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Inland Waterway Cruising; Boats, Barges, etc.

Discussion in 'General Yachting Discussion' started by brian eiland, Apr 1, 2011.

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  1. brian eiland

    brian eiland Senior Member

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    Pilot House, Helm Station

    There are compromises in all of boat design, and the flat bottom rectangular cross section of the canal barge possesses the greatest internal accommodation per length of vessel per fixed draft....just as do the ocean ranging tankers (admittedly the ocean tankers are normally operated in a fully loaded condition so as not to present their flat bottoms to the sea surface very often). But I believe that most shallow draft canal barges are destined to have this same sort of hull shape. Adding a very slight V to these flat bottoms accomplishes nothing in my opinion. Adding a 'keel plate' would add to their directional stability, and likely their resistance to sliding across the water's surface sideways. I'm thinking a somewhat exaggerated I-beam down the bottom's centerline, and with a portion of its bottom flange exposed to the exterior of the hull, would contribute to the vessel's longitudinal stiffness as well as its directional stability.

    I take issue with your pilot house observations. As far as 'looking stupid', I would draw your attention the pilot house on Roi Soleil....I very much like this arrangement, both in terms of looks as well as practicality. Perhaps you would counter that this is not the 'traditional Dutch barge'.

    I would much rather be up in the front of the vessel when I was trying to negotiate my way through obstacles in the water, or when I was attempting to dock a canal barge vessel, rather than aft and trying to pear over all of the obstacles that might be present on the forward deck. And look at Roi Soleil...both an inside and outside steering postion...marvelous!

    Helm1.jpg
    Helm2.jpg
    Helm3.jpg


    This steering position is also very close to the cleat onto which I would tie my spring line as I power into the dock or canal's edge.

    Helm4, Spring Lines.jpg
    I also like the manner in which this forward pilot house almost dictates the upper- level cabin space that follows it. To have just the fwd pilot house would likely look rather weird, but with the added long saloon and galley we have a very delightful cabin with lots of natural lighting, a feeling of spaciousness, and great visibility outwards to the surroundings.

    Helm5, cabin house.jpg
  2. brian eiland

    brian eiland Senior Member

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    Helm5a,saloon.jpg

    Here we have a similar fwd helm station on a shorter vessel.
    Helm5b Luxemotor.jpg

    Interestingly the roof's shape and height was dictated by the smallest bridge on the whole canal. The bridge's shape was used as a template for Roi Soleil's deckhouse.

    Helm6, Cabin Top shape.jpg
    Helm7 ,bridge and helm.jpg
    Helm8,view bridge clearance.jpg

    I find this roof shape particular attractive even thought it was dictated by a bridge contour. I would be very tempted to utilize the same shape on a new design vessel as this bold arch shape can also be of a structural advantage when tying together the two sidewalls of a very open interior arrangement as exist on Roi Soleil. This roof could be relatively easy to fashion out of cold-molded plywood/epoxy, and be very strong without little need of inside framing ('rafters' you might say). It also contributes to an overall lower profile of the vessel, which could become a more important factor on a shorter version of Roi Soleil. I imagine you might even make a great rainwater catchment of it, and/or a solar power collector with some of the very newest thin panel devices being developed.
  3. brian eiland

    brian eiland Senior Member

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    Finally, another of those tight fits you find in the canals.

    Attached Files:

  4. brian eiland

    brian eiland Senior Member

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    Roi Soleil's website

    BTW, as I looked thru the internet for info and photos on this particular vessel, I found a whole lot of different sites. I was unsure of the actual home site of this vessel until just today when the owners answered an email inquiry I had sent them asking for their opinion on a smaller 'private' size version of their vessel.

    Their home page with lots of other info:
    http://www.riveryacht.com/
  5. brian eiland

    brian eiland Senior Member

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    Interesting new 12m Dutch Barge design

    Interesting new design 12m Dutch Barge...looks to accomplish a lot in a relatively short length. Somewhat similar to the photo #2 in Marmot's posting #9 above
    12 meter idea.jpg
    ....more illustrations over HERE
  6. brian eiland

    brian eiland Senior Member

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    "There are 10,000 miles of waterways in Europe, 8,000 of them are in France.

    The French network includes 100 canals and rivers and there are dozens of possible cruises, along a single canal or into other inter-connected waterways.

    We like to share our own experiences of cruising in Europe with our customers, passing on tips and our considerable knowledge of sailing in France. Our Category C Dutch style barges can easily cross the English Channel putting the dream of exploring all the fascinating places in France and Europe within easy reach."


    ...quoted from here:
    http://www.piperboats.com/dutch_france.html
    ...this is a nicely organized website with lots of info on their variety of canal vessels.

    http://www.barging.co.uk/Elessina/autocaddrawing.htm

    Brochure
    http://www.piperboats.com/images/piper_dutch_spec_sheet.pdf

    Attached Files:

  7. brian eiland

    brian eiland Senior Member

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    What would you build with a $600 million Lotto ticket?

