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Where Can I Cruise With A Wide Beam?
There are many concerns that owning a wide beam barge will offer a very restrictive cruising range in the UK (compared to narrowboating). Without doubt the biggest draw back of a wide beam craft is the 'present' restriction of UK cruising. However, when analysing future UK waterways policies and plans, the biggest 'present' restriction, is the missing link between the North and South wide beam canal network, which if current plans continue will be rectified around 2010. Then with a 20m barge the UK inland cruising range (including rivers) will be very significant, indeed not much different to that of a narrowboat unable to navigate lower tidal rivers (eg R.Thames between London and the R.Medway). So, with the possibility to cross the Channel, to the Continental canals and rivers, the general cruising scope of a wide beam will far exceed that of a narrowboat, providing a 'new' broad beam boat is designed and built to RCD category 'C' requirements, which most are (narrowboats are cat 'D').
But where can I currently cruise in the UK with a wide beam craft?. This is a very good question and one that is difficult to fully ascertain, and varies depending on the size of wide beam craft, especially beam and air draft under arched bridges (the wider the boat the less air draft available!), and drafts which can vary after a river has been in flood.
There is a wide beam network in the North of England, and one in the South, plus the North East Fenland waterways (and Norfolk Broads) but they are not connected, yet (only by 6’-10” narrow canals). If you include rivers (like the Thames ) then probably around three quarters of all the navigable UK waterways are suitable for broad beam boats (a broad beam boat is generally designated as a boat wider then 7 feet).
Details of current wide beam canals and rivers in the UK have been collated and listed below. Because wide beam data is not of major significance to most canal users, (who happen to be narrowboat owners) many data sources differ slightly from each other. I do not think anybody has a 100% up to date wide beam data list, but I think the data below is probably better than most available. If you know of any errors or omissions please let me know and I will update the data on the web site. Using the data I have put together a map, making it easier to visibly see where you can cruise wide beam, without having to be an expert on river and canal geography. This map follows the data list.
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South Waterways Network
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Length ft
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Width ft
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Draft ft
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Air Draft
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Locks
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Miles
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Comments
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Avon River (Stratford)
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70ft
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13'-6"
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4ft
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8'-9"
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17
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43
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.
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Chelmer & Blackwater (Essex)
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60ft
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16'-0"
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2'-9"
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6'-6"
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13
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14
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Not connected to main network. Access via coast
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Gloucester & Sharpness
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135ft
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21ft
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6ft
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24ft
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2
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30
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.
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Grand Union (London-Braunston)
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72ft
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14ft
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3'-6"
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7-6
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102
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109
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Notice required through Braunston tunnel
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Grand Union (Braunston-Birmingham)
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72ft
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12-6
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3-6
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6-6
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57
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41
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12'-6" at bridge 23
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Grand Union (Slough Branch)
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no locks
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14ft
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3-6
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7-6
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0
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5
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.
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Kennet & Avon Canal
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70ft
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13-10
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3-6
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7-6
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106
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96
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Nicholsons state 70ftx12ft between Newbury & Bath
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Lee, River
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85ft
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15-9
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6-9
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7-10*
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34
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40
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*6ft 10ins air draft bridges near Hertford
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....Stort River
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85ft
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13ft
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4ft
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6-9
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Medway (Allington Lock - Maidstone)
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180ft
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20ft
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6-6
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10-6
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9
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33
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*Draught only 4ft above Hampstead Lock
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Medway (Maidstone - Tonbridge)
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80ft
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18-6
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5-6*
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8-6
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Regents
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72ft
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14-0
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4-6
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9ft
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11
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21
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Islington & Maida Hill Tunnels reported 6ft 10ins
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Severn, River
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90ft
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19ft
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6ft
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20ft
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4
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27
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.
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Thames , River
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109ft*
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14ft*
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3ft*
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7-6
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44
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168
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Greater on lower reaches
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Wey & Godalming
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72ft
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13-6
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2-6
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6ft
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16
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20
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Draft reported <3ft 6ins Weybridge-Guildford
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....Basingstoke Canal
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72-6
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13-6
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3-6
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7-6
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29
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32
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Fleet to Greywell 5ft
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North Waterways Network
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Length ft
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Width ft
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Draft ft
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Air Draft
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Locks
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Miles
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Comments
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Aire & Calder
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142ft
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17-8
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7-6
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11-9
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17
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42
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.
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Bridgewater Canal
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70ft
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14-9
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4ft
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8-6
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3
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40
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Preston Brook tunnel reported low
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Calder & Hebble Nav.
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55ft
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14-2
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3-6
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9ft
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39
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21
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.
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Fossdyke Canal & R Witham Nav (Torksey-Boston)
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75ft
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15-3
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5ft
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9ft
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4
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48
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.
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Huddersfield Broad Canal
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57-6
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14-2
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2-9
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9-6
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9
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4
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.
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Leeds & Liverpool Canal (Incl Branches)
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62ft
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14ft
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3-9
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8ft
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91
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140
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Gannow & Foulridge tunnels reported low
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Ouse, River Yorkshire
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57-6
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15ft
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4ft
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10ft
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4
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68
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.
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Rochdale (Sowerby Bridge-Todmorden)
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72ft
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13-6
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4ft
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9ft
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100
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34
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.
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Selby Canal
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78-6
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16-6
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4ft
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8ft
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5
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24
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.
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Sheffield & S-York. (Keadby-S'field)
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61-6
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15-6
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6ft
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10ft
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28
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49
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.
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R.Soar & G'Union Leicester Section
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72ft
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13ft
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3-6
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7-6
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42
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43
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.
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Trent, River
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81ft
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14-6
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3-3
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8ft
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11
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95
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.
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North East Waterways Network
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Length ft
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Width ft
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Draft ft
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Air Draft
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Locks
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Miles
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Connected to the North Network via the Wash
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Middle Level: Navigation
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80ft
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