Narrowboat or Barge – what is it? This is a question that a lot of boating enthusiasts get frustrated about as
It’s all too often that a narrowboat is incorrectly referred to as a barge. This can be frustrating for boating enthusiasts to hear, and in the past, some boat owners have taken it as an insult!
So, although both boats may look similar, there are distinct differences between the two. Some may argue that a narrowboat is a type of barge, as they do have similar characteristics overall.
But the main difference between the two is that a narrowboat is usually 7 feet or less in width and mainly used for leisure purposes, and a barge is usually a lot wider and used for transporting heavy goods across the canal.
Narrowboat
With a narrowboat, you don’t have to worry about getting through the bridges and locks easily whilst you cruise through your canal holiday. The narrowboat is the ideal option for UK canal cruising.
- Beam (width) of between 6 feet 10 inches to 7 feet.
- Ideal for the UK Waterways.
Barge
A barge is usually used as cargo-carrying vessel. It’s designed to carry and transport passengers and heavy goods through canals and rivers. These barges are usually flat bottomed and long and sometimes have an open-top
- As a general rule, anything wider then a narrowboat’s 7 feet can be referred to as a barge.
- Canal barges are usually employed to carry cargo.
- Dutch barges and other wide beam boats are often used as permanent dwellings.
Which to choose?
So narrowboat or barge? Does it really matter?
You may think this is trivial to get wrong however, not only would you irritate canal buffs, but getting it wrong can also have serious implications from an insurance point of view on the validity and availability of the protection on the boat.
For further canal boat investment we recommend following this link to gain extra industry-leading advice from the Canal & river Trust.
At Collingwood Boat Builders we strive to provide the best customer advice in the industry.
Call our experts today at 0151 433 3614 to get expert advice and understand what option is best for you.
