RYA Inland Waterways Handbook Справочник внутренних водных путей

Before the building of canals, water transportation in the UK was restricted to a few natural ancient rivers that had been improved so that barges could collect goods from ships at coastal ports and deliver to inland port locations. The only other commercial transport available was by horse and cart over rough track roads. The building of canals in the 18th and 19th centuries revolutionised a whole new commercial transportation system and this new system rapidly grew to a network of over 5,000 miles of inland waterways. This system greatly helped the Industrial Revolution carrying British products from inland areas sometimes hundreds of miles to the sea. This lasted until the coming of the railways after which use of canals declined and by the start of WW2 over half the mileage was derelict. Rivers fared better helped by the development of river leisure boating. In 1946 the Inland Waterways Association (IWA) was founded and forward thinking enthusiasts campaigned to rescue our canal heritage. Thanks to their endeavours now over 60 years on, there are over 3,000 mies of navigable canals and rivers open for us all to enjoy to use for leisure and relaxation be it for boating, walking or fishing. Each year many thousands of people enjoy the delights of inland waterway boating either in a narrowboat or cruiser. Some start with a holiday on a hire boat and go on to purchase their own boat and some are choosing to throw off the shackles of life on land and live permanently on their boat. No wonder, it is something that can be enjoyed by all ages and you meet delightful, helpful and interesting people on the way.
As with everything to get the most enjoyment out of an activity you need to know what you are doing. With this book and by taking the RYA Training Course it accompanies, you will be able to confidently make the most of your inland waterways adventures. I have distilled over 40 years of inland waterways into these pages to help make your cruises safe, enjoyable and above all else fun.

CONTENTS

Acknowledgements
Introduction
Symbols
Contents
Types of boat
Parts of the boat
The landscape
Keeping the crew safe and happy
Before you set off
Safety Equipment and lifejackets
Safety precautions
Gas/electricity/petrol/diesel
Fire
Waste disposal
Care of the Environment
Ropework/Knots
Rope handling
Rules of the Road
Engines
Pre-start checks
Narrowboat weed hatch
Steering
Turning
Propeller effect
Steerable power
Reversing
Man overboard
Slowing down and stopping Bank effect
Using the current to stop
Currents
Speed over ground
Wind effect
Watch your speed
Staying in the channel Going aground
Where can't we moor?
Mooring on a river
Mooring up on canals and rivers
Narrowboat arriving at a mooring
Narrowboat arriving with a centre line
Narrowboat leaving a mooring
Leaving with a centre line
Narrowboat springing off a mooring
Cruiser arriving at a mooring
Cruiser leaving a mooring
Locks
What are they for? How do they work? Safety at locks
Types of locks
Paddle gear
Types of paddle
Man overboard at locks Lock etiquette
Using locks - going uphill Narrow locks
Broad locks
Using locks - going downhill
River locks
Staircase locks
Other types of locks
Bridges
Tunnels
Anchoring
Navigation at night
Sound signals
VHF radio European requirements
Buoyage and markers
Common signs used on UK inland waterways
Glossary
Index
IBC