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Post by Telemachus on Aug 21, 2021 12:37:43 GMT
Today took the biscuit. Came up behind some slow boats going through Hopwas. Boat ahead was stopped in a bridge hole because one in front had encountered a boat coming the other way and didn’t know what to do, so just stopped. I went ahead to see what the problem was, boat stuck in bridge hole said the guy in front had run aground etc. No big deal, but they also mentioned that they were going to be winding at the next winding point. No problem, and then they all set off again. Slowest boat eventually pulled over so we chugged on normally. Until we came to Sutton Road bridge on the edge of Tamworth. Just before the bridge, boat in front had slowed right down and suddenly turned hard right, even though there is no bend. It seemed like they were trying to wind the boat but there isn’t even a slight bulge in the canal there, never mind a winding hole. Boat was stuck about 60degrees across the cut, clearly nowhere near enough room to turn. Then a lady on the boat (not the steerer) was off the back which was against the bank, trying to push the back round. She slipped (there’s no piling there, just a slippery bank) and ended up on her bum up to thighs in the canal legs under the stern of the boat WHICH WAS STILL IN REVERSE getting a bit crushed and potentially having her legs cut off.
By some miracle, no legs were cut off and she managed to get up and stormed off up the towpath clearly in a rage, trailing water from her trews. Eventually she got back on and they managed to get the boat straightened out and carried on. Carried on 2 bridges to the actual winding point which is MASSIVE, more like a lake than a winding point. We hung back to let them complete the manoeuvre. With care you can donut turn in it, but never mind, the guy just rammed the bow into the undergrowth and continued in fwd to complete most of the turn, so we slid past asking if the lady was OK. She was in the shower apparently and oh dear they had mistaken the previous bridge for that one with a winding hole just before it.
So in other words, as far as they were concerned the map said there was a winding point just before the bridge so they were damn well going to wind there, even though there was not the slightest hint of a bulge in the canal width never mind a proper winding hole. Sutton road bridge vs Bonehill road bridge. Some people shouldn’t be allowed out!
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Post by Deleted on Aug 21, 2021 12:39:37 GMT
Idiots.
I don't really understand why and I am sure someone has done a PHd about it or a dPHIL but apparently some people actually go out deliberately to be idiots when they have a choice of not being idiots.
Very bizarre behaviour but one must not let it get one down.
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Post by Clinton Cool on Aug 21, 2021 12:52:32 GMT
It used to amuse me watching boats attempting to wind in strong winds. Backwards and forwards, sometimes several times, screaming engines, churned up canal, sometimes rear of boat hung up in undergrowth. Amusing because all they need to do is use the wind to turn the boat around. Wind in face: Just turn the tiller and let the wind do the work. Following wind: hop off, hold the bow line, push the rear into the wind, 2 minutes of patience, job done.
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Post by brummieboy on Aug 21, 2021 13:46:02 GMT
It's a bit like the drivers who blindly follow Sat-Navs even though it is obvious that there is no road to follow, or it is turning them into a road that has become No Entry.
If the book says you can turn, why shouldn't you try even though you can see the bank.
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Post by JohnV on Aug 21, 2021 16:47:43 GMT
It used to amuse me watching boats attempting to wind in strong winds. Backwards and forwards, sometimes several times, screaming engines, churned up canal, sometimes rear of boat hung up in undergrowth. Amusing because all they need to do is use the wind to turn the boat around. Wind in face: Just turn the tiller and let the wind do the work. Following wind: hop off, hold the bow line, push the rear into the wind, 2 minutes of patience, job done. Couple of years back I was at Goole about to go up the Trent, I was concerned about my air draft at Newark and moved a ton or so ballast aft to get the wheelhouse down a bit.
Peterboat was coming with me and when he arrived I left the berth I was on so that he could moor there and I would circle round and moor up alongside him so he could have the space I was in.
