twosox Posted October 20, 2015 Report Share Posted October 20, 2015 (edited) I hope this question is in the right section, if not could a mod move it please. We hope to buy another boat soon, sold our last one five years ago, and do fancy a tug style boat. We would like to moor at West Stockwith basin so will have to travel the river Trent to get onto the main system. Would members consider it wise to go on the Trent in a tug? Thank you twosox Edited October 20, 2015 by twosox Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterboat Posted October 20, 2015 Report Share Posted October 20, 2015 dont think it matters we were at west stockwith over the weekend plenty of narrowboats on the trent none of them were having any problems Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naughty Cal Posted October 20, 2015 Report Share Posted October 20, 2015 We have seen plenty of tug style narrowboats on the Trent and they seem to manage just fine. What makes you think you will have a problem? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan de Enfield Posted October 20, 2015 Report Share Posted October 20, 2015 (edited) The only "problem" with the Trent is "it is a River" - you will never know if you can get back 'home' or will be stuck behind closed flood-gates. If you are out & about in the Winter (Particularly) then ensure you do not have to be anywhere at a certain time, or, make sure that you can get a bus / train / taxi back home and that you have somewhere to leave the boat. It is not insurmountable, but if you plan Autumn / Winter / Spring cruising you should be aware it WILL happen at some point. You will not want to be on the Trent in a NB when it is in flood. (either the tidal or non-tidal bits) We have had a NB on the Trent for 5 years and have spent several weeks (in that time) on the wrong side of where we want to be. Last time was 2 weeks without moving when Cranfleet was shut. Make sure : You have VHF and get updates from the Lockies. Fuel Tank is full Water tank is full Toilet is empty (with spare cassettes and trolley) Food and dry milk in stock. Enough clothes. Edited October 20, 2015 by Alan de Enfield Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twosox Posted October 20, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 20, 2015 Thanks for the replies. My worry is that many tug style narrowboats have a very low bow and gunwales which could allow water in. Last time we went down the trent on a norrowboat there were quite a few waves caused by passing barges. Although I know there is not much commercial traffic left, that is my worry. Keep front doors shut I suppose. twosocks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Athy Posted October 20, 2015 Report Share Posted October 20, 2015 My worry is that many tug style narrowboats have a very low bow and gunwales which could allow water in. Think that through. Which is lower, a raised tug deck or a conventional well deck? One word in the above sentence is a clue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmr Posted October 20, 2015 Report Share Posted October 20, 2015 Think that through. Which is lower, a raised tug deck or a conventional well deck? One word in the above sentence is a clue. Yes, but the front door cilll height on a tug deck can be much lower,than with a well deck, or even non existent as a few even have a lift up hatch in the deck to expose the steps down. Still if you do take a wave its going to drain off a tug deck much much quicker than out of a well deck. Saw a tug style boar recently (might have been a Hudson) with a raised storage box neatly constructed at the front of the tug deck. That would be a neat way of deflecting the waves, but does detract from the style of a tug a little. .............Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Athy Posted October 20, 2015 Report Share Posted October 20, 2015 Yes, but the front door cilll height on a tug deck can be much lower,than with a well deck, or even non existent as a few even have a lift up hatch in the deck to expose the steps down. But it usually isn't - that's why many tugs have a hatch above the front doors, so that you don't have to bend double to get inside. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scholar Gypsy Posted October 20, 2015 Report Share Posted October 20, 2015 (edited) You may enjoy - or not - this photo from Leo No2's website (source). It was taken on the tidal Thames. She did not sink. Edited October 20, 2015 by Scholar Gypsy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naughty Cal Posted October 20, 2015 Report Share Posted October 20, 2015 This is about the worst you will encounter above Keadby. