You have to keep in mind that everyone has hit something, everyone feels like everyone is watching and everyone was inexperienced at the start of their canal boating journey. You did great! 👍🏻
Very true. As someone said in a comment on one of my other videos, the number of people watching is inversely proportional to the experience of the boater. Also, I was shocked by some of the damage I saw on the walls. They looked like they had been hit with a wrecking ball.
Hi Nick. As a former moorer for two years at Cropredy marina I can tell you, you did a great job. It very often windy on the marina even if it is not out on the cut. The boat will normally pivot around the centre so just keep that in mind as the back needs somewhere to go. I have had all of the problems you encountered maneuvering at Cropredy. It's not you it's the wind. All the best.
Thanks for the comment and the encouragement. When I arrived at the marina, it wasn’t that windy, and it didn’t seem too bad until I slipped my moorings and headed out in to the basin.
Watching this makes me feel much better, feel less alone! I was struggling with wind and maneuvering last week. Felt like I was going to crash into boats (luckily no damage done to anybody) Dont think I realised how powerful the wind is even on a day it is not that windy. Thanks for sharing! We can all learn.
I have handled smaller boats in the wind and I have sailed small dinghies, with no problems. I guess it just shows the power of the wind against a flat-bottomed boat without a keel.
Hi Nick. The wind, as you have found is your worst enemy, if helpful occasionally. What seems like a gentle breeze on the mooring can feel like a storm out in the marina. Experience will tell you when its a good idea to navigate or stay put until it dies down.
What I would have done when the wind was pushing me to the bank ......... Reverse at speed and steer the boat parallel to the canal close to the windward side of it and then forward at speed to avoid the leeward bank. And docking using the wind.....you found that out.
OK, thanks. I sort of tried what you suggested but I couldn’t get the bow to stay away from the bank. At one point I thought I might end up wedged across the canal.
Good use of the wind .... everyone hits things now and again , but yours was very slow compared to some ... my little bit of advice would be to toot your horn when leaving and entering marinas .. i almost had a canoist once as i could see enough for a boat but not low down for canoes
I haven't driven a narrowboat for a good while, but I think if I were in such a predicament i.e. single-handed, no bow-thruster with an unfavourable wind that I might have kept the bow pressed against the bank, used as a fulcrum and used the tiller and engine to turn the boat until parallel with the bank. And then pushed off at the bow and completed the manoeuvre. There may be good reasons for not doing this. I'll probably get told-off for my suggestion.
Thanks. I’m the end, which may not be evident in the video, I tried levering the bow off the bank using the stern as a pivot. Where I went wrong (I think) was one, going out in the wind and two, I should have used reverse when trying to pivot the bow out.
I would have done this too, pushing the bow off with a pole or foot is fine. I would have tried reverse to get the stern into centre of canal first when trying to get away from the bank
Hi Nick narrowboats do not have any steering in reverse so moving the tiller won't make any difference. You need revs on when moving forward for the propellor wash to hit the rudder which gives you the turning ability. (No propulsion no action).
Not necessarily true. If you hold the tiller in the direction you want to go (in reverse) you will turn in that direction. The total opposite of going forward.
I think you did OK, not really sure what you could have done differently. If I was there and needed fuel urgently on a windy day perhaps use a 10L or 25L fuel container assuming they allow those, four trips with the 25L and you'd have 100L.
I think you're still not giving it enough beans. Could you maybe recruit one of the more experienced boaters in the marina to give you some manoeuvring coaching?
You have to keep in mind that everyone has hit something, everyone feels like everyone is watching and everyone was inexperienced at the start of their canal boating journey. You did great! 👍🏻
Very true. As someone said in a comment on one of my other videos, the number of people watching is inversely proportional to the experience of the boater. Also, I was shocked by some of the damage I saw on the walls. They looked like they had been hit with a wrecking ball.
Hi Nick. As a former moorer for two years at Cropredy marina I can tell you, you did a great job. It very often windy on the marina even if it is not out on the cut. The boat will normally pivot around the centre so just keep that in mind as the back needs somewhere to go. I have had all of the problems you encountered maneuvering at Cropredy. It's not you it's the wind. All the best.
Thanks for the comment and the encouragement. When I arrived at the marina, it wasn’t that windy, and it didn’t seem too bad until I slipped my moorings and headed out in to the basin.
Really enjoyable video to watch, makes a really nice change for the TH-camr not to beg for money all the time. I look forward to your next adventure.