    This question came up on another subject thread on this forum, and look what I chose as a first pick :cool:


    "Okay I've been giving a little thought to how I might spend those jackpot winnings, even though I seldom ever play these lotteries. It's nice to dream though

    NUMBER 1: First off I think I would have a very nice canal boat built to go cruise and live on the canals of Europe for some portions of the year. I particularly like this vessel design Roi Soleil. This would be my 'floating apartment' in Europe"....


    http://www.yachtforums.com/forums/yachtforums-yacht-club/18431-what-would-you-build-600-million-lotto-ticket-4.html#post149991
  8. Blue Ghost

    Blue Ghost Member

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    Is it me, or does the water in those French waterways look a little unclean?
  9. K1W1

    K1W1 Senior Member

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    The colour of the water is no real indicator of it's cleanliness.

    I just spent a week in the port of Genoa, that as to be the dirtiest place I have seen for several years. The water was not a bad colour but the floating turds, plastic bags and scum on the surface were a whole other story.
  10. Fishtigua

    Fishtigua Senior Member

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    We've got a canal boat in our weldingshop at the moment.

    38ft of rot next to the 58ft of rotten trawler in wood.

    Jeez, we get all the best jobs.

    (Photos tomorrow, today is a holiday; ejecting Nazi powers and all that)
  11. colintraveller

    colintraveller Senior Member

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    LOL Did you take pics ? A picture can do more to raise awareness and cause severe embarrassment to the locals ..
  12. K1W1

    K1W1 Senior Member

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    No, If you want to see something similar close to home take a run to Granton.
  13. brian eiland

    brian eiland Senior Member

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  14. HTMO9

    HTMO9 Senior Member

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    Inland water ways in Europe

    As we can not compete with you guys across the pond with your inland water ways, canals, big long rivers and the great lakes, boating on inland water ways in Europe also can be very adventurous and very romantic.

    Travelling the rivers and canals in the Netherlands is very convinient and easy. This country is made for watersports. If you travel on the canals in the netherlands during summer, it looks like every second Dutchman (if not every) has a boat. But their is no hassel, everybody is friendly and patient. And when you go go on the hook over night, you easily make friends.

    But there are 3 inland waterway crossings in Europe, which are the dream of any boater in Europe. The listing is not ment as (my) priority.

    1.) The Göta Canal / Trollhätte Canal / Göta älv in Sweden:

    It goes from Göteborg on the west coast of Sweden to south of Stockholm on the east coast across the country and climbs up 300 ft above sea level and back down towards Stockholm. It has 58 locks (some of them are really dramatic) and is 210 NM long. It can take pretty large boats, even sailboats with an air draft up to 72 ft. After that crossing, you are either proficent in handling locks or you need a new boat. You can even travel the canal without boat. There are several vintage cruising ships travel the canal during summer taking passengers in double cabins on nice comfort. A very nice and great adventure.

    TBC

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  15. HTMO9

    HTMO9 Senior Member

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    Inland water ways in Europe

    2. The Caledonian Canal in England (or whatever: Great Britain, Scotland, etc.:cool:)

    It connects the Scottish east coast at Inverness with the west cost at Fort Williams. The canal is 53,4 NM long and has 29 locks. It can take pretty large boats up 150 by 35 ft and has no airdraft limit. The country side of wild and historic Scotland is very dramatic. Sailors like to take that canal when circumnavigating the British Island. I have done it twice in either direction, but never managed to do the trip around England completely in nice weather. Storm and / or heavy rain is automatically booked with that trip even in summer.

    Do you know the 4 British seasons? Winter, Spring, Rain and Autum:D

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  16. HTMO9

    HTMO9 Senior Member

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    Inland water ways in Europe

    3.) From the North Sea to the Med via Rhine River and Rhone:

    This passage is done by boaters in Europe if they want to go the Med on their own keel, without doing the long way around. The size of boats are limited and sailboats have to lay down their mast(s). This trip gives a totally different experience. You have to go up the beautiful Rhine River up to Mühlhouse and then change into France. At that point a phenomena starts, that our doctors call "mental deceleration". Just relax, take your time and follow the rivers and canals via Rhine-Rhone Canal, Saone and Rhone down to the Med. Encounter more than 100 locks (self service) and enjoy nice french food and wine.

    The journey is the reward

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  17. brian eiland

    brian eiland Senior Member

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    WOW ! Thanks for those additions to this subject thread HTM09. As I said above,....
  18. brian eiland

    brian eiland Senior Member

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    Web Page Printing Question



    I've been revisiting this canal boat subject, and I wanted to print out a few 'Luxe Motor 2000 deksalon' designs and construction photos pages into a written document, BUT I can't seem to?? Is it me, or the way the pages are set up??

    At my older age I am not as computer literite as the younger generation...;)....and I like to review stuff in a 'written' manner :cool:
  19. brian eiland

    brian eiland Senior Member

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    So you are canal cruising quietly thru the countryside one day,....and you run into this :eek:

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  20. Blue Ghost

    Blue Ghost Member

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    Never mind.

    I find it beyond coincidental that I'm working on a submarine writing project, watched about three or documentaries on submarines, and then suddenly have this put in my email box.

    Just a bit of paranoia here (or maybe not), but were you asked to post this by another party?