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Post by Deleted on Aug 4, 2021 16:29:04 GMT
Left the Armitage mooring heading to Handsacre and the narrows by the bog factory.
Saw the bow of a boat through the bridge so stopped and waited.
The boat thundered forward until the helmsman suddenly saw me ... he stepped down off his raised box and banged his boat into reverse despite the fact I was stationary and a good few boat lengths back from the bridge.
He then gestured for me to come forward ... I hesitated as I was much further from the bridge than him but he gestured once again.
Against my better judgement I moved forward ... only to realise he also moved forward too !
Consequently I became embroiled in a game of chicken and JUST managed to squeeze through the bridge without a collision ... just!
Surely if you wave someone forward you HAVE to then remain stationary until they've complied ?
Rog
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Post by Isambard Kingdom Brunel on Aug 4, 2021 16:46:04 GMT
Left the Armitage mooring heading to Handsacre and the narrows by the bog factory. Saw the bow of a boat through the bridge so stopped and waited. The boat thundered forward until the helmsman suddenly saw me ... he stepped down off his raised box and banged his boat into reverse despite the fact I was stationary and a good few boat lengths back from the bridge. He then gestured for me to come forward ... I hesitated as I was much further from the bridge than him but he gestured once again. Against my better judgement I moved forward ... only to realise he also moved forward too ! Consequently I became embroiled in a game of chicken and JUST managed to squeeze through the bridge without a collision ... just! Surely if you wave someone forward you HAVE to then remain stationary until they've complied ? Rog I do find it difficult to wave to another boater with a meaningful " come on " signal. What can you describe as such a signal? Perhaps he was swatting flies? It fun boating there, wide bridge , moored boats, blind bends, narrow overgrown sections and the tunnel with no view through. All good fun. |
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Post by metanoia on Aug 4, 2021 18:04:17 GMT
Perhaps we need some kind of coloured flag system...?
The thing that really winds me up is when you wait and wait and wait some more while they still pootle along at less than 1mph even though they know you're trying to hang on there waiting for them .....
It was really refreshing to meet a boat near Willoughby earlier this year who acknowledged my wave and put a little more power on to get through the bridge.
I made a point of thanking him - he, too, said "why wouldn't you"?!!
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Post by Deleted on Aug 4, 2021 18:11:29 GMT
I get that metanoia ... like folks who crawl out of locks ... quite frustrating. But I think if you choose to wave someone forward ... a very clear gesturing hand signal ... the onus is then on you to hold steady and let them move forward, not move forward yourself. Rog |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 4, 2021 18:19:32 GMT
And the moral is...
Don't stop and assume the other boat has the bridge. Just keep going.
Worse things happen at sea and if it's a wide bridge then two narrows will fit through it anyway.
My best memory of this was a GU bridge somewhere called something Heyford. I had at the time a long thin motorised ex horse boat and the other geyser had a RW Davis Northwich trader thing.
We fitted through the bridge fine and I'm pretty sure we both enjoyed it !
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Post by Deleted on Aug 4, 2021 18:19:47 GMT
You hesitated too long. The other boater probably thought you were a numpty. Someone waves you through do so as fast as possible.
Been in both situations - sometimes distant coms don't quiet go to plan. Smile and wave...  |
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Post by metanoia on Aug 4, 2021 18:22:10 GMT
I get that metanoia ... like folks who crawl out of locks ... quite frustrating. But I think if you choose to wave someone forward ... a very clear gesturing hand signal ... the onus is then on you to hold steady and let them move forward, not move forward yourself. Rog I know... .... and you know ... Unfortunately, it seems, they don't know ..... p.s. I was trying to reply earlier but have just been side swiped so heavily by a passing boat the computer fell off the table. On going out to investigate they shouted at me they had said "sorry" - I asked if I had hit their precious car which probably cost a fraction of my boat "sorry" would have sufficed - more like handbags and insurance details at dawn? Never mind, the laptop still works, there is still water pouring out of my sink for some reason, poor old dog has given up barking and calmed down and they have probably now made it to the pub (which I would have mentioned doesn't do food in the evenings but ....!) Roll on October! |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 4, 2021 18:25:38 GMT
Worse things happen at sea They certainly do... Wally the Walrus about to sink another boat!
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Post by metanoia on Aug 4, 2021 18:36:18 GMT
And the moral is... Don't stop and assume the other boat has the bridge. Just keep going. Worse things happen at sea and if it's a wide bridge then two narrows will fit through it anyway. My best memory of this was a GU bridge somewhere called something Heyford. I had at the time a long thin motorised ex horse boat and the other geyser had a RW Davis Northwich trader thing. We fitted through the bridge fine and I'm pretty sure we both enjoyed it ! Most days I'm really kind and patient and wait for them .... .... but just sometimes I subscribe to the "whites of their eyes" theory and fortunately have only met one other boat who did the same - we never quite made it through a narrow bridge near Northwich side by side! |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 4, 2021 18:52:15 GMT
I ALWAYS wait ... I'm happy to let others go first, I'm in no rush and that way I retain control over what I do.
The issue is that having waited the other boat decided to wave me forward ... twice !
I was then obliged to move forward in the reasonable assumption he was allowing me the water.
If you decide to wave someone forward I think it is essential that you then HAVE to let them pass.
And @a you've been away from the ditches too long if you think there's room for two narrows to pass under all canal bridges.
Rog
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Post by Deleted on Aug 4, 2021 18:55:38 GMT
I ALWAYS wait ... I'm happy to let others go first, I'm in no rush and that way I retain control over what I do. The issue is that having waited the other boat decided to wave me forward ... twice ! I was then obliged to move forward in the reasonable assumption he was allowing me the water. If you decide to wave someone forward I think it is essential that you then HAVE to let them pass. And @a you've been away from the ditches too long if you think there's room for two narrows to pass under all canal bridges. Rog It was a GU bridge. I did mention that. I know there isn't room for two on the coffin lock ditches but there is room for one One of the issues with reversing a reasonably long narrow boat is that it will tend to swing out. They must have had a system for this in the working boat days. I would say perhaps the boat on the towpath side gives way because it is likely to be deeper. I don't know but TonyDunkley had a horse boat back in the day so he will. |
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Post by metanoia on Aug 4, 2021 18:57:37 GMT
Nether Heyford?
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Post by Deleted on Aug 4, 2021 18:59:37 GMT
I actually find it incredibly stimulating to think about how they sorted it all out when boats were driven by land based propulsion systems with no reversing option.
Must have been a joy to be a gongoozler.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 4, 2021 18:59:55 GMT
Yes it was that one. Thanks. Not the Oxford canal ones. |
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Post by metanoia on Aug 4, 2021 19:06:14 GMT
Yes it was that one. Thanks. Not the Oxford canal ones. They are far too posh to be called "nether"; think they might be Upper and Lower Heyford? I remember mooring not far from one or the other and was lucky enough to watch a pair of barn owls circling the field one evening. You just see a coal yard and a One Stop shop in Nether Heyford ... |
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