Watching this makes me feel much better, feel less alone! I was struggling with wind and maneuvering last week. Felt like I was going to crash into boats (luckily no damage done to anybody) Dont think I realised how powerful the wind is even on a day it is not that windy. Thanks for sharing! We can all learn.
I have handled smaller boats in the wind and I have sailed small dinghies, with no problems. I guess it just shows the power of the wind against a flat-bottomed boat without a keel.
Hi Nick. The wind, as you have found is your worst enemy, if helpful occasionally. What seems like a gentle breeze on the mooring can feel like a storm out in the marina. Experience will tell you when its a good idea to navigate or stay put until it dies down.
Thanks for the comment. That is certainly true. I was very surprised how windy it was out there. I won’t (hopefully) be making that mistake again.
Nick, keep a piece of chalk handy to rub up and down your fuel dip stick when you dip your fuel tank, you will see the level that much better.
Thanks. Good idea. I’ll give it a go.
Nick your pivot point will be midships.
Thanks. But I am finding that it seems to move, depending on my speed. Or am I imagining that?
Would have liked to have seen the refuelling operation etc.
I didn’t film it as I didn’t ask permission. I was so relieved to get docked!
There should be diesel paste somewhere that goes on the stick to show depth clearly?
Diesel paste? OK, thanks. I will look out for that. There is none on the boat.
What I would have done when the wind was pushing me to the bank ......... Reverse at speed and steer the boat parallel to the canal close to the windward side of it and then forward at speed to avoid the leeward bank.
And docking using the wind.....you found that out.
OK, thanks. I sort of tried what you suggested but I couldn’t get the bow to stay away from the bank. At one point I thought I might end up wedged across the canal.
Good use of the wind .... everyone hits things now and again , but yours was very slow compared to some ... my little bit of advice would be to toot your horn when leaving and entering marinas .. i almost had a canoist once as i could see enough for a boat but not low down for canoes
Thanks. Good tip about the canoeist. I hadn’t thought about that.
Sometimes a little more forward momentum will help cut through the wind effect. Much better viewing with the forward facing shots. Great video
Thanks. More power does seem to be a solution to a lot of my boating problems.
@Nicks-Wanderings you are doing very well, though, and it's good for other beginners to see you learning.
Thanks. There is a lot of learning to do…
I haven't driven a narrowboat for a good while, but I think if I were in such a predicament i.e. single-handed, no bow-thruster with an unfavourable wind that I might have kept the bow pressed against the bank, used as a fulcrum and used the tiller and engine to turn the boat until parallel with the bank. And then pushed off at the bow and completed the manoeuvre.
There may be good reasons for not doing this.
I'll probably get told-off for my suggestion.
Thanks. I’m the end, which may not be evident in the video, I tried levering the bow off the bank using the stern as a pivot. Where I went wrong (I think) was one, going out in the wind and two, I should have used reverse when trying to pivot the bow out.
I would have done this too, pushing the bow off with a pole or foot is fine. I would have tried reverse to get the stern into centre of canal first when trying to get away from the bank
It looks like when you need to be in reverse you have the tiller opposite where you need it.
OK, thanks. I’m still trying to figure that one out.
Triumph!
Eventually, yes!
Hi Nick narrowboats do not have any steering in reverse so moving the tiller won't make any difference. You need revs on when moving forward for the propellor wash to hit the rudder which gives you the turning ability. (No propulsion no action).
OK, thanks. As I said on another comment, more power does seem to be the answer to a lot of my boating problems!
Not necessarily true. If you hold the tiller in the direction you want to go (in reverse) you will turn in that direction. The total opposite of going forward.
I think you did OK, not really sure what you could have done differently. If I was there and needed fuel urgently on a windy day perhaps use a 10L or 25L fuel container assuming they allow those, four trips with the 25L and you'd have 100L.
Thanks for the comment. There is rule about refuelling at your mooring from cans. I’m unsure why they have that rule but they do.
Same on most marinas. Spills are not good for your (and neighbouring) boats, as diesel ‘eats’ blacking.
I think you're still not giving it enough beans. Could you maybe recruit one of the more experienced boaters in the marina to give you some manoeuvring coaching?
Good idea. I’ll ask around. Thanks.
Oh ... 99.5 % of the time is where the eye is for your center line is your pivot point
OK, thanks. I’ll look out for it.
I was having all sort of pain in my back and feet while watching you steer. I was pressing and twisting my body and it wasn't helping at all.
Sorry about that. Have I just invented boat yoga?