Narrowboats – are, as the name implies “narrow”, only 6’-10 wide. They were made to fit the locks on our canals, the locks being only 7 ft. (2.1 metres) wide.
Traditionally the boats were made of timber using 3” planks of Oak and Elm. They were flat bottomed, up to 72 ft. long, with about a 2ft draught and were used for carrying cargo.
Originally they were hauled by heavy horses working along the towpath, later being replaced by coal fired, steam powered engines. These were again superseded by the diesel engine and this is the main source of power used in modern narrowboats.
The living quarters were at the stern of the boat and were very cramped, being only 8 ft. long, in which the family slept, cooked and carried on their daily lives.
At the front (bows) of the boat there was an open area, 5 – 6ft. long called the Cratch. This was where food for the horse was kept. It was also used as a platform where, if the towpath changed sides, the horse could be transferred, via the Cratch to the other side of the canal.
Modern narrowboats are now made of steel and almost exclusively used for pleasure, the whole length of the boat being used for accommodation and comprising a saloon (lounge), galley, bathroom and bedroom. There are various configurations of the stern and the Cratch has been retained, sometimes left open and often enclosed with a timber framework and canvas type of cover, providing and extra “room”. For a more in depth analysis of timber narrowboat construction see Building a Narrowboat, at http://tinyurl.com/l2dl5pv
The following is a Cratch frame I designed and built for my 57ft. narrowboat Waratah.
The replacement doors and drop down seats were also made from West African Sapele
Cratch cover fitted by Kinver Canopies has roll up windows and window covers
Article & Photos
Mel Davies FIOC | Thames Valley
This article first appeared in the March 2015 issue of Cutting Edge. As part of the IOC membership, IOC members receive quarterly editions of Cutting Edge magazine and access to all back issues online.
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