River Navigation

Whether we like it or not the pastime we enjoy together, boating, is reliant on water levels. The start of this year has been the driest for many years and rivers and reservoirs have been running low. Water levels on canals tend to remain more stable than those on river navigations, however over the dry period the canals have been suffering too, with the closure of a long section of the Leeds Liverpool canal due for closure next month.

When navigating rivers it is important to remember that water levels can go up and down very quickly and allowance should be made for this when mooring up and also when looking at air draft and water draft considerations. The topic is further complicated if travelling on tidal waterways where the water levels vary on an hourly basis as well as a seasonal basis.

As a general rule, when navigating rivers it is usual to stay to the middle of the navigation on straight sections and towards the outside of bends. The insides of bends tend to be shallow and have shoals or sandbanks. Shallow drafted boats can get away with straying further out of the channel than deeper drafted boats and as such should not push deep drafted boats into shallow water. Tidal waters often have navigation charts to accompany them. It is important to follow these very carefully as the channel does not always follow the assumed course. During summer months the width of navigable river channel can vary considerably.

Another consideration of river navigations is where to moor. Unlike canals where you can moor to the towpath where ever you fancy, river banks are under riparian ownership and belong to the adjacent land owners. It is therefore not possible to pull up and moor to the banks. For this reason it is important to check before you leave where possible mooring places are located. Once you have reached your desired mooring spot it is important to moor into the flow of water or the wind whichever is stronger, using the flow or wind to slow and control the progress of the boat. Once up to the bank you should allow enough slack in your ropes to allow the boat to fall with the water should river levels reduce. This can be done in a number of ways but setting spring lines is one of the most common. You should be aware that on river navigations where mooring space is scarce, that rafting up may be necessary, especially if you have a narrowboat and use a large proportion of the available space.

Any boater using river navigations should carry and have ready for use a suitable anchor and chain or rope. River navigations have weirs accompanying locks and often at various spots along the route. Should your engine fail near a weir it is essential that you are able to get to and deploy your anchor both quickly and safely. The anchor can also be used should mooring space be full, to anchor over night or for lunch. Just make sure that you don’t block the navigable channel and make sure the anchor isn’t dragging!!

Lastly, the weather in the UK can be very unpredictable. Be aware that during periods of heavy rainfall rivers can quickly go into flood conditions. If this happens moor up where it is safe to do so and under no circumstances should you attempt to move the boat until the water levels have receded to a safe level. If necessary find somewhere to leave the boat on a temporary basis. Marinas will often have spare berths that can be rented for short periods if need be. British Waterways are also very approachable of you find yourself stranded on one of their moorings. They don’t expect you to move in flood conditions even if you are overstaying.

I hope that has given you a small insight into river navigations and has not put you off venturing out onto the rivers. They offer some excellent scenery and cruising grounds for all to enjoy.