Guidance for hire boaters
We provide expert tuition as part of our canal boat hire package
Drifters is made up of nine canal boat hire operators, all providing expert guidance for hire boaters on how to navigate the canals safely and respectfully.
All our operators uphold industry standards of excellence, ensuring we are among the best in the business, and all our customers can expect professional care and attention.
All our operators provide expert handover and tuition as part of the hire package and all our personnel are accredited by British Marine for ‘Hire Boat Instruction & Handover Procedures’.
One of the most important aspects of our professional standards is the guidance we provide for hire boaters on how to navigate safely and respectfully.
We recommend all our canal boat hirers watch the Canal & River Trust’s Boaters’ Handbook Video. Some of our operators have also produced Boat Hire Handover videos to watch in advance.
As well as explaining how to operate the boat and how to navigate the canals, we offer advice on canal etiquette.
Be happy, polite and considerate
It has been a tradition since the days of the working boats to acknowledge each other with a cheery wave! People often say that the friendliness of other boaters and waterway users is part of what makes being on the canals so special. Most experienced boaters are more than happy to help out newcomers, and to allow for the other person’s inexperience.
Speed
Boating is the fastest way to slow down – so relax, take it easy, don’t plan to do too much in a day. And allow some slack time in your schedule for holdups.
Do not cause a breaking wash – as it erodes the banks and eventually makes boating more difficult for everyone. Plus you are more likely to ground your boat if you are going too fast as the back of the boat will drop down.
Slow down passing other boats
Slow down passing on-coming boats because there is less room available for each boat, so less room for error.
Slow to tick over (max 2mph) before you pass moored boats, otherwise you could cause the moored boat to rock significantly. This is a potential safety hazard for people on board and you might also pull out the moored boat’s mooring pins and set it adrift.
Don’t overtake
It is rare for there to be a need, let alone a safe opportunity, to overtake a slower boat. Best to relax and enjoy the view. If you’re consistently being caught by another boat and you don’t want to increase your own speed, find a suitable straight stretch and slow or stop to allow the other boat to pass safely.
Legs, arms and other bits
Don’t use your legs or arms to stop or fend off boats from other boats, bridges or other structures. Keep limbs within the boat when cruising – don’t sit astride the bow with legs dangling.
Stay off the roof as canal bridges are often low.
When you are steering the boat, don’t stand on the edge of the rear deck. If the boat hits something you could get tipped into the water and into the propeller.
Mooring up
Use rings or bollards where you can, they will be firmer than spikes. Tie ropes fairly tightly to reduce movement caused by passing boats.
Drive mooring spikes deeply into the ground, to reduce the chance of them being pulled out by a passing boat. And tie the rope as close to the ground as you can.
Tie the line to the spike, don’t just pass it around – if the spike comes out at least it will stay attached to the rope!
Where there are steel pilings, try placing the spike immediately behind a pile – it reduces the chance of it being pulled out and keeps the spike off the footpath. Where the spike is close to the towpath, attach some means of warning.
Please don’t leave spaces between boats on popular moorings. Be prepared to moor up side-by-side at crowded moorings where the waterway is wide enough.
Don’t block the towpath by tying to a fence or tree in the hedge – even temporarily. It can be dangerous as well as annoying to towpath users.
Centre ropes are useful for holding a boat in position temporarily, but don’t rely on them when mooring properly. A well moored boat should need no more than bow and stern lines.
Don’t moor up at water points, except when you are actually using the facility, and don’t moor up at lock landings.
Bridges
Don’t race an oncoming boat to be first through a bridge. It’s much safer and more relaxing to give way and signal the other boat to come through. You’ll soon learn to judge who is nearest the bridge and thus has priority.
Alternatively, use the rule that the boat nearest the towpath, and therefore with the deepest water, gives way. On rivers and canals with a current, boats travelling upstream should give way to those coming downstream.
Queueing at locks
At busy times there might be a queue to use the locks. Leave plenty of space behind you for the next arrivals at lock landings to moor safely.
Whilst waiting to use a lock after someone else, if possible send a couple of your crew go to help at the lock.
Sharing locks
Always try to share wide locks between two narrowboats. It makes less work and saves water.
When going through a flight of locks, if it’s busy in your direction, resist the temptation to re-set the lock for your boat to use if there’s an oncoming boat a couple of locks away. You will only waste water and probably get into a queue in the next pounds where you’ll get in the way of other traffic. On some flights, you could even flood or drain the pound.
