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The images in this article have been chosen carefully to complement the text, but there are still a few missing. It would be very helpful to have
In my opinion we don't need any more "arty" pictures of collections of punts. (Especially if they are low quality and lack proper metadata). Thruston 09:52, 30 May 2006 (UTC)
Regular reviewers may notice that the (much maligned) punting technique section has a new first paragraph. I'm developing all of this away from the how to style into a more historical account based on what is in Rivington (which is quite hard since his material is something of a ramble through the byways of the Thames and the Cam with nuggets scattered all over the place. Thruston 22:59, 8 August 2007 (UTC)
Punt racers who still punt regularly on the Thames between Wargrave and Thames Ditton consider that there is no "correct" way to punt standing on the till. To describe a punter as punting on the left (or right) merely indicates which side of the boat the pole will be placed in the water (when the boat is travelling forwards). Racing punters cannot stand on the till as it is too fragile, so when they transfer to the heavier three foot punts, they still stand in the bottom of the boat, but have no preference of which end is to go forwards. Similarly, whether one is left or right handed makes little difference. The most important difference that is noticeable with punt racers style is that they rarely (if ever) "tail steer" (i.e. use the pole as a rudder), as this is akin to applying a handbrake to slow the boat down. Punt racers will steer the boat by tilting the pole slightly when pushing, thus making the steering almost invisible - and usually more graceful.
Having acquired a copy of both of R.T. Rivington's books on Punting last year, I have been slowly revising this article to include material from the book.
I met Rivington in Oxford in 1984 just after the publication of his book, and he was kind enough to take us out on the river at Port Meadow in his 2ft single seater punt. He also had a canadian canoe, which he could punt beautifully, we tried it but fell in many times. He died in 2001. Thruston 11:15, 15 Mar 2005 (UTC) (updated Thruston 00:08, 15 February 2006 (UTC))
I have tidied up and shortened the discussion about which end to punt from, and tried to keep it entirely neutral. I have also removed the link to the picture of the Henley regatta in 1893 at the thamesrc site because, unless I am going blind it does not show anyone punting from the till (as they never did on the Thames according to Rivington.
This is what I took out:
I hope the current revision is an improvement.
Thruston 21:37, 21 October 2005 (UTC)
I bet someone who frequents this page could help. In the Bridge of Sighs (Cambridge) article, there is this report:
"It is said that one morning in 1957 an Austin Mini was found suspended by rope from its arch, having been punted down the river and hoisted up by Cambridge University students."
I know that this cannot possibly be literally true because the Mini was not manufactured until 1959 (and even in 1959, nobody would do this to a brand new car) - so if this is true, it was either a different car or it must have been in the 1960's sometime.
I'm also sceptical that even a car as small as a Mini (weight 1400lbs) could be supported on a punt - or even a couple of punts lashed together.
However, the story appears in numerous guide books and many, many web pages and whilst they vary a little on details, they all say "Mini", "punt" and "1957".
Do any of you good punting folk either know the true story or perhaps you can dispel this as a definite urban legend?
SteveBaker 02:24, 8 January 2006 (UTC)
Well, for those who care for the truth: I got a very definitive answer from Johnathan Harrison (who I surmise is a Librarian at St.Johns). He included no less than four newspaper clippings from the day each incident happened all of which had photographs. Firstly, it happened not once - but twice. Once in 1963 and again in 1968. In the first incident a 1928 Austin Seven (not a Mini) - one photo shows the car dangling under the bridge - the other shows workmen standing on what looks (to the uninitiated) like a large punt with an Austin Seven sitting right there in the boat. The second clipping says that it is believed that student brought the car under the bridge on four punts lashed together.
The second incident (1968) was using a car called "The Bond Bug" - a hideous 3-wheeled contraption. This time the newspapers had evidently interviewed the students. The car had once again been punted under the bridge using an unspecified number of punts lashed together and with 13 foot planks laid across them to support the car. There is a photo in one of the clippings showing the fire brigade removing the car and a picture of the car supported very precariously on two standard-sized punts - both of which appear to be on the verge of sinking under the weight!
I'm going to try to find someplace to post the four press clippings - but the copyright issues may be a problem.
SteveBaker 14:53, 14 February 2006 (UTC)
A Fiat 500 (the old model with that name, obviously) was also left on a scaffolding platform just upstream of Clare in 1985 of thereabouts for the May Ball. That was definitely transported on two punts, but I have an alibi for the nights in question (there were two attempts, the scaffolding collapsed the first time). The Cam Conservators took it away (not on punts).
