate up to six people and are suitable for personal use or small gatherings with friends. Compact pontoon boats are also suitable for families of three to six.
What boats are allowed on canals?
The organization is dedicated to preserving the ageing canal network and promoting water-based activities for all craft types. They offer a variety of boats, from canoes and kayaks to stand-up paddleboards, rowing boats, sailboats, open-powered boats, cabin cruisers, narrowboats, and widebeams. The organization supports boaters and holidaymakers to enjoy the beautiful waterways, regardless of their duration. Canoes are paddled with a single-ended paddle, while kayaks have a double paddle.
Both types offer affordable ways to own a boat, get fit, and have fun. The organization provides helpful information on canoeing and kayaking, including how to buy a license, on their website. The organization’s goal is to make life better by water and ensure that everyone benefits from the canal network.
How wide is a narrow boat beam?
Widebeam boats, which can be 10-12 feet wide, are not as versatile as narrowboats, which are capable of cruising on UK waterways. However, they can be utilized as a weekend residence with the option of weekend cruises. There are numerous locations across the UK that are conducive to widebeam cruising, offering both natural beauty and spaciousness. The Canal and River Trust offers guidance on navigating the network with widebeam vessels.
What is the interior width of a narrow boat?
A narrowboat typically has a beam of 6ft 10in to 7ft, while a barge can be twice the width, typically around 14. 5 ft. Wide beam canal boats are a range of vessels between these two. A first-time owner’s guide to buying a narrowboat can provide essential information, maintenance advice, and security tips to ensure a successful purchase. A barge can be twice the width, typically around 14. 5 ft., while wide beam canal boats are a smaller category.
What is the difference between a canal boat and a narrowboat?
Narrowboats are long, narrow vessels with a beam of 6ft 10in – 7 ft, designed for transporting heavy loads in shallow waters like the British Waterways. They typically have a beam of 6ft 10in – 7 ft, while barges can be twice the width, often around 14. 5 ft. Wide beam canal boats are in between these two types.
Historically, canal boats were used to ferry bulk cargo from metal foundries to industrial centers. However, they have since transformed into the residential and travel sector, providing homes on the water for canal boat owners and offering fantastic narrowboat holiday opportunities for people of all ages. Wide beam canal boats are typically found in between the two types. To book your next canal boat holiday, visit our website and learn more about narrowboats and barges.
📹 324. What are brand new luxury narrowboats like inside?
Join me on detailed tours through three brand new luxury liveaboard narrowboats, one widebeam, two cabin cruisers and a …
What a magical episode. I’m twenty-something and I’ve always been drawn to living in the country, coastal and surfing communities, every once in awhile I dream of living a colourful, cultured city life but am hesitate as I like the quiet, cozy and slow spaces. After perusal this I am perhaps considering a move. Thanks Rachel!
I visited the canal in London this past summer. It was wonderful to see all the barges and community around them. Right in the middle of the busy city you have this tranquil area. Truly magical. This barge home is absolutely gorgeous. Who knew that you could have an Arga on board! I love everything! Thank you so much for sharing! 😊💜
You are a true ambassador to your boat! ❤ it’s unreal! Robert Kline! Yes I see much influence! ❤❤❤❤ how lucky you are to have worked for him! i won a trip to Oxford years ago and saw all those gorgeous boats on the canal and wondered how magical it would feel to live in one! Now I know! The peacock chair is so perfect in your space and the art and linens make everything so cozy!
Stunning and magical! ✨and I somehow want to meet Rachel and her beautiful Westie (I think it’s a Westie). Her space and style are truly similar to mine (albeit hers is more elevated). This was wonderful (Also would not be me if I do not say “Is this where they shoot Peaky Blinders! Such a barge culture in that show).
PRICES: They’re all custom-built so price will depend on what you spec. Typically you’ll pay from maybe £150,000 upwards for a new narrowboat now, maybe £175k for a widebeam (but they can be zero VAT if for liveaboard use and meet certain criteria). The first boat in the article was approx £200,000. See also the live broadcast I did from the show, at youtube.com/live/3zqsT0dKSK8
I took my first trip in the very early ’70’s. And from that summer then till my dad passed away in 2006, it was narrowboating holidays every year. And as an angler, I loved them. Moor up at night. 1 hours fishing before dinner. Eat, wash up and then fish till it was dark. Get up early in the morning without waking the rest of the family up and it was fishing once again. The only caveat that my mum insisted on was if she found a maggot had escaped, then no more maggots as bait! Not one maggot escaped! I made sure of that! We even had a holiday in Easter one year. And bl00dy freezing it was too. The canal would be frozen over in the morning. We even went on the River Nene too and being in the top bunk, I woke up one morning and I couldn’t move my left arm. My pijama top was frozen to window. Things, 50+ years ago, were certainly not as luxurious as they are now with central heating, washing machines and even a replacement for me! A built in dishwasher (Geewhiz… Imagine how much more time I could have spent fishing back then?). EDIT Silly me. great article. It actually brings back some great, and frozen, memories en if they were touched by a tinge of sadness.
