Is this possible??

[CJL]

Has anybody taken their RIB on a canal??

Is there any reason why it can't be done?? What do I need??

Chris

[Andre]

Originally Posted by CJL

Has anybody taken their RIB on a canal??

Is there any reason why it can't be done?? What do I need??

Chris

Can you manage 6 knots all day

[The Jackeens]

Originally Posted by CJL

Has anybody taken their RIB on a canal??

Yessir!

Is there any reason why it can't be done??

None that we can think of really Chris: once it's a canal in use & open to leisure boats...

What do I need??

Chris

CEVNI qualification is important in addition to your usual qualifications (if in Europe the ICC for example).

It's the 'Code Européen des Voies de Navigation Intérieure' which teaches you all the relevant signs, sounds, signals, rights of way etc. Any mainstream (so to speak ) Instructor should be able to test. Worth buying the booklet at your chandlers first though! Or do a 'Google' for more info.

There were a lot of things to remember! But a handful of us managed to pass without too many 'study sessions' in the pub last year! As far as I recall the canal highway code was really developed to cover major inland waterways so the local canal may not challenge all the knowledge you may acquire!!!

I remember us needing to give a lot of space to a bunch of Italian party lads as they waltzed their hired canal boat through locks and bounced it merrily off river banks while making their way through Brittany

Apart from that the main issue was the operation of the locks themselves, keeping an eye on the depth and speed (check local regs) and those yellow diamond thingies were quite helpful when going under bridges
There are many varieties when it comes to locks! Check that what you're making fast to rises & sinks with the water level (Have seen a lock-keeper rescue a few big boats with a knife!) Oh and don't rush in or out: watch those eddies!!! Many bigger locks may have a 'traffic light' type signal.

We settled into our pace of chugging along quite nicely at 5 knots and the engine was happy as Larry although it had a good service afterwards!!!

We are also chugging slowly through an account of our canal/river trip in Brittany which might give a flavour (unfinished)... Canal/river bit begins on P.2.

North to South Brittany :

http://www.rib.net/forum/showthread....1&page=1&pp=10

Brian has written a top feature on The Caledonian Canal :

http://www.rib.net/forum/showthread....ledonian+Canal

And there's an exciting feature run in Northern Italy by JK :

http://www.rib.net/forum/showthread....ighlight=canal

An introduction to the Ostróda Elblag Canal here by Ostroda :

http://www.rib.net/forum/showthread....ghlight=Canals

And a viewpoint of the same location by Andre :

http://www.rib.net/forum/showthread....ighlight=canal

If you search canals & river Thames etc. here on RIBnet you will get more extensive info.

Good luck and look forward to reading about it !

missus

[fred bolton]

Originally Posted by Andre

Can you manage 6 knots all day

You'll get pulled at that speed, max is 4knots

You will need a licence, on narrow canals max beam is 7 feet length shouldn't be a problem though 70 Feet also height restrictions so be wary of your console and a frame going through some bridge holes. The biggest problem is steering unless you can rig up some sort of rudder you will spend the day zig zagging down the canal

[fred bolton]

Originally Posted by The Jackeens

Apart from that the main issue was the operation of the locks themselves, keeping an eye of the depth and speed (check local regs) and those yellow diamond thingies were quite helpful when going under bridges

Oh yes you will also need a windlass to open and shut the paddles on the lock gates and keep clear of the gates, the higher gate has a ledge on which even some narrow boats have come to grief on

[DJL]

Some canals in the UK have a HP limit overall and per ft.

[Pete7]

Originally Posted by CJL

Is there any reason why it can't be done?? What do I need??
Chris

You will need to have the baot examined and a boat safety scheme certificate issued. The rules have now been changed but the original ones were very draconian.

Pete

[jwalker]

Originally Posted by Pete7

You will need to have the baot examined and a boat safety scheme certificate issued. The rules have now been changed but the original ones were very draconian.

Pete

It depends how long you want to stay in the canal system and what is on your boat. When I was planning for last summer, I reckoned I was ok for up to a month without a problem.

[CJL]

Thanks for the advice guys and gals!!

I'm thinking about doing the Regents Canal in London through Camden and Little Venice!! I can get on the canal at Brentford and go all the way round to Limehouse Basin and out on to the Thames

Do I need a BW visitor licence??

I'll keep you posted....


Chris

[The Jackeens]

Originally Posted by CJL

Do I need a BW visitor licence??

Best to check with the local authorities Chris or googly

I'll keep you posted....


Chris

Sounds like a great trip & look forward to the account!

Us

[CJL]

Spoke to the BW staff at Limehouse Basin on Saturday.

It is possible to do the Thames Ring in a RIB. In fact they were very keen to get me on the canal!!

If I go from Brentford on the Thames, round the Grand Union Canal, up to the Regents Canal, through Camden and back down to Limehouse I am told it will take 2 days!!

Sounds like a plan but I'd need somewhere safe to keep the boat for the overnight and somewhere to sleep. (Sleeping on the boat is not that appealing!!)

All I need I'm told is
1) BW Windlass £7
2) BW Key to access toilets, showers and some lock gates.
3) Visitor Licence £50 (I think)

You don't need a boat safety certificate as I'd be on the canal system for less than 30 days.

I will keep you all posted if this goes ahead over summer but we have to "finish" the Thames first (Henley to Cricklade!)

Chris

[Scotty]

In Dublin you need to watch for shopping trolleys in the canals they play havoc with your prop