Narrowboat on the Trent
Page 13. Trent Charts - For many years the TBA has published Trent charts as easy to follow, clear line- drawings, and I (John Lower) have always recommended them as a “must have”. However, their latest update (version 10 published in 2011) is an entirely new format based on aerial photography and, in my view, the pages are cluttered and difficult to follow, and therefore look very off-putting. On balance, I would say boaters do need a copy, but better still, try to obtain a copy of an old edition. See p37 for where to purchase the current version).
New format
Preferred
old format
North Yorkshire Waterways
Page 7. Locks - Maximum Craft Sizes. Experience shows that narrowboats 60ft long can pass through all the locks in this guide (sometimes diagonally).
Also wide-beam (14ft) craft up to 57ft, but bear in mind the following - River Derwent, Sutton Lock - 58ft x 14ft but obstructed by a ladder near bottom end, so width at that point is about 12ft 6ins. Guillotine-gate air draught approx 10ft 6ins.
Licences. A BW Rivers Licence covers the Ouse and Ure from Goole to Ripon. With a Rivers Licence boaters can transfer between the Trent and Ouse, via the canals, provided the transit takes no longer than 72 hours.
Page 9. Holiday Boat and Narrowboat Hire. Add, Shire Cruisers (Sowerby Br) 01422 832712.
Page 10. River Derwent Distance Table - Sutton Lock added. From Barmby Barrage 15.5 miles. From Cottingwith Junction 4 miles. From Stamford Bridge 10.5 miles.
Page 12. Nav Notes. Head of Navigation Plaque. Ripon Canal Basin, Wharf Services Ripon, 01765 609777 £9.95 in 2011.
Page 16. Nav Notes.
Linton Lock - the bottom paddle gear is NOT hydraulic, although signed by Adams Hydraulics Ltd. It can be heavy to work, and needs many turns to operate.
General Text - Linton Lock cottage. This is a licensed cafe with tables outside in good weather.
Page 26. Nav notes. Cawood Swing Bridge - take care - motor cruisers may be milling about waiting for a delayed bridge-swing to open (not necessary for narrowboats).
Page 28. Nav notes. The river passes under two swing-bridges which open for large craft. Take care - be aware, cruisers may be milling about, waiting for a delayed bridge-swing to open (not necessary for narrowboats). Boaters should take the eastern span, but beware of the strong flows from the east.
Commercial barges coming up from the Humber are rare at Selby but they still do so. It is important to note that they are required to pass stern-first, facing the current, through the Selby swing-bridges. If following one, be warned, it will take up the whole of the river when turning to do so. Consider turning also, to stem the tide, until the barge is once again underway.
Page 38. Nav notes. Particularly in the summer, weed is a general problem if the weed-cutter boat has not been operated. The weed is less between Gardham Lock and Melbourne, as the trip-boat operates there. For the same reason, that stretch has landings at the swing-bridges. Both locks now have landings above and below.
Head of Navigation Plaque - from trip-boat crew, or Rose Cottage opposite the pub in Melbourne. £8.50.
Page 40. Canal Head. The PCAS information centre is open Sundays and Bank Holidays during the summer.
Page 42. Nav notes. The only moorings on this section are 40ft on the east bank above Sutton Bridge for Elsan disposal (BW key) and water. If no water flows, turn on the stop-tap.
