Boaters' Update 31 May 2024

• We want your views on major stoppage plans
• Final words on cruising past moored boats
• Blow your own trumpet (horn)
• Maintenance, repair and restoration work affecting cruising this weekend
• National Boat Count
• Vote from a boat

Happy boating,

Damian

We want your views on major stoppage plans

If you’re an all-weather boater, then you’ll have seen us working year-round and know that each winter, when fewer boats are cruising our waterways, we usually carry out essential repairs and maintenance. This often involves getting out some of our big toys to take on large-scale engineering projects, which in many cases, means we need to close the waterway completely, and sometimes even the towpath.

We also work with third-party companies, such as Network Rail & HS2, to enable them to carry out their own works during the winter period, where these affect our canals and rivers.

The first draft of our proposed works is now online. The list is smaller than the final plans as we add more when details become available. This is because we have been carrying out in-depth reviews of each stoppage and how confident we are in delivering these works based on budget, approvals, and resources. The stoppages in the list containing 96 are confirmed as going ahead following our assessments.

We have a further 55 stoppages that we are continuing to review, and these will be included in the second phase of public consultation.

Adopting this way of reviewing our winter works and only publishing stoppages that have been thoroughly reviewed should reduce the amount of change after the intensive maintenance period has gone live and, in turn, allow customers to plan their journeys around our planned winter programme with more confidence.

Asking your opinion

Before we carry out our winter works programme, we like to consult the people who use our waterways to make sure our intensive maintenance period causes as little disruption as possible. This public consultation process begins in May when we publish the first draft of the winter programme.

Please remember that any planned works are still subject to change, but we will update the draft notices if our plans change.

How to search and comment on winter stoppages

Have a look at the list or map to find closures in a particular area. Alternatively, you can enter the first two letters of a particular waterway to see the relevant works.

By clicking on the "Read more" button, you can download an individual works notice. At the bottom of the notice is an online form where you can post your comments.

Please comment on as many of the works as you like, as we want to hear what you think.

Public consultation schedule 2024

• 3 June - deadline for submitting comments (first round)
• 1 July - revised notices published for the public to comment on
• 26 July - deadline for submitting comments (second round)
• 12 August - final winter maintenance programme published.

As you can see above, there’s not a lot of time to get your thoughts in on the first draft of plans. But as also mentioned above, the fuller list will be published on 1 July. After which, you’ll have over three weeks to pore over the plans and give us your thoughts.

Final words on cruising past moored boats

Yet again, you, dear reader, have not disappointed. Thanks to everyone who’s been in touch about this hot topic. If you remember from the last edition, the consensus was that there were two main obligations as a boater:

1. Slow to a speed that causes the minimum possible amount of disturbance when cruising past moored boats
2. Make sure you’ve properly secured your boat with ropes and use springs when moored up for any length of time

There’s advice on both of those points in the last edition, and you’ll also find more comments in the newly updated compilation of feedback.

Maybe you’ll also recall that I asked for your suggestions for a memorable catchphrase that would stick in the minds of boaters, and be a polite notice to others when they’re cruising past your boat. Here’s what you came up with:

• Win me over - Tickover! 🙂
• Please, slip by on the sly.
• When passing… Please Quash Your Wash.
• Only dregs, pull pegs. Nice’n’Slow, please.
• Less Wake, Friendships Make
• Wake-wise, Minimize
• Don't Leave Me in Your Wake!
• If you don't slow down, my wife will turn you into a frog.

Ok, so that last one wasn’t actually a suggestion but one that had been seen out on the cut! I can’t wait to see these displayed around the network.

Blow your own trumpet (horn)

As part of the discussion about cruising past moored boats, it was suggested that we also talk about the use of horns. Just like Rule 112 of the Highway Code, which I’m sure you’re all aware of, there are situations in which the use of the boat’s horn is actively endorsed.

Before running through them, the importance of knowing your horn signals is demonstrated by this cautionary tale from a boater:

“I was passing an entrance to a marina when a wide beam came out into the canal. The helmsman hooted three times. It was, therefore, entirely reasonable for me to assume that he had seen me and was in the process of stopping to let me pass. But I was wrong because three hoots on this occasion did not mean that his engine was in reverse gear, but instead, it meant ‘get out of my way’.

