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MOORING
You can stop for the night almost anywhere along the canal bank (towpaths are owned by the
navigation authority, usually Canals & river Trust), except where prohibited by signs or where it is
unsafe, such as on a bend or close to a lock. Riverbanks, however, are private property, so mooring,
except in designated spots provided by the navigation authority or a boating association, is at the
discretion of the landowner. Local farmers are often obliging with many having ‘honesty box’ oil
drums buried in their field. Respect their property and don’t leave litter, especially anything that
could harm animals – and please do respect the
honesty box!
To moor, slow down, aim towards the bank at
about 30 degrees and as you come close, say
five or six feet, steer gently away so that the
boat continues approaching the bank but begins
to straighten up, then engage reverse gear to
slow you down and with luck and practice the
boat will come to a stop parallel with the bank
and close enough for you to hop ashore and tie
up securely to the mooring pins you’ll be
carrying.
Some boaters worry about mooring in urban
areas though often these are safer (if noisier!) than more suburban locations. If in doubt, use official
visitor moorings, ask the advice of nearby boaters or speak to a local BW office. For security tie the
mooring lines on the boat – some boaters carry chains and locks for secure mooring in ‘dodgy’ spots.
If you are mooring on a busy river or canal, you can use additional ‘springing’ lines to hold the boat
steady and stop it moving with any turbulence. Run one forwards from the stern and another back
from the bow, crossing them over before tying off against a mooring ring or spike.
While these are just a few pointers to show how easy boating is, there are a number of companies
who offer much more detailed one- or two-day training courses if you want to get even more out of
your boating.
Whilst crusing your canal boat there will come a time that you will need to moor up to have a rest,
to go back to your home moorings or to sleep overnight. It is important to make sure that you have
the right equipment, know where you can moor and also how to move your boat to the side of the
canal/river to safely 'park' your boat.
So what equipment will I need to moor a narrowboat?
The items below are essential equipment to moor a canal boat.
1.
Mooring pegs/pins (to help secure the rope - this look just like a pin (hence the name!)).
2.
Lump Hammer (to hammer the mooring pegs/pins in to the ground).
3.
Mooring Hook (looks like a large safety pin).
4.
Mooring Rope (to enable the second crew member to help pull the boat to the side of the
canal/river).
Figure 4 - Bow & Stern Moorings
