this post was submitted on 20 Jun 2023
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Narrowboat and UK inland waterways ( canal and river )

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A community for UK inland waterways enthusiasts. While boating is our main topic. Any UK canal or river based discussion is allowed.

Rules:

1: Be polite. If you have nothing good to say, say nothing. I am not banning rants. Just asking folks to take a min and consider the wording. I want every waterways user to feel welcome here. We should then be able to build a resource where folks can ask for advice as they plan some event. This means walkers cyclists fishermen boaters all have help and advice to give relevent to other users.

So please feel free to tell folks about an event that are things hard for you. We all enjoy joining in on the odd rant. But remember to use wording referring to the indevidual not the community they are a member of or activity they are partaking in. This way others with the same needs can learn from your needs from them while expressing their own from you.

I know this sounds like I am talking to 5yo. But really I do not want this to become Facebook like. In the way groups often attack each other.

2: No SPAM or sales ads. If demand exists. We can create a boats for sale wanted community. But please let's keep them off this community.

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Recommendations for Holiday Hires.

I'm a complete newbie when it comes to such a topic but I have always wanted to take a short break on a #Narrowboat

I was hoping this would be a place to ask for some recommendations on good ethical people/companies to hire from?

As for location I would be looking for somewhere near where i grew up #Stourbridge #Stourport .

@narrowboat

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[–] TheNumberOfGeese 4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

No matter who you pick, insist that they explain the rules of the ~~road~~ canal.

We've had to help holiday boaters who were given the keys and sent on their way without even being told what side of the canal to drive on!

Points to ask:

  • What side to generally be on
  • Where is it ok to moor
  • How to use a lock (including priority and also when to wait for other boaters to turn up)
  • What state to leave a lock in
  • How fast to go
  • When to give way
  • Etc. Etc.

A decent hire place should be happy to take the time to talk you through it.

[–] JohnSmith 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I would echo what @TheNumberOfGeese@feddit.uk said about a hire place giving you an introduction on the basics. You should insist that.

Canal & River Trust Boater’s handbook is a a good place to start. They also have a bunch of Youtube videos that’ll prepare you well.

Here are a few random suggestions based on my mistakes and experiences:

  • don’t try to cover too much distance per day
  • cruise really slow and you’ll enjoy more
  • too high boat speed is a recipe for mayhem
  • locks may seem scary at first, but they are really easy so long you don’t let water in too fast too quickly
  • help others at the locks and you’ll have nice chats as a bonus
  • the boat really does not steer unless there is propulsion
  • try to learn to use steering and propulsion as gently as you can; shouldn’t take much practicing
  • reverse gently if you beech your boat, and if that doesn’t help, the long pole is your friend (also very useful when your boat ends up stuck across the canal!)
  • if you are into slow cooking, lamb/beef/vege stew gently bubbling during the day as you cruise is heaven
[–] TedWard@toot.wales 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

@TheNumberOfGeese

Thanks for the advice, I would have plenty of questions about how not to break anything too!

I kind of hope there would be a little booklet to help explain all these things too.

[–] TheNumberOfGeese 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I half wonder if some of them just whisper "It's like Mad Max out there." as they push you off :p

Very excited for your adventures!

[–] TedWard@toot.wales 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

@TheNumberOfGeese 🤣 I was hoping more of a Kevin Costner Water World.

[–] TheNumberOfGeese 1 points 1 year ago

I was so close, yet so far from that joke! Brilliant job!

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