A cautionary tale...

I KNOW there are many boaters out there who do not perceive a problem with steering from the counter on a 'trad' boat; I suppose we are all entitled to our own opinions and preferences but...

Nevertheless the ramifications of what could have happened to me don't bear thinking about in my opinion—and may help to reinforce the reasoning for staying within the boat to less experienced boaters, writes David Pagett.

Happily cruising

My wife and I were with friends in a flotilla of three, happily cruising the Leicestershire Ring. Just over two weeks into the cruise we were heading south along the Coventry Canal and two of the wives were walking the towpath on a sunny afternoon.

However by Bridge 13 they had had enough; I planned to pick them up in the bridge hole, once I had let a following boater pass by. To achieve this I pulled over towards the Colliery Arm whilst he went through and then started what should have been no more than a routine reverse into the bridge hole.

Something seriously amiss

In my 16 years of owning our narrowboat I had no previous experience of what was about to unfold. It was not until I tried to control the reverse by going into forward gear, as you do, that I realised something serious was amiss—as my speed actually increased. In that critical 30 seconds or so I had not twigged that the gear cable had snapped. The result was that I reversed into the boulder-strewn bank at speed; the tiller arm whipped round frighteningly fast, resulting in the rudder finishing up completely wedged under the counter. It was impossible to move so any form of steerage was totally ruled out—at a stroke.

A passing boater very kindly breasted us to Hawkesbury Junction, but I am sorry I forgot to take a note of their names so I could say a proper thank you. I only hope they read this. The following morning one of our friends took us in tow, all the way to Rose Narrowboats at Stretton Stop on the Oxford Canal. Richard, Sue and Nb Windor—we could not have got there without you, thank you so much.

Very helpful Rose Narrowboats

Although he was unaware of our impending arrival, Anthony and his team at Rose Narrowboats were so very helpful, reassuring and accommodating in our time of need. Despite a hectic schedule Anthony arranged for us to be pulled out of the water within 24 hours, and this revealed the extent of the damage.

He and his workforce then set about removing the rudder, straightening both it and the stock and replacing the whole assembly within an incredibly short time-scale, so much so that we were on our way again later the same day.

The moral

There is a moral to this sorry tale. Our boat is trad style, albeit with a ‘modern' engine. From day one, back in 1998 I was taught to never steer from the counter and to always position myself inside the boat. If I had been on the counter when this incident occurred then I am not exaggerating when I say that at best I would currently be in Intensive Care, at worst in the Mortuary.