I especially loved the Stargazer. The extra long hatch and fully framed well deck are fantastic. I wouldn’t be surprised if more builders copy these, hopefully with their own variations. This is what a boat show is all about – evolution of design. One thing I want to add… I visited the boat myself and I must say the camera makes the boat look a lot more spacious.
Oh good, the juicy bits. Thank you for the good look see through the boats! While I appreciate the space afforded by the widebeam, I still would never go for that. Just doesn’t have the coziness of a narrowboat. Winced at the dishwasher. I don’t even have one in my home! Mine is a very small kitchen, praps built for Hobbits. 😊
David, great article, thank you! A question…..when you were on your own narrow boat you did quite a bit of upgrading to the electrics which I was impressed with. How does the the functionality and efficiency of what these new boats come with as standard compare to what you finally achieved? If you were buying one of these new boats, based on your experience, would you want any electrical system upgrades?
Thanks for posting this! I found it very interesting. I have been curious about these “river” boats. I do have some concerns. I do see some sharp corners on furniture and they can be dangerous. In my point of view those sharp corners are the hallmark of poor design. One picture showed sharp corners at the headboard of a bed.
I get a bit of nostalgia right now for the old days. 😀 I wonder what is going on the canals these days, are the number of boats on the canals going up, are the number of mooring places declining? I had the sense that housing developments are moving closer to the canals are perhaps not “appreciating” their neighbours.Might just be an unfounded fear I got. Have a great day good Sir, cheers 🙂
Narrowboats used to be a nice affordable new live aboard option, now they have somehow become an over priced luxury holiday toy for excess money. They have forgotten what a narrowboat’s purpose is (or was), such a shame, but bigger profits for excessiveness I guess (just as the camper van market has become).
The 60 ft Narrowboat to fit in every lock in the UK as 70ft will not with 12 mm plate bottom that did more miles than any boat I entercounted including original working boats . That included, Jacuzzi whirlpool bath/shower, the only on in the UK at the time ( possibly world ) with the first Bow Thrusher in the u.k. with full central heating and 2.5 kva diesel generator with twin eye level oven & microwave & 4 ring electric hob wother bowl and half thick metal stainless sink . Also a full spring double mattress bed with full 5 sear dining area that converted to full double bed and a lounge spring double bed settee . Also a full flushing toilet, bathroom with extraction fan . The log burning lounge fire twin sided solid brass sided with article & dvd player & television & separate car radio cd player with remote . Entire wood work made it solid oak with working front crache, seating 8 people . Rear deck for 6 adults with pull up/down weather roof with windows . Gold plated slide and top vent windows all along the side for better light . ( no solar as it hadn’t been invented ) I did all this myself 35 years ago !
Very nice throughout, the only thing I would like to say is, the compact washing machine would be a worry, if that fails and can’t be replaced what would go in it’s place, it’s something that would have not occurred to me, I have experience with this scenario back in the eighties, Servis marketed a compact washing machine, which was all well and good, the problems snowed balled when the washing machine failed, I estimated the repairs, that cost wrote the machine off, about a month later or so, we were back carrying out repairs as the customer couldn’t source a replacement that would fit in the spot, it would have been a hatchet job to get a standard 600mm wide machine in, Essentially a new kitchen, sadly just 18 months or so, the machine went wrong again, by that time the spares were no longer being made.
On the first boat,Stargazer, there was a combo washer/dryer unit and I always wonder how well they work – the dryer has to function without the normal lint traps as they are not compatible with a washer so I’m imagine lint and hair just ends up redeposited on the clothes ? Would love to hear for someone that has experience with this type of washer/dryer unit
Excellent coverage on the aspect of the bespoke boat but there can be a downside to having a boat built to order. Not all boats are built in a “reasonable” time frame. No names, no pack drill, but at least one boater is still on dry land after experiencing an “unexplained” delay of over three months in the completion/delivery of their boat.
With a cassette toilet do you still have a grey water tank for the sink & shower outflow or does it just go into the canal ? Even if you do have a pump out toilet does the other waste water still go overboard ? It’s been years since I rented a canal boat and I remember topping up the water every other day but never having to think about where it went to.
