Narrow Boats
Should a sculling or rowing boat come into contact with a moored narrow boat, the following procedure should be used to ensure the minimum risk of damage to either craft:
- Immediately easy and back water with the free blade(s).
- Back down with the stern most oars/sculls on the opposite side from the side of contact with the narrow boat.
- When clear, paddle on with the bowmost oars/sculls, drawing in the sternmost oars/sculls on the side closest to the moored boat.
- Should it be necessary to push off from the hull of the moored boat, use oar/scull blade tips against the BLACK painted side of the moored craft’s lower hull ABOVE the waterline.
GRP Cruisers
Should a sculling or rowing boat come into contact with a moored GRP Cruiser, use the same procedure as above but, should it be necessary to push off from the hull of the moored boat:
- Push of from the cruiser’s fenders or rubbing strakes or, if this is not possible
- Push off ABOVE the waterline so as not to remove antifouling paint below the waterline. [NB: This is a change to previous practice and is to enable the craft’s owner to see any slight scratches and deal with them as part of normal maintenance. Scratches and breaks in a boat’s anti-foul coating BELOW the waterline may remain unnoticed and can lead to much greater problems over time.]
Courtesy
Remember that courtesy costs nothing and, should the boat owner be aboard if and when a collision occurs, an apology should be offered at once. Your priority will be to disengage safely and without causing damage, but an apology will diffuse tension and go along way to creating good relationships between all sectors of the river-using community.
