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The Boater's Handbook

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The Boater's Handbook The Boater’s Handbook Basic Boat Handling and Safety for Powered Boats and Unpowered Craft If you have received this book from a hire boat operator, please return it after your holiday so it can be used again. In partnership with Charity no. 1146792 PR_#7335_CRT_BoatersHandbook2021_am1_160721_v2.indd 1 21/07/2021 13:44 Safety Checklist Preface Contents Introduction Avoid slips and trips! Watch out for fire and fumes! This booklet is the result of a Who’s in charge? 5 detailed study of safe boating. Before setting off – top tips 6 ´ Watch out for mooring ropes, ´ The bottled gas used for cookers, Boat Handling bollards, holes and other hazards. fridges and heaters is heavier than The research was carried out by 1 air and, if there’s a leak, it will lie Setting off 8 ´ Use grab rails. the Canal & River Trust and the Under way 9 in the bottom of the boat where Environment Agency, with help Steering 10 ´ Wear non-slip shoes. it only takes a spark to ignite. from British Marine and the Trust’s Going aground, Slowing down ´ Don’t try to jump from ´ Watch out for fumes from Navigation Advisory Group which and stopping 11 the boat onto the bank. cookers, cabin heaters and water is made up of experienced boaters. Mooring 12 Tying up 14 heaters or from engine exhaust As well as introducing the basics of ´ Wear a life jacket. boat handling, it aims to help people Locks 16 building up in the boat. Carbon Bridges 30 monoxide poisoning is extremely spot risks and avoid accidents. Don’t get crushed! Winter cruising 32 dangerous – early signs include Feel free to copy it. All we ask is Wide beam boats, Powered headaches, tiredness, sickness & Unpowered Craft 33 ´ A moving boat has the force that you don’t alter our messages, to crush you – keep your and dizziness, and other flu-like pictograms or illustrations. Tunnels 34 symptoms. Anyone affected Unpowered craft in tunnels 35 body out of the way. We’ve tried to make the information should get medical help right away. 2 Boating Safety ´ Don’t fend off with your arms, in the handbook applicable to Accidents, Falls 36 legs or a boat pole – let the ´ Switch off appliances when inland waterways generally, but Fire, explosion and fumes 38 fender take the impact. you’re not using them. local conditions vary, especially on Collisions 42 Crushing 43 ´ Keep ventilators open and tidal waterways. So always seek ´ Don’t have your legs dangling over Capsize, Man overboard 44 free of obstructions. local information if you’re planning the side, your hands over the edge to visit an area that’s new to you. Operating injuries 46 or your head out of the hatch. ´ If you smell exhaust, gas, or petrol Lock safety 47 fumes, raise the alert right away. We want the information in the Fast-flowing water 48 ´ Keep off the roof when underway handbook to reach everyone Strong stream conditions 49 (low bridges could knock you Vandalism and aggression, Don’t rock the boat! who goes boating on the inland off the boat or worse). waterways in a powered boat Waterborne diseases 52 Training and guidance 53 ´ Think carefully before or unpowered craft. A pdf version is downloadable from Carbon Monoxide 54 climbing onto the cabin roof Unpowered craft 55 www.canalrivertrust.org.uk/ as the boat could become Stand up paddle boards (SUPBs) 56 top heavy and unstable. safeboating 3 Rules of the Waterway ´ Don’t all stand together Channel markers, Weirs, Overtaking, on the same side if it risks Giving way, Speed limits, 57 tipping the boat over. Passing dredgers or works, Sound signals, Navigation lights 58 4 Good Boating Behaviour Water safety zones 59 Caring for the environment 60 What makes a good boater? 62 5 Further Information Contacts 64 Useful information, Signs 68 First published Spring 2002. This revision Spring 2021. Cover photograph courtesy of the Environment Agency. Signs 69 2 3 PR_#7335_CRT_BoatersHandbook2021_am1_160721_v2.indd 2-3 21/07/2021 13:44 Introduction Welcome to Introduction The Boater’s Handbook This handbook gives you all the boating basics – the essential knowledge and techniques you need to make sure you enjoy yourselves and stay safe. Reading it before setting off will help you to spot the risks and take simple action to avoid problems. If you do run into difficulties, this understanding should help you get out of trouble quickly and safely. 