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starman Posted October 20, 2015 Report Share Posted October 20, 2015 We have a tug with very low gunwales and we've done the tidal Trent & Thames, The Wash and the Severn estuary to Bristol all without trouble. It handles this sort of water better than most conventional nbs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Dunkley Posted October 20, 2015 Report Share Posted October 20, 2015 (edited) This is about the worst you will encounter above Keadby. The conditions in that video clip may well be the worst seen at any time in your limited experience of the Trent, but things can get far worse than that, as far up as Stockwith, when a strong Northerly wind blows against a big Spring ebb for several hours. The significant wave height can be up to three to four times that seen in the video clip, accompanied by a wave length and period such as would be quite likely to induce synchronous pitching in some shorter boats. Edited October 20, 2015 by Tony Dunkley Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naughty Cal Posted October 20, 2015 Report Share Posted October 20, 2015 (edited) Yes they can and we have witnessed that on our way home from Hull. However a narrowboat is highly unlikely to be on the river in those conditions. Eta: link to the description of significant wave height. Often confuses folk. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Significant_wave_height Edited October 20, 2015 by Naughty Cal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twosox Posted October 20, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 20, 2015 Right, well I think to be honest I am no further forward. It will sink or do better than a narrow boat with a huge bow. Who knows. twosocks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Mack Posted October 20, 2015 Report Share Posted October 20, 2015 You may enjoy - or not - this photo from Leo No2's website (source). It was taken on the tidal Thames. She did not sink. I seem to recall seeing a Youtube video of that! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arthur Brown Posted October 20, 2015 Report Share Posted October 20, 2015 I don't think it's the "Tug" bit it's the properly prepared and equipped bit that matters! The equipment for a tidal river is important -others will list it, but proper knowledge and equipment will make the journey fine -or tell you to stay home. Yes I remember Holme (little) lock being tied up once, that was keep clear of the water weather, anything that was moving wasn't under control. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twosox Posted October 21, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 21, 2015 (edited) Having re read all the replies thank you, and looked at the scary pictures, we will look for a tug and prepare well. I must admit to being a bit of a fair weather boater. Thank's everybody for your time and thoughts, much appreciated. twosox Edited October 21, 2015 by twosox Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
national velvet Posted October 21, 2015 Report Share Posted October 21, 2015 We have a tug deck and are on the Chesterfield as are several others. As has been said, go well prepared, tugs are much easier to use in the tidal locks as you have better access to the sliders on the lock sides. In any narrowboat you have to take stock of the weather and you have said you are a fair weather boater. No one type of narrowboat is any better than any other, so go for what you fancy and we shall look for a new tug boat at stockwith soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sailor0500 Posted November 22, 2015 Report Share Posted November 22, 2015 Just avoid days with fresh to strong winds and you will have no problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chubberdog Posted September 12, 2016 Report Share Posted September 12, 2016 Wouldn't for'd canvas dodgers suitably fastened to appropriate eyes be a sensible 'extra' for persistent river users? They kept liberty-men dry on 52ft cutters..... Doug Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starman Posted September 12, 2016 Report Share Posted September 12, 2016 Thanks for the replies. My worry is that many tug style narrowboats have a very low bow and gunwales which could allow water in. Last time we went down the trent on a norrowboat there were quite a few waves caused by passing barges. Although I know there is not much commercial traffic left, that is my worry. Keep front doors shut I suppose. twosocks We have a tug with low bow and gunwales. We've been down the Trent, up the tidal Thames, down the Severn estuary to Bristol and across The Wash. Does that answer your question Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chertsey Posted September 12, 2016 Report Share Posted September 12, 2016 He's probably given up by now but I'd add that a tug deck could well be less vulnerable to flooding than a well deck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cuthound Posted September 18, 2016 Report Share Posted September 18, 2016 He's probably given up by now but I'd add that a tug deck could well be less vulnerable to flooding than a well deck. Probably depends whether it's planked over or not. I have seen a few "tug style" narrowboats with well decks recently. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaddingtonBear Posted September 18, 2016 Report Share Posted September 18, 2016 (edited) They are not 'tugs' then There is only one tug.............I bet you can't guess it's name (Sorry I can't seem to delete the apostrophe) Edited September 18, 2016 by PaddingtonBear Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chertsey Posted September 18, 2016 Report Share Posted September 18, 2016 They are not 'tugs' thenThere is only one tug.............I bet you can't guess its name (Sorry I can't seem to delete the apostrophe) Enterprise? <runs away> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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