One of the great advantages of a narrowboat holiday on the canals and rivers of England is that of being able to stop when and where the boater wants to.
Well, as Evelyn Waugh wrote, up to a point, Lord Copper! There are a few restrictions, and also some tips and tricks that might be useful to the beginner.
When Mooring is Compulsory
The general rule on waterways under the control of British Waterways is that boats must not move along during the hours of darkness. Even where this is not laid down as a requirement, night cruising is not recommended. This is for two main reasons, namely safety and the convenience of other users of the waterway. The latter includes not only other boaters but also the wildlife for which the canal/river is their home.
Boaters should therefore plan their cruising so that they are able to moor at a suitable place and time.
Restrictions on Mooring on British Canals
The general rule is that boats can only moor on the towpath side of the canal, which might of course mean crossing to other side when the crew is ready to stop.
Mooring is not allowed on private moorings. These are generally (but not always) on the opposite side to the towpath. This also applies to private marinas, although some may offer public moorings, usually for a fee.
Boaters must observe all notices about restricted mooring. For example, some moorings have a time limit on how long a boat can stay. In some cases this is a matter of several days, in others the restriction relates to water points (for example) where mooring is allowed when a boat has to moor in order to wait its turn but not for any other purpose.
Also, mooring is prohibited close to locks or winding holes (turning places) unless a boat is waiting its turn. There are also “no mooring” zones near tunnel entrances, canal junctions and similar places where an obstruction could be caused.
Urban versus Rural Mooring in Britain
When planning a trip, the crew should take into account whether they want to stop off in towns or cities along the route or pass through until back in open countryside. The latter is not always possible, due to time constraints, and mooring overnight in a big city might be inevitable due to the rules about cruising after dark.
One advantage of a city mooring is that there are probably mooring rings or posts provided, which makes tying up a lot easier. However, if there are no rings but a solid, paved edge to the canal, there is a problem.
There is also a problem in popular locations where all the available moorings appear to be taken already. Mooring between two other boats, when the space is only just long enough, is a challenge that the novice boater will find daunting!
A big disadvantage of cities is that they are full of people, some of whom can be a nuisance. After a busy day on the water the boat crew will want a good night’s sleep, but the pubbers and clubbers who use the towpath as a shortcut in the early hours of the morning may have other ideas!
Out in the countryside, the problem is of finding the right place when it is needed. The canal banks are often overgrown with reeds and rushes, making it impossible to get ashore to fix the ropes. The opportunity to moor, in the shape of a well-defined piece of turf, may need to be grabbed when it presents itself. The boater cannot go back if a good place is missed, but must hope that another one is just around the corner!
There is a difference between mooring for the night and mooring because the crew want to visit somewhere or do some shopping.
For the former, the boat “captain” must be absolutely confident that the mooring will be secure while people are asleep. Also, do they want to spend the night under a motorway bridge or alongside a busy railway line?
For the latter, a less than ideal location might be preferable to ending up miles from where everyone wants to be!
Once the decision has been made as to where to moor, the next job is to moor with the least amount of fuss and bother, and in perfect safety.
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