The Independent article mentioned at the top of this page had a couple of nitpicks about this article. I know nothing about punting, but perhaps one of the regular contributers to the article could have a look at the comments and do something about them? It is currently here: Wikipedia under the microscope over accuracy -- Telsa ( (t) (c)) 11:48, 14 February 2006 (UTC)
Additions look nice. Featured articles tend to have more references, but perhaps there just aren't any to quote? And the Manual of Style prefers lowercase to titlecase ( WP:MOSHEAD#Capitalisation). I am off now from this article now, having nothing useful to add to it; but see you on WP:PR and WP:FAC :) -- Telsa ( (t) (c)) 10:06, 15 February 2006 (UTC)
Now that you're doing punting around the world, is there any point at adding a line on makoros in the Okavango Delta, Botswana? (These are dugouts punted from the rear - have pics, but a) quality mightn't be great, and b) mightn't find them in time for your bid for FA.) JackyR 21:15, 22 February 2006 (UTC)
Pic, but it's helluva big file (haven't worked file mgmt out yet). JackyR 21:17, 6 March 2006 (UTC)
Hallelujah! Right. So I've referenced the use of makoros. The large file for the pic is apparently fine (well within Commons guidelines). And you get a choice of pics at Commons – Makoros. So does this bit go in?
Btw, you might also want to check out a cat I created at Commons: Poled boats. Hope this works for you... JackyR | Talk 17:57, 18 May 2006 (UTC)
In my browser (Firefox) and (default) skin, the images show up as unacceptably small. Sure, they can be expanded via thumbclicks, but in the article they show as small enough that the reader must click on them to see any details at all. 240px is a good default size for images, used widely throughout WP as an optimum size for viewing. I'd like a more complete explanation as to why the image widths were removed, please. As readers apparently outnumber editors by a factor of ten to one, it follows that very few readers are going to be registered and have preferences set. We should aim for optimum viewing by someone using the defaults, rather than cater for experienced users who have tweaked their viewing experience. -- Surgeonsmate 22:20, 6 March 2006 (UTC)
Is there any way in which this ping-pong battle over 'bim-bam' can be sorted? Can anyone help? - Ballista 19:53, 23 June 2006 (UTC)
I think that the 'bim-bam' comment is a bit uncyclopaedic, so I would be happiest if it is left out. But I don't think the person adding it was being a vandal. -- VinceBowdren 13:57, 24 June 2006 (UTC)
I get the impression that a Norfolk punt is a specific kind of punt. If this is true, it seems like this is the better location for this information. Norfolk Punt has some great information on the vessel's development, but this article is more complete as far as design, construction, and technique. Hoof Hearted ( talk) 17:26, 25 March 2008 (UTC)
Spreewald in Germany —Preceding unsigned comment added by Alpinebixby ( talk • contribs) 18:01, 4 July 2008 (UTC)
Does anyone know if punting still takes place on the Nidd these days? See the reference and citation I have added to the photo of this from approximately 1912. Would be nice to add a modern reference if so. Punts are still available to hire at Knaresborough. Rowing boats are also for hire, but thye are limited to a very short stretch of river. Punts can travel upstream round a small bend, where they will find a small dammed weir across most of the river. With a little skill and perspiration, it is possible to punt up the weir into a lovely relaxing lagoon.
Peteinterpol ( talk) 20:22, 4 May 2009 (UTC)
Change Island Punt (Newfoundland Canada). The evolution of the punt in Newfoundland (Eastern Canada) seems to deviate substantially from those on the Thames in England. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 142.162.178.204 ( talk) 01:48, 24 May 2010 (UTC)
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I was just a bit shocked to notice that in none of the photos did I notice a single life jacket or other flotation device, especially with the commercial operations. Plus, it seems that some of those punts have too many passengers. I imagine that regulations are different in Europe than in the States. And I apologize if this comment doesn't conform to Wikipedia guidelines. Flight Risk ( talk) 04:23, 22 April 2019 (UTC)
![]() | Punt (boat) is a former featured article candidate. Please view the links under Article milestones below to see why the nomination failed. For older candidates, please check the archive. | |||||||||
|
![]() | This article is rated C-class on Wikipedia's
content assessment scale. It is of interest to the following WikiProjects: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
![]() | This article was reviewed by
The Independent on February 12, 2006. Comments: "I am impressed by the amount of information on punting" For more information about external reviews of Wikipedia articles and about this review in particular, see this page. |
The images in this article have been chosen carefully to complement the text, but there are still a few missing. It would be very helpful to have
In my opinion we don't need any more "arty" pictures of collections of punts. (Especially if they are low quality and lack proper metadata). Thruston 09:52, 30 May 2006 (UTC)
Regular reviewers may notice that the (much maligned) punting technique section has a new first paragraph. I'm developing all of this away from the how to style into a more historical account based on what is in Rivington (which is quite hard since his material is something of a ramble through the byways of the Thames and the Cam with nuggets scattered all over the place. Thruston 22:59, 8 August 2007 (UTC)
Punt racers who still punt regularly on the Thames between Wargrave and Thames Ditton consider that there is no "correct" way to punt standing on the till. To describe a punter as punting on the left (or right) merely indicates which side of the boat the pole will be placed in the water (when the boat is travelling forwards). Racing punters cannot stand on the till as it is too fragile, so when they transfer to the heavier three foot punts, they still stand in the bottom of the boat, but have no preference of which end is to go forwards. Similarly, whether one is left or right handed makes little difference. The most important difference that is noticeable with punt racers style is that they rarely (if ever) "tail steer" (i.e. use the pole as a rudder), as this is akin to applying a handbrake to slow the boat down. Punt racers will steer the boat by tilting the pole slightly when pushing, thus making the steering almost invisible - and usually more graceful.
