Advice: Llangollen Canal
From: Editor, Waterscape.com (editor@waterscape.com)
Sent: 01 October 2009 09:54:24
Culvert 46 Llangollen Canal
Thursday 1 October 2009 - Friday 13 November 2009
Works are taking place to Culvert 46, Llangollen Canal. The works are located very near to the junction with the Prees Branch. There is no navigation restriction, however boaters are requested to proceed with extra caution and slow down to below 4mph (my italics) as contractor’s floating plant may be in the vicinity of the works.
Enquiries: 01606 723800
Slow down? Yes. To below 4 mph? Just how fast does BW think we actually go?
On Shadow, on a wide, deep canal such as the Grand Union, we do between 2.5 mph and 2.8 mph. That's the speed which the boat and we seem to be most comfortable with. We rarely find we're holding anyone up: if that's the case we let them pass (and usually catch up at the next lock).
Passing moored boats we slow down from this blistering speed to perhaps 1.5 mph to 2.0 mph, depending on the depth of water and distance from the boats. Should we encounter contractors' floating plant we take the same care.
bank protection works just north of Hatton Locks, Grand Union Canal, November 2008
The advice BW gives above merely has the effect of reinforcing the notion that the minimum speed limit on canals is 4 mph, and that you must go at this speed whenever possible.
It's like roads. In a 30, 40, or 50 mph speed limit, how fast do drivers go? Yes: 30 (and a little bit), 40 (and a little bit) or 50 (and a little bit). The limits are treated more like minimum speeds, not maximum.
Forget actual speeds, BW. Ask boaters to be aware of the delicate nature of canal banks; cruise such that they create no breaking wash; look after structures such as locks and bridges; and slow to tickover past moored boats and other obvious obstructions such as "floating plant".
After all, just how many boats are equipped with a GPS speedometer?
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