I’m still a little confused as to why they build these brand new narrowboats with a steel hull, considering modern construction materials and methods (and the fact most other river boats are fibreglass). I also wonder if you can get a version that has super-modern styling, to make it look close to the yachts and river boats you see being bought these days (both external and internal)?
Oh my gosh – that first one was brilliantly designed.Those integrated solar panels – yes! All the newer canal boats are great, but that first one’s use of space – whoa FABULOUS! The power boat – not so much. Lots of hob and oven space for which you’d presumably use pots and pans, but only a creepy little spit-sink to use for washing them? That’s a big NOPE for me. The wide boat is the size for DH and my wide bodies, lol 😂 Thanks as always David – so many of us in other countries live the canal life vicariously through you. Thoroughly enjoyable always! ❤
I’m more familiar with seagoing boats and comparing them to narrowboats is wild. Narrowboats feel like sailboats did around 15-20 years back. I imagine most of that is due to space limitations and that narrowboats allow for a much less self sufficient voyage. I wonder how long before we start seeing 100% electric narrowboats.
Should have been a Bosch compact dishwasher if they wanted true luxury. Looks like they loaded lots of mod cons for comfort but I suspect most of it would only work if you had a marina mooring not a continuous cruiser. Love that tiny zanussi designed by hobbits 😂 I never understood the point of a washing machine you could only wash a few small items in how do you wash your towels and duvet covers?
Looks hideous. Boating is now for the rich & retired with funds. Got my first boat in 1983 an old #1 life boat, 15ft beam, 30ft long, it cost £200. An old wood burner and a few hand tools, bish bash bosh I had a nice home. Now I’d need about £100,000 & about £2000 a year for paperwork. Preferred the old days.
1:45 – Not really blown away by the craftsmanship. The veneer is already damaged around the edges, the cut was made too far at the seat, and those enormous shiny handles clash with the overall style. Besides, wouldn’t you want something smaller and slimmer when the space is so limited to avoid banging against them?
Wow that WAS interesting. LOL I live in a superwide trailer…..Few years ago at Watervilet, NY, I got a ride on one of those, he had one with bed room gutted for seating, kitchen and bath, Hudson river into the lock, up to the next lock, a nice 90 minute ride on the Erie Canal. 50 hp Yanmar was so soothing. This just made my if I hit Powerball list.
They wont look like hat after a winter out on the cut! Then again, they seem designed for deep pocketed, marina based owners, who venture out when the sun is high and they can sip wine on the lovely upholstered well deck. Me. I’ll be ditching the cushions to make way for bags of coal, and grinding the mud and detritus from the towpath into every nook and cranny 😉
Greetings from Canada 🇨🇦 thanks for the presentation I understand that living on a barge or riverboats are more common in European countries with rivers than here unless you are living in Vancouver Toronto or Halifax ciao 😊 in Canada dollars its $345000 which is more affordable than anything else but it’s not for everyone living on the water
Great to see they still make the English canal boats these days. Even though it is not for the same purpose. Nowadays they are made for living and leasure. I still blame the English (actually i do’nt !) for inventing the “‘train”… In 1835 the first train on the continent ran in Belgium between Brussels and Mechelen. 25-30 years later they discovered coal in the Borinage (Belgium)… no more need for canals to transport coal, trains could do the job… Imagine Belgium with canals in stead of railways… We could all live in canal boats in 2024.
As far as affording one, if you plan to live in it, you just need good credit and a good job. I used my class A luxury motor home as a tax write off, because I lived in it while traveling around the U.S. following my construction work. It was also considered as a second vehicle, so I got a huge discount on my insurance!
Spent a week on a hire boat a while ago and the layout was identical to that of the hire boat shown here. While the weather was terrible, the boat was fantastic especially for a novice narrow boater single handing it. design and layout was perfect and really very comfortable. Could easily see myself spending a month or so cruising on it if I had someone to share the tiller time. Used to watch all your Vlogs, regretfully I dropped off when you sold the boat, but please accept the subscribe and like as an apology….I’ve got some catching up to do.
Good f’n gravy! What is it with the British and their egregious use of unstained white oak, like, everywhere?! All of the newer narrow boats I’ve seen on here are drenched in it, with the accompanying solid surfaces generally not doing any favors either – looking at you, creepy corrian countertops that absolutely clash with the painted cabinets and white-oak-everything-else! Notwithstanding, the oak floors in the first boat were beautiful (couldn’t they have just stopped there?), and I dig the painted cabinets and am truly envious of the hip radiators in the EU and that cute wood burning stove for heating (see, I’m not a total clunt! or am I? 😉😉). Okay, that’ll be all; carry on.
