Dimensional restrictions for inland waterways

Good morning,

I want to build a shoal-draft boat for cruising the inland waterways and sheltered coasts of North America and eventually Europe (probably shipped over as deck cargo). It's proving hard to find information on the most common dimensional restrictions. I'd like to be able to access a large majority of navigable waterways, except the odd ones out like the 7-foot-wide British locks. I especially want to make sure that I am able to use the waterways that connect large parts of the networks together.

What maximum draft, air draft, beam and length should I consider? I understand there's no single correct answer to this question, as anything above a canoe will be a compromise. Book suggestions and web sources are also welcome.

 

Welcome to the Forum Wroc.

It might be easier in the long run to build a boat for the North American waterways (or buy an existing second hand boat) and complete this cruise first.

And then take stock as to if you still want to ship the boat over to Europe - it would probably be much easier in the long run to buy an existing boat over there.

For your North American cruise pretty much any average motor boat should be capable of doing the 'Great Loop' - or do you want to also be able to travel on much smaller rivers and canals?

In Europe steel barges are popular for cruising the inland waterways, but I think that you would not necessarily need a steel barge for the Great Loop and other waterways in North America?

Re the European waterways, it could be prudent to go on an initial reconnaissance tour and hire a boat there for a holiday, before committing yourself to owning a boat on these waterways?
I found this book on Amazon -
https://www.amazon.com/Practical-Guide-European-Canal-Charters-ebook/dp/B00IGCVGG6

If you do a search on Amazon for Europe river cruising or similar, you should get lots of suggestions re other books.

 

Thank you for the kind welcome. You're right that I will probably never end up in Europe with this boat. That part of the design requirements is mainly useful to feed my fantasy, which will help drive my urge to build during periods of low morale. Buying in any case is better, but I want to build for its own sake too.

So maybe I should flip my question around completely, and start with the vessel characteristics I am considering at this moment. I'm looking at a sailing scow with masts in tabernacles, made primarily of plywood. Engine would be an outboard on a bracket or in a well (since a well on the stern could help with the swing room for a tabernacle for a mizzenmast). I would like a length around 40ft, for a small family. Draft 1.5ft absolute maximum, fully loaded, and closer to 1ft if possible because I do enjoy poking around otherwise inaccessible rivers and bays. Box-sectioned like a Bolger boat. It's the beam that's got me wondering. 8ft? 9? 10?

8ft has the advantage of being the length of a standard sheet of plywood in North America. An extra foot of beam would be a huge gain in space and would make for a shallower draft, but I understand it'll have a negative impact on ultimate stability, and I wonder about the width of locks (both in North America and in Europe).

 

I don't think that you are going to have to worry about beam restrictions on the American waterways -
Inland waterways of the United States - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inland_waterways_of_the_United_States

Neither the French waterways - and I am guessing that the restrictions on the canals and rivers in Germany, Holland and Belgium are probably similar.
https://www.french-waterways.com/practicalities/canal-depths/

Realistically, how much sailing do you expect to do?
You might be able to sail along parts of the rivers, but you will be motoring on the canals.
If you are primarily motoring, an inboard diesel engine with a propeller that is well protected from groundings is probably a more sensible choice.
(I won't mention electric motors and solar panels, but they could be an option as well).

There are some interesting designs by Selway Fisher here -
Motor Boats over 30' https://www.selway-fisher.com/Mcover30.htm#HUMB

Scroll down a bit to the 41' Humber steel barge - she has probably been optimised for the European waterways. However her draft is 3' 10".....

 

If you are sailing around shallows the heavy Dutch style leeboards that Bolger used will help out with escaping lee shores.

 

Thanks for the links. I ordered a few books to get started. Basically, you've answered my initial question: Doesn't seem like the dimensions I'm looking at would be a problem in America. In France, seems like there are a few places with very low air draft (just over 7 feet), which might be a challenge, but I'm OK with that. I'll read a few books to make sure about dimensions either way.

I really like the idea of having very shallow draft combined with modest sailing ability. I do expect to do as much sailing as possible, but I expect long stretches of motoring as well. How many hours does an outboard last? It might indeed be a better idea to get a circa-30hp diesel.

As for sailing, I hope there will be plenty of that on the Great Lakes, Lake Champlain, the Saint Lawrence, Florida, and so on. As well as whatever stretch of river happens to favourable wind!

I'll be back with more specific questions in this forum as I tinker with the design. Thanks!

 

Indeed, that's the idea for now
Box-sectioned scow with leeboards to draw as little water as possible.

 

some info here - Boating guide to Western NY and southern Ontario Canada waterways - Great Loop restrictions https://www.pirates-chest.com/great-loop-restrictions/

 

Hi wroc, i had a colleague list/map this out to some extent last year:
Inland waterways dimensions information chart https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1cRBYvWdELXgl1S2OEkLXE6Ac4ofWx2EXIjsn4ft54CE/edit#gid=0
You can test the fit of your design quickly against the limits by putting your dimensions into cells K1 - N1
There is also a corresponding map linked in cell B1. (That one is for our tabernacle mast motorsailor design's target dimensions ~20x5m, 80cm draft, 2,7m air draft.)
Contributions very welcome, just please put your name or alias in the "Entry by" column and a source in the adjacent one for every new line created !
For Europe, there is also good info on this subscription site: all european waterways / Alle schiffbaren Wasserwege in Europa, mit Hausbooten und Yachten auf Flüssen und Kanälen unterwegs. – Waterways https://www.water-ways.net/de/home/index.php
Cheers

 

This is great stuff, thanks!