When a suitable place to moor has been found, it is important that the process of mooring the boat is achieved with the minimum of fuss and in perfect safety.
Moving the Boat to the Bank
A narrowboat does not have a brake, but it does have a reverse gear, although steering in reverse is impossible. The boat should also have at least one crew member other than the “captain”, as mooring the boat is a two-person job at least.
Most British canals are quite narrow, and it is important not to obstruct the passage of other boats while mooring. This can happen if, for example, if one end of the boat is allowed to swing across the canal during the mooring manoeuvre.
It is often a good idea to let a crew member go ashore just before reaching the preferred mooring place and, holding the centre rope, help to pull the boat forwards or backwards as necessary and hold it alongside the bank while the mooring ropes are being fixed. This is especially important if it is necessary to moor in a tight space between two other boats, as the boat may need to be pulled sideways into the space.
On rivers, the boat should always be moored pointing upstream, which may therefore mean that the boat must be turned round before mooring. This must of course be done without endangering any other boats in the vicinity.
Tying the Boat to the Bank
The aim should be to make sure that the boat moves as little as possible while it is moored. If there is a gap between the side of the boat and the bank, the boat will hit the bank every time another boat goes past and its wash hits yours. This will not be an issue during the night when no other boats are moving, but it is a distinct disadvantage when the boaters are preparing a meal or pouring the wine!
To avoid this, the moorings must be firm and the ropework up to scratch! Ideally, the mooring points should be a yard or two fore and aft of the boat, although the exact point might be dictated by where the mooring rings (or posts) are in relation to the boat. Although the rings might be set at a standard distance apart, narrowboats and other canal craft do not come in standard lengths!
In open countryside, the mooring pins supplied with the boat will need to be used. These must be hammered into the ground and the ropes attached to them. Places must be found that offer enough firmness to keep the pins in place but also enough give to allow them to be knocked into the ground. This combination does not always present itself! It may be necessary to pull the boat along a few yards until better ground is found.
The pins should be knocked in at an angle, just like tent pegs, and to about three-quarters of their length, so that the strain of the rope does not pull the pins out of the ground. Remember that the boat could weigh around 18 tonnes and is being held in place by two pieces of metal knocked into a muddy canal bank!
Wrap the mooring ropes several times round the pins, especially if they do not have loops at the top, and make sure that at least two strands of rope, preferably more, cross between the pins and the boat. Make the knots on the boat, not at the pins. This will make it easier when casting off and will also be more secure. The knots should be hitches (e.g. clove hitches), which do not become impossible to undo should they get wet. The cleat at the front of the boat should be used to wrap the rope round in a figure of eight, finished with a hitch.
If a third pin is available, and the bank is not holding the other pins all that well, a third mooring can be made amidships, making use of the centre rope. However, this should only be a last resort, as the centre rope is not designed for this purpose.
A golden rule is that no rope must be allowed to cross the towpath, which would clearly be a danger to walkers and cyclists. If a pin is likely to present a hazard to passers-by, it should be marked with something that is easily seen, such as a white carrier bag placed over the top (and firmly tied on so that it does not end up in the canal).
Incidentally, mooring on a river presents an extra challenge if the river level is likely to rise or fall. This is especially true on tidal rivers. The ropes should be fixed to allow for any such movement.
Casting off from the Bank
When using mooring rings, simply undo the knots on board and pull the ropes through the rings.
When using mooring pins, the easiest thing is to pull the pins out of the ground and step aboard, sorting out the rope at leisure when under way. However, getting aboard before the boat gets too far from the bank is usually a good idea! Whatever happens, don’t leave the mooring pins behind!
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