1 Boat Handling The Boater’s Handbook is designed Who’s in charge? for newcomers to boating, but we Part one takes you through the hope it will also be a handy reminder One of the great things about boating navigation and so on. As well as basic skills for handling your boat. for more experienced boaters. is that everyone can muck in together. knowing the procedures, your crew 2 Boating Safety But at least one person needs to should be aware of the safety risks in Read this handbook before you set know the boat handling basics, to each situation and how to avoid them. Part two gives important safety rules off, and keep it nearby for reference. understand the safety guidelines and Someone should be competent to to help you keep out of trouble. It’s Of course, you won’t become an to know what to do in an emergency. take over if the skipper becomes ill. vital stuff. So please – for your own expert overnight just by reading a safety – read through carefully. book – and it’s impossible to cover So, once you’ve chosen a ‘skipper’, Think very carefully before every aspect of boating, every type it’ll be their job to make sure your going afloat alone as the risks 3 Rules of the Waterway of boat and every eventuality. You’ll crew and passengers have all the are very much greater for you Part three gives you the basic find pointers to sources of local information they need to stay and other waterway users. rules of the waterway. waterway information in part five. safe. It’s a good idea to be clear Passengers who aren’t going to on each crew member’s duties. 4 Good Boating Behaviour Short courses in boat and unpowered be helping with any of the work craft handling are an excellent Good boating takes teamwork. So still need to read and understand Part four is all about respecting investment. There are details on page 53. you need competent crew who know the basic safety rules – so please the environment, the wildlife how to handle the boat and how to show them the safety checklist and other waterways users. If you’re hiring your boat, the stop the engine, and who can help at the front of this handbook. operator will give you instructions. 5 Further Information with mooring, moving through locks, Pay close attention – and don’t Part five provides contact details for cast off until you feel confident! the navigation authorities and lists Learn from the advice of local other sources of useful information. navigation staff, volunteers and other boaters you may meet along the way. 4 5 PR_#7335_CRT_BoatersHandbook2021_am1_160721_v2.indd 4-5 21/07/2021 13:44 Before setting off Boat jargon Follow these simple tips for trouble-free boating. ´ Check that your boat, engine ´ Plan your cruise and allow enough Right: Starboard and fuel system are in good time to complete it without condition and meet Boat Safety rushing. Add the number of locks Introduction Scheme requirements. to the number of miles and divide Introduction See contact details on page 53 by 3 to get a rough idea of the Front: Bow Back: Stern minimum number of hours that a ´ Make sure you and your crew journey will take – it could take know how to handle the boat longer if there isn’t much depth Left: Port – and have the skills for the or you need to wait to use locks waterway you’re using ´ It’s not a good idea to cruise in ´ Get information on possible the dark or when visibility’s bad stoppages, stream conditions and – if you have to, take extra care tides and if you’re planning to go Special safety tips on unfamiliar waterways check ´ Make sure you’ve got enough water that your boat will fit through and fuel on board for your trip Equipment checklist – Make sure you know where to find these things: bridges and locks and that the ´ Make sure you have a mobile waterway will be deep enough. ´ Lifebuoy, lifeline (if supplied), ´ Emergency torch phone handy and charged in See contacts list on page 64. lifejackets or buoyancy aids case you need to use it in an ´ Mooring ropes – long enough emergency. Being able to make ´ Anchor – for rivers and tidal to stretch from your boat to an emergency call could make waters, lochs and lakes – the the bollard and back, even all the difference if you get into rope and chain together should when you’re in a deep lock difficulty, especially if tackling be at least six times as long as ´ Mooring stakes and hammer something with increased risk such the deepest part as locking or river navigations. ´ Horn ´ Fire extinguisher(s) and fire blanket ´ First aid kit ´ Emergency shut-offs for ´ Boat pole or hook Warning battery, gas and fuel ´ Gangplank ´ Bilge pump Stay safe on the water – don’t This is why drinking and boating at ´ Windlass – see page 22 drink and drown. – Every year the same time are the wrong people die from drowning in the UK ingredients for a cocktail of fun.
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