Wednesday 28 March 2012

Keeping a narrowboat warm................................. fire verses new technology

 I saw something during Sundays walk along a section of my local canal that I hadn't noticed before.
The barges on the canals of the UK are mainly pleasure boats... either privately owned or hired for holidays.
There are still a few commercial craft but some are permanent year round homes.

The traditional craft have wood/coal burning stoves... the smoking chimney pots are a feature.
The new builds are linked to modern boilers which heat the water supply.
Central heating radiators are the norm in a lot of the holiday lets.

 Hot water on tap.

 I saw this barge as I neared Marston and the Salt Barge (the lovely pub lunch has already been shared).
We have had a mild winter so I wonder how many empty gas bottles there would have been a year ago.
It has a chimney so has a wood/coal burning stove... the gas must have been a winter back up.

It was the first time I had seen solar panels on a narrowboat and with our wonderful spring weather the owner was enjoying natures freebie.... as I passed the next barge my count became 2.

The narrowboats on our waterways have some wonderful artwork.

Roses and Castles are the main theme... it's the panels inside the rear doors where they are painted.
It's when they are open the workmanship can really be appreciated.
I have made a mental note to share more images as I take them during the summer.

There are also a lot of old craft in decay... another subject worth a closer look.

26 comments:

TexWisGirl said...

i like the idea of decorating the door panels like that. and solar panels! great idea! :)

EG CameraGirl said...

How interesting that the barges are becoming so modern!

Maude Lynn said...

The doors are so pretty!

joo said...

I love them, and the trip on one of them is my dream!

holdingmoments said...

Something I've thought of doing; living on a barge.

Kim, USA said...

I see the different design and it's beautiful. Thanks for sharing and please join me at my

Water World Wedneday

Pat said...

How wonderful it would be to float down the canal on one of those lovely barges! Great photos!

MadSnapper said...

these boats just plain fascinate me,and the fact they have wood burners i love. i like anything that involves fire. also just think about all the house work they don't have to do, that small, not much housework involved. LOL

Bob Bushell said...

Amazing photos. I lived on a narrowboat for about 6 months, it was a luxury.

Kim, USA said...

Hi Andrew thanks for joining my new meme, I do appreciate it!

Water World Wedneday

John @ Beans and I on the Loose said...

A whole other different way of life. I hope you show more.

Anonymous said...

I could live in one of those, and be very comfortable doing so! Can't wait to see more.

Carole M. said...

thanks for sharing the canal boats; they conjure up a very laid-back holiday putzing along enjoying the scenery and hopping out for a walk here and there, a photo-shoot, then back for a cuppa and off to next port of call. Wondering how long those canals are, and if they open-up more? How long can you journey on ... Are there restrictions to the numbers on the canals i.e. a permits limitation? Great pics Drew

Gunnar Hustad said...

A nice blog and whith many interesting photos - I´ll start following this blog. Many greetings from Norway :-)

Gillian Olson said...

I enjoyed having a closer look at the narrow boats. Thanks for taking us along.

Reena said...

Love seeing the uniqueness of these water crafts!

abhinavr said...

Really nice boats !

J Whitty said...

Would love to take a trip on one of those beauties.

cieldequimper said...

Tbese photos bring back lovely memories! I don't mind decaying boats as long as they are wooden and in the water...

LindyLouMac said...

I have always thought it might be fun to live on a barge, just in the summer of course!

Unknown said...

These are so cool! I remember being on one when I visited Windsor decades ago, but it was not a private home.

Unknown said...

Interesting post Andrew!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.

genie said...

What a wonderfully interesting post...and the barges/riverboats on the canal are just great. Love the wood stove for heat. I never would have thought of that. I would really like to get up close and study the old one that has just ben left there to die. It would have lots of interesting little bits and pieces to photograph. The painting on them is so eye caching. What a great post. genie

Pantherka said...

Interesting and beautiful.

Cafe au lait said...

Beautiful shots.

My entry.

Mike and Poppy said...

Hi all.

We live aboard our narrow boat for about eight months of the year. We are out cruising now. Roses and castles are the designs most often used on narrow boats. bright paintwork is a hang over from the old days. You can follow our travels on http://Narrow-Boat.Com

regards.

Mike, Mags, Poppy and Abbey.