Boater's handbook

The Canal & River Trust and the Environment Agency welcomes you to our waterways. This film is all about boating on our canals and rivers safely. There are few safer ways to travel than by boat, especially if you take the necessary precautions.

Wearing a lifejacket is the single most important thing you can do to stay safe. Always wear it on deck, when operating locks, swing bridges or passing through tunnels. You should also always have a hand hold on the boat, and wear sensible shoes with a good grip. Stepping on and off the boat is where most accidents happen. There could be a gap between the boat and the bank, and the ground may be uneven. Wear your lifejacket when doing this, and never jump. If someone falls in the water, stop the propeller or turn the engine off immediately. Don't jump in after them. The water is very cold, even in summer. Keep sight of the person in the water at all times. Throw a line to get them safely to the bank. If they are in a canal, tell them to try to stand up. Many canals are not very deep. On deeper or wider waterways, throw a life buoy close to, but not at, the person in the water. Pull them to the side of the boat and help them aboard. Watch the 'man overboard' film for more information on what to do if one of your party does fall in.

When passing under bridges and through tunnels, don't put yourself between the tunnel or bridge walls, or get in the way of a moving bridge or lock balance beam. You could end up getting seriously injured.

Boating on the inland waterways is all about enjoying a slower pace of life. On many waterways, there is a 4mph speed limit. If there are breaking waves behind your boat, you are going too fast. These waves can disturb the environment and even capsize canoes or paddleboards. Always slow down before you pass moored boats too.

Navigate your boat on the right hand side of the waterway. Give way to unpowered craft, like canoes or rowing or sailing boats, and large vessels such as passenger boats, freight barges or maintenance boats. Larger craft may need to keep to the deepest part of the channel, meaning you need to move out of the way. Take extra care in busy areas and keep an eye out for people in the water - paddleboards, canoes, kayaks and rowing boats - pass them slowly with as much room as possible.

Swimming in canals is prohibited in many places. In some rivers, swimming is allowed, but check with the navigation authority first. Be aware, the water can be very cold, even in the summer, and there are many hazards including deep and fast-flowing currents, mud, weeds and tree roots. If swimming is permitted, never enter the water to swim from your boat, however tempting. Always take care near the back of your boat, this is where the sharp propeller blades are. Never tow anything behind your boat, such as paddle boards, dinghies or inflatables.

Wash your hands before eating or drinking; you may have come into contact with the water, which can carry bacteria. If you feel unwell after contact with the water, seek medical advice.

During warmer spells, you may see a blue-green coloured scum on the water. This can indicate the presence of toxic bacteria. Avoid contact with water and make sure pets don't drink it either.

Sometimes it can be hard to know your precise loaction. It's helpful to download the What3Words app. The app will give you a precise three word code, which emergency services can use to locate you within a 3m x 3m area. It's always a good idea to keep a phone charged and in a waterproof pouch.

If you need to report criminal or antisocial behaviour, contact the police on 101. In the event of an emergency, call 999.

If you want to take your boat handling skills to the next level, consider taking a training course from an accredited provider, such as the RYA.

Please also read our Boaters' Handbook for more helpful information and advice.

The Canal & River Trust and the Environment Agency welcomes you to our waterways. This film is all about protecting the environment when you're out boating on our canals and rivers.

First of all, keep your speed down so you don't create a breaking wash. This can damage waterway structures and disturb fish and other wildlife. Go very slow when you pass nesting water birds. Never dump rubbish, toilet waste or oily bilgewater back into the waterway or onto the bank. If you have an oil leak, remove oil from your bilge by placing absorbent pads or rolls into it, so oily water doesn't get pumped out. You can dispose of used pads at most marinas and household waste recycling sites. Make sure you get any leaks sorted as soon as possible.

Use low phosphate detergents, and avoid bleach or other aggressive cleaning products in your boat. Remember, the waste water from your sink and shower empties into the waterway. Sometimes when it's warm and there are lots of nutrients in the water, for example from fertiliser that has washed off the land, algae can appear. These can be of the notorious blue-green type. Blue-green algae usually appears as greenish-blue streaks on the water. Algae can be toxic to anything that touches the water, including dogs and humans. This can cause stomach problems and skin rashes. Blue-green algae is even known to have caused dog fatalities.

Make sure you use the bins provided to dispose of any rubbish, or take it with you. Don't just leave rubbish behind. If everyone took their litter home and picked up just one piece of plastic each time they visited, our waterways could be litter-free within a year.

During your travels, you may encounter non-native and invasive species in and around our waterways. These can threaten the native wildlife and damage waterway structures. It is a criminal offense to spread invasive species in our waters. Apps such as Google Lens can help identify any species you encounter on our trip. If you come across a non-native one, such as zebra mussels, American signal crayfish, or giant hogweed, don't pick them up or move them. Help prevent the spread of invasive species by practising Check, Clean, Dry. First, check your equipment, boat and clothing for mud, aquatic animals or plant materials. remove everything you find and leave it at the site. Then, clean everything thoroughly as soon as you can, using hot water if possible. Finally, dry anything that can be taken out of the water, such as ropes and fenders, before using them elsewhere. Some invasive animals and plants can survive for more than two weeks in damp conditions.

And lastly, many boats rely on solid fuel stoves for heating. Please use only smokeless fuels, or fully dried wood, to help reduce harmful emissions. Some rivers and canals run through smoke control areas, so look out for signs. In these areas, you must use smokeless fuels and only emit smoke for up to 15 minutes while you are starting your fire.

Don't cut down trees next to waterways. It damages the environment and the wood is not suitable for burning until it has dried. You may see piles of wood we have cut down whilst maintaining the waterways. These are for wildlife to live in, so please leave them for bugs and beasts to use.

If you witness an environmental incident or pollution, please contact the Environment Agency incident hotline on 0800 80 70 60. The location or GPS information will be very helpful. Pictures or videos can also help the EA with their investigation. Sometimes it can be hard to know your precise location. It's helpful to download the What3Words app. The app will give you a precise three word code, which emergency services can use to locate you within a 3m x 3m area.

You can also report pollution by contacting the Canal & River Trust freephone number - 0800 47 999 47, or via our incident reporting form on the Trust website - www.canalrivertrust.org.uk/contact-us.

More information about protecting the environment while boating can be found online at thegreenblue.org.uk, or in the Boaters' Handbook and The Green Guide to Inland Boating.