It IS a nice boat, but I cant help but laugh at the old as time evolution.. Poor people do thing out of necessity.. Rich people see it and go “Oh, how quaint!! I MUST try it as well!!” Rich people do the thing, but completely and totally differently Where’s the coal stove, the soot, and the manual pumps for the sinks and head?!? lol :p
I’m a pretty big guy. Pretty sure that “hobbit washer” would hit the load limit at a single pair of pants! I wish we had suck a canal system/narrowboats here in the US. Still looking for a cabin cruiser to use as a liveaboard. Something in the 30-40 foot range. Interesting to see them take such care for access to the utilities on the new narrowboats. The mid-80’s through mid-90’s cabin cruisers I have been looking at do NOT have such easy access. In fact I am pretty sure I would have to hire out any and all maintenance.
The river lea has been turned into a sess pit because of these narrow boats, Barely any space to fish now there are so many, And the owners have rubbish and toot outside treating the river path as their garden, They need to start limiting the amount on certain stretches especially heading into London.
Don’t know where else to put this comment, but thanks to your article on history of canals in your updated website, I was able to find a copy of Tim Rolt’s book ( I find if a title is used, comment won’t be listed.. ) for $7 on Ebay! Always interested in older versions of canal history, and as this was pub. in 1944, was probably written in 1943, my birth year…very old indeed! Thanks for passing this information along to your many readers…
Hi David. Please could you do a bit on family narrow boats with more than 1 cabin. Trying to find them but all 4-7 sleepers mean sofas/dinettes made into spare beds. Or finding ones with ‘waste-of-space’ 2nd bathrooms meaning tiny living space. Also why would anyone want a dishwasher taking up space on a boat, it’s not like you can have dinner parties with masses of crockery. Looking forward to you doing a tour of the canals, like you did in the begining.:face-blue-smiling:
That was genuinely interesting as usual …But I have a small, practical point about the first two boats facilities, based on my experience only Those small dishwashers are increasingly hard to replace. That’s no reflection on a particular brand by the way. As far as I can tell they all come from the same place! Same issue with the special washing machine. Appreciate space is at a premium, but isn’t it always? If you must have a washing machine, or even washer dryer just get a full size one and use the space effectively. It all looks good till ‘it doesn’t work, and the space available is too small to fit a replacement Thanks for a fascinating article, amazed by the stark comparison of a wide-beam to narrowboat too
The first one, Stargazer,might be a decent build but oh dear,sharp corners on the kitchen worktops.The external paint job for the price was awful.Brush marks and lots of vertical lines.The paintwork on the Collingwood, despite its seemingly cheap price, and on the hire boat were vastly superior.Thanks anyway for your eternally professional vlog.
I sat in front of my computer perusal your article and then it was over? Wow, that drew me in and left me wanting to see more. I guess that is a good thing when you stop and think about it. I wanted to know the costs, available financing for foreigners, waiting time, and visa requirements, Well away, you did a dam good job on this article, thanks!
In the United States people buy retired school buses and turn them in to motorhomes. One couple installed a 300 gallon water tank in the rear of the bus and mounted their bed on top of the tank. They also installed a large black tank and a large gray water tank. I could make 300 gallons of water go a long way.
Thanks for the article. It makes me want to alter our boat’s cooking arrangements now, but we’re so used to it, we’ll manage as it is. They’re lovely boats, but as far back as 2012, the British Standards Institute recommended that dry powder extinguishers are not used in domestic (and office) premises, because they can make it impossible to see almost immediately they’re discharged and the powder is very corrosive, particularly to wiring. Yet all the boats still seem to have them fitted.
I noticed something in your article that I had never even thought of. On your presentation of the fiberglass boats, I noticed that the steering position is on the port side. I live in the states and have had a few boats but the steering position has always starboard. It is also opposite to the automobile driver positions in both nations. Is this an international convention on how things are done or just local manufacturing preferences?
I try not to go to boat shows anymore they tend to cost me a lot of money. The last damn boat show I went to was in 2021. I ended up trading in my Nordhavn 41-foot trawler. And I got a new Nordhavn 63-feet. The thing I don’t understand is how you steer those canal boats. Without having bow and stern thrusters to help maneuver them. You got to have them on my boat. That’s what I have to do to get this thing docked up.
The thing I hate more then anything about narrowboating is people calling a narrowboat with the kitchen at the back a reverse layout this is estate agent type made up rubbish.From the first ever made narrowboat the cooking was done on the stove fitted in the back corner of the boatmans cabin the bed was at the front of the boatmans cabin the only difference now is the cabins are much longer so cooking at the back and bed at the front of a cabin is traditional not a reverse layout