“He ploughed forward and turned right, right across my path, and only quick reactions from me prevented a collision. Although I did slow down, I was not expecting this to happen, and it seemed as if he had not even seen me. Certainly, there was no acknowledgement of my presence or an apology. Had he hooted once, then, of course, I would have taken the appropriate action, knowing what his intentions were.”

Another boater humorously underlines the importance of regularly maintaining your horn:

“Turned up at Harecastle Tunnel early one morning and was asked to demonstrate that the horn worked… Just a low, muted buzz... Ended up having to borrow their emergency one (thanks to the volunteers!). Very embarrassing!

“So, when I tied up a bit later, I pulled the double air horn to bits. Motor and pipe, etc. All okay. Diaphragms are all good, too. So, what was the problem? A couple of spiders had built nests inside the air horns right at the thin part up at the top! Amazing how difficult it was to get all the web balls out! Routine check and hoover out now!”

The rules

Once you’ve checked that you’re not harbouring a colony of spiders or other insects in your horn and that it can be blown to full effect, you may be wondering what specific signals mean.

• 1 blast = going to the right
• 2 blasts = going to the left
• 3 blasts = I’m trying to stop or go backwards
• 4 blasts – pause – 1 blast = turning round to the right
• 4 blasts – pause – 2 blasts = turning round to the left
• 1 extra long blast = warning at tunnels, blind bends and junctions

If you didn’t know before, rereading the first boater tale above will make a lot more sense now. The boat coming out of the marina should have sounded his horn once to indicate he was turning right out of the marina rather than turning right while indicating that he was stopping!

If you have access to a laminator, then it wouldn’t be a bad idea to make a note of the signals, laminate it and stick it somewhere visible from the tiller. For the other 99%, why not create an entry in the contacts of your phone, such as ‘Horn Signals’ and put them in there? Of course, the other option is to memorise them!

Another boater commented on the use of horns at ‘pinch points’ such as bridges:

“We have all been there. Two boats approaching a narrow bridge (or other restriction). Common sense says, in general, to let the boat nearest the bridge go first, but a few problems occur far too often, and in my opinion, there is a fair bit of scope for some discussion and an agreed set of polite “rules”.”

So, to kick off the discussion, the boater kindly suggested some topics:

1. If you both give way, then nothing happens…
2. If a boat is waiting to let you go first, get a shift on! It’s really irritating if the boat approaching proceeds at tick-over (obviously unless passing moored boats, etc.).
3. Think about the space available on both sides of the restriction. If you have a nice easy, wide space on your side but the other side is very tight (say due to moored boats), it may be best to let the other boat go first, even if it is further away from the restriction.
4. This leads me to ‘How do you tell the other boat that you are giving way and holding position?’ I understand that there’s a three short-blast signal to say that you’re stopping, but the horn is probably not great as often the boats are a long way apart. Perhaps we could agree on a set of signals. Perhaps three or four short flashes of the headlight for ‘I am giving way and holding position’ and one long flash as a reply meaning ‘I see that you are giving way and will get through and out of your way as fast as I safely can’. Would probably work for tunnels too.

What’s your experience of using horns? Did you already know the correct signals? Thinking of the fourth point above, has a particular method helped you navigate ‘pinch points’ with oncoming boats? Do please drop me your thoughts, thanks.

Maintenance, repair and restoration work this weekend

As someone who’s out on, or by, the water more often than most, you’ll know that there are times when we need to fix things that unexpectedly break. So, below, you’ll find a list of navigations that have ongoing restrictions that may affect you if you’re planning to get out on the water this weekend:

• Birmingham & Fazeley Canal
• Bridgwater & Taunton Canal
• Grand Union Canal
• Lancaster Canal
• Leeds & Liverpool Canal
• Macclesfield Canal
• Peak Forest Canal
• Shropshire Union Canal
• South Stratford Canal

When restrictions to navigation happen, we get them up on to our website as soon as we can – always best to have a scan before you set off. Have a read of the article below to find out how to get stoppage notification alerts on your smartphone.

If you have any questions about a specific closure, or spot an error in our system, please get in touch.

National Boat Count

Our annual National Boat Count, conducted every spring, has seen a 1.4% drop in boat numbers on our network across England and Wales. We also saw a 1.2% increase in unlicensed boats, meaning licence compliance now stands at 91.8%.

