| The Waterway Code and Canal Language | |
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One of the pleasures of inland cruising is the freedom to go where you chose, but there are several important 'rules of the road' which must be observed. When meeting another craft pass on the right, except where it would be dangerous. For example, a laden working boat may need the deeper water on the outside of a bend, which will mean your passing on the left. The oncoming vessel will signal two horn blasts for you to do this. Overtake if possible on a straight stretch. Working boats or barges always have priority over pleasure craft; otherwise, priority at locks is on a 'first come, first served' basis, except when the water level in the lock is in favour of a craft seen approaching. Speed limits are laid down by each waterway authority. Never allow the wash waves to break on the banks. Slow down on bends, and when approaching or passing moored craft, or other craft underway, anglers, bridges and tunnels. The boat should be equipped with a white headlamp for tunnels and night cruising on canals. Full navigation lighting is obligatory on rivers and estuaries. Mooring is possible on most straight stretches but do not moor on bends or near locks and bridges. |
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 A 'Longboat' on a British Canal. Note how closely the craft fits the lock. |
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Guide to the Terms used by Watermen |
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| Balance Beam | Large timber running horizontally from a lock gate. It is used as a lever for opening and closing the gate. |
| Bridge Hole | The Arch under a canal bridge. |
| Butty | An unpowered narrow boat towed behind a motor boat. |
| Cut | A canal, so called because it is an artificial cut of the land. |
| Draw | To open a sluice or paddle of a lock. |
| Gates | The movable watertight gates at each end of the lock. The gate where the water level is the highest is known as the top gate; and where the water is at the lower level, the bottom gate. |
| Keb | Long rake kept at locksides for removing debris from the lock. |
| Lengthman | A man employed by a navigation authority to maintain a section of waterway, especially the water levels |
| Lock | The 'elevators' of canals. (See above picture.) |
| Narrow Beam | A canal on which the locks do not exceed a width of 7ft - 6in (2.29m). |
| Narrow Boat | A boat designed for narrow canals. Generally, 70ft (21.34m) long with a 7ft ( 2.13m) beam. |
| Paddle | The sluice for filling or emptying a lock of water. In the North of England a paddle is called a clough (pronounced 'clow'). In Ireland it is called a 'rack'. |
| Pound | The stretch of water between two canal locks. |
| Side Pond | A small reservoir re-using water to refill a lock instead of letting it run away. |
| Sill | The masonry beneath a lock gate, sometimes projecting several feet from the gate. |
| Stop Gates | Wood or metal gates, similar to a lock gate, used to retain a section of a canal during repairs. Also known as 'planks'. |
| Summit | The highest stretch of water on a canal - often fed by a reservoir. |
| Wheeler or Lock Wheeler | A person - at one time a cyclist - who travels ahead of the boat to set the locks in readiness. |
| Winding Hole | A wide place on the waterway for turning boats. So called as the wind was used to assist in turning. |
| Windlass | The L-shaped crank or handle used for winding the paddles up and down, usually detachable, but sometimes fixed. |
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Living on a Boat. |
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Owning a boat is not as simple as it may seem. There are rules and laws to govern the buying of boats and even more to comply with if you plan to live on board. All boats require a Boat Safety Certificate (BSC – the equivalent of a car's MoT), and unless you are aware as to repairs etc, don't buy a boat without one. At the top end of the market, there are customised narrow-boats up to £70,000, fully fitted down to curtains and blankets. Or you can pick up a river cruiser in dire need of repair for just £1,000, but be prepared to spend ten times that to get it back on the water and its BSC. If you need help with finances, use a company that specialises in boat purchases as they can advise on the legal stuff. Always research your market before purchasing your boat. Much useful information and guidance is available from British Waterways. | |
