Safe boating
As soon as the weather starts to improve thousands of people flock to Britain’s canals and rivers to try their hand at narrowboating.
Taking a canal holiday is the perfect way to escape from the stresses of everyday life and unwind, whilst enjoying beautiful waterside scenery and attractions.
However, much like going on holiday abroad, boating holidays can carry their own risks, so it’s always a good idea to do some research before setting out. Start with BW’s Boaters Handbook and make sure all your active crew read it too. Keep reading here to find out what the most commonly reported incidents are, and how you can avoid these tricky situations – there are many more handy tips in the Handbook.
Cill and lock gate incidents
In 2008 British Waterways recorded 11 cill incidents, seven upstream, and 12 downstream gate incidents. Within these numbers, seven of the cases resulted in the boat becoming seriously flooded or sinking. Although some of these numbers have fallen compared to those of the previous year, the fact that accidents are still happening is cause for concern.
Cill accidents usually occur when boaters enter a downhill lock and let the boat drift too close to the top gate. In front of each top gate is a cill submerged below the water, which can jut out by up to 5ft. If the back of your boat comes to rest on the cill as the chamber empties, the boat will tilt forward dangerously and you’ll no longer be floating freely. You and the boat could be in serious danger. The immediate remedy as soon as you notice the problem – providing the boat’s nose is not already under water - is to close the downstream paddles and gently raise the upstream ones to re-fill the lock.
How you can avoid this: Negotiating locks can seem the most challenging part of a canal holiday, so just remember to stay calm, pay attention and keep checking that the boat is floating freely. Ground crew in charge of the paddles and gates must be outlawed from wandering off while the lock is emptying or filling – they’re in the best position to spot problems before they get serious and to act quickly to put things right. The steerer should never leave the helm.
If you do get into trouble it’s important not to panic or take unnecessary risks. British Waterways can be contacted 24 hours a day in the event of an emergency, call 0800 47 999 47.
Trips and tumbles
During 2008 BW recorded 50 accidents that involved slips, trips or falls – the largest single cause of reported accidents.
Sometimes it can be quite easy to end up taking a spill on the towpath, as there are so many things to keep an eye out for. Bollards, ropes, and rings are the things you will need to look out for the most, but holes, uneven ground and slippery surfaces can also cause trips.
How you can avoid this: The best thing you can do is keep your eyes open and slow down – canal holidays were not made to be rushed! Wear sensible, non-slip deck shoes when you’re on board, and take extra care on the towpaths at night. Take a torch with you when out and about at night in rural areas. Remember that everyone’s judgment is impaired by alcohol, and you’re at much greater risk of falls and potential drowning after a few drinks.
BW recommends that children, non-swimmers and lone boaters wear life jackets whenever they’re on deck. But it’s also advisable for all crew members to wear one if the deck is slippery or the water is cold.
Collisions
Collisions and run-ins with other boats usually come down to two things: a lack of boat handling skill and travelling too fast. Narrowboats may appear harmless because they’re so slow, but they’re bigger and heavier than cars so the potential to cause damage can be just as great.
How you can avoid this: If you’re new to boating your handling skills aren’t going to be perfect, so go slow and don’t rush. You need to think ahead: allow time for the boat’s direction to respond to your movement of the tiller; the boat’s break is reverse gear, and this too takes time to take effect. Watch how other boat helmsmen manoeuvre, then spot and copy those who make it look easy. They’ll be the ones who rarely resort to maximum forward or reverse thrust and take their time. Remember that everything takes longer the shallower the water, and more engine power is not always the answer.
Take a look at www.considerateboater.com for more useful tips.
Get to know the waterway before you set off – buy and read a waterways guide, download a boaters’ guide and talk to your hire boat operator about your proposed route. Then you’ll be prepared for local oddities in the navigation such as locks or weirs with particularly strong flows. Keep an eye out for smaller craft like dinghies or canoes, and floating debris which could wrap itself around your propeller. When approaching blind bridges, bends and junctions, don’t be afraid to give a long blast of your horn to let any boat travelling towards you know you’re coming.
Fast track route to becoming an expert
The Royal Yachting Association runs some excellent one day canal boat handling courses – these provide a rewarding and enjoyable day out and a really good way of building confidence. Check www.rya.org.uk for locations around the canal network.
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