Life on a Narrowboat

Our 62’ long and 6.5’ wide narrowboat is named Irene. Irene has 3 dedicated areas for sleeping, 1.5 baths, and a forward galley and sitting/eating area. The path through the boat causes us to wriggle passed each other every time we need to change rooms, it is only 18 inches wide!

Irene has a single propeller and a rudder controlled by a tiller. The kids came naturally into steering her, because it is the same as steering their sailboats from camp.

Remember TTT: Tiller Toward Trouble

We think our max speed is four knots, though we average about two. Whenever we pass another boat that is moored, it is only courtesy to slow to “a tick ahead,” which appears to be around one knot. There are a lot of boats moored along the canals!

No biggie, this trip is about seeing things at an unrushed pace. There is always a walking path along the canal because the boats were original pulled by horses, not motors. Most members of the family have enjoyed getting off and walking for a while, some even run! However, the downside of getting off this slow boat is that you end up being the one waiting on your pick-up!

This bridge requires you to crank it up to fit through.

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