Is my boat sinking?

loss of drive and floundering on the Ashby canal

Didn't find your answer?

Now that I'm retired, I have more lesuire time....

while pondering MTD for everyone, I took my (our) narrowboat out for a covid safe week-end away down the Ashby 'cut'. Aware that HMRC were on my tail (at 3mph maximum) I hastened to |Market Bosworth and alleged immunity from prosecution.

Anyway, while seeking a safe haven at that place, the drive cable to the gearbox failed, leaving me (us) with no forward drive. 

So, do I go back the way I came (in reverse), or languish in the hell that is the East Midlands canal network? (narrowboats do not go backwards very well)

many thanks for all replies.........:)

 

 

Replies (11)

Please login or register to join the discussion.

avatar
By Paul Crowley
17th Jun 2021 21:14

Find somewhere to perform a 101 Point turn.
not Suez

Thanks (1)
paddle steamer
By DJKL
17th Jun 2021 22:49

But lets face it, everyone who plays with boats is an "Artful Bodger" (A John Winton reference) so some twine, a spring, a pair of ladies tights (now they may be tricky to find these days) and away you sail.

For my sins my father was in succession RN/RNVR/RNR so over the years ,as kids, we spent some time on holidays mucking about in boats, though generally they were hired and well maintained so my dad was not required to threaten the engine with a hammer. We did for years have an inflatable with an outboard that we owned, that certainly developed its own personality as it aged and I have these days a small 14ft fibreglass boat whose engine can certainly infuriate.

Saying that I never totally got the attraction of waking up at 2.00 a.m. because you needed a particular tide to get under say Potter Heigham bridge, as far as I am concerned a good boat just serves as a fishing platform on a loch- think my dad just enjoyed having a crew to obey orders, though a 36ft cabin cruiser was not very similar to a Ton class minesweeper.

Slightly more serious, can an outboard be mounted on your narrowboat to get you home or can the cable that operates reverse , the one that has not snapped, be swapped over to operate forward, are they similar cables?

Thanks (0)
avatar
By SXGuy
18th Jun 2021 07:34

Least you seem to have T'nternet

Thanks (0)
Routemaster image
By tom123
18th Jun 2021 08:42

Ask yourself, what would Timothy West do?

Thanks (2)
RLI
By lionofludesch
18th Jun 2021 08:47

"Now that I'm retired, I have more leisure time..."

Seems to me that you have significantly less leisure time.

Thanks (1)
A Putey FACA
By Arthur Putey
18th Jun 2021 10:13

If you have throttle, could you jam it in forward and start/stop the engine as necessary, accepting that you can't chuck it into reverse to manoever should the need arise?

But doesn't your breakdown insurance cover it? They'll send a nice yellow AA boat to help you.

Thanks (1)
avatar
By DA Baker
18th Jun 2021 10:37

You'll be a short stroll from Sutton Cheney Wharf. The last few times I've been there a mechanic has been working on boats. He might be the guy in the old VW camper van that's normally parked there. The staff in the café probably have knowledge of local mechanics.

Thanks (0)
avatar
By WhichTyler
18th Jun 2021 10:57
Thanks (0)
avatar
By Tax Dragon
18th Jun 2021 11:00

I'm not a mechanic, but I'm alarmed that the failure of a drive cable to the gearbox could be enough to sink any boat.

Thanks (0)
Replying to Tax Dragon:
A Putey FACA
By Arthur Putey
18th Jun 2021 12:27

Or a little piece of ice

Thanks (0)
By Duggimon
18th Jun 2021 11:39

Stop snoring, ye sleepers, and pull. Pull, will ye? pull, can't ye? pull, won't ye? Why in the name of gudgeons and ginger-cakes don't ye pull?—pull and break something! pull, and start your eyes out!

Thanks (0)