Nationally, 32,602 boats were recorded on our enforceable waters, down by 479*. This is the first reduction recorded since the formation of the Trust nearly 12 years ago, with the drop in boat numbers most significant in the London & South East region, where there were 512 fewer boats than last year.

Similarly, the increase in unlicensed boats was most prominent in London & South East, where the caseload and backlog in the legal system has been exacerbated by vacancies in the local team.

Across the network, the total number of boats with a home mooring has decreased by 3.7%, while the total number of continuously cruising boats has increased by 4.9%.

Matthew Symonds, Head of Customer Service Support, said: “Boating remains popular, but our national count paints a picture of the challenges facing many on the water. The overall drop in licence compliance continues the post-pandemic trend, with the cost-of-living increases being a challenge for many in society.

“The reduction in home moorers and increase in continuous cruisers may also point towards the wider economic environment.

“We do everything we can to support boaters who are struggling to stay on the water, and our boat licence customer support team and dedicated boater welfare team work with boaters to find solutions, including accessing available benefits for those living afloat on low incomes. We urge boaters who are struggling to talk to us as soon as possible.

“The income from licence fees represents about 11% of the income we have each year to invest in keeping the canal network open and navigable. I’d like to thank boaters for their continued support as we face the challenges of an ageing canal network exposed to ever more damaging effects of extreme weather brought about by climate change.”

Despite the boat licence customer support team’s best efforts to resolve matters, on occasion, when all other avenues have been exhausted, we take action to remove boats. In the last financial year, 106 unlicensed boats, including many abandoned, were removed from the network.

*The National Boat Count is a physical sighting of boats carried out by our towpath teams during March. Where boat numbers have changed nationally, it means that these boats are no longer on our waters. Where boat numbers have changed in a region, it could also mean that a boat has cruised out of one region, into another.

Vote from a boat

As you’re no doubt already very aware, the Prime Minister has called a general election for just under five weeks’ time on 4 July. Depending on where you are, you may get a few knocks on your boat or house by those canvassing for your vote – this’ll be a great opportunity to get boaters’ voices heard when emphasising the importance of proper funding for our nation’s waterways.

Below, you'll find a guide on how to make sure you get the chance to have your say when the time comes – the deadline to register to vote is midnight on 18 June, but as with most things, the sooner the better.

Firstly, check that you’re eligible. You can register to vote at 16 but cannot vote until 18 and you must be:

• Anyone on the electoral register aged 18 or over on polling day can vote in the general election as long as they are a British citizen, a qualifying Commonwealth citizen or a Republic of Ireland citizen with a UK address.

Or

• All UK citizens who live abroad can register to vote in the constituency where they were previously resident or on the electoral roll as long as they are not legally excluded from voting.

All good? Then read on!

Voting if you have a permanent mooring

If you have a permanent mooring, then you're effectively a resident of that area, and the process is the same as for your land-lubbing neighbours. Just visit the Government's voting registration website.

Voting if you're a continuous cruiser

It's slightly more complicated if you're always on the move and don't have a home mooring. If this is your situation, then you must register a declaration of local connection, which, when approved, will be valid for 12 months (or until you cancel it).

It's not too hard, find your local electoral registration office via Google. You'll then need to pop along, explain your local connection and fill in a form. The 'local connection' should be at a place where you spend the most time or where you have some connection. This could be where you were last permanently registered or any boatyard or marina you regularly use for maintenance.

Please note that, as some have, registration as 'No Fixed Abode' expires after a period of time, so it's worth checking with the local council if a past registration is still valid or if a new registration is needed.

Be aware

Please be aware that if you're not on a mooring with full residential planning permission and already listed on the council tax register, you will most probably only be able to register to vote by either declaring yourself homeless with a local connection or by using a family or friend's residential address. Both of these options may affect your credit rating and access to financial and other services.

Once registered

If you didn't apply to vote by post or proxy, all you now need to do is turn up at your nearest polling station on 4 July!

Undecided on who to vote for?

Help us put the future of canals on the election agenda. We’re looking for boaters who haven’t made up their minds how they’ll be voting on 4 July and want to challenge candidates on what they and their party will do to Keep Canals Alive. If you are interested in getting involved, drop me an email.

Happy boating,

Damian