Select Page

A recently cancelled sailing event I was due to take part in left us with a free weekend in the diary. Given that my wife and I were celebrating a bumper wedding anniversary and the weather forecast was for fine weather, we decided to hunt around for a last minute canal holiday.

There is a network of more than 2,000 miles of historic canals and rivers across England and Wales.  Most of the canals were built in the 18th century during the industrial revolution, well before the railways were developed. The network has a long history used primarily for the transport of heavy goods though most have now been adapted for recreational use.

Our search led us to Devizes in southern England where there was a 47 foot narrowboat named Moonraker available for three day’s hire from www.whitehorsenarrowboats.co.uk on the Kennet & Avon canal.

The Kennet & Avon canal has an overall length of 140 km and was constructed between 1794 and 1810 to form a waterway that links Bristol with London via the Rivers Avon, Kennet and Thames. Although originally the canal was designed to carry heavy goods such as coal and stone in horse drawn barges, today it is used solely for recreation after falling into decline during the early 20th century, following the introduction of railways in the 19th century.

       

A 47 foot boat might sound excessive for two people, but narrowboats are as their name implies very narrow, with the accommodation in a long pencil shaped line.

Moonraker was beautifully maintained with shiny new paintwork, varnished wood work and polished brass fittings. Down below it was very comfortable with an excellent galley complete with gas cooker, pressurised hot and cold water, fridge, plus crockery, cutlery, glassware, pots and pans. There was a good sized heads with shower, basin and WC. USB ports and a 240 volt inverter for laptops and phone chargers were also provided.

The brand new diesel engine conforms to the latest emissions standards and was very fuel efficient, using a meagre 20 litres of fuel over the three days. This impressive fuel economy is achievable by keeping the revs low and proceeding at walking speed, which prevents wash from damaging the canal banks and also prevents disturbing moored boats. One of the many joys of canal boating is that it slows you down, literally, and it doesn’t take long to feel completely relaxed. UK canals have a 4 mph speed limit so this needs to be factored in when route planning.

Rules of the road

For those used to boating in crowded harbours and inshore waters, where strict observation of collision regulations is essential, navigating on a canal is much more straightforward.  The basic rules of the road are:

  • Keep on the right of the canal when passing other boats.
  • Make sure you give on-coming boats room to pass.
  • Look out for fishermen and slow down to give them time to pull in their lines. Keep to the middle of the canal as you pass them.
  • Sound your horn when approaching a blind bend.
  • Slow down to tick over when passing moored boats.

Mooring

There are plenty of places to moor along the towpath side of a canal, for short stays or overnight. Restricted areas are clearly signed and the non towpath side of the canal is normally restricted also. You should also avoid mooring near bridges, sharp bends or angling spots.

Popular places to stop include alongside pubs and cafes. Here you will find mooring rings and bollards and a maximum stay usually of up to 24 hours.

We prefer to aim for the quieter stretches, where you simply choose a spot, slow down and head for the canal bank at a 30º angle. When you are a couple of metres away from the bank, simply straighten up and put the engine in reverse for a few seconds and you should come to a stop alongside. Once you have practised this manoeuvre a couple of times you soon get the hang of it.

Moonraker was supplied with a boarding ladder, three steel mooring pins, a lump hammer and mooring lines. To moor the boat, you step ashore using the boarding ladder and then hammer in the pins at a 45º angle and tie up with the mooring lines. Doing all this is again straightforward, but for obvious reasons you should not hammer the pins into the towpath to prevent tripping up passers by.

Turning around

On a weekend break it is likely that you will need to turn the boat around and head back to where you came from. Given that most canal boats are longer than the width of a canal, turning around is done in specially designated turning points known as winding holes. These are usually miles apart, so you need to plan ahead and keep an eye on the map. In our case we used an app called Open Canal Map which tells you where you are.

To turn around, steer the boat slowly into the widest part of the winding hole until the bow touches the bank. You then engage forward gear and the boat will slowly pivot against the bank, while keeping the tiller pointing towards the bank. Once the boat has turned sufficiently, you then engage reverse gear and head back to the opposite side. You then move back into forward gear and you should be able to steer clear. I took a couple of attempts at this but we got round in the end.

I would thoroughly recommend a narrowboat holiday on the Kennet & Avon canal for those looking for a relaxing break in the UK. We did not encounter any locks which would have added to the fun but there were a few swing bridges to contend with. We also enjoyed some fabulous walks in the Wiltshire countryside.

Navigation safety: a quick-reference mobile app to learn the ColRegs NavLights and Shapes

 Safety at SeaSafety at sea will always remains a topical and important subject that will no doubt dominate the syllabuses of nautical...