If you see a boat coming, leave the gates open for them. Always let an oncoming boat use your next lock if it is set for them, even if they are a couple of locks or several hundred yards away.
If you can, travel a flight of locks with at least one crew member working ahead so approaching boats will know you are coming. This saves water and can avoid accusations of stealing locks when
in fact the other boaters did not know you were there.
Do not work more than one lock ahead to avoid delaying an oncoming boat unnecessarily, unless the next couple of locks are already in your
favour. Where intervening pounds are short, ensure the lock below is filling as the upper one is emptying, it saves water.
Make sure the lock paddles are down and gates closed when you leave a lock – unless someone is about to use the lock after you.
Safey in the lock
Normally you should close paddles and gates, unless there are specific instructions not to do so. Keep the boat well forward of the top cill going down, and be aware of the danger of the front fender fouling beams or handrails of gates as the water rises or falls. Do not push open any gates with the boat. Wait until water levels are the same on both sides of the gate.
Except at signed moorings, don’t moor in between locks on recognised lock flights. It can lead to wasting of water and obstruct other boaters.
On rack and pinion mechanisms, set the safety catch before starting to wind a paddle. Never leave your windlass on the paddle gear if you are not winding the paddle. They can fly off and damage limbs and heads. Never jump down on to a boat from a lock side – if you slip you could be squashed. Always have at least one person attending the boat to ensure it does not get caught on cills etc.
Supervision of children
It’s a good idea to assign one adult purely to supervise small children. Small children should always wear buoyancy aids when in the boat cockpit/rear deck, on locksides or walking/playing
near the waters edge. Don’t let your children run along the side of locks or go onto the roof of the boat.
Running the engine
Engines and generators must not be run after 8pm or before 8am.
Ropes
Always keep ropes coiled for use. Don’t allow them to lie in a heap on deck. Avoid trapping fingers in ropes or between ropes and bollards. Don’t let the rope wind around the hands or feet whilst manoeuvering the boat. Watch out for ropes trailing in the water – they could get wrapped round the propeller. If you do get a rope or anything else round the propeller, ensure the engine is switched off before lifting the weed hatch cover. Do not restart until the cover is back in place.
The Rule of the Road
Whilst the general rule is pass ‘port to port’ (i.e. to the right), there may be situations where it is safer not to do this. For example, passing in a lock pound when one boat is seriously out of position or where one boat is preparing to moor. Watch out for situations to pass ‘wrong side’ and indicate your intention by using the recognised sound signal (two blasts on the horn). If you do overtake, generally do so on the left.
Tunnels
Some tunnels are wide enough for two boats to pass, but some are for single way working only. Check your waterways guide so you know the navigation rules for that particular tunnel.
Switch on your tunnel light and some cabin lights before entering the tunnel. Go slowly and slow right down when you get near to an oncoming boat to give each other maximum clearance. Make sure your tunnel light is adjusted so it does not dazzle oncoming steerers. You will find you get the best guide to your position by having it shine slightly to the right onto the roof of the tunnel.
Going aground
If you run aground, the best way off is to reverse slowly back the way you have come. Going faster in forward gear will usually result in you sticking tighter. Remember the slower the propeller
revolves the more water you will have underneath the boat. It can be quicker not to use the engine at all, but to push the stern off with the boat pole, and then reverse into deeper water before
straightening up. Don’t have your crew standing at the end that’s stuck – move them away and you’ll gain a couple of inches depth straight away.
If you meet a boat grounded, and it is safe to do so, stop to give them room for manoeuvre. Otherwise pass very slowly so as not to force it further aground.
Meeting a pair of boats
There are still quite a few motor boat and ‘butty’ (no engine) pairs cruising. It’s quite difficult to stop a pair without the butty (the towed boat) jack-knifing. At very slow speed in wind the butty can be blown off course. Always give way to a ‘pair’ travelling downstream.
Although the skipper of a pair should still alternate his boats with oncoming traffic at a lock, this may not always be feasible. At bridgeholes, give way even if you think you will get there first. Pairs normally have a deeper draft than a modern boat. Be ready to give them the centre channel, and for them to be towards the outside of a long bend, whether they are on the correct side or not. If you meet a butty being bow hauled by its crew pulling a rope from the towpath, remember to pass on opposite side to the rope.
When a pair is preparing to moor they will probably stop in the channel to tie together side by side. Be prepared for this and give way.
More information
The Canal & River Trust offers extensive advice for first-time holiday boaters.
