Barging.co.uk - Where can I Navigate

There are many concerns that owning a wide beam barge will offer a very restrictive navigation range in the UK (compared to narrowboating). Without doubt the biggest draw back of a wide beam craft is the 'present' restriction of UK navigation. However, when analysing the current UK waterways plans, the biggest 'present' restriction, is the missing link between the North and South wide beam canal network, until recently there were a number of plans in the pipeline which would have rectified this within the next 5 years. Then with a 20m barge the UK inland navigational range (including rivers) would be very significant, indeed not much different to that of a narrowboat unable to navigate lower tidal rivers (eg R.Thames between London and the R.Medway). However many of these plans have been shelved, and those still active have been delayed by lack on funds. Hopefully at least one of the schemes will be brought to fruition within the next 10 years. But even without the North - South link, there is the possibility to cross the Channel, to the Continental canals and rivers. With this possibility the general navigational scope of a wide beam far exceed that of a narrowboat, providing a 'new' broad beam boat is designed and built to RCD category 'C' requirements, which many are (narrowboats are cat 'D').

But where can I currently navigate in the

with a wide beam craft?. This is a very good question and one that is difficult to fully ascertain, and varies depending on the size of wide beam craft, especially beam and air draft under arched bridges (the wider the boat the less air draft available!), and drafts which can vary after a river has been in flood.

There is a wide beam network in the North of England, and one in the South, plus the North East Fenland waterways (and Norfolk Broads) but they are not connected, yet (only by 6’-10” narrow canals). If you include rivers (like the Thames ) then probably around three quarters of all the navigable

waterways are suitable for broad beam boats (a broad beam boat is generally designated as a boat wider then 7 feet).

Details of current wide beam canals and rivers in the

have been collated and listed below. Because wide beam data is not of major significance to most canal users, (who happen to be narrowboat owners) many data sources differ slightly from each other. I do not think anybody has a 100% up to date wide beam data list, but I think the data below is probably better than most available. If you know of any errors or omissions please let me know and I will update the data on the web site. Using the data I have put together a map, making it easier to visibly see where you can cruise wide beam, without having to be an expert on river and canal geography. This map follows the data list.

South Waterways Network	Length ft	Width ft	Draft ft	Air Draft	Locks	Miles	Comments
Avon River (Stratford)	70ft	13'-6"	4ft	8'-9"	17	43	.
Chelmer & Blackwater (Essex)	60ft	16'-0"	2'-9"	6'-6"	13	14	Not connected to main network. Access via coast
Gloucester & Sharpness	135ft	21ft	6ft	24ft	2	30	.
Grand Union (London-Braunston)	72ft	14ft	3'-6"	7-6	102	109	Notice required through Braunston tunnel
Grand Union (Braunston-Birmingham)	72ft	12-6	3-6	6-6	57	41	12'-6" at bridge 23
Grand Union (Slough Branch)	no locks	14ft	3-6	7-6	0	5	.
Kennet & Avon Canal	70ft	13-10	3-6	7-6	106	96	Nicholsons state 70ftx12ft between Newbury & Bath
Lee, River	85ft	15-9	6-9	7-10*	34	40	*6ft 10ins air draft bridges near Hertford
....Stort River	85ft	13ft	4ft	6-9	34	40	*6ft 10ins air draft bridges near Hertford
Medway (Allington Lock - Maidstone)	180ft	20ft	6-6	10-6	10	42	*Draught only 4ft above Hampstead Lock
Medway (Maidstone - Tonbridge)	80ft	18-6	5-6*	8-6	10	42	*Draught only 4ft above Hampstead Lock
Regents	72ft	14-0	4-6	9ft	11	21	Islington & Maida Hill Tunnels reported 6ft 10ins
Severn, River	90ft	19ft	6ft	20ft	4	38	.
Thames , River	109ft*	14ft*	3ft*	7-6	44	168	Greater on lower reaches
Wey & Godalming	72ft	13-6	2-6	6ft	16	20	Draft reported <3ft 6ins Weybridge-Guildford
....Basingstoke Canal	72-6	13-6	3-6	7-6	29	32	Fleet to Greywell 5ft

