Steering, speed limits and driving on the right hand side

One of the biggest criticisms of narrowboat novices is that they sometimes forget to slow down past moored boats. Granted, there is a lot to take in if you are inexperienced, but there is a good reason for this rule: when your boat passes another boat tied up at the bank, the movement will rock the moored boat. What can seem a slight pull on the tiller to you on your moving boat, can have a big impact on the stability of the moored one, and can be the cause of spilt wine and dislodged mooring pins. People get understandably cross.

So here is the golden rule for all of us on the Harborough Arm: Go very, very slowly past moored boats, anglers and other waterway users, down to about 1mph or tickover. Don’t let your boat create a breaking wave or a lowering of the water along the bank just ahead of the boat.

Look out for swimmers, canoes, punts, rowing boats and sailing dinghies; they can’t always see or hear you approaching. Slow down so that your boat isn’t creating a wave and give them plenty of room as you pass.