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Winter 1999 Vol. 26 Issue 4. Front Page Ulster Says Neagh Official Channels Safety & Regulation 1 Safety & Regulation 2 Duchas Report Waterways Beer Waterways News Canal Boats 1 The Boats Canal Boats 2 Branch News 1 Branch News 2 Canal News Baggywrinkle Newsletter Index

Floating heritage Old vehicles - aeroplanes, cars, railway engines, ships - are always objects of interest, whether stored in museums or shown at rallies of enthusiasts, but there aren't that many of them in use every day. On the inland waterways, though, there are lots of vessels that are fifty or more years old and still in use, albeit (in most cases) in converted form. We've featured some individual vessels in previous issues. In this one, we look at a whole class of boats: the M-boats and their Bolinder engines. But we also look at some of the issues that affect the owners of all of the older boats and barges. It seems a pity that the Grand Canal, for which most of these boats were built, can no longer accommodate them. And that many owners are reluctant to move about the Shannon during the summer, when traffic levels are high, because of the difficulties they encounter at locks and when seeking quay space. Let us do what we can to keep our floating heritage, the older vessels, alive and on the move. Brian J Goggin