Lichfield Branch

So on a sunny but very windy day in April they set out from the marina, expertly towed by Lichfield members Gordon & Heather Blackmore with both narrowboats close coupled together using cross straps. A traditional working ‘butty’ has a huge rudder which allows it to be steered when under tow. Unfortunately the tiny (in comparison) rudder on a modern narrowboat offers very little steering without the thrust of the propeller wash passing by it.

With a combined length of 124ft, each boat being 62ft long, and the lack of steering for Neil’s towed boat, it made for some quite challenging moments on the journey, particularly when negotiating tight bends, through narrows, or when meeting oncoming boats. Neil said “I thought it best to have some help. With an ineffective rudder I feared that the back end of my boat might sway about, especially with the 18mph winds. This proved to be the case and I was so grateful to be assisted by fellow IWA members Jeff Steele, Mike Wilcock, and Ron Gillett, my colleagues who also carry out the winter offside vegetation cutting.”

Jeff and Ron were deployed on the stern deck with Neil, and Mike on the foredeck. They were able to help ‘steer’ his boat with the use of poles, and fending off by hand to push away from moored boats or to hop off and push the boat away from the towpath edge.

It took nearly 7 hours to do the 11 miles and 2 locks, and apart from a few minor scratches to the cabin sides from protruding offside vegetation (now there’s an irony), and a slightly damaged wooden rooftop storage box, the sometimes nerve-racking journey went well.

Staffs & Worcs Canal Towpath Improvements

The towpath of the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal between Great Haywood and Milford is being repaired and resurfaced, and the results so far are looking good (see photo provided by CRT). The work is being carried out by Kier as contractors to CRT from temporary bases opposite Great Haywood Junction and at Tixall Lock,