Courtesy

Courtesy

• Go slow
  Really, it's better than revving the engine and not being able to hear yourself think.
  Go slow especially when nearing a bend - you don't know what's on the other side.
• Pass other boats even slower
  Some canals and rivers can be narrow, other boaters may not be confident, when you see another boat coming toward you, power back (but keep control) and pass slowly and gently.
• Pass moored boats 'at a drifting speed'
  Whenever passing moored boats, go as slow as is possible to retain control.  With practice you will know your slowing-down distance.  When passing a moored boat, you should have almost no wake.  Moored boats can be damaged if you pass them too quickly.  The occupants may have a bowl of soup thrown over them if you cause their boat to rock.  Please, even if you think it's an abandoned wreck, pass other moored boats slowly.
• Noise travels
  Especially so on a canal or river - so even if you're not moored right next to another, please be aware of your potential for causing noise pollution.
  Please do not use the outside speakers after dusk.  Also be aware that the joviality of a group enjoying a pleasant evening on deck can disturb other boaters, especially so if those other boaters have infants on-board and have spent hours getting them off to sleep.  Please try to keep noise to a minimum, and you may even catch some of the evening wildlife doing what evening wildlife does.
• Litter kills
  On the street or pavement (sidewalk) a discarded sweet wrapper may be unsightly.  On the waterways it could mean certain death for a Duck if it gets stuck in its gullet.  Swans are regularly injured after trying to eat plastic bottle tops.  Please don't throw anything into the waterways, however insignificant it may seem to you.
• Pass Fishermen/women Slowly and keep in the Middle
  It may seem good sense to pull over, toward the opposite bank in order to keep clear of fishermen, but they may actually be trying to fish the other bank, so keep in the middle, slow down and they'll be happy (they'll seldom express it though).  Neither should you worry about their long fishing rods obstructing your path.  The carbon fibre rods used these days cost a fortune - no fisherman is going to let you run into it unless they're drunk, drugged or dead. 

  It's a good idea, should you become aware that a fishing tournament is being held at at certain place on a certain date, and want to avoid several hundred rods, to plan to avoid cruising that part of the waterways that day.

  Many Boaters will tell you that most fishermen are miserable, grumpy and rude, will never smile, will always believe you're too noisy, or too quiet, going too fast, or too slow, are always in the wrong position - actually 'in the wrong' full stop for being on a boat, and that they are generally a totally impossible to please waste of life sitting for hours in the most hidden part of the towpath moaning about boaters and how hot or cold it is...  While this may very well be the case, just slow down, keep in the middle, give a cheery smile and pass in peace - after all, our waterways are enjoyed in many different ways by many different folk... 

  On no account, after being shunned by a fisherman who fails to acknowledge your cheery smile, avoids eye contact or simply scowls should you shout "Cheer up chuckles, I made the effort to slow down for you, a smile's the least you can do in return"- such fishermen have no sense of humour in this respect.