Winter weather tips from River Canal Rescue

WITH HEAVY rain, flooding, winds, ice and snow causing problems for vessels, River Canal Rescue managing director, Stephanie Horton advises how to reduce the likelihood of winter damage:

Top priority is to get into a routine of visiting your boat regularly and undertaking the following;

Fully charged

Ensure the batteries are fully charged, with a bilge pump in continuous operation—even a fully charged battery will only last a few days. The bilge pumps should be fully operational and left on ‘automatic’ setting.

If there’s no bilge pump or only a manual one is fitted, install an automatic bilge pump—and don’t be complacent; just because it automatically operates, it still needs checking (it relies on battery power so unless the boat’s shore powered, there isn’t an unlimited supply).

If you have a bilge pump, install an environmentally-friendly bilge filter, such as Bilgeaway—this stops your boat pumping pollutants into the waterways which is a condition of the Boat Safety Scheme.

Check drain holes and clear debris—keeping these clear will stop water running into the engine room.

Check ropes

Check ropes and anchoring points. The mooring ropes should be loose enough to cope with sudden changes in water levels. Tight mooring ropes can cause listing, bringing vents and outlets below the water level, causing sinking.

If the mooring’s at risk of flooding, run a rope to locations that can still be accessed, even in a flood situation. RCR attended over 30 boats in recent months to secure lines when mooring locations flooded.

To stop a vessel drifting onto land when water levels rise, position a scaffold pole or poles, or a boarding plank, between the boat and the river/canal side edge and fix it into position. This acts as a mooring post, preventing flood waters from floating the boat onto land.

Always think when mooring-up what could happen. will you need additional mooring lines? If so, rig them so you can adjust from the boat and get on and off easily. If on a river known for its strong flow, invest in some chains, but more importantly, moor to something that’s strong enough to hold 20 tons of boat.

Windy conditions

In windy conditions, check ropes for chafing and ensure they’re well positioned and adjusted to the conditions.

If you’re in sub-zero conditions and you liveaboard, remember most gunnels will develop a layer of ice, so employ a two-hand rule when stepping on and off the boat and keep both hands firmly on a rail or the top edge of the cabin if moving around.

Beware of ropes and mooring pins hidden under the snow. Narrow steps, planks and gunwales can also be slippery so be extra careful.

Fill up your diesel tank to ensure there’s enough fuel, have around 30% of anti-freeze in your engine cooling and heating system, and keep your water tank full (this will ensure you don’t run out).

Keep a good stock of fuel (coal, gas, wood), enough solid fuel for your stove and sufficient food and drink supplies. Ensure your carbon monoxide monitor is working.

Well insulate your pipes to prevent them bursting and ventilate your boat to reduce the likelihood of condensation.

Check the bateries

Check the batteries are in good working order and spray terminals with grease or use petroleum jelly to protect them.

Carry a cassette toilet to use as a back-up should you be unable to empty the pump out toilet.

When mooring, protect the hull by hanging planks of wood alongside the boat; it will prevent ice slabs bumping into your hull.

Remove significant amounts of snow—it can cause weight displacement and water ingress when it melts, especially on canopies where the weight can cause tears.

If leaving the boat for any sustained periods of time, you may need to winterise the vessel, drain your water tanks or top up antifreeze levels.

Before moving a boat in ice—consider the importance of your journey—as well as placing a strain on the engine, it can damage the hull and blacking. No boat is impregnable, even when surrounded by steel.

River conditions

Check river conditions, and again consider whether the journey is really necessary; they can change quickly and easily catch you unaware. Get updates from the Environment Agency—your insurance can be invalidated if you travel on red or orange boards on rivers.

Check the wind direction before manoeuvring. When coupled with difficult river conditions, the windage of a boat can be easily underestimated and your vessel will become uncontrollable. If your vessel’s caught in a situation, don’t attempt to recover it without assistance. Severe weather conditions increase the risk to boat owners and simple tasks can easily result in accidents and injury.