The original narrow boats were commercial boats carrying heavy goods designed for Britain's eighteenth century canal system. To fit the narrow locks they had to be less than 7 feet 2 inches in width. Today's narrow boats are purpose-built leisure craft that copy the form of the commercial boats and are usually 6 feet 10 inches in width. Owners of modern boats often paint them in the style that was popular on the original narrow boats, with large names, flowers, wreaths, borders and other decorative details. Red and green are predominant as the background colours. The "Chedoona" with, presumably, Bob and Mary aboard, is seen pulling into a berth on the River Avon at Tewkesbury.
photo © T. Boughen Camera: Lumix FZ1000 2