can i take a 62x12 foot canal boat from liverpool to london? or do i need cranes and lorries?

Answer 1

If your boat had been a 'Narrow Boat' (ie. 7 feet wide or less), there would have been no problem. You could have used the inland waterways and travelled to London via Birmingham, however as your boat is 12 feet wide it is unable to use most of the inland waterway system.
If you fancy an adventure, you could make you way round the Welsh Coast ,up the River Severn to Bristol, then canals to London. Other alternative would be to make your way out to the North Sea, via Liverpool - Leeds Canal and Rivers Aire and Humber, then follow coast round to River Thames, and up to London (wouldn't like to say whether this would be legal or not--------probably not)
So it looks as though you will need Two cranes and a Low Loader, the owners of which would apply for permission to move such a wide load from Liverpool to London.
Sorry to put a damper on your plans but it's going to cost a few grand

Answer 2

Not possible by canal as the canals between Middlewich and Birmingham are narrow. So would require lifting out and road transport between wide canals, however as has been suggested sea transport round the coast London is an option.

Answer 3

Leeds & Liverpool canal locks are mainly 62ft x14 ft.
Aire & Calder - no problem
River Trent - tidal but no problem
GU Leicester section is only 7ft wide from Market Harborough to the GU Main Line.

oops not that way.

Answer 4

Due to it's size, to transport it by road would need cranes, a specialist tractor/trailer combo and permission from every police force whose county you passed through. It would cost many, many thousands of pounds (just hiring the cranes alone would set you back £2,000-£3,000).

It would be far cheaper to take round the coast on a barge.

Answer 5

I think you'll be able to do that trip by water along the existing canal network with no problems, but it'll take several days and a great deal of locking, but I see no need for road transport unless you're in an expensive hurry ! ! !

Check with British Waterways before you set out, just in case there are any stoppages. (and laugh when you think how many people haven't got a clue what "locking" and "stoppages" are ! ! !)

Answer 6

If you were in the US I would say to call the Army Corps of Engineers and the US Coast Guard. They have the charts of the waterways in the US and would be able to answer such questions regarding navigation.

In England, they would certainly have an appropriate agency to contact. Its just a matter of looking up the appropriate agency to call.

Answer 7

It has too much beam for many of the locks. Check with British Waterways.

Answer 8

if you can get it from liverpool to birmingham then down the grand union canal to london