I turned downwind and everything was fine, went a little way down the canal and then tried to turn back upwind to get back to the berth ....... and she just wouldn't ..... all I did was drift further along the canal broadside. I tried to port and when that didn't work, I tried to staboard .... that didn't work either I tried turning in reverse .... either way ...... forget it ...... there was just no way would she head up into the wind. (she doesn't do going astern very well so reversing all the way back would have been a nightmare) ......... In the end, fed up of providing amusment to everybody in the pub I stuck her bow against the moored commercial barges, gave her the gun and forced her round and then kept going until I could get close enough to Peterboat to get a line and moor up again ............ and then spent a sweaty evening moving the bloody ballast back again.
The next day we set off up the Trent with Sabina steering correctly again We did clear the bridges at Newark without having to adjust the ballast after all (although it was tight)
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Post by Deleted on Aug 21, 2021 17:14:47 GMT
It's a bit like the drivers who blindly follow Sat-Navs even though it is obvious that there is no road to follow, or it is turning them into a road that has become No Entry. If the book says you can turn, why shouldn't you try even though you can see the bank. You beat me to it. |
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Post by patty on Aug 21, 2021 18:26:04 GMT
It used to amuse me watching boats attempting to wind in strong winds. Backwards and forwards, sometimes several times, screaming engines, churned up canal, sometimes rear of boat hung up in undergrowth. Amusing because all they need to do is use the wind to turn the boat around. Wind in face: Just turn the tiller and let the wind do the work. Following wind: hop off, hold the bow line, push the rear into the wind, 2 minutes of patience, job done. yes..well..just maybe I've been one of those boaters A CWF member whacked into the stern which helped me complete my manoeuvre on another occasion little sis got off the front with a pole to push me round Winding was just summit I never got my head(or boat) round!..... |
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Post by Trina on Aug 21, 2021 19:39:24 GMT
I did a lovely,spot on 360° turn today...mind you-it was at the top end of the G&S so ooooodles of room !😆
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Post by Gone on Aug 22, 2021 7:57:23 GMT
I did a lovely,spot on 360° turn today...mind you-it was at the top end of the G&S so ooooodles of room !😆 The canal just outside Sharpness is one of my favourite spots, with some beautiful sunsets over the water. |
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Post by peterboat on Aug 22, 2021 8:39:41 GMT
It used to amuse me watching boats attempting to wind in strong winds. Backwards and forwards, sometimes several times, screaming engines, churned up canal, sometimes rear of boat hung up in undergrowth. Amusing because all they need to do is use the wind to turn the boat around. Wind in face: Just turn the tiller and let the wind do the work. Following wind: hop off, hold the bow line, push the rear into the wind, 2 minutes of patience, job done. Couple of years back I was at Goole about to go up the Trent, I was concerned about my air draft at Newark and moved a ton or so ballast aft to get the wheelhouse down a bit.
Peterboat was coming with me and when he arrived I left the berth I was on so that he could moor there and I would circle round and moor up alongside him so he could have the space I was in.
I turned downwind and everything was fine, went a little way down the canal and then tried to turn back upwind to get back to the berth ....... and she just wouldn't ..... all I did was drift further along the canal broadside. I tried to port and when that didn't work, I tried to staboard .... that didn't work either I tried turning in reverse .... either way ...... forget it ...... there was just no way would she head up into the wind. (she doesn't do going astern very well so reversing all the way back would have been a nightmare) ......... In the end, fed up of providing amusment to everybody in the pub I stuck her bow against the moored commercial barges, gave her the gun and forced her round and then kept going until I could get close enough to Peterboat to get a line and moor up again ............ and then spent a sweaty evening moving the bloody ballast back again.
The next day we set off up the Trent with Sabina steering correctly again We did clear the bridges at Newark without having to adjust the ballast after all (although it was tight)
Oh how we laffed about this John ^^^^^^^ Its the 3000 turns lock to lock that had you sweating, your arms were a blur on the wheel  |
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