NarrowBoat Magazine

There's a semi-religious schism on the waterways, between those obsessed with pleasure boating, and those who devote themself to 'heritage'. 

I guess I'm agnostic; I'm not sure what I believe about this.  A well-known waterways writer is more definite.  He told me earlier this year:

There seem to be two churches on the cut - those who enjoy it with an open mind and those who are up their own arses with Bolinders and the Jam 'ole run. 

I think the divide took place in the days of Aickman and Rolt - Aickman was the former and Rolt the latter.  I'm with Aickman - the cut is a leisure facility, and people should be welcoming the hirers and the novices and the bankside developers that keep the whole thing alive and changing.

I guess that the new magazine Narrowboat is for those worshippers at the First Church of Rolt, praying up their own arses.  That's fine by me; nothing wrong with being up your own arse if that's your religion (or up anyone else's if that's your orientation).  In a tolerant world there's room for schisms.

NarrowBoat is the new magazine published by Waterways World, and dedicated to those people who don't want to be up their own arses in Bolinders and Jam 'ole runs.  Perhaps everyone can be happy.  That's assuming that Waterways World removes the Bolinders and Jam 'oles from its own pages, of course.

Interestingly, Narrow boat looks like it's come from nowhere to be immediately the most advanced and updated waterways magazine website.  On a page called Fleet Lists, you can see a database of boats from old carriers (currently it only lists Thomas Clayton, but you get the idea). 

Says the page:

Every issue, NarrowBoat's Famous Fleets feature includes a comprehensive list of boats used by one of the great carrying fleets ... By clicking on a column heading, you can sort the list by name, date, builder, and so on. 

And here's the clever bit:  to gain access to the list you've got to enter the last word on page 41 of Narrow Boat (i.e. it's a shibboleth, you've got to show you already have a copy of the magazine).

I don't know what the last word on page 41 is, but wouldn't it be fun if it was 'arse'!   

Comments

[w.smith]

Hi Andrew Been passed your boat a few times but never managed to see you their, seen others on board, anyway can you pass the word around for me that "Charles the First" 40 ft trad four years old engine 2 years old is looking to swop for a 58-62ft liveaboard. I can be contacted on 07521-287-766 many thanks if you here of anyone interested in down grading perhaps a couple of pensioners or credit crunch etc The boat is in need of a couple of jobs porthole trims and a good paint job which I'm considering anyway any intested parties can contact thanks alot Wendy

[Andrew Denny]

Thurs, 8pm: The page number has been changed to '17'. I'm flattered that people at Waterways World are reading Granny B instead of setting up their own website!

Heaven forfend that any spoilsports with a copy of the magazine should regularly check NarrowBoat and post the latest page number and shibboleth in a comment here.

[Sarah Hale]

I've just phoned home, and apparently the magic word is 'magazine' - haven't tried it on the website myself yet though.

[Sarah Hale]

Can't see that shibboleth being very effective in these internet days - I've got the mag at home and can let you know the last word on page 41 when I get back tonight, and you can tell the world! BTW I don't agree that those are two mutually exclusive categories - will try to expand next week on nbWarrior on how it may be possible to be both up your own arse and have an open mind ...