The Barge Association

DBA - The Barge Association[1] is a club for leisure users of European inland waterways. The club was formed in 1992 as "The Dutch Barge Association", by a small group of UK owners of Dutch barges interested in their use for pleasure cruising and living aboard. It later expanded to include any form of barge and other types of boat with the same interests in cruising in European rivers and canals, becoming "DBA - The Barge Association". It is still generally known as the "DBA".

Dutch Barge passing a swing bridge, on the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal
Class C Dutch barge at Windsor
Class D widebeam on English Grand Union Canal.
Class D English river barge, with Dutch-style fold-down wheelhouse.

The DBA has within its aims:

  • Promote interest in barging
  • Be the representative body for non-commercial barging
  • Be the premier source of barging information
  • Establish contact with and influence other relevant clubs, societies, navigation authorities and trade associations.
  • Keep members informed on all barge related topics
  • Facilitate communication between members to provide the opportunity for discussion of all aspects of barging.

The club's members are from all over the world. Many are retired and have time for extended cruising, sometimes all summer; but an increasing number are younger members who are able to work from their boat. Some are permanently living aboard, whether travelling or static. Members' boats range from 14m to 38m LOA, split around 50:50 above:below 20m LOA. About half are conversions of old commercial barges, with an increasing number of purpose-built pleasurecraft.[2]

See also
  • Cruising Association - a club primarily serving marine sailors and cruisers, but which also encompasses barging on inland waterways.
  • Inland Waterways Association - a club primarily serving narrowboat and widebeam users on the British canal system.

References
  1. The DBA homepage
  2. For instance, Piper Boats in Biddulph manufacture Dutch-style "replica" motor barges.
  3. "The Barge Buyer's Handbook" - DBA publications ISBN 9780953281954
  4. Note: Class A vessels are ocean-going; Class B covers offshore navigation craft.
  5. DBA publications
  6. The Cooper's homepage
  7. Narrow Dog website
  8. BBC website on Spall's voyages -
  9. Images of 'The Princess Matilda'
  10. Telegraph obituary
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