My journey from Ashwood Marina down to Stourport continues in “Twiggy”, the 20-foot long Microplus 600 cabin cruiser I just bought, and I might just be getting the hang of the steering. Maybe.
See Part 1 at https://youtu.be/-SujY_3WaZc
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Theme music: “Vespers” by Topher Mohr and Alex Alena, from the YouTube music library
#narrowboat #canal #cruisingthecut #rivers #offgrid #liveaboard
31 Comments
Very calming for the soul….
Need your narrow boat back!!! Bet you’re missing it!!
How about adding lee boards under the hull for more stability, much like a sailing dingy centerboard
Loving the adventures on your iconic little yellow boat, thank you x
I believe Twiggy is visible from the bridge on Ashwood Lower Lane (Aug 2022) [Typo}
Boats that have planning type hulls plus outboard motors are never very easy to steer at low speed and l would suggest not the most ideal for canal cruising…
when are we getting the full internal tour and 'things to do' vlog?
Hi David, Great to see you back on the water. That Yoghurt Pot looks like a handful of fun. It seems you have bought a previous YouTube star. I saw another series of videos you may be interested in. A year ago the videos were released by a channel called 'A little bit of alsorts' which has a Twiggy playlist. The YouTube name is @ManceUKBOA I haven't watched them all but a series of videos seem to show how Twiggy was bought second hand and modified to the state you bought it. Maybe worth checking out when you have read all your comments. Vince
David, as you are finding out, fiberglass boats are light and prone to be easily pushed by light winds. The planing style semi V hull also tends to wander at slow speeds. One possible solution would be 2 small outboards spread as far apart as they can on the transom and use throttles and F/R to steer. With electric outboards, you could electrify and not worry about pulling the starter cord ever again!
A little bit of alsorts – is a YT channel that showed some info on Twiggy which might be of use to you. Sorry not allowed to put the link here.
Binge watching you David. Your videos are one of life’s absolute pleasures. Thanks for your efforts, they are appreciated soooo much.
Great to see you back on the water
Twiggy is lovely and she does the job ( she floats :). A little bit of TLC and she’ll be a little yellow beauty.
I've always thought these small motorboats moving at such low speeds should really have more of a sailboat type hull, displacement or semi-displacement so as to have a tiny engine and still move along nicely. I cruised the french canals on a small sailboat I built and the 5hp engine at 1/4 throttle moved at 4 knots. Small canal boats could be designed this way. If only I had the time to build one.
How satisfying that despite the stress of a wilful boat you still manage somehow to exude the calm that works so well on the rest of us. About your boat's waywardness, I've been thinking. Some may wonder why the designer thought that was a job well done when this went into production, but of course it wasn't designed for canals. It's saucery shape works well in coastal conditions when there is plenty of sea room. it is designed to skim over the surface and, being such a small boat, a firm grip on lumpy waves would put it a lot more at their mercy; far better for it to slip about a bit when progress in the general direction is good enough. Of course this is not at all useful when you are trying to steer accurately within walls 10ft apart. So I'm sticking with my "Only me – you don't want to do it like that" diagnosis of a more suitable prop to improve the motor's manners, plus adding a keel of two to four inches in depth to keepTwiggy on the straight and narrow.
Nice film of my old canal venue which I hope to re-visit. Next time there come and see us at the SMY&BA, oldest club on the river. Just up the river towards Bewdley. We'll find you a mooring.
Great to go cruising with you again, David–thanks!
Great to see you back and doing what you love. Congrats!
Fantastic, I love that these excursions are happening again. Your writing is very lighthearted and soothing. With gratitude
One concern about a small fiberglass boat in the canals must be being crushed by a heavy steel narrowboat.
I have a short attention span.
But watching these 'cruising' videos – along with your fine commentary – allow my distractibility to take a break.
☮
I don't know why anyone would want to buy a plastic piece of crap like this, let alone be in it.
David, you have no idea the joy and happiness of seeing you back on the water. I have missed Cruising The Cut so very much. Please don't leave us again. Your friend in Wyoming USA …. Richard
The tea shop is well worth a visit. I popped in this time last year on a cold day just to warm up and ended up chatting to the lady for half an hour and having two coffees and a cake. The Lock pub on the other side of the cut is also a decent place.
Once again David, a brilliant vlog. It must be quite a change from the NB and I’m sure in time you will complete all the tweaks. I look forward to the rest of your adventures. Thanks for all your hard work to bring us landlubbers closer to life afloat. Colin
Gorgeous scenery. I kind of hoped for a Beaver craft but Twiggy is lovely. I have always put fenders up, en route, but it's all good and no hull rust to worry about. Fab video!
Nice to see you back on the water! You might want to consider getting an electric outboard motor for it. No noise, no exhaust, and easier speed control.
That flag really has to go – It causes terrible drag and makes the boat difficult to handle. Throw it, you might be surprised!
Fun
Excuse my ignorance but I am from Texas USA. Is there a limited number of boats allowed on the canals or can anyone buy one and go? It seems to me that if just anyone could the canals would be very overcrowded
Firstly David, welcome back to your native element. I have the same handling problem with my 18 footer. No thrust down low and almost no steering response. And i found that by changing to a high thrust 4 blade propeller , from the 3 blade that comes standard on the engine was a vast improvement. The diameter of the propeller is increased but the pitch is reduced.And you get a extra blade. so you need to rev the engine more to get full power, but you get more push at low speed like you need. as the propeller is larger in diameter, it still offers the engine the correct amount of load. so the engine is not over revving. Something to consider, and it an easy DIY, job, take to you local marine dealer. good, luck taming the beast.