Email: Boaters' Handbook

I must thank Mike Spick for pointing out my 'ignorance' and pointing me to the already existing Boaters Handbook. I have only been boating for nine years and bow to his superior knowledge.

From all the boats that I have hired, and all the boaters and marina personnel that I have talked to, the Boaters' Handbook has never been mentioned. The tuition I received was via a video on my first hire. Since then by reading, watching and word of mouth talking and listening to other boaters.

I can't imagine I am the only boater to be guilty of 'ignorance' on the canal system and would suggest CaRT should promote this handbook better. Having said that, a booklet of 40 pages takes quite a time to digest and makes me wonder whether hire boaters would spend the time to read it before setting off.

On this basis I would like to suggest a new simpler leaflet with pictures in place of words to cover the main points of canal boating.

Keep to the right. Going through a lock, keeping away from the front and rear gates, and rear cill when descending. Tick-over past moored boats : Waiting and taking your turn at locks. Helping others but ask before you do so, etc. etc.

A picture tells a thousand words, (has been said before) but would be easier and quicker to digest and remember.

Along with this new leaflet the existing Boaters' Handbook should be put in every hire boat (to possibly cut down on the number of costly accidents in locks alone) and possibly sent out with every boat licence renewal.

It may justify the above inflation increase to the boat licence!

John Dale, Share Boat Owner