Having acquired a copy of both of R.T. Rivington's books on Punting last year, I have been slowly revising this article to include material from the book.
I met Rivington in Oxford in 1984 just after the publication of his book, and he was kind enough to take us out on the river at Port Meadow in his 2ft single seater punt. He also had a canadian canoe, which he could punt beautifully, we tried it but fell in many times. He died in 2001. Thruston 11:15, 15 Mar 2005 (UTC) (updated Thruston 00:08, 15 February 2006 (UTC))
I have tidied up and shortened the discussion about which end to punt from, and tried to keep it entirely neutral. I have also removed the link to the picture of the Henley regatta in 1893 at the thamesrc site because, unless I am going blind it does not show anyone punting from the till (as they never did on the Thames according to Rivington.
This is what I took out:
I hope the current revision is an improvement.
Thruston 21:37, 21 October 2005 (UTC)
I bet someone who frequents this page could help. In the Bridge of Sighs (Cambridge) article, there is this report:
"It is said that one morning in 1957 an Austin Mini was found suspended by rope from its arch, having been punted down the river and hoisted up by Cambridge University students."
I know that this cannot possibly be literally true because the Mini was not manufactured until 1959 (and even in 1959, nobody would do this to a brand new car) - so if this is true, it was either a different car or it must have been in the 1960's sometime.
I'm also sceptical that even a car as small as a Mini (weight 1400lbs) could be supported on a punt - or even a couple of punts lashed together.
However, the story appears in numerous guide books and many, many web pages and whilst they vary a little on details, they all say "Mini", "punt" and "1957".
Do any of you good punting folk either know the true story or perhaps you can dispel this as a definite urban legend?
SteveBaker 02:24, 8 January 2006 (UTC)
Well, for those who care for the truth: I got a very definitive answer from Johnathan Harrison (who I surmise is a Librarian at St.Johns). He included no less than four newspaper clippings from the day each incident happened all of which had photographs. Firstly, it happened not once - but twice. Once in 1963 and again in 1968. In the first incident a 1928 Austin Seven (not a Mini) - one photo shows the car dangling under the bridge - the other shows workmen standing on what looks (to the uninitiated) like a large punt with an Austin Seven sitting right there in the boat. The second clipping says that it is believed that student brought the car under the bridge on four punts lashed together.
The second incident (1968) was using a car called "The Bond Bug" - a hideous 3-wheeled contraption. This time the newspapers had evidently interviewed the students. The car had once again been punted under the bridge using an unspecified number of punts lashed together and with 13 foot planks laid across them to support the car. There is a photo in one of the clippings showing the fire brigade removing the car and a picture of the car supported very precariously on two standard-sized punts - both of which appear to be on the verge of sinking under the weight!
I'm going to try to find someplace to post the four press clippings - but the copyright issues may be a problem.
SteveBaker 14:53, 14 February 2006 (UTC)
A Fiat 500 (the old model with that name, obviously) was also left on a scaffolding platform just upstream of Clare in 1985 of thereabouts for the May Ball. That was definitely transported on two punts, but I have an alibi for the nights in question (there were two attempts, the scaffolding collapsed the first time). The Cam Conservators took it away (not on punts).
