Amanda Knapp
Tub boats are small, unpowered cargo boats that were used on early English and German canals. They were typically 20 ft (6.1 m) long and 6 ft 6 in (2.0 m) wide, and could carry 3-5 long tons of cargo. The main advantage of tub boats was their flexibility: they could be drawn in trains of 3-10 or more boats using horse power or steam tugs, and the number of boats could be varied according to the type of cargo. Their small size meant that the canals built for them could also be smaller, saving construction costs.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Size | Around 20 ft (6.1 m) long and 6 ft 6 in (2.0 m) wide |
| Cargo Capacity | 3-5 long tons (3.0-5.1 t) typically, but some could carry up to 8 long tons (8.1 t) |
| Power | Unpowered, drawn by horses or steam tugs |
| Flexibility | Could be drawn in trains of 3-10 or more boats, with the number varied according to cargo |
| Lifting | Easier to lift than larger boats; tub boat lifts and inclined planes were developed as an alternative to canal locks |
| Canals | Built for smaller canals, saving construction costs |
| Use | Assisting and manoeuvring larger ships, providing towing and pushing assistance |
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What You'll Learn
Tub boats are unpowered cargo boats
Because of their small size, the canals built for tub boats could also be smaller, saving considerable construction costs. The first use of tub boats in England was on the Bridgewater Canal, and they were also used on the Shropshire Union Canal and the Bude Canal.
Tubs could be lifted more easily than larger boats, and tub boat lifts and inclined planes were developed as an alternative to canal locks. At a lift, the train could be divided, the boats lifted individually, and the train reassembled afterwards. Sometimes, the boats used snug-fitting non-waterproof inner containers which could be more easily lifted out.
Tugboats, or 'tugs', are compact yet robust vessels that play a pivotal role in assisting and manoeuvring larger ships, ensuring their safe navigation in harbours, canals, and congested waterways. They are renowned for their power and agility, and provide towing and pushing assistance to other vessels, particularly those lacking the propulsion power or manoeuvrability needed to navigate specific areas.
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They are flexible and can be drawn in trains of 3-10 or more boats
The main virtue of tub boats is their flexibility. They can be drawn in trains of 3-10 or more boats using horse power, or later steam tugs, where the number of boats is varied according to the type of cargo. Tub boats are unpowered cargo boats, so they require the assistance of other vessels, such as tugboats, to move. Tub boats are small and can be easily lifted, which makes them more flexible than larger boats. Their small size also means that the canals built for them can be smaller, saving construction costs.
Tub boats were first used in England on the Bridgewater Canal, and later on the Shropshire Union Canal and the Bude Canal. There was no standardisation of tub boat size between different canals, but a typical English tub boat canal might have used boats around 20 ft (6.1 m) long and 6 ft 6 in (2.0 m) wide. These boats generally carried 3-5 long tons of cargo, though some extra deep ones could carry up to 8 long tons.
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Tub boats are smaller than other boats, which means they can be used on smaller canals
A typical English tub boat canal might have used boats around 20 ft (6.1 m) long and 6 ft 6 in (2.0 m) wide. They generally carried 3 long tons (3.0 t; 3.4 short tons) to 5 long tons (5.1 t; 5.6 short tons) of cargo, though some extra deep ones could carry up to 8 long tons (8.1 t; 9.0 short tons).
Because of their small size, tub boats could be drawn in trains of 3-10 or more boats using horse power, or later steam tugs, where the number of boats was varied according to the type of cargo. Tubs could be lifted more easily than larger boats, and tub boat lifts and inclined planes were developed as an alternative to canal locks.
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They are lifted more easily than larger boats
Tub boats are a type of unpowered cargo boat used on the early English and German canals. They are typically around 20 ft (6.1 m) long and 6 ft 6 in (2.0 m) wide. They are lifted more easily than larger boats due to their small size. This also means that the canals built for tub boats can be smaller, saving considerable construction costs.
The flexibility of tub boats is another reason why they are lifted more easily than larger boats. They can be drawn in trains of 3-10 or more boats using horse power or steam tugs, with the number of boats varied according to the type of cargo. At a lift, the train can be easily divided, the boats lifted individually, and the train reassembled afterwards.
Tub boat lifts and inclined planes were developed as an alternative to canal locks, particularly in or near industrial works such as collieries. These lifts and inclined planes made it possible to lift tub boats more easily than larger boats. Sometimes, the boats used snug-fitting non-waterproof inner containers which could be more easily lifted out.
The first use of tub boats in England was on the Bridgewater Canal, with other notable uses on the Shropshire Union Canal and the Bude Canal.
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Tub boats are also called compartment boats or container boats
The main advantage of tub boats was their flexibility. They could be drawn in trains of 3-10 or more boats using horsepower, or later steam tugs. The number of boats would vary according to the type of cargo. Tubs could be lifted more easily than larger boats, and tub boat lifts and inclined planes were developed as an alternative to canal locks. At a lift, the train could be divided, the boats lifted individually, and the train reassembled afterwards. Sometimes the boats used snug-fitting non-waterproof inner containers which could be more easily lifted out.
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Frequently asked questions
A tub boat is a type of unpowered cargo boat used on a number of the early English and German canals.
A typical English tub boat canal might have used boats around 20 ft (6.1 m) long and 6 ft 6 in (2.0 m) wide.
Tub boats are flexible in that they can be drawn in trains of 3-10 or more boats using horse power or steam tugs. They are also lifted more easily than larger boats.
