How to avoid getting stuck on the bottom

With the current low canal and river water levels plus sand bank and silt build-ups and debris and weed-filled waterways, the risk of going aground is very real. Usually boaters manage to free their boats and continue on their way but it’s important to know what to do if your boat becomes firmly stuck.

Using the engine to push the boat forward will usually just take you more firmly aground, so try gently  reversing off first. Revving the engine too hard can often just ‘suck’ the stern down and accomplish nothing. If you are able to get a rope across to someone on the towpath they may be able to pull you off backwards with surprisingly little effort!

During the peak season, River Canal Rescue (RCR) regularly gives phone assistance to people who have become stuck and although many callers are then able to move their boats around 40% require support from a rescue team. One recent RCR callout on the river Severn involved a narrowboat which became grounded upstream after taking the wrong turn at a junction and had to be winched free (image below).

RCR managing director, Stephanie Horton, offers the following advice:

Grounding can occur anywhere if you stray from the middle of the water course, cut a corner to take the shortest route or fail to check water levels before setting off. It’s therefore really important to find out, where possible, the protocols and what’s happening in the area you plan to navigate. Situations will develop all the time, so be aware of the risks around you and be cautious while cruising.

If you run aground, put on a life jacket and put your boat in reverse to see if you can move away from the obstruction. If this doesn’t work, walk around the vessel testing the surrounding water depth with a boat pole. This will pinpoint where the water’s shallower and where the problem is. On rivers you can usually see it – rocks or gravel for example – as the water’s clearer.

If the front of the boat’s grounded, move some of the ballast that may be holding it down. The water tank is always at the front of a narrowboat so turn on the taps to empty it and move heavy items such as gas bottles, the anchor and any chains to the rear – this will give the boat more buoyancy at the front and potentially lift it a vital few inches which may be all it needs to clear itself. Half a ton of water can create a six inch difference. If it does clear, put the boat in reverse.

If the boat’s grounded on one side, it’s a similar scenario; move anything that’s weighing it down in this area to the opposite side. Do this in cautious stages – if you over-balance, the vessel will list and it could end up taking on water.

If there are people onboard, position yourself at the helm and ask the remainder to rock the boat gently; the momentum may move it. If the rear of the boat’s aground and the propeller’s lifted (which is a rare scenario), you’ll probably need a tow. While it’s tempting to ask a passing boater for a tow, this should only be undertaken by an experienced boater. We’ve had cases where the person towing the vessel has got into trouble and we’ve ended up rescuing two boats. Also, anyone on a hire boat will invalid their insurance if they try to tow you, so it’s better not to put them in that position in the first place.

If you‘re able to free your vessel, check it thoroughly at the first possible opportunity – particularly the hull – as this could have been damaged.

Thanks to RCR for most of this report and images.