The Independent article mentioned at the top of this page had a couple of nitpicks about this article. I know nothing about punting, but perhaps one of the regular contributers to the article could have a look at the comments and do something about them? It is currently here: Wikipedia under the microscope over accuracy -- Telsa ( (t) (c)) 11:48, 14 February 2006 (UTC)
Additions look nice. Featured articles tend to have more references, but perhaps there just aren't any to quote? And the Manual of Style prefers lowercase to titlecase ( WP:MOSHEAD#Capitalisation). I am off now from this article now, having nothing useful to add to it; but see you on WP:PR and WP:FAC :) -- Telsa ( (t) (c)) 10:06, 15 February 2006 (UTC)
Now that you're doing punting around the world, is there any point at adding a line on makoros in the Okavango Delta, Botswana? (These are dugouts punted from the rear - have pics, but a) quality mightn't be great, and b) mightn't find them in time for your bid for FA.) JackyR 21:15, 22 February 2006 (UTC)
Pic, but it's helluva big file (haven't worked file mgmt out yet). JackyR 21:17, 6 March 2006 (UTC)
Hallelujah! Right. So I've referenced the use of makoros. The large file for the pic is apparently fine (well within Commons guidelines). And you get a choice of pics at Commons – Makoros. So does this bit go in?
Btw, you might also want to check out a cat I created at Commons: Poled boats. Hope this works for you... JackyR | Talk 17:57, 18 May 2006 (UTC)
In my browser (Firefox) and (default) skin, the images show up as unacceptably small. Sure, they can be expanded via thumbclicks, but in the article they show as small enough that the reader must click on them to see any details at all. 240px is a good default size for images, used widely throughout WP as an optimum size for viewing. I'd like a more complete explanation as to why the image widths were removed, please. As readers apparently outnumber editors by a factor of ten to one, it follows that very few readers are going to be registered and have preferences set. We should aim for optimum viewing by someone using the defaults, rather than cater for experienced users who have tweaked their viewing experience. -- Surgeonsmate 22:20, 6 March 2006 (UTC)
Is there any way in which this ping-pong battle over 'bim-bam' can be sorted? Can anyone help? - Ballista 19:53, 23 June 2006 (UTC)
I think that the 'bim-bam' comment is a bit uncyclopaedic, so I would be happiest if it is left out. But I don't think the person adding it was being a vandal. -- VinceBowdren 13:57, 24 June 2006 (UTC)
I get the impression that a Norfolk punt is a specific kind of punt. If this is true, it seems like this is the better location for this information. Norfolk Punt has some great information on the vessel's development, but this article is more complete as far as design, construction, and technique. Hoof Hearted ( talk) 17:26, 25 March 2008 (UTC)
Spreewald in Germany —Preceding unsigned comment added by Alpinebixby ( talk • contribs) 18:01, 4 July 2008 (UTC)
Does anyone know if punting still takes place on the Nidd these days? See the reference and citation I have added to the photo of this from approximately 1912. Would be nice to add a modern reference if so. Punts are still available to hire at Knaresborough. Rowing boats are also for hire, but thye are limited to a very short stretch of river. Punts can travel upstream round a small bend, where they will find a small dammed weir across most of the river. With a little skill and perspiration, it is possible to punt up the weir into a lovely relaxing lagoon.
Peteinterpol ( talk) 20:22, 4 May 2009 (UTC)
Change Island Punt (Newfoundland Canada). The evolution of the punt in Newfoundland (Eastern Canada) seems to deviate substantially from those on the Thames in England. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 142.162.178.204 ( talk) 01:48, 24 May 2010 (UTC)
Hello fellow Wikipedians,
I have just modified one external link on Punt (boat). Please take a moment to review my edit. If you have any questions, or need the bot to ignore the links, or the page altogether, please visit this simple FaQ for additional information. I made the following changes:
When you have finished reviewing my changes, you may follow the instructions on the template below to fix any issues with the URLs.
This message was posted before February 2018.
After February 2018, "External links modified" talk page sections are no longer generated or monitored by InternetArchiveBot. No special action is required regarding these talk page notices, other than
regular verification using the archive tool instructions below. Editors
have permission to delete these "External links modified" talk page sections if they want to de-clutter talk pages, but see the
RfC before doing mass systematic removals. This message is updated dynamically through the template {{
source check}}
(last update: 5 June 2024).
Cheers.— InternetArchiveBot ( Report bug) 18:18, 4 December 2017 (UTC)
I was just a bit shocked to notice that in none of the photos did I notice a single life jacket or other flotation device, especially with the commercial operations. Plus, it seems that some of those punts have too many passengers. I imagine that regulations are different in Europe than in the States. And I apologize if this comment doesn't conform to Wikipedia guidelines. Flight Risk ( talk) 04:23, 22 April 2019 (UTC)