North Waterways Network	Length ft	Width ft	Draft ft	Air Draft	Locks	Miles	Comments
Aire & Calder	142ft	17-8	7-6	11-9	17	42	.
Bridgewater Canal	70ft	14-9	4ft	8-6	3	40	Preston Brook tunnel reported low
Calder & Hebble Nav.	55ft	14-2	3-6	9ft	39	21	.
Fossdyke Canal & R Witham Nav (Torksey-Boston)	75ft	15-3	5ft	9ft	4	48	.
Huddersfield Broad Canal	57-6	14-2	2-9	9-6	9	4	.
Lancaster Canal	70ft	14ft		7.5ft	0	42
Leeds & Liverpool Canal (Incl Branches)	62ft	14ft	3-9	8ft	91	140	Gannow & Foulridge tunnels reported low
Ouse, River Yorkshire	57-6	15ft	4ft	10ft	4	68	.
Rochdale (Sowerby Bridge-Todmorden)	72ft	13-6	4ft	9ft	100	34	.
Selby Canal	78-6	16-6	4ft	8ft	5	24	.
Sheffield & S-York. (Keadby-S'field)	61-6	15-6	6ft	10ft	28	49	.
Shropshire Union (to Nantwich)	72ft	13'-6" 9'-8"		8ft	17	26	9'-8" restriction via Manchester Ship Canal
R.Soar & G'Union Leicester Section	72ft	13ft	3-6	7-6	42	43	.
Trent, River	81ft	14-6	3-3	8ft	11	95	.

North East Waterways Network	Length ft	Width ft	Draft ft	Air Draft	Locks	Miles	Connected to the North Network via the Wash
Middle Level: Navigation	80ft	11-6	3-6	7ft	7	80	.
Nene, River	80ft	20ft	4ft	6-9	38	90	Northampton to Wash
Ouse, River Great	70ft	10-6	3ft	9ft	16	75	General dimensions
Welland & Glen	98ft	13ft	3-4	5-9	2	47	Off the Wash
Witham Navigable Drains (Boston)	72ft	18ft	3-6	8ft	.	.	via Antons Gowt Lock. Otherwise 60ftx11ft

Other Waterways	Length	Width	Draft	Air Draft	Locks	Miles	Comments
Norfolk Broads Network	75ft	16ft	5ft	7ft	2	100	Only accessible via East coast
Forth & Clyde & Union Canal (Scotland)	70ft	12-6	3-6	9ft	.	.	.
Ireland Canals	60ft	13ft	.	.	100+	300+	.

A total of around 1,500 miles, plus numerous other rivers and small canals, fairly equally split between north and south. Note; River dimensions given often refer to upstream sections, downstream locks & bridges are often larger, so even if you have a larger boat than the sizes given above, you may be able to navigate part way.

However, if you wish to navigate all of these canals, you are limited to a barge 57'-6" long by 10'-6" wide with an air draft of 5'-9". But if you analyse all of the data you will likely conclude that a barge 60ft x 12'-6" x 6'-6" air draft will be able to cover most of the canals.

Greater than 60ft (18m) and you will not be able to transverse from East to West on the Northern section (Liverpool & Liverpool Canal), which would mean that when the North – South link finally opens (around 2010), you will not be able to get to the North West (Manchester) area from the South.

Most 'new build' barges under 80 feet long will be able to navigate nearly all the Continental Canals. Most of the French and

Belgium

waterways were built to accommodate a vessel up to 38.5m long by 5.05m wide, with a draft of 1.8m and air draft of 3.5m. However Brittany Waterways are restricted to 25m x 4.6m. Some of the waterways have an air draft limitation of 2.7m and draft of 1m. If considering cruising some of the continental rivers (eg the Rhine in

Germany), a more powerful than standard engine will likely be required.

From the above data it can be concluded that a 60ft x 12'6" barge is the ideal maximum size. Any larger and you compromise on UK cruising (eg the East-West Northern link – the Leeds and Liverpool canal), any smaller and you compromise on internal living space.

If you know of any errors or omissions please email me and I will update the data.

Where can I Navigate to with a wide beam?