Engines for Narrowboats, Wide Beams & Dutch Barges

Beta Marine specialise in 10 – 115 hp propulsion engines for displacement hulls typically but not exclusively used in; Seagoing Yachts, Motorsailors, Fishing & Work Boats, Inland Waterway Narrowboats, Wide Beams and Dutch Barges.

Keel Cooling

Due to the silty and sedimentary nature of UK canal water along with debris such as discarded plastic bags/wrappings, most Narrowboats, Wide Beams & Dutch Barges are keel cooled. Seagoing craft may also require keel cooling when they are operating in very shallow water or off a beach and in these applications a grid cooler is often used.

Keel cooling for canal boats is a double skin of steel that is boxed onto the side of a steel hull and uses the cool canal, river, estuary or sea water to dissipate the heat from the engine cooling system though the hull. The design and size of these tanks is very important due to the amount of heat generated that needs to be cooled.

For more detailed information on keel cooling visit Keel Cooling Calculator & Tank Design.

Engine Selection

On most canals in the UK, speed is limited to 4 mph (3.5 knots) and as a consequence propulsion engines do not need to be overly powerful, however there are factors that should be additionally considered to ensure that there is a surplus of power/thrust available if needed.

If the Narrowboat, Wide Beam or Dutch Barge is to be used in rivers with fast flows or estuaries with strong tides, the power/trust would need to be able to exceed a greater speed than that of the flow or tide to enable headway to be made.

Safety and manoeuvrability, the combined performance of the engine, gearbox and propeller should be capable of stopping the Narrowboat, Wide Beam or Dutch Barge within its own length.

Engine speed (RPM) power, gearbox reduction ratio, propeller diameter and pitch are all variables that will affect a Narrowboat, Wide Beam or Dutch Barge hull performance and as a consequence is a specialist subject that for new builds, the hull designer should be consulted.

For Narrowboats, Wide Beams or Dutch Barges which require repowering, the existing engine, gearbox reduction ratio and propeller performance will be a good indicator on whether the performance is acceptable or needs to be improved upon.

The following engine guide is based on Beta Marines many years of experience learning which engine is the most appropriate for a given Narrowboat, Wide Beam or Dutch Barge hull size and displacement that will be used in normal canal and river conditions.

For guidance on rivers with fast flows or estuaries with strong tides or a specific recommendation please contact the Beta Marine Help Desk.

Engine	Power (HP)	Narrowboat	Wide Beam & Dutch Barge	Propeller	Bow Thruster
Beta 14	13.5 bhp @ 3,600 rpm	20' - 25' 6 tons	-	12” x 8”	6 hp
Beta 16	16 bhp @ 3,600 rpm	20' - 30' 7 tons	-	12” x 8”	6 hp
Beta 20	20 bhp @ 3,600 rpm	20' - 35' 8 tons	-	13” x 8”	6 hp
Beta 25	25 bhp @ 3,600 rpm	25' - 40' 10 tons	-	14” x 8”	6 hp
Beta 30	30 bhp @ 3,600 rpm	30' - 45' 12 tons	-	15” x 9”	6 hp
Beta 38	35 bhp @ 2,800 rpm	40' - 60' 14 tons	-	16” x 10”	6 hp
Beta 43	43 bhp @ 2,800 rpm	55' - 70' 18 tons	-	18” x 12”	6 hp
Beta 50	50 bhp @ 2,800 rpm	60' - 70' 18 tons	45' - 50' 22 tons	19” x 12”	6 hp
Beta 60	56 bhp @ 2,700 rpm	-	50' - 55' 22 tons	20” x 12”	10 hp
Beta 75	75 bhp @ 2,600 rpm	-	55' - 60' 28 tons	20” x 14”	10 hp
Beta 90T	90 bhp @ 2,600 rpm	-	60' - 70' 28 tons	Please Ask	10 hp
Beta 105T	98 bhp @ 2,600 rpm	-	65' - 75' 30 tons	Please Ask	10 hp
Beta 115T	98 bhp @ 2,600 rpm	-	65' - 75' 33 tons	Please Ask	10 hp

As a responsible engine manufacturer, we would always recommend selecting an engine with more power than the minimum required to ensure an adequate safety factor is always available.

Beta Marine Limited do not accept any responsibility for any incorrect engine selection, based solely on the information from within this page.