How to trim a genoa sail

I recently had two new sails made by Sanders Sails, based in Lymington UK. The first to arrive was the new genoa and it took me a little while to get to know it and learn how to adjust it correctly. Here is an aide memoire for getting to know how to trim a genoa so that it will deliver the best performance.

What boating skills should you have before you buy a yacht?

Many people dream of owning a yacht and sailing off into the blue yonder. What boating skills should you have before you buy...

Boat engine cooling systems

Some boat engine breakdowns are unavoidable but those caused by lack of maintenance or regular checks can be avoided. Failure to maintain an engine’s cooling system is a well known example of this, so it is well worth spending time checking over the cooling system both when the boat is ashore and afloat.

Understanding your boat’s compass

Article submitted by Mike Rossiter, Certificated Compass Adjuster. Since the magnetic compass was first used by the Chinese...

Boat ownership

Owning a boat is a big commitment that should bring no end of satisfaction for the owner as well as the owner's family and friends. In...

Boat electrics inspection checklist

With the boat ashore, here are some recommendations for carrying out a boat owner electrics inspection. Safety is always paramount so remember to do the checks with the batteries off. Wearing a head torch helps, make notes as you go and only tackle a repair if you are 100% sure you know what you are doing:

Estimating and plotting your position at sea

This post covers how we go about estimating and plotting our position using traditional methods, when out of sight of land – covering Dead Reckoning, Estimated Position, Tidal Streams, Leeway and more…

Stress cracks on GRP boats

It is quite common to find cracks in the gelcoat when inspecting the deck and superstructure of a GRP boat. It is important to differentiate between a gelcoat crack and a scratch.

Light characteristics – how do navigators identify lights at night?

How do navigators identify the different types of light around our coasts at night and what are their characteristics?Navigating at...

The give-way hierarchy at sea – who gives way to whom?

Whatever their size or type, all skippers have a responsibility to avoid collisions with other boats at sea.  It is...

Jester Challenge 2022 – Sailing single handed from Plymouth UK to the Azores: Part 2 – Weather

Jester Challenge – A modern experiment in old-fashioned self-reliance, self sufficiency, and personal responsibility. This is the second of a 10-part post where solo sailor, Bernie Branfield, shares his first hand account of his single-handed, 2022 Jester Challenge, from Plymouth, UK to the Azores, in his 26′ Invicta Mk2, Louisa.

Competent crew skills: arriving and leaving a berth

Skilled boat handling is needed when entering or leaving harbour. Crew tasks include preparing the mooring lines and fenders before docking and...

Stern gear maintenance

The stern gear of a boat needs to be checked carefully when the boat is ashore as this is something that can only be done when it is out of the water. The same applies for any maintenance and repairs that may need doing, so it is best to check it all over as soon after an end of season lift out as possible.

Safety at sea principles

Safety at sea is not as simple as just spending money adding shiny new emergency equipment such as liferafts, danbuoys, distress flares, EPIRBs and so on.

Gybing a sailing boat

Gybing is the sailing manoeuvre used to change a boat's direction through a following wind. As with the tacking manoeuvre,...

Boat maintenance log

Keeping a boat maintenance log is an ideal way of reminding owners what needs to be done to a boat and when. Read on for some tips,...

ColRegs Nav Lights & Shapes, Rules Of The Road and IALA Buoys Apps

ColRegs Nav Lights & Shapes, Rules Of The Road and IALA Buoys Apps Make Learning Rules on iPhone, iPad, iPod and Android...

Sailing Boat Rig Care

The rig of a sailing boat is put under huge stresses and strains so it is important for inspections of a yacht’s spars and rigging to be carried out at regular intervals.

Medical Emergency at Sea

How to deal with a medical emergency afloat   If you are planning a boating trip, it is important to have at least one...

Marine diesel exhaust checks

You should inspect the exhaust system for corrosion damage regularly, especially around the injection bend. If you have noticed the engine exhaust smoking a lot during the sailing season this can also indicate a number of potential problems.

First Aid Afloat – fish spine injury

First Aid Afloat - Here is what to do if somebody stands on a fish spine: • Check for dangers. Is it safe for you to enter...

Rudders and steering systems – Part 3

In the third of our three blog articles on rudders and steering systems, we look at how to replace rudder bearings and repair a water-saturated core.

How to ensure your boat is in proper working condition

In this article Eva Tucker from Volvo Penta presents a handy check list of all the things that you need to check regularly in order to make sure that your boat is in a seaworthy condition. Including maintenance, safety gear and electrical checks.

Diesel engine winterisation

An inactive boat engine needs to be protected from corrosion during the winter, caused by the rising humidity levels through the cold months and the salty coastal air. This applies whether the boat is left afloat or hauled out over the winter. Read here about the two important stages of winterisaton for a diesel boat engine.