A practical reason

LET me admit right from the start that I love the sound of a vintage engine in a narrowboat. But, putting this aside, there is a practical reason for liking these engines that benefits all canal boaters, writes Graham Booth.

Vintage engines turn more slowly and therefore need a larger propeller. Larger propellers mean that the boat must have a deeper draught. Deeper draughted boats tend to keep the channel clear and, where high spots occur, they either wear them away or their owners complain to Canal & River Trust.

Soon silted up

If all boats had modern engines and a draught of 1ft 9ins, the canals would soon be allowed to silt up so that even owners of these boats would find they were not moving so easily through the water and were probably making a wash at low speed.

So, even if you can't enjoy the occasional reminder of how the canals used to sound, at least appreciate that vintage engines are helping to make your cruising more relaxing.